Mischief and Mistletoe

Mischief and Mistletoe by Mary Jo Putney et al. Summary: In this sparkling holiday collection, eight acclaimed authors unwrap the most daring of Regency delights. . . Christmastime in England--a time for passionate secrets, delicious whispers, and wicked-sweet gifts by the fire. From a spirited lady who sets out to save her rakish best friend from an unsuitable engagement, to a bold spy who gets the unexpected chance to win the woman he's always loved, to a vicar's daughter who pretends to be a saucy wench, these holiday tales will make you curl up in front of the fire for a memorable season of mischief and mistletoe. . . Angie's Comments: I find reading holiday books in the summer makes me feel a little cooler in the heat! The stories are short, but you still get to know the characters. This is an especially good book for readers who like more gentle romance. Recommended for readers who like holiday romances and gentle romances.  Request this item

Jewel of the Earth

Jewel of the Earth: Amber Reveals the Secrets of Ancient Worlds (NOVA DVD) Summary: Forty million years ago a diverse community of insects living at the bottom of a tree in a temperate forest chanced into a sticky pool of pine resin. Then a mere 67 years ago a young boy named David Attenborough was given the amber stone containing the entombed bugs. "Jewel of the Earth" explores the remarkable time capsule of ancient life preserved in this and countless other samples of fossilized tree resin, or amber. Sir David Attenborough, now grown up and a celebrated naturalist and TV personality, hosts the program. As he makes abundantly clear in the show, he is still entranced with the amber specimen from his youth and the seemingly magical quality of the material to serve as a crystal-clear window to an age before humans walked the Earth. (For another view on why amber insects are so fascinating, see Bitten By the Bug.) Coincidentally, David's brother Richard starred in the movie that made amber famous: Jurassic Park, in which Richard plays a billionaire entrepreneur who extracts DNA from amber-entombed mosquitoes in order to clone living replicas of their prey—dinosaurs. While such a scenario is probably unlikely, amber can resurrect prehistoric life in a quite different way, as NOVA demonstrates by probing the amber-encased clues that paint a fascinating picture of ancient biomes. For example, most of the world's amber comes from the Baltic region of northern Europe, where, on the ample evidence of insects, plant fragments, and other trapped material, a vast temperate forest flourished about 40 million years ago. Attenborough's boyhood keepsake is a piece of Baltic amber, which he investigates through a microscope with the help of biologist Elzbieta Sontag of the University of Gdansk, finding a long-legged fly, a fungus gnat, an aphid, an ant, and a mite—all denizens of the lower forest floor. By contrast, much of the amber found in the Dominican Republic—the second most significant source studied so far—is about 20 million years old and hails from an ancient rain forest. George and Roberta Poinar of Oregon State University have reconstructed this vanished ecosystem in spectacular detail, based on such clues as a tadpole that probably resided in a water-filled tropical bromeliad before being upended, along with a marsh beetle, into a patch of tree resin that eventually turned into amber. (For more clues to the primordial Dominican forest, see Stories in the Amber.) An even more ancient Dominican sample, from 150 million years ago, contains a honeypot ant. Since this ant is now found only in Australia, the specimen is evidence for a conjectured super-continent that once comprised most of Earth's landmasses. High-tech medical scanners have shed light on many other amber inclusions, diagnosing a broken back on a gecko, for instance, which suggests the lizard was a bird's prey before being accidentally dropped into resin. The most controversial research on amber, however, is the effort to extract DNA from trapped creatures, just like in Jurassic Park. So far, two teams, including the Poinars, have announced success. However, follow-up studies indicate the DNA found by both groups was a contaminant, not the real, ancient stuff. Setbacks aside, scientists have only just begun to reveal the secrets to be discovered in the warm, glowing, glassy world of amber.  Angie's Comments: This NOVA program is an interesting look into how scientists can use the plants and animals trapped in amber to learn more about the world millions of years ago. The amount of information that can be found just from one insect is amazing! Recommended for people interested in geology and the ancient past. Request this item

The Inheritor's Powder

The Inheritor's Powder: A Tale of Arsenic, Murder, and the New Forensic Science by Sandra Hempel Summary: In the first half of the nineteenth century, an epidemic swept Europe: arsenic poisoning. Available at any corner shop for a few pence, arsenic was so frequently used by potential beneficiaries of wills that it was nicknamed “the inheritor’s powder.” But it was difficult to prove that a victim had been poisoned, let alone to identify the contaminated food or drink since arsenic was tasteless. Then came a riveting case. On the morning of Saturday, November 2, 1833, the Bodle household sat down to their morning breakfast. That evening, the local doctor John Butler received an urgent summons: the family and their servants had collapsed and were seriously ill. Three days later, after lingering in agony, wealthy George Bodle died in his bed at his farmhouse in Plumstead, leaving behind several heirs, including a son and grandson―both of whom were not on the best of terms with the family patriarch. The investigation, which gained international attention, brought together a colorful cast of characters: bickering relatives; a drunken, bumbling policeman; and James Marsh, an unknown but brilliant chemist who, assigned the Bodle case, attempted to create a test that could accurately pinpoint the presence of arsenic. In doing so, however, he would cause as many problems as he solved. Were innocent men and women now going to the gallows? And would George Bodle’s killer be found? Incisive and wryly entertaining, science writer Sandra Hempel brings to life a gripping story of domestic infighting, wayward police behavior, a slice of Victorian history, stories of poisonings, and an unforgettable foray into the origins of forensic science. Angie's Comments: I really enjoyed this look into the arsenic poisoning fear and the momentum that it gave to forensic science. I have heard about other famous arsenic cases in the 1800s, but I had never heard of the Bodle case. At first, I was confused with all of the family relationships in the Bodle family, but once I had read more about the family, I was able to place everyone. Besides the interesting Bodle family, I liked that Hempel dove into other related stories as well, such as James Marsh. More importantly, Hempel shows the issues with the legal system and detecting poisons in the 1830s England. Hempel provides a lot of detail about the society and the circumstances that affected the Bodle case and, in turn, the effects that the Bodle case had on society. Recommended for readers interested in forensic science, true crime, and history. Request this item

Smash Cut

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown Summary: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown comes this thrilling new novel full of jarring, cinematic twists and breathless suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. When millionaire Paul Wheeler is murdered, his family retains renowned lawyer Derek Mitchell to defend the victim’s nephew Creighton— although the police have not charged the young man with the crime. Wheeler’s mistress, Julie Rutledge, who is also a suspect, believes that Creighton is the killer, despite his rock-solid alibi, and she’ll do almost anything in her quest to prove his guilt—even ruin Derek’s career. But the more Derek learns of Creighton’s darker side, especially his bizarre fascination with movie murders, the more he comes to believe Julie is right. The clock ticks down to a shocking ending as Derek and Julie join forces to find the truth. Has Creighton begun reenacting cinema’s goriest scenes? And who will be his unwilling costars? They won’t know until the final SMASH CUT. Angie's Comments: The mystery is obviously not who did it, but if the police and/or Julie will be able to stop Creighton before he does even more. The book is more of a psychological thriller. There is some romance, but it takes a back seat to the crime. Smash Cut was fast-paced, and although not one of Sandra Brown’s best books, it was still an intriguing read. Recommended for Sandra Brown fans.  Request this item

The Mangle Street Murders

The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian Summary: The first in a charming, evocative, and sharply plotted Victorian crime series starring a detective duo to rival Holmes and Watson. After her father dies, March Middleton has to move to London to live with her guardian, Sidney Grice, the country’s most famous private detective. It is 1882 and London is at its murkiest yet most vibrant, wealthiest yet most poverty-stricken. No sooner does March arrive than a case presents itself: a young woman has been brutally murdered, and her husband is the only suspect. The victim’s mother is convinced of her son-in-law’s innocence, and March is so touched by her pleas she offers to cover Sidney’s fee herself. The investigations lead the pair to the darkest alleys of the East End: every twist leads Sidney Grice to think his client is guilty; but March is convinced that he is innocent. Around them London reeks with the stench of poverty and gossip, the case threatens to boil over into civil unrest and Sidney Grice finds his reputation is not the only thing in mortal danger. Karyn's Comments: Set in the late Victorian era, this story lends itself to being compared to the most famous (albeit fictional) London personal detective, Sherlock Holmes.  The author even goes so far as to have her character state he would “retire to my estate in Dorset, where I shall write my memoirs, drill for oil and keep bees.” There is also a reference to a prior case where Grice is called in to search for a missing race horse ala The Adventure of Silver Blaze. However Sidney Grice is no Sherlock Holmes. While I liked this book, I found Sidney Grice a very disagreeable character.  While he had the pompousness and arrogance of Holmes, he was very lacking in the compassion Holmes often showed to his clients, as well as Dr. Watson.  Grice’s character grated on the nerves throughout most of the book.  March Middleton and Inspector Pound make up for what is needing in Grice through their quick witted conversations and more caring personalities. While at times March is a little naive in her dealings with the accused and his mother-in-law, her compassion is her saving grace. I would recommend this book to fans of Victorian mysteries, mysteries in general or someone who would just like a quick read. Sherlockians might want to steer clear as it could cause a headache. Request this item