I have enjoyed Jerry Kennealy's books for many years, starting with his Polo series and now his new Carroll Quint series that debuted last year with Jigsaw . Still Shot is the newest book in this series and I'm hoping to read it this weekend. This review though, is on a much older title The Conductor . This is one of the only Kennealy title's in audio and over the past week or so, I have greatly enjoyed listening to this stand alone title.

When Mary Ariza stops to help a man having a heart attack, she doesn't know she will soon be targeted by a killer. Jack Kordic, the policeman assigned to the case after the first attack on Mary, is also caught up with a series of seemingly unrelated crimes which only he realizes may connect with Mary.

Kennealy's own direct knowledge of the workings of the San Francisco Police and Fire Departments is evident as the whole of The City is caught up in a series of murders and bombing of the opera house. Though published in 1996, this seems very today with elements of terrorism which Kennealy handles deftly, keeping the action going and the reader/listener wondering what can possibly happen next.

If I'm not reading mysteries, then the next best thing is a book about food. The Lady in the Palazzo: At Home in Umbria not only talks about food but also takes place in Italy - a favorite place. I first met de Blasi in her book A ThousandDays in Venice which was an almost too good to be true love story.

Marlena de Blasi is a woman of great energy, who loves drama and making over homes and even lives. This is the third book chronicling her romance, marriage and subsequent moves and make overs in different romantic Italian locales.

The latest home in Umbria seems to be the one that may take and the issues around Italian home buying, the included recipes and de Blasi's travel and decorating stories are always fascinating. As elaborate as her approach to life may be, Marlena also conveys great feeling toward the land and food - food eaten according to seasons when at it's peak.