See all posts in the Libraries series
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Since retiring from the Chanhassen Library in 2016, I have been enjoying books and reading even more than I did before. I now attend two monthly book clubs—one at the Chanhassen Library and one at the building where I now live.
I also love attending author talks at bookstores and libraries. Allen Eskens was recently at Excelsior Bay Books and Curtis Sittenfeld was at the Chanhassen Library, sponsored by Literature Lovers Night Out.
I have been rediscovering some of my favorite authors and I am not ashamed to admit that I love cozy mysteries, especially ones with strange esoteric plots. Jane Cleland writes the Josie Prescott Antiques mystery series, which she started in 2006 with “Consigned to Death,” followed by “Deadly Appraisal” in 2007 and “Antiques to Die For” in 2008. There are now 14 books in the series, the most recent -ooooh- “Jane Austen’s Lost Letters” in 2021.
In the latest book, titular character Josie is interrupted while filming her antiques television show, to meet a woman who is asking for her. Veronica Sutton hands Josie a box containing a note from Josie’s father (who died 20 prior) and two letters in plastic sleeves, appearing to be from Jane Austen. Josie is stunned, but Veronica disappears before she can find out anything more. Now Josie must authenticate the letters, find out how her father got them and why Veronica disappeared.
Cleland actually owned an antiques business in New Hampshire. Each of her books involve intriguing antiques such as Tiffany lamps, a Faberge egg/snow globe, a famous guitar, an ancient cat statue or a doll collection. Crimes there are aplenty: fakes, murders, thefts and disappearances. We learn about provenance, association, rarity and many other aspects of appraising antiques. Most importantly, the books are well written with engaging characters in a beautiful setting.
The older books in the series are available at libraries and used book stores; they all can be requested at Carver County Libraries through interlibrary loan.
The Chanhassen Library Book Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., usually in the Longfellow meeting room. Though in the winter months they have been meeting via Zoom.
For more information about the book club, contact Patrick Jones, branch manager of the Chanhassen Library.
The books for the year were selected by the members in December.
Titles for the upcoming meetings are:
- April 22: “Master, Slave, Husband, Wife” by Ilyon Woo
- May 27: “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon
- June 24: “Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles
- July 22: “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett
- August 26: “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
- September 23: “Weyward” by Amelia Hart
- October 28: “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout
- November 18: “The Small and the Mighty” by Sharon McMahon
