‘Blithe Spirit’ concerns a ghost called Mandy who was formerly an assistant to a junior minister in the Department of Health. This is a ghost story, which I always enjoy and the writing is lovely. Mandy is a low level employee is the Ministry of Health and I won't tell you how she died. Actually she is not all that sure of that or anything. She is waiting for someone to mentor her in her new state and that doesn't happen. This is pretty delightful and has the happiest ending you can imagine for an English ghost.
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I haven't read this collection - I read her early one - but it sounds good. I have quite a few collections on hand at the moment. One I will finish today:
Jennifer Rowe, DEATH IN STORE. A paperback edition (there was a hardback) of Aussie author's collection of 8 stories about her amateur sleuth, Verity (Birdie) Birdwood. George recommended this one several weeks ago and I bought a cheap copy. Frankly, there are several things about it I don't care for. 1. There is NO table of contents. There are 8 stories - the back cover says so - but you have to page (or fan) through the book to find the beginning and end, how long they are, etc. I don't like that. 2. The main character and her annoying best friend. Birdie is basically a colorless character to me, kind of an obnoxious woman - though I find her friend much worse. She does solve the mysteries, of course. The settings are various places around Australia, centered on Sydney but also in country towns, usually in hot weather. I have only the title, Christmas, story left to read.
Graham Swift, ENGLAND AND OTHER STORIES. His second collection (2014; there is a third coming this year) has 25 short stories (so, none too long). In "Remember This" a young couple in their mid-twenties, just married, does the unusual and makes out their wills. That night he writes a short but fervent love letter to his wife, but he never gives it to her, and we learn that they separate several years later. It almost seems a part of something longer.
As if often to case. Writers use shorts to try out the characters, I think. Or the storyline. Swift is good.
Good morning, I have one up for this week: https://casualdebris.blogspot.com/2025/01/casual-shorts-isfdb-top-short-fiction.html
I do like Atkinson's work, Patti. I have to admit I've not read her short stories, but I can see hot they might be compelling!
Diane's Book Club has read several of Atkinson's books and enjoyed them.
I have put this one on the wish list to get later in the year. I am sure I will like the stories. I have read all of the Jackson Brodie series except the most recent one.
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