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Mysteries at Sea: S’more Murders and Title Wave

22 Nov

I picked out two mystery books set during cruises to enjoy during my own recent vacation. Whether you are reading them at sea or on dry land you’ll enjoy these clever fast paced cozy reads. Although both are middle books in their respective series they can both be enjoyed as stand alone mysteries, though you will be likely tempted to dive in and read more of them.

S’more Murders
by Maya Corrigan
Looking for a yummy cooking related cozy mystery? S’more Muders is a bittersweet treat! Val Deniston manages a cafe at a local fitness club and occasionally does some catering, but when she hears about a re-creation of the last meal on the Titanic aboard a yacht in the Chesapeake Bay she is at first hesitant to attempt something so lavish. But with her Grandfather, the author of the local paper’s Codger Cooks Column, help she manages to pull off some divine dishes, unfortunately not all goes well at the party and a murder mystery game results in an actual murder at sea. This is the fifth novel in the Five-Ingredient Mystery Series. The novel includes several quick recipes at the end including easy version of some of the Titanic dishes as well as some sweet and savory s’more recipes that sound delish!

Title Wave
by Lorna Barrett
Title Wave is the tenth in the Booktown Mystery series (the latest and 17th book in the series A Questionable Character came out in July). I enjoyed listening to the book as an audiobook read by Karen White. Tricia Miles’s bookstore Haven’t Got a Clue and other local businesses are in a slow period of the year, so she figures this is the perfect time to take a relaxing cruise with her sister, Angelica, along with other members of their town. A bus ride to the dock allows the author to do a quick whos who for those new to the series or needing a refresher. The Author Cruise they book to Bermuda seems like it should be relaxing with a posh suite, elegant afternoon teas and tropical cocktails until another passenger, a particularly prickly author, is murdered. I enjoyed the sisterly dynamic between Tricia and Angelica and having been on several cruises myself with friends and family, I felt this one captured the feel of them perfectly.

Want to learn some interesting cruise facts such as how ships stay a float and nautical origins of everyday terms; check out Cruising: A View Through the Porthole by Lee H. Van Dam.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Alien Royalty on the Run: Vagrant Queen and Class

18 Oct

The Bezoar of Kings (Vagrant Queen Dramatized Adaptation)
I became a huge fan of Vagrant Queen when the graphic novel was adapted as a TV Show on the Sy-Fy network it had a great diverse cast, a sweet slow burn love story, and lots of campy fun (there was even an episode based on the movie Clue). Unfortunately it only lasted for one terrific season. But whether you are missing the TV show or are new to Vagrant Queen, if you are fan of Space Operas you will want to take a listen to The Bezoar of Kings, a dramatized adaptation (with music and sound effects) of Vagrant Queen (think a movie with out the images or an updated version of radio dramas). The story centers around kind hearted scavenger Elida who has been on the run since the age of ten when her powerful royal family was overthrown. When she learns about her mother’s location she returns to the kingdom she never thought she’d see again, but the reunion doesn’t go as planned. You can also check out A Planet Called Doom a dramatized adaptation of the second graphic novel in the series.

Class (from the Universe of Doctor Who)
Class is the 2016 Young Adult spinoff of Doctor Who which features a brief cameo of the Doctor in his current visage at the time (Peter Capaldi). I’ve streamed the first three episodes which include “For Tonight We Might Die,” where the alien/monster drama begins when a battle erupts during a school dance where two alien refugees, the last of their people, including a Prince are revealed with devastating results; “The Coach with a Dragon Tattoo” about a dragon seeking vengeance; and “Nightvisiting” about an alien who can appear as loved ones who have passed away. The creatures and situations are used as metaphors or allegories for issues teens frequently experience. Although mostly focusing on the teens, my favorite character of the show is Katherine Kelly as Miss Quill, a snarky alien royal bodyguard disguised as a Physics teacher. As a fan of Doctor Who, I was curious to check out the show, but if you have not watched Dr Who, you still can get immersed into this new series. I also enjoyed it because it reminded me of Buffy, another favorite show from my 20’s, since the students at Coal Hill Academy go to school located in the Science Fiction equivalent of a Hellmouth due to thinning of space and time, which brings all sorts of alien creatures to them which they must battle (the school has previously appeared in episodes of Doctor Who since the 1960’s).

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager


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