My Current Interest

Image provided by Kensington Books.      I had a harder time getting through A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder than I did the first two books in the Countess of Harleigh series.  There are a few possible reasons for this.       One: I read part of the book in a dentist’s office with 80s music playing around me.        Two: There are some obnoxious characters that were hard to put up with.        Three: My mind frame may have been off at the time.   As I am sure most have experienced, there are some times where the mind does not want to concentrate.   On anything.      Whatever the reason for my difficulty with the start of this book, I am glad I got through it.   Because in the end I enjoyed this book, as I did the others.      Lady Frances, Countess of Harleigh, has a problem.   It is two months away from her sister Lily’s wedding, and Lily is anno...

     It has been a long time since I’ve fallen in love with a TV show.   Oh, yes, there are plenty I enjoy.   But a show where I like nearly every part of it, and look forward to each and every episode, is rare.   All Creatures Great & Small is one of those shows.      The funny thing is, I wasn’t planning on watching All Creatures (which is what I call this show for short).   I only did because someone else wanted to watch it.   Now I am glad I did.      Recent veterinary school graduate James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) is desperate to find a job.   If he does not find a veterinary position soon, he will be forced to work on the docks of his hometown, Glasgow, Scotland.   Thankfully, a request for an interview comes just in time.   The only problem, James must make it to Yorkshire for the chance to realize his dream. Gateway to the Future /Artwork by Kate Dorsey      James’ int...

     The tales about the ladies from Ivy Hill are wrapping up.  They are each finding their own paths and happiness.  For some it has taken longer than others, but they are all getting there. Class Time /Artwork by Kate Dorsey      Life for Mercy Grove is not going well.  She had to give up the girls’ school she ran because her brother and new sister-in-law moved into the house she was using.  Still living in the house herself, residing with her relatives is an uncomfortable situation.  One that becomes more uncomfortable when she is forced to move into the attic.       It is this move that makes Mercy decide it is time to go.  She accepts the position as governess for one of her former pupils.  It is not the ideal profession for someone in the level of society the Grove family is in, but it works for Mercy.  She will be teaching a child she loves, and be out from under her sister-in-law’s thum...

Image provided by Acorn TV. Property of Bunya Productions and all3media international.      Mystery Road is not a show to watch and do something else at the same time.   For the first two episodes of season two, I was working on art projects.   Because of that, I didn’t catch who some people were or what was going on.   Most of it I figured out with the last four episodes, but with characters who made only a brief reappearance later on, I didn’t know who they were.   Thankfully, there was only one or two characters this happened with.   Everyone else, as I sat and watched the rest of the season, I was able to figure out who they were and what was going on.      Detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) has been called to the town of Gideon.   A headless body has been found, and the local police need his help to investigate.      While looking into the headless body is what Jay has been called to town to do, his ma...

Image provided by Kensington Books.      It’s always exciting when I find a series I just fall into.  A series where once I finish one book, I immediately reserve the next.  This is what has been happening with the Countess of Harleigh Mysteries .  I hope it continues.      Life has been pretty good for Frances Wynn, Countess of Harleigh.   A few months ago, she helped solve a murder.   Since then, she has been living happily independent, in her own home, surrounded by family.   Her main concern is with her sister, Lily.   Lily is pushing for marriage, but Frances would like her to take a little more time.      It’s not that Frances doesn’t like Leo Kendrick, the man who has captured Lily’s affections.   She just doesn’t want Lily to rush into marriage.   Repeating the mistake she herself did.      Lily being Frances’ sole concern does not last long.   A friend of hers, Ma...

     I have to say this.  In Dublin’s Fair City is by far the most convoluted book of the Molly Murphy mystery series.  It makes me wonder what is going to happen in future books.  If this story could stretch as much as it did, the rest of the series could go anywhere.      Private Investigator Molly Murphy needs to get out of town.   Her boyfriend, Daniel Sullivan , is on trial for a crime he didn’t commit .   He is in a constantly bad mood and is very controlling.   That’s why when Molly gets the opportunity to leave town and help her detective agency , she takes it.   The one problem is Molly will have to return to Ireland, where there may be a warrant out for her arrest. Voyage /Artwork by Kate Dorsey      From the start things do not go as planned.   Not long after she steps on the boat to Europe, theatre actress, Oona Sheehan, asks Molly to switch places with her.   For the length of th...

Truth and Justice /Artwork by Kate Dorsey      I love catalogs.  I always have.  So many interesting things can be found in them.  A catalog is how I found Midsomer Murders and other shows.  It’s also how I found State of Play .  Which I’m going to talk about right now.      Sonia Baker (Shauna Macdonald) is dead.   A research assistant for MP Stephen Collins (David Morrissey), Sonia’s death is at first believed to be a suicide.   After further investigation, it is declared murder.      The death of Sonia is devastating for Collins’ reputation.   When it comes out he was having an affair with her, the situation becomes worse.      Looking to save himself, Collins turns to his ex-campaign manager, journalist Cal McCaffrey (John Simm).   This puts Cal in an odd position.   Cal wants to help Collins, but he is a journalist and he must look at facts.   The facts are tak...