Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson

Murder on Wall Street
by Victoria Thompson

ISBN-13: 9781984805775
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: April 27th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Reformed gangster Jack Robinson is working hard to bolster his image in Gilded Age New York City society as he prepares to become a new father. But when Hayden Norcross, the man who nearly ruined his wife, is shot in cold blood, Jack knows the police will soon come knocking on his door. Frank Malloy has to agree, but a man as unlikeable as Hayden had more than a few enemies. It’s soon clear that plenty of the upper echelon as well as the denizens of the most squalid areas of the city seem to have hated him.

Sarah and Frank have their work cut out for them. As the daughter of the elite Decker family, Sarah has access to the social circles Hayden frequented, and the more she learns about his horrific treatment of women, the more disturbed she becomes. And as Frank investigates, he finds that Hayden had a host of unsavory habits that may have hastened his demise. But who finally killed him?


My Review:
Murder on Wall Street is a historical mystery set in New York City in 1900. This is the 24th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous mysteries.

This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Frank, Gino, Sarah, and her parents all helped with the investigation and used their unique skill sets. They asked good questions and investigated many leads, but there were many people who didn't like the murdered man so they had many suspects. Whodunit was a strong suspect for me from the beginning, but I understood why they weren't guessing that person. I wasn't sure if that person had help, though. What happened became clearer as they collected clues. I like that Sarah genuinely helps victims rather than pushing her way into investigating a crime simply for her amusement.

Some interesting historical details were woven into the story. The main characters were nice, engaging people and had realistic reactions to events. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding

The Jane Austen Investigates:
The Abbey Mystery
by Julia Golding

ISBN-13: 9781782643340
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Lion Fiction
Released: April 23rd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It’s 1789 and a young Jane Austen turns detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious happenings at Southmoor Abbey. When a carriage accident forces a change of plans, 13-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week as the household prepares to celebrate the eldest son’s coming-of-age party. While there, Jane vows to solve the mystery of the ghostly monk in the Abbey grounds – for she does not believe in such stories!

But this is not the only strange occurrence for the adventurous young Jane to investigate. There are shivery night-time investigations, an Indian girl with secret talents, a library fire, two prize horses in danger, and friends to save from false accusations. With notebook in hand and her faithful dog Grandison by her side, will Jane overcome the continuous obstacles and find out the truth?


My Review:
The Abbey Mystery is a delightful mystery set in 1789 in England with a 13-year-old Jane Austen as the amateur detective. I would've loved her as a kid, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story as an adult, too. The historical details about manners and customs were deftly woven into the story and did not slow down the pacing but did explain why certain things happened the way they did. Jane used modern wording and was a realistic 13-year-old girl, so younger readers will feel at home with her. She's spunky, determined, loyal, and has a sense of humor.

The mystery was clue-based, and whodunit was guessable from the clues. Jane had good ideas about where to look and what questions to ask. She made good friends that helped her to accomplish her goal of proving that a more powerful (than her) person was at fault rather than the young man who was blamed. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Winning the Gentleman by Kristi Ann Hunter

Winning the Gentleman
by Kristi Ann Hunter

ISBN-13: 9780764235269
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: April 20th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Aaron Whitworth hasn't had control over most aspects of his life, but he's always taken pride in being an honorable businessman and better-than-average horseman. When both of those claims are threatened, he makes the desperate decision to hire the horse trainer of a traveling circus as a temporary jockey for his racehorses.

Sophia Fitzroy knows that most horsemen don't take her seriously because she's a woman, but she can't pass up the opportunity to get away from the tumultuous world of travel and performing. As she fights for the right to do the work she was hired for, she learns the fight for Aaron's guarded heart might be an even more worthwhile challenge.

As secrets come to light and past vulnerabilities are confronted, will Aaron and Sophia sacrifice their former dreams and forge a new one together--against all odds?


My Review:
Winning the Gentleman is a Christian historical romance set in 1817 in Newmarket, England. It's the second book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, though characters from her previous novels do appear in this story.

The main characters were interesting, complex, and reacted realistically to events. Aaron felt like he couldn't marry due to his "illegitimate" (though grudgingly acknowledged by his father) status making his social position questionable. He wanted to be a man of his word, though, so backed Sophia even though she tricked him into a contract making her a jockey. She didn't really want to be a jockey, just make enough of a name for herself that women would want to hire her to teach them advanced riding (dressage). Both come to appreciate the other person's strengths and grow as people. Aaron's friends help him to realize that he's made his own place in society.

There was some praying, and Sophia learned to trust God more with her future plans. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Dagger Dance by Elizabeth Bailey

The Dagger Dance
by Elizabeth Bailey

ISBN-13: 9781800552128
Paperback: 361 pages
Publisher: Sapere Books
Released: April 13, 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
1793, England. After a not-so-relaxing holiday in Tunbridge Wells, Lady Ottilia and Lord Francis Fanshawe have returned to their home with a young orphaned girl, Pertesia ‘Pretty’ Brockhurst. After losing both her parents in tragic circumstances, Pretty had been abandoned by the rest of her family and the childless Fanshawes have delighted in having her around. But when her estranged grandfather turns up on their doorstep, Ottilia is worried she will lose the child.

Meanwhile, their footman Hemp Roy, has run into trouble. After becoming reacquainted with Dorote, a woman from his past life in Barbados, Hemp is desperate to help her when she is accused of murdering her master in Bristol. Who better to turn to than his trusted Lady Fan?


My Review:
The Dagger Dance is a mystery set in 1793 in England. This novel is the 7th in the series, but you don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one. This story didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books, but it did spoil some of the events in the previous book.

This was a clue-based mystery. Lady Fan and her husband asked plenty of questions of potential witnesses and suspects to sort out what had happened. The actual murderer seemed extremely obvious to me, but it took all of the clues to figure out exactly what had happened and prove whodunit for various crimes. Historical details were woven into the story to create the feeling of a specific time and place.

The characters were interesting, but Lady Fan is getting increasingly arrogant and high-handed in her dealings with other people. She's right (even in a case where she's just being selfish). Everyone else is wrong and anything (threats, blackmail, etc.) is justifiable to force them to do what she wants. I didn't care for this behavior, but her husband just cheered her on. Despite her much lauded observational skills, she and her husband were completely blind to the fact that she was pregnant. They were constantly making jokes about her odd eating behavior and erratic emotions to the point it became unbelievable that they simply didn't make the connection.

There were just a few of uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Wicked Conceit by Anna Lee Huber

A Wicked Conceit
by Anna Lee Huber

ISBN-13: 9780593198445
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: April 6th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Edinburgh, Scotland. March 1832. Kiera and Gage have been eagerly awaiting their bundle of joy, but trouble has been brewing in the form of the roguish criminal, Bonnie Brock Kincaid. A new book and subsequent play features some of Kincaid's daringly heinous exploits as well as characters which are obvious representations of Kiera and Gage. The scoundrel's fury at the author seems genuine, as well as his determined quest to uncover the real identity of the author.

A rash of crimes break out across the city, seemingly inspired by the play and book. When the publisher is found brutally murdered—in an imitation of a gruesome scene—the finger not only points to Bonnie Brock as the possible culprit, but also the Gages, who have been outspoken in their condemnation of the scandalous implications against Kiera in the tale. Now, the Gages are on a hunt to unmask the killer. Between the infamy garnered by the play, the cholera outbreak still wreaking havoc throughout the city, and the impending birth of their child, they will need all the resources they can garner. But family quarrels and the revelation of a secret Kiera has been keeping from Sebastian threaten to undermine everything they have overcome.


My Review:
A Wicked Conceit is a mystery set in February 1832 in Scotland. It is the ninth book in a series. The author referred back to events in the previous books, including the solution to several mysteries. This book also heavily referred to events in previous books, so events in the current book will probably make more sense if you've read those books.

About 80% of the book was spent on relationship conflicts (with Kiera's sister, between Kiera and Gage, between Kiera's maid and Gage's valet, dealing with the scandal implied by a recently released book, etc.). While this continued to develop the characters, the mystery seemed more like the event driving the relationship conflicts than the focus of the story. I prefer a little more focus on the mystery.

The historical details were mainly about the cholera outbreak and book publishing. Kiera was about to give birth at any time, but she continued to investigate and go to dances and other social functions (where people, mainly women, made public comments about the state of her pregnancy). Kiera and Gage investigated the identity of the informant, the author, and the murder (which weren't necessarily different people, but the people behind those roles needed to be identified). They asked good questions and followed up on clues. I guessed some of it before the reveal, but some parts weren't clear until the final clues were uncovered.

There were no sex scenes. There was occasional use of British bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to fans of the series.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Danger on the Loch by Paige Edwards

Danger on the Loch
by Paige Edwards

ISBN-13: 9781524415204
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: April 5th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Raised by a cold and distant mother, photographer Paisley Clark has spent her life daydreaming about the father she doesn’t remember. Paisley’s dream turns to reality when a DNA test brings her in contact with the mysterious man. With her financial situation a disaster and her childhood friend James Pressley-Coombes working across the pond in Scotland, Paisley is emboldened to accept her father’s invitation to visit him.

She arrives in the Highlands only to discover that she isn’t Paisley Clark at all but a titled lady, the daughter of a Scottish duke. Despite the warm welcome and the comfort of James’s presence, dangerous undercurrents surround Castle Rannoch, her father’s estate. Overwhelmed, Paisley takes refuge in her camera and James’s steady presence to provide a sense of normalcy in her rags-to-riches transformation. But her once-easy relationship with James is changing, deepening beyond friendship in a surprising twist of events. Before they have time to examine their feelings, Paisley inadvertently captures a shocking image in one of her photographs—a picture worth killing for.


My Review:
Danger on the Loch is a romantic suspense novel. The main focus was on Paisley's reunion with her father and growing romantic attraction to James, but there was a suspense element as well. Paisley always liked James since he and his family were there for her as she grew up. However, James didn't realize that he was attracted to her until they were both in Scotland and she needed his support in dealing with her father and his family.

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from relationship tensions and the viewpoint of someone being blackmailed into hurting Paisley's family. There was physical danger to Paisley and James after they accidentally witnessed someone--are they terrorists?--testing a deadly poison on animals. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Big Little Spies by Krista Davis

Big Little Spies
by Krista Davis

ISBN-13: 9780451491701
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: April 6th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The ladies of the Wagtail Animal Guardians, WAG for short, are in town for a pet adoption charity ball, and Holly is making sure to roll out the red carpet for her special guests. She and her furry best friend Trixie are busy keeping the WAG ladies happy and preparing for the ball when they learn that a retired judge has lost his prized pup.

The venerable citizen has hired a pet detective who has some personal ties to Holly's new guests. His presence ruffles some feathers, and when the PI is found DOA not long before the ball, Holly wonders if one of the WAG ladies had a motive for murder. To make matters worse, some pet-loving guests of the ball nearly suffer the same deadly fate. Holly and Trixie will have to sniff out the clues and leash a callous killer before they strike again.


My Review:
Big Little Spies is a cozy mystery. It's the seven book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this story, and this book didn't spoil the previous ones.

The mystery was clue-based. The critical clue needed to determine whodunit was not provided until the end, so it's not really a puzzle mystery. Holly asked questions and observed people. I usually have no problem keeping track of who is who, but there were so many suspects with similar relationships to the victim that it was difficult to remember who had what motives, what connections, what pet, etc. I felt like I should've created a chart, but I still enjoyed the mystery even with this mild confusion. The characters were interesting and engaging. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Giveaway ending soon!

What the Devil Knows by C.S. Harris

What the Devil Knows
by C.S. Harris

ISBN-13: 9780593102664
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: April 6th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It's October 1814. London suddenly finds itself in the grip of a series of heinous murders eerily similar to the Ratcliffe Highway murders of three years before.

In 1811, two entire families were viciously murdered in their homes. A suspect--a young seaman named John Williams--was arrested. But before he could be brought to trial, Williams hanged himself in his cell. The murders ceased, and London slowly began to breathe easier. But when the lead investigator, Sir Edwin Pym, is killed in the same brutal way three years later and others possibly connected to the original case meet violent ends, the city is paralyzed with terror once more.

Was the wrong man arrested for the murders? Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for assistance. Pym's colleagues are convinced his manner of death is a coincidence, but Sebastian has his doubts. The more he looks into the three-year-old murders, the more certain he becomes that the hapless John Williams was not the real killer. Which begs the question--who was and why are they dead set on killing again?


My Review:
What the Devil Knows is a mystery set in October 1814 in London. This book is the 16th in a series. You can understand it without having read the previous novels, and it didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The historical information was woven into the story without slowing the pacing. It created a distinct feeling of that specific time and place and helped bring the story alive in my imagination. The characters were interesting, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Both Hero and Sebastian were involved in the investigation, though Sebastian was the main investigator. He tracked down leads and asked good questions. He pieced together the basic outline of what had happened in the past and what was occurring now. There were several suspects, and you can't fully narrow down whodunit until the final clues at the end.

Some prostitutes used crude words to briefly describe their job or their client's sexual anatomy. There were no graphic sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Hiding Place by Paula Munier

The Hiding Place
by Paula Munier

ISBN-13: 9781250153074
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: March 30th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When her late grandfather’s dying deputy calls Mercy to his side, she and Elvis inherit the cold case that haunted him—and may have killed him. But finding Beth Kilgore 20 years after she disappeared is more than a lost cause. It’s a Pandora’s box releasing a rain of evil on the very people Mercy and Elvis hold most dear.

The timing couldn’t be worse when the man who murdered her grandfather escapes from prison and a fellow Army vet turns up claiming that Elvis is his dog, not hers. With her grandmother Patience gone missing, and Elvis’s future uncertain, Mercy faces the prospect of losing her most treasured allies, the only ones she believes truly love and understand her.

She needs help, and that means forgiving Vermont Game Warden Troy Warner long enough to enlist his aid. With time running out for Patience, Mercy and Elvis must team up with Troy and his search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear to unravel the secrets of the past and save her grandmother—before it’s too late..


My Review:
The Hiding Place is a mystery/suspense novel. It's the third book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novels.

The characters were engaging, complex, and acted in realistic ways. I cared about what happened to them. The mystery was complex since the cold case, the recent murder, and the attack on Mercy's grandmother may or may not be connected. Mercy and her talented ex-military dog, Elvis, tracked down clues, asked good questions, and pieced together a complex cold case. And chased bad guys. She worked with U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog. The suspense remained high since an escaped criminal was after Mercy's grandmother and a fellow soldier was threatening to take Elvis from her.

There were a few uses of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy canine mysteries and suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed

Alaskan Rescue
by Terri Reed

ISBN-13: 9781335405128
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: April 13th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Sent to find a wedding party that disappeared during a hike, Alaskan state trooper Hunter McCord and his K-9 partner, Juneau, discover bridesmaid Ariel Potter hanging from a cliff. But this was no accident—she was pushed—and her hiking companions are missing. Now it’s up to Hunter and Juneau to find them…and make sure whoever wants Ariel dead doesn’t finish the job.


My Review:
Alaskan Rescue is a romantic suspense novel. It's a start of a new series that has an ongoing mystery to be solved as well as a mystery that was solved in this book. Since there were few suspects and the clues pointed strongly in one direction, the whodunit behind the later attacks on Ariel seemed pretty obvious to me (though not easily proven). I'd expected these attacks to mainly be a diversion from solving the initial attack, so I was surprised that no progress was made on that whodunit beyond the acceptance that the missing, accused person was guilty.

The suspense was created by repeated attacks on Ariel. The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. Both Ariel and Hunter had reasons to reject love and marriage, but these dissolved by the end of the story. Ariel was very independent but was willing to accept protection since it was needed. Hunter learned to trust and support her by the end. Hunter trusted God to keep him safe, and Ariel learned to trust God for his and her safety. Both briefly prayed for help throughout the story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

The Women of Chateau Lafayette
by Stephanie Dray

ISBN-13: 9781984802125
Paperback: 576 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: March 30th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
An epic saga from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy in three of humanity's darkest hours

1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband's political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must choose between renouncing the complicated man she loves or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Astor Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing--not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France and delivering war-relief over dangerous seas, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.


My Review:
The Women of Chateau Lafayette is historical fiction set in France (and America) during three different time periods: The French Revolution, World War I, and World War II. I think I would've enjoyed reading a biography of Adrienne Lafayette more than this since much of her part was shared as a summary of her life with a few scenes thrown in. She's a very interesting and heroic woman. Beatrice Astor Chanler made a huge difference during WW I, and it felt like she was the main story, drawing inspiration from Lafayette and setting in motion events that motivated the third woman during WW II. But Marthe Simone wasn't very likable, though she became more so as she found a cause (saving Jewish children by creating fake IDs) during WW II.

Historical details about the wars were woven into the story and brought the time periods alive in my imagination. Although we learned about the women's work, most of the scenes seemed to focus on strained relationships and scandals. Lafayette took a mistress. Beatrice had an affair. Marthe desired to passionately kiss her female best friend while she was engaged to a soldier (and her friend was married to a soldier) in a POW camp.

Most of the sex scenes were only briefly referred to, but there were a couple of detailed descriptions of Marthe and her husband having sex. There was occasional use of American bad language along with some bad language in French. Overall, the writing was good, but I only really engaged with the struggles of one of the characters. It's a long book if you're not really interested in two-thirds of what was going on.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Crown of Rosemund by Michele Ashman Bell

The Crown of Rosemund
by Michele Ashman Bell

ISBN-13: 9781524414344
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: April 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Anduron, 1498. The king and queen are dead, murdered by one who will stop at nothing to rule. But the young princess—Rosemund—has survived, taken deep into the forest by her parents’ most trusted advisor. There, she finds refuge in a small cottage and a new life, one in which she must play a role that will ensure her survival. Soldiers are combing the countryside searching for the lost princess, and they will not rest until she is found—and eliminated.

Rosemund’s strength grows as she trains for battle and endures the hardships and dangers of peasant life. When chance brings Maxwell, a young man from the nearby village, into her life, Rose finds in him an ally and a friend. As her 18th birthday approaches, the time has come for Rose to reclaim her birthright.


My Review:
The Crown of Rosemund is a fantasy novel, probably aimed at teenagers based on Rose's age. I had a hard time liking Rose because she was timid and fearful, though she was generous and meant well. She kept telling people that she needed to claim the throne before the Regent killed everyone off through his policies, then the next chapter would happen (which was a jump of a month or three months later) and she'd done nothing. That happened again and again. She only tried for the throne when the option of staying as a peasant was taken away from her. But, hey! The people had nothing to lose anymore so were willing to fight the Regent, so it turned out to be perfect timing.

But she acted impulsively and made poorly thought out plans, so she lost supporters. She was more intent on declaring herself Queen than getting her small army into the castle when the enemy was vulnerable, so she only won because one of her smart supporters saw the flaw in her plan. About the smartest thing she did was fall in love with a well-educated merchant's son who had better training to be king than she ever received.

That's the other thing. The beginning involved a lot of telling rather than showing. We're told she's taught this, that, the other, so that she would know how to rule. She's always been the heir, though, so why wasn't she learning this her whole life? The only things she seemed to have actually learned was how to farm and to fight, and she tended to punch her allies for being more concerned about her safety than she was. She was constantly letting "her emotions get the better of her." This led to impulsive, foolish decisions that should have ended up with her dead but somehow always worked out well. So at least she's lucky. There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.