Book Beginnings and Friday 56 for December 12th

Hi, and welcome to this week's Book Beginnings and Friday 56 (which is celebrating 4 years this week!  Congrats!!).  I've got to tell you, I'm very glad it is Friday.  My brain has acted like it was Friday all day Thursday.  The real Friday is going to be torture at work.

But we aren't here to talk about work.  We're here to talk about The Nightingale Before Christmas, the latest Meg Langslow Mystery by Donna Andrews.

This is actually the last of the Christmas books I wanted to be sure to read this year in December.  Have I done all my decorating?  No.  Have I done any shopping?  Barely started.  But I've read my Christmas books.  Obviously, I have my priorities in order, right?

Anyway, here's how the book begins.

"Passementerie." 

Mother was standing in the evergreen-trimmed archway between the living room and the foyer, directly beneath the red-and-gold "Merry Christmas" banner, frowning at something she was holding. 

Since I had no idea who or what "passementerie" was, I just sat there in the foyer of the Caerphilly Designer Show House with my pen poised over my notebook-that-tells-me-when-to-breathe, waiting for Mother to elaborate.

And yes, I know what it is now.  You'll have to read the book.

Anyway, on page 56, we find:

Something tinkled and broke in the distance.  Upstairs. 

I glanced up.  The house was dark, had had I seen a faint flicker of light out of the corner of my eye - like a flashlight being switched off?

I've got to admit, I skipped about 10 pages to get to the 56.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go read and see what is happening in that scene.