It's always nice to hear from friends. Many thanks to all who have sent me e-mails with comments about my Circle series or anything else. So keep in touch, and I will respond. My e-mail address is:
doloresriccio@comcast.net.
Thanks also to the "friends of Circle" who've left me inspiring messages on the Discussion page of this Website.
The fifth Cass Shipton adventure, The Divine Circle of Ladies Playing with Fire, is now available! (See image of cover below.)Yes, it truly is, although some of you report not finding the listing on Amazon--try again, it is there! I will also stock some copies in my home "book store" for those who those who prefer to buy through the mail, but that will take a few weeks. I'll post a message here when my copies arrive. I'm also sending emails to all you special readers who wrote to me (and haven't changed your email address since!) Forgive me if you get two notices by mistake!
Playing with Fire tells a suspenseful tale of Cass Shipton and her Wiccan friends in hot pursuit of a clever local arsonist. I hope you’ll find it wickedly entertaining!
And I plan to publish number six in the fall,
The Divine Circle of Ladies Rocking the Boat.
Kensington Books writes to me that they are cleaning our their inventory and have copies of that elusive 4th Circle adventure,
The Divine Circle of Ladies Courting Trouble, the one that no one could buy without paying a "rare book" price. So I've ordered more copies, but I'll believe I have them when I see them. More about this later!
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HOT SUMMER READS
From me to you...a bouquet of books to delight and excite you while you relax in the shade with a tall cool glass of something refreshing.
A Nobel Radiance by Donne Leon
Guido Brunetti, an Italian mensch and thoughtful, humane Venetian policeman, weaves his way once again through the intricacies of his country’s class traditions, prejudices, buffoonery, chicanery, and corruption. Another wonderful story from Leon, the best series since Ellis Peter’s Brother Cadfael. Alas, only a few more that I haven’t read yet.
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
I, too, have been inspired by the love inscription written by Rameses for his wife Nefertari which is lettered inside her tomb in the Valley of Queens, and wrote my own poem about the grave robbers breaking into her treasure. The author has both researched and imagined a wonderful and exciting story of their lives that kept me fascinated until the very last page.
Runner by Thomas Perry
A Native American woman who’s an expert in providing a new identity for someone who needs to “disappear” becomes involved in the life of a young pregnant woman who’s being chased by the abusive father of her child. An exciting chase with many easy killings along the way—maybe too easy. Nevertheless, it’s a page-turner all right.
Revelation by C. J. Sansom
Another favorite sleuth, Attorney Matthew Shardlake, encounters a string of fanatical and gruesome murders with political undercurrents in not-so-merry Tudor England. As always, Shardlake, although the butt of many “crookback” gibes, stands head and shoulders above his larcenous and libidinous contemporaries, especially King Henry VIII who is about to marry his sixth wife Catherine Parr.
The Associate by John Grisham
Legal exposition can be tedious, but Grisham’s young hero gets himself into such deep trouble that you have to keep turning those pages (skipping whole paragraphs of inside-the-law-firm background—sure associates are overworked, but gosh…). Hired as an associate for a prestigious NY firm, the protagonist finds himself the victim of a sophisticated blackmail attempt to elicit private information about an important law suit. Subject to intense surveillance, he resorts to techniques found in spy novels to thwart his opponents. (That part was the most fun.)
Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling
Convincing sci-fi story of the world suddenly losing all forms of power (including weapon power), an event in which becomes known as The Change in the story. Follows two main characters, a charismatic pilot who guides one group of refugees through many adventures, and a Wiccan high priestess who gathers her clan and others together to form a new colony. Oh, sure they meet up, but it’s not that simple.
Tethered by Amy MacKinnon
A debut novel as accomplished as this evokes both envy and admiration from this author. The story is shocking but mesmerizing, from the details of corpse preparation to the horrors of child abuse—but so masterfully told that the reader is caught (ah ha, tethered) in the story’s web.
Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton
Barely a mystery, mostly an enjoyable magical romp with some amazing otherworldly characters, and a hot romance between a knit shop owner coming into her magical powers and an all-too-human cop.
Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin
This third in a series of the “Mistress of the Art of Death” stories is the most exciting yet as the young physician is commissioned by Henry VI to verify the bones of King Arthur. (In those days, only in Salerno were women trained in medicine—in England, they were more liable to be accused of witchcraft.) A wonderful story!
The Birthday Present by Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell)
An MP arranges a kinky rendezvous for his lover with tragic consequences. At first he believes his name is clear in the incident, but gradually he realizes there are various witnesses with various agendas. Totally engaging and suspenseful.
Shelter Me by Juliette Fay
A debut novel that’s both a woman’s story and beautifully written in a literary sense. The author never puts never puts a word wrong in description. Just wonderful. A young widow who is bitter and angry finds help from those with whom she feels she has little in common—and yet…! The children especially are delightfully drawn.
Blue Heaven by C.J.Box.
Mystery Writers of America prize winner for 2009. Two children witness a murder and go on the run from a quartet of bad guys who just happen to be ex cops; and the bad guys naturally volunteer to lead the search effort. Exciting and well written..
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
Queen Elizabeth II of England takes up an eclectic course of reading for the first time in her life. An entirely charming novella, warmly recommended to book lovers.
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© Dolores Stewart Riccio
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A special recommendation: My husband Rick's exciting book
The Man Whose Records Were Burned. It's a page-turning adventure I'm sure you'll enjoy, available online from Barnes & Noble.
