Nov 27 - Dec 3, 2016

Triple Jeopardy by Rex Stout - in this trio of short stories, Nero Wolfe deals with communism, a couple on the run, and a monkey.

3 stars
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The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis - Rose Lewin is going through a tough time personally and professionally when she stumbles on a story from the '50's that took place in the very building where she lives. The Barbizon was an exclusive hotel for women at the time, a safe place for aspiring models and secretaries. For most it was a stepping stone to nabbing a wealthy husband. Told in alternating chapters set in 1952 and 2016. Not billed as a mystery, but there is one.

4 stars
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A Last Goodbye by J.A. Jance - a novella in the Ali Reynolds series. Ali and B. Simpson are finally getting married in Las Vegas on Christmas Eve. While shopping, B. and Ali's grandkids rescue a dog thrown from a car. So now they have to search for the dog's owner while also getting ready for the wedding. This series is my least favorite by this author but this was a cute story.

3 stars
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The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines with Mark Dagostino - told mostly by Joanna with Chip chipping in, this is the story of their courtship and how they started doing the tv show Fixer  Upper. They had many ups and downs and were at the lowest when they got the show offer. A very quick read.

3 stars
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The Mistletoe Murder: And Other by P.D. James - four short stories, all of them with a twist.

3 stars
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The Lighthouse by P.D. James - an island off the coast of England is used as a retreat by the rich and powerful. When a suspicious death occurs, Adam Dalgliesh and two of his team are sent to investigate. It would seem a small suspect pool would make it easy but everyone seems to have secrets. I've read a few in this series, not in order.

3.5 stars
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Crime for Christmas edited by Richard Dalby - a collection of short stories by suthors such as Agatha Christie, Ellis Peters, and others. Some of them were old even at the time of publication, 1991. I have to admit I couldn't read the story by Wilkie Collins, published in 1852, too much flowery language. I picked this up at the library, where they had a collection of Christmas mysteries.

2 stars
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Sorrow Road by Julia Keller - this is the 5th book about Bell Elkins, prosecuting attorney of a small county in West Virginia. A little different in that she's not prosecuting a crime but investigating to see if there has been a crime. An old friend contacts her with suspicions about the death of her father in a facility for Alzheimer's patients. There are chapters from her daughter Carla's viewpoint. And the story of three friends from before WWII.

4 stars