Books from the Backlog - Dim Sum of All Fears

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien

Blurb:  Welcome back to Ho-Lee Noodle House, where you can get fantastic take-out. . .unless you get taken out first.
Lana Lee is a dutiful daughter, waiting tables at her family’s Chinese restaurant even though she’d rather be doing just about anything else. Then, just when she has a chance for a “real” job, her parents take off to Taiwan, leaving Lana in charge. Surprising everyone―including herself―she turns out to be quite capable of running the place. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who just opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead. . .and soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery.

Between running the Ho-Lee and trying to figure out whether the rock-solid Detective Adam Trudeau is actually her boyfriend, Lana knows she shouldn’t pry into the case. But the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple’s past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I read the first book last year and loved it and really need to continue with this series.

. .

Overdue Reviews - Dead Storage + Death by the Sea

 

Goodreads:  Dead Storage by Mary Feliz

Blurb:  Despite a looming deadline, Maggie thinks she has what it takes to help friends Jason and Stephen unclutter their large Victorian in time for its scheduled renovation. But before she can fill a single bin with unused junk, Jason leaves for Texas on an emergency business trip, Stephen’s injured mastiff limps home—and Stephen himself lands in jail for murder. Someone killed the owner of a local Chinese restaurant and stuffed him in the freezer. Stephen, caught at the crime scene covered in blood, is the number one suspect. Now Maggie must devise a strategy to sort through secrets and set him free—before she’s tossed into permanent storage next . . .

My Thoughts:  I really enjoyed the first book in this series but was a bit more meh on the second one.  For the third book I just really didn't care.  I did like that Maggie communicates with her husband and her sons and I loved the dogs.  As for the plot of the mystery it seemed a bit contrived and got a bit lost in the search for different characters.  I don't think I will continue this series.  My Rating:  Just Okay (2 Stars)

Goodreads:  Death by the Sea (A By the Sea Mystery #1) by Kathleen Bridge

Blurb:  The Indialantic by the Sea hotel has a hundred-year-old history on beautiful Melbourne Beach, Florida, and more than a few guests seem to have been there from the start. When Liz Holt returns home after an intense decade in New York, she’s happy to be surrounded by the eccentric clientele and loving relatives that populate her family-run inn, and doubly pleased to see the business is staying afloat thanks to its vibrant shopping emporium and a few very wealthy patrons.

But that patronage decreases by one when a filthy rich guest is discovered dead in her oceanfront suite. Maybe this is simply a jewel theft gone wrong, but maybe someone—or many people—wanted the hotel’s prosperous guest dead. Only one thing is sure: there’s a killer at the Indialantic, and if Liz lets herself be distracted—by her troubled past or the tempting man who seems eager to dredge it back up—the next reservation she’ll book could be at the cemetery . . .

My Thoughts:  I've read a few books in another series by this author and had not been the biggest fan so I was a bit wary going into this book.  This mystery however was a lot of fun!  I enjoyed spending time at the glamorous old hotel and with Liz's even more glamorous aunt.  There's a fun quirky community with a rather flirty old captain, a former mystery writer, and an assortment of dogs and cats.  The mystery was interesting with a victim that couldn't have deserved it more.  My main issue is that it felt like it got a bit lost with all the world building.  I almost missed the murder and the reveal was a bit more pronounced but still a bit rushed.   If you're a cozy fan I think you'll enjoy this one but if you're looking mostly for a solid mystery you might get a bit frustrated.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Halloween-y Books on My TBR

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is a Halloween Freebie so I'm looking at 10 Halloween-y books on my TBR.  I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to super scary or a lot of gore so these are more in the PG to P-13 range of Halloween-y books.

1.  The Witches by Roald Dahl - I really love Dahl's books and this is one I haven't read that looks perfect for Halloween.

2.  Seances Are For Suckers by Tamara Berry - I love this author's cozy mysteries and this one involving a psychic (?) sounds like a fun cozy Halloween read.

3.  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - I've never read this story though I've been working on planning a trip to Sleepy Hollow so I feel like I should read it before I go.

4.  The Shadow of Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - This one has been on my TBR for ages and it looks like it may be a bit eerie.

5.  The Haunting of Maddy Claire by Simone St James - Of course when I need something ghosty and spooky a Simone St. James books has to be on the list!

6.  The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox - I have other books by this author on my TBR and this one looks really good!

7.  The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick - So this one isn't spooky in the slightest, but it does involve a ghost, and I really want to reread it!

8.  A Skeleton in the Family by Leigh Perry - This cozy mystery series involves a skeleton that happens to have a skeleton in the closet - and this skeleton talks and sounds like it's very opinionated!

9.  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - I know so many people who love this series and I really want to read the first book.  

10. Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece by Rose Pressey - A cozy mystery with a ghost and a chihuahua - what could be more fun? 

What Halloween-y reads are on your TBR?

A New Lease on Death - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Ruby Young's new Boston apartment comes with all the usual perks. Windows facing the brick wall of the next-door building. Heat that barely works. A malfunctioning buzzer. Noisy neighbors. A dead body on the sidewalk outside. And of course, a ghost.

Since Cordelia Graves died in her apartment a few months ago, she's kept up her residency, despite being bored out of her (non-tangible) skull and frustrated by her new roommate. When her across-the-hall neighbor, Jake Macintyre, is shot and killed in an apparent mugging gone wrong outside their building, Cordelia is convinced there’s more to it and is determined to bring his killer to justice.

Unfortunately, Cordelia, being dead herself, can't solve the mystery alone. She has to enlist the help of the obnoxiously perky, living tenant of her apartment. Ruby is twenty, annoying, and has never met a houseplant she couldn't kill. But she also can do everything Cordelia can't, from interviewing suspects to researching Jake on the library computers that go up in a puff of smoke if Cordelia gets too close. The roommates form an unlikely friendship as they get closer to the truth about Jake's death…and maybe other dangerous secrets as well.

Genre: Mystery - Paranormal Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed other books by this author and this looked like a fun read.

My Impression: This was definitely different from any cozy I've read before.  We start out with a frozen body in front of an apartment building in a not so great area of Boston and that's when we meet Cordelia.  Cordelia knows the body as it used to belong to the guy who lived across the hall from her.  She's also getting used to having a roommate in her small dingy apartment.  The problem is that the roommate, Ruby Young, doesn't know she's really there as Cordelia is actually a ghost.  

The book alternates between Ruby and Cordelia's perspective.  Ruby is young and optimistic and a bit down on her luck.  Even when she was alive Cordelia was a bit of a loner and definitely not what one would describe as upbeat.  Together, however, they're an interesting pair as they figure out how to communicate and try to find out just who took out their across the hall neighbor and maybe Cordelia herself.

Since this is a fairly complicated premise there is quite a bit of setup and it takes a bit for things to really get going in the story.  This makes for a bit of a slower pacing.  However, the characters were well drawn and lots of fun and the premise kept me guessing.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I've enjoyed everything I've read by this author and this was an interesting read.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like mysteries, ghosts, or interesting and sympathetic characters this is a good read.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

The Mirror Crack'd - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Mirror Crack'd by Agatha Christie

Rating: Really Liked It (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  One minute, silly Heather Badcock had been gabbing on to her movie idol, the glamorous Marina Gregg. The next, Heather suffered a massive seizure. It turned out to be a deadly poison. But for whom was it really intended?

Marina’s frozen expression suggested she had witnessed something horrific. While others searched for material evidence, Jane Marple conducted a very different investigation – into human nature.

Genre: Mystery - Classic 

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the October pick for the 2024 Read Christie Challenge

My Impression:   I always forget how much I enjoy this one until I reread it and I've never been disappointed with it.  Changes have come to St. Mary Mead with a Hollywood Star in Mrs. Bantry's old house and the Development being built up around the village.  But the changes that Jane Marple is struggling with is within herself.  She has the very annoying Miss Knight foisted upon her after a rough go of bronchitis as well as the cheerful if a bit slapdash Cherry from the Development.  

Miss Marple is at her wit's end with being bored and sedentary when a murder happens just down the street.  While Miss Marple has never talked about the "little grey cells" but most of the investigation is done in her sitting room as she gathers bits of information from different visitors - with the exception of an outing or two.  

I loved seeing CI Craddock again and I loved his obvious admiration for Miss Marple.  It was fun to see Miss Marple and Dolly Bantry together.  Normally, Miss Marple is much older than the other characters but to see her with a friend who is on equal footing was just nice.

The mystery is of course a good one with a few interesting red herrings and a good couple of twists.  Christie was inspired by a true story for this one (very loosely - no murder in the true story) so be sure to look that up after you read this one.  

This is a solid Miss Marple story that takes place in St. Mary Mead with a good mix of old and new characters.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to the November Read Christie Challenge!

Would I Recommend this Book?  Definitely!  I love Miss Marple best of all the Christie detectives and this was an interesting one.

Friday Fives - Five Books That Take Place on a Cruise Ship

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random fve lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  We have a cruise coming up soon so I'm looking at 5 books that take place on a cruise ship.  

1.  Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie - So technically I've already read this one but I can never read it too often!

2.  Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard - This one looks like a page turning read - perfect for spending some time reading while sitting on the veranda during a sea day.

3  Murder, She Wrote:  Murder on the QE 2 by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain - If the above book gets too creepy for me than Jessica Fletcher is the way to make it better!

4.  The Last One by Will Dean - I've heard some decent reviews of this one and the premise does look intriguing.  I can't imagine how scary it would be to find myself alone on a huge ship in the middle of the ocean.

5.  Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses by Mary McHugh - I've enjoyed other cozies by this author and this looks like a fun one!

Have you ever read a book set on a cruise ship?

Books from the Backlog - The Girl Before

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Girl Before by JP Delaney

Blurb:  Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The request seems odd, even intrusive - and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.

Emma

Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant - and it does.

Jane

After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street, she is instantly drawn to the space - and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home's previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror as the girl before.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  'Tis the season for thrillers and this looks intriguing.

Rockin' Around the Chickadee - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Rockin' Around the Chickadee (Meg Langslow #26) by Donna Andrews

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description: Meg's sister-in-law, Delaney is pregnant. Since her due date is on or around Christmas Day, this is putting a bit of a damper on the usual holiday festivities. Meg and Michael are NOT hosting the usual house full of relatives and parties. Instead, Meg, along with her mother, her grandmother, her cousin Rose Noire, and her good friend Caroline, are militantly doing everything they can think of to keep Delaney quiet and healthy. All the relatives are farmed out to friends and neighbors; all the parties are being held somewhere else, and while Delaney is bored and mutinous, she's doing well, and they're managing to maintain a serene, peaceful environment for her . . . until a body is found in Meg and Michael's yard. Can Meg still keep Delaney calm in the middle of a murder investigation, all while trying to catch the killer?Full of her usual twists and turns, paired with relatable family holiday drama and Caerphilly’s traditional Christmas merriment, Donna Andrews brings readers another joyful classic.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and I especially love the holiday reads.  

My Impression:   Christmas is supposed to be a bit calmer for Meg and Michael and the rest of the family.  They're not hosting hoards of cousins, no blue jays are loose in the house divebombing unsuspecting visitors, and the focus is on keeping Delaney calm and relaxed.  But this is Caerphilly and Meg's family so things can't be completely calm and Meg's grandmother Cordelia is hosting a true crime conference focusing on the wrongly convicted.  I was thrilled to see Meg's cousin, Festus, get a little more page time as he's one of my favorite side characters.  I also liked that Meg's boys get a bit more page time as well and we see a bit more of their personality.

The victim is one no one will miss but who would want to kill him?  And how did he end up in Meg and Michael's yard in the in the middle of the night.  As usual the investigation is a fun read with a lot of chaos and relatives and animal hijinks.  The mystery was a good one and the read was thoroughly enjoyable.

This is such a fun series with lots of fun characters, animal hijinks, and good mysteries.  Given the large cast it can be a bit confusing if you start mid-series, but each book gets better than the last.  If you're a cozy mystery fan this is one to read!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to reading the previous books I've missed and will be on the lookout for future books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you a cozy mystery reader and a fan of the series this is a must read.  If you're new to the series it might be better to start with an earlier book but you won't regret giving this series a try.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always, my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Ten Books I've Picked Up Recently

My library "updated" their Hoopla catalog which ended up getting rid of about 75% of the books on my favorites list.  To make myself feel a bit better I might have done a bit of a shopping binge thanks to a sale on Audible and a new (!!!) bookstore opening in town.  

 1.  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - I've seen good reviews for this one and it's just the most beautiful little book.

2.  Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson - I've heard this is lots of fun.

3.  We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - I love the look of this and it has been on my wishlist since it first came to my attention.

4.  Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker - I'm in a ghosty kind of mood!

5.  A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber - I have loved everything I've read by this author so of course I had to buy this one!

6.  American Cookie by Anne Byrn - I love her cookbooks and I have her book on the history of cake so of course I had to pick this one up!

7.  A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey - I have been wanting to read this author for ages and this book looks like one I will love.

8.  The Third Wife by Lisa Jewell - This was part of an Audible sale and it looked intriguing plus I typically love this author.

9.  The Last Train from Paris by Juliet Greenwood - Another Audible sale book.  I don't know that I've heard anything about this one but I liked the sound of it.

10. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - I read another book by Patchett earlier this year and had my eye on this one.  Then a friend passed this on as she had ended up with 2 copies.

What books have you picked up recently?

The Knife Before Christmas - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Knife Before Christmas (A Fixer Upper Mystery #11) by Kate Carlisle

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Christmas has come to Lighthouse Cove, but business hasn’t slowed down for Shannon Hammer. She’s been contracted to renovate a local hotel owned by the Garrisons, a family that’s so devoted to the holidays they serve a seven-course dinner every night from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Last year’s festivities featured a train that transported guests around the breathtaking Cliffside property. This year, Shannon and her crew have been commissioned to build a Victorian-style carnival midway with games and prizes galore.

Everyone in town loves the hotel’s spirit, except the Garrisons’ children and their spouses, who are hum-bugged by the money being wasted on holiday cheer while their inheritance goes up the chimney. Things turn nasty when a mischief-maker close to the family is found dead. It’s up to Shannon and Mac to catch a sinister Scrooge before all of Lighthouse Cove receives coal for Christmas.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is a series I always enjoy so of course I had to pick up this newest one.

My Impression: I have really enjoyed this series from the beginning so of course I was thrilled to spend more time with Shannon, Mac, Chloe, and Eric.  I loved the Christmas-y feels and all the usual holiday busyness.  I was so glad that Shannon's nemesis, Whitney, didn't have a lot of page time and there was enough conflict with Randi and Arabella.  

The mystery is a good one.  Pretty much everyone wanted to kill the victim so it's really a matter of figuring out who had the biggest motive.  I did guess the who but I wasn't completely sure until the very end and I wasn't sure of the motive.  There's also a small subplot involving porch pirates which is an issue a lot of people have to deal with around the holidays.

I really enjoyed meeting the Garrisons and figuring out their complicated relationships.  I did miss the active work site aspect that normally features in this series.  I also had some issues with how the porch pirate subplot was resolved and the ending of the book in general.  It felt a bit rushed and like their were too many revelations at one time.  Despite these issues I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and look forward to reading more from this author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've read by this author.  

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're a cozy mystery fan I think you would enjoy this series though I do recommend starting at the beginning.  

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - The Only One Left by Riley Sager

At the beginning of the year I made a list of authors that I've been saying I need to read and commit to reading at least one book by each of the authors in 2024.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads: The Only One Left by Riley Sager

Blurb:  

At seventeen, Lenora Hope

Hung her sister with a rope

Now reduced to a schoolyard chant, the Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume seventeen-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. Other than her denial after the killings, she has never spoken publicly about that night, nor has she set foot outside Hope’s End, the cliffside mansion where the massacre occurred.

Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother’s happy life

It’s now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope’s End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her seventies and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer—I want to tell you everything.

“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said
But she’s the only one not dead

As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there’s more to the tale than people know. But when new details about her predecessor’s departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth—and that the seemingly harmless woman in her care could be far more dangerous than she first thought.

My Thoughts:  This was my first book by Riley Sager and it won't be my last.  I loved the premise and the setting.  The house's precarious grip on the cliff and the slow tilt of the house really increased the suffocating feeling of the read.  I was never fully sure if I could trust Kit's version of events but I did like her and could sympathize with her need to understand what's going on.  They mystery into just what's going on at Hope's End and what happened so long ago kept me hooked and while I guessed a few bits of the end I had no real clue what all had happened.  I listened to the audio version of this book and it made for a great listen!  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Friday Five - 5 Classics I Want to Reread

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random fve lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.   This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic was about books we were assigned to read.  That got me thinking about some of the books I was assinged to read as a teenager that I'd really like to reread.  I'm sure my perspective now would be pretty different than it was when I was a teenager.

1.  Tess of the D'Urbevilles by Thomas Hardy - I remember this being so sad and I remember loving the writing style. It was probably one of my favorite assigned reading books.   I wonder what I would think of it now.  

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - At 15 I liked the romance but was bored senseless by all the rest.  I'd like to give this another try and see what I think now.

3.  Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - If I remember right this was the last book we had to read in my senior English class.  I read it and it stuck in my head long enough to take the test and write the paper and then promptly disappeared.  I'd really love to reread this one.

4.  The Awakening by Kate Chopin - I remember liking this and it is one that stuck with me but I think it would hit a bit different if I read it now.

5.  Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - I remember almost nothing about it because I read it the very last semester of high school and I had a severe case of senioritis.  I've heard interesting things about this one and would like to read it as an adult - maybe read it after I reread Jane Eyre?

What books were assigned reading in school that you'd like to reread now?

Books from the Backlog - The Man From the Train

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Man From the Train: The Solving of a Century Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James

Blurb:  Using unprecedented, dramatically compelling sleuthing techniques, legendary statistician and baseball writer Bill James applies his analytical acumen to crack an unsolved century-old mystery surrounding one of the deadliest serial killers in American history.
Between 1898 and 1912, families across the country were bludgeoned in their sleep with the blunt side of an axe. Jewelry and valuables were left in plain sight, bodies were piled together, faces covered with cloth. Some of these cases, like the infamous Villasca, Iowa, murders, received national attention. But few people believed the crimes were related. And fewer still would realize that all of these families lived within walking distance to a train station.

When celebrated baseball statistician and true crime expert Bill James first learned about these horrors, he began to investigate others that might fit the same pattern. Applying the same know-how he brings to his legendary baseball analysis, he empirically determined which crimes were committed by the same person. Then after sifting through thousands of local newspapers, court transcripts, and public records, he and his daughter Rachel made an astonishing discovery: they learned the true identity of this monstrous criminal. In turn, they uncovered one of the deadliest serial killers in America.

Riveting and immersive, with writing as sharp as the cold side of an axe, The Man from the Train paints a vivid, psychologically perceptive portrait of America at the dawn of the twentieth century, when crime was regarded as a local problem, and opportunistic private detectives exploited a dysfunctional judicial system. James shows how these cultural factors enabled such an unspeakable series of crimes to occur, and his groundbreaking approach to true crime will convince skeptics, amaze aficionados, and change the way we view criminal history.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:   I've bought several historical true crime books but need to actually try reading them.  

Death at a Scottish Christmas - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Death at a Scottish Christmas (A Scottish Isle Mystery #3) by Lucy Connelly

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Sea Isle, Scotland, is magical during the holiday season, and Dr. Emilia McRoy can’t wait to enjoy everything her village has to offer. But when the lead singer of a famous band is murdered in the village, just as they were about to launch a world tour, her holiday instantly comes to a halt.

As the band’s future hangs in the balance, Emilia discovers that the victim was working on new music that has since disappeared. Were these new lyrics worth killing for? And if so, who is the culprit? It seems more than one person wanted this music star dead. Shockingly, beloved constable Ewan Campbell becomes the prime suspect in the investigation, putting a damper on the town’s festivities.

With an ever-growing list of suspects, Emilia will need all the help she can get to figure out who is framing poor Ewan. Between a secret Santa that wants her dead, stalkers, and killer holiday celebrations, Emilia must see the devil in the details and discover the truth before it’s too late.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the first two books in this series.

My Impression:  I've very much enjoyed this Christmas-y murdery read!  Em is getting used to her life on Sea Isle and is excited to experience her first Christmas.  Of course there's a murder and since Em is the coroner as well as the local doctor she's pulled into the mvestigation.  

I loved revisiting the community of Sea Isle.  I love Abigail and Tommy and the group of friends that Em has created.  I think even if there wasn't an intriguing mystery at a fast pace I would still want to read it as I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them interact and watching their lives slowly evolve.  I also really liked that Ewan wasn't as in charge as he normally is.  He's not a person used to having things outside of his control so added a bit to his character.

The mystery was a good one and kept me guessing.  I enjoyed following Em as she investigated and ran tests.  I also really like how a lot of the investigating is done in sounding board style with characters discussing theories.  

This is a good cozy mystery with the amateur-ish sleuth and the small town community feel but it never slid into quirky territory which I think would make it a great series for all mystery fans even if they're not a fan of cozies. 

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're a mystery reader you should definitely try this book!  Like most series I think it will be more enjoyable if you start from the beginning but you can definitely start with this one.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Was Assigned to Read in School

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Books I Was Assigned to Read in School.  I didn't really have much assigned reading in college as my degree didn't require many literature classes so I'm having to really dust off the shelf and go back to what I was assigned to read in high school.  I read a lot more than the ten mentioned here but these are the first that come to mind for various reasons.

1.  Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce - I'm not sure whose brilliant idea it was to have a bunch of 17 year olds read this stream of conscious novel but it was not a good one.  I never did figure out what was going on and have zero interest in giving it another try.  Have you read it?  Should I reconsider?

2.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I really enjoyed this one even at 16.  It helped that my teacher that year was fantastic and did a great job discussing Austen's use of social satire and whatnot.  

3.  The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - I did not have such a great teacher this year (I was 15 maybe?) and thoroughly detested this one.

4.  Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner - I'm not a big Faulkner fan and this one especially didn't work for me.  I don't think I've ever been so confused by what was going on.  I remember reading the Cliff Notes for this one and even they were confused by the book.

5.  Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky - This was another one I read at 17.  I feel like senior year was World Lit for us?  I'm sure I missed quite a bit of subtext but I did enjoy this one fairly well after I got used to the fact everyone has about 6 names.

6.  Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert -  I question having a bunch of 17 year olds read this one as well.  I remember the teacher not really wanting to discuss it but that wasn't necessarily connected to the subject matter but more on the fact that she enjoyed assigning far more than she enjoyed discussing regardless of the book.  I liked this one but I'm sure I would get way more out of it now.

7.  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - I enjoyed this one quite a bit at 14 though I remember getting quite bored with Janes trials and tribulations.  

8.  Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - I've reread this one several times and saw it in play form since reading it at 14.   I enjoyed this one so much then that I sought out more books by Steinbeck and enjoyed them all with the exception of The Pearl which was assigned later on.

9.  Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - This one had the opposite effect of the book above.  I hated this one so much that I refused to read anything by Dickens for decades and finally just read A Christmas Carol (which I loved) in the last few years.  I did retry this one but am still not a fan.  One day I'll try more Dickens.

10.  Mill on the Floss by George Elliot - I remember enjoying this and that it was depressing but nothing else about it.  I really should reread it.

What did you read in school?

Blue Christmas Bones - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Blue Christmas Bones (A Sarah Booth Delany Mystery) by Carolyn Haines

Rating:  Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends can’t help falling in love with Christmas this year, which they plan to spend celebrating the King of Rock n’ Roll at the annual Elvis Festival in Tupelo. The main attraction is an Elvis impersonator competition, drawing impersonators from all over the world to honor the king.

But before the revelry can get underway, a priceless jewel-encrusted replica of a belt once worn by Elvis is stolen from its display case, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are roped into one of the biggest heists in the history of Mississippi. Soon suspicious minds are lurking around every corner, with one eyewitness even claiming to have seen Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s long deceased and highly questionable manager, prowling around the festivities. Sarah Booth will have to find the devil in disguise or she might just end up singing Jailhouse Rock herself.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:   The blurb looked really fun and I've been wanting to try the series for awhile.  

My Impression: This is a long running series so since I'm coming in now I'm a bit on the back foot with understanding the relationships and getting up to speed.  It took me a bit longer to get into this book - whether because I'm new to the series or just because the start was slow I can't say for certain.  However, once I got into the story I did really enjoy it.  

This is an ensemble cast with Sarah Booth being the primary focus.  She seems to be haunted by a young woman named Jitty who shows up sometimes to help and sometimes to cause general mischief both of which are pretty fun.  The mystery of the stolen belt gets going pretty quickly and more than a few people have strong motives to steal it - not just for its value but to get revenge against the owner or its creator.  Neither of the two have made many friends or inspired much loyalty.  

This book has a fairly sizable cast and it did take a bit for me to get everything figured out but I did enjoy the read overall.  I have zero interest or knowledge about Elvis or his music but despite that I did find the discussion of him and his music interesting.  Despite the slowish start I did enjoy the read and getting to know the characters.  This is a series I'm looking forward to reading from the beginning.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  I'm looking forward to going back to the beginning of the series and getting to know all the characters

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like quirky Southern cozies this was a fun read and looks to be a promising series.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Ordeal by Innocence - Classic Mystery Review

 Goodreads:  Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:   According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment. But when Dr. Arthur Calgary arrives with the proof that confirms Jacko’s innocence, it is too late—Jacko died behind bars following a bout of pneumonia. Worse still, the doctor’s revelations reopen old wounds in the family, increasing the likelihood that the real murderer will strike again.

Genre: Mystery - Classic 

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the September pick for the 2024 Read Christie challenge

My Impression: If I remember correctly this was one of the books that Agatha Christie herself was the most satisfied with and I can see why.  As seen in a number of her books Christie likes to experiment with the pyschology of guilt and the ramifications for the people around the murder.  In this book she shows what happens when the easy solution isn't actually the solution.  Two years after the murder of Rachel Argyle and the death of her adopted son Jacko who was in jail for her murder it is proven that Jacko was actually innocent of the crime.  

Over the previous few years the Argyle family had come to terms with Jacko's guilt and was breathing a sigh of relief as Jacko was never an easy person and always involved in someting shady.  And now that Jacko is proven innocent the family has to start side eyeing each other - who actually killed Rachel Argyle that night.  Each family member has motive and opportunity but which one actually did it?  Rachel Argyle is the type of victim Christie often uses - an overbearing mother who means well but never actually listens to the people she's trying to help.  This always allows for an interesting mix of motives and feelings of guilt and resentment.  I really liked each of the kid's stories and how they came to live with the Argyle.   

I remembered how this story played out but that didn't stop me from being completely pulled into the story and feeling invested in watching the story play out.  I can absolutely see why Christie enjoyed writing this book so much and why she was the most satisfied and I so enjoyed my reread.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I'm really looking forward to The Mirror Crack'd which is the October pick.  

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would!  This is a standalone mystery so none of Christie's usual detectives make an appearance.  This is an interesting mystery with a bit of an interesting perspective.  

Friday Fives - Five Short Reviews for Series I'm Currently Reading

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  I'm working on catching up on series and decided to put a few reviews of them all together here.

1.  Death Knells and Wedding Bells by Eva Gates - Lucy and Connor are married!  And while the wedding went smoothly and the reception was a good time (with the exception of a few unwelcome plus ones) but the aftermath proves a bit bumpy when a missing wedding guest is found dead in a closet.  The mystery was fun and I enjoyed seeing Lucy and Connor start to settle in newly married life.  I did guess the killer before Lucy but I didn't guess the motive and it was fun getting to the reveal.  This is an enjoyable cozy mystery series with a fantastic bookish setting.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  The Solace of Bay Leaves by Leslie Budewitz - This series is just getting better.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one and loved spending time with Pepper as she tried to untangle the mystery of who would have wanted to shoot her friend Maddy, how that could connect to the murder of her friend's husband several years before, and how did the new chef get his hands on another chef's proprietary spice blend.   This was a fun read with lots of enjoyable day in the life scenes as Pepper runs a business, takes care of her hope, interacts with those around her, deepens her relationship, and has some pretty yummy tasting food.  The unraveling of the mystery kept me engaged and I enjoyed the book from beginning to end and I'm already looking forward to visitng Pepper at her Pike Place Market shop again soon.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  Murder on the House by Juliet Blackwell - I do love some ghosts with my cozy mysteries and especially when home renovation is involved.  Mel has taken over the running of her family's renovation business and discovered that she can talk to ghosts to add a bit of chaos.  Now she has the option to bid on a job partly because of that ability.  This is a fun series with a good group of side characters and a dog.  There's also a bit of home renovation with the focus on history and old history all of which makes me happy.  This wasn't the most memorable of mysteries but it is one I enjoyed and is a series I'm looking forward to continuing with.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

4.  Jane Austen's Lost Letters by Jane K. Cleland - I fear this is the last book in this series as it came out in 2021 and there has been nothing else heard from Josie.  That said, if the series must end this was a pretty good place to end as we get to see more of Josie's life on the tv set and there are some fairly major developments in her personal life.  The mystery was a good one and really focused on the world of antique appraisers which I enjoyed.  I did miss seeing more of the day to day running of Prescotts but I suspect the author was gently showing that Josie career has gone past the day to day bits.  I enjoyed this series - some books more than others - and am a bit sad to see the end of Josie and her friends.  If you enjoy cozy mysteries and are fascinated by antiques this is a series that I think you would enjoy.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5.  Letal Licorice by Amanda Flowers - In this second book of the Amish Candy shop series and Bailey King is not only getting used to life in Ohio but is competing an Amish Candy Competition.  But pretty quickly things go a bit haywire.  Not only is Bailey's entry in the competition controversial but there's also a missing pig and a murder.  I'm really enjoying this series.  I love all the candy references as well as Bailey's relationship with her grandmother.  The Amish vs English issues are interesting and a bit different than the usual cozy controversies.  The mystery was interesting with a bit of a surprising end.  I did feel a bit sorry for Emily, Bailey's assistant for the competition, as Bailey kept running off to investigate leaving Emily with quite a bit of heavy lifting with the competition.  I'm looking forward to book 3.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - The Berlin Letters

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

Blurb:  Near the end of the Cold War, a CIA code breaker discovers a symbol she recognizes from her childhood, which launches her across the world to the heart of Berlin just before the wall comes tumbling down. November 1989 —After finding a secret cache of letters with intelligence buried in the text, CIA cryptographer Luisa Voekler learns that not only is her father alive but he is languishing in an East German Stasi jail. After piecing together the letters with a series of articles her grandfather saved, Luisa seeks out journalists Bran Bishop and Daniel Rudd. They send her to the CIA, to Andrew Cademan—her boss. Luisa confronts Cademan and learns that nothing is a coincidence, but he will not help her free her father. So she takes matters into her own hands, empties her bank account, and flies to West Berlin. As the adrenaline wears off and she recognizes she has no idea how to proceed, Luisa is both relieved and surprised when a friend shows up with contacts and a rudimentary plan to sneak her across the wall. Alternating storylines between Luisa and her father, The Berlin Letters shows the tumultuous early days of the wall, bringing Berlin, the epicenter of the Cold War, to life while also sharing one family’s journey through secrets, lies, and division to love, freedom, and reconciliation.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I have really enjoyed the other books I've read by this author and this sounds fantastic!

A Merry Little Murder Plot - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Merry Little Murder Plot (A Library Lovers Mystery #15) by Jenn McKinlay

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:   During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. To try to spread some Christmas cheer, library director Lindsey Norris invites the new writer in residence to join her crafternoon club. Helen politely refuses and when an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, Lindsey begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason.

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen because she believes they are destined to meet. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town.

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series.

My Impression:  It's Christmas time in Briar Creek which means there are tons of festivies, there's a new writer in residence program going on in the libary, and a bit of drama going on with the politics of the Friends of the Library.  And of course there's a murder.

I always enjoy a visit to this series.  Lindsey and Sully and all of their friends are front and center and I am especially glad to see Robbie have some page time.  I really liked Helen.  She's a bit standoffish and direct but she reads as an authentically introverted person who is happiest in her own company.  Jackie is dreadful but not as awful as the Betty who makes her presence known from the beginning with her rudeness and disdain for the residents of Briar Creek.  

The mystery was entertaining and kept me guessing from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation.  This is a solid series with an enjoyable community around the main characters.  I really love seeing Ms Cole - formerly known as "the Lemon" - getting comfortable in her new role as Mayor Cole.  The book can easily be read as a standalone but is even more enjoyable when read as part of the series.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  McKinlay is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like cozy mysteries you really must try this author and this series.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

My Fall Reading Retreat Reading List

 

A few months ago I did a reading list for an imaginary reading retreat and had a good time picking out books to read for an imaginary weekend where I do nothing but read.  There's always the chance I might make it a reality so I need to be prepared!  Now that it is fall I feel the need for a fall themed reading retreat with a mix of spooky and cozy books.  In my vision I have a cabin out in the woods with blankets, plenty of tea and good snacks, and cozy indoor and outdoor reading areas

1.  The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves - This is the first in the Vera Stanhope series which I've heard has a bit of a cozy British mystery feel mixed in with a solid mystery.  It's been on my TBR for ages and seems like a good place to start.

2.  Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker - A ghost hunting HGTV-type renovation show sounds fun and fast paced.

3.  Return to Wlydcliffe Heights by Carol Goodman - This is described as a cross between Jane Eyre and The Thirteenth Tale and involves a reclusive writer.  This will be the perfect read for when I'm ready for something a bit more atmospheric.   

4.  A Fatal Feast at Bramsfield Manor by Darci Hall - After the heavy atmospheric read I need a cozy mystery in a haunted manor house.

5.  The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - After a few books of murder and mayhem it's time for some witchy coziness and this looks like it will have lots of both.  

6.  Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea - I'll take a break from the cozy and go with a nice police procedural.  I've read one book by this author and loved the fast paced investigation.

7.  Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett - And a turn back to cozy and non-murdery.  I've read another book by this author which I absolutely adored and this sounds just as wonderful.

8.  We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - Another cozy sounding book and it makes me think that I need to bring my cat to my cozy cabin reading retreat.  

9.  An Inquiry Into Love and Death by Simone St James - Is a fall reading retreat complete without some Gothic-y Simone St. James?  

10. The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin - After the coziness and the Gothicness I think I'll end on another police procedural.  I love the sound of this one since the main character is a forensic genealogist.  

What is your idea of a perfect fall reading retreat?  What are some of the books you'd bring with you?