About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

New To Me Authors for July to September of 2013

During the 3rd quarter of 2013 I read the following New to Me Authors in crime fiction:
 

1.) Alamo, North Dakota by Phil Rustad;

2.) The Wrong Man by David Ellis;

3.) In Plain Sight by Tara Taylor Quinn;

4.) Havana Requiem by Paul Goldstein; and,

5.) Vodka Doesn’t Freeze by Leah Giarratano.

In a rare departure from crime fiction I read one new author in general fiction

1.) The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

In non-fiction I read three new authors:

1.) Diefenbaker for the Defence by Garrett Wilson and Kevin Wilson;

2.) The Apprentice – My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin; and,

3.) Assassins of the Turqouise Palace by Roya Hakakian

With 9 new authors this quarter I have matched the 1st quarter. The second quarter had 7 new authors.

During the quarter my favourite crime fiction was the legal thriller, Havana Requiem.

From the non-fiction list it was Diefenbaker for the Defence though each of the non-fiction books was excellent. How could I not pick for non-fiction a book about a Saskatchewan lawyer who spent much time in rural courthouses such as Melfort.

My overall favourite was The Silver Linings Playbook. It is a great book.

For more posts on New to Me Authors please go to Kerrie Smith's Blog, Mysteries in Paradise.

8 comments:

  1. Bill, apart from "The Silver Linings Playbook," I also liked the non-fiction books you read in the third quarter. I'm hoping to increase my reading of non-fiction in coming months.

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  2. Bill - You've read a nice variety of books this quarter! I'm glad you enjoyed The Silver Linings Playbook, and in particular I remember your excellent post on The Apprentice - My Life in the Kitchen. You've reminded me too that I must put Havana Requiem on my TBR.

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  3. Bill, you had a lot of variety there. I want to add more non-fiction but either don't have time or am not disciplined enough.

    With your recommendation, I may have to try Silver Linings Playbook.

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  4. Prashant: Thanks for the comment. I do my best to read some non-fiction each month.

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  5. Margot: Thanks for the comment. I hope you get a chance to read The Apprentice. Pepin has worked hard and enjoyed food for almost 80 years.

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  6. TracyK: Thanks for the comment. I think The Silver Linings Playbook will lift your spirits.

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  7. Coincidentally, I just watched the movie version of Silver Linings Playbook, which was quite entertaining. I must recommend watching the movie, as the cast is superb.

    Also, as a light legal mystery with a lot of humor, I recommend Dead Peasants by Larry Thompson. I needed a light, humorous book after finishing the grueling, but intelligent Defending Jacob, which left me feeling as if I'd been through the proverbial ringer.

    Dead Peasants tells of a Texas millionaire lawyer who retires and takes pro bono cases for poor people, and comes across an insurance scheme based on "dead peasants' policies. A lot of fun, not serious.

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  8. Kathy D.: Thanks for the recommendation. I am going to have to make the effort to see the movie.

    Dead Peasants is on my horizon. The next time I see it in a bookstore I will be buying.

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