Walt Longmire Mystery Series by Craig Johnson

 

Title: The Cold Dish

Author: Craig Johnson

Genre: Fiction

Other Books I've Listened to by this Author: Death Without Company, Kindness Goes Unpunished

Synopsis: Sheriff Walter Longmire solves crimes in Absaroka County, Wyoming with his deputies and best friend, Henry Standing Bear.

My Thoughts

I was a big fan of the Longmire television series inspired by these books, so I decided to check out the books. I truly love to read so I had not ventured into the world of audiobooks, but when I decided to take the train to Montana I knew this would be the perfect series to enjoy along the way. Having motion sickness and knowing that I would want to see all the scenery traveling from Ohio to Montana I decided that it was time to give audiobooks a try. 

The narrator who reads this series has the perfect voice for Walt Longmire. He is very good and really enjoyable to listen to, though sometimes it is so soothing I accidentally drift off. I can't imagine enjoying the rest of the series in any other format.

As for the novels themselves, I really love the author's style. The humor is smart and quippy, the characters are well developed, and the mystery always has some twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Sheriff Longmire is a complicated person with strong relationships with the people of the community, his out-of-state daughter, meanwhile dealing with the loss of his wife.

While the storyline is a bit different than the tv show, I find it just as enjoyable with a modern western feel and relatable characters.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

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The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

 

Title: The Last Runaway

Author: Tracy Chevalier

Genre: Historical Fiction

Other Books I've Read by this Author: The Girl With the Pearl Earring

Synopsis: "Honor Bright is a modest English Quaker with a broken heart. Emigrating to Ohio with her sister in the hope of making a new life, she soon discovers that 19th-century America hard, precarious place to live. Its people are practical and unsentimental, its climate challenging. Even its quilts are different from those she makes. Moreover, it is divided by slavery, legal in southern states and opposed by many northerners.

One day a runaway slave appears in the farmyard of Honor’s new family, and she must decide what to do. Even Quakers - famed for championing human equality - may hesitate to break the laws of the land. Drawn into the clandestine activities of the Underground Railroad, a network of people helping runaways escape to freedom, Honor befriends two surprising women who demonstrate what defiance can achieve. Eventually, she must decide if she too can act on what she believes in, whatever the personal costs." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

As an Ohioan myself, I was so intrigued to read about Honor Bright's immigration here in the 1850s. This novel brings together so many interesting topics, immigration from England to the US, the Quaker faith, Ohio homesteads in the Quaker community, the Underground Railroad and the role Oberlin played in it, and the Fugitive Slave Law. 

It is definitely a coming-of-age story for Honor but also highlights the difficulty in deciding between what is morally right vs what the law requires. The reader can understand why the Haymakers would follow the laws rather than their conscience and the teachings of their Quaker faith and also why Honor cannot ignore her principles. 

Reading about what life was like in Ohio in the 19th century is also super interesting especially when many of the cities mentioned still exist today. Oberlin still carries a reputation for being a progressive town but I didn't realize that it extended so far back into its history. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from this author.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

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To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

The Queen's Secret by Karen Harper

 

Title: The Queen's Secret

Author: Karen Harper

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: '1939. As the wife of King George VI and the mother of the future queen, Elizabeth—“the queen mother”—shows a warm, smiling face to the world. But it’s no surprise that Hitler himself calls her the “Most Dangerous Woman in Europe.” For behind that soft voice and kindly demeanor is a will of steel.

Two years earlier, George was thrust onto the throne when his brother Edward abdicated, determined to marry his divorced, American mistress Mrs. Simpson. Vowing to do whatever it takes to make her husband’s reign a success, Elizabeth endears herself to the British people, and prevents the former king and his brazen bride from ever again setting foot in Buckingham Palace.

Elizabeth holds many powerful cards, she’s also hiding damaging secrets about her past and her provenance that could prove to be her undoing.'- Back Cover

My Thoughts

As a lover of the British Royal Family, I was excited to read this novel as soon as I saw it was coming out. It was a cute look into life in the palace during WWII, with some moments of sadness and tragedy of war, but not the best story of WWII London that I have read. It focused intensely on rumors about The Queen Mother that I had never heard before, questioning her legitimacy and stating that her children were products of artificial insemination. She is also afraid that Bertie will find out that she was sexually assaulted by his brother David in her youth. I wouldn't mind a story that focuses on her fear of these secrets coming to light but it was repetitive and obvious in restating how afraid she was that anyone would find out. It was not following the 'show, don't tell' model that budding writers are encouraged to use. 

If you are looking for a quick and easy read featuring the royal family this is fine, but not deep or hard-hitting. 

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above