Mornings – Afternoons

  

Every morning I try to spend some time reading various news pieces on the computer in order to keep up with the world in general. 

GOP declares Jan 6 attack legitimate – just political discourse

Really?  To me it looked more like this

Rather than this

Pence says Trump wrong to say then vice president had
the right to overturn 2020 election

Very true – and the article concluded with too little, too late.

Texas weather is back to normal.  Yesterday the high temperature at my house was 34 degrees; low – 26.  Today the high is a sunny 50 degrees with a low of 29 (ok, that’s still pretty chilly).  Tomorrow??? Tomorrow it’s going to be a balmy 58 with a low of 40.  Weird – we have weird weather here. 

However, in middle earth –

You gotta love people that live in the frozen middle lands!

Since I have been house-bound for the past several days (cold, it was cold and rainy and cold and icy and cold), I’ve had more time to read.  I’ve recently read three books by Linda Castillo – her Kate Burkholder series.

“Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio where the Amish and “English” residents have lived side by side for two centuries. Sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community and Kate, then a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer. She came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish. Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate must seek out the truth in a society of silence—while facing some secrets of her own.”

There are a number of the Kate Burkholder books and novellas in this series.  And, so far, I have to say they are all good, well written mysteries (I’ve read about 6 of them so far).  There is some relationship progression but it doesn’t (at least to me) affect the story. 

Outsider, #12
Down a Dark Road, #9
Breaking Silence, #3

They’re all very good, but I’ll just do the “review” on the last one – “Breaking Silence”.

“The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death—clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish? Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes—and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.”

It's a little surprising to learn who the murder is only because of the “Idyllic Amish community” projected throughout her books.  Good, very good!

Also I’ve spent more time surfing the television (house-bound and all).  I looked for something even moderately good to watch.  And, I found this on Netflix.  Stay Close, a British mystery drama miniseries based on the 2012 Harlan Coben novel.  There are only eight episodes – which as suspenseful as this has turned out, is probably good.  Not sure my heart or mind could take much more.  I did “power watch” episodes 1-4.  Then had to tone down to one or two per day. 

Megan Pierce is a suburban mum living in the suburb of Livingston, hiding a murky past. She has found her soulmate in Dave and they have three children, all living the dream. Ray Levine was once a talented documentary photographer. Losing the woman he loved changed him. Now he is in a dead-end job, playing a paparazzo-for-hire, pandering to rich kid pseudo-celebrities. Michael Broome is a detective still haunted by a cold case from seventeen years ago. A local husband and father, Stewart Green, disappeared without any trace. Green's wife still waits for Stewart to return.  When another man goes missing on the anniversary of Stewart’s disappearance, Broome takes the case in the hope of exorcising his demons. Three people whose lives are about to be splintered, as Broome’s investigations open old wounds, stir up past memories and threaten to expose the truth for everyone to see. Weaving their way through the spaces of what binds these three lives together are a couple of colourful psychopaths, intent on completing their own agenda.

So far, it’s very good.  I still have a couple of episodes to go – will let you know.

With the sun out and it warming up so much, my sister and I ventured out to a “last day” estate sale (nothing of great interest left), our local resale shop (nada there either) and a new store downtown (closed).  Then home again home.

Have a good weekend all!

5 Jan 2022

Oh – one other thing –

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BROTHER!