Recent Reads - The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson - When a bestselling crime author goes missing, the young detective Helgi is given the challenge of finding her or finding out what happened before the press and public realize there's a problem. Helgi hopes to prove his mettle with the case, and maybe his own love of crime and mystery fiction will help him make sense of the few clues available. He faces challenges in his personal life too, with his former girlfriend stalking and threatening his new love interest and his struggles to handle the situations. 

There's one flashback timeline in which the author, Elín Jónsdóttir, is being interviewed by an unknown person. We're given the transcript of this interview, and there's a sense that there must be clues for the reader that Helgi doesn't have access to, and it does add to the tension. The sections of transcript are interspersed throughout the story.

In another alternate timeline, the detective that Helgi replaced, Hulda, is doing follow-up work on a bank robbery and murder case. It was apparently the last case she was working on before she disappeared. Again, there's a sense to the reader that the cases or maybe even the disappearances must be related, but at the beginning it's not clear just how.

The tension builds throughout, as Elín's few close friends maintain hope that she is still alive and has just chosen to be incommunicado for reasons of her own. There are some clues that don't fit this solution, so Helgi keeps working at it, and the bits of interview transcript start to fall into place for the reader as well. There are some twists and turns in the solution.

There's some good payoff in how Hulda's investigation has a connection to Helgi's case, but those threads seem loosely woven together, and the way Hulda's timeline concludes makes me wonder if there is more to come in a sequel. Likewise with how the book ends on a cliffhanger, and such an abrupt one that I'm still not sure how I feel about it! I was actually startled that there was not another chapter and I really had reached the end of the book. I enjoyed the read, putting together the clues as best I could, and the rising suspense and subsequent satisfaction of the pieces coming together. However, that abrupt ending was very unsettling and left me puzzled and feeling like I'd missed something important.

This book is a sequel to Death At the Sanitorium: A Mystery, which I understand has a similar layout of Helgi following up on Hulda's previous investigation after her disappearance. I don't think it's necessary to read these in order, but given Hulda's disappearance and the drama in Helgi's personal life, I assume it would probably be very helpful to read in order. 

From the publisher:

The next thrilling golden-age-style mystery from the #1 Icelandic bestseller Ragnar Jónasson, author of Death at the Sanatorium and Reykjavik.

One winter evening, bestselling crime author Elín Jónsdóttir goes missing.

There are no clues to her disappearance and it is up to young detective Helgi to crack the case before its leaked to the press.

As Helgi interviews the people closest to her―a publisher, an accountant, a retired judge―he realizes that Elín's life wasn't what it seemed. In fact, her past is even stranger than the fiction she wrote.

As the case of the missing crime writer becomes more mysterious by the hour, Helgi must uncover the secrets of the writer's very unexpected life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#NetGalley

By the same author: Reykjavik: A Crime Story (with Katrín Jakobsdóttir)

This is a book set in a country with an active volcano (#49) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

©2008-2025 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human.  http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - Killers of a Certain Age

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have certainly earned their retirement, having worked their entire adult lives as professional assassins for a secretive agency known as the Museum. And so in the opening pages of this thriller, they are meeting on board a cruise ship for an all-expenses paid vacation to mark the end of their active employment, and they have some mixed feelings about it. Their training is everything though, and they recognize a Museum operative among the crew members and quickly deduce that they are the next targets. First order of business is to get off the ship alive, and the next is to figure out why the Board of the Museum wants them dead. And naturally, if they want to survive, they will need to kill those who have signed their death warrants.

What follows is a thrilling global chase, as these four sixty-somethings disguise themselves, track down information and leads, and hunt down the hunters. Every skill they've learned in their decades-long careers, their long years of experience, and their trust in each other will be put to the test in a kill or be killed mission.

Billie is the main viewpoint character, and the present-day narrative is punctuated occasionally by flashback scenes that provide insight into Billie's recruitment and training with the Museum, and the early missions the foursome completed. It feels strange sometimes to be rooting for cold-blooded killers, but Billie and her friends are definitely likeable and the epitome of sympathetic characters. Besides, the Museum has always exercised great discretion in the targets they remove, which only adds to the tension of why the organization has now turned on its own assets.

From the publisher:

"This Golden Girls meets James Bond thriller is a journey you want to be part of." -Buzzfeed

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon.

They've spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can't just retire ― it's kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller by the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they've been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They're about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman―and a killer―of a certain age.

By the same author: A Murderous Relation, A Dangerous Collaboration, A Treacherous Curse, A Perilous Undertaking, A Curious Beginning, Night of a Thousand Stars, Bonfire Night, Twelfth Night, City of Jasmine, Whisper of Jasmine, Midsummer Night; A Spear of Summer Grass, Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor, Dark Road to Darjeeling, The Dark Enquiry, Silent Night, The Dead Travel Fast

This is a book with cover font in a primary color (#41) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025

I've picked this as the first book in The 52 Book Club's Connections Challenge. 

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot.

©2008-2025 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human.  http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - Find Momo Across Europe

Find Momo Across Europe by Andrew Knapp - Let me start by saying I bought this book with the intention of sharing it with our dog-crazy granddaughter. When we showed her the book she recognized Momo (the dog) because she has a 'find Momo' book geared to children. We have spent some time with our granddaughter picking out Momo in the photographs, and some are quite challenging. I initially hesitated on including this book in the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge because it looks like a children's picture book, but it's full of information and insights about traveling in Europe.

Author and photographer Andrew Knapp travels with his faithful border collie named Momo and has a series of Find Momo books about their adventures. The photos feature breathtaking landscapes, rural villages, bustling cities, historic sites, and more; and in each photo the reader is invited to find Momo posing somewhere. It's not always easy! I found myself studying the details of architecture and landscapes and even the people while wondering where Momo might be.

Knapp includes brief commentary on the places visited, giving tips on places to see that might be off the usual beaten path of tourists, and he makes a point of telling readers which places are dog-friendly. I don't have a dog and don't have plans to travel in Europe in the near future, but I found it interesting that it seems like European cities are much more amenable to patrons bringing their dogs into cafes and other places than most American cities. 

This book has a cover without people on it (#24) for The 52 Book Club's 2024 Reading Challenge.

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 ©2008-2024 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - Once Upon A Prince

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Once Upon A Prince by Rachel Hauck - I've had this book in my Kindle library for a very long time and finally decided it was time to read it. And I'm glad I did. It's a sweet romance that combines fairy tale charm with a contemporary setting and strong characters. 

Susanna considers herself just an ordinary young woman, working hard to succeed in her career and waiting patiently for years to marry her high school sweetheart (now a Marine). But all her carefully laid plans for her life crumble in the opening pages when he breaks up with her instead of proposing. Susanna is disturbed to realize that she was more in love with her plan than with her young man, and sets out to figure out what she really wants to do with her life. And then she meets Nate when she's in need of help, and he seems to show up as a sort of knight in shining armor for her, leading to a friendship.

While on holiday in America, Prince Nathaniel isn't looking for a romance, especially since there are restrictions on who a member of the royal family can marry. He enjoys lending a helping hand to Susanna though, and getting to know her. They do seem to get along so well, and as the days go by they both find themselves considering the possibility of love . . . but Susanna doesn't even know Nate is really a prince. 

Both Susanna and Nathaniel have many choices to make and must learn to trust God's purpose and timing for their lives. Both character arcs feature loyalty, honoring commitments, and being willing to obey God and follow him in everything. 

From the publisher:

The story that inspired the Hallmark Original movie! He's a royal prince. She's an ordinary girl. But this holiday could change everything.

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess―just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up with her instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simons Island is the queen of his heart. The prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation means he won't be able to marry for love or even choose his own bride.

When Prince Nathaniel stops to help Susanna, who is stranded with a flat tire under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is immediately enchanted by her. And even though he's a total stranger, Susanna finds herself pouring her heart out to him.

Their lives are worlds apart, and soon Nathaniel must face the ultimate choice: his kingdom or her heart?

This is a character-driven novel (#9) for The 52 Book Club's 2024 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2024

©2008-2024 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - The Juliet Code

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The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham - Frederick and Grace have certainly had a very exciting time during their honeymoon! After their thrilling time in Egypt, which involved a mystery and a lot of danger and intrigue, they have carried on to Venice and are enjoying the beauty and history of the city when they are drawn into another adventure and mystery. Their friend Detective Jack Miracle enlists their help in tracking down some stolen paintings and figuring out whether the deaths of former owners were simply coincidences. As you might imagine, there's a lot to unravel, and mystery-loving Grace is thrilled to be part of the investigation team. Even Frederick is learning to appreciate the excitement of solving mysteries together with his bride. 

The investigation takes them all to an eccentric millionaire's private island, where they find secret rooms and a whole cast of characters who may not be who they say they are. Their host, Laraby, seems to be treating it all as a game, even though there are murders connected with the paintings. Frederick and Grace are certain that someone among Laraby's friends, servants, and houseguests is lying about their identity, and is willing to commit murder in order to obtain all the Juliet paintings, which contain clues to the location of a treasure. But Frederick, Grace, and Detective Jack are determined to find the thief and to decode the clues before any more lives are lost.

Grace's character is the driving force in the story, and she is still mischievous and almost childlike in her enthusiasm for stories and mysteries. She is also clever and resourceful, and has a big heart. Frederick has a much more reserved demeanor, but a recurring theme for his character in the story is his desire to see his young wife safe and happy - which do not always seem to be compatible outcomes! I enjoyed the characters and how they all interacted, and am looking forward to more in this series.

From the publisher:

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley Finally Reach Their Honeymoon Destination Only to Encounter a New Mystery in Need of Solving

Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings (Renaissance paintings featuring Shakespeare's tragic heroine), rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries. As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it's too late.

The Juliet Code is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

By the same author: The Cairo Curse, The Heart of the Mountains, Hope Between the Pages; The Red Ribbon; My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is a book featuring the ocean (#8) for The 52 Book Club's 2024 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2024

©2008-2024 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - The Starlet Spy

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The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel - Amelie Blake has built a successful career as a Hollywood actress, but she is weary of being stereotyped as a dumb blonde. Those are the roles she plays and how most people view her, but she has a brilliant mind and an incredible photographic memory. So when a movie producer approaches her for a role in a spy effort in her homeland of Sweden, she's intrigued. She will need to continue allowing the world to believe she is empty-headed, but her keen mind, knowledge of languages, and remarkable gift for memorizing what she sees are needed in order to recover missing atomic research before the Nazis find it.

Once in Sweden, Amelie meets her contact, code named Wolf, and her assignment begins at a glamorous fundraising event where she must charm the shipping magnate Finn Ristaffason and find a way to search his property for the top secret files. She has a connection to his family and finds it easy to like his grandmother, but must remain on her guard around Finn - can he be trusted, or is he a double agent? What about Wolf and the way he shows up unexpectedly and warns her of potential danger? Is he truly protecting her, or does he have ulterior motives?

Amelie uncovers clues to where the files might be, and as the danger around her increases, she must make some split-second decisions about who to trust and which way to turn, and when her mask slips, will it cost her the mission or even her life?

During WWII, some actors and actresses had roles to play that were not credited on the silver screen. This fictional story about Amelie was inspired by some of these stories and rumors. Amelie is a likeable character, and in many ways reminded me of Hedy Lamarr - a brilliant mind but needing to hide her intelligence in order to survive and serve her country. Amelie and her mother have a family secret that puts her at risk, and old wounds that keep Amelie cautious. There are sparks between her and Wolf, and between her and Finn, and not surprisingly, a romance develops, but given the circumstances it's a real test of trust and patience before the happy ending. Overall, this is a compelling and entertaining story full of action and intrigue that reads a little like an Indiana Jones adventure, stretching credulity at times.

Hollywood Star Turns Spy

In 1943, movie producer Henrik Zoltan approaches Amelie Blake under the guise of offering the Hollywood star a leading part in his upcoming film, but he has a more meaningful role in mind. Amelie's homeland of Sweden declared neutrality in the war, but Stockholm has become the "Casablanca of the North." When top-secret atomic research goes missing in Sweden, the Allied forces scramble to recover the files before they fall into Nazi hands.

The United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) needs someone who's subtle enough to spy on the Swedish elite without triggering suspicion. Who better than the "all beauty, no brains" Scandinavian starlet? Fluent in three languages and possessing a brilliant memory, Amelie loathes being labeled witless but uses the miconception as her disguise. She's tasked with searching for the crucial files, but Finn Ristaffason keeps getting in her way. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for showing up at her every turn?

With the Gestapo on her heels, Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive and world of deadly spies and counterspies.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

#TheStarletSpy #NetGalley

This is a book featuring a fashionable character (#25) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Coming Soon - The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli #TheJourneyTBNMIN

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The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli - Coming to theaters April 2-6, 2023

It's been awhile since I saw a movie in the theater, but here's one that I am really hoping to see! The music and scenery and the promise of interesting conversations is capturing my attention already. I love Andrea Bocelli's voice, and with artists like Tori Kelly, Michael W. Smith, and Tauren Wells among the musical guests that I'm already familiar with, I'm expecting a variety of styles. Other guests include instrumental groups 2CELLOS and 40 Fingers. And I'm especially interested to see Beatrice Venezi after seeing that she is one of the few women to conduct orchestras of international standing. 

"Bocelli and his wife Veronica travel on horseback along Italy's Via Francigena, an ancient road traveled by pilgrims for centuries . . . joined by friends Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, and TAYA for world-class musical performances in some of Italy's most magnificent venues and majestic locations."

Synopsis: Combining world-class musical performances with intimate conversations across the awe-inspiring Italian countryside, THE JOURNEY: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli is an exploration of moments that define us, songs that inspire us, and relationships that connect us to what matters most in life.

Join in a sacred pilgrimage of hope, beauty, and song with this special theatrical event opening on Palm Sunday and continuing through Holy Week: April 2, 3, 4 & 6. In addition to Bocelli, you'll hear Michael W. Smith, Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, TAYA, and many others in amazing musical performances across majestic locations. Get your tickets at TheJourney.movie.  

Purchase tickets at: TheJourney.movie

Hashtags: #TheJourneyTBNMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - What I Would Tell You

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What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma - Mathilda and her husband are Sephardic Jews building a life in Salonika, Greece in 1941, when the Nazis march in and their world changes. Mathilda uses the small Jewish newspaper she publishes herself to urge the people of their community to be brave and to not give in to fear, even to resist, but what can they do against such a relentless enemy? Their movements are restricted, businesses confiscated, and eventually most of the men are sent away to labor camps. Mathilda helps the council come up with a plan to ransom the men back, but the cost is tremendous, and soon the Jews are all forced into ghettos and the transportations to Poland begin. As things get more bleak each day, Mathilda is anxious for the future of the baby she carries, and grateful for the help and support of one Greek Christian friend who takes her own risks to offer hope.

In 2019, Tessa is a college student struggling with the awkward dynamics in her family when she and her cousin get the results from genetic testing to find out their family background. Tessa is puzzled when hers doesn't match her cousins at all, and that she has Sephardic Jewish heritage. With no answers from her mother, and her grandparents gone, she impulsively decides to travel to Greece and research her family's roots there. With help from a guide at the museum, she digs into the little information she has in hopes of finding relatives of her great-grandmother that still lived in the area. And she realizes she must answer for herself the questions of whether she could be Christian and Jewish, and what her Jewish heritage might mean.

This novel tells the story of the Jewish people in Greece and what they suffered during World War II in a poignant way, with its focus on the character Mathilda. She is a courageous and decisive character, and through what she writes in her diary and in her little newspaper, the horrors and uncertainties of the time are made very real and personal. The modern character Tessa and her complicated family with all its tensions is a relatable and sympathetic character as well. She borrows Mathilda's translated diary from the museum in her effort to understand what happened to the Jews in Thessaloniki around the time her grandmother was born, and in this way the two stories unfold together. Both characters keep a diary or journal, and excerpts from these writings are what mark the shift from one viewpoint character to the other.

The story is well-written and very moving, and although I found it hard to read at times because I knew what the likely outcome would be for Mathilda and her loved ones, it was carefully told so that it was honest but not graphic. While telling a piece of history that many are not familiar with, the story also draws on the themes of a mother's powerful love and the importance of family and loyalty.

From the Publisher:

Determined to resist the invading Nazis, a Greek Jewish woman's greatest dream has become her worst nightmare, and now she faces an impossible choice whose consequences echo across the generations.

1941 - The pounding of Nazi boots on the streets of Salonika, Greece, reverberates in Mathilda Nissim's ears, shaking her large community of Sephardic Jews to its core and altering her life forever. If only her people would rise up and resist their captors. At great risk to herself and those around her, she uses the small newspaper she publishes to call them to action, all to no avail. Her husband encourages her to trust God to watch over them, but God has once again deserted His people. Amid the chaos, Mathilda discovers she's expecting a longed-for child. Still, nothing stops the occupier's noose from tightening around their necks, and she may have to resort to desperate measures to ensure her daughter's survival.

2019 - College student Tessa Payton and her cousin take a popular DNA heritage test only to discover they don't share any common ancestors. In fat, the test reveals Tessa is a Greek Sephardic Jew. This revelation threatens her tenuous faith. Always the overlooked child in her family, she empties her savings account and jets off on a journey to Greece to discover where she belongs and which God demands her allegiance. The enchanting curator at the Jewish museum guides her as she navigates life in Thessaloniki, helps her with her genealogical research, and loans her a fascinating journal written by a Jewish woman during WWII. Tessa's search, however, may open old wounds and uncover long-hidden secrets that could fracture her family forever and leave her with more question than when she started.

Based in part on true accounts of Jews in Salonika, Greece, What I Would Tell You traces two women's journeys, delving into what faith looks like and where it leads us as they navigate difficult circumstances and impossible choices that have ripple effects across the years.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

By the same author: A Promise Engraved, The Silver Shadow, The Gold Digger, The Pink Bonnet, The Green Dress

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is a book with a dedication (#9) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - Obedient Unto Death

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Obedient Unto Death by Liisa Eyerly - In ancient Ephesus the first generation of the Christian church is growing, but it is considered an outlawed religion in the Roman Empire. Sabina is a devoted Christian, but as a young woman living in her father's household, she must be especially careful that her movements don't draw attention and put the church at risk, because her father is a Roman magistrate.

During a church meeting, a young scribe dies suddenly, the victim of poisoning, and the church bishop is arrested for murder. Sabina knows that Apollos is not guilty, but confessed in order to protect the rest of the church, so she is determined to find the true killer so Apollos can be set free. Her father reluctantly allows her a few days to find the murderer before Apollos is executed.

Sabina begins tracking down information about the dead scribe and his contacts, and eventually enters into a tense partnership with his brother to find the answers. They uncover several possible suspects, and realize that not everyone is telling the truth about their interactions with the scribe, or even about their religion and loyalties. Sabina's pursuit of the truth puts her in danger of being exposed as a member of an outlawed religion, and puts her very life in danger.

This was an interesting mystery, because without reliable eyewitnesses or a confession, how could murders be investigated in a time before DNA evidence or time-stamped surveillance videos? Sabina must be creative and use logic and intuition to figure out who might have motive and opportunity, and how to prove it. The contentious interactions with her father, the scribe's brother, and others complicate her search. She also finds out that Apollos has some information related to her mother's death, and must decide whether to press him to reveal what he knows about that; and there's a suitor likely to propose to her, so she must navigate through those expectations and her own feelings about it. There are a lot of threads to weave together for the story to work, and overall I felt that it worked well and kept me interested in all facets of her journey of discovery. The answer to the murder mystery made sense but I wasn't completely convinced about the proof, and although the wrap-up didn't neatly tie up every loose end with appropriate justice, it was believable because rarely does a real tragedy get wrapped up in a neat and perfect ending. I also appreciated the elements of faith and the history of the early Christian church that were woven into the narrative and figured in the mystery itself.

From the publisher:

Murder, intrigue, and treachery in ancient Ephesus.

Sinister forces are at work to destroy the fledgling Christian faith in Ephesus, and Sabina is in their way.

A young scribe is murdered during a covert Christian worship service. Sabina, a member of this outlawed religion, can't believe a member of this new faith could be the killer. But when her Roman magistrate father arrests the church bishop for murder, she reluctantly admits all is not brotherly love and harmony among the faithful.

Racing to stop the bishop's imminent execution, Sabina plunges into the private world of the dead scribe, searching for proof of the bishop's innocence. Mystery, intrigue, and treachery meet her at every turn. Will she discover the truth in time, or will she be thrown in prison herself for her faith in Christ?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a book I meant to read last year (#35) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

 

Recent Reads - The Master Craftsman

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The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart - This dual timeline story combines a modern treasure hunt with a historical drama, with a bit of suspense and a hint of romance thrown in. In the historical timeline, the story follows the great Peter Karl Fabergé. Having risen to fame and success as a jeweler for the imperial tsar of Russia, he finds himself with divided loyalties as unrest pushes Russia closer to the Bolsehvik Revolution. Fabergé has supplied the beautiful jeweled Easter Eggs to the tsar's family for years, but now he secretly creates an Egg to express his dual allegiance. As the danger mounts, he entrusts the secret of the Egg to a trusted master craftsman in his business, Alma Pihl, and asks her to keep the secret safe when she escapes to her native Finland.

In the present-day timeline, Ava Laine finds herself intrigued by the possibility of helping her estranged father complete one last treasure hunt. The great treasure hunter Nick Laine is bedridden and when Ava and her mother go to see him, Ava volunteers to be his 'padawan' or apprentice to find a mysterious Fabergé egg. Her mother Carol and her friend Zak join the team and they head to Russia to track down the clues. In St Petersburg, they connect with two trusted contacts of Nick's and begin the hunt.

The two story lines unfold in alternating chapters, with the historical story following Fabergé, his wife Augusta, and Alma; and the present day story focusing on Ava. The suspense builds as Ava and her team follow the few leads they have, but relying more on Ava's instincts as the days go by. Then when everything in the hunt goes wrong, Ava finds herself in greater danger than she thought possible, and must decide who she can trust in a race for her life and to find the missing Fabergé egg.

This story took some unexpected twists in both timelines, and the complex relationships and personal dilemmas kept me turning pages, as did the rich background of historical context of the Fabergé eggs.

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2022 European Reading Challenge

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This is a book set on at least two continents (#12) for The 52 Book Club's 2022 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub2022

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Recent Reads - The Only Woman in the Room

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The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - This novel reads like an auto-biography, as it's written in first person as if from Hedy Lamarr's personal journal. Author Marie Benedict wove together the facts about Lamarr's life and paints a haunting picture of the beautiful actress who was also a brilliant inventor.

The story begins with Hedy Kiesler's stage acting in Austria, following a performance that brought her to the attention of a wealthy and influential arms dealer, Friederich Mandl. The much older man pursued the young actress, who eventually agreed to marry him, at least in part because his power and influence could keep her and her parents protected in an increasingly anti-Semitic country. (This was in the early 1930s) Hedy had given up her acting career upon her marriage, and soon found out that her intellect and keen mind were not respected at all by her husband. She was an art object that he liked to show off at dinner parties. But while acting as Mandl's hostess, she had access to the political powers of Europe, and was privy to vast amounts of sensitive information about armaments, political maneuvering, and military plans and secrets. 

As her husband treated her more and more like a prisoner, Hedy accumulated all this sensitive information, and she also realized that anyone with Jewish roots was unsafe as Hitler's Nazis gained power. She carefully planned her escape from Austria, and eventually made her way to Hollywood after an introduction to Louis B. Mayer, where she found success as a glamourous actress, known for her exceptional beauty. She also struggled with her sense of guilt for escaping Europe and not sharing what she knew about Hitler and his plans, or about the strengths and weaknesses of the weaponry and military plans.

Hedy was finally able to team up with a composer to invent the "frequency hopping" communication system - or spread-spectrum technology - designed to help guide torpedoes to their targets while thwarting enemy attempts to jam the signals. This brilliant invention, patented by a gorgeous movie star and a composer, is the basis of the technology used in modern wireless communication. 

Much of Hedy Lamarr's life story is bittersweet - she was rarely acknowledged for her brilliant mind, only for her looks. She won personal victories in escaping her abusive first marriage and creating a technology to defeat the weapons Hitler was using on innocent people, but she had trouble in all her personal relationships and her frequency hopping invention was dismissed by the US military because it came from a woman. The only woman in the room.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.