Clarissa Reads Two Mysteries

(1) Still Life by Louise Penny
Challenge: Global Reading Challenge


What is it about? When the body of Jane Neal, a middle-aged artist, is found near a woodland trail used by deer hunters outside the village of Three Pines, it appears she's the victim of a hunting accident. Summoned to the scene, Gamache, an appealingly competent senior homicide investigator, soon determines that the woman was most likely murdered. Like a virtuoso, Penny plays a complex variation on the theme of the clue hidden in plain sight. She deftly uses the bilingual, bicultural aspect of Quebecois life as well as arcane aspects of archery and art to deepen her narrative.

What did I think? This was an amazing book. I can't believe I haven't read this fellow Canadian before. Poor, poor me. The mystery was unique, the setting real and wacky. You really get a sense of Quebec. The only thing I wished in reading this novel was that there were pictures of the artwork talked about in the book. The victim drew art and, although it's described well, I wish I could have seen it. Pick it up, it's cheap.

Buy it here for $2.99

(2) The Merchant's House by Kate Ellis

What is it about? An exciting blend of historical and present-day police procedural, this first novel stars Wesley Peterson, a black British detective who majored in archaeology. Newly transferred to Tradmouth, Peterson chances upon a university buddy whose excavations at a building site have yielded a victim of Elizabethan murder. Up in the hills, meanwhile, the discovery of a grisly murder sends police off in the wrong direction until the supposed victim turns up alive. And elsewhere a little boy has disappeared. Peterson's skill and intuition make this is an involving, adventurous, nicely detailed work for all collections.

What did I think? There are two mysteries in this book. One that happens in present day and one that happened in the past. I found both interesting. There are journal entries at each chapter that were exciting and intriguing. The opening starts with a kidnapped boy. If that doesn't draw you in, nothing will. However, I found myself wondering if they were going to get back to the missing boy because after the first chapter they didn't talk about the boy again until the end. Also, you knew the past mystery fit in somewhere but you just didn't know how or where. If you like a great mystery with lots of layers, read this book.

Buy it here for $8.66