friday book review: runcie and ruby

I finished The shadow of death, James Runcie's collection of long short stories about crime-solving clerical detective Sidney Chambers.Really enjoyable, cosy-crime fluff on the surface, but actually some series themes about morals and religion ( without being preachy) underneath.

After I read a  book these days, I go over to the goodreads site to read other people's reviews of it.

Many readers compared Runcie to Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe novels in their gentle tone. I've only read the first AMS  but sort of agree, using my limited experience of his writing.

The other series Runcie was compared to was the Flavia de Luce books. I'd never heard of these and they sound like my kind of thing so I've reserved the first one from work. Has anyone else read the Flavia series?

Now I'm reading Behind the scenes at the museum.


Of course it is as wonderful as everyone says. I've read all Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series and loved them: this is just as good. BTSATM reminds me a lot of the early Fay Weldon novels I devoured throughout my early 20s/university years. I'm thinking of Praxis and Puffball.

The book had me from the first: it is set in York ( I place I loved when I went there long ago), and there have been a couple of references to the lost Roman legion that marched thorough there, never to be seen again... how could I not love it after that Eagle of the Ninth reference?

Now I am going to go and do something about the headache pounding my head after a loooooong and frustrating conversation with a total dill from the Australian Tax Office this morning. I am speechless about the wrong information I was given. Unbelievable stuff.

In passing, just to say if there isn't a Tardis, a Doctor Who and Harry Potter running/flying around during the opening ceremony of the Olympic games tomorrow I am going to feel VERY ripped off.