Faceless Killers (Wallander Mystery)

By Henning Mankell

Kurt Wallander, a Swedish detective, is called out to a small farmhouse.  There he finds an elderly couple, the husband beaten to death, and the wife left to die with a noose around her neck.  Before she dies, the wife says the word "foreign" over &over again. Why would anyone want to kill these old people in such a brutal way?  Were foreign refugees really to blame for all this violence?

Can't say I loved or hated this book.  The main story was good, but something was lost in the translation.  Why I needed to know that Wallander had roaring diarrhea after every lunch still baffles me...

Mrs. Pollifax Pursued

By Dorothy Gilman

Mrs. Pollifax discovers Kadi Hopkirk, a young girl who has been hiding in her hall closet. After hearing a weird story of Kadi running from kidnappers, and seeing a suspicious white van driving up & down the street for hours, Mrs. Pollifax jumps to the rescue. A phone call helicopter ride later, Mrs. Pollifax and Kadi go undercover at a circus until they can figure what's going on.

I like series that you can jump in the middle of and not be completely confused.  Good thing this storyline is good, because I had no idea this was number eleven.

The Keepers of the House

By Shirley Ann Grau

For seven generations, the Howlands have been the pillars of their Southern town.  But when Abigail Howland Mason discovers the secret between her grandfather, William, and Margaret, his black housekeeper, racism and revenge surround her home and family.  But Abigail is not going down without a fight.

Excellent book -- it deserved the Pulitzer Prize in 1965. The ending is especially good.

Seriously... I'm Kidding

By Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen being Ellen... I discovered that even a book on tape is not as funny as listening to a standup routine.  A few funny moments, but I'm glad I borrowed this from the library for free.

Thyme of Death (China Bayles Mystery)

By Susan Wittig Albert

China Bayles, a former lawyer, now owns the Thyme and Seasons Herb Shop in Pecan Springs, Texas. She's trying to escape the tension and headaches of her old job, but stress comes in different forms. Now, her good friend Jo has killed herself.  When another death happens, China starts to think the maybe someone killed Jo as well. She's smart around people, and knows her way around the law, so this is the first mystery heroine in a while that didn't stumble around until she figured out whodunit.