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History’s Mysteries: The Naturalist’s Daughter and Witchmark

28 Aug

The Naturalist’s Daughter
by Tea Cooper
The Naturalist’s Daughter is about two Australian women who have a hundred years between them but share similar curious natures and adventurous constitutions. Rose Winton grows up in Agnes Banks, NSW in 1808 assisting her naturalist father Charles Winton on his research of the platypus, sometimes referred to as mallangongs by the native inhabitants. Tamsin Alleyn is a librarian who travels from Sydney to find out if an old sketchbook may have been Charles’s work. Both women must use all their courage to uncovers their respective mysteries. There is also a charming romance between Tamsin and a lawyer assisting with the estate sale the sketchbook is part of. At one point Rose travels to England and her story takes a bit of a gothic turn, but the story overall has a core of sweet wholesomeness and the quaint old-fashioned language and vivid descriptions of the past will intrigue those who enjoy historical fiction. Tea Cooper is also the author of a variety of other historical novels including The Butterfly Collector, The Fossil Hunter, The Girl in the Painting, and The Women in the Green Dress.

Witchmark
by C.L. Polk
We read Witchmark by C.L. Polk for the Hoboken Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion in August. I had enjoyed several of Polk’s previous works so was intrigued to check out this genre spanning work set in a world similar to Edwardian England after a World War and hear what the book discussion group thought of their work. The book mixes together mystery, fantasy, romance, and historic fiction into a delightful concoction. Wealthy families use their power to control the weather and society around them. Miles is trying to hide from his magical destiny, first as a soldier and now as a doctor at a military hospital. But someone from his past turns up and then he meets a charming gentleman straight out a fairy story and his days of hiding come to a dramatic end. Can Miles solve the mystery of a murdered patient whose life he tried to save? This is the first in the Kingston Cycle Series.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Books of a Feather: The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love & Between a Flock and a Hard Place

7 Aug

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love
by India Holton
In The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love, Beth Pickering is one of many rival ornithologist on the hunt for a rare and mythical bird whose capture will lead to the title of Birder of the Year. Beth sees this as her chance at getting tenure and making her name for herself in this world where ornithology is a cutthroat endeavor. She use her wits and charms to help her move ahead in the quest despite stiff competition by fellow bird enthusiasts. In particular there is her handsome rival Professor Devon Lockley who seems likely to capture her heart as well as the endangered magical cladrius bird. Fans of Gail Carriger’s Parasolverse will find a lot to love in this clever historical fantasy filled with whimsy and featuring a strong heroine. There were also some fun little metafiction moments throughout, which I enjoyed. This the first in Holton’s Love’s Academic Series. New Zealander, India Holton, is also the author of the Dangerous Damsels trilogy. I found the novel a joy to read and highly recommend it. Perfect for a day at the beach or to spend sometime with on a long plane journey.

Between a Flock and a Hard Place
by Donna Andrews
Between a Flock and a Hard Place is the thirty-fifth in Donna Andew’s Meg Langslow Mystery Series. I’ve blogged about several of them in the past, but if you have missed them till now you are in for a treat. These are cozies with fun family and friends reoccurring characters that you will enjoy catching up with as much as the story. The books progress forward so you may want to enjoy them in chronological order, however, the mysteries are all self contained. Meg Langslow is a blacksmith, but also has a part-time position assisting the Mayor with odd jobs, this time it is helping out with a reality home makeover show set that has become a disaster with not only angry neighbors but also a menacing flock of wild turkeys that have taken up residence; the source of the turkeys and how to remove them is the first mystery Meg most solve but the morning of a planned round up they find the owner of the house, Mrs. Smetkamp has been murdered and not by a turkey. I find myself solving a lot of mysteries ahead of the conclusion, but with several clever red herrings this one surprised me.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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