Good morning from Santa Fe!
The Summer Reading Project is off to a great start! You can see my TBR list a few posts ago. I’ve finished Whispers of the Dead by Tim Ellis featuring Tom Gabriel a retired cop and new PI in St. Augustine, FL. I’ve also finished Spider Woman’s Daughter by Anne Hillerman (Tony’s daughter) which continues the series featuring Navajo policemen, Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernie Manuelito. My reviews of these two excellent books are available on Amazon.
These two USA locations were very interesting reads for me. Although Ellis is an Englishman, his Gabriel series in St. Augustine and Jacksonville is captivating. His UK-isms come into play occasionally – ringing someone instead of calling, measuring weight in stones instead of pounds – but beyond the occasional Queen’s English quip, it’s a delightful read. From Valdosta, we visit St. Augustine and Jacksonville often, so reading this series has a sense of familiarity to it.
Anne Hillerman has more than successfully picked up her father’s mantle in re-starting the Navajo police series which takes place on the Arizona/New Mexico border, just a bit south from where I sit writing this post. What was amazing to me, was when most of the action moved right here to Santa Fe! Even more amazing was the hospital where Joe Leaphorn was sent for a gunshot wound was Christus St. Vincent. This is the very same hospital where, any day now (any moment, actually), Alek and Daniela will welcome their first daughter and I will become a grandpa! Even in fiction it’s a small world!
So, I’ve knocked two off the list so far. I’ve now moved to the Scottish Highlands for Death of a Liar featuring village policeman, Hamish MacBeth. I love this series so much and I’m sad because I’ve now caught up to the author, M.C. Beaton, and must wait for her to write the next Hamish book. This is an “easy read” series. The books are perfect “cozies” and can be read quickly and for great enjoyment. My review will be published on Amazon as soon as I complete the read.
If you’re reading any of the titles on my TBR list, please reply or comment below. I’d love to get your thoughts on any or all of these books.
In other update news: Alek sings Candide tonight and Monday in Vancouver with the Symphony. He’ll return to Santa Fe on Tuesday to begin rehearsals for Daughter of the Regiment. The question is can his first-born daughter wait for him to get here before popping out to greet us! So far, so good – but we’re on serious babywatch!
I wish you all could be here to enjoy this glorious Santa Fe morning! Until next time – Cheers! -JAS
PS. Don’t forget to share this with your friends, reply, comment, subscribe, like, and all the other good stuff! Now, back to Scotland!
