The series would be better if I read the books in order. But, this was still a good read. Enjoyed the efforts the sheriff has to put in to get the crimes solved. Could have done with a little less narration about how long it takes to drive hither and yon.

Gough provides plenty of illustrations, which is great in a craft book. I had no problem following along as I practiced the different knots and techniques. Ditto for the project ideas. She uses a clear difficulty rating system in the project ideas section. My two complaints: 1. The project ideas section does not start simple and build to more difficult projects. The first project idea is a 2/4 difficulty. The next project is 3/4. And then the third project is 1/4. 2. She uses projects for practice in the knot sections. These projects are not rated for difficulty, only the projects in the actual Project Ideas section. I thought some of the knot practice projects were pretty complex.

Entangled Life is not a quick read, but went faster than I expected. I don’t know much about mushrooms, lichen, etc. This is very sciency, but clear. I can promise how much I’ll remember. The chapter on radical mycology — using fungi to help break down litter like used diapers, cigarette butts, even some plastics — is probably the most worth reading.

Easy read, fun book

The story was set in the 1960's after the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and before the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet spy who defected brought along his wife and daughter. It was amusing to read of how much the women loved being able to buy nice clothes and wear makeup. There was no way they would have returned to the Soviet Union.

I picked this book up at the campground store and thoroughly enjoyed it. My only complaint is that it is a bit dry in its detail but it was interesting to read about the women who so bravely helped to colonize the Kentucky wilderness,

If you like Lee Child.

Very good story by a master storyteller. Mixed fiction with fact, and made me want to watch a baseball game.

Happy Rock, OR, is the stereotypical small town found in books and sitcoms created by native NYCers. Everyone is quirky. There is exactly one of every type of business (even florist when there can’t be enough sales to keep it afloat), all locally-owned by the same families for at least 3 generations. Everything is in easy walking distance, except the big city which is an hour’s drive. And there are no possible secrets. Enter Hollywood has-been Miranda, former star of an 80s(?) mystery show. She’s broke and forgotten, but delusional that she’s still entitled to full star treatment. The first half of the book is dull exposition in flashbacks, reminiscences, and awkward character introductions. The authors start promising there is a murder coming at about the 40% point. They do not bother with subtle foreshadowing, going more for pleading readers to stick around. The actual murder happens at 64%. wow. Miranda believes she was the intended victim and pretty much accuses all of the other characters, mostly based on her “humorous” misunderstanding of these characters based on the how they were all initially (mis)introduced — to Miranda and to readers. Eventually she gets it right in the lamest drawing room reveal scene ever. And we know self-centered Miranda has grown as person because she doesn’t rush back to LA at the end. It’s the worst Hallmark movie tropes forcibly merged into the blandest cozy.

Confusing, tedious, annoying read. Life after Life will be interesting only to someone equally fascinated by multiverse theory of time and everyday life in the first half of the 20th century. Ursula is born, but immediately dies, in 1911. Ursula is born in 1911, but drowns in early childhood. She falls off of the roof. She dies of Spanish flu (several times). Ursula doesn’t know why, just knows she must stop the housemaid from going to London to celebrate the end of the Great War (the maid will catch the flu in the crowds and bring it back). Ursula finally survives 1918, but is raped at 16 and eventually beaten to death by an abusive husband. It’s almost a relief when Ursula makes it to WWII, but then her story is just variations on death in the Blitz. I guess if you have always looked at death stats in various years and wished you could read a narrative to really understand beyond the numbers, you might enjoy this book.