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February 28, 2022: Baron’s Book Club Blab Blog! 6 new and upcoming releases!

Another six new and upcoming releases for you to check out – or not:

The High House by Jessie Greengrass

Perched on a sloping hill, set away from a small town by the sea, the High House has a tide pool and a mill, a vegetable garden, and, most importantly, a barn full of supplies. Caro, Pauly, Sally, and Grandy are safe, so far, from the rising water that threatens to destroy the town and that has, perhaps, already destroyed everything else. But for how long?

Caro and her younger half-brother, Pauly, arrive at the High House after her father and stepmother fall victim to a faraway climate disaster—but not before they call and urge Caro to leave London. In their new home, a converted summer house cared for by Grandy and his granddaughter, Sally, the two pairs learn to live together. Yet there are limits to their safety, limits to the supplies, limits to what Grandy—the former village caretaker, a man who knows how to do everything—can teach them as his health fails.

My thoughts: A Cli-Fi novel in the vein of John Christopher’s Death of Grass and Leigh Brackett’s The Long Tomorrow (two of my favorites), The High House is an intimate exploration of the impact of climate catastrophe. The story’s focus is four individuals who find refuge, amidst the mounting distant chaos, at a self-sufficient, high-ground property. Although there are four of them, only three deliver narrative insights through their dedicated POV chapters: Caro and Sally, whose voices are practically indistinct, and young Pauly who offers an interesting outlook as someone who never knew a world before the devastation, a calm before the endless storms. The elder Grandy, for some reason, is odd person out – which is a shame since he could have offered an equally fascinating, atypical perspective to their predicament. The narrative creeps up on us like the flood waters that eventually claim the surrounding village, covering themes related to motherhood and family, survival and loss. A quiet, measured, introspective read.

3/5

***

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

Claire Kovalik is days away from being unemployed—made obsolete—when her beacon repair crew picks up a strange distress signal. With nothing to lose and no desire to return to Earth, Claire and her team decide to investigate.

What they find at the other end of the signal is a shock: the Aurora, a famous luxury space-liner that vanished on its maiden tour of the solar system more than twenty years ago. A salvage claim like this could set Claire and her crew up for life. But a quick trip through the Aurora reveals something isn’t right.

Whispers in the dark. Flickers of movement. Words scrawled in blood. Claire must fight to hold onto her sanity and find out what really happened on the Aurora, before she and her crew meet the same ghastly fate.

My thoughts: Claire Kovalik is days away from being unemployed—made obsolete—when her beacon repair crew picks up a strange distress signal. With nothing to lose and no desire to return to Earth, Claire and her team decide to investigate.

What they find at the other end of the signal is a shock: the Aurora, a famous luxury space-liner that vanished on its maiden tour of the solar system more than twenty years ago. A salvage claim like this could set Claire and her crew up for life. But a quick trip through the Aurora reveals something isn’t right.

Whispers in the dark. Flickers of movement. Words scrawled in blood. Claire must fight to hold onto her sanity and find out what really happened on the Aurora, before she and her crew meet the same ghastly fate.

4/5

***

Future Skinny by Peter Rosch

Casey Banks is a devoutly anorexic man who discovers he can see the future by binge-eating. His new plan? Perform visions for cash while staying thin by any means necessary. Reading futures proves to be lucrative, but when he ignores a vision of his girlfriend committing a grisly murder, it sets Casey on a dangerous path toward a destiny he’ll do anything to avoid.

My thoughts: Casey Banks can glimpse the future whenever he binge-eats. It’s an unusual, occasionally revolting ability that proves both lucrative and very dangerous when the wrong kind of people seek out his divinatory gifts. I loved the weird premise and the ensuing intrigue as Casey and his partner Lylian attempt to negotiate two rival factions, but one of the book’s central themes, the exploration of fate vs. free will, rang hollow for me. There’s some discussion about destiny and the ability to change one’s future, yet there are several instances where information gleaned from Casey is used to forestall betrayals by killing individuals before they have a chance to act. I’d argue that effectively puts the debate to rest but the book, at least in its surface discussions, leaves the question unanswered. Having said that, this argument pays off nicely in one of the better twist endings I have read.

3/5

***

The Second Cut by Louise Welsh

Auctioneer Rilke has been trying to stay out of trouble, keeping his life more or less respectable. Business has been slow at Bowery Auctions, so when an old friend, Jojo, gives Rilke a tip-off for a house clearance, life seems to be looking up. The next day Jojo washes up dead.

Jojo liked Grindr hook-ups and recreational drugs – is that the reason the police won’t investigate? And if Rilke doesn’t find out what happened to Jojo, who will?

My thoughts: A tip from an old friend, Jojo, regarding an estate sale sets auctioneer Rike on twin tracks of investigation, the first involving the disappearance of an elderly woman, the second involving the suspect death of the aforementioned Jojo. Along the way, we are treated to glimpses of the seedier side of Glasgow as our protagonist attempts to put together the pieces of these mysterious puzzles. Great characters and a brisk pacing make for a very compelling read – up until the book’s close, at which point the wheels come off. Our hero risks his life to get to the truth – only to have another character step in at the 11th hour to conveniently save the day and make everything right. And, in the end, the revelations regarding that missing woman and Rilke’s dead friend prove equally anti-climactic.

3/5

***

Light Years From Home by Mike Chen

Evie Shao and her sister, Kass, aren’t on speaking terms. Fifteen years ago on a family camping trip, their father and brother vanished. Their dad turned up days later, dehydrated and confused—and convinced he’d been abducted by aliens. Their brother, Jakob, remained missing. The women dealt with it very differently. Kass, suspecting her college-dropout twin simply ran off, became the rock of the family. Evie traded academics to pursue alien conspiracy theories, always looking for Jakob.

When Evie’s UFO network uncovers a new event, she goes to investigate. And discovers Jakob is back. He’s different—older, stranger, and talking of an intergalactic war—but the tensions between the siblings haven’t changed at all. If the family is going to come together to help Jakob, then Kass and Evie are going to have to fix their issues, and fast. Because the FBI is after Jakob, and if their brother is telling the truth, possibly an entire space armada, too.

My thoughts: This novel opens in a distant galaxy where our hero, Jakob, flees an advancing alien race.  Armed with the means to saving the universe, he journeys back to Earth – much to the surprise of his family who haven’t seen him since he disappeared while on a camping trip some fifteen years earlier.  What follows is a thoughtful study of family dynamics, obligations, and the restitutive power of forgiveness.  Jakob’s father is dead, his mother battling Alzheimers, one of his sisters a UFO “conspiracy nut” who never gave up on him, his other sister resentful insofar as she has never forgiven him for abandoning them.  And she does have a point. I too had a hard time finding much sympathy for Jakob who, at one point, even admits to being too busy to get in touch with them even though he visited Earth in the past.  A determined FBI provide a looming threat to the proceedings, but the jeopardy takes a back seat to this story’s more grounded elements – the characters and their respective relationships.  It’s a well-written book with a lot of heart, but sci-fi fans expecting a follow-through on the intergalactic high adventure promise of the opening chapter may be disappointed.

3/5

***

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamtsu

Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus.

Once unleashed, the Arctic Plague will reshape life on earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects—a pig—develops the capacity for human speech. A widowed painter and her teenaged granddaughter embark on a cosmic quest to locate a new home planet.

From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead to interstellar starships, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes readers on a wildly original and compassionate journey, spanning continents, centuries, and even celestial bodies to tell a story about the resiliency of the human spirit, our infinite capacity to dream, and the connective threads that tie us all together in the universe.

My thoughts: A collection of stories spanning centuries, linked by a mysterious viral plague that sweeps across the globe, claiming lives and forever altering others.  On the heels of our own pandemic, it can make for a very sobering read at times, yet moments of despair are counter-balanced by instances of humor, heart, and hope.  Although these tales are interconnected to varying degrees, they serve as effective stand-alone narratives.  As a result, some may resonate more than others.  Two of my favorites were, arguably, the most bittersweet entries.  In one, we follow a young man who lands a job at a theme park that helps sick children “move on” from this physical world.  There, he meets and falls in love with a young mother whose seriously ill son has come to the park to live out his final fun-filled days.  In another story, researchers discover their test subject, a pig, has the ability to talk.  And he has a lot of questions for them.

Interestingly, despite my sci-fi background, I responded more to the smaller, grounded, near-future character-driven stories over the far future narratives involving aliens and space travel.  Chalk this up to Nagamatsu’s deftness in crafting sympathetic characters facing seemingly unimaginable scenarios that, given the past couple of years, prove surprisingly relatable.4/5***So, what have YOU been reading?

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February 27, 2022: Suji Sunday!

Messy eater!  Akemi has started feeding Suji a special mussel soup with turmeric.  Now, her chin is permanently yellow.

Getting ready to hit the great outdoors.

Suji testing out her new wheelchair with both front and rear leg support.

In addition to her leg exercises, she gets an outside walk in the morning and a speedy carpet run in the afternoon.

Getting used to her new wheels…

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February 26, 2022: Stargate, cheese, and whisky lemonade!

Today, I joined David Reed for the 120th episode of his Dial the Gate series.  We talked Stargate: Atlantis season 5 – bringing Bob Picardo on board, Jason losing the dreadlocks, plans for season 6, the Atlantis movie that never was, and much, much more.  Check it out!

Yesterday, Akemi and I visited St. Lawrence Market – for the first time in over two years.

It finally gave me the opportunity to check out a varied cheese selection!

Unlike Akemi (who can’t stand to even smell the stuff), I am a big fan of cheese.  I lean towards super soft, extra runny.  The type of cheese, as one cheesemonger once put it: “That you have to chase around the plate.”

I ended up picking three that fall into this category: Epoisses which I’ve enjoyed several times in the past, Adoray which I picked up once for a wine & cheese party and absolutely loved, and the La Tur which I’ve never tried before but came highly recommended by the shop owner.

The Epoisses was as tasty as I remember while the Adoray was one of those rare culinary experiences that leaves you as wowed as the first time you sampled it.  But the La Tur…positively sublime.  It’s now of one of my top Desert Island Cheeses along with Delice de Bourgogne.

So, what say you cheeseheads?  Where do your preferences lie?

Today’s Yes/No…

Whisky Lemonade Canned Cocktail? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/Wn3mCTJMKU

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 26, 2022

Hmmmmmm.

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February 25, 2022: Patience is required. Also, maybe, a second source of income!

I am not a patient individual, so it’s somewhat ironic that I’ve chosen this line of work where the lion’s share of your time is spent waiting for shit to happen.  Waiting to hear back from your agent.  Waiting to hear back from your lawyer.  Waiting to hear back from the production company.  Waiting to hear back from the broadcaster.  Waiting for someone to set up that zoom call.  Waiting for someone to show up for the zoom call.  Waiting for a green light.  Waiting for notes.

Three of the biggest projects I’ve developed over the last – oh, “little while” – are finally going out to potential buyers.  Pitch decks and scripts all ready go after a period of development.  How long a period?  Well, looking back on my old emails, from the point I started discussions to today…

Project #1 = 1 year and 4 months.

Projects #2 = 1 year and 7.5 months.

Project #3 = 2 years and 5 months.

In the best case scenario, all three projects are GO and I’ll be faced with a very classy choice.

In a perfect world, two projects will get the go-ahead and I’ll just have to find a way to make it work.

In an ideal world, one will receive the green light and I can start assembling my writers’ room heading into the summer.

Realistically, however, I had best start work on the three other projects I’ve lined up.

P.S. The longest stretch for a project between inception and green light?  Dark Matter = 6 years and 4 months.

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Remembering Mike Banas

Heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mike Banas who was such an integral part of the Stargate franchise, its successes, and its lasting impression on sci-fi television.

Mike was an editor, and the very best at what he did, displaying his unparalleled skills on such seminal episodes as Vegas, Time, Malice, and the SGU openers (Air I and II) and closer (Gauntlet).  These were among the 30+ Stargate episodes on which he left his mark.  I’ve often said that good editors are the unsung heroes of any production, capable of single-handedly saving bad episodes and gifted with the ability to make very good episodes great.  And Mike made it seem effortless.  He was, without a doubt, the very best I’ve ever worked with because he was so damn talented, but also because he was such a thoughtful, generous, and kind individual.  Working with was always a pleasure.

Ivon and Mike

I’d lost touch with Mike after production on Stargate ended, but he reached out to me back in 2015 after he read a blog post I’d written about the health issues facing my elderly pug, Jelly.  Mike was empathetic because, like me, he was an animal lover.  His dog, Ruby, who battled her own health issues, was a recurring presence in the editing suites back in the day, often lying beside us and enjoying a nap while we worked on an episode.  At the time of the email, he, his wife Jennifer (who was our post-production supervisor on all three Stargate shows), and Ruby were preparing to embark on the next stage of their adventure: a move to Los Angeles where he was going to join our mutual friend and former Stargate colleague, Martin Gero, on his new show, Blindspot.

He made the move and, not surprisingly, flourished in his new role, collaborating with Martin over the ensuing seven years, working with him on the aforementioned Blindspot, Kung Fu and, most recently, the soon-to-be-released Netflix series Breathe.

Almost twelve years ago, during Stargate: Universe’s final year of production, I asked Mike to do a fan Q&A.  And he was kind enough to oblige.  Soon after posting it, Akemi and I ran into Mike.  As I wrote in my blog at the time:

“Akemi recognized Mike from his recent Q&A on the blog – and she did so in fine fashion, pointing to him and loudly proclaiming: “I’ve seen you on the blog. Soooooo handsome!”  The latter a reference to the opinions of her friends at the language school who perused that particular entry with her.  Mike proceeded to turn a delightful shade of pomegranate.”

You’re, no doubt, familiar with his work – but maybe spare a moment to check out his Q&A to get a sense of the gracious and good-hearted man behind that onscreen credit.

Mike’s Q&A (July 8, 2010) 

My thoughts are with Jen as well as Mike’s family and friends.

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February 23, 2022: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

Barbarella #7 – cover art by Celina

Barbarella #7 – cover art by Madlbek Musabekov

Red Sonja #6 – cover art by Joseph Michael Lisner

Vampirella/Dracula: Unholy #3 – cover art by Shannon Maer

Elektra: Black White & Blood #2 – cover art by Jonboy Meyers

Ghost Rider #1 – cover art by Taurin Clarke

Silver Surfer: Rebirth #2 – cover art by Rod Reis

House of Slaughter #5 – cover art by Wether Dell’Edera

Power Rangers #3 – cover art by Goni Montes

The Killer Affairs of State #1 – cover art by Reiko Murakami

Girl Scouts: Stone Ghosts #5 – cover art by Tommy Lee Edwards

The Department of Truth #16 – cover art by Martin Simmonds

Action Comics #1040 – cover art by Daniel Sampere

DC vs Vampires #5 – cover art by Francesco Mattina

Deathstroke Inc. #6 – cover art by Howard Porter

The Human Target #5 – cover art by Greg Smallwood

Blade Runner: Origins #9 – cover art by Gene Ha

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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February 22, 2022: Meanwhile, on the home front…

Ooops.  Almost forgot to blog today.

Today’s Yes/No…

Sakura Cassis Strawberry Shiratama Frappuccino? Yes/No
Starbucks Japan reveals second sakura Frappuccino and drinkware goods for 2022 https://t.co/Jwu1V3rqiU via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 22, 2022

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February 21, 2022: Baron’s Book Club Blab Blog! More new and upcoming releases reviewed!

More new and upcoming releases for your consideration…

The Puppet Maker’s Daughter by Karla M. Jay

Hungary 1944. The war comes late to Budapest. Nineteen-year-old Marika, forced out of nursing school, believes she and her Jewish family will remain safe, even as Nazi soldiers fill their cobbled streets. With Russians to their east, the Allies to their west, everyone assumes the war is nearly over. Her father, once a prominent engineer, returns to his passion for puppet making. Soon, she is pulled into the resistance to rescue orphans and displaced Jews while keeping her family one step ahead of Eichmann’s extermination plans.

As the world turns dark around her, the fanatical Arrow Cross Party, a ruthless group that listens to no one including the Germans, unleashes a killing spree on the remaining Jews of Europe. One day, as peril intensifies, she must make a decision that puts her in extreme danger to save herself, her family, and the orphans she’s sheltered.

Will she regret that moment for the rest of her life?

My thoughts: As World War II draws to a seemingly imminent end, the citizens of Budapest are surprised by the arrival of the German army. At first, there is the hope that the presence of Adolf Eichmann and his troops will be a fleeting interruption to their daily lives but, as the nazi’s take control of the country, it becomes clear that things are about to change – for all of them, but especially for for Hungary’s Jewish population. As the rules targeting their community grow increasingly stringent, foreboding gives way to desperation. 19 year old Marika, a Jewish nurse who volunteers her time at a local Christian orphanage, soon finds herself struggling to safeguard her family against not only the Germans, but an equally ruthless enemy: her neighbors and fellow Hungarians.

A well-written, well-researched novel that illuminates one of history’s darkest moments – the 11th hour operation by Eichmann that saw the deportation of over 400 000 Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz during a two month period. The book covers aspects of this ugly history of which many may not be aware, like the equally horrific actions of the civilian right-wing Arrow Cross Party, led by a pistol-packing monk, whose brutality rivaled those of their German occupiers. Despite the grim subject matter, the very human element at the heart of this story – Marika, her family, and their supports within the ranks of a burgeoning resistance – offer hope amid so much heartbreak. Author Kay crafts a stirring story that is equal parts somber, shocking and stirring.

4/5

***

Autonomy by Victoria Hetherington

It’s 2035: a fledging synthetic consciousness “wakes up” in a lab. Jenny, the lead developer, determined to nurture this synthetic being like a child, trains it to work with people at the border of the American Protectorate of Canada. She names it Julian.

Two years later, Slaton, a therapist at a university, is framed by a student for arranging an illegal abortion. She follows the student to America and is detained at the border, where she meets Julian in virtual space. After a week of interviewing, he decides to stay with her, learning about the world, the human condition, and what it means to fall in love. Meanwhile, a mysterious plague is spreading across the world. Only the far-seeing and well-connected Julian can protect Slaton from the impending societal collapse.

My thoughts: “In a near future ravaged by illness, one woman and her AI companion enter a dangerous bubble of the superrich.” True, but anyone expecting Autonomy to live up to its cool sci-fi premise is in for a disappointment. The book is much more staid that one would expect given the blurb, more philosophical in its thematic explorations, more lyrical in its prose. The author establishes a near future world of mass surveillance by misogynist forces that while interesting, feels a little stale on the heels of The Handmaid’s Tale, Naomi Alderman’s The Power, Christina Dalcher’s Vox, and many other works that have covered the same well-trodden ground. A fresh attack on a familiar premise is always welcome, but this tech-driven authoritarian setting ultimately proves mere backdrop to the complicated relationship between our protagonist, Slaton, and a seemingly sentient A.I. named Julian. As our story progresses, the curious Julian begins to learn about the world through his interactions with Slaton – only to disappear partway through the novel. Slaton marries, a mysterious plague ravages society and, as communities fall, some take a mysterious pill that is supposed to grant them immortality but instead makes them very ill (one of two unrelated instances where individuals make the dubious decision to accept pills from strangers, with grim consequences) Julian finally puts in a late appearance in the novel’s closing pages at which point Slaton confesses her love to him even though there was really no satisfactory build up to this admission. The book is slow, but it is memorable for the surprisingly heartfelt connection between the oft-weary Slaton and the earnest and innocent Julian.

3/5

***

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

Best friends since second grade, Fiona Lin and Jane Shen explore the lonely freeways and seedy bars of Los Angeles together through their teenage years, surviving unfulfilling romantic encounters, and carrying with them the scars of their families’ tumultuous pasts. Fiona was always destined to leave, her effortless beauty burnished by fierce ambition–qualities that Jane admired and feared in equal measure. When Fiona moves to New York and cares for a sick friend through a breakup with an opportunistic boyfriend, Jane remains in California and grieves her estranged father’s sudden death, in the process alienating an overzealous girlfriend. Strained by distance and unintended betrayals, the women float in and out of each other’s lives, their friendship both a beacon of home and a reminder of all they’ve lost.

My thoughts: This one was a mixed bag with its exploration of a friendship that, when all is said and done, was surprisingly absent from several of the stories that make up this collection. There’s lots to like here including a fascinating backstory element that informs Jane, the guilt she harbors for outing her dad to her mother, an act she believes contributed to his suicide. It offers a fascinating subtext to much of who she is and what she does, whereas Fiona feels more diffuse and mercurial, at times difficult to fathom. The first three tales that open this book are terrific, establishing Fiona and Jane, their friendship, as well as their unique family situations. As they grow older, however, they grow apart and as the focus shifts to their respective love-lives, the narrative loses steam, partly due to the fractured nature of the story-telling but mostly, I think, because of the lack of any real depth to our secondary characters. There are some exceptions in the early goings but these characters, like the delightful Won, all but disappear as the narrative evolves.

3/5

***

Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot

Three factions vie for control of the galaxy. Rig, a gunslinging, thieving, rebel with a cause, doesn’t give a damn about them and she hasn’t looked back since abandoning her faction three years ago.

That is, until her former faction sends her a message: return what she stole from them, or they’ll kill her twin sister.

Rig embarks on a journey across the galaxy to save her sister – but for once she’s not alone. She has help from her network of resistance contacts, her taser-wielding librarian girlfriend, and a mysterious bounty hunter.

If Rig fails and her former faction finds what she stole from them, trillions of lives will be lost–including her sister’s. But if she succeeds, she might just pull the whole damn faction system down around their ears. Either way, she’s going to do it with panache and pizzazz.

My thoughts: Author Ciel Pierlot’s clear forte is world-building as proven by the rich and carefully-crafted three-faction galaxy that provides the backdrop for a sci-fi tale with action, adventure and humor reminiscent of, obviously, Firefly, but I would add maybe Dark Matter as well. It’s a lot of fun with a lot of banter (one could argue a little much banter) as our protagonist Rig sets out to save her sister with the help of her librarian girlfriend and a mysterious bounty hunter named Ginka. Not much character development and the book is too long, but if you enjoy high-flying space opera then this may be the book for you.

3/5

***

The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz

Owen Mann is charming, privileged, and chronically dissatisfied. Luna Grey is secretive, cautious, and pragmatic. Despite their differences, they begin forming a bond the moment they meet in college. Their names soon become indivisible–Owen and Luna, Luna and Owen–and stay that way even after an unexplained death rocks their social circle.

Years later, they’re still best friends when Luna finds Owen’s wife brutally murdered. The police investigation sheds some light on long-hidden secrets, but it can’t penetrate the wall of mystery that surrounds Owen. To get to the heart of what happened and why, Luna has to dig up the one secret she’s spent her whole life burying.

My thoughts: A riveting 5-star read right up to its 2.5-star ending, The Accomplice shifts back and forth between two timelines, two murders, and an atypical friendship between two very different people. As far as thrillers go, I found this one unique and very compelling, but was left disappointed with an ending that fails to gracefully dovetail its parallel narratives. Instead, we are offered the logically sound but dramatically unsatisfying resolutions to the two murders, one of which was underwhelming while the other was borderline ludicrous.

3/5

***

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace.

As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls—haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.

My thoughts: In the summer of 2000, 12 year old Josie survives a multiple homicide that claims the lives of her parents and brother, and results in the disappearance of her best friend, Becky. Decades later, author Wylie Lark is snowbound at an isolated farmhouse when she discovers a frightened young boy, seemingly alone in the wilderness. Who is he and how is his sudden appearance related to the unsolved triple homicide that gripped the community so many years back?

The Overnight Guest falls firmly into the Women in Peril thriller sub-genre, ticking all of the expected boxes. There’s a determined and resourceful heroine with a complicated past. There’s an equally determined killer stalking her. And there’s a central mystery, with all of the requisite twists and turns, that you’ll probably figure out well before the final reveal. A quick, engaging, if not unsurprising read.

3/5

***

So, what are YOU reading?

The post February 21, 2022: Baron’s Book Club Blab Blog! More new and upcoming releases reviewed! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

February 20, 2022: Suji Sunday!

Granadilla cap.

Ready to chow down!

She loves her pillow.

Post-unboxing disaster zone.  Thanks, Tanja!

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February 19, 2022: Pick Your Poison!

When Dark Matter first went into production, my writing partner and I were each gifted a bottle of fine scotch c/o our old friend Martin Gero.  I elected to share mine with the production team, unwittingly kicking off a tradition that would see us assemble at lunch every day outside my office for a shot.  And thus, the Dark Matter Whiskey Club was born.  Line Producer Norman Denver followed up by contributing a bottle of Lagavulin 16 and others soon followed, gifting the club a varied selection of whiskies.  We averaged thirteen bottles a season (one bottle an episode), thirty-nine bottles in all by the time of our premature cancellation.  And, when it was time to wrap it up, I ended up bringing the collection back home with me, determined to revive the club on my next production.

In the interim, I decided to gather some friends for the occasional whiskey tasting.  Every few weeks, I’d break out a half dozen different bottles and have the neighbors over.  Finally, last Wednesday, we had officially worked our way through my entire collection – approximately 90 bottles (mostly whiskies but about a half dozen other spirits).

The full Pick Your Poison line-up:

A few observations: Japanese whisky is almost uniformly fantastic.  I’m not a big fan of sherry cask whiskies.  Armagnac isn’t for me.  When it comes to the high-end cognacs, Martell is my jam.  Dickel Tabasco Finish is no joke.  It’s surprisingly delicious.  There’s some surprisingly great whiskey coming out of Chicago.  Lophraig and Lagavulin are acquired tastes – that I have acquired.  When it comes to smooth-drinking scotches, it’s hard to beat Balvenie Carribean Cask 14.  Meanwhile, Jefferson’s is the bourbon to beat.  When it comes to young whiskies, Hudsons Baby Bourbons lead the pack.  In the world of Irish whiskies, a simple Writer’s Tears is my preference.

Looking forward to expanding the collection!

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