February News for A Cozy Death Book Club
Valentine’s Day Weekend Newsletter
Dear Cozy Mystery Readers,
We had a marvelous time at our last A Cozy Death Mystery Book Club meeting. We read Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Suntano, a favorite author of mine. If you read it, and I hope that you did, you’ll catch on to the fact that Vera is considered “old” at 60. Oh my! No, my friends, 60 is not old, not old, not old! However, if you’re in your teens or twenties -- maybe so. At any rate, we had a rousing good discussion about the perspectives of different characters and people in general. After that we played a game.
I have to admit, the game started out with my confusing directions. Then,after a few minutes, I tried to clarify the directions and the game became smoother to play. The “gabberwocky” game was a bit like Mad Libs, but ours followed the plot of the novel. The wrinkle was that one earned points by correcting the mad lib so that it made sense for the plot line. We had three winners, Lori, Deb, and Jill. Yippee for them! Their prizes are on the way.
Our next meeting is on February 22nd on Zoom at 2:00 p.m. PST. We’re reading A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton. I really like this Victorian time cozy.mystery. Hutton incorporates descriptions of many of the restrictions women lived under. Can you imagine one’s father sending one’s brother to make sure that one follows the promises the father has forced one to live under? Nope, I can’t imagine me being well-behaved, but then we are fortunate enough to not live during Victorian times (and have to wear all of those garments in the summer heat!). Amy Lovell is the main character in the cozy mystery and manages to skirt around most of her father’s restrictions with clever excuses when found out. Her “other” is at first an unknowing helper and then surprised to learn of Amy’s talents. It’s the first in Hutton’s series which gets better with each successive novel. Read the book--you’ll enjoy it.
On another front, don’t forget about the puzzles and games we’ve put on the website under “Fun Things To Do.” There are a couple of pictures to download and enlarge for coloring in addition to the puzzles. We also plan to add stickers for downloading; As time goes on more items will be added. Keep your eyes peeled.
The Book Review is coming out on the 15th -- watch for it. I was slowly making my way through my Kindle list, but characteristically found that I purchased more books last week. It’s a cozy mystery disease I think, but I do love to read as do all of you. The Book Review is published the day after Valentine’s Day. I hope that you all have a most wonderful, lovely, fun-filled Valentine’s Day! Hearts to all of us and all of yours!
Keep reading,
Karin Diskin