Kate’s 2¢: “Adventure according to Humphrey”, “Summer according to Humphrey” by Betty G. Birney

“Adventure according to Humphrey”, “Summer according to Humphrey” by Betty G. Birney

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   The younger children and students in grades 3 through 6 will be enthralled by Humphrey, the hamster, and all his adventures. This series of books I listened to were read by William Dufris, which made all the difference in the world. His character voices are priceless and bring the stories alive for the children.

From www.bettyGBirney:

About Me

I wrote my first “book” at age seven. It was called “Teddy Bear in the Woods” and was followed by a sequel. Luckily, my parents encouraged my writing and my sister, Janet, was a great writer and role model.

I didn’t just write, however. When I wasn’t roller-skating (my favorite pastime), I was riding my bike, playing piano, swimming, reading, playing cards and board games or just hanging out with my friends. I loved school, but I loved vacations, too!

Roller Skating

line

From kindergarten through graduation, I attended school in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Then I graduated from Webster College (now Webster University) in Webster Groves, Missouri. Of course, I majored in English and kept on writing.

After working in advertising in St. Louis, Missouri and in Chicago, Illinois, I eventually moved to Southern California. First, I worked for Disneyland (fun job!) in the advertising department. The monorail whizzed past my window all day long. Then I worked at the Disney Studio in Burbank, where I had another fun job, writing and producing television and radio commercials and theatrical trailers (previews of coming attractions) for everything from re-releases of “Cinderella” and “Fantasia” to “Tex.”

When the Disney Channel was started, I became a writer and story editor for WELCOME TO POOH CORNER. Since then, I’ve written more than 200 episodes of animated and live-action television programs including MADELINE, DOUG, BOBBY’S WORLD, DUMBO’S CIRCUS, THE PUZZLE PLACE, CAMP CANDY, LITTLE MOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, WHERE’S WALDO, FRAGGLE ROCK and ZOOBILEE ZOO. That’s right, I write cartoons! I also wrote a number of award-winning afterschool specials and many interactive CD-ROM programs, including the award-winning “Berenstain Bears on their Own,” “Richard Scarry’s Busiest Neighborhood Ever,” and “The Crayon Factory.”

A made-for-television family movie I wrote, MARY CHRISTMAS, starring John Schneider, Cynthia Gibb and Tom Bosley, aired on the PAX network in 2002. It was the highest rated movie in PAX history and has aired each Christmas season since then.

I have been fortunate enough to win a Writer’s Guild of America Award, three Humanitas Prizes (as well as two other nominations.) I also won a Daytime Emmy Award for MADELINE, and two other Emmy nominations, a Christopher Award and many children’s choice awards for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY. I’ve been inducted into the Affton (MO) School District Hall of Fame and received the Outstanding Alumna Award from the College of Arts and Sciences at Webster University.

But my first love – going back to age seven – is writing books. Over the years, I’ve written more than 35 children’s books, many of them on Disney themes.

on my desk

Some people find it strange that I’ve worked in so many mediums but to me, a story is a story and I am a story-teller. Some stories are better told in a small flap book. Others belong on the big screen. Once I get “inside the story,” it doesn’t matter whether I’m telling the story of a honey-loving bear or a confused teenager; the process of creating characters and plots is really the same and never boring.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be an actress, as well as a writer. While I later changed my mind, I ended up marrying an actor, FRANK BIRNEY. Through the years, I have watched him play everything from a tango-dancing butler to a presidential cabinet member. Once he even played a children’s book writer! For six seasons, he played Judge Warren West on the ABC show, THE PRACTICE and he portrayed Judge William Howe in several episodes of BOSTON LEGAL. He’s also been in recent shows like Grimm, Arrested Development, The Mick, Silicon Valley, Room 104, Animal Kingdom … and on and on. He has also appeared in numerous commercials including Tostitos, VitaminWater, IBM, Adobe Systems and more!. I have two wonderful stepdaughters, Rebecca Frank and Anna Ross, who are both talented artists, graphic designers and businesswomen, and a terrific son, Walshe, who lives on the East Coast and is married to the lovely Caroline. His world revolves around cheese and charcuterie. Then there’s the youngest member of the family, now thirteen years old, Remy, daughter of Rebecca and her husband, Gary. Anna and her husband Tobias live in Minneapolis – and Anna does this website for me!

© 2003 – 2022 Betty Birney

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Adventure according to Humphrey DBC17766

Birney, Betty G. Reading time: 2 hours, 56 minutes.

Read by William Dufris.

Growing Up

School Fiction

Animals and Wildlife

Humphrey the classroom hamster has adventures going to the library, learning about the ocean, and sailing across a pond on a sailboat. Unrated. Commercial Audiobook For grades 3-6. Unrated.

Downloaded: July 14, 2022

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Summer according to Humphrey DBC17767

Birney, Betty G. Reading time: 3 hours, 56 minutes.

Read by William Dufris.

Growing Up

School Fiction

Animals and Wildlife

When summer arrives, Humphrey, the pet hamster of Longfellow School’s Room 26, is surprised and pleased to learn that he will be going to Camp Happy Hollow. Unrated. Commercial Audiobook For grades 3-6. Unrated.

Downloaded: July 14, 2022

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Kate’s 2¢:”Silverview: by John Le Carré

”Silverview: by John Le Carré

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   It took a while to figure out exactly who was doing what to whom, but, I like the ending.

– IMDb Mini Biography By: Flávio S. Armony

Birth Name: David John Moore Cornwell

John le Carré was born in Poole, Dorset in England on 19 October, 1931. He went to Sherborne School and, later, studied German literature for one year at University of Bern. Later, he went to Lincoln College, Oxford and graduated in Modern Languages. From 1956 to 1958, he taught at Eton and from 1959 to 1964, he was a member of the British Foreign Service as second secretary at British Embassy in Bonn, and then, as Politician Consul in Hamburg. His first novel was written in 1961 and, by the time of his death in December 2020, he had published nearly 30. His books took many prizes, and inspired numerous films.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Silverview DB105799

Le Carré, John; Jones, Toby Reading time: 6 hours, 30 minutes.

Toby Jones

Suspense Fiction

Spy Stories

Julian Lawndsley has left a high-flying job in the city for a simpler life running a bookshop in a small English seaside town. A few months later, he is approached by a Polish émigré with dangerous knowledge of Julian’s family. Julian is soon approached by a spy chief. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

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Kate’s 2¢: “The Deep Blue Alibi” by Paul J. Levine

“The Deep Blue Alibi” by Paul J. Levine

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   The way William Dufris read this story for the NLS was absolutely outstanding. His voice characters were perfect without being over-done or schmaltzy. I’ll look for more books narrated by William Dufris.

   William Duffy known professionally as William “Bill” Dufris (February 1, 1958 – March 24, 2020) was an American voice actor and audiobook narrator.

   The narrative arc lent itself to humor, irony, court room drama, and so much more. I enjoyed this story, but the  way Dufris reead it might have a lot to do with my listening pleasure.

From paul-levine.com

Paul J. Levine (born January 9, 1948) is an American author of crime fiction, particularly legal thrillers. Levine has written 22 mystery novels which include two series of books known by the names of the protagonists.

Paul J. Levine (born January 9, 1948) is an American author of crime fiction, particularly legal thrillers. Levine has written 22 mystery novels which include two series of books known by the names of the protagonists. The Jake Lassiter series follows the former football player turned Miami lawyer in a series of fourteen books published over a thirty-year span beginning in 1990. The four-book Solomon vs. Lord series published in the mid 2000s features Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, a pair of bickering Miami attorneys who were rivals before they became law partners and lovers. Levine has also written four stand-alone novels and 20 episodes of the television drama series JAG. With JAG executive producer Don Bellisario, he also created and produced First Monday, a 2002 CBS series inspired by one of Levine’s novels.

Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Levine graduated from Pennsylvania State University and was a reporter for the Miami Herald early in his career. He then graduated from the University of Miami School of Law and was an attorney in Florida for 17 years before becoming an author.

Early life and education[edit]

Paul J. Levine was born on January 9, 1948, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to Sally and Stanley Levine, both retail merchants.[2] Stanley Levine served in World War II as a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces. A radar officer on a B-29, he was shot down over Japan during a bombing raid and, as a prisoner of war, was one of the first Americans to see the ruins of Hiroshima.[3][4]

Paul Levine graduated in 1969 with a B.A. in journalism from Pennsylvania State University,[5] where he was editor in chief of the newspaper The Daily Collegian.[6][7] At the University of Miami School of Law, he was on the 1971 championship team at the National Moot Court Competition, contributed to the University of Miami Law Review, and graduated cum laude in 1973.[8]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The deep blue alibi DB108267

Levine, Paul, (Paul J.). Reading time: 11 hours, 39 minutes.

Read by William Dufris.

Suspense Fiction

Mystery and Detective Stories

Legal Issues

“They are Florida’s most mismatched legal duo, one a glamorous Miami blue blood, the other a Coconut Grove beach bum. And when they get together, you can throw every law right out the window. What do you get when you mix beautiful people, family secrets, and a yacht washed up on Sunset Key with a hundred grand in cash and a dying man? Steve Solomon sees a case that can get Solomon & Lord off the ground. But Victoria Lord spies a golden opportunity to go out on her own. With her uncle as a murder suspect and her hunky ex-boyfriend back in the picture, Victoria is pushing to take control as Solomon struggles to keep from losing it. And as an explosive trial looms, they’re fighting against time, the law, and each other to expose a killer who came to paradise–and hasn’t left.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2006.

Downloaded: July 8, 2022

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Kate’s 2¢: “Murder in Chianti” by Camilla Trinchieri

“Murder in Chianti” by Camilla Trinchieri

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I like the story, once I was used to the very heavy, rapid  Italian foods, names, and places.

   I wondered if the true owner of One Wag would come claim his dog.

From http://www.camillatrinchieri.com/

Camilla Trinchieri, born in 1942 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, is an American mystery writer and novelist who has published under three names: Camilla Trinchieri, Trilla Crespi, and Camilla T. Crespi. Daughter of an Italian father and an American mother, she worked in the Italian film industry before moving to New York City in 1980. She became a U.S. citizen in 1997.[1]

Trinchieri, a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia University, published her first novel, The Trouble with a Small Raise, in 1991.[1] In 2017, she won the Italian American Studies Association Book Award for Seeking Alice, published in 2016.[2]

   The Tuscan Mystery Series

• Murder in Chianti (2020)

• The Bitter Taste of Murder (2021)

• Murder on the Vine (2022)

from NLS/BARD/LOC:

Murder in Chianti DB106846

Trinchieri, Camilla. Reading time: 9 hours, 33 minutes.

Read by Angelo Di Loreto.

Mystery and Detective Stories

After the loss of his wife, NYPD homicide detective Nico Doyle moves to her hometown of Gravigna in the wine region of Chianti. As he is finding his way, he hears a gunshot and a dog’s cry one morning. The local police enlist his specialized help to find the killer. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.

Downloaded: April 15, 2022

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Kate’s 2¢: “Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?” by  Frans B. M. Waal 

“Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?” by  Frans B. M. Waal 

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   The author is primarily interested in Primates, he includes other critters in his analysis of intelligence not based on using tools.  It was an interesting book and I have a new respect for crows, but, I still think they are sinister.  

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

this Dutch name, the surname is de Waal, not Waal.

Franciscus Bernardus Maria de Waal  was born in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on October 29, 1948.[2] He studied at the Dutch universities of Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Groningen, and Utrecht. In 1977, De Waal received his doctorate in biology from Utrecht University after training as a zoologist and ethologist with professor Jan van Hooff, a well-known expert of emotional facial expressions in primates. His dissertation titled: “Agonistic interactions and relations among Java-monkeys” concerned aggressive behavior and alliance formation in macaques.[2][3] De Waal has said many times that he has been inspired by fellow Dutch ethologist Niko Tinbergen.[4]

Career[edit]

Atheism will need to be combined with something else, something more constructive than its opposition to religion, to be relevant to our lives. The only possibility is to embrace morality as natural to our species.

 — from The Bonobo and the Atheist (2013)

In 1975, De Waal began a six-year project on the world’s largest captive colony of chimpanzees at the Arnhem Zoo. The study resulted in many scientific papers, and resulted in publication of his first book, Chimpanzee Politics, in 1982. This book offered the first description of primate behavior explicitly in terms of planned social strategies. De Waal was first to introduce the thinking of Machiavelli to primatology, leading to the label “Machiavellian Intelligence” that later became associated with it. In his writings, De Waal has never shied away from attributing emotions and intentions to his primates, and as such his work inspired the field of primate cognition that, three decades later, flourishes around themes of cooperation, altruism, and fairness.

His early work also drew attention to deception and conflict resolution, nowadays two major areas of research. Initially, all of this was highly controversial. Thus, the label of “reconciliation”, which De Waal introduced for reunions after fights, was questioned at first, but is now fully accepted with respect to animal behavior. Recently, De Waal’s work has emphasized non-human animal empathy and even the origins of morality. His most widely cited paper,[5] written with his former student Stephanie Preston, concerns the evolutionary origin and neuroscience of empathy, not just in primates, but in mammals in general.

De Waal’s name is also associated with bonobos, the “make love – not war” primates that he has made popular. But even his bonobo studies are secondary to the larger goal of understanding what binds primate societies together rather than how competition structures them.

Being both more systematically brutal than chimps and more empathic than bonobos, we are by far the most bipolar ape. Our societies are never completely peaceful, never completely competitive, never ruled by sheer selfishness, and never perfectly moral.

 — Frans de Waal[6]

Competition is not ignored in his work: the original focus of de Waal’s research, before he was well known, was aggressive behavior and social dominance. Whereas his science focuses on the behavior of nonhuman primates (mostly chimpanzees, bonobos, macaques, and capuchin monkeys), his popular books have given de Waal worldwide visibility by relating the insights he has gained from monkey and ape behavior to human society. With his students, he has also worked on elephants, which are increasingly featured in his writings.

His research into the innate capacity for empathy among primates has led De Waal to the conclusion that non-human great apes and humans are simply different types of apes, and that empathic and cooperative tendencies are continuous between these species. His belief is illustrated in the following quote from The Age of Empathy: “We start out postulating sharp boundaries, such as between humans and apes, or between apes and monkeys, but are in fact dealing with sand castles that lose much of their structure when the sea of knowledge washes over them. They turn into hills, leveled ever more, until we are back to where evolutionary theory always leads us: a gently sloping beach.”

This is quite opposite to the view of some economists and anthropologists, who postulate the differences between humans and other animals. However, recent work on prosocial tendencies in apes and monkeys supports de Waal’s position. See, for example, the research of Felix Warneken,[7] a psychologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. In 2011, de Waal and his co-workers were the first to report that chimpanzees given a free choice between helping only themselves or helping themselves plus a partner, prefer the latter. In fact, de Waal does not believe these tendencies to be restricted to humans and apes, but views empathy and sympathy as universal mammalian characteristics, a view that over the past decade has gained support from studies on rodents and other mammals, such as dogs. He and his students have extensively worked on such cooperation and fairness in animals. In 2011 de Waal gave a TED Talk entitled “Moral behavior in animals”.[8] Part of the talk dealt with inequity aversion among capuchin monkeys, and a video extract of this went viral. It showed the furious reaction of one monkey given a less desirable treat than another.[9] The most recent work in this area was the first demonstration that given a chance to play the Ultimatum game, chimpanzees respond in the same way as children and human adults by preferring the equitable outcome.[10]

In 1981, de Waal moved to the United States for a position at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, and in 1991 took a position at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently C.H. Candler Professor in the Psychology Department at Emory University and director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory. He became an American citizen in 2008.

The possibility that empathy resides in parts of the brain so ancient that we share them with rats should give pause to anyone comparing politicians with those poor, underestimated creatures.

 —Frans de Waal[11]

His 2013 book The Bonobo and the Atheist examines human behavior through the eyes of a primatologist, and explores to what extent God and religion are needed for human morality. The main conclusion is that morality comes from within, and is part of human nature. The role of religion is secondary.[12]

De Waal also writes a column for Psychologie Magazine, a popular Dutch monthly.[13]

Since September 1, 2013, de Waal has been a distinguished professor (universiteitshoogleraar) at Utrecht University. This is a part-time appointment—he remains in his position at Emory University, in Atlanta.[2][14]

In October 2016, de Waal was the guest on the BBC Radio Four program The Life Scientific.[15]

In June 2018, de Waal was awarded the NAT Award, recently established by the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona. The award, which goes to people or institutions “that are referents for their way of viewing and explaining nature, whether because they have encouraged professional engagement in natural history disciplines or because they have contributed significantly to nature conservation”, was awarded to de Waal “for his vision regarding the evolution of animal behaviour in establishing a parallel between primate and human behaviour in aspects such as politics, empathy, morality and justice.” Alongside de Waal, broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough was awarded an Extraordinary Award for a Professional Career, and biologist and former director of the Barcelona Zoology Museum Roser Nos Ronchera was awarded a Honorable Mention.[16]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are? DB106195

Waal, F. B. M. de, (Frans B. M.) Reading time: 10 hours, 37 minutes.

Sean Runnette

Animals and Wildlife

Nature and the Environment

Author of Mama’s Last Hug (DB 94621) and Primates and Philosophers (DB 95543) explores the oddities and complexities of animal cognition. Animals considered include crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, chimpanzees, and bonobos. Analyzes what are considered signs of intelligent life. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2016.

Download Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are? DB106195

Kate’s 2¢: “This Tender Land” by William Kent Krueger

“This Tender Land” by William Kent Krueger

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   The way Scott Brick narrated this book kept me listening almost without a stop. I’ll look for other books he’s narrated.

   I wasn’t able to find “Original Grace” by William Kent Krueger in an accessible format, but “This Tender Land” was. I really enjoyed following the escapades of the four vagabonds and how the seemingly disparate events tied together in the end.

From the WEB:

William Kent Krueger is an American novelist and crime writer, best known for his series of novels featuring Cork O’Connor, which are set mainly in Minnesota. In 2005 and 2006, he won back-to-back Anthony Awards for best novel. In 2014, his stand-alone book Ordinary Grace won the Edgar Award for Best Novel of 2013.

OFFICIAL BIO. Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota.  

From NLS/ABARD/LOC:

The Chancellor manuscript DB102683This tender land DB96864

Krueger, William Kent. Reading time: 14 hours, 8 minutes.

Read by Scott Brick.

Historical Fiction

Adventure

Bestsellers

Odie, his older brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and little Emmy escape from the Lincoln School and the harsh superintendent. They use a canoe to travel down the Mississippi River, intent on finding a new place for themselves, and cross paths with other drifters. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2019.

Kate’s 2¢: “The Chancellor manuscript” by Robert Ludlum

“The Chancellor manuscript” by Robert Ludlum

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Rather enlightening and frightening!  How a dreamed up fiction got turned upside down and became fact and the deadly results, not to mention the thrilling chases, mystery, and murders.

Robert Ludlum – Wikipedia

Robert Ludlum (May 25, 1927 – March 12, 2001) was an American author of 27 thriller novels, best known as the creator of Jason Bourne from the original The Bourne Trilogy series. The number of copies of his books in print is estimated between 300 million and 500 million. They have been published in 33 languages and 40 countries.

From NLS/BARD/LOC          :

The Chancellor manuscript DB102683

Ludlum, Robert. Reading time: 16 hours, 36 minutes.

Read by Grover Gardner.

Mystery and Detective Stories

Spy Stories

An investigative reporter and novelist tracks down an unbelievable story of government deception that he hears from a stranger on the beach. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 1977.

 Kate’s 2¢: “Body count: FBI-K9 series” by Jodi Burnett, John P. Walters, John J. DiIulio

“Body count: FBI-K9 series” by Jodi Burnett, John P. Walters, John J. DiIulio

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Well, I like dog stories. I have had six guide dogs. I know If the dog is smart to begin with, then, a well-trained dog can be a real boon, whether it is a search dog, sniffer dog, seizure detection dog, or, as mine are, guides for the blind.

Jodi-burnett.com

Jodi Burnett is a Colorado native. She loves writing Mystery and Suspense Thrillers from her small ranch southeast of Denver where she also enjoys her horses, complains about her cows, and writes to create a home for her imaginings.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Body count: FBI-K9 series DB107317

Burnett, Jodi; Walters, John P; DiIulio, John J. Reading time: 8 hours, 43 minutes.

Read by Mary March.

Suspense Fiction

Mystery and Detective Stories

Free-spirited Susan Bell and Special Agent Burke Cameron are worried about the state of their relationship, since they seem like polar opposites. But when Susan and a group of women go missing in the Colorado Rockies, Burke and his compatriots frantically search for them. Susan must find a rapport with a killer to survive. Violence and strong language. 2020.

Downloaded: June 24, 2022

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 Kate’s 2¢:” The butcher bird a Somershill Manor Mystery” by S. D. Sykes

 ” The butcher bird a Somershill Manor Mystery” by S. D. Sykes

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

A few take-aways from this story:

–The Red-backed Shreik once a common migrater to the British shores. This bird butcher’s rodents, insects, and the nestlings of other small birds, then, impales their corpses on thorn as a larder, which has earned this bird the name “the butcher bird”.

–How easy reason is destroyed by fear.

–Any revelations about Oscar’s  true beginnings would bring great shame and notoriety upon the family.

—  Oscar found that the grave of the infant Thomas Stargrove was empty.

   This varied cast of characters sends us on a merry chase of liars, intrigue, and manipulated children.

   It shines a light on the inner workings of the feudal system of ruling the working people.

   I enjoyed this story, but couldn’t wonder why Oscar didn’t associate the baby’s breath with the real cause sooner than he did.

   George Holmes did a good job of narrating this British novel.

From the web:

S.D.Sykes (born 1966) is a British historical crime writer who writes the Somershill Manor Mystery Series, consisting of her debut novel Plague Land (2014), The Butcher Bird (2015), and City of Masks (2017).

In 2012, Sykes attended a Curtis Brown Creative writing course, where her debut novel, Plague Land, attracted interested from several agents. A Three book deal was finalized with publisher Hodder & Stoughton.

S.D. Sykes graduated from Manchester University, before going on to complete an MA in writing at Sheffield Hallam University.

She now lives in Kent.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The butcher bird: a Somershill Manor Mystery DB107498

Sykes, S. D. Reading time: 13 hours, 21 minutes.

Read by George Holmes.

Suspense Fiction

Historical Fiction

Mystery and Detective Stories

Oswald de Lacy is settling into his new position as Lord of Somershill Manor. But he faces the anger of his field workers, who want to be paid more–a move the king has forbidden. As anger spreads, people claim to have seen the legendary butcher bird. Then children begin to disappear. Some violence and some strong language. 2015.

Downloaded: June 24, 2022

Download The butcher bird: a Somershill Manor Mystery