Friday on my Mind: This is the fifth book in the Frieda Klein series. It starts with a bloated corpse floating down the Thames River. Once the police have pulled the body out of the water they check for identification but discover there is no wallet or cell phone. The fully clothed body of the man has a hospital band which reads Dr. F. Klein.
Frieda is now a suspect in a murder.
“It’s complicated being Frieda’s friend.” Reuben made that statement as a group of her friends and supporters were gathering, trying to figure out where she was. Frieda is accused of murder in this book and we are introduced to a new cast of detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department. My favorite detective, Malcolm Karlsson, is still making appearances in this series. Also a shadowy sort of character named Levin sits in and observes on an investigation. Not sure where he will fit in, reminds you of a CIA characters i movies.
Frieda puts me in mind of a more polished, cooler version of Jessica Fletcher of the Murder She Wrote stories. There is always a murder connecting and threading itself into her life. It’s not a cozy mystery for sure. I was sad to read this one as I liked the character who departed.
Foodie stuff….…
“She went to the shops and bought herself enough for the next few days; milk, bread and butter, some bags of salad and Sicilian tomatoes, salty blue cheese, smoked salmon, raspberries and a little carton of cream.
Once home, she had a long bath, then roamed through each room, making doubly sure everything was in its proper place. She ate smoked salmon on rye bread and drank a single glass of white wine.”
Dark Saturday: This one started off so slow I almost didn’t get going. But then…..glad I finished it. Perfect ending to bring you into the Sunday book (which I read first ).
Freida Klein owes someone a favor and it’s time to collect. This rather shadowy character named Levin (who may or may not be involved with the Metropolitan Police) helped her out once. He’s very mysterious. Anyway, in return he wants her to evaluate a mental patient. This patient, Hannah Docherty, was accused of murdering her family 10 years prior. She is now in an institution, old before her time and clearly is being abused.
When Frieda is called upon to give an assessment she comes to the conclusion that Hannah may well have been innocent. Naturally this stirs up a hornets nest with the Commissioner of the Met Police, a man who seems to have a serious and unreasonable dislike of Frieda. Now add some eerie events which may or may not involve Dean Reeve, a stalker the police believe is dead. It gets real in this book!
Food and drink
“Josef was cooking some rich, meaty casserole and Reuben was smoking a cigarette and drinking red wine out of a vast goblet.”
A conversation between Reuben and Frieda after he has been diagnosed with cancer:
“You’d be irritatingly stoical, not me. No one is going to say he lost his brave fight against cancer, “said Reuben.
“You haven’t lost it yet, anyway.” is Frieda’s reply….
“They’re not going to say that because I’m not in a fucking battle. I’m the battleground. That’s what. You remember that. Dying isn’t a moral failure, it’s not a sign of weakness.”
“I agree.”
“Good. Wine?”
“Please.”
I totally get Reuben here. Been there.
Another quote – this (to me) is a great description when the murderer’s identity is revealed and how the person reacts after some bluffing and bravado:
“Frieda had seen dynamite demolish buildings from her consulting room window. After the explosion they would stand for a few moments, holding their shape, then their edges would lose solidity and all of a sudden the edifices would waver, then dissolve into a shower of bricks and mortar. Now XXX’s face lost it’s fixed expression of outrage; the body seemed to fold in on itself. XX was diminished.”
I could just see that scene play out, it was tense.
So, food notes – not too many but I thought of an older recipe I haven’t made in years once I read about Josef’s meaty casserole. It’s called Julie’s Noodle Casserole. Check it out HERE.
Thank you to Goodreads for Dark Saturday. I was a Goodreads winner!
Linking up with:
Heather at Spirit Blog for July Foodies Read
Joy for the British Isles Friday event
Beth Fish reads for the Weekend Cooking Series
Great post! I love what Ruben said about the cancer battle because phrasing it like the person is fighting a battle it in such a bizarre context. As though they’d survive if they were stronger, more determined or some other BS. Dying from cancer—or any serious illness—is NOT a moral failure. Phew. Glad I got that off my chest.
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Vent on, Sim, anytime! Having been through breast cancer two times I totally get it.
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You would be getting me intrigued to read this series, but I just have too many books on my wish-to-read list for the moment! Now a noodle casserole … that sounds doable. And good.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
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Oh, Mae, that noodle casserole is good. I love it. I admit this series isn`t evryone`s cuppa tea!
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Sounds like interesting books, but I’m a bit hesitant of starting a series. I always get sidetracked by standalones.
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Vicki, i like a series but i do end up reading stand alone books in between.
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I have ALL these books and haven’t started them yet. Like the quotes you shared and the foodie (wine) references.
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I wouldn’t ,mind having Josef cook a dinner for me 🙂
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I love your description of Freida as being a “more polished, cooler version of Jessica Fletcher.” HAHAHAHA. Sounds like a good read. You pulled great quotes and descriptions from the book, Tina.
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Thanks, Debra! I like this series but realize Frieda’s character isn’t one that everyone can warm up to.
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I wonder if the series will finish with a Sunday title or if it will be extended into a new week
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Marg, there is one more to finish the series, 8 books total. The last book is called The Day of the Dead.
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Some day I will read this series! 😉 The casserole looks delicious too!
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Thanks, Deb!
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Thanks for the review- sounds like a worthwhile series and delicious casserole
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Thank you, Judee!
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Have a great week. Cheers
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Sounds like a series I would enjoy. Adding it to the queue.
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Dark Saturday is the one I read and I really enjoyed it though it’s a bit darker and creepier than my normal read. I really need to go back to the beginning with this series.
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Katherine, Sunday book is the best but I liked all of them. I only have one to go in this series!
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I also like the cancer observation. When I became a cancer survivor in my early 20s, I read some things that were kind of helpful, on one hand, but also made me think that I was at fault for getting cancer and, if I didn’t get my stress response under control, I would be at fault if it recurred. That’s not true! And, pretty much the opposite of helpful since that sort of thinking only increased my stress.
Blue Monday is nearing the top of my TBR list — i’m looking forward to digging into this series!
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I understand you, Joy. Cancer is a real game changer. I’ve been through breast cancer twice and it’s made me my own health advocate. I read about options, research and have a say when I go to the doctor. Let’s hope that miserable disease never strikes us again.
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