The Hidden Child

Title: The Hidden Child
Author: Louise Fein
Published: October 19th 2021 by William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 480 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: July 1928. Mabel grips Eleanor’s arm tightly as they bowl fast along the country lane, Dilly’s hooves kicking dust into sultry July air.

Synopsis: Eleanor Hamilton is happily married and mother to a beautiful four-year-old girl, Mabel. Her wealthy husband, Edward, a celebrated war hero, is a leading light in the burgeoning Eugenics movement—the very ideas that will soon be embraced by Hitler—and is increasingly important in designing education policy for Great Britain.

But when Edward and Eleanor’s otherwise perfectly healthy daughter develops debilitating epileptic seizures, their world fractures. Mabel’s shameful illness must be hidden or Edward’s life’s work will be in jeopardy and the family’s honor will be shattered.

When Eleanor discovers Edward has been keeping secrets, she calls into question everything she believed about genetic inferiority, and her previous unshakeable faith in her husband disintegrates. Alarmed, distressed, and no longer able to bear the family’s burden, she takes matters into her own hands. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: This book took me a long time to get through. The subject of eugenics is so disgusting that I found myself alternating between being sickened, angry, and walking away. Yet, strangely, I think that is precisely what makes the Hidden Child an amazing read, one which everyone should experience. Though a work of fiction, the novel is based on facts, social mores, and wealthy influential leaders who do not want their lives upended by those deemed to be of lesser value.

Louise Fein weaves her history lesson through the lives of Eleanor Hamilton, her husband Edward, a leading researcher in the field, and their four-year-old daughter Mabel. Heartbreaking at its core, this novel takes the reader on a ride of epic proportion, and I doubt anyone will come away without being deeply moved.

Daughter of the Morning Star

Title: Daughter of the Morning Star
Author: Craig Johnson
Published: September 21st, 2021 by Viking
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Genre: Police Procedural
Series: Longmire #17

First Sentence: “Play me.” Sometimes I drive to the borders of my county and look for the end of the world and sometimes I see it, or I think I do, but maybe what I see is myself, and that’s enough to send me scurrying back the other way.

Synopsis: When Lolo Long's niece Jaya begins receiving death threats, Tribal Police Chief Long calls on Absaroka County Sheriff Walt Longmire along with Henry Standing Bear as lethal backup. Jaya Longshot Long is the phenom of the Lame Deer Lady Stars High School basketball team and is following in the steps of her older sister, who disappeared a year previously, a victim of the scourge of missing Native Women in Indian Country. Lolo hopes that having Longmire involved might draw some public attention to the girl's plight, but with this maneuver, she also inadvertently places the good sheriff in a one-on-one with the deadliest adversary he has ever faced in both this world and the next. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: I love the stories Craig Johnson tells. Some go deeper than others, but there is always history to learn and new people to meet. There is also humor, sometimes you don’t think you should be laughing, but you can’t help yourself.

This story might be a bit too woo-woo for some but stay with it. It will grab your heart, and you will feel yourself both questioning and cheering when it comes to Jaya Long and what she has had to endure, along with the stress of a town riding on her shoulders.

The Walt Longmire of the books is very different from the Walt in the Longmire series. I prefer the books and hope readers, which are new to Walt Longmire, will forget what they watched and hang on to what they read.

Spells and Scones

Title: Spells and Scones
Author: Bailey Cates
Published: July 26th 2016 by NAL
Format: Paperback, 293 pages
Genre: Cozy Paranormal
Series: Magical Bakery Mystery #6

First Sentence: “I can’t believe I actually get to see her!” Margie Coopersmith bounced on her chair with excitement.

Synopsis: When the bookshop next to the Honeybee Bakery hosts a signing for a Savannah radio celebrity's new self-help book, magical baker Katie Lightfoot is happy to provide some delectable desserts. A big crowd has turned out for the event, curious about the book (and maybe to sample some goodies), but the final chapter comes too soon for the author when she is found dead at the event.

The prime suspect is Angie Kissel, a former witch whose familiar was once Katie’s own terrier, Mungo. Katie is at first hesitant to help, afraid of losing the little dog who has become so important to her. But after a little nudge from Mungo himself, Katie decides to try to conjure up the real killer—before Angie gets served.

My Opinion: I still can’t explain why I keep coming back to this series, but there is a delightful camaraderie among the people and friends of the Honeybee Bakery in Savannah, Georgia. If you are looking for a book heavy in witchcraft, Spells and Scones is not it. But what you will find is a group of caring women imparting a little magic to ease their patrons' worries and to heal a broken heart or two. And if it’s a slow day, maybe catch a criminal or two.

The Mystery of Albert E. Finch

Title: The Mystery of Albert E. Finch
Author: Callie Hutton
Published: January 11th 2022 by Crooked Lane Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 336 pages
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Victorian Book Club Mystery #3

First Sentence: "I, Lady Amy Lovell, am a bride."

Synopsis: Bath, England, 1892. Celebrated mystery author Lady Amy Lovell is set to tie the knot with Lord William Wethington, a fellow member of the Mystery Book Club of Bath. Amy's great-aunt, Lady Priscilla Granville, has offered to host their wedding at her stately Derby Manor House. But on the eve of the ceremony, the festive air in the drawing room is marred by Mrs. Alice Finch's argument with her husband, Albert, in another room. The next morning at the wedding breakfast, Alice falls face-first into her breakfast—dead.

When Amy and William's favorite detectives are summoned to the house, they see two champagne glasses in front of Mrs. Finch and none in front of her husband. Did Albert give his wife a poisoned drink? Always looking for the easiest solution, the detectives charge Albert with the murder.

But Lady Amy is not convinced that Albert is guilty. There are too many things that don't add up. In the hopes of being able to leave Bath and begin their honeymoon, Amy and William once again take things into their own hands. Suspects begin to pop up, but nothing takes them more by surprise than the discovery of a second body.

Stuck in Bath until the whole poisonous predicament is solved, Amy and William are anxious to collar the perfidious poisoner and be on their way to their honeymoon. If they can't catch the killer, not only is their newlywed bliss under threat, but they may not live to see happily-ever-after at all.

My Opinion: Book 3 in the Victorian Book Club Mystery was a stumbling block for me. I read the first third, skimmed the middle part, and picked it up again near the end. The story was slow with too many ‘tis and ‘twould for my liking, and if tea were an addition, every character would need rehab. The who-done-it part had an interesting twist, but Callie Hutton had taken way too long to get there.

Not sure this is a series I would consider continuing. I enjoyed the first book, A Study in Murder, wished there was more banter between Amy and William in A Sign of Death, and book three was on the dull side.

Endangered Species

Title: Endangered Species
Author: Nevada Barr
Published: May 1st 1998 by Avon
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Genre: Mystery
Series: Anna Pigeon #5

First Sentence: Black and Blood-warm water slammed into Anna’s back, rushing over her shoulders and down the front of her shirt.

Synopsis: In the midst of a dangerously dry season, national park ranger Anna Pigeon has been posted to Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast for a monotonous, twenty-one day fire watch. But her boredom is short-lived, for this remote and marshy place is breeding ground for more than just the imperiled Loggerhead turtle; it also spawns eccentricity and secrets, greed, suspicion. . .and murder.A small plane crashes into the palmetto thickets nearby. Anna and her crew arrive in time to control the blaze, but too late to save pilot and his passenger, Cumberland's sole law enforcement ranger. When the cause of the "accident" is determined to be sabotage, Anna becomes entangled in an investigation that threatens to upset the very delicate balance of this fragile ecological preserve. For she is precariously close to exposing dark, clandestine crimes both old and new that someone has worked very diligently to conceal. . .and which make Anna Pigeon the most endangered creature on the island.

My Opinion: I know that I have gotten to this series late, but in the 13 years since it was published, I don’t think it has held the test of time, and therefore, not one of my favorites.

I do adore Anna Pigeon though she comes across as a universal Wonder Woman who happens to have the right skills at the right time, no matter which issue or which National Park she finds herself in. As a series, there are very few recurring characters. The reader will need to learn new people with each book, but thankfully, the tried-and-true friends and family pop up occasionally. Thank you, Molly.

There is no doubt I will continue, but like other series, there will always be a book that lands like a dud only to be followed by my next favorite, and that is what I hope will happen with Blind Descent.

Honey Roasted

Title: Honey Roasted
Author: Cleo Coyle
Published: January 25th 2022 by Berkley
Format: Kindle, Hardcover 368 pages
Genre: Foodie Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Coffeehouse Mystery #19

First Sentence: "Well, what do we have here?" Matt Allegro spied the colorful brochures I'd been frowning over.

Synopsis: While struggling to find a romantic (and affordable) destination for her upcoming honeymoon, coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi whips up a honey of a drink made from honey-processed coffee. Clare plans to serve her outstanding new Honey-Cinnamon Latte at her spring wedding to her longtime honey, NYPD Detective Mike Quinn. The culinary world is also abuzz about the amazing honey that Clare was lucky enough to source for her shop's new latte. Produced by Madame's old friend Queen Bea Hastings, the rare, prize-winning nectar from Bea's rooftop hives commands a premium price, and top chefs compete for a chance to use it in their signature seasonal dishes.

One night, a swarm of escaped bees blanket the Village Blend's chimney, and Clare discovers Bea's unconscious body after she seemingly fell from her high-rise rooftop-hive setup. The police want to rule it as a tragic accident or possible attempted suicide. But Clare doesn't believe either theory. Like Madame, she knows this Queen would never abandon her hive. To sort out this mystery, Clare investigates a world of cutthroat chefs, culinary startups, and competitive urban beekeepers. But can she uncover the truth without getting stung?

My Opinion: Whereas the previous book, Brewed Awakening, came across as two authors in need of marriage counseling, Honey Roasted imparts the shared knowledge of two who are working on their relationship and conveys the insight a therapist used to help them through their bumpy parts.

Not being a coffee aficionado, I always learn something from the coffeehouse series when it comes to the depth of the bean – the regions, the types, and the techniques, and I do appreciate the research the writing team puts into their work.

When it comes to the mystery, there is always a twist, something which was there but not obvious and kept me wondering. As for the side characters, I do hope Nancy has found her person and that we will see more of him, but one thing is for sure, honey coffee might be part of my next coffee order.

The Maid

Title: The Maid
Author: Nita Prose
Published: January 4th 2022 by Ballantine Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: Prologue. I am your maid. I'm the one who cleans your hotel room, who enters like a phantom when you're out gallivanting for the day, no care at all about what you've left behind, the mess, or what I might see when you're gone.

Synopsis: Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.(Goodreads)

My Opinion: One of my favorite books of this year.

Molly, a proud hotel maid somewhere on the autism spectrum, is precise with her words and actions, and was raised by her grandmother. Gran was a woman with a couple of secrets of her own; and who shares quirky saying and cleaning tips with her granddaughter. The two have lived a quiet life of cleaning routines and Columbo reruns which suited them just fine. As Molly's sole source of understanding the legal system, the reruns come in handy now that Molly finds herself in the middle of a conundrum when she discovered the body of a wealthy guest and has become the leading suspect in his murder.

Nita Prose has woven a charming tale of a young woman who does not quite fit into any of the worlds she is part of. She wants to be accepted, she wants a boyfriend, she wants her grandmother, and she wants answers. Unfortunately, it will be up to Molly, without the person she has trusted most, to traverse the obstacles which are determined to overwhelm her.

You cannot walk away from this book without feeling a loss. Through Nita Prose, Molly has gotten under your skin, and you want to hang around a little bit longer to make sure that she will be alright. Hoping the path will smooth out and making sure that she has finally found the family she has been looking for.

Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door

Title: Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door
Author: Barbara Ross
Published: December 28, 2021, by Kensington
Format: Kindle, 280 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Jane Darrowfield #2

First Sentence: The discreet sign at the end of her garden walk read Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody.

Synopsis: Jane Darrowfield is using her retirement years to work as a professional busybody, with most of her business coming from her West Cambridge, Massachusetts, community. This time her client is right next door.

Megan, who's purchased the house next to Jane's, needs some help from her snooping neighbor. Megan's been having blackouts, hearing voices—and feeling like someone's following her. Are these symptoms of an illness—or signs that she's in danger?

Considering the extensive security system in Megan's house, it seems like she should be safe—yet she soon vanishes into thin air. Some think she's run away, but would this ambitious young lawyer on the partner track really miss a meeting with an important client? And where's Megan's cat?

The mystery is about to deepen when the cat is finally located in a hidden panic room—and as Jane and the police look into Megan's friends, family, and past, it may be time to sound the alarm.

My Opinion: There is something about a mature professional busybody which drew me in from the first pages. No silly bouncing curls, detective boyfriend, or a quaint business that seems to run on its own without the owner's insight.

When it came down to the plotting in this book, it was like playing a game of throwing everyone into the pot and then taking them out and then adding them back in until there were only two left. Little did I know there would be more to it than a simple guessing game.

For anyone looking for a soft-boiled mystery, which is a little more than cozy and a little less than hard-boiled, I would highly recommend the Darrowfield series.

Murder on the Pier

Title: Murder on the Pier
Author: Merryn Allingham
Published: November 10, 2021 by Bookouture
Format: Kindle, 201 Pages
Genre: Soft-Boiled Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Flora Steele Mystery #2

First Sentence: Flora Steele stood gazing at the buffet table, admiring its plentiful display but longing to be elsewhere.

Synopsis: Sussex, 1955: When bookshop owner Flora Steele goes for a walk along the pier she isn’t expecting to spot a young woman’s body in the stormy waters below. And she’s shocked to discover the victim is someone she knows…

Convinced the death was not an accident, Flora persuades attractive local crime writer Jack Carrington to help her find out what really happened to poor Polly Dakers, a popular young woman with a complicated love life, who’d been at the heart of village life in Abbeymead.

Jack is reluctant to get involved in another murder case at first but even he can’t deny that Polly’s fall seems fishy. An argument at a party, a missed hairdresser’s appointment and a red woolen bobble found on the wooden boards where Polly last stood provide a trail of clues…

As they grow closer to solving the puzzling mystery, the unlikely pair stumble upon several surprising secrets about those closest to Polly. A number of potential suspects begin to emerge. But who really disliked Polly enough to kill her? Was it Raymond, her jilted first love? Harry, her latest beau? Or Evelyn, Harry’s jealous estranged wife?

As the investigation brings them closer to the truth, Flora is intent on unmasking the killer – but will her stealthy sleuthing lead her down a dangerous path? (Goodreads)

My Opinion: The first book in this series, the Bookshop Murder, was only a so-so read for me, but I decided to give Murder on the Pier a try. That was a mistake. The plotting is excruciatingly slow, the dialogue is stilted, and the main characters are monotonous. This is where Merryn Allingham and I will part ways.

Killer Research

Title: Killer Research
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Published: November 2nd 2021 by Berkley Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Library Lover's Mystery #12)

First Sentence: Lindsey Norris pushed a cart full of food toward the back room of the Brian Creek Public Library. It was her turn to provide the eats for the library’s weekly crafternoon meeting.

Synopsis: Spring is livening up Briar Creek after a long, cold winter, and newlyweds Lindsey and Sully could not be happier. Even though the upcoming mayoral election is getting heated, everything else in town is coming up daffodils...until a body is found. Ms. Cole, a librarian and current candidate for town mayor, is shocked when she opens her trunk to discover a murder victim who just so happens to be a guy she dated forty years ago and the founder of the baking empire Nana's Cookies. As the town gossip mill turns, a batch of rumors begins to circulate about Ms. Cole's rebellious youth, which--along with being a murder suspect--threatens to ruin her life and her budding political career. But Ms. Cole is one tough cookie who will not go down without a fight.

Has the campaign for mayor turned deadly? It is up to Lindsey, Sully, and the rest of the crafternoon pals to see how the cookie crumbles and figure out who is trying to frame Ms. Cole for murder and why. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: I would say that this is one of the better books in the series, and I loved the fact Jenn McKinlay centered it around Ms. Cole, affectionally known as the lemon. A permeant fixture within the Library Lover’s series, but one the reader didn’t know too much about. It turns out that there is warmth in those unyielding veins, and when she is accused of murder and is also running for mayor of Briar Creek, shenanigans are bound to take center stage. And when it comes to whom was responsible for the murder, I didn’t see that one coming. There might have been clues along the way, but I missed them, which in my opinion, always makes a book more enjoyable.

Down the Hatch

Title: Down the Hatch
Author: M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green
Published: October 26th 2021 by Minotaur Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 240 pages
Genre: Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Agatha Raisin #32

First Sentence: The scream stopped her in her tracks. It was sharp, shrill and chilling --- quite the most horrendous noise that Agatha Raisin had heard since she had left her office for her lunchtime power walk.

Synopsis: Private detective Agatha Raisin, having recently taken up power-walking, is striding along a path in Mircester Park during her lunch break when she hears a cry for help. Rushing over, she finds an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Swinburn, in the middle of the green--with the body of an old man lying at their feet.

The man, who the coroner determines died by poisoning, was known as the Admiral, a gardener notorious for his heavy drinking, and Chief Inspector Wilkes writes the death off as an accident caused by the consumption of weedkiller stored in a rum bottle. Agatha is not convinced that anyone would mistake weedkiller for rum but carries on with her work at Raisin Investigations, until she receives an anonymous tip that the Admiral's death was no accident.

Local gossip points to the Swinburns themselves as the killers, spurred by a feud at the club where they, as well as the Admiral, were members. Distraught at this accusation, they turn to Agatha to clear their name, and she takes the case--despite the warnings of Chief Inspector Wilkes.

Agatha encounters one suspicious character after another, becoming further enmeshed in the Admiral's own dark and shady past. And when she's run off the road, narrowly escaping with her life, and then another attack occurs, it becomes clear that someone doesn't want the case closed--and will stop at nothing to prevent Agatha from solving it. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: There were tempo issues and many non-Agatha moments, which made this a challenging read for me. Many believe that R. W. Green is not the correct author to be taking up the mantle for MC Beaton, and after this book, I might be part of that group.

Some elements could have been handled with better structure editing, or maybe a critique reading group, or even someone who knows how a woman, Agatha specifically, would have handled situations without losing flow with choppy disjointed sentences.

I am missing the old Agatha. The feisty and vulnerable Agatha, not the current version of a woman with no depth or snarky retorts.

The Last Puzzle

Title: The Last Puzzle
Author: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
Published: June 1st 2015 by Bastei Entertainment
Format: Kindle Edition, 114 pages
Genre: Mystery
Series: Cherringham #16

First Sentence: Brrr … thought Michael Edwards as he stepped out of his BMW estate and started up the steps to his good friend Quentin Andrews’ elegant townhouse --- one of five that made up Cherringham Crescent.

Synopsis: When amiable old village eccentric Quentin Andrews dies, the good folk of Cherringham are astonished at the crowd that turns up to his funeral. But even more astonished are the beneficiaries of his will: Quentin has left a veritable fortune to whomever is the first to solve an intricate 'Cherringham crossword.' That puzzle is only the first of many that Jack and Sarah will uncover as they follow the treasure hunt for clues and learn the truth about who Quentin Andrews really was. And the biggest mystery of them all ... was he - in fact - murdered? (Goodreads)

My Opinion: Everyone loves a good puzzle, that is until it’s tied to an inheritance, and people will do just about anything to come out on top. This is where Jack and Sarah come in. They must monitor the participants, and when no one is sure who can be trusted and who may have already swayed the results, they must find a way to even the odds and guarantee a fair outcome. But this being Cherringham means the ending is not what was expected and maybe the most innocent looking is the most devious of them all.

I am only halfway through this series, but I know that I am going to miss them when they are gone. There is something quaint and twisted when it comes to the people of Cherringham.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder

Title: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder
Author: Maria DiRico
Published: October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Catering Hall Mystery #3

First Sentence: “How can you type with those nails?” Mia wondered. The nails in question belonged to her Belle View Banquet Manor coworker, Cammie Dianopolis.

Synopsis: Mia's busy with a full schedule of events at the family business--among them an over-the-top Nativity-themed first birthday party and a Sweet Sixteen for a teen drama queen. But her personal life is even more challenging. Her estranged mother has returned--and her lifelong friend Jamie has discovered a shocking secret about his past. He's so angry that he starts hanging out with Lorenzo, who claims to be his long-lost brother--even after it becomes clear that Lorenzo's story is as fake as a plastic Christmas tree.

Then a body turns up among the elves in a Santa's-workshop lawn display, and amateur sleuth Mia has a buffet of suspects to choose from. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who's the guilty party. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: Between the family’s interactions and grandma’s slightly unfiltered mouth, the translation feature on my Kindle had a good workout. It wasn’t always essential since all grandmothers tend to give universal responses when people irritate them -- yet it was good to have for those interactions that could have gone either way.

I enjoyed all the characters the author brought to the table, which isn’t something you would expect when dealing with mafia families from Astoria, Queens. Granted, we shouldn’t judge, and most are good people just looking out for their businesses and the people they care for. Just an odd thing to think when laughing along with the antics of the Carina clan.

Do be prepared with the practice of bringing food, cookies, or pastries everywhere they go. This book will make you hungry. Not just a little hungry, I am talking google searching where you can pick up a cookie tray from an Italian Bakery, kind of hungry.

Femlandia

Title: Femlandia
Author: Christina Dalcher
Published: October 19th 2021 by Berkley Books
Format: Kindle, Hardover 336 Pages
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: Two men and a truck are all it takes to finish us. The last of our furniture disappears out the front door and into the dark cavern of the bailiff's trailer. It's my bed, the one I shared with Nick for almost twenty years, a queen-sized mattress now in the hands of two burly men with tattoos and ponytails.

Synopsis: A chilling look into an alternate near future where a woman and her daughter seek refuge in a women-only colony, only to find that the safe haven they were hoping for is the most dangerous place they could be.

Miranda Reynolds always thought she would rather die than live in Femlandia. But that was before the country sank into total economic collapse and her husband walked out in the harshest, most permanent way, leaving her and her sixteen-year-old daughter with nothing. The streets are full of looting, robbing, and killing, and Miranda and Emma no longer have much choice—either starve and risk getting murdered, or find safety. And so they set off to Femlandia, the women-only colony Miranda's mother, Win Somers, established decades ago.

Although Win is no longer in the spotlight, her protégé Jen Jones has taken Femlandia to new heights: The off-grid colonies are secluded, self-sufficient, and thriving—and Emma is instantly enchanted by this idea of a safe haven. But something is not right. There are no men allowed in the colony, but babies are being born—and they're all girls. Miranda discovers just how the all-women community is capable of enduring, and it leads her to question how far her mother went to create this perfect, thriving, horrifying society. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: An intense novel, boarding too closely to reality. Dystopic novels use the ten percent rule. Give a person only ten percent reality, and then you can twist the remaining 90% any way you wish. That is what Christina Dalcher has done. She shows us a ten percent window of what is going on now -- food shelves emptying, financial decline, social media under government control, community chaos, jobs taken from one and given to another, and boom, the line is baited. Enter a charismatic leader flaunting a misandrist utopia where those who need a new path will quickly jump aboard. But with all utopia’s, there is a darker side; this is where the author shines.

I’ve enjoyed her previous books, Vox and Masterclass, and I knew I was in for a wild ride; I was not disappointed. Like her previous novels, this will stay with me for a while. The ten percent rule opens the door just wide enough to imagine the all too real possibilities.

A Fatal Fall

Title: A Fatal Fall
Author: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
Published: May 4th 2015 by Bastei Entertainment
Format: Kindle, 114 pages
Genre: Mystery
Series: Cherringham #15

First Sentence: Dylan McCabe spun the wheel of the mini-dumper truck and reversed out of the frozen mud onto the gravel track.

Synopsis: Dylan McCabe - a livewire Irish labourer on a rushed Cherringham building project - has been making noises about the site's lack of safety. When he's discovered dead after a fall, it seems that Dylan's own warnings were all too true. That is- until Jack and Sarah get involved, and suddenly what looks like an accident becomes a case of cold-blooded murder. With a festive Cherringham Christmas just days away, Jack and Sarah set out to find the culprit. But soon they find their own lives being threatened too. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: Another quick outing with Jack and Sarah. This time, the reader knows there is no such thing as a simple construction site accident when this investigating duo is called in. With a couple twists and turns, and a few deceptions, the reader is quickly back in the mix and all too soon realizes feigned concern is nothing more than a ruse.

Mulled to Death

Title: Mulled to Death
Author: Kate Lansing
Published: October 5th 2021 by Berkley Books
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Colorado Wine Mystery #3

First Sentence: Snowflakes settle on the mirror outside my passenger side window.

From the Publisher: When Parker Valentine decides to take a weekend getaway with her boyfriend Reid, a ski trip seems like the perfect choice. Between hitting the slopes and persuading the resort’s wine director to sell her mulled wine, Parker is eager to mix business with pleasure. But her plans are muddled when she finds the resort owner’s body on a treacherous portion of ski trail near the resort.

As a result, not only is Parker’s romantic weekend thrown into chaos, but now that the owner has died, her business deal is due for a frosty reception, and her life might be in danger as well. After a series of unfortunate mishaps befall Parker, she realizes that whoever killed the resort owner might want to tie up loose ends. Parker’s going to need all of the investigative skills at her disposal to catch a killer before they put her on ice. (Penguin)

My Opinion: I am still not sold on this series. For me, there is too much atmosphere description which is not necessary since the reader can fill it in for themselves. The plotting is slow, and Parker Valentine, the owner of a wine label and tasting room in Boulder, Colorado, is way too obsessed with her boyfriend and comes across like a teenager instead of the adult she is supposed to be. Unfortunately, I find her friend Sage more interesting than her.

Kate Lansing needs to bring more dimension to Parker, tone down the crushing on the boyfriend, and maybe spend less time describing the room and more time creating suspense.

A Body at the Alter

Title: A Body at the Alter
Author: Dee MacDonald
Published: October 18th 2021 by Bookouture
Format: Kindle, 272 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Kate Palmer Novel #4

First Sentence: If you were going to get married in a quaint old Cornish church, on a glorious autumn day, you couldn’t do better than this, Kate Palmer reckoned, looking around the interior of St Piran’s.

From the Publisher: Jilted grooms, sudden deaths, broken hearts and threatening letters. All in a day’s work for super sleuth Kate Palmer!

Nurse Kate Palmer thought the pretty Cornish village of Tinworthy would be the perfect place for a peaceful retirement. She couldn’t have been more wrong! But even she is shocked when she attends a beautiful wedding at St. Pirin’s Church and the handsome groom drops dead in front of her very eyes.

While the rest of the wedding party panics, Kate notices the strange behaviour of the not-so-blushing bride and the posh mother-in-law – and vows to find out the truth behind the poor young man’s sudden demise. Especially when the new detective Charlotte Martin makes it known that she doesn’t want Kate involved – and also shows an interest in Woody Forrest, Kate’s partner in crime-solving.

Undeterred, Kate discovers this isn’t the only wedding to have been sabotaged. A series of peculiar letters contain the clues Kate needs to get to the heart of the matter. But is the mystery letter writer behind the unusual deaths? Or is more than one person responsible for the strange goings on in the seaside village…

As Kate digs deeper, she adds more suspects to her growing list: the world-weary vicar, the unlucky-in-love cleaner and the bride’s former flame. But, as a pair of boots bring Kate closer to the killer, it becomes clear their investigation has placed Woody in danger.

Can Kate solve the murder and save the man she loves at the same time? (Goodreads)

My Opinion: I adore Kate Palmer, a middle-aged local nurse in the Cornish village of Tinworthy, not obsessed with bouncing curls and the usual dramas all too familiar with the typical 20-something woman found in a predictable cozy mystery. Then again, I’m not even sure this would be considered a cozy. Sure, there is a dog and a retired, but working, detective boyfriend. There is a small town and a small business; ok, it falls within the general cozy category, but in a way, it is different.

The reader will see in the widowed and deliberately single Kate a delightful but not unexpected surprise. When there is a jolt in a relationship, it can shift the picture, and Kate has had an upset that has put everything into a new perspective.

The Secret of Combe Castle

Title: The Secret of Combe Castle
Author: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
Published: April 6th 2015 by Bastei Entertainment
Format: Kindle, 109 pages
Genre: Short Story / Mystery
Series: Cherringham #14

First Sentence: Oswald FitzHenry was about to pull off his wellies, still slimy wet.

From the Publisher: When the penniless FitzHenrys, proprietors of the rundown Combe Castle Heritage Site, find themselves victims of a threatening campaign to oust them from their ancestral home, Jack and Sarah are called in to track down the culprit. But nothing is what it seems at this castle - from the curious and unnerving waxwork displays of the 'Odditorium' to the in-laws and neighbors who can't wait to see the last of aristocratic couple. Soon Jack and Sarah discover that truth is often stranger than fiction, and in Combe Castle things do indeed go bump in the night. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: A quick trip back to Cherringham to check in with Jack and Sarah always seems to hit the spot. The 100+ page short stories are just enough for a quiet evening, weekend, or in between other books.

As I continue to say, there should be more of a following for this series. New readers should start at the beginning since the writing team occasionally references a previous investigation that may be unfamiliar and would be confusing as to what is going on if they hadn’t.

Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off

Title: Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-off
Author: Darci Hannah
Published: October 5th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 304 pages
Genre: Holiday Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery #2

First Sentence: Sugarplum visions. Mind tormented me every year in the form of a ludicrous yet tantalizing belief that I could actually pull off the perfect Christmas

From the Publisher: With the spirit of the holidays wafting through the Beacon Bakeshop, Lindsey thinks she has the recipe for the sweetest Christmas ever—winning the town-wide cookie bake-off. Unfortunately, striving for a picture-perfect December in Beacon Harbor is a lot like biting into stale shortbread. Low on staff and bombarded by visits from family, Lindsey can barely meet demands at work, let alone summon the confidence to face fierce competition...

Self-appointed Christmas know-it-all Felicity Stewart is determined to take the top spot in the bake‑off, and she’s not afraid to dump a little coal in everyone’s stocking to do it. Just as the competition heats up, everything falls apart when the judge is found dead—and covered in crumbs from Lindsey’s signature cookie!

Solving a murder was never on Lindsey’s wish list. But with her reputation on the line during the happiest time of the year, she’ll need to bring her best talents to the table in order to sift out the true Christmas Cookie culprit. (Kensington)

My Opinion: I’m not sure what it is about this series, but I adore it. It could be how each character brings spice, the small-town feel complete with a lighthouse and ghost, or not knowing what this group of friends will get up to next. Including their version of a sting operation. But what I do know is that Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-off should be on your Christmas-themed reading list, and I want to see Mrs. Nichols again.

Murder Outside the Lines

Title: Murder Outside the Lines
Author: Krista Davis
Published: September 28th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Pen & Ink Mysteries #3

First Sentence: The crate was delivered to Color Me Read around noon on Thursday.

From the Publisher: With Halloween just around the corner, the fall colors in Georgetown are brilliant. As manager of the Color Me Read bookstore, coloring book creator Florrie Fox has arranged for psychic author Hilda Rattenhorst to read from Spooktacular Ghost Stories. But the celebrity medium arrives for the event in hysterics, insisting she just saw a bare foot sticking out of a rolled-up carpet in a nearby alley. Is someone trying to sweep murder under the rug? Florrie calls in her policeman beau, Sergeant Eric Jonquille, but the carpet corpse has disappeared without a trace.

Then in the middle of her reading, Hilda chillingly declares that she feels the killer's presence in the store. Is this a publicity stunt or a genuine psychic episode? It seems there's no happy medium. When a local bibliophile is soon discovered missing, a strange mystery begins to unroll. Now it's up to Florrie and Jonquille to expose a killer's true colors.

My Opinion: You know you are in for a rocky road when the author needs to list a cast of characters, and you, as the read having to remember 23 people and animals and how they are related. Once you get past that, you discover the plot is surprisingly twisty for a cozy mystery.

I can’t say that Florrie is one of my favorite Krista Davis individuals since I tend to be drawn to the quirky Mr. DuBois type, but after three books, she is beginning to grow on me. Maybe it was the Halloween atmosphere or the Georgetown backdrop, but either way, I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this book.

A Lesson in Murder

Title: A Lesson in Murder
Author: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
Published: March 9th 2015 by Bastei Entertainment
Format: Kindle, 103 pagess
Genre: Mystery
Series: Cherringham #13

First Sentence: Sophie White raced up the back stairs of Florence House, her footsteps on the worn stone echoing in the cold space as she climbed the three floors.

From the Publisher: When Jack and Sarah are called in to investigate mysterious pranks at an exclusive girls' private school, it seems at first that it might be the work of a few mean pupils with a grudge. But things quickly turn serious when a popular teacher meets a sudden, violent death. Now, with murder in the air, Jack and Sarah have their own lessons to learn about the Cherringham Girls School, its dark secrets... and who wanted that teacher dead before they learned the truth. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: The Cherringham series has turned into a hit or miss for me -- A Lesson in Murder was a hit. Thankfully, the ending was not apparent. The relationship between certain characters was not fully spelled out but hinted at, which allowed the reader to draw their conclusions.

Jack and Sarah are back to their old selves and have seemed to have figured out their relationship. I don’t know what the future holds, but I am good with where they are now.

For anyone not sure if this is the correct series for them, I would wholeheartedly encourage them. The short stories /novellas are a perfect break before jumping in a meatier book or just for those times where you want something brief and engaging. A story where the characters are steady, and the humor is just what you need.

Reading Between the Crimes

Title: Reading Between the Crimes
Author: Kate Young
Published: September 7th 2021 by Crooked Lane Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 336 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Jane Doe Book Club Mystery #2

First Sentence: The sun was low in the clear blue sky as I locked up the office.

From the Publisher: What better time than Halloween to dig into a bracing discussion of a diabolical murder mystery? And what better choice for the Jane Doe Book Club than Agatha Christie’s Crooked House? Lyla Moody and her friends are soon embroiled in debate over whether the heroine’s actions are particularly believable. But not long after the meeting, sleepy Sweet Mountain, Georgia, is rocked by a murder that uncannily echoes the novel in question.

When Lyla and her grandmother arrive at the charity event that Lyla’s mother is hosting, they barely have time to hang up their fall jackets before they stumble upon a body in the library. Leonard Richardson, it seems, was robbed and then hit over the head with a brass candlestick–which throws suspicion on Harper Richardson, his young widow and a friend of the Jane Does.

Lyla and the rest of the Jane Does pool their prodigious intellects to clear Harper’s name. Peculiarly, all of the clues seem to have been lifted directly from the plot of Crooked House. But as Lyla probes the pages of Christie’s classic whodunnit for hints on catching the killer, she uncovers secrets from her mother’s past–secrets that suggest that Lyla’s own house may be crooked as well.

My Opinion: Another book by Kate Young where the murderer was not obvious from the beginning, and since the plot was based on Agatha Christie's Crooked House, oddly, it all made sense.

As each character spends their time in the spotlight, it is up to Lyla Moody to slowly remove who it could not be, only to leave the reader with the possible. With a last-minute twist, and only one remaining left-field character, you are left scratching your head and wondering why it couldn’t be …… all the clues were there from the beginning.

Chapter and Curse

Title: Chapter and Curse
Author: Elizabeth Penney
Published: September 28th 2021 by St. Martin's Press
Format: Kindle, Paperback 320 Pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: The Cambridge Bookshop Series ##1

First Sentence: Spring was much later than usual this year.

From the Publisher: Librarian Molly Kimball and her mother, Nina, need a change. So when a letter arrives from Nina’s Aunt Violet in Cambridge, England requesting their help running the family bookshop, they jump at the chance.

Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios, is one of the oldest bookshops in Cambridge, and—unfortunately—customers can tell. When Molly and Nina arrive, spring has come to Cambridge and the famed Cambridge Literary Festival is underway. Determined to bring much-needed revenue to the bookstore, Molly invites Aunt Violet’s college classmate and famed poet Persephone Brightwell to hold a poetry reading in the shop. But the event ends in disaster when a guest is found dead—with Molly’s great-aunt’s knitting needle used as the murder weapon. While trying to clear Violet and keep the struggling shop afloat, Molly sifts through secrets past and present, untangling a web of blackmail, deceit, and murder. (Macmillan)

My Opinion: So refreshing when you start a new series and realize you enjoyed each of the characters from the start. Each person, having their own distinctive voice, with a touch of humor, and not being "back-burnered" by other louder, more demanding views.

By her writing, I could not figure out if Elizabeth Penny is a British author or has just staged the book in Cambridge since her terminology fluctuates, yet after a while, it did not matter. The pace did lag in a few places, but eventually, it picked back up again with an obvious ending, but at the same time, there was a rushed feel.

Will there be more in this series? I certainly hope so since days later, the characters are still playing around in my head.

Death on a Summer Night

Title: Death on a Summer Night
Author: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
Published: October 23rd 2014 by Bastei Entertainment
Format: Kindle Edition, 119 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Cherringham #12

First Sentence: Tim stopped the car, the beaten-up Fiesta that he always bragged about keeping running and on the road.

From the Publisher: Twenty-five years ago, on a hot summer night, Tim Bell drove to a secluded spot with talented young musician Dinah Taylor after their date at the village fair. But Dinah was never seen again, and Bell - with blood spatters on his clothing - was sent to prison for her murder. Now freed, Bell has returned to Cherringham and his life is in danger from those who feel that justice hasn't really been served. But Jack and Sarah wonder: was Bell really guilty - or did the real killer escape detection all those years ago? As Cherringham swelters in another hot summer, time is running short for the two of them to uncover the truth... before someone else dies. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: I didn’t guess the end. As the suspects were eliminated, I had no idea where this writing team was going. I kept going back and forth in my head, trying to come up with a likely suspect, but still, I was at a loss.

By the end, it all made sense, and it was right there in front of you the whole time. Sometimes the most unlikely person is the one you have been looking for all along.

Here Comes the Fudge

Title: Here Comes the Fudge
Author: Nancy Coco
Published: September 28th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 352 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Candy-Coated Mysteries #9

First Sentence: “It’s bad luck to walk under a ladder.”

From the Publisher: It’s late spring on picturesque Mackinac Island, Michigan. Allie is prepping her Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop for the start of the tourist season and her best friend Jenn’s wedding. But when Jenn’s fiancé Shane, a crime scene investigator on the island, misses a dinner date, the two friends go looking for him. Led by Allie’s bichonpoo Mal into an alley, they come upon Shane standing over a body with a bloody knife in his hand. Shane won’t say what’s happened, just tells them to call 911. As the CSI is taken into custody by his colleagues, including Allie’s beau Rex Manning, the fudge maker vows to prove her friend’s fiancé is not a killer—before the ceremony turns into a jailhouse wedding.

My Opinion: I’m not sure why Nancy Coco turned Allie McMurphy into a foolish person, but that is all I could think when reading this book. What woman, in their right mind and a killer on the loose, would decide to repeatedly leave their hotel and fudge shop out the back door into an alley? Nothing good ever happens in allies.

There are other issues with the book, such as repetition, talking down to the reader, and a person put in a medically induced coma for a stabbing. Oh, and Nancy, we know the deck is on the rooftop -- no need to tell us a dozen times.

Mastermind

Title: Mastermind
Author: Andrew Mayne
Published: September 7th 2021 by Thomas & Mercer
Format: Kindle Edition, 332 pages
Genre: Techno Thriller
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood #1

First Sentence: Kelsi the silver robot girl pushed her bicycle up the Brooklyn Bridge with her back to Manhattan.

From the Publisher: A mysterious electrical storm plunges Manhattan into darkness. As a strange, smothering fog rolls in, all communication crashes. In the blink of an eye, the island seems to vanish into a void.

FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and brilliant scientist Dr. Theo Cray know this isn’t a freak accident. It’s a sinister sleight of hand. Their greatest adversary, a serial killer and cultist known as the Warlock, has escaped during a prison transfer in New York. A depraved master of manipulation, he promised the end of days. He’s making good on it.

One by one, cities across the globe are erupting in chaos as they disappear into the same black holes. Even for two ingenious trackers like Jessica and Theo, there’s still so much to learn about the pattern to the Warlock’s madness. The voids are just a warm-up for something bigger. To discover it—to stop it—Jessica and Theo must descend into the darkest of shadows—and minds. (Amazon)

My Opinion: When an author combines characters from two of their series, it can challenge the reader. When an author combines two characters, one from a series I look forward to and one that I have never read, made me apprehensive. To know computational biologist Theo Cray is to love him, but introducing FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood, could take me in a direction I wasn’t willing to go. But Andrew Mayne made it work -- he so made it work.

Thankfully, Theo’s brilliant mind, his quirky sense of humor, and his compassion were not overshadowed by a forceful single-minded Jessica -- a woman who literally had a few tricks up her sleeve. She never played him or disregarded his ideas. At times, she may have been a step behind but trusted in Theo enough to let his logic play out, and in time, they would both get to the same place.

Blade in the Water

Title: Blade in the Water
Author: Neil Richards, Matthew Costello
Published: September 25th 2014 by Bastei Entertainment
Format: Kindle, 110 pages
Genre: SCherringham #11

First Sentence: Ray Stroud walked carefully down the white line in the centre of the road that led to Cherringham Bridge

From the Publisher: It's just days before the Cherringham Regatta - an annual event that draws luxury yachts from across the country, as well as the local boat crowd, all looking to party on the river. But it's no party when boats are vandalized, and a wealthy executive turns up missing, with his blood on the deck. As the Regatta date looms, Jack and Sarah discover that what's happening on the water looks less like vandalism and more like murder. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: I had a hard time with this vignette. The Cherringham storylines usually hold my attention from start to finish, but for some reason, I could not stay focused or care about any of the characters. A week after I had finished, I had a hard time remembering the characters or the plot.

Yet since others enjoyed it so well, I am going to take this as a one-off and continue with my enjoyment of the series.

Murder by the Bookend

Title: Murder by the Bookend
Author: Laura Gail Black
Published: September 7th 2021 by Crooked Lane Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Antique Bookshop Mystery #2

First Sentence: “How do you think it’s going?” I peeked out through the curtained doorway from the back room.

From the Publisher: The quaint warehouse district of Hokes Folly, NC, is hopping despite the drizzly November chill. The occasion? The mountain town’s beloved antiquarian bookstore, Twice Upon a Time, is throwing a bash for its grand reopening. But bookseller Jenna Quinn’s peace of mind is shattered when the local library’s Director of Antique Books turns up dead in the parking lot–his head bashed in by a glittering pair of vintage glass bookends.

As they examine the murder scene, Jenna and her police detective boyfriend happen upon the only witness–the victim’s dog, who flees the scene leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind. If only dogs could speak, Jenna might be able to make quick work of the murder case and get back to stocking her bookcases.

Alas, finding the killer won’t be so easy, even though this is not Jenna’s first murder investigation–indeed, she inherited Twice Upon a Time from her slain uncle. The suspect list is voluminous–the late librarian had not-so-friendly run-ins with numerous guests–but suspicion eventually centers on three unsavory individuals who left the party shortly before the victim did.

Now, Jenna must edit her inventory of suspects from three names to one, before the bloodthirsty bookend-wielder becomes the author of Jenna’s demise. (Penquin)

My Opinion: Too many continuity and repetition issues for me to consider this a good book. I found myself bouncing back and forth between paragraphs questioning if the author, Laura Gail Black, had just said something different or hasn’t this been covered a couple of times already. Reading an advanced copy tends to have its issues, but these types of distractions, for me at least, tend to cause a lack of reading flow and leads me to wonder when it will happen again instead of being focused on what is coming next.

In my opinion, the second book in this series did not live up to the expectation laid out in For Whom the Books Tolls, the first book in this series.

The Heron's Cry

Title: The Heron's Cry
Author: Ann Cleeves
Published: September 7th 2021 by Minotaur Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 400 pages
Genre: Detective Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Two Rivers #2

First Sentence: Jen had drunk too much. They were in Cynthis Prior’s garden, lounging on the grass, and it was just getting dark.

From the Publisher: North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder--Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed with a shard of one of his glassblower daughter's broken vases.

Dr. Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He's a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found--killed in a similar way. Matthew soon finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home. (Macmillan)

My Opinion: I was a bit apprehensive when I began this book. The first in the series, A Long Call, left me feeling I had missed something, or the author thought I knew more than I did, or I wasn’t smart enough to keep up with Matthew Venn. But this second book had me from the first page, and I was right in the mess of things with Matthew and his team.

I am sure there were subtle points I missed along the way, but with Ann Cleeves’ genius with tempo and plotting, I stayed on board for the ride she takes her readers on. A ride, which should not be missed.

A Deadly Confession

Title: A Deadly Confession
Author: Matthew Costello, Neil Richards
Published: August 28th 2014 by Bastei Entertainment
Format: Kindle Edition, 112 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Cherringham #10

First Sentence: Eamon Byrne zigzagged through the ticket, his expensive new running shoes gripping hard on the muddy trail, his arms fending off stray branches, which threatened to flip back into his face.

From the Publisher: On the edge of Cherringham lies St. Francis' Convent, home of the Sisters of St. Francis, a small Catholic teaching order. Here a handful of nuns worship, contemplate, and pray. And here one Easter the beloved local priest Father Byrne meets his unexpected demise. The circumstances of the death are suspicious, and soon Jack and Sarah are on the case: what secrets did Father Byrne take to the grave? Who wanted him dead? And is religious faith ever a guarantee of innocence? (Goodreads)

My Opinion: Just when I thought the relationship between Jack and Sarah was taking off, A Deadly Confession arrives and I am not so sure about the two of them as a couple anymore.

This isn’t a straightforward story in that you must leave your personal beliefs at the door. People that should be telling the truth of the Flying Father are keeping secrets, bookies and horse racers are keeping tight-lipped, then add in those on retreat, and a shuttered hospice all of which leaves Jack and Sarah turning in circles when it comes to the latest Cherringham murder. A death that leaves as many believing that maybe not all murders should be solved.

A Perfect Bind

Title: A Perfect Bind
Author: Dorothy St. James
Published: September 28th 2021 by Berkley Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Beloved Bookroom Mystery #2

First Sentence: As a rule, librarians hate secrets.

From the Publisher: Tru Beckett succeeded in building a secret book room in her now bookless library, where book lovers from lovely Cypress, South Carolina, can rejoice in the printed word. Now she’s working hard to maintain the little library downstairs while keeping her “real job” upstairs in the bookless technology center. The last thing she needs is a mysterious vandal who seems intent on breaking into her secret book-filled sanctuary and creating chaos. The nasty interloper doesn’t steal anything, but brutalizes the books, damaging them and knocking them off shelves.

A patron of the secret book room tells Tru that there have been creepy goings-on at the library for years, especially in the basement where the secret book room is located. He’s heard rumors of a poltergeist that haunts the library, determined to scare off readers. Tru is certain it’s hogwash, but she’s at a loss to think of who might be vandalizing the beautiful books she fought so hard to protect. And when a dead body shows up right behind the library, Tru is certain that it’s not a ghost but a cold-blooded killer that she and her trusty tabby Dewey Decimal will need to uncover. (Berkley)

My Opinion: I began this book with a lot of hope. The previous book, The Broken Spine, left me a somewhat fan of Tru’s, but something happened midway through this story. It became dull and stagnant. There wasn’t enough intrigue, witty dialogue, or curious characters compelling me to stay up late turning the pages, and I found myself scanning large sections.

By the end, there was a spark, but not enough for me to want to continue with this series.

Book Clubbed

Title: Book Clubbed
Author: Lorna Barrett
Published: July 1st 2014 by Berkley
Format: Hardcover, 308 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Booktown Mystery #8

First Sentence: For once the winter weather seemed to be cooperating, meaning that unless any unforeseen complications arose, Tricia Miles, owner of the mystery bookstore Haven’t Got a Clue, would get a lot accomplished on that particular Saturday in February.

From the Publisher: Cranky Chamber of Commerce receptionist Betsy Dittmeyer is done reading people the riot act. After she’s crushed by a fallen bookcase, the next item to be read is her last will and testament—which is packed with surprises. It soon comes to light that Betsy was hiding volumes of dark secrets behind that perpetual frown of hers—and one of them just might have been a motive for murder.

While Tricia tries to help Angelica—the newly elected Chamber of Commerce president and Betsy’s boss—solve the mystery, she discovers a hidden chapter in her own family history that rocks her to her very core. And with her ex-husband and the chief of police vying for her affections, it’s doubly hard to focus on who might have buried Betsy in a tomb of tomes.

But as Tricia and Angelica try to read between the lines, they need to watch their step…and make sure the killer doesn’t catch them between the stacks. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: Another series that I have invested in but have a hard time coming up with any parts I enjoy.

Tricia Miles and her sister Angelica are once again butting their noses into an investigation. This time, it is the death of Betsy Dittmeyer, the Chamber of Commerce Secretary, murdered in Angelica’s shop. Betsy had a few scandalous secrets hidden away on her computer, and the sisters, in a move to save face, and the community of Stoneham, are one step ahead of the Chief of Police and determined to return the good name to their little tourist destination.

I wish I could find something other than the idea of a cluster of bookshops, each catering to a select clientele to enjoy this series. If so, I would be able to recommend it. So far, there is nothing that stands out.