{Yarn Along} Winter and I Aren't Getting Along

Winter Night yarn doesn't have the same spectacular effect as the yarn from the same line did in my Fall Night or Summer Night socks. The pretty designs are there if you look hard enough, but so far I'm not too impressed. 

In The Elusive Elixir, the third Accidental Alchemist mystery, Zoe Faust travels to Paris in search of a second living gargoyle. Her mission becomes complicated when she's recognized by someone from her past, an old woman who refuses to believe that Zoe is the granddaughter of the woman she once knew.   I love this series, with its likable characters and interesting settings. This time we learn a bit more about Zoe's past as she becomes closer to unraveling the secrets of backward alchemy, a dangerous art that may prevent her gargoyle friend from returning permanently to his original stone form. Gigi Pandian's books are perfect fans of quirky cozy mysteries.



The River At Night by Erica Ferencik is a straight forward thriller. Four women set out on their annual vacation. This year's adventure is a rafting trip through a remote wilderness area. Their guide has made the trip a handful of times and they'll be among the first paying customers to venture into the area. The setting is ominous and the locals unwelcoming, making it clear that the women are where they really don't belong.  A couple of days into the trip, the friends find themselves stranded without their guide or supplies and without any real survival skills to draw on. Unlike most of the thrillers I've read lately, none of the characters are harboring deep dark secrets. You learn more details about their lives as the book progresses, but there's no big reveal. The book is an interesting way to spend some time, but not a "must read."

Disclosure -- I was provided with advance review copies by the publishers. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along