I finished "Lies Sleeping" a couple of days ago and was happy with Aaronovitch's latest entry in the Rivers of London series. What keeps me coming back for more of Peter and friends is the humor, history/mythology and - nerd that I am - the architectural commentary. Oh, and the characters, of course. :)  I'm looking forward to more Holdbrook-Smith/Aaronovitch magic when book #8 is released.

                                Snakes and Ladders Stats:

                                1 Snake

                                1 Ladder

                                13 Audiobooks Knocked Off the TBR (owned)

                                1 Audiobook Library Borrow

                                 Highlights:  

                                 The Dry by Jane Harper (new to me author)

                                 A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn

                                 My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

                                 Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch

                                 Disappointments:

                                 Open Season by C.J. Box (new to me author)

                                 Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen

                                 There Goes the Bride by M.C. Beaton

My Squares/Prompts and Book Picks

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3 - One Die Roll:  4

     Timestamp: 2019-03-04 02:36:31 UTC

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

      Roll #4 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 5 = 11

      Timestamp: 2019-03-09 23:41:41 UTC

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 4 = 8

      Timestamp: 2019-03-14 20:42:23 UTC

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 1 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-03-19 20:34:27 UTC 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9

      Timestamp: 2019-03-26 22:06:20 UTC

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8 - One Die Roll:  4

      Timestamp: 2019-04-03 05:53:32 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

      Roll #9 - Two Dice Roll:  2 + 4 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-04-08 04:22:51 UTC

65. Snake - go back to 52:  (Zap!)

52. Has a tree or flower on the cover: Open Season by C.J. Box

      Roll #10 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 1 = 7

      Timestamp: 2019-04-11 04:58:21 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

      Roll #11 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9  (Ladder!)

      Timestamp: 2019-04-24 22:57:29 UTC

68. Something related to weddings on the cover: There Goes the Bride by M.C.

      Beaton

      Climbed the Ladder

98. Title starts with any of the letters in LADDERS: A Dangerous Collaboration by

      Deanna Raybourn

      Roll #12 - Two Dice Roll:  2 + 4 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-05-20 08:35:33 UTC

100. Let BL pick it for you; post 4 choices and read the one that gets the most

        votes!: Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

AND I FINALLY FINISHED A GAME!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I thought I might need a tie breaker after the first day of voting, but "Lies Sleeping" pulled ahead of "Who Slays the Wicked" by day two and came in the winner. Turns out it's the perfect choice.  I just finished listening to "The Furthest Station" and "A Rare Book of Cunning Device" -- Rivers of London novella and short story, respectively -- so I'm all primed to slip back into Peter Grant's world and see how he saves London from the Faceless Man.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's the official tally courtesy of my snake charmer.

I stole Ani's excellent formatting design for this post, and I've got my fingers crossed the poll works for me.  There's a solid lineup of great authors and narrators here, so step right up, folks, and cast your vote for my final S&L audiobook listen! My lovely snake charmer is standing by to tally up the results and will announce the winner on Wednesday (5/22).     

Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (narrator)

The Faceless Man, wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud, and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run. Peter Grant, detective constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring him to justice. But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that the Faceless Man, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long-term plan. A plan that has its roots in London's 2,000 bloody years of history and could literally bring the city to its knees. To save his beloved city, Peter's going to need help from his former best friend and colleague - Lesley May - who brutally betrayed him and everything which he thought she believed. Far worse, he might even have to come to terms with the malevolent supernatural killer and agent of chaos known as Mr. Punch....

Proof by Dick Francis

Simon Prebble (narrator)

After a shattering accident plunges a society soiree into chaos, an unassuming wine merchant is left with the bitter aftertaste of suspicion and fear. While catering an outdoor party for a prominent horse trainer, Tony Beach hears rumors of inferior whisky being sold under premium labels. All of that is forgotten, however, when a runaway horse trailer suddenly ploughs into the guest-filled tent. Later, after the last victim is pulled from the debris, he begins searching for answers to both the fraudulent spirits and the disaster. As Tony follows up leads, he finds himself pulled deeper and deeper into a treacherous world filled with greed, deception, and unspeakable murder.

Caravan by Dorothy Gilman

Roslyn Alexander (narrator)

A lushly romantic adventure story set in the North African desert in 1914, told by the impeccable Lady Treal as she reminisces in her London town house about her decidedly peccable past... With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen by fierce Tuareg tribesmen, Caressa's choices are death or a life of slavery. Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventure of her life, harassed by fierce nomads, slave traders and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks stand between her and oblivion. Then she discovers an inner magic so mysteriously compelling that the desert people call her a sorceress. With it she will secure her freedom and discover the love of her life....

Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris

Davina Porter (narrator)

When the handsome but dissolute young gentleman Lord Ashworth is found brutally murdered, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called in by Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy to help catch the killer. Just seven months before, Sebastian had suspected Ashworth of aiding one of his longtime friends and companions in the kidnapping and murder of a string of vulnerable street children. But Sebastian was never able to prove Ashworth's complicity. Nor was he able to prevent his troubled, headstrong young niece Stephanie from entering into a disastrous marriage with the dangerous nobleman. Stephanie has survived the difficult birth of twin sons. But Sebastian soon discovers that her marriage has quickly degenerated into a sham. Ashworth abandoned his pregnant bride at his father's Park Street mansion and has continued living an essentially bachelor existence. And mounting evidence - ranging from a small bloody handprint to a woman's silk stocking - suggests that Ashworth's killer was a woman. Sebastian is tasked with unraveling the shocking nest of secrets surrounding Ashworth's life to keep Stephanie from being punished for his death.

My two dice roll gives me a six and takes me to square #100. Yay!  I'll have my four book choices up for you guys to vote on as soon as I sort out how I'm going to tally the voting. :)

Roll #12

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3 - One Die Roll:  4

     Timestamp: 2019-03-04 02:36:31 UTC

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

      Roll #4 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 5 = 11

      Timestamp: 2019-03-09 23:41:41 UTC

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 4 = 8

      Timestamp: 2019-03-14 20:42:23 UTC

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 1 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-03-19 20:34:27 UTC 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9

      Timestamp: 2019-03-26 22:06:20 UTC

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8 - One Die Roll:  4

      Timestamp: 2019-04-03 05:53:32 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

      Roll #9 - Two Dice Roll:  2 + 4 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-04-08 04:22:51 UTC

65. Snake - go back to 52:  (Zap!)

52. Has a tree or flower on the cover: Open Season by C.J. Box

      Roll #10 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 1 = 7

      Timestamp: 2019-04-11 04:58:21 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

      Roll #11 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9  (Ladder!)

      Timestamp: 2019-04-24 22:57:29 UTC

68. Something related to weddings on the cover: There Goes the Bride by M.C.

      Beaton

      Climbed the Ladder

98. Title starts with any of the letters in LADDERS: A Dangerous Collaboration by

      Deanna Raybourn

I pre-ordered the audiobook edition of the latest release in Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series and was dying to listen to it, so I was excited the 'A' in "A Dangerous Collaboration" fulfills the prompt for square #98: title starts with any of the letters in LADDERS.  And I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint. The island setting off the Cornwall coast, the insular island community and its folklore, the resident nobility's troubles, the dynamic/sibling rivalry between Stoker and his brother, as well as Tiberius' connection to the mystery all made for a good story.  And declarations by both Stoker and Veronica seem to have cleared the way for their relationship to move beyond the rather silly device(s) Raybourn has used to keep them platonic friends through four books. Was it perfect?  No. I had a few quibbles, but they didn't distract from my enjoyment of the book, and as always the touches of humor were great fun. While the similarities to Amelia Peabody are still noticeable to me, Raybourn has managed to make the Veronica Speedwell series uniquely her own, and I'll happily continue to read Veronica's adventures in future books. 

**Climbed the Ladder**

98. Title starts with any of the letters in LADDERS: A Dangerous Collaboration by

      Deanna Raybourn

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3 - One Die Roll:  4

     Timestamp: 2019-03-04 02:36:31 UTC

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

      Roll #4 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 5 = 11

      Timestamp: 2019-03-09 23:41:41 UTC

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 4 = 8

      Timestamp: 2019-03-14 20:42:23 UTC

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 1 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-03-19 20:34:27 UTC 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9

      Timestamp: 2019-03-26 22:06:20 UTC

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8 - One Die Roll:  4

      Timestamp: 2019-04-03 05:53:32 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

      Roll #9 - Two Dice Roll:  2 + 4 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-04-08 04:22:51 UTC

65. Snake - go back to 52:  (Zap!)

52. Has a tree or flower on the cover: Open Season by C.J. Box

      Roll #10 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 1 = 7

      Timestamp: 2019-04-11 04:58:21 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

      Roll #11 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9  (Ladder!)

      Timestamp: 2019-04-24 22:57:29 UTC

68. Something related to weddings on the cover: There Goes the Bride by M.C.

      Beaton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Woohoo!  I finally landed on a ladder! Tossing two dice gave me a nine which took me to square #68. I was a little fuzzy about how the ladders work, so I just went ahead and chose books to meet the prompts for both the bottom and top squares. I couldn't find a cover on my TBR that had something related to weddings, though, so I perused my library's Hoopla offerings and selected "There Goes the Bride" by M.C. Beaton. This is the 20th book in Beaton's long running Agatha Raisin series, and while I've only read a half dozen or so of the early titles, I've also watched the recent TV adaptation and didn't have a problem slipping back into the setting and characters.  Unfortunately it wasn't a strong entry in the series.  The story felt really disjointed, and a lot of filler had also been added. Penelope Keith's narration was the only bright spot. 

Roll #11

68. Something related to weddings on the cover: There Goes the Bride by M.C.

      Beaton

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3 - One Die Roll:  4

     Timestamp: 2019-03-04 02:36:31 UTC

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

      Roll #4 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 5 = 11

      Timestamp: 2019-03-09 23:41:41 UTC

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 4 = 8

      Timestamp: 2019-03-14 20:42:23 UTC

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 1 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-03-19 20:34:27 UTC 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9

      Timestamp: 2019-03-26 22:06:20 UTC

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8 - One Die Roll:  4

      Timestamp: 2019-04-03 05:53:32 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

      Roll #9 - Two Dice Roll:  2 + 4 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-04-08 04:22:51 UTC

65. Snake - go back to 52: (Zap!)

52. Has a tree or flower on the cover: Open Season by C.J. Box

      Roll #10 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 1 = 7

      Timestamp: 2019-04-11 04:58:21 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This roll took me back to the same space I was on right before I hit that pesky snake.  I landed on square #59 again after rolling two dice and getting a seven.  Since I read/listen to a lot of oldies but goodies, I'm happily using "Sylvester" by Georgette Heyer this time as my pick for a title published more than ten years ago.  It didn't disappoint. The premise was entertaining, Heyer's signature humor and witty dialog were fun, and the character development and psychological insights were good.  I passed on the Richard Armitage narration and went with the unabridged Nicholas Rowe version instead which I thought was very good. I've read about a dozen of Heyer's regency romances now, and I'd be hard pressed to rank favorites. So far they've all been consistently entertaining.

Roll #10

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3 - One Die Roll:  4

     Timestamp: 2019-03-04 02:36:31 UTC

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

      Roll #4 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 5 = 11

      Timestamp: 2019-03-09 23:41:41 UTC

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 4 = 8

      Timestamp: 2019-03-14 20:42:23 UTC

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 1 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-03-19 20:34:27 UTC 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9

      Timestamp: 2019-03-26 22:06:20 UTC

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8 - One Die Roll:  4

      Timestamp: 2019-04-03 05:53:32 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

      Roll #9 - Two Dice Roll:  2 + 4 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-04-08 04:22:51 UTC

65. Snake - go back to 52: (Zap!)

52. Has a tree or flower on the cover: Open Season by C.J. Box

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m sorry to report my lovely snake charmer let me down this roll. :( Tossing two dice gave me a six which meant I landed on square #65 and a snake. Boo! I slid back down to square #52 where the prompt says to read a book with a tree or flower on the cover. I chose "Open Season" by C.J. Box which has some dreary looking tree trunks on the cover, and I wasn't all that impressed with the story, either.  Granted it’s the first in a series, but I had some issues with the main characters, and a number of scenes felt like they were written for shock value which didn't work for me. I suspect Box was trying to up the suspense factor or possibly appeal more to male readers. Anyway, I would have preferred to have seen the climatic scene with the culprits play out differently, and I kinda felt Box's portrayal of Joe Pickett's wife veered into sainthood territory by the end. The second book in the series is buried in my TBR pile, but I'm not in any hurry to read it.

Roll #9

65. Snake - go back to 52: (Zap!)

52. Has a tree or flower on the cover: Open Season by C.J. Box 

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3 - One Die Roll:  4

     Timestamp: 2019-03-04 02:36:31 UTC

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

      Roll #4 - Two Dice Roll:  6 + 5 = 11

      Timestamp: 2019-03-09 23:41:41 UTC

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 4 = 8

      Timestamp: 2019-03-14 20:42:23 UTC

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 1 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-03-19 20:34:27 UTC 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7 - Two Dice Roll:  4 + 5 = 9

      Timestamp: 2019-03-26 22:06:20 UTC

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8 - One Die Roll:  4

      Timestamp: 2019-04-03 05:53:32 UTC

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been shamefully slacking on my S&L updates and now have a bunch to post in order to catch up to my final read to finish the game. Moving on from square #55 where I opted to skip the book prompt, I rolled a single die and got a four which took me to square #59. I didn't have a problem finding a book that was written more than ten years ago on my TBR and chose "Friday the Rabbi Slept Late" by Harry Kemelman. The first of a series, it was written in 1964 and is performed by George Guidall, who's one of my favorite narrators. Overall it was just an okay murder mystery improved by Guidall's narration. So while I did appreciate learning more about the rabbi's traditional approach to his vocation and seeing the social workings of his congregation and the Jewish community, the whodunit wasn't very satisfying.  

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC (working on the screen shot thing) 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

       Roll #3

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

       Roll #4

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

      Roll #8

59. Was published more than 10 years ago: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry

      Kemelman

I thought I'd share a taste of Seanan McGuire's singing and songwriting talents since I'm immersed in the world of October Daye and the Faerie right now.

Michelle "Vixy" Dockrey is lead singer with Seanan joining in. My Celtic roots are showing 'cause I love the sound!  Great lyrics, too.

Wicked Girls

Wendy played fair, and she played by the rules that they gave her;
They say she grew up and grew old -- Peter Pan couldn't save her.
They say she went home, and she never looked back,
Got her feet on the ground, got her life on its track.
She's the patron saint priestess of all the lost girls who got found.
And she once had her head in the clouds, but she died on the ground.

Dorothy just wanted something that she could believe in,
A gray dustbowl girl in a life she was better off leavin'.
She made her escape, went from gray into green,
And she could have got clear, and she could have got clean,
But she chose to be good and go back to the gray Kansas sky
Where color's a fable and freedom's a fairy tale lie.

 Dorothy, Alice and Wendy and Jane,
 Susan and Lucy, we're calling your names,
 All the Lost Girls who came out of the rain
 And chose to go back on the shelf.
 Tinker Bell says, and I find I agree
 You have to break rules if you want to break free.
 So do as you like -- we're determined to be
 Wicked girls saving ourselves.

Alice got lost, and I guess that we really can't blame her;
They say she got tangled and tied in the lies that became her.
They say she went mad, and she never complained,
For there's peace of a kind in a life unconstrained.
She gives Cheshire kisses, she's easy with white rabbit smiles,
And she'll never be free, but she's won herself safe for a while.

Susan and Lucy were queens, and they ruled well and proudly.
They honored their land and their lord, rang the bells long and loudly.
They never once asked to return to their lives
To be children and chattel and mothers and wives,
But the land cast them out in a lesson that only one learned;
And one queen said 'I am not a toy', and she never returned.

 Dorothy, Alice and Wendy and Jane,
 Susan and Lucy, we're calling your names,
 All the Lost Girls who came out of the rain
 And chose to go back on the shelf.
 Tinker Bell says, and I find I agree
 You have to break rules if you want to break free.
 So do as you like -- we're determined to be
 Wicked girls saving ourselves.

 Mandy's a pirate, and Mia weaves silk shrouds for faeries,
 And Deborah will pour you red wine pressed from sweet poisoned berries.
 Kate poses riddles and Mary plays tricks,
 While Kaia builds towers from brambles and sticks,
 And the rules that we live by are simple and clear:
 Be wicked and lovely and don't live in fear --

 Dorothy, Alice and Wendy and Jane,
 Susan and Lucy, we're calling your names,
 All the Lost Girls who came out of the rain
 And chose to go back on the shelf.
 Tinker Bell says, and I find I agree
 You have to break rules if you want to break free.
 So do as you like -- we're determined to be
 Wicked girls saving ourselves.

For we will be wicked and we will be fair
And they'll call us such names, and we really won't care,
So go, tell your Wendys, your Susans, your Janes,
There's a place they can go if they're tired of chains,
And our roads may be golden, or broken, or lost,
But we'll walk on them willingly, knowing the cost --
We won't take our place on the shelves.
It's better to fly and it's better to die
Say the wicked girls saving ourselves.

I'm continuing to make steady, if slow, progress up the S&L board.  The ladders have been elusive, but luckily I haven't tangled with a snake, either. My seventh roll using two dice gave me a nine and took me to space #55. I'm going to pass on the prompt for this square which says to read a book that is more than 500 pages long. Instead I decided to dip back into the urban fantasy genre and listen to the second entry in Seanan McGuire's October Day series, "A Local Habitation".  I found a lot to like in book one, including the SF Bay Area setting, so I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for Toby and the Fae this time round.

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC (working on the screen shot thing) 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

       Roll #3

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

       Roll #4

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

Phew! My lovely snake charmer helped me narrowly miss landing on a snake this roll. I ended up on square #46 after tossing two dice and getting a six. Filling this prompt was a breeze since I have way too many audiobooks that have been languishing on the ole Mount TBR for more than two years. I wanted something that wouldn't disappoint, so I chose "The Devil's Novice" which is my next installment in the Brother Cadfael Mysteries. Ellis Peters' characters and writing are wonderful in this series, and I've been slowly adding all the Patrick Tull unabridged narrations to my Audible library the past several years. I'm looking forward to this one and will try to post an update and quote at some point.   

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC (working on the screen shot thing) 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

       Roll #3

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

       Roll #4

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

     by Ellis Peters

Well, my S&L updates are sadly lagging behind my actually dice rolls and book reads; hopefully I'll pick up the pace on posts.

So my fifth roll using two dice gave me an eight which took me to square #40 and the prompt: "Characters involved in the entertainment industry". The eighth book in Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while, and it fits the prompt perfectly. "Queen of Hearts" finds our protag, Lady Georgiana Rannoch, accompanying her actress mother to the US for a quickie Reno divorce and a film shoot in Hollywood. 

TBH, this series started getting old for me around book four, and I'm a little upset with myself for continuing to buy the audiobooks.  Initially the premise was fun, and while the characters were somewhat stereotypical and short on depth, it was still a frothy humorous cozy read. Unfortunately, the continuing lack of character development in later books has led to a cast of mostly annoying caricatures, and the writing can be repetitive and simplistic at times, so my expectations for "Queen of Hearts" aren't high.

ETA: Weakest entry so far. If I didn't already have book nine, I'd bail on the series at this point. :(

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC (working on the screen shot thing) 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

       Roll #3

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

       Roll #4

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5

 40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

So this time around I landed on square #32 after rolling two dice and getting an eleven.  My TBR pile had four strong contenders for the "Genre: Thriller" prompt, including a James Bond novel.  I decided to go with "The Dry" by Jane Harper which is more of a mystery-thriller.  I bought it over a year ago and couldn't remember why it appealed to me, so I checked the book details and was pleasantly surprised to see a screen adaptation is in the works.  Set in rural Australia in the midst of a severe drought, it's off to a strong start with a great Aussie narrator.  I think I'm going to enjoy this one!  

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC (working on the screen shot thing) 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

       Roll #3

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

       Roll #4

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

My last book pick didn't fit the square prompt, so I only rolled a single die this time and got a four which takes me to square #21. I'll be listening to Gerald Durrell's "My Family and Other Animals" which is set in Greece and fulfills the "Set in Europe" prompt.

Progress to Date:

1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

      Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

      Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC (working on the screen shot thing) 

7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair At

    Styles by Agatha Christie 

      Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

      Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

      Roll #3

 21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

    “And I,” said Ramses, feeding the last of the sandwiches to the cat, “wish to dig up dead people. Human remains are de indicators of de racial affiliations of de ancient Egyptians. Furdermore, I feel a useful study might be made of techniques of mummification down the ages.”

     Emerson bent a tender look upon his son and heir. “Very well, Ramses; Papa will find you all the dead bodies you want.”

Oh how I love spending time with Amelia and family! This is a much needed re-read of one of my favorites in the series. The Emerson's precocious son, Ramses, joins his parents for the first time during their annual Egyptian excavation season with "de cat, Bastet," in tow. Their arch enemy, the Master Criminal, also makes his debut, setting up the on-going story arc of his antiquities thefts and special interest in Amelia and her family. Sethos, as the Emersons later learn he's called, and "de" young Ramses are special favorites among a large cast of beloved characters. Barbara Rosenblat's narration is superb, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm reading this for square #17 on the Snakes & Ladders game board: Genre - horror.