troisoiseaux

Read The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln, an utterly delightful middle-grade novel about, basically, nominative determinism: in the sprawling, eccentric Swift family, every baby is named by open-and-point method using the family Dictionary (or available substitute, in a pinch, which was the case with Aunt Schadenfreude and, presumably, cousin Pamplemousse). For young Shenanigan Swift, being literally defined by her name is becoming irritating: sure, she has a penchant for mischief, but is that really all she is? When a family reunion at the ancestral Swift manor— rumored to be the site of hidden treasure— turns into a locked-room murder mystery, it's up to Shenanigan and her sister Phenomena to solve the case (because bumbling detective Gumshoe Swift certainly won't).

The blurb for this book compares it to Lemony Snicket (specifically, "Knives Out feel by way of Lemony Snicket") and I can totally see that; I also found myself reminded of Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society, one of my childhood favorites for its puzzles and wordplay. It's a cute, clever book, with LGBT representation— specifically, its nonbinary and transgender characters— that made my heart grow three sizes.

Finished The Surgeon's Mate by Patrick O'Brian, which features about 200 pages of various ships chasing, or being chased by, Jack Aubrey's and also a prison break. Fun read!