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Allyson M W Dyar

Allyson13@bookrastinating.com

Joined 3 years, 2 months ago

Twitter user since 2008 -- Boomer Geekette. Medical History Buff. Proud Cat Mom. Book Reviewer for Netgalley mostly medical & science. Member editorial board podcast Bedside Rounds

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Shéa MacLeod: Lady Rample Steps Out (Paperback, 2018, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform)

Review of 'Lady Rample Steps Out' on 'Goodreads'

I'm reading a number of mysteries featuring the carefree young people who have nothing better to do than enjoy life to the fullest during those years between the wars.

This time, Ophelia, Lady Rample, having duly spent a year mourning her older husband's death, decides it is time to get out of the house. Actually, it was her friend Chaz (who is overtly gay but has to keep it under the sheets, so to speak, since homosexuality was illegal in England) who drags her to a jazz club and subsequently becomes embroiled in a murder mystery.

This was a decent read (I honestly didn't notice some of the problems that some of the reviewers had noticed) but I was entertained and that's all I ask for. If other books in the series are offered at a decent price, I might pick them up; I just won't necessarily go out of …

Vivien Chien: Hot and Sour Suspects (Paperback, 2022, St. Martin's Paperbacks)

Review of 'Hot and Sour Suspects' on 'Goodreads'

Lana Lee, manager of the family's noodle shop is always looking for ways to bring in more customers. So when her roommate Megan suggested that the restaurant host a speed-dating night, Lana thought this was a good idea.

Unfortunately for Lana, her good ideas sometimes lead to a murder and the speed-dating night was no different. Lana enlists her friends to do some undercover work that turns up clues to help her solve the mystery.

Lana manages to stumble onto the answer to the murder and almost becomes a victim herself.

Review of 'Murder in First Class' on 'Goodreads'

Kitty's nemesis Mrs Craven is traveling back to their home town via train when one of the passengers in the first class cabin is knifed to death. The victim just happens to be a witness to a large jewel theft, who happens to be Captain Matthew Bryant, Kitty's fiance's houseguest. The houseguest was always traveling with his faithful dog Bertie, who becomes Matthew's reluctant house guest.

Matthew and Kitty are able to solve the mystery and in the over arching story about the murder of Kitty's mother, Kitty finally gets closure.

This is a great series and well-worth you time if you enjoy cozy mysteries taking place in England between the wars.

Uta Frith, Alex Frith, Chris Frith, Daniel Locke: Two Heads (GraphicNovel, 2022, Scribner)

This “charming and addictively accessible introduction to neuroscience” (Steven Pinker) takes us on a highly …

Review of 'Two Heads' on 'Goodreads'

When I first picked this book to review, I was fooled by the title of “Two Heads” as I thought it was going to discuss the theory of right brain versus left brain.

Instead, I was treated to a really interesting voyage through experimental psychology with two worthy guides: Drs Uta and Chris Firth. Don’t let the idea of a comic book put you off as this is an ebook densely packed with psychological theories of how we interact with other human beings.

I was particularly interested in the research that Dr Uta Firth conducted in autism becoming an expert in the field. I have quite a few friends who fall onto the autistic spectrum, so that part of the book really helped me understand where some of my friends are coming from.

I wouldn’t call this book an easy read, in fact, it will take a lot of your …

Matt Richtel: Elegant Defense, An : The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System (2019, William Morrow)

Review of 'Elegant Defense, An : The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System' on 'Goodreads'

Pulitzer Prize winning author Matt Richtel puts his journalistic expertise to an exploration of the complex subject of human immunology

Having just recently read and reviewed the excellent book, “A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive” by Philipp Dettmer, I was skeptical that author Richtel’s book would tell me something I didn’t know.

Whereas author Dettmer takes an in-depth look at the human immunity system, author Richtel describes the journeys of several patients and concentrates on his childhood friend who has lymphoma.

What I most enjoyed was the history of the discovery of immunology and some of its secrets. While I was familiar with the details of immunology, I wasn’t aware of all the scientists and their contributions.

I found that the book started out slow and honestly, had I not been interested in the subject, I probably would have abandoned it. However, I can say that …

Sara Rosett: Murder at the Mansions (Paperback, 2022, McGuffin Ink)

Review of 'Murder at the Mansions' on 'Goodreads'

Lady Detective Olive Belgrave has settled in nicely in her new flat. One of her neighbors, Minerva, a cartoonist, is alarmed when she thinks she sees a foot peaking from a rolled up carpet left in the hallway.

Because Minerva knows what kind of work Olive does, she tells Olive what she think she saw and the two of them set off to prove or disprove the possibility of a dead body.

Once again, author Sarah Rosett has provided her readers with another smashing good read.

Simon Mattacks, T E Kinsey: A Baffling Murder at the Midsummer Ball (AudiobookFormat, 2021, Brilliance Audio)

Review of 'A Baffling Murder at the Midsummer Ball' on 'Goodreads'

The Dizzy Heights are a jazz band who just happen to solve murders in between gigs or in this case, during a gig.

The murder occurs during their gig at the Midsummer Ball, a fancy affair far away from their home base in London, but welcome just the same. Unfortunately, for the band, a powerful summer storm strands them at the manor for several days. But that gives them time to solve the murder before the flooded roads are passable again.

The book takes place during that time between the wars when Bright Young People party their lives away. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries that take place during this time period.

Review of 'Carriers' on 'Goodreads'

The term “fragile X” comes from the appearance of the X chromosome under a microscope looks broken at the tip or “fragile.”

The genetic disorder fragile X syndrome (also termed Martin-Bell syndrome or marker X syndrome) is the most commonly inherited form of developmental and intellectual disability.

According to the National Fragile X Foundation, “The agreed upon prevalence of FXS in males is approximately 1 in 7,000 and in females 1 in 11,000.” Fragile X syndrome has been found in all major ethnic groups and races.

Author Anne Skomorowsky introduces the reader to several families who have children with the full fragile X mutation as well as the parents and sometimes, the grandparents who are also affected by associated fragile X syndromes. Because the science of fragile X gene is a rather complex subject (and beyond the scope of this review), anyone who is interested in the subject can access …

Michael J. Collins: Hot Lights, Cold Steel (Hardcover, 2005, St. Martin's Press)

Review of 'Hot Lights, Cold Steel' on 'Goodreads'

I subscribe to a number of mailing lists featuring books on sale. I find many really good books this way and this is how I found the book Hot Lights, Cold Steel: Life, Death and Sleepless Nights in a Surgeon's First Years.

I found the book to be a fairly standard medical memoir, following Dr Collins as he begins and ends his residency in orthopedics at the prestigious Mayo Clinic.

This book is well-written and worth reading if you enjoy medical memoirs. It isn't the best medical memoir that I've read, but it's well worth your time if this is your bag.

Review of 'Turkey Day Murder' on 'Goodreads'

Lucy is mom and part-time reporter for her local newspaper who is looking forward to her college son's visit over the Thanksgiving holiday. Complicating things, Lucy is busy working on a story of the local Native American tribe's efforts to have a casino built. When the Elder is murdered, Lucy finds herself drawn into the mystery.

The only reason I picked up this mystery (it was on sale) was because it was the only mystery I had come across with a Thanksgiving theme.

I found the story adequate and the characters marginally interesting. I'm disinclined to read any more in the series though, while looking for my next read in the list of unread Kindle books, I found that I had purchased a July 4th book which I'll likely read around Independence Day.