The Trajectory of Today’s Topics

• Dive into cardigans, tea, and murder.

• Not everyone loves large chests.

• Four thrilling short stories to get you into the Halloween mood.

• A magically delicious faire is coming soon.

Hot Off The Press

The Coziest Murders Around

Who knew murder could be so… well, cozy? It seems plenty of people just can’t get enough of the cozy murder/mystery genre. Instead of typical gritty cop and forensic shows, cozy murder is in the spotlight this week. Do you like your murder served up with teapots, cardigans, and the occasional cat? These stories will have you and some knitting grandma solving crimes by day and in bed by nine, complete with a steaming mug of chamomile. Think Murder, She Wrote for the modern day.

This genre is heating up! Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series is at the top right now, selling over 10 million copies of this series. These books feature four residents of a sleepy retirement village who spend their golden years digging into cold cases, but find themselves thrown slippers first into their own murder mystery. Honestly, if crime is going to happen, this is how I’d like it; served up with humor, humanity, and the occasional spot of tea and flaky crumpets (whatever crumpets are).

Who wants to read about gore and blood? Readers fell in love with Osman’s witty banter, the warmth of his characters, and the lack of bloody, gruesome crime scenes. And since it’s such a moneymaker, Netflix jumped on the cozy wagon and brought The Thursday Murder Club to the home screen. The cast is star-studded (Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley, to name just a few), but it’s only sitting at a 3.5-star rating so far. Some viewers state it’s hilarious and heartwarming, while others complain the movie lost the charm of the books and felt like a hurried mess. Either way, it seems that murder has never looked so snug and comfortable.

So if you’ve been meaning to dip your toes into Cozy Mysteries, Osman is the perfect place to start. Just don’t be surprised if you suddenly find yourself side-eyeing your neighbors and wondering if their rose garden obsession is a front for something more sinister.

The TBR Files

Everyone Loves Large Chests, A Misguided Mimic Story

Not at all what I was expecting. Okay, this book… Where do I start? It wasn’t a bad book, but it was not what I expected based on the description, and that in itself threw the entire book off for me. I was misled, I tell you, hoodwinked, bamboozled, and even confused! I’m not talking about the blatant innuendo either, that’s not why I picked this one up… I can hear your side-eye, so let me explain. 

The marketing pitch was completely off! The blurb tells of this newbie adventurer on a quest for fame and glory. If Himmel can reach level five in the adventurer’s dungeon, he will become a full-fledged member and with it, all the glory and accolades. That sounded fun, another dungeon crawl—killing monsters and leveling up. Coming off the Dungeon Crawler Carl high, I needed another similar book. What really sold me was a “snippet” from the book: “The barkeep asked why we carried weapons into his bar. I said ‘Mimics.’ The party laughed. The barkeep laughed. The table laughed. We killed the table. Good times.” This actually made me laugh out loud, and sold me on the book. I thought it was going to be a comedic romp through mimic-infested lands…. I was WRONG! 

This book was the real mimic. The story is about the first mimic that Himmel meets. The thing is, dude gets eaten in the first 4 pages! Then the mimic gains sentience, and IT goes on the adventure. We follow the mimic, which eventually gets the exceptionally clever and thought-provoking name of Boxy T. Morningwood. Yeah, hear the sarcasm? 13-year-old me would have been overjoyed and would have giggled like Beavis and Butthead. Current me just sighed. 

I wonder if the author is a prepubescent teen… There are plenty of sexual jokes, especially when the succubus on the cover shows up. She brings some needed conversation, but it’s not enough to save the story. Boxy can’t speak at first, and it’s pretty much world-building and exposition. Again, I’m reminded that the blurb was so off, and no, I can’t get over that! If I knew the story was about the mimic, I wouldn’t have skimmed through the entire book with the misguided expectation that the hero was going to be resurrected somehow, and then I’d read about that hilarious line that snagged me (which was from something else entirely, not a part of the book at all.) 

Saltier than the bottom of a bag of pretzels. If I were able to forgive these blatant and erroneous deceptions—yes, I’m still salty about that— I’d say it’s a decent book. I like mimics (creatures that tend to disguise themselves as treasure chests and then devour adventurers when they try to open them). It has a good premise, but it could have been executed a little better. The writing felt geared toward immature adolescent males, and while I can appreciate the occasional double entendre… You know what, I’m still mad about the blurb. That’s the real reason. The advertising is what killed it for me. I was expecting a different book altogether. I give it ☕☕☕, but I want to give it only 2…😠

…And Then This Happened

“In a land called Honah-Lee” No. Wait. Wrong song

If Puff the Magic Dragon did make an appearance, he’d come here. In an enchanted land, a deserted field awaits in anticipation of what is yet to come. If you get close, you will feel the buzz of excitement and the crackle of mystic power because the field knows soon, it will be the host of a magnificent fantasy. The Ravenwood Faire is coming to Clear Brook, Virginia, in October. Here you’ll find knights aplenty, kings, queens, jesters, and jousters, and more mead than merry-makers may manage. 

Tons of fun packed into a small package. The Ravenwood Faire is a small-time Renaissance Faire in a sleepy little town, but it has tons of fun and activities. Come on out between Oct. 17 thru 19, and Oct. 24 thru 26. Get a roasted turkey leg, watch the shows, including jousting, singing, comedy, and feats of daring, or browse the many talented vendors, including myself! I will be there with my extroverted wife, trying to pawn off as many books and crafts as possible! So if you’re around the area, or if you’re looking for something fun to do with the fam, come on out and say hi! 

All the crafts will be here. Not only will I have books, but I’ll also have some resin crafts, woodworks, our sassy FU BA’ARS stickers, and possibly some more surprises. Don’t miss out, come on by and check out all the sights. Get your tickets here! And just to be clear, I don’t earn anything from that link, and I have not been compensated in any way. I just want the faire to be successful, and hopefully some of you will come and visit our tent. 😁