The Mystery Cousin

The boy at the door was tall and slim, and although I had no idea who he was, he said: “You must be V.J.!” A whoosh of Mom’s skirt obliterated my response. She was hugging and kissing him and exclaiming: “Oh my! Can’t believe it is you!” Then my sisters were there, crowding our small […]

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VJWC: A Week of Mystery

Inspired by a question about why a certain flower has five petals, this week’s challenge was born:  mystery.  The responses have been varied and all equally intriguing proving that life continues to be full of mystery. I started us off with a tale about a suspicious  death in the family, pre-dating my existence.  Like any good […]

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VJWC #6: Family Mystery

Her name was Mary, the one that they say shot herself.  Although I never knew her, it is a stretch to believe a woman would kill herself this way.  Far too messy. “What was she like?” I asked my mother once. “Timid.  Not a particularly happy woman.” She had been married to my mother’s second […]

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V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #6 Mystery

Don’t Hold Your Breath’s  byline is “tripping the world, slowly”.  The author, I.J. Khanewala, documents travels through images and delightful commentary.  I have begun to look forward to these snippets from other worldly places. In a recent post:  “Flowers of the Middle Heights” The Young Niece asks why a certain flower has five petals.  Khanewala, […]

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“Defending Jacob”: Review

Jacob is a typical, somewhat difficult teenager, according to his father, but when a classmate of Jacob’s is found dead, Andy Barber is forced to take a closer look at his son’s behaviour and determine if he could be housing a killer. William Landay’s suspense novel is told through the perspective of Andy Barber, a […]

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“The Sound of Glass” Entertaining

Karen White’s The Sound of Glass is an entertaining read, or in my case, listen.  While many of the messages put forth are cliché, the storyline provides adequate twists to keep the reader engaged. A recently widowed Merritt finds herself inheriting a stately Southern home from a Grandmother she never knew existed.  The draw to […]

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Morton’s “The Lake House” Masterful

Kate Morton has mastered the art of writing a timeless novel:  a compelling setting,  well-developed characters, the weaving together of unforgettable storylines, and flawless description.  The Lake House is a delicious read, the kind of book you don’t want to put down. The Lake House centers around a beautiful estate abandoned under tragic circumstances:  a mystery […]

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Mystery of the Bar of Soap – Updated

Taking my bath this morning, I discovered a very peculiar thing – a full bar of white, oval shaped soap sitting on the holder at the side of the bath.  I know that may not sound odd, however;  I do not use bar soap – ever!  Especially the kind with the cheap floral scent such as this […]

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“Principles To Live By” Indeed!

David Adams Richards likes to drag his readers in out of scenarios, sometimes repeating ideas, until they are hooked into his masterful weave.  He demonstrates that life is made up of incestuous circles, and that not all are as ‘principled’ as they would like to think. Principles To Live By centers around the mystery of […]

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