Showing posts with label Rachel McMillan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel McMillan. Show all posts
31 December 2018
Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan
I started this last night before bed and just finished. Rachel McMillan is amazing. I'm still madly in love with Jasper (even though he was only mentioned briefly he still made my heart skip a beat) ... and I need to meet Maisie and find out who her mother is!
21 April 2017
The White Feather Murders by Rachel McMillan (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)
My son has been on Spring Break all week and I've still had to work my usual full-time overnight gig so, as you can imagine, I'm oh-so-very thankful that my work week is coming to a close. My plan for the next 2 1/2 days? Pajamas, blanket, and The White Feather Murders by Rachel McMillan! I absolutely adore Rachel and the dynamic duo of Merinda and Jem (and, of course, Ray and my dear sweet lovable Jasper). I already know that I'm going to love it, but I'll be sure to verify as much once the weekend lovefest comes to a close!
Friday 56 (today is 56% from the digital ARC) is hosted at Freda's Voice &
Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.
From Amazon:
*** UPDATE -- 24 April 2017 ***
It took me a bit longer than usual to really sink my teeth into this one but I'm blaming that largely on the lack of sleep & focus thanks to my son being on break from school this whole past week. Once I was rested up some, though, I started again and couldn't put it down willingly until it was finished.
The world is changing rapidly around our wonderful quartet of Merinda, Jem, Ray and Jasper (my dear, beloved Jasper). It's the summer of 1914 and World War I has begun in Europe. Toronto's large immigrant population (Ray included) is under constant scrutiny and harrassment from those who fear they may side with the enemy. (Gee, sound familiar?) There is a group, known as the Cartier Club, that is trying to fight for the rights of the immigrants. When the members start getting murdered (with white feathers left behind -- used to symbolize cowardice), our foursome gets shaken to the core.
While the mystery part of this outing was gripping and kept me guessing, the real treasure here is the interaction and introspection of our main characters. Each of them struggles with who they've been, who they are, and who they want to be in the world. It's simultanteously heartbreaking and uplifting.
24 August 2016
Rambling About.. A Lesson in Love and Murder by Rachel McMillan
Rachel McMillan has done it yet again! And by "it," of course, I mean "totally occupied my every waking non-working moment" (and quite a lot of my working moments, too, to be completely honest!).
A Lesson in Love and Murder is the second full novel in her Herringford & Watts Mysteries series and once again we're in Toronto with Merinda, Jem, Ray and Jasper. Jem and Ray are having difficulty adjusting to married life. She lost her job at the department store because she's married and he's been spending far too much at his newspaper office covering the recent activities of anarchists. Merinda is still Merinda and still chasing the next case and Jasper is still secretly in love with her.
Oh, Jasper. You wrench my heart practically every time I see your name on the page. She so doesn't deserve you.
To make matters worse for my beloved Jasper, who's already stressed because his boss at the police station is blowing off any real investigation into the fact that someone keeps blowing up trolley cars and people, Merinda and Jem are hired by Benfield Citrone. Benny's a Mountie and is afraid that his cousin might be involved in the anarchist movement -- particularly the blowing stuff up part of it. Merinda is immediately fascinated ... by the case and by Benny.
But ... but ... JASPER!!!
*sigh*
I know, I know. He's fictional and even if he wasn't the book takes place is 1912 and he's only 27. I'm currently 40 in 2016. There's a bit of an age difference.
In spite of my ongoing obsession with Jasper I was still able to get all wrapped up with Benny's case, thanks in large part to the inclusion of Emma Goldman. Her story in general has always fascinated me. While horrible things were done by her followers in the name of anarchism (you know, like blowing up trolley cars and people), she did so much that was good for so many. Anyway, she's the reason that Benny thinks that his cousin is in Toronto and Merinda hatches a plan to become involved with Goldman in order to find him -- even if it means she and Jem have to blow things up themselves.
Needless to say, Merinda's potential involvement with Goldman gets Jasper all protective and flustered and furious (and me all swooney -- which probably isn't even a word). Jem, of course, is the voice of calm reason as per usual and pulls them all together at least momentarily. Well, all except for her husband who has taken off for Chicago to help his sister.
I'm going to stop my ramble here (or in a minute or so) because I really don't want to give too much away. I have a feeling that I could just let it all ooze out of me and turn into a huge spoiley spoiler. I will say, though, that I love this book. I was quite enamored with The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder and you should really read that one first, but this was even better. I felt like the characters came into their own a bit more and the further we get into things the more complex they become -- without losing the bits that made me fall in love with them in the first place.
p14 - Jasper wondered if Merinda knew that her smile made his heart complete. That she was the only person in the world: Merinda Herringford and her test tubes and her detection and the voice of her hero, Sherlock Holmes, pealing through her head.
p74 - "If Sherlock Holmes met Jack London," Merinda said to Jem, "that would be Benny Citrone."
p124 - Merinda shrugged if off and pasted on a scowl, but Benny noticed it didn't match her eyes. "You can't have Herringford without Watts," she said.
p194 - It can save lives when we take time to look at one person and not just see them as the bottom rung.
A Lesson in Love and Murder is the second full novel in her Herringford & Watts Mysteries series and once again we're in Toronto with Merinda, Jem, Ray and Jasper. Jem and Ray are having difficulty adjusting to married life. She lost her job at the department store because she's married and he's been spending far too much at his newspaper office covering the recent activities of anarchists. Merinda is still Merinda and still chasing the next case and Jasper is still secretly in love with her.
Oh, Jasper. You wrench my heart practically every time I see your name on the page. She so doesn't deserve you.
To make matters worse for my beloved Jasper, who's already stressed because his boss at the police station is blowing off any real investigation into the fact that someone keeps blowing up trolley cars and people, Merinda and Jem are hired by Benfield Citrone. Benny's a Mountie and is afraid that his cousin might be involved in the anarchist movement -- particularly the blowing stuff up part of it. Merinda is immediately fascinated ... by the case and by Benny.
But ... but ... JASPER!!!
*sigh*
I know, I know. He's fictional and even if he wasn't the book takes place is 1912 and he's only 27. I'm currently 40 in 2016. There's a bit of an age difference.
In spite of my ongoing obsession with Jasper I was still able to get all wrapped up with Benny's case, thanks in large part to the inclusion of Emma Goldman. Her story in general has always fascinated me. While horrible things were done by her followers in the name of anarchism (you know, like blowing up trolley cars and people), she did so much that was good for so many. Anyway, she's the reason that Benny thinks that his cousin is in Toronto and Merinda hatches a plan to become involved with Goldman in order to find him -- even if it means she and Jem have to blow things up themselves.
Needless to say, Merinda's potential involvement with Goldman gets Jasper all protective and flustered and furious (and me all swooney -- which probably isn't even a word). Jem, of course, is the voice of calm reason as per usual and pulls them all together at least momentarily. Well, all except for her husband who has taken off for Chicago to help his sister.
I'm going to stop my ramble here (or in a minute or so) because I really don't want to give too much away. I have a feeling that I could just let it all ooze out of me and turn into a huge spoiley spoiler. I will say, though, that I love this book. I was quite enamored with The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder and you should really read that one first, but this was even better. I felt like the characters came into their own a bit more and the further we get into things the more complex they become -- without losing the bits that made me fall in love with them in the first place.
And finally, because I can't resist ...
**************Faves on 4s**************
p14 - Jasper wondered if Merinda knew that her smile made his heart complete. That she was the only person in the world: Merinda Herringford and her test tubes and her detection and the voice of her hero, Sherlock Holmes, pealing through her head.
p74 - "If Sherlock Holmes met Jack London," Merinda said to Jem, "that would be Benny Citrone."
p124 - Merinda shrugged if off and pasted on a scowl, but Benny noticed it didn't match her eyes. "You can't have Herringford without Watts," she said.
p194 - It can save lives when we take time to look at one person and not just see them as the bottom rung.
08 August 2016
Rambling About.. Rachel McMillan's Of Dubious and Questionable Memory
In January I fell in love with Rachel McMillan's Merinda Herringford and Jemima Watts. Even though I read it so early in the year I knew then that The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder would likely be one of my favorite books of 2016. It still is. I still find myself saying "cracker jacks" far more often than I ever thought imaginable and have been waiting oh-so-impatiently for a new book to appear. At the end of May the novella Of Dubious and Questionable Memory was released but I was holding out to get it until a full-length novel was available to join it. I was so very above the moon happy when I saw that A Lesson in Love and Murder would be released on August 30th -- and that it was available on NetGalley! (Do yourself a huge favor and read these in order!)
Of course, now that I actually have each in my possession I'm spreading out the Merinda and Jem love and not reading them back-to-back after all. Figures, eh? I'll post A Lesson in Love and Murder a bit closer to its publication date. Don't worry -- it's only three weeks to wait!
A short read but worth every too-fast second. I can't ramble about it too much because I just know I'll botch it and give something away, but here are some random thoughts that would have made its way into a full-length ramble had it been a full-length book (which I'm glad it wasn't -- something I never thought I would say as I tend to stay away from shorts):
* St Jerome's Reformatory for Vagrant and Incorrigible Females -- Sadly, it doesn't seem to have existed. The Toronto Morality Squad did, and there are several St Jerome this-and-thats, but I've found no record of St Jerome's Reformatory.... yet.
* Poor Jem trying to be all domesticated and housewifey. And poor Ray trying to deal with Jem. And poor everyone trying to deal with Merinda! (Jasper especially. She even called him a "human golden retriever" ... at his own birthday party!)
* Only these four could come up with such a ridiculous wager. Lunches or motorbikes. Really?
* "Boston stole my soul from the moment we disembarked at South Station." Yep. I definitely know the feeling! Reading about it in the glory of what was October 1911? Absolutely delightful. Could almost feel the crispness of the air in my chest.
* Jemima fangirls over Louisa May Alcott. I knew I loved her.
* Merinda, Merinda, Merinda. It's a good thing I love Jem and Ray and Jasper so very much. You I kind of want to shut into a closet for prolonged periods of time. You do have your moments of not being totally self-absorbed, though, for which I am very thankful.
* The case itself? Perfect for a story of this length. Any longer may have left it dragging along. Fun and spunky and a little heartbreaking and totally what I would expect from McMillan.
* Lemon jam. I need some. Now.
* "One little step to try and understand someone, and the whole world can change for you." -- A keeper of a quote!
Of course, now that I actually have each in my possession I'm spreading out the Merinda and Jem love and not reading them back-to-back after all. Figures, eh? I'll post A Lesson in Love and Murder a bit closer to its publication date. Don't worry -- it's only three weeks to wait!
* St Jerome's Reformatory for Vagrant and Incorrigible Females -- Sadly, it doesn't seem to have existed. The Toronto Morality Squad did, and there are several St Jerome this-and-thats, but I've found no record of St Jerome's Reformatory.... yet.
* Poor Jem trying to be all domesticated and housewifey. And poor Ray trying to deal with Jem. And poor everyone trying to deal with Merinda! (Jasper especially. She even called him a "human golden retriever" ... at his own birthday party!)
* Only these four could come up with such a ridiculous wager. Lunches or motorbikes. Really?
* "Boston stole my soul from the moment we disembarked at South Station." Yep. I definitely know the feeling! Reading about it in the glory of what was October 1911? Absolutely delightful. Could almost feel the crispness of the air in my chest.
* Jemima fangirls over Louisa May Alcott. I knew I loved her.
* Merinda, Merinda, Merinda. It's a good thing I love Jem and Ray and Jasper so very much. You I kind of want to shut into a closet for prolonged periods of time. You do have your moments of not being totally self-absorbed, though, for which I am very thankful.
* The case itself? Perfect for a story of this length. Any longer may have left it dragging along. Fun and spunky and a little heartbreaking and totally what I would expect from McMillan.
* Lemon jam. I need some. Now.
* "One little step to try and understand someone, and the whole world can change for you." -- A keeper of a quote!
16 January 2016
Rambling About.. Rachel McMillan's The Bachelor Girl's Guide To Murder
Author: Rachel McMillan
Publication: 1 March 2016 - Harvest House
First Line: 'A murder scene is no place for a proper young lady.'
Favorite Line: Jem realized early in her acquaintance with Merinda Herringford that attempting to solve a crime as an amateur and a woman meant leaving any semblance of pride or dignity behind. (p 21)
Ramble: When I posted the teasers for The Bachelor Girl's Guide To Murder I had only just gotten the book loaded from NetGalley into my various readers. I had no real idea what I was getting myself into. No idea that I would start saying "Rats!" and "Cracker jacks!" on a regular basis. No idea that I would become obsessed with getting my hands on a copy of M.C. Wheaton's Guide to the Criminal and Commonplace only to have my hopes shattered with the knowledge that it never existed. (Thanks, Rachel.)
It's 1910 and Merinda Herringford and Jemima (Jem) Watts -- both young ladies of "proper" upbringing -- are living in Toronto with their housekeeper/chaperone, Mrs. Malone. Jem works in the mailroom of Spenser's department store and Merinda spends her time aspiring to be Sherlock Holmes -- with Jem as her Watson. Toronto's mayoral elections are approaching. Immigration is on the rise. The 'Morality Squad' is out making sure that women are "behaving" properly. Times are changing -- too quickly for some and not quickly enough for others.
The story opens at a crime scene that Merinda and Jem are visiting with their friend, Constable Jasper Forth. A young Irish immigrant woman has been found murdered in a new theater linked to the current mayor. Shortly after, another murdered Irish woman is been discovered at an event for the mayor.
Merinda and Jem set out to solve the case of the "Corktown Murders." Jasper Forth is along for the ride as is Ray DeLuca -- an Italian immigrant working as a reporter for the Hogstown Herald newspaper. Through it all Jem's turned upsidedown as she begins to question the world around her and her place in it. Should she be looking for a man to settle down with and stop disguising herself as one during investigations? She's very traditional and conservative in some aspects of her life and very revolutionary in others. It's not easy!
Also not easy? Having the book finish as quickly as it did. I joked with the author on Twitter about making my son fend for himself come mealtime so I could keep reading ... which is exactly what ended up happening. Luckily he's pretty good in the kitchen and enjoys making his own meals from time to time. Cracker jacks, I've got a good kid.
15 January 2016
Book Beginnings & Friday56 - The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan
Please note that since this is from an ARC (thanks to NetGalley & Harvest House!) the exact text may differ in the final publication set for March 1st. A change would be quite the pity since they're both absolutely darling blips and I already adore Merinda Herringford just from the Book Beginning. (Not sure yet if she's the "she" from the Friday 56. I haven't read that far yet!)
Friday56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.
Friday56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.