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A tip I hope Patricia Cornwell practiced in all her writing since this first novel: mention atrocities once. Details of an atrocity once was hard enough to forget. Describing them again, with increased disturbing detail if that were possible, was awful and very much inappropriate to repeat. It served no purpose. The deeds were bad: we believed the protagonist the first time. The next novel can only be better.

I thought this was a book of old-fashioned, young-aged riddles. Ron & I like a laugh and I have a toddler niece and baby nephew coming long-distance to visit next month! I suppose it's ever better than miscellaneous book that this is a bona fide story. Much too silly and too young even for us but fine for tiny children. I loved learning Lisl Weil is from Vienna, Austria and lived 96 years! Like many authoresses!

I can't wait until this book is over because it is a gruesome topic to read, the crime and Kay Scarpetta's job. This is why I was reluctant to read this series for years but am giving it a chance, from this first novel. Thank goodness it is fictional. This is awful and never the subject I have anything to do with in entertainment, films or novels. The other crimes have to be less despicable.

Most whined "Hornet's Nest" isn't as good as this but I loved the writing from page one and the adventure. Now that I try the great Kay Scarpetta so raved about, I'm finding the contents disgustingly, disturbingly unpleasant and not digging the writing either. Already pet peeve #1, anyone whistling (even worse, via teeth!!!) was committed!!! No one whistles in reaction anything in real life! I hate that gimmick!

All of Kay Hooper's characters are distinct personages we can picture and know how we would take to them. Most are highly likeable, which makes the progression of this book a pleasure. Even when some are authoritative and secretive, none are crisply curt like in stereotypical novel-writing. We slowly acquaint each as we would in real life. Sympathy and connectivity build. Fast romance might yield an explanation.

You know you're reading an adult book instead of those reduced "cozy" offshoots when there is straightforward unabashed sex! Also a full-fledged standard mystery like this delves far enough into creativity for a complex, ethereal plot like the one slowly building here. We still have not done more than hint at it through research as of 72% through. I can't wait until we uncover the magical concept awaiting readers.

The narrative and scenes are very funny and vivid. If the mystery is well-written and developed, this will be a great novel overall.

I am rejoining Canada's wonderful Lyn Hamilton again at last.

Nowhere near the mysteriousness and whimsical, ostentatious wonderment of "The House With A Clock In Its Walls". Although professor gives us happy eccentricity and Grampa joviality. Grama is portrayed as a prude but loving and stable. Metaphysical elements might emerge but that atmosphere hasn't been built, as if we're doubting it until too late to relish it. We'll see how it proceeds. It is said to be exciting.

In the hands of a sensitive original.

In the hands of a sensitive original.

I rejoin the wonderful John Bellairs for the second time. Here we come, 1983! It is depicting 1951 instead of an era I could have recalled but it will be fun anyway. Books fully finished by John are special. However I hold out hope that those continued for him in these treasured series are well done too. I can't know until I collect and reach those reaches of these series.

We are slowly plodding along.

I'll give this inaugural series starter volume a break for taking a painstaking time to gear up but it is page 100 and there has been no whiff of a mystery. I do not believe a mystery requires a crime but I think this is that type of series. Whatever the component is that brings a mystery to this story, it ought to arrive soon. Otherwise what we have is Welsh society, scenery. and politically-greedy English prior.