dancingpony

Book Bingo 2026: Published in the 1900s

dancingpony — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:34:56 GMT

Cats in the Belfry by Doreen Tovey

Animal lovers Doreen and Charles Tovey were used to opening their doors to various pets: from Shorty, the highly-strung budgerigar to Blondin, a mischievous squirrel.

They had never been enamoured with cats, but when their country home became overrun with mice they decided to bring in a kitten.

But Siamese pedigrees are not like normal cats…

Before long Doreen’s world is turned upside down by the new arrival … and from that moment on she never looked back.

CATS IN THE BELFRY is the first of Doreen Tovey’s memoirs about living with Siamese cats: set in the British countryside, it is told with wit, mischief, and above all humour.

I came across this book in an odd way. I’d been watching the Amazon daily deals for quite a while, thinking I would eventually see one with a month in the title for a Book Bingo square. However, I hadn’t seen one, or at least one that appealed to me. Finally, I googled “books with a month in the title,” and up popped a list from Goodreads. I’d scrolled through about three pages of the list when a book called Cats in May caught my eye. I read the blurb on Amazon and thought it sounded fun, but it was the second book in a series … and I prefer not to read books from the middle of a series, even if I don’t intend to read the entire series. But then I noticed that, even though the books were adapted for Kindle in 2018, they were originally published in the mid-1900s.

Author Doreen Tovey — who lived most of her life in Somerset, England — wrote fourteen books about her life with Siamese cats. At various times, she was president of the Siamese Cat Club, president of the West of England Cat Club, and president of the RSPCA for North Somerset. Cats in the Belfry was her first book, and nine of the books are now available on Kindle. Cats in the Belfry was first published in 1958.

There’s not much to say about the plot of this book, other than it’s about “living with Siamese cats.” Tovey was probably more an accidental author than a professional one, writing with a folksy appeal that reminded me a bit of James Herriot and his All Creatures Great and Small series. Unlike Herriot, she tended to anthropomorphize her pets, translating the cats’ vocalizations — probably fairly accurately — into human words, which was both charming and humorous. The only minor criticism I’d make of her writing style is that she sometimes wrote very, very long sentences. Even with punctuation (including colons, dashes, and semicolons) it occasionally became a litttle difficult to follow them.

This book wasn’t great literature, but it was light and enjoyable. It was certainly a refreshing break from more intense reading and from the depressing reality of the daily news. I think most cat lovers would get quite a few smiles from it. And I might even eventually read the next book in the series if I can’t find an alternative title with a month in the title.

Book Bingo 2026: Train on the Cover

dancingpony — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:35:29 GMT

Around The World In Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Jules Verne's race-against-time adventure exactly as readers first discovered it in 1872—complete, unabridged, and brought to life with over 50 original illustrations from the classic 1873 James R. Osgood edition that capture Phileas Fogg's extraordinary journey around the globe.

When precise English gentleman Phileas Fogg makes an extraordinary £20,000 wager that he can circle the globe in just eighty days, he embarks on a thrilling race against time with his loyal French valet Passepartout. From London to Suez, across India by elephant, through China and Japan, and across the American frontier, Fogg faces obstacles at every turn—missed trains, natural disasters, and a determined detective convinced Fogg is a bank robber. With each delay threatening their carefully calculated schedule, can Fogg prove that determination and resourcefulness can overcome any obstacle and make it back to London before time runs out?

I came across this book while I was searching for a book with a train on the cover for Book Bingo. I’d seen the 1956 movie many decades ago but remembered only a little about the storyline. I’d never read the book. And since the book has long been in the public domain, even this illustrated Kindle edition was only ninety-nine cents.

As everyone probably knows, this is an adventure story. It’s told from a third person semi-omniscient perspective, mostly focused on three characters: Fogg, an unflappable and phlegmatic British gentleman; Passepartout, his French servant; and Fix, a detective who believes Fogg’s trip around the world is a diversion to escape England after robbing a London bank. Most of the thoughts described were those of Passepartout, with a few of Fix added in sporadically. Fogg is portrayed mostly as an enigma whose thoughts (and feelings, if he has any) are a mystery to everyone.

The book contains quite a bit of description of the places the main characters visit, although it’s interesting and not (often) overdone. There’s some fairly detailed description of nineteenth century modes of transportation — much of which was probably unknown to readers of that time period and, therefore, interesting and informative even if it seems antiquated now. There’s also a smattering of non-objective “history” (more on that in the next paragraph). Unlike the movie, the book isn’t comedic, but it’s still easy to read and fairly light-hearted — despite the amount of danger and, sometimes, bloodshed involved in the main characters’ travels.

I found Around the World in Eighty Days to be well-written and enjoyable, with one caveat. The book, having been published in 1872, was written with the casual assumption of superiority common of caucasian people of the mid-nineteenth century toward members of other cultures and other races — particularly Africans, Asians and American Indians (the term used in that time period and in the book). Further, although Jules Verne was a French rather than a British novelist, the main characters espoused the common sentiments of the time period regarding British colonization of more “primitive” and “savage” lands. Obviously, if such a book were published in the twenty-first century, it would be condemned as intolerably racist. However, when one reads a book published in 1872, that’s what one is going to get. It would be no more possible to rewrite the story with more enlightened cultural views than with modern transportation systems.

I think anyone who enjoyed the movie would find the book quite interesting, despite the caveat in the paragraph above.

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:03:58 GMT

Challenge words: Bit, Last, Lawyer, Skid, Translate, Wave

“I’m on the last section.” Napoleon’s pencil tapped on the report form. “The part after I used Miss Chang’s Porsche for our getaway and skidded into a pole.”

“You were injured by the impact?”

“No. And she waved over a cop car, so the Thrushies fled.”

“Then how—”

“She started screaming, mostly in Chinese — something about her lawyer — but you weren’t there to translate.”

“You insisted on going in … solo.”

“A mistake,” Napoleon admited, shifting the ice pack covering his black eye. “She was a bit, ah, peeved about the damage to her car.”

Advice from the Cat #18

dancingpony — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:28:10 GMT

Tomorrow is another day.

Book Bingo 2026: Color in the Title

dancingpony — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:32:48 GMT

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland

The New York Times bestselling luminous tale about art and human experience that is as breathtaking as any Vermeer painting.

A professor invites a colleague from the art department to his home to see a painting that he has kept secret for decades. The professor swears it is a Vermeer—why has he hidden this important work for so long? The reasons unfold in a series of stories that trace ownership of the painting back to World War II and Amsterdam, and still further back to the moment of the work’s inspiration. As the painting moves through each owner’s hands, what was long hidden quietly surfaces, illuminating poignant moments in human lives. Vreeland’s characters remind us, through their love of the mysterious painting, how beauty transforms and why we reach for it, what lasts, and what in our lives is singular and unforgettable.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue appeared on my list of Amazon daily deals while I was searching for a book with a color in the title for Book Bingo. I downloaded and read the sample, which was compelling enough for me to buy the (inexpensive) book. I should note, though, that I almost didn’t get more than a few pages into the sample. The opening seemed awkward to me, and I almost stopped reading, thinking the writing style would be too flowery for my taste. However, that impression only lasted until the point-of-view character moved from a a brief period of introspection to an interaction with another character.

Susan Vreeland was an author of historical fiction, often focusing on the art world. Girl in Hyacinth Blue is close to, but not exactly, an anthology. Instead of an unrelated series of stories, it’s a series of stories linked by the point-of-view characters’ temporary ownership of, or interaction with, a beautiful (but fictional) painting by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. For anyone unfamiliar with Vermeer, he is considered one of the greatest masters of the Dutch Baroque period. He lived much of his life on the edge of poverty and produced only a few dozen known paintings, but he is now famous for his use of light and application of color. If Girl in Hyacinth Blue, the painting, actually existed and was proven to be a Vermeer, it would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Each story in this book is an excerpt from the lives of fictional people who interacted with the fictional Vermeer painting. The stories begin in roughly the present time and move backward through the painting’s inspiration and creation in the late seventeenth century. Some of the connections between successive point-of-view characters are clear and direct, and others are vague. Much of the criticism I read of the book, after I finished it, mentioned the lack of cohesiveness between some of the stories, which is something I noticed but which didn’t particularly bother me.

The writing of the book is superb, even beautiful. There is a bit more descriptive prose than I sometimes prefer, but it’s necessary in this case. The painting passes through numerous locations and time periods, and there have to be description for each of them. The author also did an excellent job of creating snapshots of intriguing characters; there’s a depth of feeling you don’t often find in short stories.

Some of the characters in the book are not nice people, but most are written in such a way as to make it possible to feel at least a little sympathy for them and/or their circumstances. Some of the characters inspire much more than a little sympathy. None of the stories are completely happy ones, at least at the time the point-of-view characters are portrayed. Many of the characters are struggling with personal or societal issues beyond their control. Most of the point-of-view characters are at a low point in their lives. Some, the reader knows via historical context, will soon get to an even lower point. Some of their stories are quite tragic.

I’m not sure what the blurb means by “what was long hidden quietly surfaces” so take that sentence with a grain of salt. I think that’s just the blurb writer trying to be mysterious in writing about a book that’s not really a mystery. The reader might wonder what’s going to happen to a few of the characters but, for the most part, it’s pretty clear.

As far as a recommendation … it depends. This isn’t what I would call an enjoyable book. Compelling, yes. Interesting, yes. Well-written, yes. But certainly not fun or relaxing. I’m glad I read it, but it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea and, even though I may well look into more of Vreeland’s work, I wouldn’t want a steady diet of this kind of book. I need something light and fun between more “heavy” reading.

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:59:00 GMT

Challenge words: hallway, nominate, qualifications, relinquish, wait, water

I stumble beside the gurney as it rushes from hallway to treatment room, refusing to relinquish my grip on a chilled, limp hand.

A nurse nudges me back toward the curtained doorway, her shocked gaze skimming down my dripping clothes to the red-tinged water puddling at my feet. “Please wait outside, sir. You’re in our way.”

The doctor at this tiny hospital will never be nominated for Surgeon General but surely has the qualifications to care for a critically injured man.

I have only an overwhelming conviction my partner will slip away without me beside him, anchoring him to life.

Happy Birthday, nakeisha

dancingpony — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:32:11 GMT

I hope you have a lovely day.

Book Bingo 2026: Sea on Cover

dancingpony — Sun, 31 May 2026 20:06:32 GMT

Beachfront Bakery: A Killer Cupcake by Fiona Grace

Allison Sweet, 34, a sous chef in Los Angeles, has had it up to here with demeaning customers, her demanding boss, and her failed love life. After a shocking incident, she realizes the time has come to start life fresh and follow her lifelong dream of moving to a small town and opening a bakery of her own.

When Allison spots a charming, vacant storefront on the boardwalk near Venice, she wonders if she could really start life anew. Feeling like it's a sign, and a time to take a chance in life, she goes for it.

Yet Allison did not anticipate the wild ride ahead of her: the boardwalk, filled with fun and outrageous characters, is pulsing with life, from the Italian pizzeria owners on either side of her who vie for her affection, to the fortune tellers and scheming rival bakery owner nearby. Allison yearns to just focus on her delicious new pastry recipes and keep her struggling bakery afloat—but when a murder occurs right near her shop, everything changes.

Implicated, her entire future at stake, Allison has no choice but to investigate to clear her name. As an orphaned dog wanders into her life, a devoted new sidekick with a knack for solving mysteries, she starts her search.

Will they find the killer? And can her struggling bakery survive?

How many times have I said I’m going to stop downloading books just because they’re free? I’ve lost count but … more than a few. Yet I was scrolling through a list of Amazon deals recently, and I noticed this book, and it was free. It also had an impressive list of glowing recommendations in the “blurb” area, and it had many five star reviews. Plus, the cover picture was a cheerful beach scene, and I needed a book with “Sea or river on the cover” for Book Bingo, so I succumbed.

Before I get started reviewing the book, a few words about the blurb: At the beginning of the book, the main character — Allison Sweet — was not a sous chef. A position as a sous chef would imply a certain amount of authority and prestige. She was a patissier. A very well-educated patissier, and working for a high-end restaurant, but not in a position that befitted her extensive education, experience and skills. The blurb is inaccurate in several other details, but that is the most blaring. Now on to the review ….

I often read and enjoy cozy mysteries, and this book has a far-from-unique premise: A young woman, dissatisfied with her job and her love life, moves to a small town to open her own bakery, immediately becomes a suspect in a murder, and decides she needs to solve the case to protect herself. It’s been done many times before and I’m sure it will be done again. Whether it’s enjoyable depends on the skill of the author.

I will say that this author has good mechanical writing skills. Her grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and word usage are all above average for the genre. Fiona Grace also did a reasonably good job of creating an empathetic main character … although Ali Sweet grated on me after a while because she didn’t have much common sense, particularly about her career and money and rushing into dangerous situations without pausing to think. And, unfortunately, most of the secondary and tertiary characters in the book came across more like caricatures than real people.

For me, though, the book’s biggest issue was the plot. It came across as rushed and disjointed — and far, far from believable. I mean, yes, this was a work of fiction, and most fiction requires at least a modicum of “suspension of disbelief.” But it was really, really, a stretch to accept that the main character — who had just been fired from her job and stated outright that she had no savings — simply walked into a charming little seaside town a short drive from Los Angeles and almost immediately upon arrival fell in love with and leased a vacant boardwalk shop. She then had the funds to do all the fitting and stocking necessary to turn it into a bakery, and she somehow expected to immediately start earning enough profit to live on and pay the $5000 a month rent …. And that was before she decided to investigate a murder on the day her struggling new bakery opened, after which she barely spent any time there. Yes, she did get a bit of financial assistance from her (struggling actor) brother, and she hadn’t been in debt — due to a vaguely mentioned inheritance having paid for her schooling — but the financial aspects of the plot didn’t make any sense.

The murder investigation was also way too quick and easy. I suppose most cozy mysteries are that way to some extent, but in this case it was extreme. It was difficult to believe someone could run around town questioning (and sometimes accusing) the other residents without getting into serious trouble — arrested if not killed. And again, many of the people she interacted with seemed to be overblown caricatures, not real people.

Bottom line: On the one hand, this was a quick, easy read, and I did appreciate the decent writing. On the other hand, I couldn’t really “get into” the story. There were just too many actions and details that didn’t work for me, and the main character — despite being somewhat empathetic — isn’t one I can see myself following through multiple entries in a series. So I can’t recommend the book unless “free” is your most important consideration in book selection.

Book Bingo 2026: First Letter of Name

dancingpony — Sat, 30 May 2026 17:10:40 GMT

Very Good, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

When Bertie blunders… Jeeves delivers.

In Very Good, Jeeves!, P. G. Wodehouse brings back one of literature’s most beloved duos: the ever-confused Bertie Wooster and his effortlessly brilliant valet, Jeeves.

This delightful collection of stories is packed with romantic mix-ups, social disasters, and clever solutions—courtesy of Jeeves, of course.

A couple of months ago, I read and reviewed a collection of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse for the Anthology square of 2026 Book Bingo. Those stories were from a mix from Wodehouse’s series, and all the stories involved animals. Shortly after I finished reading that collection, this one appeared on my list of Amazon daily deals. And, by coincidence, I’d been looking for a book to fill the “Title begins with the first letter of your name” square. I doubt I could find a book that better fills the criterion, since my initials are V.G..

All of these stories are from Wodehouse’s “Wooster and Jeeves” series. Bertie Wooster is a good-natured but rather hapless / bumbling young man of the early 1900s, a member of what might be termed “the idle rich.” Jeeves is his “gentleman’s personal gentleman” (or valet, although I’ve not yet seen either of the main characters use that term.) Bertie spends his days in pursuit of entertainment and pleasure, often falling into comical scrapes involving his family, friends, and/or young ladies. Jeeves spends his days caring for Bertie and pulling him out of those scrapes.

As with the other collection, these stories were all well-written and amusing — although, in my opinion, they’re more amusing if not read one immediately after another. Most of them were originally published in magazines or periodicals, not in books — so they were intended to be read in small doses. Each story is probably between twenty to thirty minutes of reading time, just enough for a nice break from reality.

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 29 May 2026 23:15:54 GMT

Challenge words: achieve, company, ensure, gallery, pneumonia, smooth

“It’s your own fault you have pneumonia again,” the Russian pointed out unsympathetically.

Napoleon tried to achieve his usual smooth retort but couldn’t manage it between wheezing coughs. “How do you figure?”

One blond brow rose. “The company you were keeping all but ensured you were going to land in the swimming pool … if not worse.”

“I don’t see what could be worse.” The tone was peevish, but he had a fever.

“The gallery was on the third floor. You could have landed on concrete.” Illya’s tone softened. “I suppose I should be grateful you remembered to check for spiders.”

*********

Advice from the Cat #17

dancingpony — Tue, 26 May 2026 20:12:13 GMT

Always finish what you begin.

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Sat, 23 May 2026 15:33:03 GMT

Challenge words: crave, gaudy, limit, macabre, stream, utopian

“The inhabitants consider their lifestyle utopian.” Waverly rotated the table, sending photos to his top agents. “Study these carefully so you’ll fit in.”

Napoleon’s nose wrinkled at the tight black jumpsuits worn by the sect’s men. “Unrelieved black is a bit macabre.”

“Perhaps you should disguise yourself as a woman.” Illya handed him a photo of females clad in flowing robes of crimson and orange. “Gaudy fashions are perfect for someone who craves attention.”

Napoleon bit his tongue to prevent muttering a stream of curse words.

Just as well. There was a limit to Waverly’s patience with their pre-mission squabbles.

Just because….

dancingpony — Sat, 16 May 2026 17:56:19 GMT

Street art in Milan, Italy by Cosimo CHEONE Caiffa

It looks like a very crooked building, but it’s actually a building sized mural

More of the artist’s street art can be found at:

(Click on the words not the picture for the link.)

Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE! (24 Photos) - STREET ART UTOPIA

Dive into the mesmerizing world of Cosimo Cheone Caiffa, a master of 3D street art. Known for his hyper-realistic murals that interact seamlessly with their surroundings, Cheone transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary works of art. From playful illusions to profound visual stories, his...

streetartutopia.com

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 15 May 2026 18:31:34 GMT

Challenge words: afterthought, competition, early, horn, question, superficial

“Why not?” There was a faint whine in the question.

He shrugged. “Your relationships tend to be superficial.”

“Not my relationship with you.”

“Only because I refuse to engage in a competition for your attention or to be an afterthought when other sources of amusement fall through.”

“I won’t wait forever.”

“I know.” He blew a series of soft, mourning notes through his English horn as the door opened and then closed with a shuddering slam.

It was just as well. Marion had a long night of partying ahead of her and he had an early flight in the morning.

It was bound to happen

dancingpony — Wed, 13 May 2026 23:23:14 GMT

Book Bingo 2026: New to Me Author

dancingpony — Fri, 08 May 2026 23:03:46 GMT

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

With the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. But thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Up until a few weeks ago, I’d never heard of this book and, although the author’s name was vaguely familiar, I’d never read any of his work. Then the movie version of Project Hail Mary was released in March 2026 and, while I haven’t seen it, I’ve heard about it. What I’ve heard has been mixed. Some online friends have been absolutely enthralled by the movie (specifically by the lead actor). Some reviewers have given it middling ratings, mostly along the lines of (and this isn’t a direct quote from any one source): “it could have been great, but it tries too hard and feels forced.” Anyway, the movie is supposed to be released on Amazon Prime sometime in the next couple of months, and I decided to (figuratively) check out the book to see whether I might enjoy the movie. From everything I’ve read, the movie does track quite closely to the book.

Fair warning: The book cost about double the price I’m usually willing to pay for a Kindle book. However, as I mentioned, I’ve heard positive things about it, and I enjoyed the sample, so I splurged. That’s not something I do very often.

I very much enjoyed the book, but it definitely would not be everyone’s cup of tea. It contains a lot of science. It spends a lot of words explaining science. The main character, Dr Ryland Grace, is a junior high school science teacher at the beginning of the story, so he’s very good at explaining science at an easy to understand level but, still, there are a lot of those explanations. If someone is uninterested in science and/or completely uneducated in basic science terminology, that person is likely to be bored by this book.

The basic plot is explained in the blurb. It’s an “effort to prevent a global apocalypse” story. An unknown … something … is causing the sun to lose its luminance. Rapidly. So rapidly that the Earth could be thrown into an ice age and mass extinction event in less than thirty years. Scientists discover many nearby stars have the same visual signs of that “something” and are suffering the same fate. Every star but one is dying. So, in a last ditch effort to save the human race, the governments of the world throw all their resources into a manned space flight — the Hail Mary — to the one healthy star to figure out why it isn’t affected and try to replicate the reason to save Earth.

Ryland Grace wakes up from a medically induced coma on the Hail Mary. His two crew mates have died, of unknown reasons, during their own medically induced comas. He has amnesia with slowly returning memories. And he doesn’t have the slightest idea of what’s he’s supposed to do or how he’s supposed to do it.

As he gets close to the unaffected star, Tau Ceti, he encounters another space craft. He realizes it must be from a planet of one of the other dying stars, visiting Tau Ceti for the same purpose. That craft also has only one surviving crew member. Grace is his ship’s scientist. The survivor on the other craft is the ship’s engineer. Together they might have the knowledge and skills to save both their species if they find a way to communicate. Which is their first major hurdle, because the only sense they can share is hearing, and neither can duplicate the other’s vocalizations.

That’s as far as I can go in explaining the plot. I’ve given more than is given in the blurb but no more than you’ll find in online discussions and reviews. Besides, what’s most enjoyable about the book (and presumably the movie) isn’t the plot. It’s the interaction between Grace and the alien he nicknames Rocky. Grace is an extremely intelligent man with a folksy, self-deprecating personality. Before he became a junior high school teacher, he was a university researcher in cellular biology with an intense interest in the probability that life had developed on other planets. And now he has the unprecedented opportunity to interact with an intelligent alien life form. Those interactions are both comical and heartwarming sometimes terrifying.

Bottom line: this will likely rank as one of my favorite books of the year … although it’s impossible to be sure when the year isn’t half over. I did very much enjoy it though. I’m using it in my “New to Me Author” square for Book Bingo, and I may look into other books by the author … although not until I take a short break from intense science.

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 08 May 2026 14:58:17 GMT

Challenge words: accumulation, catch, drag, leader, oppose, rubbish

“That’s quite an accumulation of filters and lenses,” Waverly said, watching the Russian sort through a leather bag.

“I had to drag him out of the lab at midnight.” Napoleon’s brow furrowed. “I’m concerned he’s not comfortable with this assignment.”

Illya rolled his eyes. “I merely needed to familiarize myself with the equipment.”

“I’m still opposed to Illya being sent without backup, sir,” Napoleon argued. “The leader of the, ah, group could catch him off guard while he’s staring into a camera.”

“Rubbish, Mr Solo,” Waverly huffed. “Mr Kuryakin is perfectly capable of photographing a beauty pagent without your assistance.”

Book Bingo 2026: Published in 2026

dancingpony — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:55:37 GMT

The Girl in the Lake by Lauren Oliver

A young girl who claims to remember a past life draws a psychologist into a decades-old mystery in a haunting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver.

Kate Willis, consultant for the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia, is tasked with interviewing six-year-old Henley Haskell about the girl’s alleged past-life recollections. The evaluation also marks a return for Kate to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and to troubling recollections of her own.

Here, twenty-four years ago, Kate’s friend Becca McGuire vanished from her bunk at a now-shuttered summer camp and was never seen again―presumably drowned in Lake Sauquamet. But the mystery of her disappearance is only deepening. Because Henley’s memories of her “other life” are ones that could only belong to Becca.

For Kate, Henley’s recurring, suffocating nightmares, and her disturbing illustrations of places she has never been, seem to spell out the unbelievable. Somewhere, somehow, the truth about what really happened to Becca is locked inside this little girl. As Henley’s uncanny memories surface, so do old secrets―each one drawing Kate inexorably back to that terrible long-ago summer by the lake.

I’ve mentioned that one of my resolutions for 2026 was to stop downloading monthly Amazon “First Reads” books just because they’re free. Free is good, but there’s no point in cluttering my Kindle with books that don’t appeal to me and that I have absolutely no interest in reading. So, for the last couple of months, I’ve glanced over the list at the beginning of the month, read a few blurbs, tried fewer samples, and then resolutely said “No, thanks.” That being the case, I was rather surprised when I glanced at the list on the first of May and was immediately intrigued by this book by an author I’d never heard of previously.

The Girl in the Lake is a combination mystery, psychological thriller, and ghost story. The main character, Kate Willis, is a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, in an adjacent department to their Division of Perceptual Studies. The DOPS — which actually exists — is a small department dedicated to the investigation and study of phenomena outside normal, quantifiable science, including the study of documented claims of extra sensory perception and reincarnation. Kate has considerable experience as a clinician and in working with troubled children, so she’s called on by DOPS for occasional consultations. However, she doesn’t believe in the phenomena that DOPS studies. She’s made a name for herself — including writing numerous scientific articles and a few books — by debunking such claims.

Kate is asked by DOPS to make an initial contact and evaluation of Henley Haskell, a six year old girl who, according to her mother, has been been describing (and drawing) a past life and death since she was three. The mother help sought from DOPS because Henley was having more and more frequent nightmares of suffocating. She’s also been experiencing unexplainable phobias and behavioral issues.

Kate meets the child, fully expecting to uncover a logical explanation for Henley’s behavior. Is it motivated by attention/sensation seeking by Henley or her mother? Or is it founded in some form of abuse or trauma? Kate sees no evidence of either. Yet she simply can’t believe that Henley’s might be an actual case of reincarnation. Her rigidly scientific mind refuses to accept the possibility … until Henley looks Kate in the eye and announces that her former name was Becca and that Kate caused her death — forcing Kate to face a secret she’s been hiding for twenty-six years, since her best friend Becca disappeared and was assumed drowned at a now abandoned summer camp in the area.

The memories of that summer camp include some of the happiest of Kate’s childhood; they also include an eerie legend of a ghost that haunts the adjoining lake and island and the terrifying night that Becca disappeared. It’s difficult to say much more without spoiling the plot, which is both intricate and well-researched. The story is told from Kate’s point of view, alternating the present (but not told in the present tense!) with scenes from the summer that Becca disappeared. There are many twists to the story, as Kate tries to reconcile her own past trauma with Henley’s current one.

The book is very good. The writing is mechanically sound; the story is well paced; it’s atmospheric without being filled with unnecessary description and detail. The characters are well-drawn and mostly likable or at least sympathetic. And if I didn’t quite believe in some of the plot elements — especially the details of the night Becca disappeared — it wasn’t too difficult to suspend that disbelief temporarily, because I was very immersed in the story and wanted to find out how it would end.

I have to admit I wasn’t completely satisfied by the ending. There were a few plot points that weren’t resolved to my satisfaction, but I think that is more a matter of preference than of valid criticism. I can see why the author left things as she did, even if I would have appreciated more.

There is going to be another book but, as far as I can tell, it’s going to involve Kate moving on to another case not revisiting this one, so this isn’t exactly a series. However, the book was good enough (despite not being completely satisfied with the ending) that I’m willing to read more of Oliver’s work, should the opportunity arise and the work not be too overpriced. And I’m going to predict now that some production company — streaming if not the big screen — will buy the rights to this story and turn it into a movie. It has just the combination of mystery and suspense and eeriness that would transfer well to a visual media.

Since this book’s publication date isn’t until next month, I’m using it for the Published in 2026 Book Bingo square.

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 01 May 2026 15:25:44 GMT

Challenge words: abashed, art, hard, impel, prevent, stimulate

“Hard?” Large hands stilled mid-movement.

“As a rock,” Napoleon gritted out. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I would be seriously abashed if you thought I didn’t. Should we end this experiment?”

Napoleon groaned. “You’ve raised sarcasm to an art form. Luckily your sparkling personality doesn’t prevent me from appreciating your, ah, technical skills.”

“I don’t wish to impel you into something you wouldn’t enjoy.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely enjoy it.” Napoleon licked his lips. “Will you?”

“Perhaps.” Illya poked at solid lumps. “The candy thermometer must be defective. These will stimulate our taste buds but might chip our teeth.”

******

Someone has a cat…

dancingpony — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:01:44 GMT

“Satan Taking a Break from Hate Crimes” by Vanessa Stockard.

Outstanding Breakfast Food

dancingpony — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:38:29 GMT

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:23:59 GMT

Challenge words: fizz, forecast, halting, plant, railway, space

“We have Section Three agents at the airport, bus terminal and railway station,” Illya said, tapping an enlarged city map with his pointer. “Has there been a signal from the tracer you planted on him?”

Napoleon grimaced. “Just one brief fizz … then nothing. He must have found it within minutes.”

“I suppose we could have forecast that,” Illya sighed. “It’s unfortunate we didn’t have an opportunity to place a subcutaneous transponder.”

“There wasn’t time; he somehow slipped away within the space of thirty minutes.”

The Russian shrugged. “There’s no diverting or halting Mr Waverly when he decides to go undercover.”

*******

For spikesgirl58

dancingpony — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:57:38 GMT

This looks right up your alley.

Important Notice

dancingpony — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:14:27 GMT

To all witches: Be very careful to read the package disclaimers and instructions when shopping.

Drabble of the Week

dancingpony — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:25:27 GMT

Challenge words: carpet, inch, linear, precision, snack, swim

Napoleon scooted his chair across the carpet to watch his partner meticulously fill in a grid of two inch squares. “I thought you were writing your training schedule,” he said, puzzled.

“I am. I find it efficient to approach training in linear fashion.”

“Huh?”

“First, an hour of precision shooting, then an hour sparring in the gym. Two new agents have requested matches.”

“That’ll take you ten minutes.”

The Russian shrugged. “I’ll use the extra time for gymnastics practice. Then a one hour swim, followed by a substantial snack.”

“I prefer to eat before exercise.”

“Dinner date?”

“Followed by sex.”

******