Column: A sunny day, a glass of iced tea, and a few good books

Although I appreciate the comforts of reading in front of a wood-burning stove in January, I still prefer the joy of pursuing my favorite hobby in summer

There’s nothing quite like sitting outside in fine weather with a book. A glass of sun-brewed iced tea—with a slice of lemon—completes the experience. I get grumpy in October, when the opportunities to read outside grow scarcer.

I don’t slack off on my reading during the winter, however. I’ve read 26 books since the first of the year. I’ve always been an ardent reader, but during the pandemic I picked up the pace. Then, I had a hiatal hernia repair that went awry and two knee replacements surgeries, all in the course of 12 months. That gave me extra reading time, which I took full advantage of.

I am keeping up the pace. But when I look back at my list (I keep tab of titles, authors and completion dates), I’m interested to see how few books I would wholeheartedly recommend. I don’t finish books I don’t like, so, technically, I have enjoyed all of those on the list to some degree. But only the best get my top endorsement.

“All That is Mine I Carry with Me,” by William Landay, is one of my most recent reads. Suburban housewife Jane Larkin goes missing in 1975. The event casts a deep, long-lasting shadow over her husband, three children and sister. Dan Larkin is a squirmy character, a philanderer, a jerk, really, but did he murder his wife? The story is told from the perspectives of Jane, family friend Phil, and the middle child, Jeff. Oh, yes, and Dan himself, in old age. There’s a mystery at the heart of this story, but it was the characters and their suffering that gripped me.

The unbelievable behavior of two sisters in 1930s and ‘40s Britain is the fascinating subject of “The Mitford Affair,” by Marie Benedict. This novel is based on the true story of Diana Mitford, a rich and beautiful socialite, who falls passionately in love with Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists. Her younger sister, Unity, becomes infatuated with German fascism, and manages to get herself involved with the highest echelons of the Nazi Party, including Adolf Hitler himself. A third sister, the novelist Nancy, becomes alarmed at their activities and has to face the excruciating choice of whether to betray familial ties. It’s an excellent story, and raises many questions about the nature of love and loyalty.

Janice Hallett’s “The Appeal” is quirky, original and lots of fun. The story revolves around an English amateur theatrical company and is told entirely in emails, texts and documents. The granddaughter of the director has developed a rare form of brain cancer. There is a promising treatment, but it’s costly. The company members join forces to raise an “appeal” for funds to save the little girl’s life. At first, enthusiasm runs high. But the situation grows tense; tempers flare and questions are asked. Then a dead body is found…well, of course there had to be a murder in there somewhere.

I also have a few runners-up that I thoroughly enjoyed. “The Golden Spoon,” by Jessa Maxwell, is a delicious take on “The Great British Baking Show.” Acclaimed cookbook author Betsy Martin hosts six contestants each year at her ancestral manor house in Vermont for the “Bake Week” show. This year, the producers have added a crass, new cohost to the mix, and Betsy is not pleased. Then, things start going wrong on the set from day one. This engaging murder mystery is told from the points of view of the eclectic group of wannabe star bakers, and Betsy herself.

When Cara Kennedy, an Anchorage police detective, hears about body parts washing ashore in remote Cape Mettier, Alaska, she just has to investigate. The community is reachable only by tunnel, and when a blizzard strikes, she’s stuck. All 205 residents live in the same high-rise building, giving new meaning to the term “locked room mystery.” Iris Yamashita’s “City Under One Roof” was an absorbing story with interesting characters and an amazing setting.

Last but not least is “Smile Beach Murder,” by Alicia Bessette. Callie Padgett, laid off from her newspaper reporting job, is back home on Cattail Island, on the Outer Banks. She loves the place, but it carries some bad memories for her. She takes a job at MotherVine Books in the island’s quaint downtown, where one of her duties is managing the social media of the resident cat, Tin Man. When the sister of an old friend dies under suspicious circumstances, Callie puts her investigative skills to work. This is the first in a series and I’m looking forward to the next one. Bessette captures the ambiance of a southern island. Callie’s a likable heroine, and may be developing a love interest. And I generally like anything that has to do with bookstores. And cats.

In the midst of all my fiction reading, I am also tackling Robert Caro’s monumental “The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.” At 1162 pages, it should keep me busy until the Fourth of July. Hmm, maybe a little longer, since it’s too heavy to take to the beach.