Back in late June, my fellow library blogger Joanna wrote about Linda Castillo’s debut thriller Sworn to Silence in her “What’ll it be…” column.  My partner was so impressed with her review that she decided to take the book on vacation with us, where she promptly devoured it, ignoring the rest of us while sitting on the beach to read every single word with single-minded resolve.  When she was done, she told me I had to read it.  So I did!

I am going to second Joanna’s recommendation that you all read Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo.  I am also going to second her opinion that it can be a little long on the gore and violence.  It reads more like “Criminal Minds” than “Little House on the Prairie.”  If you want to read a murder mystery that is more “Little House on the Prairie” and also features the American Amish community, I will recommend Jodi Picoult’s Plain Truth.

Plain Truth tells the story of a successful attorney who is called back to the simpler roots of her family when she is asked to defend a relative - a young, unmarried Amish woman - who is alleged to have murdered her newborn child.  Picoult writes convincingly of the tense intersection of the Amish and English communities.

For those who like the Castillo, the second book in the series, Pray for Silence, is in the catalogue waiting for you to place a hold on it!

It was a mystery-ful weekend at my place!  In addition to the Castillo, I also read another Swedish mystery by Arnaldur Indridason - Hypothermia.  What could be better than a murder mystery that you don’t even know whether or not there is a murder?!  I am glad that I got started on the Northern European mystery writers.   I am just getting started on a new book, this one by a Norwegian.  I can’t say anymore, because then I wouldn’t have anything to write about next week.  Stay tuned!

Finally, I also finished 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs, another solid addition to the Temperance Brennan series.  I must admit that after my encounter with a Brennan audiobook, I had a hard time reading the book without hearing the stilted French and southern accent in my head.  Thankfully, it was a great story, and I was able to get over it!  For Reichs fans, the new title - Spider Bones - is also on order and awaiting your addition to the holds list.