Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Stone Cold

Posted on April 22, 2025 by smellincoffee

There’s something rotten in the state of Wyoming – and specifically, the county of Medicine Wheel, in the northern reaches of the state.  Seems in the last few years some financial grandee retired there and has been buying up everything, … Continue reading →

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Breaking Point

Posted on April 21, 2025 by smellincoffee

While on patrol counting herds and listening for sounds of poachers,  Game Warden Joe Pickett notices a Forestry fence that’s been cut. Upon investigation the warden realizes this fence was cut relatively recently, and whoever did it may still be … Continue reading →

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The Professionals

Posted on April 10, 2025 by smellincoffee

Since 1915,  Martin Falconer has been flying birds above France in His Majesty’s Royal Flying Corps,  but  as the days pass he’s beginning to wonder how much longer he can buck the odds.  The aerial carnage has gotten especially bad … Continue reading →

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Selma: An Architectural Field Guide

Posted on April 8, 2025 by smellincoffee

Note: Yes, this has nothing to do with Read of England, but the author sent me a copy for review on publication. Additionally, I assisted in some of the background research and fact-checking in the book’s final stages. My hometown … Continue reading →

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Vigilante Rewilding

Posted on April 4, 2025 by smellincoffee

While scouting for science books that could also fit into Read of England a few weeks back, I saw Brining Back the Beaver and was instantly on board. I like beavers, though I’m not entirely sure why: perhaps it was … Continue reading →

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The Last Man in Europe

Posted on April 3, 2025 by smellincoffee

I have found George Orwell a fascinating person for almost as long as I’ve known of his existence. Introduced to his work in middle school, reading 1984 and Animal Farm were a political education – and I was surprised but … Continue reading →

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Force of Nature

Posted on April 1, 2025 by smellincoffee

One of Joe Pickett’s few friends and allies is a federal fugitive named Nate Romanowski.  To be fair,  Joe didn’t know Nate was a fugitive when they became friends, only that he had a shady past as a member of … Continue reading →

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Cold wind

Posted on March 31, 2025 by smellincoffee

Joe Pickett, Game Warden, is not a fan of his mother-in-law, but he wouldn’t figure her for murder. One morning while making his rounds and checking herds, he notices something odd about the wind turbines being installed on the far … Continue reading →

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Images of America: Fenway Park

Posted on March 25, 2025 by smellincoffee

I’ve read three previous entries in the Images of America cities, but this is the first that takes me out of state, deep into the heart of Yankeedom: Boston’s own Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. Fenway is the … Continue reading →

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Nowhere to Run

Posted on March 24, 2025 by smellincoffee

Warning: this review contains partial spoilers for Winterkill and Below Zero.  Joe Pickett is finally about to go home to Saddlestring after an exile in Baggs, where the governor sent him to keep a low profile – but there’s something … Continue reading →

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