Mysteries of Eleusis by Margaret Doody

Synopsis :

In the winter of 330-329 BC Athens itself suffers a series of alarming thefts and home robberies. It seems that nobody is safe. The great philosopher Aristotle helps his former student Stephanos investigate a break- in and brutal murder at the house of one of his Athenian neighbours. The man fingered for the crime turns against Stephanos just as he is planning his marriage. It is difficult to arrange a big fat Greek wedding when someone seems to be trying to kill you. 

Elsewhere bodies begin to pile up--who will be bludgeoned or stabbed or strangled next? Stephanos' bride is Philomela. Her parental home is Eleusis, famous for the Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone, home of the sacred site of the Mysteries of Eleusis. 

Religious initiation is open to all adult Greek speakers, slave and free, with the exception of anyone guilty of homicide. Stephanos, Philomela and Aristotle undertake mystic initiation in a complex ritual whose ultimate secrets cannot be spoken, on pain of death. Eleusis conceals many secrets, and revelation of the truth must await the night of the Mystery celebration itself. 


This is what I say :

This is a historical mystery fiction set in ancient Greece and features who else but well know philosopher Aristotle.

To me this reads a bit of Sherlock Homes mysteries in ancient Greece and if you enjoy SH, you might enjoy this but instead of Sherlock you get Aristotle and Sherlock and his former student Stephanos could probably pass as John Watson.

It is quite interesting to have a glimpse of ancient Greece and although it's a fiction, I am sure culturally and socially, it would be quite an accurate interpretation and portray of society then.

It was quite difficult for me to read as the names are difficult to remember and I quite confused as to who is who and hm...the men then seems to be pretty openly promiscuous and seems to be socially accepted to a certain extend.

Can't say I enjoy this title.  If I am not mistaken, I inherited this copy from an ex-colleague who migrated to another country so than you JW for this copy :)

The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe by Alexander McCall Smith

Synopsis :

A kindhearted brother and sister have taken in a woman known only as “Mrs.”—a woman with no memory of her name or of how she came to Botswana. And so it’s up to Precious Ramotswe and her new co-director, Grace Makutsi, to discover the woman’s identity. 
 
Meanwhile, motherhood proves to be no obstacle to Mma Makutsi’s professional success. As she settles into her role as partner at the agency, she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café, a restaurant for Gaborone’s most fashionable diners. But even Miss 97 Per Cent isn’t fully prepared for the temperamental chefs, drunken waiters, and other challenges that come with running one’s own business. Help may come from an unexpected source, if only Mma Makutsi can swallow her pride and ask.
 And next door to the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is all too familiar with the difficult decisions of business owners. He is finally forced to make a tough choice, one that will bring major changes to both Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency—and that will require all of Mma Ramotswe’s finesse and patience to sort out. 


This is what I say :

It seems that the last book that I read in the series of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was book 9 and that was around three years ago.

The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe is book 15 in the series so I guess I have skipped five books.   In this title Mma Makutsi has given birth to a baby boy but is still having a career as a detective.  I have to be careful here as Mma Makutsi is rather sensitive and if I am to say that she is working in the detective agency, she might take offence as she viewed herself as 'co-director' of the agency.

She has also started a restaurant business, with her husband's investment and who else but long time nemesis, Violet Sepotho is now a restaurant critic.

Other than there, time seems to have stood still and Mma Ramotswe is still the same and so is her husband, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni.

I have always enjoyed the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series but I don't think I have another title in my collection and unless and until I do, this would be the last book in the series for me.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis :

Seventeen-year-old Veronica 'Ronnie' Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father . . . until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. 

The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms - first love, the love between parents and children - that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts . . . and heal them.

This is what I say :

I have been wanting to read The Last Song for the longest time...every since I watched the movie adaptation years and years ago.  It wasn't until recently that I managed to get my hand on a copy of this title and so here we are! :)

The Last Song made me cry buckets!

I mean I already know the story line (from the movie) although it wasn't really the same but yes, while the movie was enjoyable, the book was certainly much more. To me anyway.  I really enjoyed it.  From babysitting the turtle eggs to making the glass window to the relationship Ronnie had with the dad, the kid brother and of course with Will.

This is not the 'best' Nicholas Sparks in my category but it's close.