Lemon Meringue Pie Murder; Romantic Outlaws

Yes, I am ignoring all the library books I have checked out to tear through these Hannah Swensen books, thanks for asking! The fourth book in the series has Hannah investigating the murder of drugstore clerk Rhonda. Rhonda sold her grandmother's house to Norman, Hannah's dentist boyfriend. Norman decided to tear the house down and rebuild from scratch, and Rhonda asked if she could clear out some personal things first. Norman agreed. Hannah and her mother go over to look for antiques for Delores' shop, which Norman said she could have (Norman is too nice). Delores finds Rhonda's body in the basement. Using the leftovers in the garbage, including one of her own lemon meringue pies, Hannah is able to track down who shared Rhonda's last meal, who had a motive to kill her, and who did it. That Hannah is a smart cookie :) 

After reading the annotated Frankenstein a few weeks ago, I was eager to learn more about Mary Shelley. I found this great book about her and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. It was very nicely done: each chapter alternated between the two women. They were both very rebellious: Mary Wollstonecraft bore a child out of wedlock, Fanny, in her mid-thirties, before marrying William Godwin, Mary's father. She died a few days after Mary was born of childbed fever. Mary grew up hearing stories about her famous philosopher mother and striving to be like her. She fell in love with Percy Shelley, who was married at the time, and ran off to Europe with him. By the time his first wife had committed suicide, Mary had already had two children with him. They were married once Percy was a widower and lived a complicated life. They traveled a lot, and Percy seemed to be whimsical, which Mary loved as a childless teenager but was exasperated by once she had children to feed and clothe. Percy drowned, leaving Mary a young widow who never remarried. Both women struggled to lead authentic lives and abide by their own codes, eschewing the rigid ways of doing things and rebelling against the unfair laws that didn't allow women the same rights as men. I'd like to think they'd both be pleased with how far society has come since their time.