Can't Wait Wednesday #10

Ken Follett's newest book Never was just published a few days ago and I cannot wait to have the time to read it. It is over 800 pages so I probably won't be able to read it until after Christmas or New Year's Day. Never is a little different from Follett's earlier books. It is an international political thriller, not his usual historical fiction story. The plot line involves a shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert, a stolen U. S. Army drone, an uninhabited Japanese island, and another nation's secret stash of biological weapons. The characters who are fighting to prevent another world war include a young female intelligence officer, a spy working undercover with jihadists, a Chinese spymaster, and a female contender for the White House. This novel sounds like a Dan Silva book. I love Silva so I have high expectations for Never. Let's see how well. Follett can switch genres.

Can't Wait Wednesday #9

It's just a few more days before Laura Morelli's latest book is published. On September 21, 2021 The Stolen Lady is scheduled for publication. The publisher's website says that is about the Mona Lisa and it takes place during WWII. I have been a big fan of Morelli since The Painter's Apprentice came out. 

In The Stolen Lady there are 2 parallel plots.  In the 15th century, Leonardo Da Vinci is commissioned to paint a portrait of the wife of a silk trader named Lisa.  Lisa's servant gets caught up in a plot to rise up against the Medici family.  Her loyalty is split between Lisa and the insurgents who intend to seize assets, including art, from landowners. The servant, Bellina, decides to protect the unfinished portrait of Lisa.  In 1939 an archivist's assistant named Anne partakes in missions to hide museum pieces from the Nazis. Anne also becomes involved with the French Resistance. 

While there are a plethora of books about the Nazis and stolen art works, I am hoping that Morelli will bring something new to this sub-genre. 

Can't Wait Wednesday #8

Susan Wittig Albert is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors.  Her newest novel, Hemlock, is due for release on September 7, 2021. Albert writes the China Bayles Mystery Series that take place in Pecan Springs, Texas. With a cast of colorful characters, it always delivers a relaxing read. 

With this installment of the series, China Bayles travels to the North Carolina mountains to visit her friend Dorothea Harper. Harper is the director of the Hemlock House Library which houses a collection of rare gardening books. When the most valuable books disappears, Harper becomes the prime suspect. China steps in to search for the thief.

The author has only changed the location of her books once before. It was not pleasant reading so I am a little apprehensive about Hemlock. I can only hope that it turns out to be a good read.

Can't Wait Wednesday #6

 

I have always loved medical mysteries. One of my favorite authors of this mystery sub-genre is the late Michael Palmer. His son Daniel has published several books but he started out with a medical mystery just like his father. However, he has been branching out in the mystery genre and writing other types of novels. I have a standing search on Amazon for books written by Daniel Palmer but have not come up with anything for awhile. Palmer's newest book, The Perfect Daughter, has just been published but under the name D. J. Palmer. I don't know the reason for the name change but can't wait to get a copy of the book. 

The new book is a thriller about a teenager, Penny Francone, with multiple personality disorder. Penny has murdered another teenaged girl. The book explores the truth or lies about the girl's disorder through her trial on the murder charges. There is no doubt that Penny did the crime and the jury only has to decide whether she will live the rest of her life in a state mental hospital or in a maximum security prison. Penny's mother Grace resolves to determine why her daughter committed the crime and this reveals a shocking secret pertinent to the crime. 

This thriller has received many good reviews and I am looking forward to getting a copy of it.

Can't Wait Wednesday #5

I have just ordered a few comics from Amazon. Two limited series by acclaimed author Ed Brubaker sound fascinating and I don't know why I have not read him before. Here is what I am expecting in the mail:

Criminal is a seven part crime anthology that begins with Coward. Here, we see Leo planning a diamond heist. While each installment of the series follows a different character, some of the characters are connected to each other.  Also, they are all living in the same universe. Because of the world building in the series, I have heard that it would be best to read the books in order of publication.

Kill or Be Killed is a 20 part comic series. It was published monthly between August 2016 and June 2018. I ordered the deluxe edition which contains all volumes of the series.  The story follows depressed college student Dylan who survives a suicide attempt.  He is soon visited by a demon who explains why he allowed Dylan to live. Dylan must kill one person each month in order to continue living.

Post office, please don't take forever to deliver my books.

Can't Wait Wednesday #4

I am so glad that March has arrived.  I have been anxiously awaiting fashion designer Jenny Packham's book "How to Make a Dress - Adventures in the Art of Style."  It will be published tomorrow, March 4, 2021.  Packham is a British designer known for her couture bridal dresses.  She has dressed celebrities and royalty since 1988 and works from her London home.  I understand that this book will delve into her search for creative inspiration and show readers her studio.  Instead of being a sewing book, How to Make a Dress is about Packham's design process, how she sketches and selects fabrics.

Can't Wait Wednesday #3

 

Can't Wait Wednesday is a meme hosted by Tressa at the Wishful Endings blog. The meme features books you wish to read, preferably ones that haven't been published yet.

Marie Moinard will be publishing a new graphic novel on March 1, 2021.  Women Discoverers: Top Women of Science features 20 female scientists who enabled the world to advance in all areas of science. Christelle Pecout illustrated the comic.

A few of the women featured include astronaut Mae Jemison and chemist Marie Curie. The book sounds similar to Penelope Bagieu's Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World.  I loved this mini-biography of 30 famous and not so famous women. Both books will be inspiring for young girls and older women alike who are thinking about possible careers and career changes. I have pre-ordered a copy of the book. Let's hope the postal service can deliver it without too much delay. Service is awful lately.

Can't Wait Wednesday #2

The Can't Wait Wednesday meme is hosted by Tressa at the Wishful Endings blog. Here, you write a post about a book you want to read, preferably one that hasn't been published yet. 

One of my favorite authors has a new book coming out on March 1, 2021. Ellen Crosby's 11th wine country cozy mystery, The French Paradox, adds an historical aspect to the plot, a first for the series.  Our main character Lucie Montgomery, owner of a Virginia vineyard, discovers that her grandfather had a romantic relationship with Jackie Kennedy Onassis in 1949 during Jackie's junior year abroad in Paris. During her time in Paris, Jackie purchased several paintings of Marie Antoinette by an unknown artist. These paintings suddenly appear for sale in the present time.

From what I have read about this novel I gather that this is also an art mystery. In addition, it also seems that Lucy's grandfather will be more prominent than Lucy herself. What confuses me is that the earlier books in the series have always been straight murder mystery novels where the murder occurs in Lucy's vineyard. Lucy's disability has also been featured prominently in the series. She has a mobility impairment from an auto accident and needs to use a cane. How all these issues become tied together will be interesting to discover. I hope that this installment of the series won't be a disappointment. Other authors I read who crank out a book year after year tend to get bored with their series and change the formula for the genre as well as the setting of the books. It usually doesn't turn out well but we will see how Crosby's newest novel reads. Perhaps there is a murder somewhere in the plot and maybe the vineyard will be the spot for all of the action. I will have to wait for March to find out.

Can't Wait Wednesday

I can't wait for February to arrive.  One of my favorite authors will be publishing her latest novel. Stacy Green's One Perfect Grave will be published on February 25, 2021. I loved her debut novel The Girls in the Snow. She writes tight psychological thrillers that would make entertaining movies.

I am also anxiously waiting the publication of a new graphic novel by Jerome Mulot. The Grand Odalisque will be published on February 9.  In this comic two childhood friends make plans to steal a painting from the Louvre.  It is an 1814 painting by Ingres titled The Grand Odalisque. An odalisque is a concubine so I am wondering if that is the scene in the art work. I love art mysteries of every genre and expect this will become another great entry in this genre.