Monday, September 10, 2012

Still Life With Murder




                                                
                                                                                Still Life With Murder

When governess Nell Sweeney is charged by her employer to solve a gruesome murder, she must confront her own past to find the answers.
  
Author: P.B. Ryan
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While the character of Nell is a little anachronistic in her knowledge of medical and police procedures, she is a likeable and believable heroine. This story is well written and features good characters with depth and complexity. There is excellent use of language and the writing is well edited. Best of all, I didn't know whodunnit until the end - even my suspects were wrong! Book one of a series, but it stands alone and has a satisfactory conclusion. FREE ON KINDLE at the moment. Absolutely worth getting.

Caution (and mini-spoilers) - This book is not for the timid.  It describes American Civil-War era prisoner of war camps, details of drug use, bloody murder, marital infidelity, and prostitution.  If any of this offends you or makes you shy away, you may want to pass on this one.



Sunday, September 9, 2012

Amazing art for an amazing story!

The Phoenix Requiem: Volume One
The Phoenix Requiem



When children find a wounded man in the snow during a festival, the village nurse, Anya, must fill in for the absent doctor. Once healed, the man presents a fascinating enigma: he is both courteous and gentlemanly, but also makes casual references to his own madness and time spent in an asylum. Anya finds herself drawn in to solving the mystery of her patient, and how he is connected to a strange rotting plague that is spreading quickly from town to town.

Author: Sarah Ellerton
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Once again, Sarah Ellerton's artwork and story-crafting skills truly shine. After following this webcomic since its first pages, it is a delight to have my own hardcopy. The interactions among the characters, and the complexity of the world make for a fascinating read, while the illustrations bring everything to life.