© 2012 Book Chatter | Book Chatter

You know how it works. Halloween comes and then Thanksgiving and then wham…it’s Christmas. I love all of it. I just wish I could slow it down a little. I am going to attempt to do that this year by doing more in the way of activities and less in the way of shopping. That way, I’ll actually feel as if I accomplished something. There is nothing worse than getting to the mall while it’s light out and then leaving when it’s dark. What a time suck that is. No. Don’t want to do that this year and online shopping takes the fun out of it for me so less shopping is the answer. I think.

It’s still warm here. Which is weird. The Girl wanted to carve the pumpkins today but if we do, they’ll be mushy by Halloween, so we literally have to wait until the night before. We got our “Fall” fix at the school’s fall festival last Friday. It was fun and The Girl goes crazy running around with all of her friends and I must say, the costumes were pretty creative this year.

Here’s The Girl as a Pirate. Her little friend went as Chucky’s Bride. I got a chuckle out of that wig. I LOVE the costumes. We got the last pieces for The Boy’s costume yesterday but if I mention it here, he’ll be upset so I will wait until the big day, and then post a pic (if he let’s me snap one).

Today is a nothing day. Last week was very stressful and this week will be about the same. After this week though, things should ease up a bit but I am so wiped out from last week, that I cleaned the house. I clean when I am stressed and now I am about to read Insurgent, which has been renewed six times and is due on Tuesday. I just want to finish it so I can turn it in and move on to the next book. I’m looking forward to reading it, but I hate reading books under the gun.

The Twelve has been patiently waiting for me. It’s the one book that I was dying to read but my reading vibe, mojo, whatever you want to call it, is all wrong right now. I need to be stress free to read it and it’s not happening for a while. I may have to save it for Thanksgiving week.

Right now I have the Roseanne Halloween episodes running. Think I can turn ’em off to get Insurgent read?

In the oven, roasted chicken with potatoes. It’s making the house even hotter than it is but it smells good. I sure hope it’s not 90 degrees for Thanksgiving this year.

What are your plans for Halloween? I will be handing out candy with The Boy. That is, if he doesn’t end up going off with his friends. The Girl asked a friend to come over so they will be trick-or-treating together with The Hub. I’ll make a big pot of chili and probably watch a horror movie at the same time. The Otter Pup does not enjoy strangers at the door but she is doing a lot better with people in general so maybe she’ll be better this year.

Now, off to get a glass of iced tea. Not a seasonal drink but needed at the moment.

1222
By Anne Holt
(Scribner, Paperback, 9781451634723, August 2012, 352pp.)

The Short of It:

A mystery that will hold you captive. Preferably, under a blanket with a cup of something warm to keep you company.

The Rest of It:

During what is quite possibly the worst snowstorm ever, a train on its way to Bergen, Norway derails at a point about 1222 meters above sea level. The passengers are taken to a nearby hotel where they are given food and shelter but they find themselves trapped as the weather continues to worsen.

One of the passengers, Hanne Wilhelmsen, a retired police investigator notices something odd. That the passenger/s from the private rail car are nowhere to be seen. She hears from the other guests that they were taken to a different section of the hotel. Who are they? Why are they being kept separate from the other guests?

As if things could get any worse, a body is discovered. First one, then two. Since Hanne is the only person with any kind of investigative experience, she is enlisted to help solve the crime even though she has no desire to do so. Years ago she was paralyzed from the waist down by a bullet to the spine making it somewhat difficult to get around but her observation skills if anything improved, making her the perfect storyteller for this “locked door” mystery.

This is the 8th book in the Wilhelmsen series but the first for me and I never felt lost or out of the loop. Holt manages to give you just enough of a back story to feel comfortable,without rehashing Hanne’s entire life. The pacing is pretty good too considering its limited setting. The personal observations of Hanne were both critical as well as entertaining and often times funny.

This was an enjoyable read. I don’t read mystery or crime fiction too often but this one was especially fun. Mainly because of the “locked door” nature of the story. Being trapped in a hotel with a bunch of strangers, stuck in a wheelchair with a killer running about, makes for good reading. I can’t deny it.

I take comfort in knowing that there are seven other books in the series for me to dip into. Also, my other love (Jo Nesbo) calls Holt the “godmother of modern Norwegian crime fiction.” I’d say that’s pretty impressive.

Source: Sent to me by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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