Georgette Heyer, A Civil Contract

Adam Deveril, Viscount Lynton, has just inherited a derelict estate and needs a lot of money fast. He must marry an heiress—but he’s already in love with Julia Oversley, who doesn’t have the requisite fortune. Reluctantly, Adam pursues Jenny Chawleigh instead, the plain and commonplace daughter of a rich tradesman. After they marry, Adam is frequently frustrated by his vulgar father-in-law and pines after Julia; but as he and Jenny build a life together, he finds himself surprisingly contented. I adore Georgette Heyer but had never reread this particular novel before, probably because it’s one of her least romantic romances. It’s a marriage of convenience that arguably never deepens into true love, though by the end Adam and Jenny do share a firm friendship and genuine affection. I do appreciate this book’s realistic look at love and marriage, but it’s never going to be one of my favorite Heyers—I guess I like a little more fantasy and escapism in this genre!

Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series!***

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club, which has allowed Elizabeth to grieve her husband’s death and Joyce to focus on her daughter’s wedding. But at the reception, a new case comes their way when the best man, Nick, tells Elizabeth that someone is trying to kill him. Shortly thereafter, he disappears. The gang discovers that Nick and his business partner, Holly, are the only two people with access to a hidden fortune; did someone kidnap or kill Nick to steal the money? Meanwhile, Ron deals with a threat to his family, and drug dealer Connie Johnson experiences personal growth. This series continues to be delightful, and after the last book was such a tearjerker, it was nice to read a comparatively lighthearted story. I enjoyed Joanna and her new husband being brought into the fold, and I thought the mystery itself (involving codes) was pretty clever. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and am glad the series is continuing.

Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts

This novel charts the downfall of the wealthy and prominent Doyle family during the course of a single baseball season in New York. Patriarch Frank Doyle is a prominent baseball writer and political commentator; his wife, Kit, works in high finance; son Eddie is at loose ends after leaving the army; and daughter Margo is theoretically getting her PhD but actually not doing much of anything. As the summer of 2009 unfolds, all four characters make choices that will have long-lasting consequences for their and their friends’ lives. I read this novel for a book club with some of my colleagues. I never would have picked it up otherwise, but I was glad to be pushed slightly out of my comfort zone, because I found it well written and thought-provoking. However, I can’t say I enjoyed it; none of the main characters are particularly sympathetic, and it’s frustrating to watch them repeatedly make the worst possible decisions. Overall, I’m not sorry I read this book, but it’s definitely not a keeper for me.