Top Ten Tuesday

This week's Top Ten Tuesday prompt, hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl, is about the 2025 Fall Books I plan to read: 

15 Wild Decembers by Karen Powell

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy

Cursed To Death by Bill Crider

Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dresier 

Harbour Lights Mystery by Emylia Hall

Destiny of The Republic by Candace Millard

Moonflower. Muders by Anthony Horowitz

Murder On Washington Square by Victoria Thompson

Finished A Place Of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel.  It was wonderful and the ending so moving.  It's the best reading experience I have had all year.

Dragonflight by Anne Mc Caffrey

Dragonflight (1968) by Anne McCaffrey is book six for my classics challenge, choose a science fiction classic, hosted by Ann at Search For Wonder.  Science Fiction/Fantasy is not a genre I normally read but I have been curious for a long time about Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. Dragonflight is the first novel in this 24 book series.

Dragonflight is set way into the future on the planet of Pern. Pern was first colonized by humans from Earth. But no one from Earth came back to bring the colonists home. And so after thousands of years the people of Pern have built their own civilization and have forgotten all about their Earthly ancestors.

The people of Pern have created a world that is medieval, a feudal society consisting of three groups: The Holds, The Crafts, and the Weyrs.  The Holds are the townspeople. They farm, provide food and supplies to the Crafts and the Weyrs. The Crafts are skilled at particular trades: artists, doctors, teachers, musicians, etc.

And then we have the Weyr people. They are the dragonriders. Their sole job along with their dragons is to protect Pern. The people of Pern are in danger every 200 years when a wayward planet in their solar system nears them and the "threads" on that planet descend on Pern like a plague of locusts devouring everything in sight.

And as Dragonflight opens, danger is coming. But it’s been so long since the last thread attack that the Holds and the Crafts have decided that fear of the threads is a myth that people once believed in but no longer should. The Weyrs have gotten cavalier as well. The number of dragons has been allowed to run low and only the dragonrider F'lar and Lessa, a young woman from the Hold, understand the danger that Pern is facing. But will they be able to convince others and create a battle plan capable of vanquishing the threads?

A word of caution.  The dragons share a close bond with their riders and the dragons do not harm the people of Pern.  But they are predatory and hungry creatures and the livestock on Pern is not so lucky when the dragons are around. This can be somewhat off putting to readers new to science fiction.   But cuddly dragons would not have been believable and they certainly would be no match for the threads

Anne McCaffrey is an excellent writer and I can see why her Dragonriders series is such a classic in the world of science fiction and fantasy. She has created in Pern a world of wonder and imagination. And once I learned the history of Pern the novel opened up to me. I recommend Dragonflight to lovers of science fiction and fantasy, Game of Thrones fans, and those who enjoy medieval historical fiction. My genre continues to be mystery novels, true crime, and gothic suspense. But I am glad I moved out of my comfort zone and gave Dragonflight a read.

The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson

Hulda Hermannsdóttir has been a detective inspector with the Reykjavík Police Department for many years. But she is approaching 65 when The Darkness ( 2015) by Ragnar Jónasson begins and retirement is mandatory. Hulda, a widow who lives alone, is dreading retirement. And her only child, a daughter, died years ago at age 13 and she continues to feel grief to this day. 

But Hulda's job as a detective, solving crimes and seeking justice for the victims, has given her life a purpose. Hulda doesn't know what she will do once she retires although she has been getting close to her neighbor Petur who is kind, a great cook and a good listener. Maybe Petur is the future Hulda has been hoping for and deserves.

Before Hulda retires the head of her department informs her that she can choose whatever cold case she wants to investigate. Hilda chooses the case of a young Russian woman, Elena, who came to Iceland seeking asylum and wound up dead a year ago. The police ruled it a suicide but Hulda doesn't agree and so her investigation begins.

I loved so much about The Darkness.  Ragnar Jonasson is a wonderful writer and his mysteries are international bestsellers. The Icelandic setting is haunting and cold and adds so much to this novel. And Hulda is such a well drawn and relatable character that I pretty much forgot about Elena's murder.  It was Hulda's life story and my hopes for her future that gripped me. 

But should you read The Darkness? This novel is certainly a fair play mystery in that the clues will lead you to the killer. But if you are waiting for a satisfying ending like I was (SPOILER ALERT) it doesn't come for Hulda, the victims or justice. That came as a shock by the time I got to the end of the novel.  A believable shock probably closer to what happens in real life.  Justice doesn't always prevail and people don't always get a second chance at happiness. But do I really want to be reminded of this in my mystery novels? 

I do intend to try another book by Ragnar Jonasson but maybe something a little more conventional. 

Craven Manor by Darcy Coates

"Mr. Daniel Kane, I would like to offer you the job of groundskeeper for Craven Manor, starting immediately. Follow Tilbrook Street until it forks at the dead oak. Turn right and travel on for two miles to reach the property. I look forward to your direct response. Bran" -  Craven Manor by Darcy Coates

Daniel Kane is a recently homeless young man alone in the world with the exception of his cousin Kyle who is renting him a room.  When Kyle takes on a third roommate Daniel is consigned to the couch.  

Its not a good living arrangement and then a mysterious letter arrives offering Daniel a steady job as a groundskeeper at Craven Manor.  The job seems too good to pass up until Daniel visits Craven Manor and discovers a 200 year old desolate mansion with dust and decay everywhere.  And who is this mysterious Bran?  Still, Daniel  is desperate.  He accepts the job, moves into the groundskeskeeper's cottage next to Craven Manor and the novel proceeds from there.

Craven Manor (2017) is the second novel I have read by Darcy Coates.  The first novel was The Haunting of Ashburn House which I loved.  Both novels center around a young person without a family and badly needing a place to stay.  And so the abandoned estates they arrive at (Ashburn House and Craven Manor) represent shelter and maybe a new start until our protagonists realize these mansions are haunted and there is a mystery to uncover.

The Haunting of Ashburn House remains my favorite but Craven Manor is a good read as well. Daniel Kane is one of the nicest characters I have encountered in a novel in a long time.  Despite the bad luck life has thrown him he feels empathy for others even at his own expense.  

Darcy Coates writes horror novels but not extreme horror and the good guys and gals have happy endings in her books if Ashburn House and Craven Manor are any indication.  I recommend people give Darcy Coates a try beginning with The Haunting Of Ashburn House.