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Great novel from one of the master of Japanese mystery. An excellent setting and an ending that I didn't predict. This is my fourth Kosokue Kindaichi novel and it is definitely one of the better ones. I liked it as much as I did "The Honjin Murders." However I am starting to see some ticks or patterns in the author's writing that might make further novels less enjoyable.

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The start of the book was slow reading for me but it picked up quickly. An interesting story of a valet robot that goes on a hero's journey and makes a friend along the way. #Bookstodon

The phrase "the encrypted carbons of past geological eras" is such a lovely way to refer to past carbon sources (coal? oil? ???) that have been sequestered and hidden away for long periods. #Bookstodon

Immediately I'm grabbed by Chesbro's excellent description of Mongo's potential client Mike Foster. The authorial intent is to quickly establish that Mongo is a very observant person which servers him well as a detective. A layer back it indicates that Chesbro himself was a very observant person. I'm already sold that this re-read is going to be worth the time. But I'm likely going to spread the books out some to avoid rushing. (And I have a long TBR of living, working authors to read as well that I didn't want to ignore.) #Bookstodon

I'm re-reading George C. Chesbro's books about Mongo the Magnificent several decades after originally reading them. From what I recall and given Mr. Chesbro's profession as a counselor for troubled teens I'm expecting pretty much everything in the stories to hold up very well despite the passage of time.

If you are interested in learning more about Mr. Chesbro's life I highly recommend reading Prism: A Memoir as Fiction. As the title implies, it is a fictionalized memoir. I didn't know how true to his life it is, but it is definitely informative and moving. He doesn't shy from covering his failures as a parent, spouse and counselor,. After reading it I consider him a good, but flawed person (like the rest of us) who did see his flaws and at least attempt to improve (also hopefully like the rest of us). #Bookstodon

5 out of 5 stars Kudos to Mr. Scalzi on an excellent addition to the Old Man's War series. The main characters Gretchen and Ran (minor characters from The Last Colony) are very compelling and the story is engaging with many unexpected twists. #Bookstodon

5 out of 5 stars An interesting story with good character development. A twist that I didn't expect but it fit well in the story. #Bookstodon

5 out of 5 stars Again the flock find themselves solving a murder mystery (or even two) in France. This time they are experienced but will that be enough in the end? A thoroughly good read with great characters and unexpected twists and turns. #Bookstodon

just arrived on my bookshelf.

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This was well written and well read by the author. It defines its characters well. And makes them rise out of the page. It knows what it wants to do, it gets to the business of doing it, but doesnt get to heavy on the way of getting there.

A really affecting story of race, queerness, history, and freeing one's self.

CW: US-South slavery, queer outing, alcoholism

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An interesting set of locked door mysteries from the Golden Age of detective fiction (roughly the 1920s and 1930s). Fourteen interesting and ingenious tales with unexpected twists and turns along the way. I particularly enjoyed the Ellery Queen's The House of Haunts and C. Daly King’s The Episode of the Nail and the Requiem.

Warning that some of the stories do have dated attitudes, especially towards women (thus dropping the rating to four stars). #Bookstodon

Snyder is one of the most lucid, clear eyed historians of his time. Reading this now for no particular reason. ROFL. It is a bit slighter than I would have liked - really more of an extended essay. But it is great food for thought.

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Heard about this on the "Church Times" podcast. A medieval murder mystery set in rural England. Or is it? To say more would give too much away. Liking it so far but it is not high on my reading priority list.

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