Tag: mystery

books, reading, review

Two books at once: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and Red, White and Royal Blue

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanna Fluke

A baker, Hannah Swensen, in a small town where everyone knows you, finds her dairy delivery man dead behind her store “The Cookie Jar” one morning before she even opens. We meet Hannah’s mother, who is intent on getting her oldest daughter married to any eligible bachelor she can find; Lisa, who works at the Cookie Jar with Hannah; Andrea – Hannah’s sister – and Bill, her husband, as well as their daughter Tracey. As Hannah helps Bill find clues to solve the murder, Hannah gets to know Norman – the newly arrived dentist in town that their mothers have fixed up. We meet other colorful characters of the town, all on the way to finding a second murder and ultimately find out “who done it.” Fun, not difficult to figure out, but enjoyable to read.

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A standard love story, but with the two fair haired boys of UK and US as the romantic pair. Focus on what you need to do to maintain the status quo, and the cost of familial expectations, versus being true to yourself. A fun read.

books, reading

The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon

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August 6, 1969 Stella Crater walks into a bar, formally a popular speak easy in the 1930s. She sits in a corner table where the bartender brings over two glasses of whiskey with 6 ice cubes each. She waits for someone to come and listen to her confession. It’s been 39 years since her husband’s disappearance. She has been coming here every year on the anniversary of his disappearance to order his favorite drink – for two – to remember her husband. Someone joins her, and asks for her confession.

The story begins in 1930 – Judge Joseph Crater is in Maine, where his wife, a picture perfect wife, is faced with the truth of her husband’s infidelity – again. After an urgent call at dinner, he declares he is to return to New York the next morning. We meet Maria – a domestic that opens the door to her employer’s (the Craters) apartment, thinking they were in Maine, only to find a naked woman, not his wife, in their bed.  And we meet the mistress – Ritzi – who wanted to be a star at any cost. As the story unfolds the days of 1930 are recalled in each woman’s viewpoint. You hear of the corruption of politicians, cops, and everyone in between. You hear how everyone is afraid of Ownie – the gangster that has the run of the town. You hear how easy it is to slide down the slippery slope of corruption.

I will not give anything away, but the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing mostly, but I was close to the right answers in the end, but still surprised by the way everything happened. The crux of the story was like an O. Henry story. Be careful what you wish for, and be aware of how easy acquiescence can turn to evil.

This is a well written and plotted book. If you are interested in period pieces, this is all about the roaring 30s in New York City, and the corruption that ran the city. The pace of the story and the ultimate ending were a wonderful nod to letting go of yester -year.