Book Notes September 24, 2026

 

Welcome to the second edition of Book Notes.  I enjoyed writing the first one, and hope this one goes as well as the first.

Meme of the Week

I can identify! I used to listen to audiobooks on the drive to work and sometimes found myself sitting in the car listening to one last bit of story before heading into the building. Even if I was running late. Sorry about that!

Adaptation

 

Jensen Ackles of Supernatural fame will play Lucas Davenport, the main character in John Sandford's Prey novels .  Season one of Rules of Prey is based on the first novel of the series.  The season will consist of eight episodes.  The show will air on MGM+

https://deadline.com/2026/09/jensen-ackles-rules-of-prey-series-mgm-plus-1237108451/ 

 

The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett

The Fairway players are back! Kevin McDonald and his wife Sarah have chosen The Hollow by Agatha Christie as their play.  All of the women want one particular role, and the men’s roles are filled largely by ex-felons under the guidance of Fran, who is their mentor.  No one is to know their backgrounds, though.

As usual the story is presented in emails, texts, and chats.  There is so much going on romantically, criminally and on a personal level between characters, it’s a wonder anyone gets through rehearsals. 

Opening night and there’s a judge at the play who can give awards to several actors or production people. What could go wrong?

 

 

A Drop of Corruption An Ana and Din Mystery

Immunis Mineti Sujedo, of the Treasury, disappeared from his hotel room, and his partial remains were found at a bandit camp outside of the city the next day.   No one entered his room, nor did he leave that anyone saw. 

Dinios Kol  has arrived in Yarrowdale ahead of  Investigator Ana Dolabra to ascertain the crime and begin it’s solution and move towards inevitable justice.  

Meeting him is Singum Tira Malo, a Warden of the Apothetikals.  The Wardens have keen senses and know the area as no others do.  Malo detects no trace of anyone in the hotel room besides the victim.

The dead man’s remains lead Din and Ana on a long road to find a killer with the ability to predict events.  He stays ahead of their inquiries and has a long in motion plan to keep Yarrowdale and its secrets out of the hands of the empire for good.

A Drop of Corruption is a twisted mystery and great science fiction.

 

 

DOA On TV 9/21/26 Lanterns, Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Major Crimes, Best Medicine

 Hello, Monday!  We are off to a good start of the week with some fine TV.

 

Lanterns

 

After John visits Hal in Rushville for a tense meeting in the town café, as soon as he gets home there’s a call that Hal is dead and sitting frozen in the bleachers of the local stadium.

John doesn’t tell the sheriff he was just in town, but a waitress who was taking a break out front decides to blackmail John for the amount of money that compensates her losses from the 2016 town attack in return for keeping his secret.

The new Lantern is Guy Gardner, a complete goof who is concerned about “optics” above all.  Really? You decide to replace even a fallen version of Hal Jordan, with John, then replace John with that guy?   The Guardians are stoopid.

Only three people attend Hal’s funeral, with John reading a eulogy Hal wrote for himself.   John talked Guy Gardner into bringing Hal’s suit and ring for Hal to be buried in.   

The third person is a woman who isn't named in the show, but she's Carol Ferris, Hal's first love, who appeared in the Green Lantern comics in a variety of roles.

 

Hal was dating sheriff Kelly in the show before he got popped.   Juicy tidbits.

Later that night, John is digging up the grave, and gets Hal’s ring from his finger once more.  He taps it once and gets a 5% charge, enough to bring forth Hal’s hologram who is horrified to see Hal in the grave.  The plot thickens.

 

Strange New Worlds Ep 9  Once La'an A Time

 

Returning to the fairy tale world of  Elysian  from season one, the crew face their doppelgangers in a faerie world.   The center of the tale is La’an, trying to face both of her halves via a helpless princess version of her and the kick ass version of her she presents to the world.  It plays out better than it should, with outstanding doppelgangers of Pike and Spock making their way to the Enterprise and just nudge, nudge, wink winking their way to commandeer the bridge.

Uhura once again gets an outstanding role as the evil queen who rules Elysian and who dares to attack the Enterprise as a dragon, which seems helpless against her.

In a totally odd move, they leave Pelia behind to help the faerie ship get home, and to be the paramour of the cook there. Almost as a toss away line ,she’s gone.   What an odd way to end her time on the show.

 

 Major Crimes (Netflix)

 

I said I’d never watch Major Crimes, the followup show to The Closer,  because no Brenda!  Also, the Sharon Raydor character with her breathy speech and wimpy manner, argh.   It does have pretty much all of the original cast, which is the appeal.  Even Brenda's husband is just cruising along as the FBI liaison to LAPD.   

A character they should have left behind and painfully did not is Rusty, the wayward teen with a terrible past and a wish that his mom loved him.   Raydor takes him in!  To live with her temporarily, but after a few episodes he appears to be settling in.   Dunno if I can keep watching/keep myself from watching.

 

Best Medicine season 2, Ep 1     Be Careful What You Fish For

 

Making a delightful return for season two, Best Medicine has a mermaid in town!  Daringly rescued by Doc as he raced along a pier and dove in fully dressed, she presents one mystery after another.

Also featured is Judith, a lifelong smoker just released from the hospital who now needs oxygen.   First she blows up her own house, smoking immediately with the oxygen on, then she goes to stay at Sarah’s house, under the watchful eyes of several helpers, including the three surly teens who are everywhere.

Doc has an on site watcher who will report to the committee deciding if Doc gets to keep his license.   All she does is eat and take notes, using her position to request more snacks and food to keep her going.