Musing Monday...The Sober Edition

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Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week… 
 • Describe one of your reading habits. 
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s). 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.

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OK, I am a little depressed this morning.
We flew home from Cancun yesterday.

Now don't get me wrong.
I actually like the colder weather here and I am sorry I missed what little snow we got.
But..

There is no pool here, no palm trees, no sandy beach or gentle waves.
No one to clean my room every morning, fresh towels, no one to make up my poolside lounge chair with a crisp white towel, one perfectly rolled up to fit under my neck, to adjust the umbrella so my delicate skin did not burn or to bring me a cold beverage if needed.
No one to open the doors as I approach, greeting me by name.
No club lounge with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and dessert and cordials.

And all the free booze you can drink.
We will NOT go into the one night I overindulged in that benefit.

But I digress.
This is about books!

And I did read several books this week, in between naps poolside and getting distracted by the view of the beach as I sat on my balcony. Still I finished about three..maybe four...books this week, still deeply in my Inspector Bank obsession.
Yes, working my way, shockingly, backward.

I am back to book ten now, In a Dry Season, but I realize I am going to run into a problem soon since the earliest books are not available as e-books.

As much problem as I have with e-books, and I have discussed that in the past, you can not disagree that they are deal for a vacation. It is wonderful to be able to go online and buy yourself another book. An e-reader is so easily slipped into you beach bag.
And there is no way I could have fit 3 or 4 books in my suitcase. I would not have been able to fit in my tasteful souvenirs or my bottle of, as Sandy would call it,  an Adult Mexican beverage.

Which I may have to give away, since after that evening I mentioned above, I think I will stick to ice water and Sprite Zero in the future.

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review of Sworn To Silence

Sworn To Silence by Linda Castillo (Minotaur Books, ISBN 031237497)

With the publication of the newly released Sworn To Silence, we lovers of police procedurals and thrillers have what is hopefully the first in an exciting, solid, new series.

When on routine patrol, Officer T.J.Banks finds the horribly mutilated body of a young woman abandoned in the snow, most believe that the serial killer that terrorized the rural Ohio community of Painter's Mill 16 year ago has returned. After killing four young women, the killer simply stopped, disappeared, while the police had few clues to his identity. But Chief of Police Kate Burkholder believes that she knows better.

As more girls disappear, the small town is racked with fear. The victims include both Amish, who make up about a third of the population, and their 'English" neighbors. While the town council is concerned about the competence of the new Chief, anxious that the tourists that visit will be scared away, Kate Burkholder is in a unique position to investigate a crime in this community. Raised in one of the local Amish families, she choose as a young person to leave the religious community, moved to the city, became a police officer and is now back as the chief. Though shunned by her family, she and they share a secret and a unique perspective on the deaths.

"Is he back Katie?"
The question startles me, but I know I'll hear it again in the coming days. It's a question I don't want to ponder. But Issac remembers what happened 16 years ago . I was only 14 at the time, but I remember, too. "I don't know."
But I am lying. I know the person who killed that girl is not the same man who raped and murdered four young women sixteen years ago.
I know because I killed him.

Do not be concerned that quote is giving too much away, because that is revealed very early in the book. But there is much more to be learned about Kate and the events that shaped her many years ago and how it all ties into what is happening in the present day.

Sworn To Silence is a fast paced, well written thriller that held my attention from the opening line to the very last page. The bucolic setting, with a good bit of information about the Amish, is certainly a positive feature. The book introduces us to some excellent characters as well, including the flawed but intelligent Chief, a budding romance with the dark and very troubled FBI Agent John Tomasetti and a well portrayed and often amusing supporting cast. I hope if this becomes a series for Ms. Castillo, and I certainly hope it does, we have not seen the last of T.J, Mona, and Glock. You have to love a character named after a high quality semi-automatic handgun! I will warn you that there are some very strong, even gruesome scenes in the book, but personally I think that adds to what makes this a compelling and very enjoyable book.

Check out these other reviews...
On My Bookshelf
Julie's Jewels
Book Reader's Heaven
The Novel Bookworm