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Do you see what I mean, about putting exciting layers into a book, so that it is not one boring "solve the crime" storyline? We ended up with a mix of past and present circumstances that create the feeling of a proper mystery. They may be crimes but at least they generate puzzles, that make you really want to answer mysterious clues and questions. I will finish this novel today and not wait for my bedtime reading!

Riding a bike is commonplace; a nice vehicle moving you picturesquely. When you kick into a gear that gets your bike to coast; you feel the shift from commonplace to glorious. Your ride becomes magical and your mind, meditative; soaring along with your physical freedom. This novel has achieved A PROPER MYSTERY. Who murderered someone? Boring. What is the family secret? What is this odd puzzle? I am hooked!

I ran a fun mystery logo riddle that our friend Sheri, solved! Each year's "My Kind Of Mystery" reading challenge logo is derived from a book I plan to read. It is an annual riddle that members solve.

I have sent out an event invitation for you, all of my Goodreads friends, to join any of my four challenges. Have run seeing the solved riddle! https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2018/1...

As I finish setting up the reading challenge quartet I host every year, I will make more progress in my reading. An example of how well books work in my flexible groups is this. This novel hits 3/4 of my reading challenge themes! "My Kind Of Mystery" and "Celtic Coasts" are obvious. Also, in "Gentle Spectrums", I'm introducing a new subject heading: "continent other than yours". I hope many friends join me! :)

When I am done setting up the quartet of reading challenges I run, I will go to bed earlier and read longer. I had intentions of spending a few hours with this novel but I feel asleep again. Well, I will turn that around. The more work I settle by day, the more I can play! :)

Fun fact: this novel works for two of my themes: "My Kind Of Mystery" and "Celtic Coasts". Look up my blog "RIEDEL Fascination" to join!

I have looked forward to returning to many series in our home suite of literature. Especially those series in which it is volume two; my first return since being introduced. However, all of my returns to series feel like a treat and a homecoming, because I do not binge-read and savour space in between each author. I have found that it augments my enjoyment of each story, to not grow sick of any one writing style.

I will retire early today, to read this whole novel. No more falling asleep after several pages! Or if I get enough of my errands done, perhaps I will sneak in reading by day. New year's week is likely busy for everyone. Please do not equate the time I am taking, with the measure of my enjoyment. I am loving it. We celebrated Christmas this week-end with my parents, who spent it in Toronto with their Grandkids.

I got back to treating myself to reading time and put some good mileage on this. I am enthralled with Victoria Thompson's story overall; the mystery being merely one incidental part. She reconciles with her Dad, really starts befriending Frank, helps choose a deaf school for his son, and helps an underfed Mother and baby. They are standard adult novels, not cozy fluff. Again, I fell asleep holding the paperback!

May our new year 2019 be happy for everybody! :-) Yours truly, Carolyn.

Hm, I am disagreeing with a crowd. Well, I saw some comments about not feeling this was much of a mystery; maybe due to the tired old remark "I guessed who the killer was right away". So what? That brag never includes motive or detail. From page one, the whole novel describes an active effort to suss out information about a victim and her circle. Also, its developing characters and historic tableau are a treat!

I last commented that this novel was too much in the style for little kids than I want in my mysteries and adventures. These are veritable mysteries about solving puzzles, the way I like them. However something is plainly interesting me and investing me, even if it is only the constant pace of the story going on. I zoomed through one-hundred pages and reluctantly closed this book at 4:00 in the morning, not tired.

I was really excited about obtaining this book and received it as a surprise gift, from a new friend for Christmas! Our books are always actual objects, not e-book freebies. In this case, it was bought as a brand new copy. Therefore there is more incentive than usual to love it. I admit due to having a riddle-solving style, I thought this would be teen-level. It is more "little kiddie" than I like but I read on.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND LITERATURE PEERS! MAY GOD BLESS US ALL AND ANSWER OUR PRAYERS. ESPECIALLY OUR DEAR CONAN CAT BEING SAFE AND GETTING HOME TO US SOON. HERE IS TO JOY COMING OUR WAY, EVERYONE! YOURS TRULY, CAROLYN.

I am at last getting well enough to really catch up with this book. I had little interest in Quebec and was glad to bypass that political history. I know nothing about New Brunswick and was eager to sample it but all those tombstones talked about were loyalists. I loved the prairie provinces, certainly Manitoba, mine. Now I am in Nova Scotia, my second-most favourite in our country! Onward I go, to wellness too!

I am fighting this poorly-timed and never-desired cold, during which I could not read for a week; nor hardly breathe or sleep. However, last night, though still hardly breathing or sleeping, a pill worked well enough that I could catch-up quite a few pages of reading this book. I don't want to drag it through the year. I want a few more finished, though that would demand additional reviews. I will do what I can.

It does not appear, with no comments in my blog's comment boxes, that anyone has tried solving this year's "My Kind Of Mystery" logo. I added a post with steps to get you underway but there are still no guesses. Here is a final, extra, "practically giving it away" clue. https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2018/1...

I was furious Ron brought a cold home last week. We are careful and I often avoid them but I got this one. I haven't been well enough to sleep or read and don't become tired enough to fall asleep the next day either. I don't understand that. I have so much to do! I am determined to prepare my brother's late and quite intricate birthday parcel, with Christmas gifts for his family today: for Ron to mail tomorrow!

Very enjoyable while educational. We learn snippets of Canadian history, places, and who's who. It also means something to remember ordinary and better-known people who passed on. That is the purpose of grave markers, the more informative the better. It is wonderful that researcher Nancy Millar gives us a tour of many of them across Canada in this book and sparks the idea to be observant of local ones ourselves.

I traditionally identify our "My Kind Of Mystery" logo, after a year to guess the book cover from which we derive it. I didn't add clues until recently but would hate to close without guessers. Everyone is welcome to sleuth! I wrote the steps I would use to solve it so you are comfortable playing. Answer at my blog by the week-end. Have fun! https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2018/1...

We are in Manitoba's chapter! I will revisit the part I peeked at, that made me laugh most. There is far more to even our founding culture than Louis Riel and Hudsons Bay company but I see they did not overlook the Neepawa cemetery, as the most beautiful and grand in our province. Margaret Laurence's resting place should be no-brainer directions to give anyone but if you visit, seek her maiden family name, Wemyss.

Nancy Millar, by whom I know I will read anything and hope she has other books, achieves intricate, clear history with humour. Anyone with half an interest would love her book. I keep laughing delightedly at her way with plain-speaking and witty words and I am not at Manitoba's part yet.

Observing this subject matter, you wouldn't imagine how funny Nancy Millar's presentation of her regional tour is. I would love her as a tour guide in person. Here I was, leaving my bookmark and peeking at the Manitoba chapter to ensure it is no shorter than any other province's. That is important to Manitobans! I caught a humorous phrase that had me laughing uncontrollably. I laughed at 2:30AM over such a book!

This is fantastic right away: another gem discovery from local thrift stores! It is personably, humorously, wryly-written (given the looks Nancy Millar got for touring cemeteries). It is compassionately-written, too. Feeling for some poignant occurrences she learned about, which got her niece interested in personal Canadian and family histories too; sparked this tour and idea for a book about less-known history.

Hi everyone! I thought you might be interested in a mystery-solving game! This is the wrap-up for participants of all four of my reading themes, to share their tallies and musings. At this post, I am inviting everyone to read about what I host and to play along, at solving our 2018 "My Kind Of Mystery" logo! I make a game of solving each year's logo. https://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2018/1...

My return to my dear Wylly Folk St. John is as different and unexpected as all of her books are. She had an incomparible imagination for never having books and subjects and locations that seem alike. They are all southern and her polite language comes through in real life youths she is emulating. But you are always engaged and enthralled in a whole new place. This one is serious: what to do about noticing abuse.

A first edition in mint condition from my birth year, I have looked forward to reading it!