Book Beginnings: Head in the Sand

Head in the Sand

(Book 2 in the DI Nick Dixon series)

by Damien Boyd

(First published 2013)

Opening Lines

To the casual observer she appeared alive and well, but anyone who knew her would tell you that she had died twelve months ago when her daughter had been taken from her. She was still breathing, still crying and still feeling pain. Apart from that, she did and felt nothing.

About the Book

The discovery of a severed head in a bunker on Burnham and Berrow golf course triggers a frantic race to find a serial killer that brings the seaside town of Burnham-on-Sea to a standstill.

When the connection is made with a series of unsolved murders over thirty years before, Detective Inspector Nick Dixon finds himself chasing ghosts from the past in a race against time that takes him the length and breadth of the country.  (Description from GoodReads)

Initial Thoughts

 

 I read the first Nick Dixon mystery (As the Crow Flies) when the US edition came out, back in 2015, and really enjoyed it. Not sure why it's taken me so long to get to the second book. So far, it's living up to its description as "a fast-paced thriller" ― which is just what I need right now, to help get me out of these reading doldrums I've fallen into lately.

I do have a little trouble with the Detective Inspector's name, however. Keep wanting to call him Dick Nixon, though he really has absolutely no resemblance to "Tricky Dick."

Have a good weekend, everyone.
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

 

Book Beginnings: The Queen of the Tambourine

The Queen of the Tambourine,

by Jane Gardam

(First published 1991)

Opening Lines

7 February
Dear Joan,

I do hope I know you well enough to say this.
I think you ought to try to forget about your leg.

About the Book

With prose that is vibrant and witty, The Queen of the Tambourine traces the emotional breakdown—and eventual restoration—of Eliza Peabody, a smart and wildly imaginative woman who has become unbearably isolated in her prosperous London neighborhood.

The letters Eliza writes to her neighbor, a woman whom she hardly knows, reveal her self-propelled descent into madness. Eliza must reach the depths of her downward spiral before she can once again find health and serenity.

This story of a woman’s confrontation with the realities of sanity will delight readers who enjoy the works of Anita Brookner, Sybille Bedford, Muriel Spark, and Sylvia Plath.  (Publisher's back-of-book description)

Initial Thoughts

 
Forget about your leg? Well, all-righty. After that opening, I sort of had to go ahead with this one.

I've been wanting to read something by Jane Gardam for years now. (Well, why don't you just do it ?!?) Queen of the Tambourine won the Whitbread award for best novel of the year in 1991; it's been on my TBR list for many years, and so far I'm loving it. And after a couple of not-so-satisfying reads, that's a very welcome occurrence. 

Have a good weekend, everyone.
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Hey, it's November! Suddenly! I'm not sure what happened to October. Did it really have 31 days this year?

Well, even though the month seemed to zip right by me, I did manage to get a little reading done. Here's what I read....

 

Snow (St John Strafford #1), by John Banville

 

 

The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1), by Agatha Christie

 

Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary

 

Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book,

by Diane Muldrow

Not sure what I'll be reading this week. I've got an ARC that I need to read this month:

 

Take a Look at the Five and Ten, by Connie Willis

So that's a definite possibility. Never read anything by Connie Willis before. And I love discovering new authors, don't you?

Happy reading, everyone! And have a great week!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. If you want to let the world know what you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs.