The Amber Shadows, by Lucy Ribchester, begins in the cold winter of 1942 at Bletchley Park, the site for British codebreakers during World War II. Honey Deschamps, who transcribes coded messages, meets a man while walking home in the dark who gives her a package with Russian postal marks. Inside is a small amber block, mysteriously […]

Gone to Dust, a fast-paced and funny private eye novel by Matt Goldman, is set in wintry Minnesota. A woman is found murdered in her home, the entire crime scene obscured by thick layers of vacuum cleaner bag dust.  This detail, unsurprisingly, is an obstacle to the investigation.  When the police call in private investigator […]

There are times when even the stiffest of upper lips wobble, and the most ardent reader’s literary work ethic turns to mush. This poor unfortunate soul cannot conceive of picking up the grim psychological thriller, the worthy biography,the best-selling history,  or even the latest gore-soaked serial killer novel.  Dark days call for cheerful measures, and […]

Hey everyone, there’s this super rare natural phenomenon known as a ” total solar eclipse” happening this Monday, August 21! Citizens across the country will be whipping out their fancy eclipse glasses or homemade viewing devices, and hunkering down to enjoy this special natural event.  Here in Grand Junction the event will be viewed as […]

When I don’t want to be a soulless creep, I turn to Jane Austen. Reading her as an uncouth youth elevated my witless literary habits and saved me from a slack-jawed, Judith- Krantz-and-her-ilk-filled future. She was my gateway to the classics, and her tart and funny novels have entertained me ever since. Her charming satire, […]

Coffee: it’s the first thing I think of when I wake up.  The ritual begins as I groggily slump towards the kitchen with eyes half open, heading directly towards the stove top to begin boiling water.  I move on to pour beans out of the bag with a gentle urgency, always adding a little more […]

The Will Eisner Award Nominations for 2017 were recently released. If you are a comic book fan, you know what this means. If you are not a big fan but like some comic books or want to give them a try, this is the list for you. Wikipedia tells me that they are sometimes referred […]

Did you know that Colorado turns 141 tomorrow? On August 1, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation granting Colorado statehood. We’re the Centennial State! To celebrate, on Monday, August 7, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is giving free admission to all state parks. Here is a link to help you decide where to go. If you like reading […]

Isn’t she a beaut?  Colorado River Day is recognized each year on July 25th.  It was on this day in 1921 that Congress re-named the river from the “Grand” to the “Colorado.” 96 years later, the river flows 1,450 miles from Colorado to California.  In and around her waters you can experience many recreational delights […]