It’s winter here in the Maritimes and that means lots of long, dark evenings for reading. Here’s what I made my way through last month. Reviews for some will follow.

1. Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey
Set in Australia in the late 19th century. Made into a movie starring Cate Blanchett and Ralph Fiennes.

2. The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley
The second in this great mystery series featuring 11 year old Flavia de Luce. Eagerly anticipated (I was on the reserve list for our local library’s copy for six months) and did not disappoint.

3. Barney’s Version by Mordecai Richler
Set in Paris, Montreal and the Laurentians, this novel by Canadian icon Richler has been made into a recently released movie.

4. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka
Not at all what I expected. Set in modern-day Britain.

5. Postcards by E. Annie Proulx
Set in Vermont and across America, beginning in the early 1940s. Fascinating but left me feeling bereft.

6. An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd
The second in the wonderful Bess Crawford mystery series. Set in England during WWI.

7. Billy Boyle by James R. Benn
Also a mystery, the first in this series. Set during WWII, in London England, but from the point of view of an American character.

8. Stratton’s War by Laura Wilson
First in the mystery series featuring London England police officer Ted Stratton. Also set during WWII.

9. An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
Another first in series, also a mystery, featuring the writer Josephine Tey and fictional Detective Archie Penrose. My review here.

Links for my Canadian readers:
Oscar And Lucinda
The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag
Barney’s Version (Movie Tie-in Edition)
Postcards
An Impartial Witness: A Bess Crawford Mystery
Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery
Stratton’s War
An Expert In Murder: A Josephine Tey Mystery

Or better yet, buy from a independent book seller.

Technorati Tags: Oscar and Lucinda, Oscar & Lucinda, Peter Carey, The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag, Flavia de Luce, Alan Bradley, Barney’s Version, Mordecai Richler, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Marina Lewycka, Postcards, E. Annie Proulx, An Impartial Witness, Bess Crawford, Charles Todd, Billy Boyle, WW2 mystery, WW1 mystery, WWI, WWII, James R. Benn, Stratton’s War, Laura Wilson, An Expert in Murder, Josephine Tey mystery, Archie Penrose, Nicola Upson

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