I’ve been posting about a lot of heavy books lately, because they are good and important. This post is a quick little pop-up advertisement for two books that are just for fun.

The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman

Here’s a mystery novel that takes place in a retirement community, yet it’s not one dimensional or overly cute. The older folks in the story have interesting personalities, and the story is solid. I didn’t solve it till the end, and thoroughly enjoyed the obvious hint throwing about certain characters’ former occupations. This book is about second chances for some, and not for others. It made me think about who deserves second chances.

Fun fact, a British friend who I talk about books with told me that Richard Osman is a household name in Britain. It was to everyone’s surprise and delight that he also wrote a book in addition to being a TV personality. Perhaps the surprise to me is that he apparently does both well.

Strange Practice, by Vivian Shaw

Magical Realism at its best, Strange Practice takes place in modern day London, but follows the life and adventures of woman who practices medicine. Her patients? Monsters. I don’t think I can fully explain why this book was so interesting and wonderful, but it was just a delight. It was probably the dry humor, mixed with a plot that couldn’t happen in real life, or could it? That kept me hooked.

I will note for this one, due to the monsters, there is a little bit of content that for some people could make the book incompatible with bedtime reading. I must also note, though, that it is first in a series, so if you like it, there is more where that came from.