Book Notes October 22, 2026

 

 

Meme of the Week:

 I made this one myself!  I'm seeing ads for so many new books, I hardly know where to start deciding what to read.  In truth I'm picking new releases by my favorite authors first :)

Review: House of Correction by Nicci French

This was the October selection for the mystery book group I attend. 

Tabitha Hardy returns to her old home town, a small English village.  Tabitha has had lifelong problems with depression and sometimes unchecked anger.   She hopes living by the sea and swimming even in the cold wintry water will help her focus and be more calm.

Then a body is found in her shed.  She and her handyman find the body while preparing for renovation work on her old house.  They’re so shocked they try to sit him up and somehow rouse him.  Both are covered in the man’s blood, but only Tabitha is charged with murder.

No other suspects are considered once it is found she has an unfortunate history with the victim.  She’s shuttled away to prison to await sentencing and trial.  Her already disturbed state is off the charts at being in such a place.  When she finds her court appointed attorney wants her to plea bargain as if she’s guilty, Tabitha takes on her own case.  In truth Tabitha doesn’t know if she did it or not. Her memory of the day is thin.  She’s willing to do all the research she can to save herself from life in prison.

This was an interesting book, as Tabitha is so rude and annoying, it’s hard to get on her side whether she’s guilty or not.   At some point, though, I found myself rooting for her anyway.

House of Corrections is written by husband/wife writing duo Nicci Gerard and Sean French.

I found a video interview with the couple and meant to watch just a little to see what they’re like, but watched and enjoyed it all. 

 

 

DOA On TV Best Medicine, Doc, Elspeth, Sheriff Country

 

Best Medicine  No Place Like  Om

Martin is leaving for a weekend in Boston with Eden, but the behavior of three senior friends interrupts his travel plans.  His expertise makes him think they may have gotten lead poisoning at a retreat they all attended, so he investigates with Mark.  The town this week celebrates the graduation ceremony at Louisa’s small school.  She is having trouble writing her first speech as principal.

 

Doc Great Expectations

A demanding patient Amy saved last year early in her recovery brings in a friend with an inoperable tumor that she insists only Amy can treat.

Jake, new to the cardiology department, goes over the head of a surgeon to help a patient who may die because a botched surgery previously may kill the man now.

 

Elspeth   Death of a Playwright

In most episodes, the killer is shown committing the crime at the beginning of the episode and we watch Elspeth figure out what we know.  This week, there are multiple suspects, and a ghost seen by one of them who frankly seems the most guilty.  Even Elspeth goes down the wrong track at first, but works on the elements of the crime that don’t make sense till she gets her murderer.

 

Sheriff Country   Family Trust

Mickey tries to work with her parents Wes and Eva, but they are too deceitful and wily for her.  Also, she thought she could work with her mother, who is a stranger to her, but there is a moment between the two of them when she feels she does know the woman.   She shuts down and decides to leave the drug sting operation and work with Boone alone on getting the trafficked girls out of the hands of the cartel.

Librariandoa's Saturday Puzzles A Halloween Crossword

 I love doing crossword puzzles for my page here, but struggled for a long time writing clues.  I think I've got the trick of it now.   I hope you enjoy this week's puzzle.

 

Librariandoa's Saturday Puzzles An Answer Key for the 10/10/26 Secret Code Puzzle

 Our Secret Code is the first line from The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego.  It's on my to be read pile so I don't know anything about it other than I bought it and it has library in the title.  Nice cover, eh?

 

 

Five Things Friday October 16, 2026

 Late? Me? Your clock must be off :)

Here we are with a few odd things, cute things. I watched a lot of low budget science fiction in my youth but never saw The Slime People. Does the Slime guy resemble a poo emoji or what?  Have a great weekend!

Book Notes October 15, 2026

 

Welcome to bookshelf moving week on the blog.  We adopted a wonderful little cat! I don’t mind her exploring at all, but right by my two level stairs is a tiny ledge and a jump to a cabinet with no good way down.

I’ve emptied it out and moved two bookcases out of the way so it can sit here.

The book cases are now across the room.

I have more books than shelf space and this has been a problem for awhile. 

Books I’ve read but can’t shelve.

Books I haven’t read with no spot either.

I’m finally bringing up two cubby type shelves from downstairs which should hold all of the loose books until I buy more.

One under a window so the kitten can safely look out. One in the dangerous top of the stairs spot so the kitten can hop up but the shelf will provide a lower level for getting safely up and down.

We need my son to come on the weekend to move that heavy glass cabinet without tragedy.

Wish us luck!

DOA On TV Best Medicine, Doc, Elspeth, Great British Baking Show, Sheriff Country

 

 

Sorry to be late!  I've been rearranging furniture all day.  I'm not as young as I used to be!  Ack!

 

Best Medicine Crate Expectations

In a packed episode, the town holds their annual crate race, wherein the contestants try to run across a series of floating crates.  There are rivalries involved in this race going back to Martin’s childhood.

Karaoke night brings out Mark, Louisa, with tepid tunes.  In steps Eden, feeling competitive with an old show tune song and dance that has everyone cringing, and one man faints, taken with a mysterious condition.

Mark and Louisa carpool to a nearby town to meet their dates, found online. Neither date goes well, but the pair’s friendship is solid.

Martin requires contestants to have a physical and three men test as positively pregnant.  None will take the tests seriously.

 

Doc  I know What I Want

The title refers mostly to a patient who is in her 70s and is ready to swing.  She’s gotten an STD from her lover, but isn’t daunted.  Her husband is left in the lurch. 

Amy has decided after a variety of flashbacks that she wants to choose a life with Jake.  He has to tell her he’s back with his ex-wife.  What she wants isn’t happening for her.

The interesting medical case of the week is a young man who has been addicted for a decade, and who can’t find any way to kick the habit.  He feels as if he’s made progress, but he’s been taking a heath supplement that functions like the drugs he’s been on so he’s on death’s door because they can’t figure out what is causing his symptoms, it’s touch and go.

Sonja, spoiler alert, takes a pregnancy test and it’s positive.

 

Elspeth   Crazy In Love

I flagged watching the show last season, but the opening episode of season four was good.  A rather mesmerizing popular marriage guru kills her longtime lover when he inconveniently plans to spend more time in New York.  She’s obsessed with him (though he’s a real scrounge) and wouldn’t be able to stay away from him. 

The woman does a clever job of setting up his death to look like one of her other patients (?) did it, but Elspeth is soon on her trail. 

 

Great British Baking Show   Audience Choice Week

The audience has sent suggestions for the show.  There’s the signature where you can have a family member helping you.  They made cheese cakes. 

The Technical gave everyone a box of ingredients and they were to make whatever they wanted.  It’s not as good as the challenge of everyone making the same thing with little information about the recipe.

The showstopper was something wearable.  These were pretty great, the winner being a handbag.

 

Sheriff Country 

Sheriff Country returned, picking up where it left off with Mickey's dead mother head of an operation to take down a local cartel.   Mickey, Wes, and Skye want nothing to do with her till  they see the cost to a friend and his family.   

We see in the past how Eva (then known as Maria) was an agent sent to take down Wes, but she fell in love with him and had Mickey instead.  When her supervisors catch up with her, she's made to leave the States for ten years, and to agree to be listed as dead.

In a fun bit Morena Baccarin's real life husband Ben McKenzie plays the sheriff of a neighboring town who picks her up totally drunk at the episode's beginning.  They've been friends for years.  It looks he will be in more episodes.  I loved the pair together in Gotham.