colophon: a statement at the end of a book, typically with a printer's emblem, giving information about its authorship and printing.

I don't have a printer's emblem, unless you count my gecko, but otherwise colophon seems to fit our monthly wrap ups pretty well.

I read 24 books this month, mostly in a the-game-is-almost-over rush to squeeze as much in as possible.  It's no longer practicable, sadly, to easily keep up with the number of pages read, because of at least two anthologies I only dipped into, rather than reading completely.

I had a great quality reading month with 2 Five-star reads and 7 four-and-a-half star reads. Far and away my favourite was Please Mr. Einstein by Jean-Claude Carrière.  

I had just one 1-star read, Assault and Beret by Jenn McKinlay  and it's already in the black box and a distant memory.

How was everyone else's reading month?

So far so good; this series continues to impress for atmosphere, characterisations and plotting.

Some of this, I know, is because of the inclusion of so many real life, prominent characters of the time - 1938 Hollywood, but the writers are faithful enough to each of the stars they include that I, at least, never felt like I wasn't reading about the real life actor.  Extra points go to the authors for including Hedy Lamarr; not for her acting accomplishments, but for her scientific ones. 

The fictional characters hold their own too, although the authors struggle with romantic tension; introducing another love interest (which given the era doesn't feel quite as triangle-ish somehow) doesn't help either.  Although I sort of like the new guy better than the old guy.

The story didn't get the full five stars because it did drag just a little; the plot is a complex one that is intricately enmeshed with another, so that around the mid-book mark it felt like the story wasn't really getting anywhere - things were happening, but they didn't seem to mean anything to either the characters or the reader.  It all comes together in the end, of course, and it's so damn interesting I forgave the exercise in patience.

An author's note at the end takes the time to not only separate the fact from the fiction, but recommends several non-fiction books that go in-depth into the real life events borrowed for Dangerous to Know.  At least two of which, one about Hedy Lamarr and her work as an inventor - not an actress - and one about the Hollywood-funded spy ring in place to watch the Nazis, are definitely going on my list.

This was my Free Friday read (#3) and was 336 pages (including the author's note, which was a must read, in my opinion).

I'm in an historical sorta mood after Come Hell or Highball.

Pages:  336

Oh my, this was fun to read!  I am so glad it has a great cover because it was the cover that originally caught my eye.  One of the women I follow on Twitter is a librarian whose job includes purchasing the books for the library and she likes to tweet out book covers and give her thoughts on them.  So, she tweeted this cover, I was intrigued, I went to check the blurb and promptly added it to my 'to acquire' list.  It recently went on sale (as of this writing it's still $2.99 at Kobo) so I was very quick to pick it up.

And it's delicious!!  I love the setting - 1937 Hollywood.  The characters are terrific.  The heroine, Lillian Frost is right out of one of those detective movies of the 30s and 40s and I liked her right away.  I've been a huge fan of Edith Head for decades and love the way the authors (Renee Patrick is the pseudonym for the husband and wife team of Rosemarie and Vince Keenan.) have portrayed her.  The other supporting characters are perfect.  Gene, the stalwart police detective.  Vi, Ready and Kay friends of Lillian's who are wonderfully quirky.  Even the suspects in the murder case are great.  Some might call them all stereotypical, but they all evoke the genre so well that it's delightful!

I honestly felt like I was watching a movie.  Everything worked.  Even the plot of the mystery.  I thought person X did it, then maybe it was person Y then maybe it was Z and B working together, then back to X again all the while waiting for the one clue that would make me believe it was person N coming in from left field.  *LOL*

I guess one would term this a cozy style mystery even if it does take place in the decadent environs of Hollywood.  And I'll admit, they are not my favourite, but this one... I LOVED IT!   Can't wait to read the second one!

I highly recommend this - especially if you're a mystery fan and an old-time Hollywood fan.

It's not all decomp and deodorisers here at la casa de la rata muerta; I hit up my local FOTL semi-annual book sale yesterday and came away with a few possible gems.

(Three of the above actually came this week in the mail; 2 new, 1 used.)

Conan Doyle: Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes. I know nothing about this biography and can only hope it's enjoyable.

The Penguin Book Of Etiquette: The Complete Australian Guide To Modern Manners This one is likely going to tell me it's rude to post gross disgusting stories about dead animals in your walls, but better late than never.

The Book of Killowen I was sucked in by the story about a book.  Of course.  Seems to be a mid-series entry, so hopefully it'll work as a stand-alone. 

The Library of Shadows I think I've heard about this one before - might have even looked at it in a bookshop, but again, it's about books so of course I bought it.

I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks 

Blade Bound The last in the Chicagoland series.  *sniffle*

Dangerous To Know The first one was excellent, I hope this one lives up to expectations.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes I had a suspicion I already had a copy, but just in case... (of course I did).