Review - Death at a Highland Wedding

This is the 1100th post for this blog!!!  That is a lot of content.

Kelley Armstrong is #1 NYT bestselling author of over 50 novels in mystery, fantasy and horror.  She combines her fantasy and mystery writing into a unique time travel series "Rip Through Time" mysteries. Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth installment in her gripping series featuring a 2019 Homicide detective who time traveled to 1869 and is stuck there.  I have to say when I saw this unique murder mystery concept, I jumped at the opportunity to review!

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Copyright: May 2025 (Minotaur) 336 pgs

Series: 4th in Rip Through Time Mysteries

Sensuality: Mild, clinical descriptions of murder

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Mystery, Time Travel Mystery

Main Character: Mallory Atkinson, modern homicide detective

Setting: 1870s, Scottish Highlands

Obtained Through: Netgalley-Publisher for honest review

Book Blurb:  "After slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as housemaid Catriona Mitchel. Although it isn’t what she expected, she's developed real, meaningful relationships with the people around her and has come to love her role as assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.

Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie are on their way to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie's younger sister's wedding. The McCreadies and the groom’s family, the Cranstons, have a complicated history which has made the weekend quite uncomfortable. But the Cranston estate is beautiful so Gray and Mallory decide to escape the stifling company and set off to explore the castle and surrounding wilderness. They discover that the groom, Archie Cranston, a slightly pompous and prickly man, has set up deadly traps in the woods for the endangered Scottish wildcats, and they soon come across a cat who's been caught and severely injured. Oddly, Mallory notices the cat's injuries don't match up with the intricacies of the trap. These strange irregularities, combined with the secretive and erratic behavior of the groom, put Mallory and Duncan on edge. And then when one of the guests is murdered, they must work fast to uncover the murderer before another life is lost."

My Thoughts:

I have to admit that even though I was eager for a time-travel mystery, I wasn't sure how well it would turn out.  Execution is critical and time travel novels are tricky.  But this was handled very well and the story was great fun.  The idea that modern day Mallory ends up in the body of housemaid Catriona Mitchel in the 1870s worked perfectly the way it was presented and solved many problems that could have risen if a stranger suddenly appeared in modern garb (many questions to get around, let alone the language changes in 150 years, but materials used in clothes etc.)  

Although this is the 4th book and I hadn't read any of the prior in this series, everything was explained well and I had no trouble at all jumping into the series at this point.  The relationships are established and Mallory being from the future is already accepted, so in many ways I liked jumping in at this point.

I like Detective Mallory Atkinson who is smart enough to realize she has to meld into the norms of the time for women. She is a well thought out character in extraordinary circumstances.  Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie have accepted she isn't housemaid Catriona Mitchel and that she knows about forensics, advanced policing techniques, and even more important, they appreciate her.  She has found more of a family in the past than she ever imagined.  I like both Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.  I liked the bride, McCredie's sister even more through the book.  

I love the setting woven throughout the story as not only a lovely area but simultaneously an atmospheric one. Great job in having the place set the tone in several scenes.

The investigation is done in spite of the young and inept constable insisting they butt-out and stop attempting to direct where he should give attention or how to investigate. This tension becomes key.  It is very hard for our trio to figure out who did it until they start to piece together the "why." Why would a popular and well regarded man be murdered?  

The killer confrontation isn't suspenseful.  It is realistic, though, and well done.  I typically love the action and tension filled reveal, but I have to say this time it was emotionally intense.  For once I preferred it this way because it was written so well.  Kudos!  

Overall it is an absorbing mystery and well written with excellent characters that transports you to another time and place.  Highly recommended.  I'm already getting the first in the series.  I don't know how I didn't hear of this series before-but now YOU know.

Rating:  Near perfect - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

Here is an interview with the author:

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Author Post - Jeri Westerson

Los Angeles native JERI WESTERSON writes a Tudor series the King’s Fool Mysteries, and a Sherlockian pastiche called An Irregular Detective Mystery. She wrote fifteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries, a series nominated 13 times from the Agatha to the Shamus. She also wrote several paranormal series and standalone historicals. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), she’s a member of the LA Sherlockian Society, and a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See JeriWesterson.com.

I have only reviewed two of the Crispin Guest novels on this blog, but I loved them both

2) Serpent in the Thornes (click here)

4) Troubled Bones (click here)

I'm looking forward to learning more about her newest historical mystery series with connections to Sherlock Holmes.

Welcome Jeri Westerson!

The Adventures of a Sherlock Holmes Pastiche

When someone says deerstalker and pipe, what image does that conjure for you? Most likely the most iconic detective there is; Sherlock Holmes. And yet, neither deerstalker – that hunting/outdoorsy hat with a flap in front and back with two on either side, as well as a big curvy calabash pipe – were never used by the man in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s canon of work. We have two people to blame for that. First was Sidney Paget, the illustrator of the stories. He’s the one that put Holmes in a deerstalker. And as for the pipe, we have actor and playwright William Gillette, who was the first the play Holmes on stage. Holmes smoked, among others, a churchwarden and a clay pipe, both with relatively small bowls and long stems. But Gillette felt that it wouldn’t be well seen from the folks sitting in the gallery, so he picked the biggest pipe he could find, the calabash.

And what about that oft misquoted “Elementary, my dear Watson.” Even though something similar showed up in William Gillette’s play Sherlock Holmes (“Elementary, my dear fellow”), it is still a misattribution. Not in canon and not in the original play did Holmes ever say that. But in many other adaptions, he began to.

Sherlock Holmes. Why did I choose to write about such a well-defined, well-loved, well-recognized character whom I didn’t create? A pastiche, if you will, but what is a pastiche after all but fan fiction? And I’m a fan.

Well, that’s why I chose to write a Sherlock adjacent series.

My series, An Irregular Detective Mystery, is most definitely about my own characters who interact with Holmes. The Doyle canon is treated like historical documents. You don’t veer from the truth by having Holmes have a daughter, son, wife, uncle – whatever! Or Dr. Watson having a love child. The canon is sacrosanct. What is fair game, are the other characters who just appeared in three stories with only one of them named. The Baker Street Irregulars. Those were Sherlock Holmes’ gang of street urchins and only the boss was named, Wiggins, no first name. I didn’t pick him. I wanted my own homegrown characters, and so that became Tim Badger, a wily street kid, who when he got too old, was no longer useful as the eyes and ears of Holmes. But he had ambitions. He decided that he learned enough about Holmes’ method of deduction that he, too, could be a detective for hire, and once he ran into another young fellow working hard at his many jobs, a black man named Ben Watson, he decreed it was Fate, and Badger and his own Watson could work together as detectives. It turns out…they were miserable at it. Until Mr. Holmes himself stepped in with much needed financial help and a bit of mentoring.

Thus, An Irregular Detective Mystery series.

After I had finished my fifteen-book Crispin Guest Medieval Noir series, the strategy was to come up with a new series to take its place. I had two ideas I put into the crucible. One was a short-term series, six books, about Henry VIII’s real court jester Will Somers as the sleuth in my King’s Fool Mysteries, and the other was An Irregular Detective Mystery. My agent liked the former. I liked both. So I pitched the latter myself without my agent to my publisher and surprise, surprise, they loved it. I had two mysteries to write a year.

This is not for the faint-hearted.

But I found, even though I had thought about the Tudor series
for some years, I really loved these two young blokes from London’s East End, and it was new for me to research the late Victorian period where there are photographs and newspapers and objects I can touch and buy for props for my events! The real thing! So different, and so fun.

I wanted a lot of humor in the series, mostly between Badger (so full of hubris and action) pitched against the more quiet and thoughtful Watson. Each with their own strengths and their own weaknesses that somehow balance out. Then add into it a love interest in the form of a female reporter (based on a real female reporter of the time) and it becomes more than the sum of its parts. If I enjoy writing them, you can be sure that readers will enjoy reading them, and they have.

Find THE ISOLATED SÉANCE, THE MUMMY OF MAYFAIR, and for pre-order THE MISPLACED PHYSICIAN at Barnes & Noble or Booskhop.org for indie bookstore purchases.

Buy Links (click here) 

Newsletter (click here) 

Book trailers: 

The Isolated Séance and also here

The Mummy of Mayfair 

THANK YOU Jeri Westerson for this wonderful peek into your newest historical mystery series.  This sounds like a hoot and I can't wait to read it.

Review - Murder at the Bookstore

This is a brand new series for me.  A bookstore setting and a writer who is the sleuth, what's not to like?

Author: Sue Minix

Copyright: January 2023 (Berkley) 331 pgs

Series: 1st in The Bookstore Mysteries

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Woman amateur sleuth

Main Characters: Jennifer Marie Dawson, mystery author with writer's block

Setting: Modern day, fictional town of Riddleton, South Carolina 

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Book Blurb: "She can write the perfect murder mystery… But can she solve one in real life?

Meet Jen Dawson, mystery writer, coffee lover, and amateur detective?

Crime writer Jen returns to her small hometown with a bestselling book behind her and a bad case of writer’s block. Finding sanctuary in the local bookstore, with an endless supply of coffee, Jen waits impatiently for inspiration to strike.

But when the owner of the bookstore dies suddenly in mysterious circumstances, Jen has a real-life murder to solve.

The stakes are suddenly higher when evidence places Jen at the scene of the crime and the reading of the will names her as the new owner of the bookstore …

Can she crack the case and clear her name, before the killer strikes again?" 

My thoughts: Jen Dawson was a difficult character for me.  She was scattered in her investigation, shifting focus seemingly willy-nilly without a clear reason. She also approached sleuthing in a manner that left every single person angry at her because she had no subtlety and even engaged in some really risky behavior. Add to that, there were moments where she acted like a teenager smitten with a boy.  This character was the biggest drawback to my enjoying the book.  

Her former boyfriend seemed tedious.  Her librarian best friend, Brittany Dunlop, was sadly forgettable and a librarian stereotype.   Sometimes the dialog was stiff.  I know this all sounds off-putting, but overall the mystery was average, just okay.  I did see who the killer was even though there were a few suspects.  The cover has a beautiful white cat, but there isn't a cat in the story.  The title suggests the murder took place in the bookstore, but it was in a boat on a lake.  I may give the second in the series a try to see if the author gets her stride-depending on my TBR pile.

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Rating: Good - an average read with a few flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

Review - Betrayal at Blackthorn Park

I enjoy historical mysteries and historical intrigue, so its no surprise that WWII era is a favorite.  There are a good number of books set in this era, so creating characters and a premise that engages me is important.  I read the first in this new series and was hooked.  Today I'm reviewing the critical second book in the series.  Let's see how it did.

Book 1) A Traitor in Whitehall (click here) 

Author: Julia Kelly

Copyright: October 2024 (Minotaur Books) 336 pgs

Series: 2nd in Evelyne Redfern Mysteries

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Cozy mystery, woman espionage

Main Character: Evelyne Redfern, newbie agent

Setting: WWII era, Sussex, England

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "Freshly graduated from a rigorous training program in all things spy craft, former typist Evelyne Redfern is eager for her first assignment as a field agent helping Britain win the war. However, when she learns her first task is performing a simple security test at Blackthorn Park, a requisitioned manor house in the sleepy Sussex countryside, she can’t help her initial disappointment. Making matters worse, her handler is to be David Poole, a fellow agent who manages to be both strait-laced and dashing in annoyingly equal measure. However, Evelyne soon realizes that Blackthorn Park is more than meets the eye, and an upcoming visit from Winston Churchill means that security at the secret weapons research and development facility is of the utmost importance.

When Evelyne discovers Blackthorn Park’s chief engineer dead in his office, her simple assignment becomes more complicated. Evelyne must use all of her—and David’s—detection skills to root out who is responsible and uncover layers of deception that could change the course of the war." 

I love Evelyn (Ellie.) She's strong and fierce while being levelheaded, whip smart, and a touch sassy.  She embodies the spirit of women during the war, stepping up and out of their traditional roles to serve their country. I really appreciate that Evelyn has close female friends that are in her corner. 

David Poole is her handler, but feels more comfortable investigating by her side. This is a slow burn with chemistry but "it's complicated." I like David and think they are good together. I'm looking forward to how the relationship will develop.

The setting of Blackthorn Park gives a dash of intrigue. I enjoy getting to read about a country manor that was requisitioned for the war effort, which happened a good bit in England. It provides a small pool of suspects and is removed from the town enough to add a delicious isolated feel.

I zoomed through the book, devouring the story. The pacing was spot on with plenty of suspects and motives. The killer confrontation was thrilling and dangerous making a great resolution to the tale.  The denouement introduces a tantalizing new development that I have no doubt will carry into the next book.

My Thoughts:  I adore this series. Wonderfully developed characters that seem to be real. Well thought out intrigue with great period details and plenty of suspects to investigate.  The writing style has a period feel and balanced action with setting and descriptions.  This series is a pure delight to read.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

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Mystery Movie Review - Copycat

 Copycat 1995.  Per usual, this movie did well so Hollywood threw together a sequel that did so poorly you can barely find it mentioned.  Which is fine.  Let this movie stand on its own.  This is one of those rarities that was never a book first.  

What it's about:  A criminal psychologist who became agoraphobic (afraid to leave the house) after a murder attempt agrees to help two San Francisco detectives hunt for a copycat serial killer who intends on making her his next victim.

Tagline:  One man is copying the most notorious killers in history one at a time. Together, two women must stop him from killing again. Or they're next.

Rated R for violence and language

Filmed in San Francisco CA

Cast:

Sigourney Weaver as Helen Hudson

Holly Hunter as MJ Monahan

Dermot Mulroney as Ruben Goetz

William McNamara as Peter Foley

Harry Connick Jr. as Daryll Lee Cullum

J.E. Freeman as Lt. Quinn

Will Patton as Nicoletti

Director: Jon Amiel

Writers: Ann BidermanDavid Madsen

Rotten Tomatoes (76%) and critics reviews:

• "Copycat is a well-paced thriller, adroit, compelling, and slick."  Barbara Shulgasser - Common Sense Media

• "It's one of the better thrillers of the 1990s." Dennis Schwartz of Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

• "What raises Copycat marginally above the second-rate and impotent is director Jon Amiel."  Peter Keough of Boston Phoenix

• "Although the plotting of this mystery-thriller about a copycat killer is flawed, Hunter and Weaver drive the show with strong performances."  Jeff Strickler of Minneapolis Star Tribune

• "A straightforward intelligent thriller."  Steven Rea of Philadelphia Inquirer

• "A serial killer drama that stands above the rest of the copycats."  Malcolm Johnson of Hartford Courant

• "Killer star power propels Copycat."  Steve Murray of Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• "A grade B thriller with a grade A cast, and this time the cast makes all the difference."  Rene Rodriguez of Miami Herald

Noteworthy awards or rankings:

-- 1996 Winner of Special Mention by Sigourney Weaver & Holly Hunter 

Cognac Festival du Film Policier

-- 1996 Winner Audience Award Director Jon Amiel 

Cognac Festival du Film Policier

-- 1996 Nominee Saturn Award for Best Music from

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

-- Included among the American Film Institute's 2001 list of 400 movies nominated for the top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies.

Trivia (mostly from IMDB):

-- Years later, Sigourney Weaver would state that she was most proud of her work in this film. She worked hard to portray the mindset of an agoraphobic, and has regretted that the movie was lost in a shuffle of thrillers at the time and is not better remembered.

-- To research her role, Sigourney Weaver consulted with leading forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz, who had interviewed serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

-- Harry Connick Jr. spent weeks watching documentaries on serial killers in preparation for his role.

-- Sigourney Weaver is almost a foot taller than Holly Hunter, thus for many scenes Weaver would be sitting down to make their heights appear more equal.

-- The climactic bathroom scene took 8 days to film.

-- William McNamara spoke to the Happy Horror Time Podcast and told them his character was entirely re-written and re-shot after failed screen tests deemed him the worst part of the movie, calling his character "too cerebral". The rewrite was done by Frank Darabont and McNamara was coached by Anthony Hopkins for his re-shoots.

-- Holly Hunter hung out with several homicide detectives in downtown L.A. to help her get into character.

-- James Newton Howard was approached to score the film, but turned it down to work on Waterworld (1995) instead. Christopher Young replaced him, and director Jon Amiel was so happy with the result, he renewed his collaboration with Young on several other films.

-- In each appearance, Holly Hunter has a different hairstyle.

-- When Sigourney Weaver lures the serial killer to come to her, she whispers "kitty, kitty, kitty". Those are the same words she whispered in the classic sci-fi epic "Alien", when she was looking for her real cat, but instead the alien monster appeared. Some piano chords in the final credit soundtrack resemble the same chords as in "Alien".

-- (at around 24 mins) The captain says to MJ that he had worked the Zodiac case. Dermot Mulroney (Ruben) later played a captain in the movie Zodiac (2007).

My Thoughts:

This is one of those movies that you remember years after seeing it.  The cast makes this movie shine. Sigourney Weaver is at the top of her acting in this movie.  Forget Alien, give me this movie for her abilities as an actress.  I must mention Harry Connick Jr playing a ruthless killer who has a cult following - he is scary believable.  A bit too believable.  I've never looked at him the same since, it was so well done.  And Holly Hunter was great in this as the police detective. 

The movie kept me glued to it and the suspense builds like a classic Hitchcock.  Is it perfect, no.  But it is a great bit of suspense and does its job of entertaining and taking the audience on a ride.  It has 1995 computers and is a bit nostalgic in that regard.  Revisit this classic thriller  for its straightforward storytelling and edge of your seat killer confrontation.

Movie Trailer:

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Review - Bear Witness

I love starting at the beginning with a series, and here is a brand new one featuring Alaska and its wildlife.  I jumped on the chance to read and review.

The author is also known as Linda O. Johnston. She is known for writing K-9 Ranch Rescue. She also writes cozy mysteries, including the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series and Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and the Pet Rescue Mystery Series (Beaglemania review-click here) and Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries for Berkley.

Let's see how this new series is shaping up from the debut novel.

Author: Lark O. Jensen

Copyright: May 2022 (Crooked Lane) 313 pgs

Series: 1st in Alaska Untamed Mysteries

Sensuality: Off-page intimacy alluded to

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy mystery, amateur sleuth

Main Character: Stacie Calder, Naturalist and ClemTour Boat Guide

Setting: Contemporary, Juneau Alaska

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "No nine-to-five cubicle career will suit Stacie Calder—the naturalist much prefers working in the great outdoors. Specifically, the spacious and spectacular Alaskan wilderness, whose rugged charms she shares with sightseers on the top deck of the tour boat where she works. But one May afternoon, Stacie’s passengers see more than glittering glaciers, frolicking harbor seals, climbing bears and soaring seabirds…they also witness a man lying dead in the frigid Alaskan waters. And it seems likely that someone gave him a fatal push.

    Stacie didn’t know the unfortunate victim, but he sure wanted to know a lot about her. He spent most of his final afternoon bombarding her with questions quite awkward to answer. And when he wasn’t in her hair, he was arguing incessantly with the boat’s beleaguered crew. Which makes for a suspect list about as long as the passenger manifest. Furthermore, as police helicopters relentlessly circle her boat in search of any clues, Stacie is shaken to find herself on that suspect list.

    Before the tour boat reaches shore Stacie—accompanied by her beautiful blue-eyed husky, Sasha—must deduce just who sent the testy tourist tumbling into the turgid waters and have the authorities take custody. Because if she can’t, then the killer might aim a fatal ice-cold stare at Stacie." 

Tour guide and Naturalist Stacie Calder is a bit of a mixed bag. She is definitely very independent with her husky by her side. She has a few work semi-friendships with other guides, but doesn't seem to have a close friend. She is a great pet parent taking care of Sasha, her two y/o husky. But otherwise, the character seemed all about her job. 

Palmer Clementos, tour owner's son and Captain of the tour boat, is a prime suspect and Stacie want's to prove him innocent as her motivation to investigate.  Then there is Liam Amaruq, Alaska State Trooper, leading the investigation.  I don't like a police-boyfriend because it always seems to end up in an argument about sleuthing. But this was the opposite, he encouraged her to ask questions of people. Their relationship seems to develop quickly as well, before long he is staying the night with her.  Those two combined while investigating a murder that she could be a suspect for, seemed unprofessional if not questionable.

The setting is primarily the tour boat and the 7 hour tour - several times. The sights and wildlife made me want to be there.  But after reading through four trips (or was it five?) it was becoming annoying and dry.  I hope the next book isn't the same. 

The pacing suffers a bit because of that.  The plot of figuring out whodunit is hard since the motive is assumed.  It has an exciting killer reveal with danger and jeopardy... aboard the tour boat.  

My Thoughts:  It took three chapters of the same tour to introduce base cast of characters and set up the murder.  That stuck out to me which means I was wanting it to move along a bit. Be aware it has a slow start, so hang in there.  As I mentioned, it dragged in parts due to multiple tours on page in detail that got old. Of course, it was whittling down the suspects, but the same tour several times didn't work well even with breaking it up with questioning people. Stacie Calder as a sleuth was very direct and off-putting in some instances.  She needs a bit more subtlety, maybe a lot more. She seemed to only anger people and didn't seem to uncover much of anything.  Overall it is an interesting premise that has some merit but some parts need smoothed out.  I think the author is great, so I will give the next book a go and see if it finds its groove for me.

Rating: Good - A fun read with beautiful setting but minor flaws.  

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Review - Lies That Comfort & Betray

 "For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries…

From the author of What the Dead Leave Behind, this suspenseful and richly atmospheric mystery captures both the elegance and sophistication of New York’s Gilded Age—and the secrets and bloody terrors that lurk behind its elegant facades... 

I have read one other in this series:

6) The Dead Cry Justice (click here)

But I am going back to the second book in the series because the premise just grabbed me.  Join me down that rabbit hole.

Author: Rosemary Simpson

Copyright: Jan 2018 (Kensington Books) 413 pgs

Series: 2nd in Gilded Age Mysteries

Sensuality: Clinical description of "ripper-like" murders, No profanity or vulgarity.

Mystery Sub-genre: Historical Mystery

Main Characters: Prudence MacKenzie, judge's daughter and heiress-turned-sleuth 

Setting: 1888, New York City 

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "Heiress Prudence MacKenzie is a valuable partner to attorney Geoffrey Hunter, despite the fact that women are not admitted to the bar in nineteenth-century New York. And though their office is a comfortable distance from the violence of the city’s slums, the firm of Hunter and MacKenzie is about to come dangerously close to a high-profile killer across the pond . . .

 Nora Kenny works in Prudence’s Fifth Avenue house, just as her mother once served Prudence’s mother. As children, they played freely together, before retreating into their respective social classes. Still, they remain fond of each other. So when Nora’s body is discovered in a local park, Prudence is devastated. As other poor, vulnerable young women fall victim, the police are confounded. Has the Ripper crossed the Atlantic to find a new hunting ground? Is someone copying his crimes? A former Pinkerton agent, Geoffrey intends to step in, and Prudence is equally determined. But a killer with a disordered mind and an incomprehensible motive may prove too elusive for even this experienced pair to outwit." 

Prudence MacKenzie won't stay in her cocoon of privileges, she is determined to make a difference in the world. She is a heroine to cheer for. This case hits close to home and she won't sit by and do nothing.  Her business partner and attorney Geoffrey Hunter (former a Pinkerton Agent) is interesting with some baggage. His detective skills are truly tested on this case.  Josiah Gregory is their assistant who is a little bit of a mystery himself but is a great character.  Danny Dennis is a hansome cab driver who aids Prudence and Geoffrey along with his horse, Mr. Washington-delightful touch.  Big Brenda is the cook in a "house of ill-repute", and Kevin and Blossom-a homeless man and his super smart dog are minor characters that the author imbues with so much realism they shine.

The setting of the "Gilded Age" in New York is equally split between the grand ornate wealthy and the grimy poor on the streets or those in the middle struggling every day to have enough money to just get by.  Of course, since that was the biggest feature of the actual "Gilded Age" it follows a book in this time would have some on display.  Its realistic without being depressing.

The plot is what drew me to this book since "The Ripper" from London is the subject of many books and movies.  Why are we fascinated by that particular unsolved case?  This put a little different spin on the same old ripper idea with it being servants working in wealthy homes that are targeted. Plenty of suspects keep being uncovered as the case progresses.  I must say the plot was very well thought out.

The dramatic killer confrontation was quite tense and surprising. Not surprising as in who was the killer, but in how the scene played out and ended. Sometimes justice takes a different shape and that happened this time.  The wrap-up was perfect.

My Thoughts:  A little grittier and darker, along the lines of Sebastion St. Cyr books, without being gruesome or depressing. The premise of a killer like the Ripper here in America was well done with plenty of suspects and one that seemed had to be the killer.  The characters really come alive and seem real.  Excellent mystery with just the right mix of all elements to provide a thrilling tale.

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. 

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Mystery Movie Review - Conclave

 Conclave the movie is adapted from the international bestselling novel by Robert Harris published in 2016.

What it's about:  The Pope has died, but there are many questions surrounding his passing.  When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.  Once the Church's most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope's wake.

Rated: PG

Tagline: What happens behind these walls will change everything.

Cast:

Ralph Fiennes: Lawrence

Stanley Tucci: Bellini

John Lithgow: Tremblay

Lucian Msamati: Adeyemi

Jacek Koman: Wozniak

Bruno Novelli: Dead Pope

Thomas Loibl: Mandorff

Brían F. O'Byrne: O'Malley

Isabella Rossellini: Sister Agnes

Sergio Castellitto: Tedesco

Carlos Diehz: Benitez

Director: Edward Berger

Writers: Peter Straughan & author Robert Harris

Rotten Tomatoes and critics reviews:

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

"[Fiennes's] performance is a study in restraint, yet he effortlessly conveys the internal turmoil of a man who is deeply torn between duty and conscience." Devesh Sharma of Filmfare

"A faithful adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel, screenwriter Peter Straughan delivers a brave and layered script that compels you to scratch the surface and think beyond the obvious crisis in picture." Renuka Vyavahare of The Times of India

"A faithful adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel, screenwriter Peter Straughan delivers a brave and layered script that compels you to scratch the surface and think beyond the obvious crisis in picture." Juan Jose Beteta

"A slow-burning, fascinating and unpredictable narrative anchored by a colossal ensemble cast." Kiko Martinez of San Antonio Current

"Edward Berger‘s scandalous mystery set within the walls of the Vatican, is, at once, a revealing thriller as much as it is a delicious farce" Peter Gray of The AU Review

Noteworthy awards or rankings:

Nominated for 8 Oscars:

• Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score): Volker Bertelmann
• Best Motion Picture of the Year: Tessa Ross Juliette Howell Michael Jackman
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Ralph Fiennes
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Isabella Rossellini
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan
• Best Achievement in Film Editing: Nick Emerson
• Best Achievement in Production Design: Suzie Davies (production designer) Cynthia Sleiter (set decorator)
• Best Achievement in Costume Design: Lisy Christl

12 BAFTA Nominations
11 Critics Choice Awards
6 Golden Globe Nominations
294 total nominations all told

Trivia (mostly from IMDB):

• It's established that there are 108 cardinals involved in the conclave. However, in the third round of voting there are a total of 110 votes and then in the fifth round of voting there are 113 total votes counted.
• Many of the actions Cardinal Lawrence and the rest of the cardinals take during the film's conclave process are accurate to the Catholic faith and centuries of tradition.
• In the novel, Cardinal Benitez is a Filipino, and from the Archdiocese of Baghdad, not Kabul.
• Isabella Rossellini, who began acting in films in the 1970s, earned her first Oscar nomination for her performance in this film.
• The film's cast includes four Oscar nominees: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.
• In the novel, Ralph Fiennes's character is named Cardinal Lomeli.
• This is the fourth time a Sistine Chapel set has been built at Cinecittà Studios for a feature film, after The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965), The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968), and The Two Popes (2019).

My Thoughts:

First, the cinematography is phenomenal, lush, and rich. Like a work of art, light and dark are used for emphasis and symbolism.  A feast for the eyes. The music score is impressive as well.  The acting was equally great.  Isabella Rossellini is the only woman in the cast, other than nameless nuns scurrying around, and her presence is felt throughout the movie.  Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow all give top-of-their-game performances.  Acting students will be watching and taking notes for generations to come.  

The message is timely and clearly about challenges and decision facing the church and nations today.

The directing delivers a taught thriller, albeit slow burn, when it could have been tedious or boring.  The script is quite well done, except the twist at the end comes out of nowhere. It was never set up early on and certainly no hints of it so the viewer can go "oh, of course-why didn't I get that" so I feel it was a cheat, like a jump scare, to jolt the viewer out of left field.  Definitely worth seeing if you haven't already.  

Did you see Conclave?  Leave your thoughts on the movie in the comments.

Movie Trailer:

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Musings - The Significance of the Library of Alexandria

Library of Alexandria: A Lost Gem

    The Library of Alexandria was a massive library in ancient Egypt.  Although it wasn't the first, it was perhaps one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world, and certainly the most famous.  

    The first library was about five thousand years ago in Assyria (from Mesopotamia to the Nile area) called the Library of Ashurbanipal.

    The Library of Alexandria (about 2300 years ago) was famous for its quite large collection that included hundreds of thousands of scrolls on science, literature, mathematics, astronomy, poetry, and much more in languages from Greek to Hieroglyphics.  Ancient Rome had a high regard for arts and literature. The library no doubt had gathered Greek plays, art, and great philosophies from Plato and others since they were key to education.  It included collections from other cultures to broaden perspectives and preserve those items.  

    Unlike the Library of Ashurbanipal that was solely for the ruler's pleasure, Alexandria's was intended as a center for learning that attracted scholars from all over the region and meant to be a shining a beacon of knowledge, culture, and intellectual pursuit.  

    Even in ancient Egypt, learning and education were highly regarded as a crucial role in a society's success.  

    As part of it's mission as a learning center, it was strategically built in Alexandria.  The city was founded by Alexander the Great and developed under the Ptolemies and wisely located along trade routes that made the exchange of ideas and culture easily accessible. Because of being on several key trade routes, Alexandria was a convergence point of Egyptian, Jewish, Greek, and later Roman cultures-diversity, oh my.  This made it easier for scholars to travel to the library besides the ease of bringing items through the trade routes for the library's collections.

    The Library of Alexandria was conceived by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great, during his reign around 283 BCE.  Ptolemy had the grand vision of a comprehensive collection of all available knowledge and put money and effort into the endeavor to acquire texts.  He also employed skilled scholars as part of the endeavor (experts and intellectuals, dang).  His ambitious vision continued under his successors, including Ptolemy II, who expanded the library’s holdings and influence.

    Historians believe besides the Library housing texts covering  math, science, and philosophy, it included the works of great thinkers like Euclid, Archimedes, and perhaps cultural items like the plays of Sophocles.  It held a melting pot of ideas and was home to many important works that contributed to the advancement of various fields. 

    As library science goes, its model reportedly combined knowledge, culture, and community that gave a role model for future libraries around the world.  The way the library organized its collection was revolutionary for its time as well. This system of organization laid the groundwork for modern libraries.  It is suggested that the importance of libraries in education and self-learning that demonstrated the importance of organizing knowledge for easier understanding and application may have its origins back with this ancient center of knowledge.

What Did It Look Like?

    We have only a few descriptions of the library and none are very detailed on the architecture.  A few ancient historians refer to it as a sprawling and impressive building, which leads us to believe it was designed in a grand architectural style, likely with soaring columns, open courtyards that were part of the time, and intricate carvings such as many important buildings featured. 

    Inside, the library probably housed reading rooms, lecture halls, and vast shelves lined with hundreds of thousands of papyrus scrolls.

    We do know that the library was part of the Mouseion, a larger complex dedicated to the Muses, the Greek goddesses of art and science. The library probably had sculptures and carvings featuring the Muses.

Destruction of the Library

There is no definitive cause, but the demise of the library has been attributed to a few factors.  Civil wars caused damage, a few fires--some accidental but some intentional as part of the civil unrest (talk about short sighted and stupid), a towering factor was Julius Caesar's sieges (from 48 to 47 BCE) causing a fire that did extensive damage. Then there is the emergence of Christianity that probably sparking tensions against all that knowledge from varying belief systems and cultures likely viewed as a threat to the one and only true belief system.

    The exact date and cause are up in the air--this could have been a blow to the morale of the people.  Here are some possible dates and causes:

• 272 CE: Emperor Aurelian may have destroyed the library during his war with Zenobia. 
• 297 CE: Diocletian may have destroyed the library. 
• 391 CE: Christian zealots may have destroyed the library. 
• 415 CE: Christian zealots may have destroyed the library.

    To add a little mystery to the library's destruction there is a theory of a plot by certain individuals (or perhaps a group of people) who wanted to control knowledge and thus keep a strangle-hold on power.  Giving credence to the idea that knowledge is indeed power. The theory goes that this cabal felt it could limit access to information and hamstring the growth of new and "dangerous" ideas by destroying the library.  Gee, things haven't changed much, have they?

But it was just a library, who cares? What difference does all that information, knowledge, and culture really make?

    If the library had continued rather than be destroyed, the potential impacts include our understanding of geometry (crucial for fields like architecture, design, and engineering) could have progressed much faster,   breakthroughs in medical knowledge and medical practices could have spurred significant innovations sooner and saved countless lives, and philosophies that could have influenced Roman thought (Rome had many faults), such as early forms of ethical or political philosophy that could have improved our politics around the globe for the better.  The cultural sharing could have decreased wars and fostered pacts and agreements instead.  That's just scratching the surface.

    The world might have witnessed a flourishing of creativity that rivaled or maybe even surpassed the Renaissance era in art and thought hundreds of years earlier. 

     Instead, many historians firmly believe the loss of all the knowledge that was critical to the empire's advancement was a significant contributing factor to the fall of Rome.  Rome had benefitted from the library and it was part of its power.  Yes, knowledge is that important to the survival of a society.  

    After the loss of the library, Rome experienced a decline in education and civic engagement.  There was a shift away from the principles that held Rome together and made it Rome.  According to historian Edward Gibbon, the "decline of the Roman Empire" was partly due to this reduction in civic duty and public learning.

    The Romans were renowned for their engineering prowess and administrative systems. But once the Library, the cultural and educational center of Alexandria, fell--Rome's days were numbered.  

    Roman society turned inward and cut off from others, innovation in many fields slowed to a halt without the stimulation of new ideas.  Those new ideas also challenged the traditions and ideologies, but their removal resulted in cultural stagnation. The fall of Rome led to the Dark Ages where education was limited and reserved for a select few behind doors and traditional beliefs and superstition ruled the masses.  An important lesson to be learned for our current day.

Lessons for the Modern World

    Today, the story of the Library of Alexandria serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of preserving knowledge. Libraries are not merely collections of books; they are vital to understanding history, culture, science, and many other key aspects of human existence. 

    The loss of the Library of Alexandria emphasizes the need for established systems that safeguard knowledge. Today, libraries serve as both sanctuaries and stores of wisdom. They ensure that we do not lose the hard-won knowledge of generations past. With community programs, reading clubs, and other initiatives in public libraries, we can imagine creating a spirit similar to that of the Library of Alexandria: where ideas flow freely and disciplines intertwine.

    Libraries are still the heart of our communities, just like the Library of Alexandria was in its time. They offer us a treasure trove of resources, from books to technology, helping us grow and discover new worlds through reading.  They preserve literature and historical documents, digitize texts, and provide access to information, making it easier for people to learn and share knowledge.

    We can support our libraries by borrowing books, attending events, volunteering, donating, and advocating for public funding to ensure that they continue to provide valuable resources for everyone.

    The Library of Alexandria remains a symbol of the importance of knowledge and learning in our lives.  It’s crucial to recognize that knowledge has power.  A well-informed society can innovate, create, and uphold unity, without it they will be the dust of history.

      A society that neglects knowledge is likely to repeat mistakes of the past.

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