Nordic Noir!

Helene Tursten has written a fine series featuring Detective Inspector Irene Huss, a compelling and flawed heroine. As in all character driven series we get to know Irene as a person, and so are interested in her life and the approach she brings to solving crimes. Also compelling is the sense of place, Sweden and Swedish culture. Police politics are observed and commented on, which adds to the complexity.
This latest installment, The Treacherous Net, explores the dark side of the Internet. Young girls, looking for a sense of adventure and acceptance are lured to unfortunate ends, and its up to Inspector Huss and her team to find the killer. ML

Waste Not!

In her new book, Waste Free Kitchen Handbook : a guide to eating well and saving money by wasting less food, author Dana Gunders has many realistic suggestions. She offers meal planning guides with shopping lists and food storage tips too!  Get the correct information about shelf life and expiration dates on various packaged goods. Find out if freezing left-overs is a good idea. There is even a small chapter on scrapping--for pets, the garden and the compost. Pick up this informative little book and start saving! DB,