SHEM CREEK (Dorothea Benton Frank)

Dorothea Benton Frank is a master of creating a sense of place.  In her novels you can almost smell the salt air and feel the humidity of South Carolina's Low Country.

Shem Creek is the story of Linda Breland, a New Jersey housewife and mother of 2 teenage girls.  Fed up by her ex-husband, who is set to marry a successful woman 10 years younger than Linda, and her younger daughter Gracie's penchant for choosing badly in almost every arena of her life, Linda decides to move back home to South Carolina and  stay with her divorced sister Mimi while she looks for work, a place to live, and a new life.  Linda finds not only a new career, but a man as well (surprise), in the person of restaurant owner Brad Jackson, who has issues of his own.  Brad  has been cheated by both his father-in-law and his almost ex-wife, Loretta, who lives in Atlanta with their only son.  Both Brad and Linda have "issues," but both are strong and determined and, really, likable.

I won't go on too much about this novel.  The characters are endearing, the story will hold your interest, and Frank skillfully weaves the creek and the Low country throughout the story.  As usual, you end up feeling like you were actually there AND you look forward to returning again very soon.

THE CHRISTMAS PEARL (Dorothea Benton Frank)

If you are looking for a sweet, but a little different, Christmas story, try this one!

Theodora is 93-years-old and disappointed in how her family has turned out.  As has been the family tradition, her daughter Barbara and son-in-law Cleland live with her in her ancestral home in South Carolina.  Theodora remembers fondly her happy marriage to Fred and her comfortable growing up years with Pearl, the family's wise and nurturing black housekeeper.  As Christmas approaches she worries about Barbara and Cleland (she tends to be a doormat and he tends to be a bully) and their 3 grown children and prays that somehow the bickering, dissatisfied crew that is her family might experience some of the love and goodwill that she remembers from her family holidays in the 1920's.

Somehow, Theodora's prayers are magically answered with the sudden appearance of Pearl, who takes charge of the family's Christmas celebration despite the fact that she has been deceased for many years.  Under Pearl's able direction, Christmas traditions and recipes are resurrected and little by little Theodora's family learns the true meaning of Christmas and family.  If you're ready to get into that holiday spirit, this whimsical and funny tale will definitely help!

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND (Dorothea Benton Frank)

Sullivan's Island, Frank's debut novel, is the story of Susan Hayes, a betrayed wife who returns to the home of her youth to try to put her life back together.  Written in alternating chapters, the novel explores both Susan's evolution as a single mother and budding writer and her difficult childhood with an abusive father and depressed mother.  After discovering that her husband has been cheating on her with a bimbo in her twenties, Susan flees with her daughter, Beth, to her old family home on Sullivan's Island, SC, the home where her sister Maggie has been raising her family.  While Susan grieves for her broken marriage, she meets the local newspaper editor, who offers her a job writing a household hints column for the paper.  With the help of her writing and her fierce love for her daughter, Susan begins to regain her sense of self-worth with humor and determination.

Frank manages to combine two sadly common stories, set during two different eras in Susan's life, into a wonderful story full of interesting characters and a wonderful sense of place.  No wonder this first novel led to so many other excellent ones!

DANDY GILVER AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF BLOODSTAINS (Catriona McPherson)

This is the kind of series that you either love or are neutral on.  Set in the 1920's in the UK, it features Dandelion (Dandy) Gilver, a married aristocrat whose children are away at boarding school and whose husband apparently accepts detective work as a suitable outlet for his intelligent wife.

In this novel, Dandy is called upon by a Lollie Balfour, a young wife in Edinburgh, Scotland, who reports that her wealthy husband, Pip, is both abusive and threatening.  She fears for her life, despite the fact that she still loves Pip deeply, and asks Dandy to pose as a ladies' maid so she can infiltrate the house and get to the bottom of Pip's threats.  Dandy learns most of what she needs to know to pose as Miss Fanny Rossiter, ladies' maid, from her own ladies' maid.  When Pip is found murdered, new suspects seem to appear on every page, but things just don't add up neatly for Dandy and she brings her friend Alec in on the investigation.  Watching Dandy attempt to convincingly move "downstairs" is entertaining in itself, but it can't compare to the slow, intriguing  unraveling of the multiple clues and relationships that gradually lead to a very surprising ending.  This historical mystery gets a thumbs up from me.  The ending may seem a bit far-fetched, but I think it works!

MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (Lloyd C. Douglas)

One of the reasons that I chose this selection for the Vintage Book Club is that I had read Douglas's The Robe (published 1942) three times in my younger years and absolutely loved it.  I enjoyed Magnificent Obsession, which was published in 1929, but I can see a distinct development of writing style between the novels.  This one is intriguing, but written in a note-like style that reminds one of a series of thoughts and comments rather than a continuous narrative.  In fact, Douglas uses "..." heavily in this  novel.

Lloyd C. Douglas was an American minister whose novels focus heavily on themes of morality and redemption.  In each one a man who is essentially godless and thoughtless has his eyes opened to the existence of a higher power and the value of compassion and caring.  Magnificent Obsession was made into a film twice (I've seen them both) and each time the central theme was minimized in favor of melodrama.  In the novel, Bobby Merrick is a dissolute playboy, a drunken party boy whose life is saved after a boating accident by a piece of equipment that could have instead saved the life of the selfless and much beloved Dr. Hudson, who needed it at the same time.  Bobby is slowly made aware of the immense loss felt by the hospital and community after Dr. Hudson's death and comes eventually to realize that his irresponsible lifestyle  has consequences.  After learning a bit about Dr. Hudson's hidden acts of philanthropy and delving further into his philosophy of life, revealed bit by bit in an encoded journal, Bobby slowly embraces a new way of life to make amends to the doctor's family.

Douglas's style is a bit off-putting, but in our era of greed and self-involvement, it's a treat to read a story that focuses on a person becoming better and striving to contribute positively.  The concept of "pay-it-forward' must certainly have been developed as a result of stories like this.  If you want to watch the movie, go ahead, but read the novel first.  It's so much richer and detailed and tells the full story of a man with a mission.

A BEAUTIFUL BLUE DEATH (Charles Finch)

Armchair traveler Charles Lenox is everything a Victoria gentleman should be.  He is kind to his servants, courtly to his beloved childhood friend and neighbor Lady Jane, a loving uncle and brother, and an excellent detective.  This is the first in this great series and it will leave you clamoring for more.  In our current election turmoil, you will be especially amused by the workings of the British government and charmed by the manners and customs of the 1860's.

Lady Jane's former maid has taken a new position, in the home of the man who runs the mint, to be closer to her fiance.  When she is found dead in her room it is assumed to be suicide.  Typical of the class divisions of the time, no one above stairs is particularly concerned about the possibility of a crime being committed, especially since an apparent suicide note was found.  Sir Charles, who is visiting the home, thinks differently, and he and his doctor friend decide to investigate.

One of the things I enjoyed most about A Beautiful Blue Death was the process of investigation, especially against the backdrop of political and family intrigue. Sir Charles is methodical and intelligent, yet 100% a man of his time in terms of social convention. If you've ever watched Downton Abbey or Gosford Park, you'll recognize the generally callous attitude toward the lives of servants and it's a credit to Sir Charles that he cares enough to find out why the young woman died.  His methods are thorough and his intuition is excellent.  I would highly recommend this series!  My mother, who is 91 years old, LOVES it!

THRICE THE BRINDED CAT HATH MEW'D (Alan Bradley)

Flavia de Luce strikes again!  Upon her return from the Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada, 12-year-old Flavia is dismayed by the news that her beloved, but distant, father is hospitalized with pneumonia and not well enough for visitors.  Looking to avoid both the sad atmosphere of the house and the unwelcome company of her older sisters and annoying cousin, Undine, Flavia takes her trusty bicycle, Gladys, and heads out in the snow to explore her familiar Bishop's Lacey and surrounding areas.  When the vicar's wife asks her to deliver a message to a local craftsman, Flavia jumps at the chance.  She is both horrified and thrilled to discover the body of  the man she is seeking dead, hanging upside-down from the back of a door in his bedroom.  Intrigued, Flavia explores the room where she has made the gruesome discovery, noting details and carefully avoiding any contamination of the crime scene before returning to the vicarage with the news.  And we are launched into another fantastic Flavia de Luce investigation!

Falvia is a cool-headed, analytical, and objective scientist encased in the body and exhibiting (but trying to suppress) the emotions of a 12-year-old girl.  I still cannot imagine how Alan Bradley manages to do it.  Having been a 12-year-old girl myself years ago I understand how Flavia's mind works to a certain extent, but I could never have imagined a male adult successfully portraying her as Bradley does.  The quality of this series never falters and I think that this one (book 8) is just as good and unique as the first.  You can read it for the mystery, or for the setting, or for the wonderful characters.  Whichever you favor, you will not fail to be pleased and will soon be looking forward to #9!