Ameise1 (Barbara)'s seventh ROOT

I'm looking forward to another wonderful reading year. Due to lots of library books I set my target again for ten from my TBR pile and everything which is more will go as an addition for the group.




# 1 The Strangler Vine by M. J. Carter (4 stars) On the shelf since 2018
# 2 Liberation Movements by Olen Steinhauer (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2015
# 3 A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (4 stars) On the shelf since 2017
# 4 A Mind To Murder by P. D. James (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2017
# 5 Nerve by Dick Francis (4 stars) On the shelf since 2018
# 6 Die Brillenmacherin by Titus Müller (3½ stars) On the shelf since 2017
# 7 Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (4 stars) On the shelf since 2017
# 8 The Chessmen by Peter May (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2016
# 9 Forfeit by Dick Francis (4 stars) On the shelf since 2018
#10 Eine unbeliebte Frau by Nele Neuhaus (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2012
#11 Innocence by David Hosp (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2017
#12 The Redeemed by M R. Hall) (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2017
#13 Time Heals No Wounds by Hendrik Falkenberg (4 stars) On the shelf since 2018
#14 Whiskey Sour by J. A. Konrath (4 stars) On the shelf since 2018
#15 Reflex by Francis Dick (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2018
#16 The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken by Tarquin Hall (4½ stars) On the shelf since 2014

Welcome back, Barb! Glad to see you joining again. Happy ROOTing.

>2 connie53: Thanks so much, Connie.

Welcome back and enjoy your reading year!

Good luck with your ROOTing, Barbara.

Good reading, Barbara.

Welcome back, I hope you have a good reading year!

Thanks so much, ladies. I'm looking forward to another fabulous reading year. I think my MTBR pile will not get smaller, especially if I added 7 new books today. :-D

Have a great reading year!

>9 MissWatson: Thanks so much, Birgit. Wishing you a fabulous reading year too.

book 1

 The Strangler Vine

What a great start to a new series. William Avery is young and not long in Calcutta. He works for the East India Company and is homesick for England. He is very well read and loves the books of Xavier Mountstuart. He spends the evenings in the casino, playing and drinking too much and is therefore heavily in debt. Then he gets an assignment together with Jeremiah Blake to find the lost Mountstuart. What he does not know yet is that he and Blake should be pawn victims for the Company. Blake is a weird guy and often does not talk to Avery, which irritates him a lot. Over time, however, a deep friendship grows between them and both know that they can trust each other blindly. In this story, you learn a lot about life in India in the 1830's. It also shows the inglorious role played by the East India Company for India.
Avery and Blake feel like Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holms. They are in a similar relationship to each other and react very similar.
The story grabbed me from the beginning and I will definitely continue reading this series.

Hey, I know you! Good luck with your ROOTs, Barbara!

>11 Ameise1: The Strangler Vine sounds good, Barbara.

>11 Ameise1: This sounds truly interesting. BB taken.

>12 mstrust: Glad to see you here too, Jennifer. :-) Happy ROOTing to you too.

>13 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. It was a gorgeous start into a new series.

>14 MissWatson: I hope you'll like it as much as I did, Birgit.

book 2

 Liberation Movements

Also the fourth volume of the Eastern Bloc series has been thrilling from the beginning. This part switched back and forth between the student riots in Prague (1968) and a few years later in Kiev and Istanbul. At first, I did not understand why this had to be so. Nevertheless, both parts were very important and over time, I also saw the connection behind it. Steinhauer has a main theme in every book in this series. This time it's about parapsychological experiments that were carried out on people who were in asylums by Russian scientists and their allies. Of course, the secret service has its fingers everywhere. The subject of homosexuality also gets its place, as this was of course strictly prohibited. If you were discovered you came in great danger for your life.
This story is great written and grabbed me until the end.

book 3 Read in German

 A Fatal Grace

Also the second volume of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series captivated me from the first page.
In Montreal, a homeless woman is murdered. Shortly before, Clara spoke to her. While Gamache looks at this case file with his wife, he is called to Three Pines because a newcomer was murdered. It turns out that the people of Three Pines have their own ideas of what they should or should not tell. Gamache needs all the 'gray cells' to solve the case. In addition, it is bitterly cold and many snow do not make the investigation easier.

book 4

 A Mind To Murder

Another good cozy mystery from the Adam Dalgliesh series. This time, the majority of everything takes place in one place namely the Steen Psychiatric Clinic. Miss Bolam the administrative officer is found dead in the archive. She was not very popular and therefore everyone had something to hide. Dalgliesh's job is to filter out all the negative emotions everyone has, so that he finds the essence. In this commissioner coincidence helps to put things into perspective. Dalgliesh has to hurry to prevent another murder from happening.
This story is psychologically very skillful and let me guess for a long time, who the villain is.

>18 Ameise1: It's been a few years since I read it, but I liked that one. In fact, I've liked all the Dalglieshs I've read. And the tv movies too.

Just dropping by to catch up on what you've been reading.

>19 mstrust: I can't remember seeing a tv movie but I read other books from this series. Currently I'm listening The Black Tower.

>20 Nickelini: Joyce, I'm on my skiing holiday in Davos and have taken many ROOTs with me. I don't know how many I'll be reading.

>21 Ameise1:

I'm on my skiing holiday in Davos and have taken many ROOTs with me. I don't know how many I'll be reading

Nice! Enjoy your trip. My daughter spent New Years in Davos -- it looked lovely. And I was just reading about the TB sanitariums in Davos that are now fancy hotels (In The Gilded Chalet: Off Piste in Literary Switzerland). One day I'll get there too . . .

>22 Nickelini: Tell me when you'll be there. Your daughter was on holiday here?

>23 Ameise1:

No, my daughter lives in Ebikon, which is about 10 minutes northeast of Lucerne. She works in Zug. My husband and I are coming to Switzerland to visit her in May (on our way to Italy), but we won't have time to go to Davos. Next trip (maybe 2020?)

>24 Nickelini: Joyce, I live in Zürich and I'm on holiday here in Davos.

book 5

 Nerve

I love Dick Francis books and this was no exception. Already at the beginning a jockey shot himself. Nobody could explain why he did this. The young jockey Rob, who sees the whole thing emotionally from the outside, gets to know the highs and lows of horse racing and decides to get to the bottom of the cause of the misery of his colleagues. He discovers that the horses of these jockeys and his horses have been doped. He's out for revenge and does it in a subtle way. He's in grave danger. His will is stronger than all the pain he suffers.
A magnificently thought-out thriller that gives an insight into the world of horse racing.

>25 Ameise1:

Zurich is a lovely city! I spent Christmas 2017 there. Everything was closed, but we did get to do the Christmas markets in old town and in the train station. I especially loved the one in the train station, and in fact, this past Christmas I desperately wished I could get back there because I knew exactly what I'd buy and could do all my Christmas shopping all in one stop. I have such nice memories of approaching the station and there was a guy selling candle holders just outside and his stand had a thousand candles flickering in the Zurich dusk. Magical! I hope my daughter lives in Switzerland for a while at least so I can come revisit and explore places I know, and explore places I haven't seen yet (like Davos).

>26 Ameise1:

I have never read Dick Francis, but I remember some old friends raving about him, and this one sounds interesting. Added to my wish list.

>27 Nickelini: Joyce, a meet-up would be nice when you're the next time in Zürich.

book 6 Read in German

 Die Brillenmacherin

The story takes place in England in 1387. The point is that the outlawed Bible translator Hereford is protected by some knights who copy his translated Bible parts and hide them in other places in England. Hereford is also hunted by Archbishop Courtenay, who wants to prevent the translation at any cost. In the middle of it is the young eyewear maker, who wants to continue the profession of her murdered husband and at the same time wants to protect her daughter. She is the plaything between the knights and the archbishop and is constantly in danger.
The book has only partially convinced me. The medieval part is interesting and exciting. On the other hand, many questions remain open and the conclusion is written so that a continuation is almost necessary. Too bad, I like books that are self-contained.

>28 Ameise1:
That would be so lovely! And if you're ever in Vancouver, let me know.

>30 Nickelini: Looking forward to a meet-up.

book 7 Read in German

 Death of a Red Heroine

I am glad that I read the first book of this series after all. It makes much of what Inspector Chen experienced more sense.
In his first case, many protagonists, which are also encountered in later books, are presented. Likewise, one becomes more familiar with the Chinese customs, which are enormously important to know, since a determination is not necessarily designed as you are used to crime thrill. The face on the political level has to be kept constant and this makes it very difficult when the villain comes from the establishment.
A young woman is found dead. She is a model worker and represents an important part of the Chinese working class. Why did she have to die? Did she lead a hidden second life that does not fit into political China? While Chen and Yu investigate, they often come up against a wall of silence.
Very exciting written, it grabbed me from the first to the last page.

book 8

 The Chessmen

The third part of the Lewis trilogy is great. It is told of today and at the same time it goes back to the past. Fin Macleod's life is taking on even more form and you understand him and his actions better and better. In this part, one becomes acquainted with his best childhood friend Whistler Macaskill. We learn that Fin and Whistler were always there for each other and went through thick and thin together. Each helped the other when in distress. In the harsh world of the Northern Scottish archipelago, such a warm and friendly friendship is worth gold.

book 9

 Forfeit

Also this Dick Francis was exciting, even if more ran next to the racecourse than on the racecourse. This time investigates a journalist unrealities in the horse betting. On a large scale, bets on horses are placed in advance, but shortly before the start these horses are deducted from the race. The bets always go to the same person, since the regulations do not provide for a return of the wagers made. Who is behind these mafia bets and how can this person be caught? With what means of pressure are the horse owners blackmailed so that they do not let their horses start? The journalist puts himself and his loved one in the greatest danger.
Exciting from the beginning to the end.

book 10 Read in German

 Eine unbeliebte Frau

A respected prosecutor begins suicide and a young woman is found dead. What looks like two different cases at the outset soon turns out to be a case that can not be more confused. The Commissioners Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein are fully busy pursuing the many loose ends of these cases, but have long felt that many of these ends repeatedly lead to a dead end. Many victims are silent and it takes a long time until someone breaks the silence.
This is a great first work and I will certainly read more books with this commissary duo.

book 11

 Innocence

This was a captivating read. Scott Finn and Tom Kozlowski not only try to uncover why an 'innocent' has been in jail for fifteen years, no, it's also about the survival of their loved ones.
Just before Christmas, Finn is supposed to help a young lawyer convict a convicted person years ago to prove his innocence. It soon turns out that the Boston police are corrupt and also their laboratories. They were bought by Central American Mafiosi. The judge who handles this case is not necessarily on Finns side and demands multiple proofs for the innocence of his client. But this is a dangerous venture. There are many dead and seriously injured, including Kozlowski's new girlfriend and coworker from Finn.
It was exciting from the first to the last page.

book 12

 The Redeemed

Coroner Jenny Cooper gets caught up in her past. Not only through nightmares but also physically and understanding, she has to realize that there is a dark secret from her past that her brain is trying to repress. This does not make the investigation of various current deaths easy. On the contrary, she does not only have to fight against rich lords and wannabees, no, she also has to realize that the police are corrupt.
The authorities forbid her to investigate the cases connected with a free church, but she defies her power as a coroner. At the same time she is under heavy pressure and her witnesses are being murdered.
It was a captivating quick read. I love this series.

Hi Barb, I hope you are having a good time where you are now. (facebook!)

What is going on with your pics? They all seem broken somehow!

>38 connie53: Currently we are in Porto and we really love it 💖.
I hope you don't mean the photos on FB?
Here on LT it's really a mess about the photos since more than a month. I can't see all photos from other persons too. I have no clue why this is so.

>39 Ameise1: that has to do wit https or http. ( I think) see https://www.librarything.nl/topic/303355

No, The pics on FB are fine.

>40 connie53: It doesn't matter if I use http or https sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

Strange! But things like that happen all the time.

book 13 Read in German

 Time Heals No Wounds

This is a great introduction to a new series for me. Hannes Niehaus is a top athlete and trains for the Olympic Games. He earns his money as a detective and can also do his intensive training. In his first case he has to do with an old WWII story. There are several deaths, all of which are linked to a drug company that tested drugs on concentration camp inmates during the war. Who is looking for vengeance against this company? Niehaus has an older colleague who supports him in the research. That this relationship to the end will be clouded, one learns only at the end.
It's very exciting and let me guess who the bad guy is until the end.

book 14 Read in German

 Whiskey Sour

This is the first book in the Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels Mystery series. The story was very exciting. The dead on the way but were killed in a very bestial way. In between I suffered with Jack, since she herself became the target of the killer and her watch was not exactly excellent. It was funny how she met her ex-colleague again, who on the one hand put obstacles in her path but on the other hand was also there when things got hot. I also smiled when the FBI profiler agents came into play. They were portrayed as if they were idiots.
Various women were killed and long lacked the common background. Jack and her current colleague fight on all fronts to find out the commonality of the victims, so they can take the killer. It is very dangerous for Jack.

book 15

 Reflex

Philip Nore, who earns his living as a jockey, but incidentally with his camera many photos of racing places in places where the normal public has no access fights on different fronts. On the one hand he is harassed by a lawyer, that he should visit his dying grandmother and should fulfill her last wish. He gets to know his past, which was not always pleasant to him. On the other hand, he receives from a jockey colleague a box that his dead father has filled with various photo puzzles. Thanks to his experience as a photographer, he gets to the bottom of the various mysteries. Not only he, but also important persons are in danger.
In addition to all this, he is being pressured by a horse owner to manipulate races.
It was a very exciting read and kept me guessing until the end.

book 16

The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken

I love the Vish Puri series. Also the third band did not disappoint. This time it was about bet fraud in the millions in cricket. Puri and his family attended a cricket game where a nephew took part. At the subsequent banquet, a rich Pakistani was poisoned. Puri's mother, behaved strangely all the time. During the investigation, Puri's way not only led to the hated Pakistan, no, he also found that his mother determined on his own and he learned while knowing her past. Of course, Puri's passion for food was not forgotten. His wife monitors his weight with an eye for hope and he tried to continue to enjoy the food with pills for weight loss, which of course rather the opposite effect.
This story is about corruption, betting fraud, blood diamonds and the history of women in connection with the separation of Pakistan and India in 1947.