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Winter Solitude

by Matsuo Basho

Winter solitude –
in a world of one color
the sound of wind.
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I've you're following my posts you'll know I'm racing through the Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes stories at the mo. Dreaming Spies features Japan and some of Matsuo Basho's haikus, so here's one about winter for you. Deceptively simple, yet paints a picture of a 1000 words.
#Haiku #MysteryNovel #CrimeFiction

I can't get enough of this series at the moment. The long dark nights always have me racing through more books than usual as I try to keep the winter blues away. I love how involved the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes stories are and I usually learn something new from reading them too. I've just finished Garment of Shadows, set in 1920s Morocco and this is next - looks like they may be off to Japan but I'm not sure yet. #MysteryNovel #Mystery

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Popsugar Challenge #29

Set in Japan and England, this is an interesting addition to the series in that it jumps back to events that took place between books 7&8 then forward to events after books 9-12. Not to mention Sherlock Holmes meets ninjas. Maybe one of the weaker books overall, but I have a soft spot for it.

#mystery #sherlock #series #audio #libby #librarybooks #litsyloveslibraries

This Mary Russell + Sherlock Holmes mystery that happens mainly in #japan . In it they meet the Crown Prince Hirohito and help out with some royal intrigue.

We have no dreaming spires to be taken for Oxford, but Portland can put together a divine sunset!!
Reread this book last night and this morning. A dashing plot and fun setting in Japan and Oxford.

#nofilter #pdx #mystery #comfortreads

Challenge 19 of 50: A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics

Most of the action of this book is set in Japan, though a small portion of the frame story takes place in Britain. This is book #13 in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mysteries and is a solid addition to the series.

#popsugar #readingchallenge #2020 #mystery #series #sherlockholmes

Finished today! Can't believe I've read 13 books from this series. They are just so reliably good (for the most part). This one has an interesting timeline structure and fun characters, and Mary is a bit more nuanced than usual. It picked up speed in the 2nd half, but felt like the author crammed in some of the best stuff in a rush (like, all the actual sleuthing!).

Scattered poetry
Inspiring my own haikus
An elegant touch

Another book where they meet a historical figure. This time Emperor Hirohito. Reading while waiting for my boys at the dentist. #summervacationchores

TBR question today: what was your latest impulse buy
I just grabbed this book without really looking or reading the blurb. Hopefully it‘s good! 🤞🏼

I have a friend asking me daily questions about my TBR pile so I‘m encouraged to read from it more.

I was going to bake cookies, but now I think maybe I'll just stay here all day...

So... the mystery book club met last night, and nobody else liked this book, but I did! Perhaps because I'm not that invested in Holmes, it didn't bother me that he played a smaller role in the book. Mary Russell is an intriguing character on her own. I also liked the story that took place aboard a ship, in Japan (the most compelling part IMO), and finally in Oxford. Ms. King thoughtfully included footnotes to other books in the series as needed!

Here are some of the books I #wanttoreadinDec with varying degrees of completion and enthusiasm. I once again painted myself into a reading corner what with book club picks, the #readharderchallege tasks, and my general distractibility; I will be hard pressed to meet my reading goals for the year, but I'll soldier on as best I can! @RealLifeReading #seasonsreadings2016

Enjoyable series with Sherlock Holmes' wife Mary Russell as the central character. Fantastic mysteries. One can never go wrong with Sherlock Holmes; whatever his reimagining.

Evening reading.
#readeverydayeverywhere