The Red Door by Charles Todd

This is an Ian Rutledge Mystery. Rutledge is an inspector who is still fighting the emotional and psychological demons of World War I. This mystery begins with the disappearance of a missionary, Walter Teller. Teller had become ill and was taken to a London hospital. When his wife finally took a break from his bedside, he got dressed and walked away. Rutledge questions the Teller siblings, including brother Peter Teller. Walter shows up again. Case resolved. Then Rutledge is brought in on the murder of a Florence Teller who had been married to a Peter Teller. Her husband had gone off to war and as she waited for him to return, she painted the front door red as a welcome sign for him. But he never returns.
This is a typical English mystery. There are lots of red herrings and we never know where the story is going to lead. The characters are well-defined and interesting, if not particularly likable.
I listened to the audio book (which was very well done) but we also own the book. If you are a fan of this genre you will like it a lot. If you aren't - find something else to read and you will be happier!

The Unbearable Lightness of Scones by Alexander McCall Smith

This is another installment of the series called 44 Scotland Street, set in Edinburgh. I have never read any of the print books - just listened to the audio versions, and the reader does a terrific job with the different voices. These books are a bit like a soap opera. There is a cast of characters whose lives we follow. My favorite is precocious 6 year old Bertie with his overbearing mother and spineless father. Of course I also love Cyril ( in the last book he was involved in an unplanned pregnancy). In this book Cyril's owner, Angus, is trying to find homes for all the puppies. Mathew has gotten married and is trying to get used to having a partner that impacts his daily life. I find these books to be a wonderful escape from the heavier books I usually read.
If this sounds like something you would enjoy, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning of the series and read them in order. I am not usually rigid in reading books in order, but you really need to in order to follow the adventures of all of the characters.

Trade-Off: Why Some Things Catch On and Other's Don't by Kevin Maney 338 Man

Although not everyone's taste, I love this type of book! I read it because it is interesting but I think it would be invaluable to anyone in business. He explains that everything comes down to fidelity (ego stuff!) and convenience (how easy it is to get or use the product or service). Maney uses a lot of examples with which are all familiar. When Starbucks became famous it had fidelity. People were happy to spend lots of money on fancy coffee when they could name-drop Starbucks or silently carry the easily recognizable cup around. Starbucks became so successful that there seemed to be a Starbucks on every corner in every city. Now everyone has access to it - and its fidelity factor has plummeted. People don't go to McDonald's for fidelity. You won't find anyone over the age of 5 who is impressed that you ate at Mickey D's last night! People eat there because it is easy to eat there. In this case it is good that there are lots of golden arches!
He covers lots of subjects - Kindles, Ivy League colleges, fashion, newspapers. Failures such as New Coke (worse decision ever- why didn't they ask me first????) and some Apple products I don't even remember are discussed.
I think we can all learn some life lessons from this book! Wouldn't it be nice to know that our friends spent time with us because of fidelity instead of convenience!

The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers

This one is a great debut novel. The book spans about 3 decades. Lulu is looking forward to her tenth birthday. She is watching over her five year old sister while her mom rests. A pounding at the door send fear into Lulu. It is her father - and he's been drinking. His wife had kicked him out and he wants to come back. Lulu's mother had warned her not to let her father in if he showed up. But she is only a child and it's her father who is telling her that it is okay to open the door. If you paid attention to the title you know what happens next. The story is about these two sister and the fallout of that fateful day. The characters have a lot of depth and were interesting. I found the psychological aspects of the book fascinating. Once you start this book you won't want to put it down. I look forward to more novels by this author.

The Truth about Psychics by Sylvia Browne 133.8 Bro

That I am blogging about two psychic books in one sitting is merely a coincidence! And the truth is - I didn't really read this one from cover to cover. I only read the parts that appealed to me. She covers different religious beliefs from around the world, different types of readings (numerology, tea leaves, etc), Spirit Guides, how to tell a fake psychic and how to develop your own psychic abilities to a higher level. Again - this isn't a book for everyone, but if you are a Sylvia Browne fan I thought you would want to know that there is a new one.

The Orphaned Adult by Alexander Levy 155.937 Lev

Another book bought by Hospice. This one has no psychics in it! I became an orphan at the age of 59. There are many things in the book that I had already noticed or had thought about. It made me feel better to know that I was "normal" and like many other orphans. There were many lines in the book that really caught my attention. "Perhaps death of parents in adulthood is the midlife crisis" "Perhaps only after parents have died can people find out what they are going to be when they grow up." There are many stories in the book to illustrate his ideas. This is not at all a dry textbook type publication. It reads very easily - I just couldn't sit down and read it straight through like a mystery! These books do not appeal to everyone. But if you are in this position and want some insight into the situation, this is a good one.

Healing Grief by James Van Praagh 155.937

We received a generous amount of money from Hospice to purchase some new books dealing with end-of-life issues and grieving. I think I have read all of Van Praagh's other books, so I had to have a look at this one too. If you don't know who Van Praagh is, let me tell you that he is a famous psychic medium. That should give you a hint as to whether or not you would like the book. I am a believer in the afterlife and in the mediums that communicate with those who have passed over - so I really liked the book. He combines some concrete ideas on how to grieve with stories of readings he has done. I find it comforting! If you are not fascinated with this type of thing you will not like this book!