Author: Monique (Page 1 of 123)

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny | Book Review

November 15, 2024 / Monique

The Grey Wolf is the 19th instalment of the Inspector Gamache series and readers are once again invited into the charming world of Three Pines. This time, our beloved Chief Inspector finds himself drawn into a perilous investigation where the enemies and allies are not clearly defined.

The story kicks off with a young man who breaks into the Gamache’s Montreal pied a terre. He takes a coat, yet returns it and asks to meet. Bizarre. More chilling is that the young man is run over in broad daylight while standing outside of a cafe with Gamache. He hasn’t provided any insights into who compelled him to break in, and Gamache isn’t even sure that the young man provided his real name; Charles. But obviously there is something worth investigating when the driver of the van is discovered dead.

Like all Gamache novels, Louise Penny delivers an intricately woven narrative that takes us to an isolated monastery in the Quebec wilderness, to the far reaches of the Atlantic coast, and all the way to Washington, Paris and Rome. Many secondary characters from previous novels make their appearance again. And this time the crime seems to be related to water security, but there are very few details for Gamache to work with and it looks more and more like an insight job or coverup by the RCMP and federal government.

The heart of The Grey Wolf lies in Gamache’s enduring humanity. Despite the dangers and moral quandaries, he remains the steadfast leader of his team and upholds his integrity. There is no easy route for Gamache.

Unlike previous novels, there is very little action that happens in Three Pines and I missed the comings and goings of Clare, Gabri, Olivier and Ruth, but Penny deepens the arc of characters we have met briefly before in previous novels, which keeps the richness of the story and broadens our knowledge of others in Gamache’s orbit.

Fans of the Gamache series will enjoy this must-read continuation of the story. If you’re brand new and enjoy shows like the Shetland drama series and DI Jimmy Perez, then you’ll like Gamache, who like Perez is a native to the land he serves and works together with a small group of trusted colleagues to solve crimes that often go beyond the close-knit communities being protected.

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay | Book Review

November 14, 2024 / Monique

The Housekeepers by Alex Hay is a fun heist novel set in Edwardian London. The story follows Mrs. King, a formidable housekeeper recently dismissed from the grand Park Lane home she managed for years. Rather than accepting defeat, Mrs. King assembles a team of spirited and skilled female accomplices, each with a unique talent, to plan an audacious heist. Their target? The very house that cast her out. With meticulous plotting and daring improvisation, the crew aims to steal every valuable item in the house on the night of a lavish ball—right under the noses of the rich and powerful guests.

Alex Hay’s debut novel is a charming yet thrilling heist, with a goodly amount of social critique. The world of women in Edwardian London is rife with rules. Women are often invisible, especially the below-stairs women. But they really grab society by the short and curlies in this story. Each character has some grudge against the house and they deliver a memorable performance in their con women roles.

Perfect for fans of historical fiction with a feminist edge—I’m thinking of The Phoenix Crown—as well as for those who enjoy films like Oceans 11 or the show Lupin.

A Meditation on Murder by Susan Juby | Book Review

November 11, 2024 / Monique

A Meditation on Murder is the second book featuring Buddhist nun turned butler Helen Thorpe. Helen is happily working for the philanthropic Levine family when she is unexpectedly lent to friend-of-the-family Cartier Hightower. Wait, can that happen? It was NOT a scenario covered in butler school.

Cartier is an online influencer who is addicted to social media, is experiencing extreme online bullying, and is too selfish and pampered to sort herself out. The Levines are hoping that Helen can help Cartier get her act together so she is prepared to make good choices when she inherits her father’s vast fortune.

It’s a tall order.

Cartier is highly influenced by her content creation group The Deep State. None of her fellow creators treat her as a friend, but she’s the money bags so her inclusion in the group seems set. The group’s attitude to Cartier is dismissive, in fact someone is the group seems to be setting her up to be the focus of their audience’s hate. Every accident or insensitive move by the group is blamed on Cartier. But more alarming is that one by one, they are dying unexpectedly.

Can Helen’s meditation practice bring Cartier back to the down-to-earth kid she once was? Can Helen’s extremely efficient butlering get a handle on this wayward influencer group’s many needs? And can Helen tap into her keen observation skills to act, once again, as the detective on hand to solve the murder of Cartier’s friends?

A Meditation on Murder is published by HarperCollins Canada

If you like comedic, cozy mysteries like The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman or The Maid by Nita Prose, then give the Helen Thorpe books a try. The first in the series was Mindful of Murder, but you can read A Meditation on Murder as a standalone.

The Secret Hours by Mick Herron | Book Review

November 8, 2024 / Monique

The Secret Hours is a companion piece to Slow Horses, or rather to the Slough House book series by Mick Herron. Although some of the characters appear under different names than what you see in the tv series, this novel offers a backgrounder on the intrigue and corruption in the secret service from 90s Berlin to present day and offers insight into the Lamb’s Berlin days, which are only hinted at in the tv series.

The Secret Hours opens with the stink of dead badger, and it turns out to be a McGuffin. That badger is used by an ex-spy on the run, who manages to thwart his own violent kidnapping.

There are several intersecting storylines and flashbacks that can make it hard to follow in audiobook form, but I really like action and drama in audio format. So we have our man on the run (Max), who meets up with his handler who appears to be based on the Jackson Lamb character. The man is rude, flatulent, and a drunkard who manages to act when necessary. This drunk appears to be the man in charge in Berlin in the throwback story to the 90s, which comes out slowly through witness testimony in the present-day Monochrome inquiry.

The reason behind the thwarted kidnapping is not clear until the end so I don’t want to spoiler the plot for anyone. But I can say that in the present time of the story, there is an inquiry going on into wrongdoing by the secret service, and it’s being stunted by First Desk, until one witness starts to reveal truths that no one is prepared to hear.

If you’re a fan of the TV series Slow Horses, or even better the Slough House book series, then this is the secret behind-the-scenes history of Slough House.

Listen on Audible to The Secret Hours

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn | Book Review

October 30, 2024 / Monique

Gosh, could I be any bigger fan of this author. Kate Quinn’s The Briar Club is a spellbinding exploration of loyalty, deception, and resilience amongst the women living at Briarwood House (boarding house) in Washington DC, 1950. It’s post-war America and McCarthy era politics are pitting neighbour against neighbour.

Mrs. Nilsson runs a tight ship, and she is tight fisted with money. When Grace March moves into the tiny attic room, Mrs. Nilsson—despite riffling through her suitcase uninvited—does not know she has just let the cat in amongst the pigeons. Grace draws the oddball collection of sullen, petty, and privacy-oriented women up to her small room every Thursday for a supper club. She susses out everyone’s problems and with ample grace smooths over tensions, teaches lessons, and is an all-around bright light. It’s like Mary Poppins for adults has waltzed in; and she likewise turns around the fate of the two Nilsson children.

But there are secrets Grace keeps tight to her chest, all the while bring others’ secrets to the forefront. The paranoia of the McCarthy era, the changing roles for women, the poverty and widening gap between rich and poor all play out in the small upper room of Briarwood House.

If you like Kate Quinn, you will like The Briar Club. I’d say this novel is more like The Phoenix Crown than The Rose Code, but it has all the wonderful traits of a Kate Quinn novel: history, strong women, and a deftly told story.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig | Book Review

October 15, 2024 / Monique

Matt Haig’s The Life Impossible is an invitation to reimagine what it means to live with joy, hope, and curiosity, even amid life’s inevitable struggles. Known for his slight skews of reality (see The Midnight Library), Haig dives into the ways that we can find meaning and resilience even in the face of disappointment.

The story starts with retired math teacher Grace Winters inheriting a house on a Ibiza that was owned by her long-forgotten colleague Christina. At least Grace had long forgotten, but it turns out that Grace’s impromptu invitation to Christina to join her for a holiday dinner was just the boost that Christina needed. Grace unknowingly set her friend’s life on a path of adventure and, in her death, Christina wanted to do the same for Grace.

Grace is widowed, and her young son was killed by a lorry on a dark, rainy day. Grace is retired and basically mops around, unhappy with the cards she has been dealt. A spur of the moment decision takes her to Ibiza, where her life turns upside down (and eventually around).

Christina’s death is a bit mysterious, but she has left Grace at lot of clues about who to befriend, where to visit on the island, and how to take part in living life to the fullest. There’s a bunch of quiet magic here and island lore. But the sentiment of the novel is based in reality. Visit gorgeous places, make friends, do fun things, and get over yourself. Guilt and fear is what kills you, not lorry accidents, love affairs, jobs you hate, or even cancer.

The Life Impossible is a quiet, philosophical look at why seeking perfection is never a perfect solution. To live with wonder, to question, to try–knowing sometimes we’ll fail–is where the real magic of being alive lies.

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

October 1, 2024 / Monique

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake is the highly anticipated final installment of The Atlas Six series, featuring six powerful young magicians who have given up everything to come study with Atlas Blake and have access to the archive. In the last book, part of the initiation ceremony was killing one of their cohort, which they did not do. They are each out in the world, and basically on the run from a rival organization called the Forum. At the same time, they are looking to reconvene and see if their theories on the nature of time and the metaverse are accurate.

This book is a tangled web of alliances, betrayals, friendships and sacrifices. The dark forces at play are sometimes from within their group and sometimes from outside it. They all have ambition but their loyalties are always shifting. They have paired up in unexpected ways in this novel.

The Atlas Six series is a great work of speculative fiction. It’s layered with complex characters, interesting moral questions, and promises a final showdown that demonstrates the power these six wield. It wasn’t my favourite of the three book but it was worth the read.

If you loved the morally complex world of The Magicians or the intricate power plays of the first two books in the Atlas Six series, then you’ll enjoy this one too. The finale rewards fans with closure but leaves enough of the door open for you to imagine alternative endings or a continuation.

Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz | Book Review

September 22, 2024 / Monique

In Projekt 1065, Alan Gratz crafts a thrilling World War II story that combines espionage, bravery, and the internal struggles of a boy caught in one of history’s darkest times. Gratz, known for his skillful depiction of young protagonists in war, once again delivers a tale of heroism set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany.

Michael O’Shaunessey, the son of an Irish diplomat, is living in Berlin with his parents during the height of the war. Though Ireland is officially neutral, Michael and his family are anything but uninvolved. His father is outwardly playing the diplomatic role, while his mother is secretly spying for the British, gathering vital intelligence for the Allies. Michael, as a member of the Hitler Youth, is tasked with playing along—pretending to support Nazi propaganda while quietly collecting information that could help win the war.

As Michael navigates the dangerous and morally complex world of the Hitler Youth, he forms an unexpected friendship with Fritz Brendler, whose father is involved in Projekt 1065, a top-secret plan to develop a revolutionary new airplane. This friendship becomes the key to Michael’s mission as he works to uncover the plans for the aircraft and pass them on to the Allies. Gratz expertly builds tension as Michael, already in a precarious position, becomes entangled in even riskier situations when he is recruited for a mission to Switzerland. His task: to help eliminate a group of scientists whose work for the Allied forces poses a threat to Nazis.

What sets Projekt 1065 apart from other World War II stories is the way it shows a young boy grappling with his own moral compass in a world where right and wrong seem increasingly blurred. Michael must make difficult decisions—balancing his role as a friend to Fritz and his duty to the greater good. The stakes are incredibly high, and Gratz doesn’t shy away from showing the intense pressure Michael faces as he puts his life on the line.

Gratz’s writing is crisp and fast-paced, keeping readers on edge as Michael faces one perilous situation after another. Michael’s inner turmoil is palpable, especially as he realizes the cost of his actions—both on a personal level and in the broader scope of the war. The friendships he forms, the sacrifices he makes, and his transformation from a boy pretending to be a spy to a true hero are at the heart of the story.

For readers who are fans of historical fiction, particularly those fascinated by World War II, Projekt 1065 offers a compelling, high-stakes narrative with a unique perspective. If you enjoyed Gratz’s other WWII novels like Heroes or Prisoner B-3087, this book will be right up your alley. It also holds appeal for those who liked Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief or Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, with its intense portrayal of a young people caught in the moral complexities of war.

Mindful of Murder by Susan Juby | Book Review

September 22, 2024 / Monique

In Mindful of Murder, Susan Juby introduces readers to Helen Thorpe, a former Buddhist nun who is both surprisingly calm and unexpectedly thrust into the role of detective. The book marks the start of what promises to be an engaging and quirky series, filled with Juby’s signature wit and charm.

Helen, having just completed her butler training and ready to embark on her dream career, finds her plans interrupted when she is named the executor of the will of her late employer, Edna. This leads her back to Sutil Island, a tranquil, remote spot with a few less-than-tranquil residents. Tasked with evaluating four candidates to determine who is worthy of running Edna’s estate / spiritual retreat centre, Helen quickly discovers that the job is anything but serene. Her assignment involves sorting through a colourful cast of characters—each with their own motives, quirks, and less-than-mindful behaviour. It’s a world full of floral arrangements, meditation class, passive-aggressive feuds, and, of course, murder.

Helen’s Buddhist training is a central theme throughout the novel, offering a unique twist to the traditional cozy mystery genre. Her mindfulness practices and meditative approach to life are juxtaposed against the chaotic, petty, and sometimes ridiculous antics of the other characters, making for a delightful contrast. While Helen herself remains the picture of calm amidst the storm, her classmates—fellow butlers—follow suit, but their single local trainee and the four candidates demonstrate less composure. The way Juby weaves together these personality clashes—amid the pressure of solving a crime—makes for an entertaining, if unusual, detective tale.

Juby’s writing is clever, and she balances humour with the mystery’s unfolding drama well. The novel’s comedic moments are reminiscent of the dry, observational humour found in British mysteries, and the murder itself—believed to be a planned suicide due to Edna’s involvement in the death-positive club —is treated less like a shocking event and more like another quirky island incident to be handled.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a fun twist, Mindful of Murder will fit right into your bookshelf. Fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency or Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club will find Helen’s blend of serenity and sly sleuthing refreshing. Or if mystery isn’t your thing, try Susan Juby’s other novels. I loved The Woefield Poultry Collective, and really enjoyed Susan Juby’s talk at the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.

Check out Susan Juby’s website for more:

https://susanjuby.com/books/mindful-of-murder/

Good Energy by Casey Means, with Calley Means | Book Review

September 10, 2024 / Monique

Good Energy by Casey Means, MD, with her brother Calley Means, is a deep look at how people can reclaim their vitality. Energy slumps and general exhaustion have become the norm, but it shouldn’t be. Drawing from her experience as a doctor in the US healthcare system, Means emphasizes that feeling like shite is not inevitable. The book is a framework for optimizing your energy levels, with lessons on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mindfulness. There is a ton of info here that I already knew, but it’s packed with valuable insights and action plans.

Means’ American healthcare perspective differs from the Canadian one (the US seems far more capitalistic in terms of doctors/hospitals having a bias to higher billings vs. patient-centric care). But she’s spot on that doctors tend to discuss blood work that is out of range vs. commenting on numbers that are hitting the outer limits and thinking holistically about the story those numbers tell. She also digs into the underlying causes of low energy and how mitochondrial health—the powerhouse of our cells—needs to be addressed.

One of the core messages in Good Energy is the importance of feeding your body the right nutrients, and how that is key to energy production. Her advice on food is practical and there’s clear guidance on what to prioritize and what to avoid.

The book also provides guidelines on optimal ranges for key blood work metrics, including blood sugar levels, inflammation markers, and other health indicators that affect energy levels. Casey Means’ website offers a number of free resources on her blog, including a PDF about blood work. The measurements and ranges in the US are slightly different than Canada, but there are online sites that do the conversion so it’s still a useful guide. Here’s https://www.caseymeans.com/learn

Sleep is another major factor and Means highlights how critical quality sleep is for both mental and physical energy. Again, I wouldn’t say the tips are groundbreaking, but each section is a solid reminder of best practices.

If you’ve read books like Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker or Atomic Habits by James Clear, then you’ll enjoy Good Energy. It’s a great resource for anyone looking for a roadmap to a more energized, healthier life and who values a comprehensive, science-backed approach. This is not a quick solutions, self-medicate this way, guide. It’s about committing to long-term good habits in the way you eat, sleep, move, and meditate.

I highly recommend Casey Mean’s website. There are a ton of resources and a regular newsletter, as well as links to buy the book.

https://www.caseymeans.com