A Grave Robbery

Title: A Grave Robbery
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Published: March 12, 2024 by Berkley
Format: Audio/Hardcover, 336 Pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Veronica Speedwell #9

First Sentence: London, October 1889. “I draw the line at monkeys”, Stoker said with considerable severity.

Blurb: Lord Rosemorran has purchased a wax figure of a beautiful reclining woman and asks Stoker to incorporate a clockwork mechanism to give the Rosemorran Collection its own Sleeping Beauty in the style of Madame Tussaud’s. But when Stoker goes to cut the mannequin open to insert the mechanism, he makes a gruesome discovery: this is no wax figure. The mannequin is the beautifully preserved body of a young woman who was once very much alive. But who would do such a dreadful thing, and why?

Sleuthing out the answer to this question sets Veronica and Stoker on their wildest adventure yet. From the underground laboratories of scientists experimenting with electricity to resurrect the dead in the vein of Frankenstein to the traveling show where Stoker once toured as an attraction, the gaslit atmosphere of London in October is the perfect setting for this investigation into the unknown. Through it all, the intrepid pair is always one step behind the latest villain—a man who has killed once and will stop at nothing to recover the body of the woman he loved. Will they unmask him in time to save his next victim? Or will they become the latest figures to be immortalized in his collection of horrors? (GoodReads)

My Opinion: I enjoy this series but for me this book was a struggle. The first half unfolded at a glacial pace, leaving me moving back and forth between the written version and the audiobook. Desperate to rekindle my interest, I even cranked up the audiobook speed to 1.5x. But it wasn’t until the halfway mark that the narrative finally captured me.

Where the story truly shines is in its humor and banter. As the plot thickens, Veronica and Stoker—our dynamic duo—take center stage. Their chemistry, lukewarm in the first half of the book, now erupts into a delightful dance of wit and revelations. The number of characters initially exhausted me, but then came the twist—a surprise that blindsided me. There’s nothing quite like that “I didn’t see that coming” moment to refresh a reader.

Veronica and Stoker, in their own ways, peel back layers. Their relationship evolves, each revelation a stepping stone toward deeper understanding. It’s an ideal progression, one that keeps readers invested.

For those just embarking on the Speedwell journey: Start from the beginning. Deanna Raybourn weaves Veronica’s and Stoker’s backstories, but the original accounts hold treasures that can’t be fully conveyed in subsequent books.

Rental Person Who Does Nothing

Title: Rental Person Who Does Nothing
Author: Shoji Morimoto
Published: July 6, 2023 by Picador
Format: Kindle, 160 pages
Genre: Memoir

First Sentence: Forward: I’m starting a service called Do-nothing Rental. It is available for any situation in which all you want is a person to be there.

Blurb: Shoji Morimoto was constantly being told by his boss, "It makes no difference whether you’re here or not," and that his presence contributed nothing to the company. Morimoto began to wonder whether a person who "does nothing" could still have actual value and a place in the world. Perhaps he could turn "doing nothing" into a service? With one tweet, Rental Person was born.

Rental Person is dependable, nonjudgmental and committed to remaining a stranger, and the curious encounters he shares are revelatory about both Japanese society and human psychology.

My Opinion: I’ll admit the title is what drew me to this book. Then I read the description and my curiosity took over.

This short book is a thought-provoking memoir that explores the value of human connection and the meaning of doing nothing. Morimoto shares his unique experiences as a rental person who does nothing that would involve work in any form, be it physical or research, for his clients, but in turn provides them with comfort, companionship, and insight.

An uplifting and thought-provoking read that I may find myself returning to from time to time.

The Boy Who Cried Bear

Title: The Boy Who Cried Bear
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Published: February 20, 2024 by Minotaur Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover339 Pages
Genre: Police Procedural
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Haven's Rock #2

First Sentence: Prologue. Max. “We’re being stalked,” Max whispers to his big brother. “I think it’s a bear.”

Blurb: Haven’s Rock is a well-hidden town surrounded by forest. And it’s supposed to be, being that it’s a refuge for those who need to disappear. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton already feel at home in their new town, which reminds them of where they first met in Rockton. And while they know how to navigate the woods and its various dangers, other residents don’t. Which is why people aren't allowed to wander off alone.

When Max, the town’s youngest resident—taught to track animals by Eric—fears a bear is stalking a hiking party, alarms are raised. Even stranger, the ten-year-old swears the bear had human eyes. Casey and Eric know the dangers a bear can present, so they’re taking it seriously. But odd occurrences are happening all around them, and when a dead body turns up, they’re not sure what they’re up against. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: The Boy Who Cried Bear left me disappointed. Despite the intriguing premise, the execution fell flat. Kelley Armstrong’s attempt to blend the expected mystery with the police procedural didn’t quite hit the mark. The characters lacked depth, the reasoning was out of nowhere, and the reader was left with an unsatisfying conclusion.

I craved more substance, energy, even Mathis’ humor. Unfortunately, the novel failed to deliver on any of the points that have been present in Armstrong’s previous books. Overall, a missed opportunity.

The Frozen River

Title: The Frozen River
Author: Ariel Lawhon
Published: December 5, 2023 by Doubleday
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 432 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

First Sentence: The body floats downstream.

Blurb: Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

My Opinion: After a slow start with too many characters to keep straight, the Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon turns into a captivating fact-based historical mystery that immerses the reader in the life and times of Martha Ballard, a true-to-life gutsy and clever midwife who solved a murder in 18th-century Maine. Lawhon used her little-known story to expertly weave fact and fiction, creating a rich and authentic portrait of a remarkable woman who defied the norms of her society and left a lasting legacy.

A legacy that not only included the delivering of over 1,000 births without losing a single mother to being the great-aunt of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, and also being the great-great-grandmother of Mary Hobart, one of the first female physicians in the United States.

The Fatal Folio

Title: The Fatal Folio
Author: Elizabeth Penney
Published: October 24, 2023 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Format: Kindle, 320 pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: The Cambridge Bookshop Series #3

First Sentence: November had arrived in Cambridge, bringing with it crisp, cool air, the emergence of mufflers and wool coats from closets and -- new to me, as an ex-pat American -- Guy Fawkes day.

Blurb: After moving to Cambridge, England, Molly Kimball has found a lot to love, including—of course—her family’s ancestral bookshop, Thomas Marlowe-Manuscripts and Folios. And though she’s not quite ready to use the “L” word when it comes to her boyfriend Kieran, she’s definitely fallen for his intimidating family’s library.

His family is paying her handsomely for an updated catalog when Molly discovers the original manuscript of a Gothic novel, A Fatal Folio by the pseudonymous Selwyn Scott. Kieran’s cousin Oliver, a professor specializing in Gothic literature, is eager to publish a paper on the mystery—especially because a troublesome student, Thad, is threatening to file a complaint against him and prevent his long-awaited promotion.

On Guy Fawkes Night, Molly, Kieran, and her friends set out to enjoy the costumes, fireworks, and fun—at least until a stray firework starts a panic, and the group stumbles upon a prone body, their face covered by a mask. It’s Thad, and he’s been stabbed to death.

It soon becomes clear Oliver isn’t the only one with a motive, and Molly must once again put on a few masks of her own to sleuth out Thad’s killer, prove Oliver’s innocence, and discover what Selwyn’s novel might have to do with this most atmospheric mystery. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: A book, within a book, within a book. The latest edition to the Cambridge Bookshop series by Elizabeth Penney. Set in Cambridge, England, among the historical colleges, Molly Kimball, a bookshop owner, stumbles upon a Gothic manuscript and opens the door to murder and a long-buried secret.

The author weaves together mystery, family legacies, and murder while drawing the reader into the dark atmosphere and showing how the multiple storylines weave in a journey to uncover the truth behind the ancient folio.

Forests, Fishing & Forgery

Title: Forests, Fishing & Forgery
Author: Tonya Kappes
Published: July 31, 2018 by Tonya Kappes Books
Format: Kindle, 174 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Series: Campter & Criminals #3

First Sentence: “Welcome to Happy Trails Campground and to our party.”

Blurb: It's Labor Day weekend in Normal, and if you know anything about camping and RVing, you know it's one of the busiest times of the year. Unfortunately, Daniel Boone National Park is in danger of being closed due to a drought and local businesses are scrambling for ideas to survive a possible shutdown.

Happy Trails Campground is at the center of a murder in which campers as well locals are suspects. It looks likely that a local resident is responsible for the dastardly deed since the victim is the one person who had the power to shut down the national park, which would be devastating to Normal’s small businesses.

My Opinion: The perfect series to jump in and out of between other books. Full of southern charm and lovable characters. Camper & Criminals is a quirky and cozy series set in the charming small town of Normal, Tennessee and the Happy Trails Campground located in the Daniel Boone National Park.

Unfortunately, this outing was slow and then suddenly it was over. For me, the novella needed less middle rambling and more in the conclusion so the tying up wasn’t so abrupt. That doesn’t mean I won’t go back and read the next in the series since everyone needs a little Mae West in their lives.

What Harms You

Title: What Harms You
Author: Lisa Black
Published: July 25, 2023 by Kensington
Format: Kindle, Hardcover 320 Pages
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Locard #2

First Sentence: Ellie Carr waved her brand-new keycard at the mounted sensor a second time. Still nothing.

Blurb: What happens when a serial killer goes to CSI school?

The Locard Institute is a state-of-the-art forensic research center where experts from around the world come together to confront and solve the world’s most challenging and perplexing crimes. When Dr. Ellie Carr arrives for her first day as an instructor at the prestigious facility, the buildings glimmer amid the brilliant fall foliage on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. But within hours a colleague, Dr. Barbara Wright, is found dead on the floor of a supply closet. Her death appears to be an accident—but Ellie and her new supervisor, Dr. Rachael Davies, suspect a more sinister explanation.

A young woman attending a professional training program then disappears, only to be found in a gruesome tableau. Other than their link to the Institute, there seems to be no connection between the student and Dr. Wright. Although forensic traces are elusive, Ellie and Rachael are determined to find the bizarre link between the violent and diverse deaths.

As reporters shatter the privacy of Ellie’s new workplace, she searches old files and finds evidence of a crime that feels much too personal. But who, among those dedicated to justice, could be the threat? No matter how skilled she and Rachael may be in uncovering the truth, they may not be able to prevent a well-schooled killer from striking again.

My Opinion: I had a hard time getting into this book. The previous book, ‘Red Flags’ was published more than a year ago, and the reader could have benefited from a paragraph or two refresher at the beginning instead of a couple of chapters in.

Read the first third, skimmed the middle, and read the final third. This series is dependent on what you came for. Very high in the science parts, low on the mystery, and the conclusion gathered the bits and parts along the way.

The who in ‘What Harms You’ was obvious from the beginning. The ‘why’ was the basic serial killer stuff.

The Crown's Fate

Title: The Crown's Fate
Author: Evelyn Skye
Published: May 16, 2017 by Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover, 425 pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Series: The Crown's Game #2

First Sentence: Vika Andreyeva was a confluence of minuscule bubbles, streaming through the wintry dusk.

Blurb: Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected.

Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.

For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.

With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.

My Opinion: Slow start, but the tension builds.

The Crown’s Fate is the sequel to The Crown’s Game, a historical fantasy set in an alternate Russia. The book follows the three main characters, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha, as they face political intrigue, dark magic, and personal dilemmas, all the while, encompassing history, culture, and magical twists.

The characters are well defined with each showing strengths and flaws. The reader will be riding the rollercoaster of identity, power, loyalty, and love, and how, together, they shape the fate of a leader and a nation.

The Crown’s Fate is the conclusion to the duology, with an ending that has you holding your breath and full of hope for Vika, Nikolai, Pasha, Yuliana, and Renata.

I am still new to this genre, so I can’t say if I will stick with it, but I did enjoy this series.