Unmasked / Paul Holes

 

3 out of 5 stars

Paul Holes is a criminalist who helped to finally nail the Golden State Killer. It’s the climax of the memoir. This should have been a fascinating book, but if you are interested in that particular case, go read Michelle McNamara‘s I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer. She was one helluva writer and Mr. Holes, even with assistance, is not. To his credit, he gives Michelle her due, albeit in one short chapter.

It is Holes' memoir after all, so we learn a lot about him. He suffers from the same problems as many other investigators do: too immersed in work, neglecting family relationships, drinking too much, anxiety, insomnia. Even when he married a fellow investigator, he couldn't keep the relationship between the lines. The ironic part is that he repeatedly claims that he just didn't understand what other people wanted from him, but he also emphasizes how much he empathizes with crime victims and how much he can interpret of the perpetrator’s actions and motivations. Well, you can't have it both ways, Bub. Either you get other people or you don't or won't. It makes me think he just wasn't all that interested in his wives and kids.

In many ways, this book is an illustration of how patriarchy messes with men's lives as well as women's. Men can be forced into a narrow, restrictive macho role. This is especially true of men in law enforcement, who want to be seen as stoic, in control, and rock steady. Admitting to mistakes is ultra difficult for them. Everything gets compartmentalized to the nth degree and seeking psychological help is resisted or avoided. Self reflection seems to be just too risky or painful. Holes walks away from marriage counseling in his first marriage, for example, willing to get insights on the Golden State Killer, but not himself.

The capitalist system also encourages all people, but especially men, to determine their self-worth through their jobs. Holes sinks all his resources, professional and personal, into his role as cold case investigator, even when it conflicts with what he's being paid to do or when it estranges him from his loved ones. The book doesn't end up being a flattering self-portrait. Although I don't entirely blame him for letting his environment determine how his life was shaped, I do wish he had tried to diversify his interests a bit. Retirement is not going to be easy for someone as invested in just one role as Holes is. I was glad to see that he seems to have finally committed to therapy.

The Album of Dr. Moreau / Daryl Gregory

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

Well, that was a fun little romp! Take H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau and convert its denizens into a boy band like the Backstreet Boys. Add a generous portion of animal puns and several pinches of detective fiction references. Shake until well combined, then serve.

The result is entertaining. The WildBoyz are all suspects when their promoter Dr. M is murdered after what they hope is their final concert. But do they have the skills required to pull off a successful crime? Bobby, the cute ocelot-man, is found in bed with the corpse, covered in blood. But he seems too simple to be guilty.

Detective Luce Delgado has to work quickly, before the FBI take over the case. Complicating matters for her, her daughter is a megafan of the WildBoyz. Melanie can sing every song. Luce needs to weed out the band members if she can and track down all the fans (zoomies) who attended the after-party.

Don't expect a serious murder mystery, just a fun, fluffy jaunt. I read this for the Mad Scientists and Evil Geniuses square of my Bingo card.

The Andromeda Strain / Michael Crichton

 

2 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

This novel is older than I realized when I selected it for this game. Published in 1969, the vast majority of the technologies seem painfully archaic (which is not the book's fault). Also, I generally have a personal rule against fiction books that have diagrams and/or computer printouts. Bibliographies too. It's usually a sign that character development will be unsatisfactory, even for the thriller category. This novel had all three.

Scientific equipment and test methods are described in loving detail, while our [white male] characters remain cardboard cut-outs. They are the epitome of detached experimenters and as a result are pretty boring. There are few dialogs and those that take place are brief and wooden. There are a number of assumptions that we wouldn't make today (probably). The casual decision that an atomic blast would be the sensible way to deal with the contamination site. One scientist thinking that dinosaurs had just grown too big and ponderous to survive. The confident reliance on computers as infallible.

Combine all of that with a lacklustre ending, and this was a difficult read. I can appreciate that it may have been exciting in its time, but we have thankfully moved along. Unless you are interested in the history of science fiction, I would recommend giving The Andromeda Strain a miss. I read this for the Plague & Disease square of my Halloween Bingo card.

One Was a Soldier / Julia Spencer-Fleming

 

4.3 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

This book just about gave me palpitations! Several times I just had to stop reading and focus on other things just to let my heart rate slow and my shoulder tension to loosen. If that isn't a good recommendation for a thriller, I don't know what is.

Spencer-Fleming must have some connection the American Armed Services as she choses to use characters from all branches and she sounds like she knows what she's talking about. If this is research, it's damned good research. Although I know next to nothing about military service, so maybe she's just good at making things sound plausible? Her writing seems too confident for that.

This is the seventh book in the series, so if you haven't read the previous books and get upset over spoilers, this is the spot where you should go do something else. Like maybe start In the Bleak Midwinter. Those of us who have made it this far are thrilled to see Russ and Clare talking about marriage. The money question is whether their relationship will last until they can get to the altar. Clare is just back from combat in the Middle East and has PTSD and a substance problem. Russ is worried that he's too old or that Clare will turn him down for some other reason, that he's pressuring her or overstepping his boundaries. This is also the book where they have their first major fight over one of Russ' cases.

Theirs is not the only story to the book, though. Clare's veterans’ support group provides the nucleus of the action, as the unfortunate psychologist Sarah tries desperately to keep control of its leadership. It becomes obvious that she will have difficulty steering that particular car. Each of the members has a story and must find a reason to deal with their trauma and a way through it. It's unplanned, but their mutual unofficial investigation provides a path to healing for almost all of them.

I love these books. The mysteries are decent, but it’s the personal relationships that keep me coming back for more. Now that Clare and Russ are a married couple, the author will need to find a new source of tension. No more restraining themselves or sneaking around. Some of the interest will be supplied by Hadley and Kevin—can Kevin convince her that he's her guy? Something tells me that JSF may have plans for Deputy-Chief Lyle too. If we can keep track of wounded Will and his friend Olivia, I would be delighted. I'm so glad there are still a couple of volumes in my future.

Aunty Lee's Delights / Ovidia Yu

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

Aunty Rosie Lee is the delight in this book. She is an older lady who has a shrewd view of her world, a lively mind, a calm demeanor, and a powerful desire to see that right is done. She knows the power of being an elderly woman and not only embraces it but is willing to weaponize it. She is a Singaporean Miss Marple with a small restaurant and her devoted helper Nina, who is Watson to Aunty's Holmes.

Poor Senior Staff Sergeant Samir doesn't know what's hit him. He suddenly has Aunty Lee showing up in his office with delicious food (don't worry, there's food for everyone, no one will be jealous) and with hot information. Like the police in the more recent The Thursday Murder Club, he learns to just go with it, because he is dealing with someone who gets things done!

I am glad to see that there are more Aunty Lee books available. I can hardly wait to see what this lively lady gets up to next. Aunty Lee is my Amateur Sleuth for Halloween Bingo.

Miss Pym Disposes / Josephine Tey

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

Freshly finished Miss Pym, and I'm still processing exactly what is was that grabbed me so firmly and refused to let me go. Partly, I'm sure, it's because I identify a bit with Miss P. A mature woman who has managed to escape a job that had become unpleasant and has time to do her own thing. Someone who is a talented amateur in the field of psychology. I also confess that I liked the light tone of the first half of the book. It seemed that the most problematic situation would be school gossip.

Then, surprise! Miss Hodge offers the “plum position“ to an unexpected student and the tone turns suddenly dark. There is resentment and outrage, but what could possibly be the outcome of it? Very late in the game (the 88% mark), there is finally a body. So much build up, letting us get to know all the players in the drama. Could one of these young women truly be responsible?

Then, we get to witness Miss Pym's struggle with her conscience. How she wishes that she had left earlier or hadn't gone anywhere near the gymnasium! But, as the old saying goes, man proposes and God disposes. So why does she make the choices that she does? I can follow them emotionally, but she does seem to be taking on God's role in the whole affair. The ending was completely unexpected. Well written, Ms. Tey.

I'm pleased to have finally read this book--it's been one of my Halloween Bingo possibilities for several years. This year, I decided to use my Lottery wild card to convert the Creepy Carnivals square into Dark Academia to accommodate Miss Pym. It was a good choice.

Be the Serpent / Seanan McGuire

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

I continue to enjoy Seanan McGuire’s world of Faerie. There's never a dull moment and always a big threat to be faced. Part of me wonders where the other heroes are and why it always has to be Toby facing these things. Yes, she has her posse of chosen family who back her up, but wouldn't two heroes be better than one?

This book's basic problem, however, lands the battle right in the middle of Toby's circle. Toby gets the emotional rug pulled out from under her feet. As usual, she is given limited help from the more powerful fae but receives assistance from unexpected quarters. Simon may not be her biological father, but he has embraced her as his legal child and he does so much better than his twin brother Sylvester, who is supposed to be Toby's liege and greatest supporter. Sylvester has a difficult choice, between his wife's wishes and what he knows to be his obligations as ruler. This is the sixteenth book and Sylvester is still shilly-shallying on this matter.

Rayseline, Sylvester’s daughter and formerly not one of Toby's fans, has asked for shelter with Toby and Tybalt, as she reorients herself as she recovers from being elfshot. Toby, as usual, rolls with it and prioritizes Raysel's well being. Changes are coming to Toby's household—Quentin will eventually have to return to Toronto to take up his royal duties. Will Dean be left behind? Can he return to Saltmist? Raj will have to assume his royal role in the Kingdom of Cats.

That ending! Those who hate cliffhangers should definitely avoid reading this book before the next one is published. On one hand, I'm glad there will be more books, but oh, the suspense of waiting a year to see how it works out!

This novel appeared in my library books just as Bingo was getting under way and I slotted it into my queue under Urban Decay.

Tell Me / Anne Frasiet

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

How could I resist this book with the gorgeous raven on the cover? I'm not exactly sure what it's doing there—ravens don't have a significant role in the story. I guess it did its job, though, since I picked up the book.

”When you lived in the desert, it was easy to forget the good months. The months of magical and riotous flowers. Reni always had to remind herself that the barrenness was temporary. But when you were in the middle of it, it could feel permanent and endless and inescapable.”

I was conflicted about the first book in this series because I have mixed feelings about books that centre on serial killers. Thankfully this book doesn't have that focus, involving a kidnapping instead. Frasier writes a good tense mystery, plus she builds up our knowledge of Daniel, the homicide detective, and Reni, the retired profiler and daughter of a serial killer. Daniel has his own issues—his mother disappeared when he was eight years old and, now in his 30s, he is still searching for her. As a detective, he is in an excellent position to be able to investigate any mysterious bodies found in the area.

Frasier uses current events to inform her fiction. This one featured school shooting victims, YouTube make-up divas, Doomsday preppers, and incels. These may seem like they don't all go together, but she makes them fit and leaves you slightly uneasy that it feels highly possible.

Reni lives out in the Mojave desert, where a lot of the action takes place, and the initial crime happens in a remote location on the Pacific Crest Trail. Both of these settings qualify this novel for use to fufill my The Barrens Bingo square.

Mort / Terry Pratchett

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

This book is early in the Discworld series and I think that Pratchett was still finding his feet as a writer, but still highly enjoyable. Others have written books with Death as a character, but only Sir Terry makes it fun and funny.

His characterization of Death is a combination of expected and original aspects. Of course he is a skeleton, carries a scythe, and rides a magic horse. But who would have thought that his voice would appear IN ALL CAPS? That he would want a vacation to try to figure out human pleasures and emotions? That he would be unusually fond of cats?

With a name like Mort, it seems that this young man is the perfect apprentice to Death. He doesn't seem to have many talents and can't find a regular tradesman to apprentice himself to. As most of us do as we begin our careers, he makes a mess of one of his first solo trips in Death's stead. As he figures out what to do about it all, the book plays out.

I read this for the Gallows Humor square of my Bingo card (and as part of my general desire to read more of Pratchett's work).

The Dark Tower / Stephen King

 

3 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

Finally, cullies, I have seen the Black Tower. It has been a long journey and I'm as tired of it as Roland seems to be, may it do ya. It is typical King, being longer than I feel it needed to be and filled with references to his other works. It also includes a number of scenes which convinced me early on that there would be no snacking during this reading—he managed to gross me out on a number of occasions.

But it was not without its charms. I was especially fond of the very meta sections, where the author inserts himself into the action, requiring his characters to rescue him from otherwise certain death, the real-life accident that laid him low in 1999. Roland and his ka-tet realize they must keep their author alive if they want to finish their quest. These folk dodge from one reality to another to achieve their goals and the fate of all worlds hangs in the balance.

The ending may not appeal to everyone, but it made sense to me. It echoed the King Arthur mythos as I'm certain it was meant to. For me, the quest is over, but I understand those that choose to repeat the cycle. The ending almost demands it. Just like LOTR, there is a scattering of the Fellowship, a melancholy feeling.

I was fortunate to be able to double-dip with this novel, reading it for the Dark Fantasy square of my Bingo card and as part of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project. If it didn't do double duty, I'm not sure I could have afforded to tackle a book of over 800 pages just for Bingo, where one needs to read fast and change focus nimbly!

Book number 473 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

Soul Taken / Patricia Briggs

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

I always enjoy the Mercy books that centre around the vampire seethe, so I've been anticipating this novel with glee. It mostly lived up to my expectations—I am a big fan of Wulfe, so a story that revolves around him was a good choice for me. However, my all time favourite is Stefan and he was sadly relegated to brief supporting roles.

There were plenty of tasty tidbits to be enjoyed. We get to learn a bit more about goblins (and get a glimpse of their magic ponies!), Tad gets a girlfriend (if Zee approves), Sherwood Post has recovered his memory (causing consternation in the werewolf pack), and the usually imperturbable Warren meets the end of his patience. For once there is no relationship angst between Mercy and Adam, a very pleasant occurrence. Now I am very curious about the next Alpha and Omega book to see where Briggs takes Samuel, Sherwood, and Asil. She has written tantalizing hints for each of them!

The main course of this volume, though, is vampire history: we learn more than I anticipated about the tangle that is Wulfe, Marsilia, and Stefan, plus how Bonarata fits into that knot. Wulfe's motivation for stalking Mercy, which we learned about in Smoke Bitten, is revealed. You'll want to have that book and Storm Cursed under your belt if you want to have a hope of understanding this series of events.

Once again, this book arrived for me at the library while I was planning my Bingo dance card. I had held out a faint hope that it might fulfill the Monsters square, but no dice. So I pulled out the Tell Tale Heart wild card to use it for this square anyway. Either way, it was an enjoyable ride!

Spear / Nicola Griffith

 

4.5 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

It's becoming traditional for me to read a King Arthur retelling during Halloween Bingo. This brand new book appeared in my library holds just while I was organizing my reading list for that event and I had to find a way to shoehorn it in. My first exposure to Griffith's writing was her absolutely lovely novel Hild. I've been patiently (that's a lie BTW) waiting for the sequel, but I was willing to accept this as the next best thing.

This is a feminized, queered version of the legend of Sir Percival. Griffith's main character, Peretur, is a young woman, fathered by a member of the Tuatha de Dannan, mothered by a mortal woman with powers of her own, who resents being glamoured into happiness by the Tuatha. Griffith is a thorough researcher and she incorporates many of the legendary details of Percival's life into this character. Not that she slavishly follows the legend: she feels free to give us a new perspective on Percival, Merlyn, Nimue, and King Arthur's relationship with Excalibur.

In her notes, Griffith tells of her relationship with the legend: ”I first read Le Morte d'Arthur as a nine-year-old and fell headlong into the legend. Beneath its High Medieval trappings, I could smell the hidden iceberg of ancientness, practically taste the moors with menhirs looming from the mist…Even then I think I sensed that there was no true tale of Arthur and Camelot: the legend is and always has been mythic fanfic…” I found Arthur slightly later in life, a ripe old thirteen, through Vera Chapman's King Arthur's Daughter. I persist in preferring Chapman’s and Mary Stewart's versions over those that are more focused on details of war and battle. It's that “iceberg of ancientness" that grabbed me too and the romance of that holds me to this day. (My mother once remarked that I was more interested in prehistory than in historically documented societies, and in that she was right on the money.) Griffith takes an already attractive garment and embroiders it with fine colours and textures.

I used my Wind in the Willows wild card to convert the Fear the Drowning Deep square to A Grimm Tale to accommodate this book. As a retelling of a legend it fits nicely. Wind in the Willows requires a buddy read and I was pleasantly surprised when four other readers joined me. Two out of five of us loved it. The others commented on purple prose, so your mileage may vary. For me, this was more about the journey than the destination. It's like this with hikers too: some are focused on how far they can get and how fast. I am much more likely to linger, identifying flowers, observing bird behaviour, enjoying the spray from waterfalls. The world needs both kinds of people.

Hercule Poirot's Christmas / Agatha Christie

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

I am fortunate to be able to use this month's Appointment with Agatha book towards a Bingo square. I first read this book at Christmas five years ago, but none of the details had stuck with me. Dame Agatha has fooled me twice with the same book. This time out, I noticed the dedication to Christie's brother-in-law, noting that she had provided a bloody murder scene with no doubts that it was a murder. Indeed, she uses a quote from Macbeth to emphasize the bloodiness: Who knew the old man had so much blood in him?

This mystery reminded me a bit of Georgette Heyer's A Christmas Party, which also features a hated family patriarch whose body is found in a locked room. Both are filled with family members that it is difficult to like. Christie throws in her own special twists, however, based on the bragging of her main character about his successes in life. She plays so masterfully on our trust.

This is objectively not one of her better novels, but it is a great Christmas book. As Poirot warns, all the togetherness of the season results in heightened family tension! The whole solution is so convoluted that it is a marvel that even Poirot could unravel it. Lots of fun and an amusing surprise ending.

I read this for the Home for the Horrordays square of my Bingo card.

The Unkindness of Ravens / M.E. Hilliard

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

I have always thought that library folk would make good investigators. We have research skills, are pretty analytical, and often have a mystery fiction habit. Plus, a lot of us are nosey and we're good at blending into the background. I think this author, a fulltime librarian, feels the same way.

I guess this would qualify as a cozy mystery, but it is missing several of the usual hallmarks of that genre. There is no romantic suspense element to the story. Greer Hogan is a widow and not looking for a new love interest. She has no pets (although she does borrow her landlord's dog occasionally). She isn't focused on home decoration or cooking either. She's working a full-time job, learning about her new community, and doing the bare minimum at home, very realistic in my experience.

Her husband's death hangs over her, making her feel guilty that she didn't go home where she might have prevented his murder. And she is starting to believe that the guy who was sentenced for the murder was truthful when he claimed Dan was unconscious but alive when he left. Greer feels guilty because while Dan was dying, she was confronting her former flame, trying to convince herself that she made the correct matrimonial choice.

This is one of the good cozies, because Greer works with the local police, not in competition with them. She does, however, strongly believe in her own research skills and her insight into the character of the first murder victim, her friend Joanna. Greer may think about ravens and crows during the course of the book, but her mind is like a magpie, collecting shiny things and putting them together. I guess all three birds are members of the very smart family of corvids!

If you like this book, may I suggest A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley, The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco by Laura DiSilverio, or maybe Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany. They are all about bookish women who get drawn into investigations. Also, I would have been quite confused about what exactly Raven's Kill was (a stream) unless I had previously read In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming. It is not a cozy mystery, but it is compelling and highly recommended.

Read to fill the Murder and Mayhem by the Book square of my bingo card.

Imprudence / Gail Carriger

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

I've been gradually grazing my way through Gail Carriger's books and I'm still enjoying them. For me, this book was better than the first one of this series, but still not quite as enjoyable as the very first series. Perhaps that’s because the Parasol Protectorate universe was a fresh idea to me back then. Needless to say, Carriger is very consistent in her writing. Her tongue-very-firmly-in-cheek style remains throughout. And her particular steampunk version of history adds its usual verve.

It helped that Rue's parents, Lord and Lady Maccon, are part of the initial plot, and they require a lift to Egypt where Rue's father can be free to age and, eventually, to die. This gives Rue an excuse to get out of London. Meanwhile, it has come to Rue's attention that her dirigible, the Spotted Custard, is being followed by people of uncertain motives. Assumptions are made—regarding a certain scholarly paper written by Percy Tunstall (because he was miffed by Quesnel Lefou). Acting on their assumptions, the Custard heads towards the source of the Nile to warn Miss Senkmet’s folk, the werelions, that Great Britain may be aware of their existence.

Add in a generous dollop of relationship angst and miscommunication, and this is a rather busy book. With its steampunk elements, however, it was a perfect choice for the Punk'd square of my Bingo card.

Talking to Strangers / Marianne Boucher

 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

I think this is an excellent way to show and explain the way cults suck in new members. The author is just a few years my junior and I remember seeing various “religions" during my first year on a university campus, attempting to recruit the unwary. Hell, I know older people who've become overzealous recruiters for programs, people, or products. The graphic novel format engages the reader visually through the art as well as intellectually with the words. It reads much more quickly than a traditional memoir, making it more easily accessible.

Boucher understands how easily young people can be lured away by a cult, having experienced it. She seems to have been from a pretty ordinary family, but she wasn't out of high school yet. She was still learning who she was and had no clear idea of what she wanted to do with her life. This is a vulnerable stage of life, when a person is susceptible to being steered into dubious life paths. Separated from family, friends, and their usual environment, all people can be convinced to change their minds about some things. Once the cult has accomplished that first shift, they know they can do more and the pressure increases.

Getting in is so easy. Accept the wrong invitation. Trust someone too quickly. Then getting out is so hard. The cult has become both family and friends and the cult member has difficulty believing outside information. Boucher gives an eye-opening account of the aftermath, with shame, depression, and nightmares. She was ashamed that she was “dumb" enough to get swept up in the Moonies, not giving herself the compassion that she deserved. It took quite a while to overcome the programming and her life had been pulled out of shape. Education interrupted, skating competition abandoned, family ties in need of mending.

Cults = mindfuckery. I read this graphic novel for the Psych square of Halloween Bingo.

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax / Dorothy Gilman

 

4 out of 5 stars

Halloween Bingo 2022

Finally, I've cleared almost all of my August library books (just one remaining) and I can turn my attention to Halloween Bingo! Happy, happy, joy, joy! And after a fairly long immersion in Fantasy and Science Fiction, I felt the need for something fluffy and fun. Mrs. Pollifax filled the bill nicely.

Emily Pollifax is so bored that she has contemplated walking off the roof of her building. She visits her doctor, who gives excellent advice: do what you wanted to do when you were young (although he ruins it by laughing at her aspirations). What Emily really wanted was to be a spy, so she sets off to the offices of the CIA to offer her services. Because what else would one do?

There's a lot of humour in the depiction of the CIA (I'm pretty sure actual employees would either cringe or laugh hysterically) and in the role of the older woman (we always get overlooked and underestimated). But since older women are effectively invisible in our society, we would be able to blend in well. I'll be waiting for my recruiting visit from CSIS. Haha!

I had to keep reminding myself that this was published in 1966. The past is truly a different country. Some things haven't changed: Russia and China are the adversaries. As a result, there's a lot of anti-Asian prejudice that doesn't feel good today. But despite that, I was charmed by Mrs. Pollifax and will read on in this series when I get a chance.

A lovely first foray into Bingo. I read this book for the free square, a strategic move to facilitate a speedy completion of a first row!

Ordermaster / L.E. Modesitt

 

3 out of 5 stars

Poor old Kharl, he's about as boring as one of the barrels he used to make. He plods methodically through this whole novel, never seeming to think about how his actions will effect the people around him. I guess there are people out there who don't consider how others will react, but I can't imagine being one of them. At the beginning of the book, he sets up a building on his new estate as a cooperage and starts building barrels again. Before I could gouge out my eyes from frustration, he is sent off to be Lord Ghrant's envoy to troublesome Brysta, Kharl's old stomping grounds, to stop a takeover by the empire of Hamor.

There, Kharl gets an education in making the most of the lesser of evils. Lord Ghrant had encouraged him to study the law, where he learned what those who work in the system know: law is not justice. Judges can only work within the strictures of the law and cannot decide punishments that aren't established penalties. Then he learns about dealing with a whole ruling family of shitweasels. But all of this is pretty standard fare for these books by Modesitt. He follows this pattern in every book.

Kharl gets to revisit his past and, being the ultra honest sort, he is determined to make right any of the past wrongs than he can. In several cases he is a day late and a dollar short, but he does manage to help a few former neighbours. And he does it while using such stilted terms, like eight-day as opposed to week, glass instead of hour, kay not kilometre, etc. Modesitt still insists on calling horses ‘mounts’ and spouses are consorts, all awkward, klunky terms that serve no obvious purpose but to bore the reader half to death.

Always even-handed, the next volume will apparently take place in Hamor, which was the evil empire in this novel. Modesitt has been very assiduous in giving us both the Black and White mage viewpoints in this series, letting his readers know that everything is relative.

Book number 472 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project