The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, by C.S. Lewis

This is chronologically the first in the Narnia series, although it was not published first.

I loved it. I had just seen the film The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe twice when I read this, but I definitely enjoyed the book on its own and can't wait to read the rest of the books.

Plus it was so interesting to see the creation of Narnia and the special connection that humans have to it.

 I'm a little confused why

Hold the Cream Cheese, Kill the Lox, A Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mystery, by Sharon Kahn

Cute, well done, if not terribly suspenseful. I'd read her again though. I like the Jewish deli references everywhere. And at least there was an attempt to fill in loopholes like why the amateur sleuth is sleuthing in the first place, rather than going to the police, even if it did end with