Book Review: Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #2)

Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book #2 in the Maisie Dobbs series.  Maisie Dobbs is a no-nonsense, hard-working psychologist and private investigator in London during the 1930's.  She and her assistant are tasked with finding a missing heiress, but during the investigation she stumbles upon several other related murders.  I would classify this book as a 'cozy', and everything turns out fine in the end.  There's even a little romance thrown in and some growth in Maisie's character.  Looking forward to the next book in the series. 

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Book Review: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first in the James Herriot series of books.  An absolutely charming story about a large animal veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales during the 1930's.  This is Dr. Herriot's first job after veterinary college, and he pairs up with an established vet.  They live together with a housekeeper and are on-call 24/7.  Each chapter is a vignette in his daily life, ranging from the smallest dog or cat up to horses and cattle.  His writing pulls you in so you feel that you are driving through the hills of York with him.  I was glad to read this book on my Kindle to assist me with both the veterinary terms and the British colloquialisms.  Highly recommended, especially if you have enjoyed the TV series.  I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series while enjoying a cuppa tea!

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Book Review: Experiencing Olmstead: The Enduring Legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted's North American Landscapes by The Cultural Landscape Foundation

Experiencing Olmstead: The Enduring Legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted's North American Landscapes The Cultural Landscape Foundation by The Cultural Landscape Foundation
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An absolutely lusciously photographed coffee table book.  This hefty tome is arranged by state, and covers just a small fraction of the Olmsted projects throughout the United States and Canada.  It shows original Olmsted blueprints and plans, along with early and current photographs.  Each project is given a brief description, the historical context, and the present day scenario.  It's amazing to see that Olmsted was involved in so many different projects -- parks, landscapes, planned communities, individual private gardens, colleges/universities, and parkway drives.  The extent of his impact on landscape gardening is immense and unparalleled!  Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy.  That was enough to spark me actually obtaining the book after it was published. 

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Book Review: Triple Cross (Alex Cross series) by James Patterson (Alex Cross #30)

Triple Cross by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is #30 in James Patterson's Alex Cross series, and once again he provides the reader with non-stop, page-turning action.  Let's suspend our disbelief as the primary case (the Family Man serial killer) intersects with Brie's investigation into the fashion industry in NYC.  You know that with Alex Cross, John Sampson, and Brie Stone on the job, they will get the bad guys in the end.  But of course it's a roller coaster ride until the last page.  We also get updates on the Cross family - Nana Mama, Jannie and Ali.  I have to admit that I have abandoned many of my favorite long-running mystery series because the writing and the characters just got stale, in my opinion.  That is definitely not the case with the Alex Cross series, and I'll look forward to the next book under my Christmas tree in December!

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Book Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very compelling book, based on a true story of a young man who met his true love in the concentration camps of World War II. Lale is assigned to be a tattooist because of his knowledge of so many languages. They end up spending more than two years there but finally are able to escape and find each other. It's a difficult book to read but I wanted to be aware of the horrors that the individuals experienced and their massive loss of families and friends.

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