Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next series #2)

Lost in a Good Book
by Jasper Fforde
Pages: 399
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Literary detective Thursday Next goes on another adventure in her alternate reality of literature-obsessed England. A fun blend of fantasy, science-fiction and literary story-telling pulls you into the world of Thursday Next. Her husband, Landen is erased from time by the multinational Goliath Corporation, Thursday must decide what she is willing to do to get him back. Then Thursday learns about a whole other police force, one that exists inside the BookWorld where the Cheshire Cat is the head librarian and beloved characters of fiction protect their novels and others. But someone else is tracking her movements and changing her circumstances to create deadly consequences. Thursday now has to worry about her own survival if she is ever to have a chance to rescue her husband.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

  A real treat. Mystery writer P.D. James loves the works of Jane Austin. Here she blends her skill as an author of mysteries with her love of Pride and Prejudice to craft a beautiful literary mystery. 

Set six years after Elizabeth and Darcy marry and are enjoying life at Pemberley, Darcy's magnificent estate, they are planning the annual ball in honor of Darcy's mother, Lady Anne. Close friends have arrived the night before to help with final preparations when Elizabeth's disgraced sister, Lydia arrives in an hysterical state announcing that she is sure her husband Wickham has just been murdered in the woods. As always Jane and Bingley are there to lend support while Darcy tries to shelter his sister Georgiana from any details. 

It will take all of Jane and Darcy's wit to find out what has really happened and rescue all the inhabitants of Pemberley from any ensuing scandal. 

Pages: 291

The Pierced Heart by Lynn Shepherd

The Pierced Heart by Lynn Shepherd

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula this literary mystery weaves all of the atmospheric creepiness of the original classic with the detail and writing style of an Victorian English novel. Charles Maddox is called in to investigate a potential donor for Oxford University before they accept this unknown Austrian lord's sizable donation. Arriving at Baron Von Reisenberg's home in the Viennese woods, Maddox expects a boring task of reviewing paperwork,  financial and family records, instead the dark brings mysterious noises and nightmares. This is the darkest of the Maddox mysteries, but this chilling tale of suspense, science and possible supernatural fiends will keep you reading.

Lynn Shepherd is also the author of the award winning The Solitary House, which is reminiscent of a Charles Dickens novel; A Fatal Likeness inspired by the lives of romantic writers Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron as well as my favorite so far, Murder at Mansfield Park.

238 Pages.