Herbert Wöber. Festschrift 1893 -1993: Von Strobl nach St. Lorenz

     Herbert Wöber. Festschrift 1893 -1993: Von Strobl nach St. Lorenz. A compilation of news reports and other sources chronicling the construction of this section of the “Salzkammergut Localbahn” (as originally spelled.) A few pictures (postcards, photos) round out the pamphlet. Of interest to an SKGLB fan, and useful to a social historian: the references to the High and Mighty are amusing, especially in the account of the Emperor’s deigning to ride the line from Salzburg to Bad Ischl. Like all such amateur compilations, the reproduction of the photos is below par, and the collection of clippings etc leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but it's worth a look by anyone interested in Austrian narrow gauge railways. ** (2007)

Christianne, a musician from Blind River

Find her music here.

Susan Wittig Albert. Rueful Death (1996)

     Susan Wittig Albert. Rueful Death (1996) I buy cheap paperbacks at library book sales, used books stores, Value Village, etc. This book is one such, and it was worth more than the 25 cents I paid for it 
     China Bayles needs some rest time from her herb shop, books into a nunnery along with her friend Maggie, a former nun from that same nunnery, and finds herself the official investigator into a mess of badness swirling around and focussed on a mess of money that some nuns want to use to build a retreat centre, that is a resort for clergy and their friends. Local small town politics and an old flame complicate matters. The resolution's plausible and works psychologically. The religious life is cake, not icing, as it often is self-styled Christian fiction. A pleasant confection, with some nice references to herbs and such, as well as better than average scene setting. One can almost smell the river that borders one side of the property, and which China sees and hears from her cottage. **½

Jay Ingram's Barmaid's Brain

I've added a second review to the post of 12 September 2013, because I read it twice. I do that sometimes.

Ngaio Marsh. Scales of Justice (1955)

 

     Ngaio Marsh. Scales of Justice (1955) Ancient family secrets, a tight-knit society, an outsider who married one of the set and is made to feel unwelcome, a widower who is both a fool and at a dangerous age, and unacknowledged ties between people come together to produce murder. The solution hinges on the curious fact that no two fish have exactly the same pattern of growth rings on their scales. Nicely done, with rather more of the police procedures than usual. **½ (2007)

Ngaio Marsh. Swing, Brother, Swing (1949) & Opening Night (1951)

 

    Ngaio Marsh. Swing, Brother, Swing (1949) A murder takes place in plain view of a roomful of restaurant guests, including Alleyn. The puzzle is one of Ngaio’s lesser efforts, too tricky by half, and with insufficient clues, but the story-telling and the characterisations are as usual very well done. **½ (2007)

     Ngaio Marsh. Opening Night (1951) One of Marsh’s best: it’s about theatre and Theatre, told mostly through the viewpoint of Martyn Tarne, a New Zealander whose cash was stolen shortly after her arrival in England and who fetches up at the Vulcan Theatre, run by a distant relative of hers. The theatrical plot is complex, the characters are believable, the on- and back-stage atmosphere is beautifully rendered, and the murder, when it comes, is seamlessly integrated into the story of how Martyn comes to go on as understudy and succeeds in her role and ambition. Alleyn does a neat job of ‘tecking, but we’re used to that. Wonderful book, worth reading as a story about theatre (with a bit of crime included.) **** (2007)

Sue Grafton. G is for Gumshoe (1990)

     Sue Grafton. G is for Gumshoe (1990) A con wants Kinsey dead and hires a hit man. A daughter wants her aged and ailing mother found. Kinsey moves into her new home (courtesy of Henry). She hires a bodyguard (Dietz) after being run off the road. The plot is not as complicated as that sounds, but it does give Grafton a chance to write a more personal story for Kinsey. The climax is of course another near-death experience, with a few dead bodies scattered about. Grafton’s stories are very American: Gunfire and rage resolves all problems. Curious notion. Not up to earlier books. ** (2007)