I really meant to post on these great mysteries last night but I was glued to the NPR site waiting to hear the outcome of the election. Such a thrill!

And, speaking of thrills, how about some good mysteries to add to your must read list? I’ve finished several over the past couple of weeks and I know I’ve mentioned them here and there but now it’s time for a bit more on them:

First up is the wonderful follow-up novel by Clare Langley-Hawthorne, The Serpent and the Scorpion. Last year I picked up the first Ursula Marlow book without really having heard much about it. All I knew was that it featured a strong woman sleuth and it was set in Edwardian times. That was enough for me. As you can see in my review it didn’t disappoint and I was eagerly awaiting the next one. When Clare contacted me to ask me if I’d like a review copy of her latest book, I jumped on that chance.

In this book, again Ursula struggles with what society dictates of her and her own wishes. I really enjoyed reading about her passion for her causes and her determination. Of course there is also a murder mystery in this book involving one of Ursula’s friends. Here’s my full review.

I think that what is notable in this series, is that I’m not just reading it for the mystery but to get a taste of women’s history. A great read and of course now I can’t wait until the next one.

Another good story was Funeral Music by Morag Joss. While the mystery wasn’t necessarily what I found to be the driving force behind this story I liked the characterizations, especially Sara the main character who has been going through an emotional breakdown. Not to mention that the city of Bath presents a wonderful setting for this mystery, I’ll leave you with a quote from the book and here’s my full review:

“She much preferred the daytime calm of the Pump Room, the white-clad tea tables under the chandelier, the fountain where the water was still pumped up for a pound a glass, the window with its view down to the hot, bubbling bath below. And although one could no longer enjoy the diverting sight of floating invalids bobbing scrofulosly in the healing waters, it was amusing to watch the happy trespass of the tourists, with their camcorders, phoney university sweatshirts and sweat suits, upon the late-eighteenth-century gentility of it all.”

Last but not least, Dead of the Day is the third book in the Annie Seymour series. Author Karen E. Olson doesn’t disappoint with this entry at all, in fact I think it is the strongest one in the series yet. The whole mystery is much more complex web and to top if off Annie also is dealing with some personal issues. Here’s my full review.

I’m very excited that Karen will be doing a guest blog post here next week so please check back for that. In the meantime how about I leave with a teaser for her new book, Shot Girl:

“He looked better dead than alive. Can’t say that about many people. He seemed to be merely resting on his stomach on the sidewalk amid some cigarette butts and a broken martini glass, like he’d just lain down for a quick nap but hadn’t yet fallen asleep. His arms were twisted underneath him, his knees slightly bent in different directions, and his head turned to one side; a green olive looked like a growth off the top of his nose. It creeped me out. But it was like one of those train wrecks people are always talking about – I couldn’t stop staring. And as I looked more closely, I noticed what was conspicuously missing.”

Now, I’m off to spend some time on The Hidden Staircase. I just discovered this web site full of mystery reviews.

I had hoped to get to some reviews today but I’ve been busy bookbinding so the reviews will have to wait until tomorrow. I’ve been reading some great mysteries so stay tuned for that. The bookbinding has been going well, and wish me luck as I’m hoping to have some of my Bookgirl’s Studio creations at a local shop. I finished 12 books and will find out later this week if that will work out.

But, I do have lots of things to tell you about because there’s so much good stuff around the blogosphere. So here are some links for you:

• The November edition of Estella’s Revenge is out. Reviews, interviews and an article on 10 bookish things to be grateful for. Can’t wait to read it all.
• The Slaves of Golconda are reading Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson for the January discussion. Lots of time to get that in before the discussion. I’ve never read anything by Winterson and she happens to be one of those writers I’ve always been a bit hesitant to try so I’m really looking forward to this book.
• How about making 2009 be the Year of Readers? Jodie is putting together this international read-a-thon which lets all of us readers do something good while we are enjoying lots of good books. Visit the blog and see what it’s all about.
• Think literary fiction is always depressing? Well, spend some time browsing Positively Good Reads which connects you to feel-good fiction with substance.
• Still want more book reviews? Of course you do. Check out Paperback Frenzy for the scoop on books.
• For those of you who love historical fiction the new copy of Bookmarks Magazine has a great article on Masters of the Past. Oh my reading list is going to explode.

For now, I’m going to spend some time on the Barnes & Noble web site. My husband and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary today and he got me a gift certificate to B&N. Isn’t he great?

I look forward to catching up on my blog reading tomorrow. I feel so behind. What have I missed?