Book ~ "The Armchair Detectives" (2025) Matt Dunn

From Goodreads ~ They might be over the hill but they’re far from six feet under and now there’s a murder to solve!

Meet Martin Maxwell. As a former government operative, at eighty-four-years young he always pictured a retirement sipping shaken-not-stirred martinis on a far-flung island. But in need of some care after a new hip, he finds himself at Twilight Lodge on the decidedly cloudy English coast.

From the outside, it’s a picture-perfect place to recuperate. But when popular resident Elsie dies unexpectedly, Martin suspects foul play. She’s the third death in less than two weeks and always had a clean bill of health. Armed with a walking stick and his trusty notebook and pen, Martin decides to investigate.

While nobody believes him – death is an inevitable part of care home life after all – Martin is convinced something sinister is afoot. With his wheelchair-bound sidekick and former nemesis Albie in tow, they begin questioning the residents. Soon they learn that there are several suspects in the frame.

When they discover Albie’s love interest Barbara is in the killer’s sights, Martin knows time is running out. Will Albie’s heart be broken forever, or can they battle the effects of old age and each other, outwitting a murderer before it’s too late?

Martin is 84 and a widower, recovering from hip surgery and not wanting to burden his daughter to have to take care of him. Instead he checks into Twilight Lodge, a seaside care home where he plans on taking it easy and recuperate. But taking it easy doesn’t last long. When one of the residents dies unexpectedly (and then others start dying), Martin’s old instincts kick in. Martin isn’t your average retiree ... he used to work for “The Company” (something very spy-like). When he starts connecting the dots, he’s sure there’s foul play involved. Luckily his old partner, wheelchair-bound Albie, who claims to not remember Martin, is also at the home and the two end up sleuthing together along with Martin’s wild theories and his notebook full of half-remembered clues.

This was a fun story and it was interesting to have it written from the first person perspective of an 84-year-old man. It's surprisingly a cozy mystery as there is no swearing or violence. The interactions between Martin and Albie were cute. There are some red herrings and I was okay with the whodunnit. It seems like it's the first of a series and I look forward to reading the future books.

One Eyed Jack, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at One Eyed Jack on Richmond Street W this evening. 

Gord had Beef Stuffed Yorkshire (Shaved roast beef, sautéed onion, mushroom and gravy in a homemade Yorkshire pudding) and a side salad. He loved the beef but said the Yorkshire pudding was dense and tough.

TIFF, Toronto, ON

I recently volunteered for TIFF ... it's my third year. I spent Friday, Saturday, Sunday and this afternoon and evening at the TIFF Lightbox.

Wednesday, August 27

One of the benefits of being a returning TIFF volunteer is you get invited to a complimentary screening of a movie that will be in the festival ... and you don't know what it is until it starts! This year it was Carolina Caroline, which was good. And there was lots of complimentary popcorn!

General Assembly Pizza, Toronto, ON

I had supper this evening at General Assembly on Adelaide Street W.

I had a Loving Cup pizza (grass fed mozzarella, ezzo natural pepperoni, grana padano). The crust was soft and chewy and there was lots of pepperoni!

Elephant & Castle, Toronto, ON

I had supper at Elephant & Castle (King Street W/Simcoe Street) this evening because TIFF Festival volunteers enjoy $6 house beers and a 20% discount on food (I volunteered again this year).

I ordered Manta’s Butter Chicken (curried tomato cream sauce with cashew butter topped with chopped cilantro & spiced yogurt, served with basmati rice & grilled garlic naan bread). It wasn’t great … the rice and naan were the best part. I wasn’t sure what kind of meat was in it at first as it looked like ground beef. Once I dug around a bit, I found chunks of chicken that seemed to be left over seasoned grilled chicken from yesterday.

One Eyed Jack, Toronto, ON

I had supper at One Eyed Jack on Richmond Street W this evening.

Ya gotta love $5.50 beer!

I had wings with medium sauce and ranch on the side and fries. Big yummy wings and crispy fries!

TIFF Festival Street, Toronto, ON

I checked out TIFF Festival Street (King Street W, Peter Street to University Avenue) this morning. 

There were lots of giveaways (chocolate, coffee, etc.) and the lines are long.

Book ~ "Nogged Off" (2016) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ ‘Twas the week before Christmas and Julia Snowden’s escape from New York has just hit a snag. Fresh off accidentally poisoning half her colleagues with her “Killer Eggnog”, Julia’s would-be subletter, Imogen Geinkes, is now jobless and homeless - leading Julia to invite the young woman home for the holidays in Maine. But when they unload the rental truck in Busman’s Harbor, they find something that wasn’t on anyone’s packing list: the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend. 

Suddenly, the wordplay in Imogen’s name - “I’m a jinx” - isn’t so adorable. But for all the calamities that follow in Imogen’s wake, Julia’s certain she’s no killer. As Julia digs into the case, the appearance of the ex’s brother - his identical twin - doubles the confusion. Has Imogene been double-crossed by an evil twin? Was the eggnog “accident” no accident at all? If Julia doesn’t unwrap the murderer’s true identity soon, one of the twelve days of Christmas could be her last.

Julia thought her quick trip to New York would be simple ... grab the last of her stuff from her apartment, head back home to Busman's Harbor, Maine, and settle in for Christmas with her boyfriend and family. Instead she finds her apartment still occupied by her subletter, Imogen, a heartbroken mess who has just lost her job and her boyfriend. Rather than kick her out right before the holidays, Julia does the kind thing and brings her home to Busman’s Harbor. Julia's moving truck is stolen in the middle of the night from her mother's driveway and when it's found, they find more than boxes and furniture ... the body of Imogen's ex-boyfriend.

This quick read (it's a novella) was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. It had a couple interesting twists at the end. It's a cozy mystery so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. At the end, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story for hazelnut wreaths and pecan puffs.

This novella is 4.5 (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I read the first four in the series recently and will keep moving through the series.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are yellow, mustard and black.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Fran's Restaurant, Toronto, ON (Victoria Street)

I had supper this evening at Fran’s Restaurant at Victoria Street/Shuter Street.

I had Baked Lasagna (Baked daily! 7 layers of thick meat sauce, cheese, and noodles, topped with melted cheese and marinara sauce.) and it was good … it tasted homemade. It could have been hotter in the middle, though.

Book ~ "The Summers Between Us" (2025) Noreen Nanja

From Goodreads ~ A young ambitious lawyer returns to her family's rural property after 10 years and must confront her deepest fears and long-buried secrets for a second chance at love with the one that got away, despite her family's expectations.

Lia is a corporate lawyer who seems to have her life completely figured out ... she’s got the high-powered career, a potential boyfriend her mother will approve of and the perfect immigrant daughter image everyone expects from her. 

When her aunt, who has been staying at the family cottage needs surgery, Lia agrees to stay at the cottage to care of her teenage cousin. Next door to their cottage live Wes, Lia’s first love, and his mother. Lia and Wes' teenage romance happened over five summers but it didn’t last because of family expectations, cultural clashes and a secret (which we don't learn about until near the end) drove them apart. She runs into him again at the cottage after not seeing him for about ten years and she tries to resist the emotions that are coming back.

I thought this story was okay, though not original. It moves back and forth between the past (the five summers when Lia and Wes fell in love) and the present (the chapters are labeled). It's written in first person perspective in Lia's voice. I liked that it was set in Ontario and the author didn't try to hide that. I found it hard to believe that Lia and Wes, after not seeing each other for about ten years and nearing age thirty, still carried a torch for each other after all these years, considering it was a teenage romance. There is swearing and adult activity and it was icky reading about the teenage Lia and Wes partaking. I didn't find Lia and Wes overly believable as teenagers as they seemed too mature.

Book ~ "Fogged Inn" (2016) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ An autumn chill has settled over Busman's Harbor, Maine, but Julia Snowden is warming up the town by offering lobster stew at the local diner. When her landlord discovers a dead body in the walk-in refrigerator, Julia must figure out who ordered up a side of murder. 

Nothing's colder than a corpse - -especially one stashed inside a sub-zero fridge. The victim spent his last night on earth dining at the restaurant bar so naturally Julia finds herself at the center of the ensuing investigation. Lost in the November fog, however, is who'd want to kill the unidentified stranger - and why. It might have something to do with a suspicious group of retirees and a decades-old tragedy to which they're all connected. One thing's for sure: Julia's going to make solving this mystery her early bird special.

Julia is running Gus’s Too, a restaurant, with her boyfriend, Chris, in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, during the off-season of her family's clambake business. Their cozy spot is attracting regulars since it's the only place to eat out at night. One morning a man is found dead in the restaurant’s walk-in cooler. Nobody seems to know anything about him but Julia soon realizes four couples who were eating at the restaurant the night before are tied together in some way. The more she digs, the more she uncovers old secrets and tangled connections that someone wants to keep hidden.

This story was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. I found with the four couples it was hard to keep track of who they were married to and what their past backstories were. I was okay with the whodunnit. It was interesting following Julia's investigation (even though the police told her to back off) but she made some dumb dangerous decisions. It's a cozy mystery so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story including split pea soup with ham and lobster and corn chowder.

This is the fourth (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I read the first three recently and will keep moving through the series.

The Keating Channel Pub & Grill, Toronto, ON

Trish and I had supper at The Keating Channel Pub & Grill in the Port Lands, on their lovely patio in the back overlooking the water. 

Trish had bruschetta and a salad and said they were good.