Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library - Amanda Chapman

 Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman - 358 pages

Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.

Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail and announces she’s there to help solve a murder -- that has not yet happened.

But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.

Aided by a found family of unlikely sleuths -- including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits -- Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”

Tom Lake : A novel by Ann Patchett

 

Tom Lake : A novel by Ann Patchett-309 pages

It's spring and Lara's three grown daughters have returned to the family orchard. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the one story they've always longed to hear – of the film star with whom she shared a stage, and a romance, years before.

Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. 

A good read, though it seemed to lag a bit in parts.

Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden-Mills -- 346 pages

We start off with a lie on Valentine’s Day.

My blind date isn’t the studious guy I expected: he’s a drop-dead gorgeous player with sinful amber eyes. Somehow we end up at his penthouse. I blame the gin and tonic.

The next day I learn he’s Jack Hawke—bad-boy professional quarterback with a murky past. The NDA he has me sign should be a warning that he isn’t a regular person. Please. I sign it Juliet Capulet, so goodbye, famous football player with abs of steel, and good luck tracking down this small-town librarian.

But Jack keeps showing up in places I least expect him. Just when I’m sure he’s gone, he waltzes into my community theater and wins the part of Romeo to my Juliet. How’s a plain, mostly innocent girl like me supposed to resist a man like him? Is Jack my real Romeo… or will this gorgeous football player only break my heart?

Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service by Gary Sinise

 272 pages / 12 hrs, 13 mins

"As a kid in suburban Chicago, Gary Sinise was more interested in sports and rock 'n' roll than reading or schoolwork. But when he impulsively auditioned for a school production of West Side Story, he found his purpose—or so it seemed. 

"Within a few years Gary and a handful of friends created what became one of the most exciting and important new theater companies in America. From its humble beginnings in a suburban Chicago church basement and eventual move into the city, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company launched a series of groundbreaking productions, igniting Gary's career along with those of John Malkovich, Joan Allen, Gary Cole, Laurie Metcalf, Jeff Perry, John Mahoney, and others. Television and film came calling soon after, and Gary starred in Of Mice and Men (which he also directed) and The Stand before taking the role that would change his life in unforeseeable ways: Lieutenant Dan in the Academy Award–winning Forrest Gump.

"The military community's embrace of the character of the disabled veteran was matched only by the depth of Gary's realization that America's defenders had not received all the honor, respect, and gratitude their sacrifices deserve. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, this became Gary's mission. While starring in hits like Apollo 13, Ransom, Truman, George Wallace, CSI:NY, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Gary has worked tirelessly on behalf of those who serve this country, entertaining more than a half million troops around the world playing bass guitar with his Lt. Dan Band, raising funds on behalf of veterans, and eventually founding the Gary Sinise Foundation with a mission to serve and honor America's defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need."  --from the publisher

Sinise's story is inspiring, and appears to be an honest narrative of his life. His work with veterans, our troops, and their families is laudable. If you like theater and/or acting you will especially appreciate his career background. I give it four out of five stars.

Stage Fright on a Summer Night by Mary Pope Osborne

Stage Fright on a Summer Night by Mary Pope Osborne-70 pages

In this Magic Tree House adventure, Annie and Jack are whisked back to Old England (1600s) where they meet Will (William Shakespeare) and must find the first of four kinds of magic. Will is missing two actors for his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Jack and Annie end up playing in place of the two missing actors. This is the first magic needed. It would be fun to meet William Shakespeare, especially because not much is known about his life outside of the plays he wrote.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Drama by Raina Telgemeier-240 pages

I wanted to read at least one book/graphic novel on this month's challenge, which is school, so I did a search for good graphic novels with school settings and this is one that came up. I enjoyed reading this, even though it is set in middle school. I have always enjoyed drama/theater and acted in school plays in middle school and high school. This book was an easy read about middle school drama (both the theater kind and the real-life kind). The plot is cool, interesting and the book being set up as a play within a play is pretty cool. Overall, it was a fun, easy read.

Witness in Death by J.D. Robb

Witness in Death by J.D. Robb - 357 pages

Detective Eve Dallas is enjoying an evening at the theater with her husband Roarke when the lead actor is killed onstage during the final act of the play.  Now Eve must determine which person associated with the play wanted him dead the most.  Everyone has a reason to kill him, but who actually did it?

Another great entry in the Eve Dallas mystery series.  Although I guessed the killer early on, the motive was a surprise until the end.

Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett

Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett - 368 pages

Pratchett often called on satire to fuel the roots of his stories, so if you're into Shakespeare, this is definitely one to pick up.  Here we meet the early coven: Esme "Granny" Weatherwax, Gytha "Nanny" Ogg, and Magrat Garlick. on their first escapade together (or, mostly together and hardly ever totally at odds with each other, really).  At stake is the future of a kingdom under the rule of a mad despot and his white hot iron wife, the destiny of a young man born to royalty but given to the stage for safekeeping, and three witches who are determined to hold it all together by very pointedly not interfering in the theatrical nightmare that unfolds.

I love this story because it shows us the beginnings of the friendship between Esme and Gytha, which over the course of the next several books develops past a simple professional rivalry into one of the most insightfully-written, entertaining, and well-developed friendships I've read in any fictional work.  This is a friendship that shakes the Disc in many ways over the course of the next several novels about their adventures, and to see the original conception of that friendship is ridiculously special.