Posts by Vicki J Kondelik

In Shroud for a Nightingale, by the late P.D. James, one of the greatest mystery authors of all time, detective Adam Dalgliesh investigates the murders of two student nurses.

Author Lindsey Davis, best known for her Marcus Didius Falco mysteries, tells a compelling love story set in ancient Rome, from a slave's point of view.

A Demon Summer is the fourth in a series of mysteries featuring Max Tudor, a former MI5 agent turned Anglican priest. Unlike the others in the series, which are set in a tiny English village, this one takes place in a convent.

This short novel consists entirely of a monologue by a librarian in a small town in France. She speaks about the role of the library in society, her love life or lack thereof, her snobbish colleagues, her reflections on French history, and the deficiencies of the Dewey Decimal system.

The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide is a beautifully written short novel about a couple living in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, who come to love the neighbors' cat, who visits them every day. Through their love for the cat, they come to love each other better as well.

Ariel by André Maurois is a fictionalized biography of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, focusing on his romance with his second wife, Mary Shelley, who became the author of Frankenstein.

The Scarlet City is a fascinating novel about a young man's quest for his parentage in 16th century Rome.

Jessye Norman, one of today’s greatest opera singers, tells the story of her life, from her childhood in the segregated South to her triumphs on the world’s opera stages.

The Genius in the Design tells the fascinating story of the rivalry between two brilliant architects in 17th century Rome.

Quiet by Susan Cain is an excellent study of introverts and how they are underappreciated in the workplace and at school.