1. What are you currently reading? Slow Burn by Ace Atkins. A boarded-up Catholic church burned to the ground and three Boston firefighters were killed. Arson was suspected, but the official results are inconclusive. A firefighter who lost his best friend in the blaze refused to accept "inconclusive" and asked Spenser to investigate. Who could have done this? And why? There are motives aplenty: religion, finances, revenge, or pyromania.
I try to read every book including Spenser and gang as created by the later Robert B. Parker. but somehow I missed this one, published back in 2016. I love being in Spenser's head. He's the perfect combination of integrity and attitude. I can't recall ever before reading a murder mystery where fire was the weapon, so I'm engaged.
2. What did you recently finish reading? 150 Glimpses of The Beatles by Craig Brown. An original, often amusing, but not completely successful look at The Lads. Their story is told in a series of 150 short stories/anecdotes/reminisces. Some are illuminating, some are great fun, and some are just dull. It's more than 500 pages, so I guess it can be forgiven for dragging a bit. I'm just a little disappointed because I enjoyed Brown's previous book, Ma'am Darling (about Princess Margaret) so much more.
I gave it points for style and ambition. I took away points for execution. If you're a fan, like me, you'll get a kick out of it. If not, you may be bored or bedfuddled.
