Light Thickens, by Ngaio Marsh

Ngaio Marsh is a contemporary of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, and as a loyal fan of British mysteries I decided to see how she compared. Her plots are creative, centering often around a theatre (she was a theatre director for many years), and include Maori and other New Zealand characters, as she herself was raised in New Zealand.
I puzzled over the pronunciation of her first name, and finally turned to Wikipedia, which informs me that it is pronounced Nah'-ere-oo.
I found Chief Superintendent Alleyn a trifle bland, compared to the ostentatiousness of the great Hercule Poirot, but perhaps he improves on acquaintance.
Her thorough knowledge of the theatre, and understanding of the challenges and temperaments of actors and actresses adds depth to her mysteries. One is offered a glimpse backstage, into the inner workings of a show.

West of Kabul, East of New York, by Tamim Ansary

I have to confess that the cover picture of a boy with a pidgeon on his turban captured my attention. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I found it intriguing. It was a glimpse inside of a culture completely foreign to me. Mr. Ansary is a true Afghani- American, as his father was the first Afghani to marry an American wife. The first part of the book details his childhood in an Afghani traditional home, his coming of age, and decision to attend the last years of high school in Colorado.
Mr. Ansary is uniquely placed to help others understand the true nature of traditional Afghani culture, the effect of the Taliban on it, and the background to some of the terrorist attacks that our country has experienced. I recommend it to anyone seeking to understand why America has become a target for Muslim extremists.