Book Cover of the Month: May

I love the reflection of a lounging lady in the martini glass. Truth be told, I love the martini glass on its own. The Retirement Plan was a close second for my book of the month but it's cover is exquisite. The cover design was created by Ben Prior but the cover illustrations were drawn by Camillia Pinheiro.

Ben Prior is a UK graphic designer specialising in book design. He studied Graphic Design: Visual Communication at the University of Creative Arts Canterbury. Prior currently works at Little,Brown, a division of Hachette as a Middleweight Designer. He has been Shortlisted for several awards but won the ABCD Awards 2021 in the crime and thriller category. 

Camillia Pinheiro is based in São Paulo, Brazil. She loves using tropical colors in her illustrations, which reflects her Brazilian roots. Pinheiro has illustrated book covers in the U.S, U.K. and French markets. In addition, she is the first woman to design the US Open's Tennis theme art in a decade. 

Book of the Month: May

The Keeper of Lost Art is by far the best book I read this month. The Retirement Plan was a close second but I could not forget the story of the Italian family who hid paintings from the Nazis during WWII. Days after I read it, I was still pondering the story. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. The plot shows us readers what the Italians had to deal with during WWII. This is a viewpoint I have never read about before. The families left behind by the Italian soldiers was fraught with food and gas shortages as well as fear of the Germans who were occupying their country.

The main character is Stella. For Stella's family, they were tested beyond belief. Her uncle, zio Tino, and her aunt, zio Angela, allowed over 200 refugees to live in their wine cellar, for almost a year. Angela, Stella, and her cousins Livia and Mariasole did all of the cooking, using up the family’s private storage of food for these strangers. A representative of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence talks zio Tino into storing a few hundred paintings on the property. Tino is now responsible for preventing the Germans from taking them.

There is so much more to the story but I will leave my synopsis here. Note, however, that the book might be my favorite WWII historical fiction novel of all time. This is a must read.

Spent

Alison Bechdel's Spent graphic novel was published earlier this week. The novel's main character is Alison herself but this Alison has a different life history. Book Alison runs a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont. She is upset over climate change and the possibility of civil war in the U. S.  Book Alison’s first graphic novel was about her father’s taxidermy business and was made into a successful, Emmy award winning TV show. Alison is trying to sell her second graphic novel, which is about late capitalism and her guilt over being white. She wants to free people from consumer capitalism and live a more ethical life. However, she wonders whether her love of her middle class lifestyle is a betrayal of her lifelong values.

The book is quite funny. The plot is structured around the contents of a Marxist explanation of money. While this sounds serious, it is written with funny lines by all of the characters who are not afraid to poke fun at themselves and the politicians they follow. Alison has a conservative sister Sheila who is a nationally renowned seed artist. Sheila and Alison just barely tolerate each other. The story became slow in the middle. There was too much dialogue on politics and special interest groups and not much action. We read about Alison’s daily life here.

Alison’s partner is Holly. She is a sculptor by trade. Holly's character resembles the author’s own wife, Holly Rae Taylor, an artist who did the coloring on Spent. The couple meets daily with their friends, which includes Stuart who is a Bernie Sanders look-alike, Stuart's wife Sparrow and their college dropout kid, J.R., and Lois, who acts as a sort of tour guide to other people’s sexual hangups and fetishes.

I would not recommend the book for children. While there is no profanity, the book has several drawings of characters having sex. In addition, there are discussions among them about being lesbians. I don't think kids would be interested in it anyway because the storyline is about middle aged characters. All of the characters are extremely liberal in their politics. They constantly talk about their activities volunteering for many political groups.

I enjoyed this comic but there was too much politics for my taste. I am rating it 4 out if 5 stars.

The Retirement Plan

I chose The Retirement Plan as my selection for the Calendar of Crime Reading Challenge this month. It was published a few days ago. The story is a funny cozy mystery that anyone whoever has been married, yes everyone, will enjoy.

The publisher's summary:

Three best friends turn to murder to collect on their husbands’ life insurance policies… But the husbands have a plan of their own in this darkly funny debut that will delight readers from the first laugh to the final twist.

After thirty years of friendship, Pam dreams of her perfect retirement with Nancy, Shalisa, Marlene, and their husbands—until their husbands pool their funds for an investment that goes terribly wrong. Suddenly, their golden years are looking as dreary as their marriages.

But when the women discover their husbands have seven-figure life insurance policies, a new dream forms. And this time, they need a hitman.

Meanwhile, their husbands are working on their own secret retirement scheme and when things begin to go sideways, they fear it’s backfired. The husbands scramble to stay alive…but soon realize they may not be quick enough to outmaneuver their wives.

I feel that the first few chapters were slow while the author set up her plot. There were alot of characters introduced as well as the backstory on the two retirement plans. This plot is the most ingenious plot I ever heard. I knew the book would be entertaining so while it began slow I kept reading and soon was hooked. 

The characters are hilarious. The three wives and the three husbands behaved ridiculously. None of them could successfully carry out a plan and they all bumbled their actions. The person in the middle of it all is the barber, Hector, who just happens to be an organized crime killer from Central America. The story was revealed through four alternating points of view. The wives had one viewpoint, the husbands had theirs, the new manager of the casino where the husbands worked, Padma, had hers  and then we have Hector's. The novel switches points of view frequently. And while I enjoyed the antics of the husbands and wives tremendously, I think my favorite chapters were probably from the perspective of Padma, the frazzled casino boss of two of the husbands with an overbearing mother. Hector is also a cool character to follow.

Humor exudes throughout the story because of the zany plot. You can't help but chuckle at everyone's antics. The Retirement Plan is the type of yarn that all will enjoy. I highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Ms. Tree Volume 3: The Cold Dish

Volume 3 of the Ms. Tree comics series was published in November 2021. It is the usual 262 pages and collects Ms. Tree’s Thrilling Detective Adventures 1-9 and The Files of Ms. Tree Volume 1 originally released by Eclipse Magazine. Unfortunately, the first part of volume 3 was drawn in black and white comic book panels. Then the color releases followed.

The story opens with Ms. Michael Friday meeting Mr. Mike Tree. Yes, she was Girl Friday. They soon marry and plan a one day honeymoon. However, Mr. Tree is shot and killed in their hotel room by the Muerta Mob. The remainder of the book deals with how she copes with life, taking over Mike's private investigation company.

This volume has republished the earliest Ms. Tree releases and contains the beginning sequences of the series. It would have been nice for these volumes to have been republished in order. I guess you can't have everything.

4 out of 5 stars.

Can't Wait Wednesday #44

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Wishful Endings blog. This meme spotlights the books that we are excited about but have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. 

This week I am highlighting Gary McAvoy's first book in his Vatican Archeology series: Covenant of the Iron Cross. He has previously written the Mary Magdalene series and the Vatican Secret Archives series. All three series feature Father Michael Dominic as the main character. The book was published on February 18, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

When Vatican archaeologist Marcus Russo uncovers the fabled Nazi Gold Train buried deep within the Owl Mountains of Poland, he expects to find a forgotten trove of looted treasures. Instead, he unearths a chilling codex that points to a dark and dangerous legacy: Operation Eisenkreuz, a Nazi plan to seed chaos and power across the globe long after their fall. But Marcus soon realizes the train’s secrets are only the beginning. Shadowed by an elusive and ruthless faction known as the Covenant of the Iron Cross, Marcus and his allies—Father Michael Dominic and journalist Hana Sinclair—must race against time to stop the Covenant from using the artifacts to reignite their deadly ambitions.

As Marcus pieces together the codex’s fragmented clues, he discovers it holds more than history—it holds the key to a network of hidden Nazi caches and an unfinished plan that could shift the global balance of power. But the Covenant will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried, infiltrating even the highest echelons of the Vatican itself. From the war-torn archives of Rome to the frozen depths of Eastern Europe, Marcus, Michael, and Hana are drawn into a treacherous game of cat and mouse, where every discovery raises new questions. Who can they trust, and how deep does the Covenant’s influence run?

In Covenant of the Iron Cross, suspense and intrigue collide in a race to unravel a conspiracy decades in the making. Combining historical mysteries with modern stakes, this gripping novel explores the cost of uncovering forbidden truths—and the resilience of those who dare to stand against evil. This thriller delves into the shadows of history, challenging readers to confront how the echoes of the past still shape the present.

So, what books are you waiting to read? 

Ms. Tree Volume 2: Skeleton in the Closet

Volume 2 of the Ms. Tree graphic novel saga was published in October 2020.  It collects Ms. Tree Quarterly releases 2, 4, 6, and 10. These issues were originally released by DC Comics and have been republished under Titan Comic’s Hard Case Crime imprint.

Our protagonist Ms. Michael Tree is a 6 foot tall, gun toting female private investigator. She solves crimes of passion, murder and intrigue. Ms. Tree doesn't think any case is too small, or too violent. All she cares about is getting the job done. Along the way she fights to get revenge for her murdered husband.

Skeleton in the Closet was set and written in the 80's. It's definitely for mature audiences as the story deals with cases of Satanic worship, homophobia, date rape, and missing POW's from Vietnam. It was quite innovative at the time it was originally written, being one of the first comics to not only deal with homophobia but have a supporting character come out in the book. The storyline also takes a hard look at date rape decades before the MeToo movement began. 

This was a fascinating look back in time. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Ms. Tree Volume 1: One Mean Mother

I recently discovered this book from Comixology Unlimited. It is the first collection of five classic Ms. Tree comics. Collection #1 collects issues #1, 4, 7, 8, and 9 of the “Ms. Tree Quarterly,” the follow-up series by DC Comics to the fifty-issue series by smaller publishers. The Ms. Tree comics began 37 years ago and over the years has been optioned to several TV stations.

Ms. Michael Tree is a 6 foot tall,  gun toting female private investigator. She solves crimes of passion, murder and intrigue in these  satisfying stories. Ms. Tree doesn't think any case is too small, or too violent. All she cares about is getting the job done. Along the way she fights to get revenge for her murdered husband.

One Mean Mother begins with Ms. Tree being hired to find out who killed her arch nemesis at Muerta Investigations, Dominique Muerta. She was hired by the deceased's daughter who just happens to be dating her stepson, Michael Tree, Jr. Ms. Tree begins her investigation by taking over the security of the Muerta company and tightens up security at the building in which it is located. Then we backtrack in time to when Ms. Tree met her husband while they were both in college. The book continues to move back and forth in time, but telling a complete story.

If you like hard boiled mysteries and/or are looking for a strong female character in your comics then you want to get this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper is a historical fiction novel of 1937 India and England. It was published last year on August 12, 2024. The story has a dual timeline from the character Rani in the 1930s and 1940s India to Esme in the current time period.

The publisher's summary:

1938, Rani - the bright and spirited daughter of an Indian Crown Prince - leads a privileged if lonely life. But everything is about to change. Longing for freedom and purpose, she escapes the confines of her father’s palace and meets Prasad – a poor young man – with whom she falls deeply in love. But her plan to gain her father’s approval for the match disastrously backfires.

Estranged from her family and haunted by guilt, Rani’s path takes her from Cambridge to Bletchley Park and a new world of intrigue and secrets. Against the backdrop of war, Rani finds comfort and a sense of belonging with fellow codebreaker William and his young son. Could they heal her heart and become the family she craves?

Then Prasad reappears – and past and present collide, shattering Rani’s fragile happiness. As retribution for the hurt she caused him, he demands she pass him secrets from Bletchley. But at what cost? Torn between her past and her present, love and loyalty, Rani must face up to a heart-wrenching sacrifice . . .

I knew this book would be entertaining because Renita D'Silva always crafts a fine story. The Secret Keeper is another beautiful example of her writing. The novel's setting in India was described must better than that in Britain and Germany. The exotic foods, clothing, and atmosphere brought it to life for me and I can never get enough of reading about India. As such, I loved Rani’s life there. However, most of the story takes place in Bletchley Park. This is where Rani shined as a person. She was able to break through the constraints imposed upon her gender and perform work equal to any man. Her actual workplace was the only setting portrayed in Britain.

In the beginning of the story I had a difficult time connecting the lives of Esme and Rani. The Esme timeline was written with short paragraphs here and there compared to Rani’s. This suited me fine because Rani’s path was the more compelling. The connection between these two ladies was gradually revealed, keeping me hooked. 

Rani’s conundrum was that as a young girl she had lived a life free of the usual constraints against women. Her father was a prince of India and had left his royal life behind him. He supported Rani’s desire to be educated and encouraged her to think critically. However, after his father died he was called back to India where he became the opposite of who he had been. Rani and her mother were forced to live in separate quarters from the men and only saw her father and brother whenever they decided to visit. All of her father’s ideas of equal education for women disappeared. Rani wanted to attend college in Cambridge but was constantly rebuffed. After Rani met Prassad, she stole her father’s sword and gave it to him. The result for her was banishment from India but Prassad was tortured. Rani got what she wanted, though, a Cambridge education.

While Rani appears to be a strong woman, she seems to be a weak woman in her decision-making. I feel that she made some bad decisions while in England. I don't want to give any spoilers here, but many times she acted like the simple woman her newly crowned father believed her to be. I was struck by this dichotomy as I was reading. Rani is a complex character.

The Secret Keeper is a heartwarming tale about cultural differences in gender between the west and east. I loved it and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Can’t Wait Wednesday #43

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Wishful Endings blog. This meme spotlights the books that we are excited about but have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. 

This week I want to feature Bad Lands by authors Preston & Child. The book will be published on June 3, 2025. It is a Nora Kelly Novel wherein archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson, while investigating bizarre deaths in the desert, awaken an ancient evil more terrifying than anything they’ve faced before.

The story takes place in the New Mexico badlands, obviously given the title. The skeleton of a woman is found and the case is assigned to FBI Agent Corrie Swanson. After the victim walked into the desert, she died of heatstroke. Two rare artifacts are found clutched in her bony hands. They are lightning stones used by the ancient Chaco people to summon the gods.

Agent Swanson brings in archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate. A second body is later found exactly like the other. As Corrie and Nora pursue their investigation by visiting remote canyons, haunted ruins, and long-lost rituals, they find themselves confronting a dark power.

I have read most of Preston and Child's novels and all of them were entertaining. I am looking forward to reading the novel. What books are you looking to read?

The Great British Bump Off: Kill or be Quilt #1

Following the success of the Great British Bump Off baking murder mystery series, John Allison brings us a companion series. The Kill or Be Quilt series will have five releases and takes place in a fabric shop that we quilters refer to as a quilt shop. The next release will be published later today.

The publisher's summary:

When wildcat arson hits her new employer right where she lives, Shauna Wickle is drawn into the brutal and vindictive world of quilting, as sisterhood and community needlecraft deteriorate into internecine strife. With the promise of an end to all her financial worries, Shauna must cross enemy lines and infiltrate a cadre of “monsters in human skin”. But they seem…so nice

This is a light hearted cozy mystery in graphic novel format.  Shauna Wickle is the main character. She is a bright, kind, peppy girl who embarks on a relaxing vacation, sailing down English canals in a boat she borrowed from her uncle. However, Shauna is not an experienced sailor and soon finds that the boat has run aground and needs to be fixed before Shauna can continue her vacation. She is lucky to land in Barton-on-Wendle, and gets a job working at a fabric shop in order to earn money for repairs. At the shop she learns what a fat quarter is and is delighted to see bobbins of thread organized by color. Because of her bubbly personality, the shop owner believes Shauna will scare off their customers. We have to wait for the next release to find out how she fits in with the employees.

Way, way over 5 out of 5 stars.

The Way of the Wicked

I have been reading Mel Starr's books since he began writing. Last year he published this 17th novel in his Hugh de Singleton series. Way of the Wicked was a relaxing read, although there was some difficulty with medieval wording.

The publisher's summary:

Kendrick Wroe is found dead in the frozen Shill Brook.

Most suspect he has been poaching Lord Gilbert's fish, though Sir Hugh finds reason to believe this may not be so... Then one of Kendrick's friends is slain; another seems to be in mortal peril, and in an apparent attempt to throw Hugh off the scent, his comely daughter Bessie is abducted.

As the town drops all to find her, the tension steadily increases: a member of a plow team dies in mysterious circumstances, Kendrick's surviving friend is forced to flee for safety in Eynsham Abbey, and as events seemingly spiral out of control, it’s all Hugh can do to master his anxiety and uncover the killer...

Mel Starr's latest novel is a thoroughly enjoyable medieval murder mystery. It may be enjoyed as complete in itself, or as part of the Hugh de Singleton series.

I was surprised by how much difficulty I had in understanding all of the medieval words the author used. Some pages seemed to be written solely in old English. I was able to adjust but it took me at least a third of the book. For me that's unusual. Since I have read all of the sixteen prior installments of the series and never had this issue, I must wonder if the author changed his writing style. There is a lengthy glossary at the front of the book but since I read an ebook it seemed harder to keep going back and forth. I knew that the murders were coming soon so I kept on reading, assuming that I would like this whodunit. Thankfully, I did.

Why the title? In this story, two boys are murdered. The murderer fears that Hugh will find him out and finds wicked ways to distract him. I didn't quite catch the clues to the killer's identity. Hugh questioned a few people but was stumped throughoutmost of the story. Toward the end we read that he has figured out who the killer was but I have no idea how he came to his conclusions. Still, I enjoyed catching up with my favorite characters.

The author is a medieval scholar and brings authenticity to this era. However, I think a little less authenticity would be an improvement. 3 out of 5 stars.

Shang-Chi

I don't know why I didn't read this comic when it was first published in 2021. Gene Luen Yang is a favorite cartoonist of mine but I don't normally read super-hero stories. I finally read the book and it was fantastic. This book collects the following releases: Shang-Chi (2020) #1-5, Shang-Chi (2021) #1-12, Marvel's Voices: Identity (2021) #1 (Shang-Chi story), Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings (2022) #1-6, Shang-Chi: Master of the Ten Rings (2023) #1.

The publisher's summary:

The comic-book saga of Shang-Chi and the legendary Ten Rings. An ancient and evil secret society has remained in hiding since the death of their leader, Zheng Zu. But now a successor has been chosen: Zheng Zu's son, Shang-Chi! In a fractious family reunion, Shang-Chi gets to know the siblings he never knew he had! But who among them can he trust - and who is trying to kill him? As Shang-Chi assumes his rightful place as the leader of the Five Weapons Society, his fellow super heroes - including Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four - start to see him as the bad guy! And when he gains control of the massively powerful Ten Rings, every bounty hunter and assassin in the Marvel Universe is determined to take them from him!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book so perhaps I should reconsider my bias against super-hero stories. The artwork was exquisite and I loved all of the monsters. Dike Ruan did a great job drawing the comic book panels. Sebastian Cheng was the colorist and he added bright colors to every page. 

Shang-Chi is an awesome story and is suitable for kids. 4 out of 5 stars.