For those of you who are looking for a fun read on these cold winter nights (and who happen to enjoy mysteries), here are my top two mystery/detective reads from the month of January:
An elderly lady dies—when her doctor was under the strong opinion she would live. Lord Peter Wimsey gets curious and stumbles upon a track of crime and murder. The intricate trail leads from a beautiful Hampshire village to a fashionable London flat–and many places in-between.
As a seasoned reader of hundreds of detective stories and mystery novels I have never (to my recollection) been so astounded at the “how” of the murder. My hat is off to the masterful and fresh method Dorothy Sayers cooked up for her plot of leaving no trace of murder on the body. It was clever and unique in a genre that abounds with repetition.
Sparkling dialogue and fun characters round out this delight of a novel. First published in 1927. Excellent detective fiction.
Lena Campbell never knew her grandfather—but she always dreamed of visiting Wyoming. When she receives word that her grandfather is dead and his Wyoming ranch belongs to her, she jumps at the chance.
Only later does she learn that her grandfather Garth McKay was murdered, and the murder is still unsolved.
Despite this shadow hanging over her, Lena thrives in her new life—and unexpectedly finds love there. Then a new revelation breaks the McKay murder case wide open again, and leaves her reeling…
A tranquil and cozy western mystery. It picks up speed and intensity in the second half, and I gladly stayed awake ’till past midnight to finish it. It feels very much like a cousin to a Mary Stewart mystery/suspense novel. But with all the fun of Louis L’Amour and Agatha Christie. A new favorite among Elisabeth Grace Foley’s works (author’s website for those interested). Published in 2020.
It’s 5 days into January, and I’m still having trouble picking my top 10 reads of the exciting year 2020. There were a lot of good and notable books that I simply don’t want to leave out. But I’m here to do my best! The list is in the order read. A pretty even blend of fiction and non-fiction, same as last year…
The Lost Art of Dress by Linda Przybyszewski
A fascinating look at applying the unchanging principles of art and design to clothing in any era. One of the best books on fashion and clothing I’ve ever read. A valuable addition to any woman’s wardrobe strategizing. The review on this list HERE is what persuaded me to pick this book up, and it describes it very well.
Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton
Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle
There was one flaw that really stuck out to me, but other than that, a most enjoyable read. Good. Very good.
That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis
Likely my favorite of Lewis’s Space Trilogy. Very good, and still perfectly relevant to our times today. This is one I’ll be reading again for sure.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Poignant. Insightful. And utterly hard for me to put down. Not just because it has a lot to say about the value of old books, either. 😉 It’s a gripping bit of fiction about a fireman who works burning books for an oppressive government. Society and the government have ruled books to be obsolete and even dangerous, and the few book owners left in the world are being imprisoned or burned with their books. And then, one day, he secretly opens a book and starts reading…
The writing style was a bit hard to get used to at first, but the story was worth the putting up with it. There are a few books that are so poignant that at the end they just leave your heart aching with the nobility shown, the character, values, and the worthiness of sacrifice. “Shane” by Jack Schaefer is one of those unforgettable poignant tales. So is “The Two Towers” by Tolkien. And this one was too–in a slightly lesser way. The famous “Carry the Fire” theme from “The Road” by Cormack McCarthy fits well with the theme of this book.
This tale drives home the importance of unabridged books. And not revising facts to suit your current times.
Mountain Meadow by John Buchan
A fine book by the Scottish author John Buchan. The story of an older, dying gentleman in England who embarks on a search to find a missing husband in the grim wilds of Canada. John Buchan’s tales are unique, and call for rather a special taste in literature. They’re not everyone’s cup of tea. But I love them, and I found this one to be just as fine and enjoyable as the others.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
A wonderful classic laced with historic truths. I finally got around to reading it, and I’m so glad I did. If I had children, this one would be among their required reading.
Clint Eastwood; Master Filmmaker at Work by Michael Goldman
The most surprising book of the year award goes to this one. I had no intention to read it, and stood debating with myself in the bookshop if it was worth the .50 cents just so that I could sketch one or two of the photographs for a job I was working on.
I bought it, and promptly read it cover to cover.
It is not a biography of his life. Nor an overview of his films.
It is indeed a simple portrait of a master filmmaker at work; as the subtitle states. But more than anything—reading between the lines about mixing sound and lighting a shot—it seems to really be a book about leadership. And of project management, working with individuals, handling a team, delegating tasks, and long term work relationships built on respect and integrity—a 240 page study on the Clint Eastwood method of leadership.
There is a bit on the artistic design aspects of various parts of film-making. As an artist I found the chapter on Eastwood’s theories of lighting particularly enjoyable. Ever since I read it back in October, I’ve found myself pulling it off the shelf to reference certain excerpts about his artistic ideas.
A fascinating read.
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
My opinion of this novel is complex, and far too much to fit into a review here… 🙂
The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
A great study on this topic. I’d recommend reading it in conjunction with “From Forgiving to Forgiven” by Jay E. Adams
It’s so hard to not put these on my top 10 list–so here are a few honorable mentions:
“The Secret of Chimneys” by Agatha Christie, “A Gentleman from Texas” by Hearnden Balfour, “Whose Body?” by Dorothy Sayers, and “Through the Wall” by Cleveland Moffett are the top four mystery/detective reads of 2020. Every single one of them was delightful!
My top western reads of 2020 are “Haywire” by B. M. Bower, “Paso Por Aqui” by Eugene Manlove Rhodes, and two short-stories by Elmore Leonard: “Jugged” and “Three-Ten to Yuma.”
Last two stellar mentions are “The Old Man and The Boy” by Robert Ruark and “Ruggles of Red Gap” by Harry Leon Wilson. The latter was where author P. G. Wodehouse got his inspiration for the famous butler Jeeves!
~Published in 1925 by Hodder and Stoughton Limited, London
The book in the photos is the second printing; 1925
As a long-time fan of Sapper’s famous sleuth, Bull-Dog Drummond, I’ve been quick to pick up other books of his and read them whenever I have a chance.
Out of the Blue is a collection of 13 short stories. And Sapper’s ability to tell short stories is superb. Compared to selections from the best short-story writers collected and lauded in literature books, these stories are perfectly competent to hold their own beautifully–and are in a class with the best. The writing in these stories shows a fine skill that was honestly a delight to read. Or, as they would’ve said in the 1920’s when this was written: it’s as fine as dry champagne. Most of these tales run very much in the suspense/thriller vein.
Of the 13 stories however, only three of them were as excellent as far as the actual story itself was concerned: “Out of the Blue,”“Stubby,” and “The Porterhouse Steak.” The others tended to turn right and wrong upside-down and dump them in a sprawling heap of confusion. Things like “rationalizing” or excusing murder and adultery. Though the writing craftsmanship mentioned above stayed steady and good throughout all 13 tales.
This book is one of the rare titles by the famous Sapper.
The Lone Ranger by Fran Striker (Gaylord DuBois under the pen-name of Fran Striker)
Published in 1936 by Grosset & Dunlap
Illustrated by Paul Laune
As a child I was a huge Lone Ranger fan and gobbled up every bit of Lone Ranger that I could. From the old radio shows of the 1930’s, the ’38 Republic film-serials, to the Clayton More TV shows and the 1956 movie.
Later on, Hans Zimmer’s score came along, and I was delighted to have as epic a rendition of the music as anyone could ask for–one which took a lot of that old music both from the original composition and from the 30’s radio shows (which had been discarded, chopped short into a tiny theme, and largely forgotten during the TV show years of the 50’s and beyond) and brought it back to life by weaving the old bits of it copiously into his score. And doing what I always held was impossible–taking that fabulous piece of music and making it even more marvelous.
And then came the day that I finally got an afternoon to read the 1936 Lone Ranger book by Gaylord DuBois, and see how it measured up to the rest of the vintage Lone Ranger world. I have read other later vintage books about him, but not this original one.
Firstly, I must say that the LR’s personality, and the overall tone of the book quite surprised me. It doesn’t fit it with Clayton Moore’s serious, steady, portrayal. The 30’s radio show Lone Ranger is a bit more prone to lightheartedness, but not as much as this character. This version of the Ranger is much more like a jovial character from one of the Clarence Mulfords tales, or the jovial cowboys from the autobiographies of the real west, than like the Lone Ranger. He’s jovial and cheery. He’ll ride along laughing for half an hour about a practical joke he played on the bad guys, lay in the dust grinning when a bullet misses him, and is quite different from the well-known 50’s version.
Besides having a lighthearted personality, he also goes in the other direction and gets a little rougher than the Clayton Moore version. Even when speaking to the good guys. Also, he drinks tea all the time instead of coffee. 🙂
Real Lone Ranger fans will be shocked that he is seen without his mask by a girl. The story of how he got Silver is changed. And several other minor things.
It is a fun read, but not exceptional—very much like reading an extended version of the radio show episodes. It is a great adventure tale for children though, and would be sure to please any fans of those Old Time Radio shows. It’s written for a similar age range as the Hardy Boys books.
Seven children and their mother strike out to make their living off the land of a broken-down farm in Delaware. Amid thieving neighbors, poverty, and challenges of transportation, they charge ahead with cheery disposition in their new surroundings to refurbish the old home-site and “get-ahead.”
“A portrait of
American family life”– a tale of entrepreneurship, sibling
loyalty, and the far-reaching realm of motherhood. It is clearly
1800’s literature, written for an audience of girls.
In many ways it is
in much of a similar vein as it’s contemporaries, like the Elsie
Dinsmore books. Or many of the Lamplighter tales. Unlike Elsie
Dinsmore, however, these children are hearty, have many interests,
and actually do things. They think as entrepreneurs. They also
have a healthy joviality (they are sober not
somber Christians!) and sense of humor—which
flavors this book quite differently from Elsie Dinsmore, and is an
immensely important distinction between this and most children’s lit
of the day.
I enjoyed reading it, and would have even more so had I discovered it when I was young. However, the ending two chapters felt terribly rushed–much like a race to marry off all the children and tie up as many “happily-ever-after” endings as possible. I didn’t like that at all. Aside from that, it read along the lines of a mild version of Swiss Family Robinson, a more “civilization-farm” version of My Side of The Mountain, or the first Boxcar Children book: a family setting out to make a home and get along with their own two hands and ingenuity. A la 1880’s style.
~Originally published in 1928 by Little, Brown, & Company (edition in photos is published by Grosset & Dunlap).
Lynn Hayward, a 22-year old young man, is growing bitter and fed-up while living on his family’s run-down ranch. His father is an angry, controlling, cripple confined to the house who refuses to allow any entrepreneurial endeavors or part with a penny to serve his family. Poor, estranged from each other, and letting everything crumble about their ears in poverty the Haywards are in a bad way. Until a difference in Lynn’s mindset–the way he thinks of himself–leads him to undertake a big change…
A fun ranch tale set between the Wind River basin and Green River basin in Wyoming. One of my favorite of B. M. Bower’s westerns so far! The characters were quite easy to sympathize with and I quickly got caught up in the story.
Many of Bower’s books are different from your average western in having a family/community setting vs. the lone guy facing the world with no ties and no one to answer to except the law. And this one is no exception. She doesn’t tend to follow the stereotypes of the western genre in her writing. Unless they happen to serve that particular plot, of course.
Aside from an abrupt and unbelievable character twist with Lynn’s father in the end–which I still haven’t gotten over–it was a fun story with the point (as Elisabeth Grace Foley noted on Goodreads) that what a man sows he will reap.
It also ran strongly on the general effects that a man’s thought patterns–how/what he thinks about himself–will change his kind of life. If he mentally refers to himself as “hay-wire” he likely ends up living like he is: thinking “hay-wire” leads to trash piles by the door, un-mended fences, and decaying sheds. Along those lines it reminded me (strangely enough!) of Jennifer Scott’s books Lessons From Madame Chic, At Home With Madame Chic, and Audrey Hepburn’s Sabrina. All three of which have the same truth running through them as a theme.
If you like B. M. Bower, you’ll love this one–it’s on my “Top-10” list of her novels!
A first-hand account for children of the Battle of Britain during WWII!
From convoy ships, to RAF fliers, to the blackouts in the civilian lives of England, this book covers a wide scope of basic information to give a simple and clear overview of one of the most important battles of WWII.
Author Quentin Reynolds was an American journalist and war correspondent–and actually present during the Battle of Britain. He writes from his own personal experience which gives it a unique touch. [Also of note in his long and full career, is the fact that he was one of the writers of Jimmy Stewart’s detective film Call Northside ‘777.]
The Battle of Britain has been a personal favorite study of mine for years, and while this is not my favorite book on the subject, it is the best children’s book I have found. And, even though it is simple, it’s a fun read for adults as well. The plain fact that it’s a first-hand account is reason enough to sit up and take notice of this particular book. When a man’s boots have trod the mud and sidewalks, and he has breathed in the atmosphere, dust, and determination through his own sweating, eating, and living–something is noticeably different. It tells.
This is a great book. Simple. Clear. And the perfect foundation from which to spring into more detailed study. A great starting place. A nice piece in a WWII collection. And a fine addition to any child or youth’s library!
~Edition in photos published by The Saalfield Publishing Company (a cheaper re-publication, with one illustration)
~Originally published by A. L. Burt Company (with multiple illustrations, and better quality paper)
~Original Publication Date; 1934
Four chums set out on a rural winter camping trip to solve the mystery of the “ghost” that is driving the real estate price down on an elderly woman’s deserted rental lodge. They’re determined to settle the mystery over a ten day Christmas break–in the snowy blizzards of Vermont…with two rifles and a sled loaded with food...
This tale reads like a Hardy Boys book. It’s one of the ever-popular mysteries from the Golden Era of children’s mystery series. The four main characters are good friends from the local high-school. Although not named Hardy, that is what these young men are–to the hilt. They live and love the strenuous life and never shun discomfort, hardship, or a long cold tramp through the wilderness–even when a short trip of ease by a cozy automobile could have been acquired.
They do appreciate and relish comfort, as seen in their going to very great lengths just to acquire a comforting cup of steaming coffee, and by changing an entire campsite simply to get a cozier bed. But—because they live the rugged life meanwhile—when they wrest their hot drinks, soft beds, and glowing fires from a life filled with the frosty physical exertions of work and adventure, they enjoy it to a satisfying degree never experienced by those who live in luxury and comfort by habit.
The Mystery Hunters are typical of their type of the 20s, 30s, and 40s boy detectives: neat, brave, manly, game, respectful, fun loving, and hearty. They’re also good shots and armed, which isn’t as typical. And they have the usual gift of seeing humor in life, unusual slang exclamations of their era, and of course good-natured teasing.
One thing that sets this gang of boys apart from your average mystery chums in the 30’s is their sharp attunedness to beauty out in the wilderness. Often these authors will describe the beauty, but seldom does he have the boys comment and be affected by it as in this book.
“…Accordingly he stepped out onto the hard-packed snow before the cabin, his eyes quickly taking in the lake and the surrounding country. For a moment he paused, taking in the beauty of it all, unconsciously drawing a breath of deep satisfaction.
The sun was rising over the tops of the spruce and hemlocks and striking fire on the sheet of ice. Icicles gleamed from the roof slope of the big hunting lodge. At the edge of the timber a rabbit hopped out into the clearing, looked around with a jerk of his brown head, and then streaked off into the undergrowth.
‘By ginger, it’s a dandy morning. And those sleepyheads in there!’
Tim knew it was warm and comfortable in the sleeping bags, but the beauty of the new morning was worth looking at.”
Page 69
The Mystery Hunters At The Haunted Lodge is book #1 in a series of four:
#1. The Mystery Hunters at The Haunted Lodge (1934)
#2. The Mystery Hunters at The Lakeside Camp (1934)
#3. The Mystery Hunters at Old Frontier (1934)
#4. The Mystery Hunters on Special Detail (1936)
Although enjoyable for a large age range, this series was written for boys, about ages 10 to 16.
This tale is a great gift for any adventure loving boy’s library–just the sort I’d give to my nephews (and nieces too, for that matter)! My own copy has a permanent place on the shelves of my personal library. It’s a very simple tale, but a good one. A perfect winter mystery!
Ernie Pyle in England is a straight-forward and moving account of English life during the Battle of Britain in WWII. It’s a phenomenal piece of history told as it should be told: fascinatingly. And by someone who walked the cobblestones under the bombing, drank tea in blacked out hotels, and cracked jokes with the common man.
It’s a tale of courage. A masterpiece painting of a people. Of everyday unassuming faithfulness, fortitude, and guts. Of the workaday life in an ugly war– met by a level gaze of hope. He tells the sort of things I’ve always wanted to know about a war. The things you usually wouldn’t know unless you were standing there yourself breathing in the dust as a bomb settles.
One particularly interesting part in the book is where he tells about Britain’s Home Guard. It’s essentially a deep-line-defence made up of civilians, who, with astonishing efficiency, had everything in running order to defend every home, city, town, village, road, and field of grass in the nation. Entirely manned and maintained by armed citizens– all night, every night. Of course, I’d heard of the Home Guard. But I never appreciated it on the high level it deserved before reading this. The strategy and the people merit some attention and study.
Reading history, and learning of the struggles and daily life of other folks such as this, helps to give perspective to our lives and our times. To quote a great line in the book:
I have friends here [in Scotland] who travel to London weekly and who know what has happened down there. These friends get disgusted with their home folks when they return. “Up here we are all complaining about our stomach aches and rheumatism,” they say. “It sounds mighty trivial when you have just come from London, where they really have got something to complain about–and don’t. I think a little blitzing would do us good.”
The point is NOT that stomach aches and rheumatism aren’t worthy struggles. Nor that what is a big hardship to one, is a trivial matter to another, and so should be dismissed. But rather, that the folks living with maiming and EVERYTHING a second from being stripped raw and blown to shreds could maintain an uncomplaining and cheerful attitude. “…they really have got something to complain about–and don’t.”
The point, you see, is the attitude–not the size of your dragon. And its a point well woven into what you could almost call a theme of the book.
On a personal note, I’m thankful for history like this because it increases my mental toughness. Books of this sort give me courage. They make me stronger and more cheerful. And give me a greater sensitivity and appreciation of beauty. These folks don’t pity themselves. They eschew the victim mentality.
Yes, it’s really just a tiny sliver of English history, but is has the tonic-like affect of a brisk fall wind on a muggy August afternoon. It’s bracing, and makes me ready to tackle life with my chin up. That’s the power of history books like this. They change your mindset. Your attitude toward life. It’s far better than the best routines and strengthening exercises I could try to inculcate as habits. Those are things imposed from the outside. But once your very mindset has been altered, all else external follows. Because we really do “live like we live, because we think like we think.”¹
One of Ernie Pyle’s strongest points is in his quick eye and hundreds of descriptive accounts of the normal little people who make up the population. The average Joe and his breakfast. Or Johnny making ice-cream during a night flying bombing mission. It’s a theme throughout all his books I’ve read, and one of the elements that gives them such charm.
Here’s a couple quotes before I wrap this review up:
“There are thousands of “Davises” serving these harassed people of London.
I have a friend who works as an accountant all day then serves most of the night as a shelter marshal, without pay. I’ve seen girls who clerk all day in a ten-cent store and then go to an East End shelter to serve thousands of people over the canteen counter till ten o’clock at night. And they are up at five in the morning to serve early tea and coffee. They do that every night, and they get no pay for it. In the West End I saw women of comfortable means who go every night to sit on stools and make sandwiches by the thousands to be sold to the shelterers at cost.
Britians’s civil army has it’s big blitz heroes who are the greatest this war has produced. But it also has it’s little heroes by the tens of thousands. I think it’s lots harder to be a little hero, because you have to keep so everlastingly at it.” ~p.123
“I sat until 3 A.M. in front of a glowing fireplace with David McQueen, a Presbyterian minister here in Paisley. The Church of Scotland, you know, is Presbyterian; and it used to be a part of the State. Presbyterian ministers here are highly educated in classics. When you sit with Mr. McQueen you are sitting with a man of intellect.
Mr. McQueen is in the war. He has raised thousands of pounds for soldier’s entertainment. His church runs a canteen for the troops stationed here. Wounded R.A.F. fliers come to live with him in his manse, to recuperate. And Mr. McQueen is a private in the Home Guard.
They wanted to make him a padre for the Guard but he wouldn’t do it. He said that if they did that they they should make the pipe organist a bandsman, and no band is needed. So on every duty night David McQueen, Presbyterian minister, is out in the dark fields in uniform, patrolling up and down, looking for Germans.
When his turn falls on Saturday night, he has to go right to church Sunday morning without a wink of sleep, and preach two sermons. He says he has to keep the church cold in order not to fall asleep while he’s talking.
That’s the Home Guard for you.”
Ernie Plye has quite a sense of dry humor. As I’ve said before on this blog, his writing is superb, and he is the most engaging newspaperman I’ve read in my life. His lean sentences, eye for beauty, and “sun-tanned” conversational tone are a delight. As do his other works, this book on the ‘Battle of Britain’ stands out as stellar among it’s peers.
I’ve never been the same since “meeting” Ernie Pyle. And I’m much indebted to the fellow who read his books aloud to me for a couple of years until I realized what treasures they are, and started reading them myself.
If I haven’t convinced you to read this book yet, take a hop over to Goodreads andread a review or two. That should do the trick.
It’s a short 228 pages of fine history by a master writer. If all history were told like this I would be beside myself with joy. But I’m grateful that at least there is this book. Be sure you don’t miss it.
Written by Nell Speed (a pen-name of author Emma Speed Sampson)
Originally published in 1924
Illustrated by Thelma Gooch
This is book #4 in “The Carter Girls Series,” and this is one series that makes the most sense when read in order. This book wraps up all the loose ends and character’s stories.
With the return of their father’s health, the Carter family moves back to their old home in the town to revive their fortunes. With 5 of the 7 family members working (as building contractor, doctor’s secretary, shopkeepers, tea room owners, and auto salesman’s assistant) they move back into a life of wealth–but with iron forged character they lacked before their years of struggles. Future prospects come knocking…some in the form of young men, and love, laughter, and jealousy are met with the Carter spirit…
As usual with Nell Speed’s (Emma Speed Sampson’s) writing, the story is characterized with a contagious work ethic, ambition, cheerfulness, and entrepreneurial endeavors. She shines in the realm of attitudes toward hardship. Written for young girls.
While this is not one of her best books plot-wise, nor among my favorites of her works, it is nonetheless a nice story, and a great addition for people (like me) who collect her works. For all you collectors of Emma Speed Sampson: This one is rare and highly collectable—in any condition. Hard to find.
