Connie Willis, Impossible Things

I’m not a huge fan of short stories, but I do love Connie Willis, so I decided to revisit this collection of her early stories and novellas, which were all originally published in the ’80s and early ’90s. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are really no duds in the collection, though of course some stories resonated with me more than others. I particularly enjoyed “Spice Pogrom,” an homage to the screwball comedy; “Chance,” a heartbreaker about a woman who’s consumed with regret over a bad choice she made years ago; and “Winter’s Tale,” a compelling, contemplative take on a Shakespeare conspiracy theory. The collection contains both tragic and comic stories, but even the tragic ones generally have a hint of hope or humor, and even the comic ones have surprisingly sharp edges. I still prefer Willis’s full-length novels, but if you like the author (or sci-fi stories in general), these stories are well worth reading also.

India Holton, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason

This final book in the Dangerous Damsels trilogy focuses on Alice Dearlove and Daniel Bixby, both of whom appeared in the previous book as a lady’s maid and butler, respectively. In fact, they’re two of the best spies in England’s shadow government, and now they’re tasked with working on a mission together. The Wisteria Society is allegedly plotting to assassinate Queen Victoria using a mysterious new weapon. Alice and Daniel must pose as a married couple, infiltrate the Society, and steal the weapon; naturally, complications ensue when the ruse starts feeling all too real. This book shares with its predecessors a light tone, copious literary references, silly piratical hijinks, and a central romance. But I think this is my favorite of the trilogy because I loved Alice and (especially) Daniel. Both are dealing with childhood trauma and neurodivergent brains that make them feel like outsiders, and it’s lovely to watch them slowly realize that they understand each other. That said, this series is a fun read, but I’m not sure I’ll ever feel the need to reread it.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Rectory

Lucy and Robert Kurland are excited for the christening of their baby daughter, Elizabeth. But as they welcome their family and friends for the event, they’re also surprised by some unwanted guests: Harriet and Basil Northam, the daughter and son-in-law of Robert’s Aunt Rose, who recently married Lucy’s father. The obnoxious Northams have long sponged off of Aunt Rose and aren’t pleased that her remarriage may now disinherit them. When Basil Northam is found stabbed to death in the rectory study, Lucy’s father becomes the chief suspect, which causes tension between Robert and Lucy as they investigate the crime. This book is the last of the Kurland St. Mary mysteries, and while it doesn’t really feel like a series finale, it fits right in with the rest of the series: pleasant but bland, and not particularly remarkable as a mystery. I did like the brief observations on inequities in the justice system, but they’re not treated with much depth. Overall, these books are quick, undemanding reads, but I wouldn’t enthusiastically recommend the series. It’s fine, but I feel pretty tepid about it.