I got the chance to go to the bookstore on Saturday and yay, not only did I get my cafe mocha but I also found the latest issue of Mystery Scene magazine. I’ve read quite a few good mysteries lately that I need to tell you about but as you can never have enough mysteries I managed to add a few new ones to my list.

Before I tell you about those though has anyone checked out any mysteries from Rue Morgue Press? I saw an ad in the magazine for this press and would love to try out some of these classics from the Golden Age of detective fiction. Just don’t know where to start. I remember there used to be a great catalog (the name escapes me right now) which offered a lot of classic mysteries too, but it’s been years since that’s been published. I miss that one.

Anyway, here are the books I’ve added to my list:

• Death Of A Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliett. There’s an article in the magazine about this author and the book has won and been nominated for lots of awards so I don’t think I could go wrong with it.
• Blacklands by Belinda Bauer. This one is more of the psychological suspense kind which I don’t often read but you know, every once in a while you need a thrill.
• The Serpent Pool by Martin Edwards. Featuring an Oxford University historian and amateur sleuth. Actually, I’d probably start with the first one in the series but this is one to watch.

For now I’m in Venice with Commissario Guido Brunetti as he solves a case in Quietly In Their Sleep. This is another of my favorite series and I believe a new Donna Leon book is coming out this May. More for the list.

It’s April and that means it’s time to say Happy National Poetry Month everyone! I really enjoy poetry but of course I tend to read a lot more novels so for me a month celebrating poetry is a good reminder to read more poems.

You can find a lot of wonderful links at Poets, The Poetry Foundation and this year Serena from Savvy Verse & Wit is hosting a Poetry Month blog tour. How cool is that.

So I hope you’ll also find ways to include a bit more poetry in your life. I’d love to hear if you are planning to go to a reading, write some poetry yourself or maybe discover a new poet. Tell me. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a little poem from Emily Dickinson which I think you’ll love.

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away,
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears a Human soul.

Oh and guess what? I’m just finishing up a very fun mystery Quieter Than Sleep by Joanne Dobson which is billed as a modern mystery of Emily Dickinson. I definitely tell you more about it later.