Dueling Mysteries

Today the leaves are blowing from trees in great numbers, hurtling down streets and gathering in yards tired and spent. Fall has finally arrived. Blustery winds and chilly nights offer a good time for adventure in the warmth of your own living room, preferably snuggling in a recliner with feet up and one of those extra soft blankets wrapped around you. In this position, one can face any adventure with confidence. The question is, where to begin?

For this review, I searched for differing mysteries. The first is "Something Wicked" by E.X. Ferrars. I first thought it was set in the mid 1800s as it started so simply. But then there was a train, cars and phones ringing. The second book is "Expedition Into the Rift" by John Hammond. The year is 2056, but the reader isn't bombarded with futuristic technology. Just enough to make the adventure interesting. "Something Wicked" resembles an Agatha Christie mystery. Except the main character is a man, Andrew Basnett, a rather quiet, unassuming retired professor who is invited to use his friend's cottage during the Christmas holiday. He is working on a rather dull book about a dull botanist and there is the feeling he will never actually finish his manuscript, but rather is using the writing as an excuse to stay alive. Of course, a mystery developing with a decade old death in a quiet British hamlet spices things up a bit.

The rift that John Hammond writes about is found inside the mountains between Austria and Switzerland, deep within a cave. The rift is covered by what is called a Looking Glass. Just like in "Alice in Wonderland," there is something "beyond." But what it is becomes the mystery.

The British professor, Andrew, processes the information his neighbors willingly share of their own opinions about who killed their neighbor, though the police still want to frame the death as a suicide. But what happened to the gun? Can suicide victims shoot themselves in the chest and then hide their weapon? When a second murder occurs in Andrew's darkened front room during a strong snowstorm, creating a power outage. The same gun is used. Suddenly it appears there are two murders to solve.

In the second story, Alex is chosen as the leader to take a group through the rift Looking Glass. She is retired military, a pilot who has expert leadership abilities. Her crew is an eclectic group of men and women with various skills. None feel prepared for such an uncertain journey. But the rift is shrinking. It's now or never. They jump through.

Readers gather up suspects in the British mystery. Slowly but surely the author weaves through possibilities while everyone drinks bad sherry and good whiskey to keep warm in heatless rooms. The occasional cup of tea is appreciated from those with a wood burning stove.

Alex and her crew find themselves in an unfamiliar world. It is not the expected story of time travel, but rather, a sci-fi journey to an unknown planet. The rift is a portal. The new world is much like earth but with cleaner air because technology seems to be in line with medieval times.

I think Andrew suspects every character at some point as the murderer in his story. But he is methodical and that is relaxing. A slow and sure journey to the mystery's end. The power comes back on eventually, teapots are filled and murderers found.

The rift explorers find a highly mythology-ridden planet, so sci-fi adds orcs, dragons and dwarves into its mix. Sort of like combining Captain Nemo with Hobbits and wizards. There are flying machines and spell weapons, which makes things complicated when the portal suddenly closes and leaves Alex and her crew stranded. Going back and forth between the two stories, the people are interesting with many being kind and helpful. One story is soothingly predictable but with enough mystery held in easy tension. The other, with surprising twists and turns, does make the reader root for fellow earthlings on the other side of the Looking Glass.

It's fall in our world. We are in a moment where things slow down. Air cools. Holidays are still comfortably in the distance. If we are lucky, winds will ease and leaves can drift in their falling like lazy snowflakes in a slight breeze. And we can take a deep breath and take time to relax into a good mystery or two. Everyone deserves a little time off from the race we call life. Brakes on! Blankets out! Adding some spiced apple cider or a pumpkin latte would be nice!

Happy fall! Good books. Good reading.

*Midge Lyn'dee is a fictional character used for the purpose of entertainment though the reviews are real and sincere.