A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis, 376 pages

A young woman is consigned to a mental asylum in the late 1800s. Slowly dying in the horrible conditions, she is saved by a doctor and moved to a more hospitable asylum to serve as his assistant investigating crime scenes. A very dark and disturbing read, but outstanding, none the less.

Pushing Up Daisies by M.C. Beaton, 280 pages

I think Agatha Raisin might be one of my favorite literary characters. I enjoy the fact that she isn't perfect, she manages to delude herself in the name of love, but will pull herself back and look at life with candid eyes, only to fall back into the chase of love. This is a series that you need to read from the beginning to truly appreciate the character development by the author.

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige, 375 pages

I'd really enjoyed the new twist on the Wizard of Oz story by this author, so I had to pick up her newest book. Kind of Snow White, but not, very different. I'm not as big a fan on this book.

The Bloody Tower by Carola Dunn, 425 pages

I really like the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries. This one was set at the Tower of the London.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, 277 pages

I'd read this decades ago and would have never picked it up again if it weren't for book club. I'm not sure if that would be a bad thing. Not my cup of tea.

The Novice's Tale by Margaret Frazer, 229 pages

A historical mystery set in 1431 England, featuring a nun as the detective. Not bad

, but I don't think I'll pick up the others in the series.

A Special Fate by Alison Leslie Gold, 176 pages

A juvenile book looking at Japanese diplomat Chiune Siguhara, who, while posted in Lithuania, handwrote 6,000 visas to enable Jews to escape the Nazis. A great read!