These are the seven books I read in February...
The Little Shadows by Marina Endicott
The Maze of Cadiz by Aly Monroe
The Death of a Butterfly by Margaret Maron
Behind the Night Bazaar by Angela Savage
Under the Dragon's Tail by Maureen Jennings
Summer of the Big Bachi by Naomi Hirahara
The Indigo Necklace by Frances Crane
My favorite read this month was my one non-mystery book, The Little Shadows by Marina Endicott. I am very interested in vaudeville, and I don't know as much as I would like about the history of vaudeville, so that may have swayed me. Regardless, it it was very readable, entertaining, and featured interesting characters.
The Crime Fiction Pick of the Month meme is hosted at Mysteries in Paradise. Bloggers link to a summary post for the month, and identify a crime fiction best read of the month.
It was hard to settle on one of my crime fiction reads as a favorite. All of the books were enjoyable and had their good points.
My Crime Fiction favorite for February is Behind the Night Bazaar by Angela Savage, an Australian author. That book has several points in its favor: an interesting female protagonist, an exotic setting, and a look at social issues within that setting. Of course, it takes the author's skill to turn those elements into a pleasurable and entertaining read.
In this book, Jayne Keeney is a private investigator living in Bangkok. She becomes involved in a murder investigation while visiting a friend in the smaller town of Chiang Mai. Angela Savage's writing about this area feels authentic because she lived in Southeast Asia for six years in the 1990's.
20 comments:
I had fun reading about this wonderful, varied assortment of books. I hope the weather is not too bad where you are. Have heard of dreadful mudslides.
Judith
Thanks, Judith. I had fun reading them.
The weather is not too bad here, I will have to check the news for where the mudslides are. We were very silly this morning and went out in the rain for a photo taking excursion (which we ended up skipping because of the rain) and got very wet, but still had fun in the rain. It is nice to see some decent rain now.
So glad you liked The Little Shadows so much! I'm proud that you discovered it on my blog. Are you going to review the Frances Crane? I liked one of hers last year and would like to read another....
I love the sound of the The Little Shadows, will keep an eye for that at the library.
Tracy - Oh, I want to read The Little Shadows, too! And I'm so glad you liked Behind the Night Bazaar as much as you did. I think it's a great novel and the start of a fine, fine series.
I'm very impressed by your all female author list. I'm not sure I'd be so brave but it seems it paid off and you had an excellent reading month.
And I am very grateful that I found The Little Shadows on your blog, Moira. I am going to review the Frances Crane next. I liked it, did not love it, but the setting was absolutely wonderful. New Orleans, felt like I was there.
Well done on the all-female front. Perhaps I will try later in the year. Looking forward to the Savage book when I get there, less so the Monroe. Good luck for March.
Cath, I think you would like The Little Shadows. If you can find a copy at the library, that is a perfect way to give it a try.
Margot, I have had very good luck with the female Australian authors I have tried. And reading about them at your blog was a major motivator in trying them out.
Sarah, the all-female author month worked very well. I hope to go for another one later in the year.
March is already starting out well, Col. Related to reading, at least.
I've only read Behind the Night Bazaar, which I liked much and Angela Savage's next two books, The Half-Child and The Dying Beach.
I would like to delve into some of these books, but am trying to slosh my way through the TBR stacks around here, while keeping my hand into what the library has to offer. Right now, it's Visitation Street and I have Mari Strachan's second book, which I began.
So many good books!
Kathy, there was a time when I thought there weren't many good mystery authors out there. I was so wrong. I am looking forward to reading more of Angela Savage's books, and I have Visitation Street to read.
I haven't got any of Strachan's books, but I will catch up on those someday. Maybe find them at a book sale.
Looks like you had a great reading month. I may have to check out Behind the Night Bazaar - it sounds like one I would enjoy.
It was a good month, Carol. I hope you do get to try Angela Savage's book.
Interesting selection, Tracy, and I like Behind the Night Bazaar too. I watched something about the history of vaudeville a few years ago that was really interesting too (PBS maybe?).
Rebecca, I looked it up and there was a 2 hour show on PBS (from 1997) and it sounds great. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be generally available. I will ask my husband if he is familiar with it.
Well read, Tracy. I find "pick of the month" a little dicey as I usually like all the books and stories I read. Seldom one more than the other.
I agree, Prashant. It is very hard to pick a favorite out all the books I read. I also tend to like almost all the books I read, and find things to praise in each one. Sometimes there is a clear stand out that just blows me away, but that is unusual.
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