Before I begin blogging about what I've been reading this week, let me first thank everyone who has emailed me or left a comment suggesting Humorous Fiction for my class to read. Thank you, thank you, thank you! My kids will be very happy with your suggestions. :-)

This week's reading mirrored last week's in that I got to read authors that were new to me, as well as one old favorite. I've already talked a bit about my reading experience with Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton, but let me just say that despite my struggle over whether or not it was a true horror novel, I will definitely be reading the other books in the series. I know more about what happens in upcoming books than I would usually care to, but that couldn't be helped. Whenever the topic of the Anita Blake series has come up, whoever was talking about couldn't help but let the spoilers fly. That seems to be a universal trait amongst all Anita Blake readers (regardless of whether or not the like where the author took the character). Love her or hate her, you can't help but talk about her.

After reading Horror for class, I decided to balance it out by reading two new mystery series this week. The first mystery I read was Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot, the first book in the Heather Wells mystery series. If you are a faded pop star who has been left without a boyfriend, a recording contract, or any of your hard earned money, what would you do? Go back to college, of course. Which is exactly what recovering teen idol Heather Wells does. After losing everything, she begins her new life by obtaining a position as an assistant residence hall director at New York College. The pay stinks, but the benefits (free tuition) are priceless to Heather. When a young girl's body is found at the bottom of the residence hall's elevator shaft everyone writes it off as a tragic accident involving on girl's stupidity in trying elevator surfing. Only Heather suspects that there may be more to the girl's death than meets the eye. While her friends tell her that she is imagining things, Heather is sure that the girl's death is no accident. With the help of her private eye landlord, Heather sets out to find the girl's killer and soon learns that trading pop songs for gumshoes is more difficult (and more dangerous) than she imagined.

I was already a fan of Meg Cabot's before picking up Size 12 is Not Fat, and she didn't disappoint me her latest creation. This is a book that fans of light, humorous mysteries as well as readers of Chick Lit will enjoy. I know that I will definitely be picking up the next installment (tentatively titled Phat Chick) when it is released in January 2007.

My second mystery for the week was The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt, the first book in the Bewitching Mystery Series. It's Maggie O'Neill's lucky day when she accidentally falls through a door into Enchantments, one of Stony Mill, Indiana's, finest antique stores. When the proprietor of the store, Felicity Dow, offers her a job, Maggie isn't sure what to think. When Felicity informs her that she is a witch, Maggie really doesn't know what to think. Dissatisfied with her current job, Maggie takes Felicity up on her offer. Her first day on the job is an eventful one when Felicity's estranged sister is found dead in her home, and the police take Felicity in for questioning. Could Maggie's new boss be a killer? She doesn't believe so, but everyone else is convinced of Felicity's guilt. Through her attempt to prove Felicity's innocence and discover the real killer, Maggie makes a startling discovery about herself.

I really liked this book. In fact, the more I think about it the more I think I could fall into serious infatuation with it. Although I've only gotten a glimpse of the cast of characters that populate the fictional town of Stony Mill, Indiana, the author gave me more than enough to leave me intrigued. The blend of paranormal and cozy mystery worked very well together, and as a whole will keep you thinking about the world that has been created long after the story ends. To me The Trouble with Magic is one of those books that I see as the safe recommendation: a book that is so charming and well done that the majority of my mystery and paranormal reading patrons would enjoy it. Although I do have one question for the author. Where's the sequel? I want it. Now.

What have you been reading this week?

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