The Lottery

 Shirley Jackson is one of the all  time incredible authors of horror novels.  I have reviewed one of her other books here, We Have Aways Lived in the Castle, but The Lottery has always been my favorite novellas.

The Lottery is a story about moral judgement,  mob mentality and blind tradition. The people of the town come together every year for a ritual that has been recurring for generations.  They no longer know why they do it but they also cannot stop doing it.

No one in the  town is strong enough to stand up and stop the tradition though it is an example of the banality of evil. There is the old man named Warner, who has been around the longest who says it doesn't matter if the meaning is lost, he symbolizes blind faith.  There is Tessie Hutchinson, who represents both the townspeople, who  is happy to participate until she becomes the scapegoat, and then protests the idea.

The men who come with the black box to the center of the town square are Mr Summer and Mr Graves.  The names are also so well positioned in this short book, helping to build the suspense of the story.

This story has been challenged and banned but continues to be an impactful story when read and discussed.  

Murder at Teal's Pond : Hazel Drew and the mystery that inspired Twin Peaks

David Bushman and Mark Givens teamed up to written Murder at  Teal's Pond, the story what happened to Hazel Drew and the mystery that inspired Twin Peaks.  Twin Peaks, the television show, was created based on the Hazel's death but is really does not follow the actual story.

Hazel Drew was a young working girl who grew up and lived outside Albany New York close to 100 years ago.  Her life can be tracked up  until the day she died.  She was found a week later in Teal's Pond.  But the mystery of how and why she died there has never been solved.

Many people were investigating the case, but there were many secrets and truths not shared.  So when  these new authors go back to try and find new answers to old questions they find out that they just don't seem to exist.  So this book reviews the police reports, the coroner's report and the many newspaper accounts of what happened but there are no new answers in this book.

That was a little disappointing and frustrating after reading the whole book.

Killers of A Certain Age

 Deanna Raybourn is a NYT bestselling and Edgar Award nominated author for the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries and has also written another mystery series and some stand alone  novels. Killers of a Certain Age is her newest work and it is very entertaining.

The plot is the story of four elderly ladies in their 60s, who have spent the last 40 years as a team of assassins.  They were recruited from various places in their 20s to join an elite network of assassins  working for the Museum.  Each has a different story that makes them perfect candidates for this job. We learn their back stories as we watch them fight for their future.

Now as they are about to retire they realize they are now the target of a hit.  False information has been submitted to the board of the Museum and it is a fight to the end, either they will kill or be killed.

There are plots and plans to kill the people who are out to get them. The women need to stand together to save their lives, not knowing who to trust and who is going to try and kill them next. They have always only killed people, who when dead, will make the world a better place.  The organization started when Nazis were getting away and hiding in plain site.  Their mission was to kill Nazis, save stolen artwork and it grew from there.

One interesting connection  in this book is Holocaust art and how some was stolen and is being resold at auction now, if not claimed.

This is a fun and fast moving novel that proves women can do anything men can do.  No job is too hard for a woman, and men should be worry, women are as clever and maybe more .

The Messy Lives of Book People

 The Messy Lives of Book People written by Phaedra Patrick was a very entertaining and enjoyable book.  It was a welcome book to read while relaxing on a warm day in the sun.  

This plot deals with some great discussion questions in a light and entertaining story.  When Olivia Green is faced with an unusual request from her employer it has the ability to change her life.  Liv is a house cleaner by  trade.  She never finished school, married young and lives with her husband and two teenage sons.  As they send off their last child to college Liv and her husband are struggling to make ends meet and what empty nest will look like for the two of them.  

Their marriage is in a rocky place. Their jobs are taking up all their time and energy.  Can their marriage survive and even thrive again?  Then Liv is given an opportunity that ignites a dream she thought was long gone.  She starts to get excited about life again, but will this new life include her husband?  She is questioning her marriage and herself as she looks back through the life of famous author, the illusive, Essie Starling.    

As Liv starts to accomplish the task set out for her by her favorite author, Essie Staling, she learns more about herself.  Her strengths and talents that have been shut away come out of hiding.  She finds her voice and her power.  She also gets a chance to explore the world of the rich and famous.  A chance to see whether money is really what makes a person happy.  

Fun and poignant with a few twists and turns this is a wonderful novel.