I was feeling kind of blah today and it probably didn’t help that I had to listen to some of my friends and co-workers talk about vacations. I won’t be taking a vacation for a while yet so I was just feeling a tiny bit jealous. Sigh. So to get out of my blah mood I went to the library and checked out the list of new books.
Here are some of the titles I’m looking forward to:

• In the Tenth House by Laura Dietz. From Booklist: This unusual literary gothic centers on late Victorian society’s fascination with spiritualism. Dr. Ambrose Gennett takes a progressive approach to mental illness with his psychoanalytic experiments, which alarms his more tradition-bound colleagues. Oh, spiritualism and Victorian times are my kind of thing.
• Consequences by Penelope Lively. From Booklist: The historical event around which this judiciously crafted family saga revolves is the chaotic Battle of Crete, in 1941, which resulted in an Allied defeat, and, in Lively’s sensitive rendering, the death of her artist hero. I really liked The Photograph by Lively and haven’t read anything else by her so I’d like to remedy that.
• A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evans. From Booklist: Perched precariously on the precipice between horror and psychological drama, Evans’ first novel explores the notions of demons–how real they are and how real we are able to make them. I like scary stories.
• Imposture by Benjamin Markovits. From Publishers Weekly: Bookish Eliza Esmond, having forever lived in the shadow of her prettier sister, has a chance encounter with famed writer and legendary lover Lord Byron outside a London bookstore and is thrilled when their brief conversation turns, over time, into his pursuit of her. Who doesn’t love reading about bookish heroines?

These are just some of the books that I’ll be eagerly awaiting. What about you? Any books you are looking forward to this Summer?

My mood is much improved and I did check out one book. I know, I’m showing a lot of restraint aren’t I? I got Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda.

I had a great weekend of reading and finished two books, which I promise to tell you about tomorrow. I need to collect my thoughts a bit. Of course this meant I should start a new book and I picked up my first selection for the Summer Mystery Reading Challenge.

I selected, The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. The book is supposed to be about a family of private investigators and the main character, Izzy Spellman, is described as a cross between Dirty Harry and Nancy Drew. That sounds highly promising doesn’t it? Well, there are some funny scenes but I’m halfway through the book and I still don’t really see the BIG mystery. Where are the dead bodies? Where are the clues? I don’t think it’ll take me much longer to finish the book so stay tuned for a review.

For those of you who are participating in the mystery challenge, or simply enjoy a good mystery, have you checked out ClueLass? Oh wow, it’s a great source for mystery news and if you check the BloodStained Bookshelf you’ll find a listing of all upcoming mystery releases.