This weekend I made a little bookstore visit and look what I found! Some of Georgette Heyer's novels are getting a makeover. I have quite a few of the original Sourcebook reissues from ten years ago with the Regency romance inspired covers with images of ladies in proper period dress and sometimes couples. I kind of like these, though they do have a very different feel to them. They seem almost less romance novels--maybe more period pieces/historical fiction perhaps? It reminds me of the rejacketing of Mary Stewart's work some years ago as well.
I actually prefer covers without the swooning couples or heroines with heaving chests, if you know what I mean. Maybe these would appeal more to reluctant romance readers? I had Arabella (the book on the far right) on my pile to buy, but then I had to whittle down my selections as I am meant to be on a 'budget'. I believe some of her mysteries are also getting reissued with new covers, too. I found this interview about the new books, and you can see how much the cover illustrations have changed over time here. For a short chunk of time I was seriously binging on Heyer books, but it has been quite a while since I have read one. Maybe it is time to revisit her work again.
I did bring a few books home, however. Can you tell I am in a crime/scary story/ghost story sort of mood at the moment? The weather may not be cooperating, but I am all ready for fall, falling leaves and maybe light sweaters or sweatshirts. Not cold, mind you, just cool weather.
Since I am finally reading Sue Grafton's books, I see that I have been missing out by not picking up crime novels/mysteries with US settings. I nearly always reach for international or British crime novels. If I do pick up an American author it is usually someone who sets their books abroad. Now I realize there is so much to explore.
I like the fact that Jeffery Deaver's detective is a quadriplegic and that his partner is a woman. I picked up The Bone Collector since it is the first in the series, and I am pretty sure I saw the movie at some point, but it has been so long now that I don't remember much about the story. I am not sure I will read more than one of his Lincoln Rhyme books, but I want to have a taste of some different authors.
For a while it seemed I could not open a bookish email without seeing references to Megan Abbott. Interviews with her, articles by her or about her work. But I have never read any of her books. Since I found this nice inexpensive mass market edition of You Will Know Me, I will start here with her work.
And then Kate Mosse, who I have read before, though it has been ages. This ghost story, The Winter Ghosts, takes place after WWI yet it hearkens back to those war years. It is set in France during a snowstorm, all good ingredients for a good ghost story. Plus it looks like it will read quickly. If I don't manage to squeeze it in this fall I will save it for the holidays (my other favorite time for a good ghost story).
I know I need to stop accumulating books and concentrate on what I already own. I have more than enough to read for many many years to come. But it is so hard to leave a bookstore empty handed. I am trying to not bring home more than one, so I had a nice little splurge as you see here!