Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Meghan Holloway

Meghan Holloway found her first Nancy Drew mystery in a sun-dappled attic at the age of eight and subsequently fell in love with the grip and tautness of a well-told mystery. She flew an airplane before she learned how to drive a car, did her undergrad work in Creative Writing in the sweltering south, and finished a Masters of Library and Information Science in the blustery north. She spent a summer and fall in Maine picking peaches and apples, traveled the world for a few years, and did a stint fighting crime in the records section of a police department. She now lives on the Atlantic coast with her standard poodle and spends her days as a scientist with the requisite glasses but minus the lab coat.

Holloway's new novel is Killing Field.

Recently I asked the author about what she was reading. Holloway's reply:
My nightstand has held some great reads recently, and there are more in the queue. Here is what I have been reading in the last couple of weeks:

"Signal Moon," Kate Quinn

I am so intrigued by the short story format, and Kate Quinn delivers a gem with this one. The time slip element was fun, but the characters made the story. Quinn is one of my go-to authors for strong female historical figures. Learning about the Wrens and their role in WWII was a treat. Lots of suspense and heart packed into 50 pages.

Kismet, Amina Akhtar

Is there anything as satisfying as a darkly funny, twisted murder mystery? This is a pointed, unflinching take on racism, the social media culture, and the wellness industry. The backdrop of the Arizona desert is stunning, and my favorite characters may well be the ravens.

The Ghosts of Paris, Tara Moss

I love a resourceful, independent, clever woman, and Billie Walker, former war reporter turned sleuth, fits the bill. I felt transported to post-WWII Paris with the detailed descriptions. There is a wealth of history and pointed social commentary in this engrossing read as Billie and an outstanding cast of secondary characters unravel the mystery of two missing husbands.

The Woman in the Library, Sulari Gentill

The literary device of an embedded narrative fascinates me, and a murder in a library? Yes, please. This is an entertaining read, and the authors of both books in the story have their own mysteries to solve.

There are, of course, the other research books I am reading for my current work in progress. What is on your Kindle or nightstand? Send some recommendations my way.
Visit Meghan Holloway's website, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

--Marshal Zeringue