Remember the important things

A Good Reed Review Commentary & Pubs

By Ande Jacobson

I was recently reminded of what is truly important by two very talented young people. The first was my friend and mentee (although he’s so far past me at this point, I’d really consider him the mentor now) who joined his first national tour as the assistant music director and keyboard 2 player for a popular musical that’s again making the rounds. I’ve written about this young fellow before, now having just finished his first year of college, and his accomplishments continue to excite and thrill all who know him. His passion, skill, and dedication are an inspiration in so many ways. Continue reading →

Finishing cleaning house

A Good Reed Review Book Review , , , ,

By Ande Jacobson

A Great Reckoning, is the twelfth mystery novel in Louise Penny’s Gamache series. The story picks up the thread of what’s next for Armand Gamache, formerly the chief inspector of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec. After cleaning the corruption out of the service itself and the top leadership and retiring to Three Pines, there’s one piece left – the academy that trains new recruits. Recently (in the previous book), Armand saw first-hand the caliber of recent academy graduates and was appalled at their lack of decorum and their dangerous and violent attitudes. After receiving numerous offers from various services that value his expertise, he chooses to accept the position of commander of the Sûreté Academy. His first task is to adjust the staff, letting some of the old guard go, and ushering in some new faces. He keeps a few of the old guard though, including a few potentially dangerous individuals. Unfortunately for him, one of them turns out to be far worse than he knew. Continue reading →

The Phoenix Crown: A tale of intrigue and survival

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By Ande Jacobson

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang is a brilliant work of historical fiction that takes place surrounding the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The story surrounds four fictional women who come together through happenstance and trauma and become not only fast friends, but heroes during the earthquake and after. Quinn and Chang weave a fascinating tale of intrigue, murder, survival, and quite a bit of history in this one. The Prologue begins with a glimpse many years past the end of the story. Then Chapter 1 quickly rewinds to just under two weeks before the earthquake. There was a lot happening in the city just then, and the authors capture the many events coalescing in those fateful two weeks. They also capture the horror and chaos that surrounded the earthquake and its aftermath as the city burned. For those from California and especially the San Francisco Bay Area, the earthquake portion of the story is terrifying, yet the courage and tenacity shown by the protagonists is uplifting and inspirational. Continue reading →

What happened to Ruth Zardo?

A Good Reed Review Book Review , , , ,

By Ande Jacobson

The Nature of the Beast, the eleventh mystery novel in Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (of the Sûreté du Québec) series, is more than a murder mystery. It’s also a work of historical fiction. While the current day murders are works of fiction, the core discovery driving them is a bit of real history that could have changed the world in a frightening way. Penny uses what could have been the most devastating technological development ever created by man to weave a fascinating tale of intrigue and personal growth. Continue reading →

What happened to Peter Morrow?

A Good Reed Review Book Review , , ,

By Ande Jacobson

After How the Light Gets In, the tenth mystery novel in Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (of the Sûreté du Québec) series, The Long Way Home, is truly a palate cleanser as a literary friend recently noted. First released in 2014, this book picks up where the previous book left off and resolves the remaining story arc surrounding Clara and Peter Morrow’s marriage that had been in limbo. Clara had sent Peter away with the understanding that he would return in a year for them to reevaluate whether they could save their marriage or go their separate ways. Clara remained in Three Pines, and Peter went to parts unknown. A bit over a year later, he still hasn’t returned, and Clara is concerned. Now that Armand Gamache is happily retired and starting to delve into the ghosts of his own past while living peacefully in Three Pines, Clara approaches him with her concerns, and the new mystery begins to unfold. Continue reading →

Spring thoughts

A Good Reed Review Commentary & Pubs , ,

By Ande Jacobson

May 2025, the heart of spring. While my favorite season is fall because I greatly prefer the weather compared to that of any other season, spring normally signals hope and energy after the winter recedes and the plants reawaken. This year, nature is doing its thing. The trees are green. The flowers are blooming. The bugs are starting to amass. Little squirrels and birds are running all over the place. But this spring still doesn’t feel like spring. Yes, the outside appears much the way it always does this time of year. Alas, the inside is different. There are always things to be concerned about, but this year it’s hard to know where to start because so many things are at risk that don’t have to be. There are many things to consider, and not all of them are related directly to the crises we face.

I recently posted an article across my various social media accounts about habits that will make us happier. It was a compilation of recommendations from a psychologist who heads the Department of Psychiatry at a major medical center in the U.S., and it was truly about self-care, something that becomes even more important during trying times. A friend commented on my post on one of the platforms I use that he didn’t think it was appropriate to feel happy when we’re losing our democracy, which got me thinking. Continue reading →

We need to be open to the light

A Good Reed Review Book Review , , ,

By Ande Jacobson

How the Light Gets In is the ninth full-length mystery novel in Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (of the Sûreté du Québec) series, and was first released in 2013. This book resolves several long story arcs that have grown throughout the series. The most emotionally impactful is how the rift between Armand and his trusted second, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, finally resolves. Throughout the previous few books, Jean-Guy struggled with his feelings of abandonment from a traumatic police action that left him and Armand severely injured and many on their team dead. Armand’s superior, Sylvain Francoeur takes advantage of this rift and drives a wedge between Jean-Guy and Armand both personally and professionally. In this current book, that all comes to a head and is finally, and very satisfyingly resolved, but not without some serious consequences and life changes. Continue reading →

Facts vs. Faith

A Good Reed Review Book Review , , ,

By Ande Jacobson

The Beautiful Mystery is the eighth full-length mystery novel in Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (of the Sûreté du Québec) series, and was first released in 2012. This book is different than most of those before it in the series in that the story doesn’t take place in Three Pines. Evidently the murder capital of Québec took a break, and Armand and his second in command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, head to the wilderness to a remote monastery forgotten by the church and by society until recently. The Gilbertine order, named for Gilbert of Sempringham, was thought to be extinguished or disbanded during the Inquisition, but instead they merely fled Europe for a remote part of Canada where they built the last remaining monastery to continue their brotherhood. The monastery, named Saint-Gilbert-Entre-Les-Loups, garners Armand’s attention when a monk is found dead, presumably murdered, in the abbot’s garden one morning after Lauds. So begins the adventure. Continue reading →

The timely history of the Bill of Rights

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By Ande Jacobson

Teri Kanefield’s writing is often quite timely, and her latest book is no exception. At a time when individual rights are in peril, Kanefield’s upcoming book, Rebels, Robbers, and Radicals: The Story of the Bill of Rights, tells the story of not only how the Bill of Rights came to be and why it was needed but also how the interpretation of those rights has changed since their initial ratification. The book is due out on 20 May 2025, and it would be a great addition to everyone’s personal library, especially now. This concise volume, clocking in at a slim 224 pages, tells a story every American should know. The Bill of Rights is the collection of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and in those amendments lie the foundation of our individual rights under the law. The publisher lists this volume as appropriate for young readers ages 10-14, but in reality this book is also an excellent reference for anyone young or old. It’s written at same level that Kanefield used to write her appellate court briefs. She doesn’t talk down to her readers and seeks to inform them through compelling stories about real people from our history to illustrate the critical aspects of each of these amendments. She also incorporates applicable law, explaining terms where unfamiliarity may hinder understanding. Continue reading →

What if they really are out to get you?

A Good Reed Review Book Review , , ,

By Ande Jacobson

Imagine being a teenager and getting your fortune read. Now imagine that fortune is dark, a portent of what you believe might be your demise. What would you do? Frances Adams faced just that situation in Kristen Perrin’s novel, How to Solve Your Own Murder, first released in March 2024. It became an instant best seller and has continued to delight readers worldwide. Frances and her friends Rose Forrester and Emily Sparrow visit a fortune teller at the Castle Knoll Country Fair in 1965, an event that shapes the rest of Frances’ life. The three were longtime childhood friends, and while they suffered some of the usual teenage competition for boys and attention, they were often inseparable. Of course there’s far more to their friendship than readers suspect, much of which becomes clear as the story progresses.

The fateful fortune in question reads as follows:

“Your future contains dry bones. Your slow demise begins right when you hold the queen in the palm of one hand. Beware the bird, for it will betray you. And from that, there’s no coming back. But daughters are the key to justice, find the right one and keep her close. All signs point toward your murder.”

Continue reading →