How is it the end of February already?

Hello again! I can’t believe it’s almost the end of February—especially since we still have a foot of snow on the ground here in Wisconsin. Anyway. I’m not here to report on the weather, so here’s what I’ve been loving this month, in books and television.

Sara Rosett’s High Society Lady Detective series has really been delighting me, and the latest, MURDER ON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, was sort of a perfect read for Christmas-slash-winter (which I realize I’m telling you a little too late in the season since we’re all pretty done with winter right now.) But I would start earlier in the series anyway, if not at the beginning, so you get the flavor of the slow building romance between Olive and Jasper. They’re set in the 1920’s (like my own series) and the characters and plots are engaging and light. I burned through them in very short time.

For a good thriller, I loved Katie Moretti’s GIRLS OF BRACKENHILL, which has a creepy haunted house and a troubled sibling relationship at its center. There’s not much I can say without giving too much away, but if you’re looking for a spooky vibe and excellent writing, you can’t go wrong here. 

For non-fiction I recently listened to HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD, which I found to be absolutely fascinating. It tells the story of a family with twelve children, six of whom wound up with schizophrenia. The family’s story is balanced against research into the disease and what we know—and don’t know. Highly recommended if you’re like me and interested in psychology. 

And that brings us to Miss Scarlet and the Duke. I binged all six episodes of this PBS series in one sitting. I mean, I got up to feed myself, but that’s about it. If you’re like me and you enjoy a feisty woman pushing against the social conventions of her time, I think you’ll enjoy this. Bonus: The “Duke” has a Scottish accent, and I am not ashamed to admit that I am a sucker for a Scot. I enjoyed the mystery in each episode as well as how much the two main characters aggravate each other. If there is going to be a romance, I think it’s a slow burn, which I’m here for. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that PBS orders more seasons of this one. 

And that’s it! That’s all I have to report at the moment. See you back here soon.