Empress of Asia by Adam Lewis Schroeder

Described as dark, funny and beautiful. I guess so. Not so sure. I would have to, more than anything else, call this "old-fashioned." Nonetheless a compelling read. Lots of good elements - love, history, intrigue, mystery. Not a page-turner for me.

Dead Cold by Louise Penny

I've read a lot of mystery in my time - and many series more than once. This was a slow start for me. I started out finding it rather quaint - somewhat elegiac to AGatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh. But the story and the characters really grew on me - until by the end this "little book" had turned into a jewel of a story. I will read more of Penny as soon as I can.