Peril at Pennington Manor

Title: Peril at Pennington Manor
Author: Tracy Gardner
Published: June 7th 2022 by Crooked Lane Books
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: An Avery Ayers Antique Mystery #2

First Sentence: “Race you home.” Avery Ayers raised one eyebrow at her dad jogging beside her.

Blurb: Thanks to Aunt Midge’s unlikely friendship with Nicholas Pennington, the Duke of Valle Charme, Avery Ayers and her associates at Antiques and Artifacts Appraised head off to their most glamorous assignment yet—cataloguing and appraising the contents of a castle-like mansion on the Hudson River. But regal splendor becomes a backdrop to mayhem when the precious Viktor Petrova timepiece disappears—and housekeeper Suzanne Vick plummets from a parapet to her death.

Avery, her dad William, and colleagues Micah Abbott and Sir Robert Lane soon learn that Suzanne’s predecessor also met with an untimely end. Further, the housekeeper’s suspicious demise coincides with Avery’s discovery that many of the Duke’s most priceless heirlooms have been replaced by fakes.

Detective Art Smith lends his expertise, but the suspect list encompasses the Duke’s entire retinue—including his family. Could the killer be someone intimately familiar with the Pennington estate, such as caretaker couple Ira and Lynn Hoffman, the Penningtons’ chauffeur Roderick, or even one of the heirs to the Pennington fortune?

Then the duke himself is injured in an inexplicable riding accident, and the clock swiftly ticks toward a reckoning with a cold-blooded killer. A criminal mastermind is making a desperate bid for ill-gotten riches…can Avery bring the culprit to justice before her time is up?

My Opinion: Another book that I should have given up on after the second chapter. First off, you need to get used to choppy writing. Second, I don’t know about others, but a main 20-something character that can’t decide between two men until she goes on a date, all the while trying to solve a murder, is wearing thin. Then add a manor house in Hudson Valley, with an extensive collection of family heirlooms dating back centuries, which should take more than a few days to appraise.

The first book in the series, Ruby Red Herring, was only a so-so-read for me. Unfortunately, this book has put a final nail in the proverbial coffin.

A Rip Through Time

Title: A Rip Through Time
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Published: May 31st 2022 by Minotaur Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 352 pages
Genre: Historical Time Travel
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: A Rip Through Time #1

First Sentence: My grandmother is dying, and I am getting coffee.

Blurb: May 20, 2019: Homicide detective Mallory is in Edinburgh to be with her dying grandmother. While out on a jog one evening, Mallory hears a woman in distress. She’s drawn to an alley, where she is attacked and loses consciousness.

May 20, 1869: Housemaid Catriona Mitchell had been enjoying a half-day off, only to be discovered that night in a lane, where she’d been strangled and left for dead . . . exactly one-hundred-and-fifty years before Mallory was strangled in the same spot.

When Mallory wakes up in Catriona's body in 1869, she must put aside her shock and adjust quickly to the reality: life as a housemaid to an undertaker in Victorian Scotland. She soon discovers that her boss, Dr. Gray, also moonlights as a medical examiner and has just taken on an intriguing case, the strangulation of a young man, similar to the attack on herself. Her only hope is that catching the murderer can lead her back to her modern life . . . before it's too late. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: Not a fan of time travel novels, but a fan of Kelley Armstrong, I decided to suspend belief and took a chance on modern-day Homicide Detective Mallory Atkinson of Vancouver, Canada, jumping back 150 years and taking over the body of housemaid Catriona Mitchell in 1869 Edinburgh, Scotland.

It took me a little longer than usual to get into the rhythm of this book. I first had to figure out how to pronounce Catriona (Katrina) since Google gave two options, neither of which seemed right, and it was frustrating. Then I had to accept that if no one else in 1869 had an issue with Catriona and her strange use of words, investigative knowledge, and farfetched story, I would let it go.

In this series, you will find Armstrong’s humor. How do you not laugh at a person trying desperately to fit in but making wrong decisions and using modern phrases?

By the end, I couldn’t tell if I enjoyed Mallory/Catriona or Isla (eye-la) more. Their companionship and shared humor made this a book hard to put down.

Blood Moon

Title: Blood Moon
Author: Linda Castillo
Published: April 26th 2022 by Minotaur Books
Format: Kindle, 64 pages
Genre: Short Story / Police Procedural
Series: Kate Burkholder #13.5

First Sentence: Merle Beachy was late. The Strawberry Festival ended at 9:00 P.M., but he’d sayed to help Deacon Yoder load pallets into his wagon.

Blurb: On a foggy spring night, an Amish man crashes his buggy after a large, unidentified animal spooks his horse. Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the man shaken and bleeding, claiming he was attacked by a large beast. But his description of the creature sounds like something straight out of the Amish folklore from Kate’s childhood. Throughout the night, more incidents of an aggressive animal on the loose are reported, putting the citizens of Painters Mill on edge. There’s a monster menacing the countryside, and Kate must follow its tracks into the dark woods along Painters Creek before violence tips over into tragedy. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: The description of what ran an Amish man and his horse off the road in thick fog didn’t make sense. Yet, Kate Burkholder, Police Chief of Painter’s Mill, has seen it all and is out the door before the call ends.

What started as a creepy short story turned into an entertaining tale that will have you shivering with chills, laughing, and whetting your appetite for the upcoming full-length novel, The Hidden One, coming in mid-summer.

Murder at Mallowan Hall

Title: Murder at Mallowan Hall
Author: Colleen Cambridge
Published: October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Historial Amateur Sleuth
Series: Phyllida Bright Mystery #1

First Sentence: Phyllida Bright had seen her share of bodies during the great war, so when she discovered the dead man sprawled on the floor, it didn’t even occur to her to scream.

Blurb: Tucked away among Devon's rolling green hills, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930. Housekeeper Phyllida Bright, as efficient as she is personable, manages the large household with an iron fist in her very elegant glove. In one respect, however, Mallowan Hall stands far apart from other picturesque country houses...

The manor is home to archaeologist Max Mallowan and his famous wife, Agatha Christie. Phyllida is both loyal to and protective of the crime writer, who is as much friend as employer. An aficionado of detective fiction, Phyllida has yet to find a gentleman in real life half as fascinating as Mrs. Agatha's Belgian hero, Hercule Poirot. But though accustomed to murder and its methods as frequent topics of conversation, Phyllida is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor.

A former Army nurse, Phyllida reacts with practical common sense--and a great deal of curiosity. It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. Now, Phyllida not only has a houseful of demanding guests on her hands--along with a distracted, anxious staff--but hordes of reporters camping outside. When another dead body is discovered--this time, one of her housemaids--Phyllida decides to follow in M. Poirot's footsteps to determine which of the Mallowans' guests is the killer. With help from the village's handsome physician, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. Dobble, the butler, along with other household staff, Phyllida assembles the clues. Yet, she is all too aware that the killer must still be close at hand and poised to strike again. And only Phyllida's wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end.(GoodReads)

My Opinion: I’m not sure how I discovered this book, but finding head housekeeper Phyllida Bright has been a pleasure. Combining all of Agatha Christie’s sleuths, which makes sense since Phyllida works for the renowned author, she undertakes her investigations into the stabbing death of a houseguest on a dark and stormy night and the strangulation of an assistant cook the following morning. Which, in a way, makes this a locked room mystery – of sorts.

There is an excessive amount of periphery information about the running of a home in 1930 Devon, so you might find yourself drifting off. But don’t wander too far since there are little tidbits of information left amongst the fluff, which turn out to be the clues you need. All ending in true Christie fashion that makes the adventure fit together perfectly.

For those who want to know what is next for Phyllida Bright, the second in the series, A Trace of Poison, is due this fall.

The Diva Says Cheesecake!

Title: The Diva Says Cheesecake!
Author: Krista Davis
Published: May 31st 2022 by Kensington
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Domestic Diva #15

First Sentence: I stood under spotlights outside of a closed car dealership waiting for my ex-husband Mars to arrive and feeling like I had been through the wringer.

Blurb: Old Town’s midsummer festivities are getting a tasty addition this year. To coincide with a public performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake, has hired Sophie to organize a dinner with a dessert buffet on the waterfront. Bobbie Sue’s homegrown company is thriving, and since her baking dish overfloweth, she wants to reward her employees.

Bobbie Sue has only one menu demand: no cheesecake! But her specialty isn’t the only thing missing from the evening—Tate, Bobbie Sue’s husband, is too much to her annoyance. Next morning, however, Tate’s dead body is discovered. Bobbie Sue insists she didn’t kick her spouse to the curb, and begs for Sophie’s help finding the real killer. Digging in, Sophie discovers an assortment of Old Town locals who all had reason to want a piece of Tate. Can she gather together the crumbs the killer left behind in time to prevent a second helping of murder? (GoodReads)

My Opinion: While following along, Krista Davis wants you to believe all the arrows point to one specific person, but there will be a little nudge saying nothing is that easy. They might be guilty of something, but it is not murder. There must be more.

Then she throws lots of diversion at you. You can see where she was going, clues were there all along, but the person played the good guy. The one kept in the periphery. Don't worry--you were on the right trail since they were your first guess all along.

On the negative side, the dependence on a dog sniffing out clues and a business owner who never seems to be working her business is vexing. On the plus side, I do enjoy the characters in the Diva Series, the atmosphere of Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia, and in this instance, the talk of cheesecake.

The Marlow Murder Club

Title: The Marlow Murder Club
Author: Robert Thorogood
Published: January 7th 2021 by HQ
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 340 pages
Genre: Senior Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: The Marlow Murder Club #1

First Sentence: Mrs. Judith Potts was seventy-seven years old and entirely happy with her life.

Blurb: Judith Potts is seventy-seven years old and blissfully happy. She lives on her own in a faded mansion just outside Marlow, there’s no man in her life to tell her what to do or how much whisky to drink, and to keep herself busy she sets crosswords for The Times newspaper.

One evening, while out swimming in the Thames, Judith witnesses a brutal murder. The local police don’t believe her story, so she decides to investigate for herself, and is soon joined in her quest by Suzie, a salt-of-the-earth dog-walker, and Becks, the prim and proper wife of the local Vicar.

Together, they are the Marlow Murder Club.

When another body turns up, they realise they have a real-life serial killer on their hands. And the puzzle they set out to solve has become a trap from which they might never escape. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: I love an amateur sleuth novel where the main character is not twenty, recently returned to her hometown, has an above-average pet, and is not dating the local small-town detective. Robert Thorogood makes it a pleasure to meet Judith Potts and the members of her murder club.

Following new friends, Judith, a creator of word puzzles, Suzie the dogwalker, and Becks, the vicar’s wife, is adventurous fun. The plot is a bit twisty, but the right kind of twisty. Before you know it, the person you thought was the killer turns out to be so far from correct you are embarrassed to admit it.

By the final chapter, you realize the author has brought you three new favorite characters and a who-done-it that is familiar, and, if you are like me, you didn’t catch on until the end. Thank you, Robert Thorogood, for the surprise and an enjoyable read.

A Midsummer Night's Fudge

Title: A Midsummer Night's Fudge
Author: Nancy Coco
Published: May 24th 2022, Kensington
Format: Kindle, Paperback 304 pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Candy-Coated Mysteries #10

First Sentence: I’d much rathe make fudge and celebrate festivals with my friends than find murder victims.

Blurb: During the Midsummer Night’s Festival, Allie decides to take her bichonpoo, Mal, home to spare her furry little ears from the sounds of fireworks. But on her way back, Allie spots a body in the lake. Just minutes ago, Winona Higer was crowning the event’s Queen—could the competition have really been that deadly?

While she ponders the mystery the next morning, Allie prepares her favorite dark chocolate cherry fudge recipe. But she’s soon recruited to sub for the late Winona and serve as parade float judge, among other duties. As she hears rumors and gossip, and learns of mean pranks and threatening notes, her instincts kick in—despite her boyfriend the cop’s disapproval. Now, between managing a new hire and keeping the tourists filled with fudge, she’s dealing with a case that’s boiling over.

My Opinion: I must admit that anthropomorphism in cozy mysteries is wearing thin; people can find dead bodies too. For some reason, animal super-sleuths are the continued go-to for many authors. Fortunately, this time around, the first body was found by a human, and the second, third, etc., continued the overused canine super-sleuth theme.

A great deal of repetition and inconsistency had me stopping, going back, checking, and restarting interrupted the flow and made for a frustrating read. Read the beginning, skim through the middle, and then read to the end--you will not be missing much.

Why do I continue with the series? Mackinac Island. Who wouldn't love to live on an island with no cars, quaint buildings, beautiful homes, and tasty fudge?

A Body on the Beach

Title: A Body on the Beach
Author: Dee MacDonald
Published: April 28th 2022 by Bookouture
Format: Kindle, 273 pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Kate Palmer #5

First Sentence: It was one of those sweltering hot days without a breath of wind which was unusual, to say the least, in a Cornish field so close to the edge of the cliffs.

Blurb: It’s Tinworthy village’s summer fete: a brass band, cream teas, gentle gossip... and a body on the beach? The party’s just getting started for super sleuth Kate Palmer!

Kate Palmer thought spending the day at Tinworthy’s annual summer party would involve sea air, sunshine and Cornish cream cake – how very wrong she was! When Kate goes for a cliff-top walk she is shocked to spot the body of Sienna Stone – Cornwall’s biggest gossip – on the sandy beach below.

Rumours swirl around the close-knit community and all eyes are on Kate. Half the village saw her arguing with Sienna at the party earlier that day. It was the usual bickering between neighbours, but when Kate finds herself in the frame can she – and her new husband Woody Forrest – solve the puzzling death and clear her name?

There’s a long list of people who might have wanted to push Sienna – her long-suffering husband Irvin, her jealous younger sister Sally and Timmy Thomson, the man who idolised her, not to mention all the villagers who felt the sharp end of her tongue. Finding out the truth isn’t going to be easy…

Just as Kate thinks she’s getting closer to an answer, an unexpected afternoon visitor shares some curious information over tea and scones that sets her on an entirely different path. And soon she starts to wonder if she might be in real danger too. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: Though Dee MacDonald does an excellent job catching new readers up on the adventures of Kate Palmer, I would recommend that readers start at the beginning so they can get the complete picture of Tinworthy and its people.

This story is twisty with no clean-cut who-done-it. You will be right there with Kate as she adds all the suspects to her list and crosses them out only to add them back again. The narrative becomes a little redundant when Kate is winnowing down her suspicions, but things pick back up again when the humor finally showed-up at the wedding of Jodi and Marc.

In the end, you can’t say the suspect was unexpected, but it does add heartache that Kate didn’t expect.

Adult Assembly Required

Title: Adult Assembly Required
Author: Abbi Waxman
Published: May 17th 2022 by Berkley
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 400 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: Liz Quinn, the manager of Knight’s, one of the few remaining independent bookstores in Los Angeles, was not someone you’d describe as softhearted.

Blurb: When Laura Costello moves to Los Angeles, trying to escape an overprotective family and the haunting memories of a terrible accident, she doesn’t expect to be homeless after a week. (She’s pretty sure she didn’t start that fire — right?) She also doesn't expect to find herself adopted by a rogue bookseller, installed in a lovely but completely illegal boardinghouse, or challenged to save a losing trivia team from ignominy… but that’s what happens. Add a regretful landlady, a gorgeous housemate and an ex-boyfriend determined to put himself back in the running and you’ll see why Laura isn’t really sure she’s cut out for this adulting thing. Luckily for her, her new friends Nina, Polly and Impossibly Handsome Bob aren't sure either, but maybe if they put their heads (and hearts) together they’ll be able to make it work for them. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: I love Abbi Waxman’s books. I love the humor, the friendships, and sentimentality, all topped off with references that send me down Google rabbit holes.

Adult Assembly Required is women’s fiction, with a bit of romance, centering on adult connections. Their foibles and quirks, how they look out for each other, and how to heal. You will meet many people, but don’t worry, each has their distinct voice. The best part, you get to revisit those who have appeared in previous books.

Abbi Waxman seems to be one of my go-to authors. She always touches the right cord without being too much in any specific direction. You feel the presence of every character, and when they are missing for a few pages, you wonder where they are and if they are finding their happiness.

I hope to see a couple of the characters again since I know they have more stories to tell, and I want to be front and center to hear them all.