Good Omens by Pratchett & Gaiman ****

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is just what you might expect from a book written by these two. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading their books, you could start here. If you hate this book, you might skip both authors in the future. Do you want a hint? Fantastic science-fiction with humor and social commentary. Other reviewers might say satire, philosophy, politics. Both authors are unique and certainly worth a read.

Some of the characters are:

ADAM (An Antichrist) and the three other children in his gang.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (DEATH, War, Famine, Pollution)

Crowley (Angel, representative of Hell)

Aziraphale (Angel, representative of Heaven)

Assorted strange people: witch, witch hunters, prophet, medium, …

Random excerpts…

“Hell wasn’t a major reservoir of evil, any more than Heaven was a fountain of goodness; they were just sides in the great cosmic chess game.”

“He wouldn’t have said, ‘That’s weird’ if a flock of sheep had cycled past playing violins. It wasn’t the sort of thing a responsible engineer said.”

“…a whaling research ship, was currently researching the question: How many whales can you catch in one week?”

“A plaque on both your houses.”

Upon Terry Pratchett’s death, Kevin Smith tweeted: “Terry Pratchett, creator of DISCWORLD, has died. His GOOD OMENS with Neil Gaiman is in my Top 5. Without that book, I never make DOGMA.” If you haven’t seen Kevin Smith’s movie Dogma, that is another way to dip your toe in this world of strange fiction.

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Lord Peter Wimsey by Dorothy L Sayers ****

Lord Peter Wimsey is an amateur detective who solves one-of-a-kind mysteries. As author Dorothy L Sayers states, her goal is “to fasten guilt upon the Most Unlikely Person.” Though Lord Peter Wimsey compares himself to Sherlock Holmes, he might be better grouped with James Bond, for in addition to his deductive powers, he has physical strength, athletic abilities, and is attractive to the opposite sex.

Wimsey’s partner in crime detection is Chief-Inspector of Scotland Yard.

WhoseBody? [1] involves two mysteries. The first is the disappearance of Sir Reuben Levy, a rich banker, and the mysterious appearance of a naked corpse in Mr. Thipps bath. “A sear man, dear, with nothing on but a pair of prince-nez. Mrs. Throgmorton positively blushed when she was telling me.”

MurderMust Advertise [10] starts with a murder, quickly determined to have been committed with a catapult (US: slingshot), but really involves tracking down a drug smuggling ring. This one has a high body count, but the murders are barely seen by the reader. The author worked in advertising and takes this opportunity to lampoon the practice and practitioners. This book includes a long section showing a cricket match which I sure must be fascinating for anyone who knows how to play the game.

“This particular crookedness of advertising is so very far removed from the crookedness of dope trafficking.”

“Why? As far as I can make out, all advertisers are dope-merchants.”

The overall tone of the mysteries is light-hearted and very British.

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery and can tolerate an excess of British vocabulary, this is an enjoyable series.

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A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain *****

Kendra Donovan is a 21^st century FBI agent, however, after six chapters, she finds herself in Aldridge Castle in 1815 England. A short time later, a murdered sex worker washes up on the lake shore, and she uses her 21^st-century knowledge to solve this 19^th-century serial-killer murder.

Even though this is a story about a serial killer that tortures and murders sex workers, there is a minimum of violence and gore. Lady Rebecca, a 19^th-century woman, who has been sheltered all her life, had little difficulty observing most of the action. If you prefer your mysteries with a genteel sensibility, this novel should be acceptable. However, it is not Jane Austen and not a cozy.

Kendra Donovan is a force for women’s liberation in the 19^th century. Throughout the book, she is an advocate and catalyst for women’s rights and capabilities. These interactions also contribute some smug humor for 21^st-century readers.

“Why in heaven’s name would she agree to be handcuffed?” [Lady] Rebecca asked, [about the dead sex worker,] surprised.

Kendra caught the deer-in-the-headlights look of the men, and had to suppress a smile, “I’ll explain it to you later.”

“You will not!” Alec glared are her.

Rebecca, in turn, glared at him. “You shall not dictate my future conversations, Sutcliffe!”

The author imagines that there are many progressive and intelligent people in the time of Jane Austen.

If you’re looking for a 19^th-century mystery with a feminist subplot and a bit of humor, A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain is the book for you.  This is book one of four (and counting?), published in 2017.

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The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber ***

After her husband died, Kiera was accused of unthinkable unladylike behavior for assisting her anatomist husband in his dissections. To avoid these unwanted and upsetting attentions, she secluded herself at Gairloch Castle with her sister Alana, her brother-in-law Philip, the Earl of Cromarty, and their children. This worked well until the pregnant and unmarried Lady Godwin’s throat was slit and her child cut from her womb. Keira was the first suspect. Set in the early 19^th century in Scotland, this tale is as much a romance as a murder mystery.

Mr. Gage was given the responsibility to identify the murderer, but Alana and Philip assured that Kiera was appointed as his assistant. The first suspect was Kiera herself. Her drive to avoid another round of accusations like those following her husband’s death motivated her to find the culprit. She feared that Mr. Gage might finger her as a convenient scapegoat. Eventually, he follows the evidence, mostly found by Kiera, and identifies a suspect. While everyone celebrates his brilliance, Kiera and the reader suspect otherwise.

While the reveal is no surprise, the full complexity of the situation is interesting. The closing chapters, maybe a tenth of the book, act as an epilogue following the reveal to unravel the old and new evidence. Thus, the mystery involved understanding everyone’s behavior more than identifying the murderer.

Beyond the mystery is the one-sided romance between Kiera and Mr. Gage. Every time she sees him, she is distracted. Early on she thinks, “The sight of the two women clinging by [Mr. Gage] stirred a strange feeling in my chest.” By the end, “Gage had come to mean a great deal more to me than I could have ever expected.”

Kiera alternates between solving the murder and admiring Mr. Gage’s physique. If this combination appeals to you, The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber is your historical murder romance.

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A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman *****

AMan Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman is so optimistic and nice and full of heart that I imagine most readers either love it or throw it away. Ove “never talked excessively,” “saw the world in black and white,” and said, “Men are what they are because of what they do. Not what they say.” “He believed so strongly in things: justice and fair play and hard work and a world where right just had to be right.” His views meant he saw wrongs and injustice rampant everywhere. In another book, he might be tilting at windmills, but here he is heroic.

Ove is a blue-collar worker, who has been involuntarily retired. He struggles to understand his place in the world.

This book reminds me of the 1980s movie Revenge of the Nerds. Ove is well-intentioned, but out of step. He does not compromise. His wife called him, “the most inflexible man in the world.” In the end, he is on the winning side.

How does this happen? Incrementally. His wife again, “So while I was sleeping you sneaked out and helped people in need…and mended their fences? People can say whatever they like about you, Ove. But you’re the strangest superhero I ever heard about.”

“A job well done is a reward in its own right.”

What did Ove think of the younger generation? “No one could change tires. Install a dimmer switch. Lay some tile. Plaster a wall. File their own taxes.” Ove believed in self-sufficiency and routine. Ove “began more and more to differentiate between people who did what they should, and those who didn’t. People who did and people who just talked. Ove talked less and less and did more and more.”

Ove was judgmental, but what made Ove a hero is that he had a heart. Even after he passed judgment, he continued to care and continued to do his part. He never used his judgment to lower his standards for his own behavior.

If you want to see good people win…all the good people…all the time, this is your book. I loved it, with tears of happiness over and over again.

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