Saturday, September 23, 2023

Bob's Burgers, Volume 1 by Mike Olsen, Rachel Hastings, Justin Hook, Chad Brewster, Jeff Drake

There are a number of short stories that could have appeared in the show including Tina stories one where Tina is a horse who is called up to join the Equestranauts. Another has her brokering peace in space between the humans and the robots through dance. She also lives in the old west as Trick Shot Tina and in fictiom through "Franken-Butt." The last of Tina's stories has her as the last human in a zombie apocalypse but they arent after ehat you might think.
Louise has her "Unsolved Mysteries and Curious Curiosities" and gets caught up in a conspiracy around school picture day. She also tracks down the person defacing school library books. Adventure (and a shantytown) bloom when she gets a freezer box. She has fun spending the day invisible after mixing chemicals at school. Finally ahe thinks there is something wrong with her beloved Boo Boo when his face is obscired on several magazine covers.
Gene gets fused to his burger suit. He is also in a "Genemadeus" musical as well as "Guys and Frogs" and "Chupacabra-cadabra". He also helps save the nerds in "Robot College."

Three stars
This book came out March 31, 2015
Followed by Bob's Burgers, Volume 2
Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own


Friday, September 22, 2023

Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Volume I by Matthew Mercer, Matthew Colville, Olivia Samson, Chris Northrop

Two adventuring crews meet up and try to solve the mystery of why people are dying near a salt water swamp. As they explore, they are set upon by another group, have to face several magical beings, and are killed dead. The beginning of the book and several pages during the story show us that people will die on this adventure but it is still wrenching to see it. 

Three and a half stars
This book came out October 15, 2019
Followed by Volume II
Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Emily Goes to Exeter by M.C. Beaton

Miss Hannah Pym inherits a vast sum of weslth from her employer. She decides to travel England with the money and starts by purchasing a ticket to Exeter. It is the coach that used to go past her employer's house and she would dream of riding it. And her first travel is quite the adventure with a highwayman, a runaway bride, and a widow who is about to married to a man who may not be as he appears. The runaway bride's groom is also there and Miss Pym's new goal is to bring the two together because, well, they are so well-suited (at least by station). 
This book was originally written in 1990 but, even thirty years later, holds a lot of charm. 

Four stars
This book came out November 1, 1990
Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own


Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd

Caroline was disappointed by love when her father killed himself in disgrace. She broke off her engagement (her fiance didn't protest much) and became a lady's companion. Now her aunt wants her to come "home" for her cousin's come out ball. Caroline insists that her boss be allowed to come and bring her daughter as well. They are merchants so the daughter,  Dorothy, will have a great fortune and she is also pretty so she could potentially marry well. Her manner needs some work but she is presentable.
Caroline's cousin, Mabel, has insisted that a motley group be invited to her ball including many of the orphans that her parents took in. But strange things are happening. First, the butler is locked in the basement. Then Caroline's great aunt is murdered and her aunt and uncle refuse to acknowledge that anything is amiss.
The solution was a bit convoluted but I did enjoy most of the story.

Three and a half stars
This book came out May 31, 2022
Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Fry has a habit of creating sentences that make me pause my recording so that I can think about them, mull them over, taste them in my mind’s mouth. In other words, he’s a really good writer. And he has taken that skill to update the myths of Greece into a modern day story book. Over 15 hours of learning about the Gods and their foibles. It starts with the Titans and runs through Zeus and his many, many, many, …  many love affairs as well as the rest of the pantheon of the gods. 

Four and a half stars
This book came out 
Followed by Heroes
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Monday, September 18, 2023

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

A friend of Stephen's, Kuldesh , is an antiques dealer. He knows that antique shops are sometimes sites of drug pickups but he'd prefer his not be one of them. Of course, when a gentleman comes in with a box full of heroin, Kuldesh also knows not to refuse. It is this box that will lead to Kuldesh's death and the involvement of the Thursday Murder Club. 
We are introduced to any number of new characters in this book but, if you've read other books in the series, it will not feel overwhelming. There are drug smugglers, antique forgers, a gentleman named Bob (Computer Bob) who helps out when Mervyn falls for an online scam, and a fox that is comes toward Stephen and Elizabeth's apartment every night. There are also a number of deaths including at least one character we've grown to love.
Lots of emotions wrung out in this book. Delightful as always. 

Four and a half stars
This book comes out September 19, 2023
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Sunday, September 17, 2023

The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown

Christopher is wondering why his grandfather's house isn't being decorated for Christmas. It seems that they've been invited to the home of an old friend of Lord Edgington. But when they arrive, the house is curiously silent and seemingly unoccupied. Slowly, other guests begin to arrive including Christopher's friend Marmaduke and his father, the questionable businessman, then others including an unassuming teacher, a comedian, a cricket player, and more. They have something in common: no one knows why they were invited. 
A nice addition to the series. 

Four stars
This book came out November 14, 2021
Followed by the Tangled Treasure Trail
Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own