Friday, November 21, 2025

Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy L. Sayers

Great stories. Perfect for a night-time read. Peter solves wonderful cases including one with a sculptor whose model is perfect except for one toe, a will devised by a crossword fanatic, and one case which requires him to be "dead" for two years.

Four stars
Lord Peter Wimsey #4 (or maybe 4.5?)
This book came out in 1928

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Phineas and Ferb's A-MAZE-ing Creature Double Feature by The Disney Comics Group; Scott Peterson; Joshua Pruett

Whoever writes the comics has a fine understanding and love of the show. This time, there are two stories. One where Doof isn’t the villain (surprise). Instead, it is a group of scientists who dump a space chemical into the river and it starts making giant spiders and frogs and platypi. Does it make any sense? Does it ever? Is it fun? Yes.
The second story has the boys and their friends building a maze that ends up being giant when shot by Doofenschmertz’s latest invention, the elong-inator-anator. He also ends up with a big head and Perry has a large tail which makes for some interesting story lines.


Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 25, 2025
ARC kindly provided by Papercutz and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume

Sheila Tubman was a side character in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Now, she's front and center. She has a little bit of a lying problem along with a fear of swimming and dogs. Her family is getting out of the city for the summer and watching another family's house. And dog...
She's going to make some new friends this summer, including Mouse who isn't going to put up with Sheila's lies, but is surprisingly good at not calling her out on it. 

Four stars
Fudge #2
This book came out in 1972
Followed by Superfudge
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Monday, November 17, 2025

Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole, Lorna Bennett (Narrator)

Rosemary hasn't seen her grandmother in a long time. That's what makes it so surprising that she's been left her grandmother's whole estate. She's careful not to get her hopes up though anything will help. Her daughter's father has left them in a mountain of debt and Rosemary is drowning. 
Going to the small town to see what her inheritance is, Rosemary is also trying not to get her hopes up. She hasn't spoken to her grandmother in years and the house probably isn't much anyway. Once she's in town, however, she becomes a suspect in her grandmother's murder and isn't allowed to leave. 
The shocks don't stop coming when Rosemary discovers the other family legacy and has to figure out how to save them all.

Three and a half stars
This book came out July 25, 2023
Myrtlewood Mysteries #1
Followed by Experimental Magic
Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus
Opinions are my own


Sunday, November 16, 2025

100 Rules for Living to 100 by Dick Van Dyke

A collection of short stories taken from the life of Dick Van Dyke. Some are happy, some are sad, some are matter-of-fact. There are stories of his time on various sets as well as his descent into alcoholism. Overall is an air of sentimentality that is a little saccharine at points but well-deserved by an artist who has lived and worked as long as he has. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 18, 2025
ARC kindly provided by Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist by Dorothy Gilman

Let's be honest, the Pollifax books are a product of their time. It's aging better than some books and definitely captures the tone of its time.

John Farrell is back and needs the help of Mrs. Pollifax. There is a manuscript that needs to be smuggled out of a Middle Eastern country and the author only trusted Farrell. Having Emily P. will help him fly under the radar. Or so they would think. But Emily is seated next to a man who is not only overly garrulous, he is more dangerous than he appears. And that will double the danger they are in as he has done something that will affect their safety even more.

Three stars
This book came out in 1997
Mrs. Pollifax #13
Followed by Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled
Hard copy I did not keep
Opinions are my own

Friday, November 14, 2025

The House with No Keys by Lindsay Currie

The Deltas are back. They've been helping out at the fun house but both Hannah and West could use more money. Big money. So when an invitation that promises them $10,000 each if they can finish a new mystery house. And there's a not-so-veiled threat it they don't. 
They go, but this is nothing like the previous book; these rooms feel mean. And it doesn't help that Sara has some secrets of her own. One of which will change the way the Delta's function forever.
This book was fine. Not as good as the first one but it's hard to follow up a mysterious haunted house with kids running round unsupervised. 

Four stars
This book came out April 2, 2024
The Delta Games #1
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own