The Gabriel Hounds - Classic Mystery Review

 Goodreads: The Gabriel Hounds by Mary Stewart

Rating: Really Liked It (4.25 Stars)
Source: Purchased

Description: It's all a grand adventure when English Christy Mansel unexpectedly runs into her cousin Charles in Damascus. And being young, rich, impetuous, and used to doing whatever they please, they decide to barge in uninvited on their eccentric Great-Aunt Harriet—despite a long-standing family rule strictly forbidding unannounced visits. Because when the Gabriel hounds run howling over the crumbling palace of Der Ibrahim in Lebanon, someone will shortly die.

A strange new world awaits Charles and Christy beyond the gates of Dar Ibrahim—"Lady Harriet's" ancient, crumbling palace in High Lebanon—where a physician is always in residence and a handful of Arab servants attends to the odd old woman's every need. But there is a very good—very sinister—reason why guests are not welcome at Dar Ibrahim. And the young cousins are about to discover that, as difficult as it is to break into the dark, imposing edifice, it may prove even harder still to escape.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book: I'm slowly reading through Mary Stewart's books and this was the next one on my list.  

My Impression: I've enjoyed other books by Mary Stewart but I think this one is probably my favorite.  It's got some fun Gothic-y vibes, some family secrets, and a fun main character.  Christy Mansel is exploring the world a bit when she bumps into her cousin which sets a visit to a mysterious Great-Aunt into motion followed by the somewhat perilous events of the rest of the book.  

This was a fun read and Christy was a fun character.  She was neither to nervous or TSTL and had a bit of common sense.  I enjoyed her relationship with her driver, Hamid and all the time spent at Der Ibrahim was really interesting.  The setting was interesting as were the various characters.  The ending was a bit of a surprise and really enjoyable.

This was a fun read and a good slow read.  The heavy atmosphere might have gotten to be a bit much if I had read it straight through but as a slow read I was always a little sad to put it down and excited to get back to the story.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Yes, definitely!  I'm looking forward to reading the next book on her list.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would!  It had a bit of a Barbara Michaels vibe which always means it's going to be a good read.  

Friday Fives - Five Books I Need to Read By the End of the Year

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. My theme for my November Reading is Catching Up so here are 5 books I need to read by the end of the year.

1.  Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams - This is the third book in the Schuyler Sisters trilogy and I've read and enjoyed the other two so it's time I finish this up.

2.  The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell - This was the first Lisa Jewell that caught my eye but I've still yet to read it.

3.  Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima - This series looks so good but I need to read the first book first!

4.  The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor - I've had this on my TBR since it came out and decided this was the year to read it - now I need to actually do it.

5.  The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller - This has been on my TBR since I read a previous book by her and it looks like a perfect winter read.

Do you have any books on your list that you need to get read by the end of the year?

Road Trip Thursday - Books Set in Missouri

Every year I track the states and countries that I visit in my reading.  I'm trying to visit a few more states and countries so I'm looking for places I haven't visited yet this year.  Last month was Mississippi which is pretty close to home.  This month I'm going a little farther afield but not by much and looking for books set in Missouri.

1.  Family Skeletons by Rett MacPherson - I've had this genealogy focused cozy mystery series on my TBR forever.  It was published awhile ago so it can be a bit tricky to find but now that I see that it takes place in a state I haven't "visited" yet I might have to make more of an effort.

2.  A Good American by Alex George - I haven't heard anything about this one but I do love a family story and this looks like a good read.

3.  The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson - This is another one I haven't heard of before but it looks really good.

4.  The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen by Geraldine McCaughrean - I love a good middle grade adventure story and this looks like a fun one.

5.  If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion by Paige Shelton - I've read the first two in this cozy mystery series and enjoyed them so I should get back to it.

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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 2026.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Blurb:  Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.

A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible — a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

My Thoughts:  I've actually read this author before when I read Daisy Darker but she wasn't an author I really had an opinion about so I wanted to try more by her.  This was an interesting read with a very unlikable narrator and I was never quite sure what I thought of him or really any of the characters.  I did guess a lot of what was going on but there were a few spins that surprised me.  The pacing was good if a little repetitive and the ending was a little more open ended than I prefer.  This was an enjoyable read but I'm not sure this author's writing style and stories really work for me.  I'm glad I read this and would recommend it if you're looking for a quick psychological thriller (especially in the audio format) but I think I'm good without more of Alice Feeney's books.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Characters I Wish Were Real

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 Ten Characters I Wish Were Real.  I read a lot of mysteries so most of the characters I interact with fictionally aren't always the best people but there were still a few that I wouldn't mind knowing in real life.

1.  Meg Langslow and Family from the Donna Andrews cozy mystery series- I don't think I want to be a close friend or even an acquaintance as they tend to be murdered or suspected of murder but I would love to visit any event Meg's mom organizes, buy some of Meg's ironwork or visit the zoo run by her grandfather.

2.  Phee and the Book Club Ladies from J.C. Eaton's Booked 4 Murder series - I would love to hear Phee's everyday stories involving her mother and the rest of the crew.

3.  Dolly and Stewart from Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan - They were both just such lovely people I'd love for them to actually exist.

4.  Jane Marple from Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series - I would love to sit next to her on the veranda of some beachside resort.  Her observations and stories would be amazing.  I would even learn how to knit for that!

5.  Evelyn Sharpe from The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson - I really want to visit a sentient building and this is my favorite one at the moment and Evelyn seems absolutely lovely with a good dash of brains and grit.

6.  Mrs. Pollifax from the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman - How many people can you get both gardening tips AND spy stories from?

7.  Pretty much every character Heather Webber has ever written - I love pretty much all her characters and would love to live - or at least visit - some of her worlds.

8.  Sonya MacTavish from the Seven Brides trilogy by Nora Roberts - I liked Sonya fine but I would 100% be using her to explore that house!

9.  Jessica Fletcher from the Murder, She Wrote series both in book and TV form - Again, I'm not sure I'd like to even be an acquaintance as the chances of being murdered or accused of murder are very high but I would like to hear all the gossip about what she's doing and I would definitely pick up her books. 

10. Molly Kimball from The Cambridge Bookshop series by Elizabeth Penney - This is another place more than person.  Molly seems nice but I really just want to visit the bookstore.

What characters from fiction do you wish were real?

Jay to the World - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Jay to the World (Meg Langslow #40) by Donna Andrews

Rating:  Really Liked It (4.25 Stars)
Source: Publisher

Description: The Christmas season is underway in Caerphilly. The members of the Hollingsworth clan, Meg’s mother’s family, are beginning to arrive in force, and Mother has several special projects underway this year. One is the playhouse she’s having built for Brynn, her two-year-old granddaughter. Brynn is a bright, lively child who loves animals, especially a wounded jay that she and Meg are trying to rehabilitate. She’s also hoping to play matchmaker and set up her cousin with an old friend of hers who was recently widowed.

But all is not going smoothly in Caerphilly. Someone vandalizes the playhouse and sets a dangerous trap that injures and could have killed Mother. She reveals that she has been getting nasty anonymous letters, and it’s obvious that someone is targeting her. Meg realizes she has to do something to figure out who could possibly have it in for her mom.

Meg juggles holiday preparations and celebrations while investigating these potential enemies – not to mention helping repair the damaged playhouse, taking her turn at nursing the wounded jay, and trying to coax Mother’s elderly cousin into a reunion with his long-lost love. When one of Meg’s suspects is found dead under suspicious circumstances, the family rejoices that Mother is out of danger. But Meg isn’t quite sure they’re out of the woods just yet.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book: I've really enjoyed everything in this series that I've read and the holiday mysteries are always my favorite.

My Impression: This series always has a strong theme of chaos and this one is no different.  When I start a Meg Langslow book I know there are going to be a bunch of subplots and even more cousins and other random side characters with a helping of birds.  This was no different.  The mystery itself was a bit different though.  There's no dead body but there is quite a lot of mystery - someone is targeting Meg's mom and everyone is determined to figure out who it is and prevent them from doing their worst.  There are also missing angels, a sabotaged pollinator bed, blue jays both real and fake, and Meg's mom is busy matchmaking trying to fix a breakup that she feels shouldn't have happened.

The mysteries are entertaining and some touch on much darker issues. It was fun to watch everything unravel as the group rushes to make sure nothing worse happens.  I always enjoy this series and this was no different.  I love the main characters and the writing always pulls me in.  I liked that Minerva had a larger role than normal and I'm hoping that Lori and Graham will show up in future books.

This is a long running series with a huge cast of characters.  This one may be an easier one to jump in with as long as you don't get too caught up on figuring out who all the minor characters are.  I've enjoyed all the books I've read so far in this series though I'm missing most of the middle books and it is a series that's getting more enjoyable as it goes on.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to the next book and am excited to catch up on the earlier books in the series.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I would definitely recommend this series and while this is one you could start with the more in the series you read the more invested you are.

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

This Month in Reading - October 2026

Monthly Reading Total: 15

Type:

Print - 5

Ebook - 4 

Audio - 6

Genre:

Mystery - 9 

Fiction - 4

Nonfiction - 1

Romance - 1

Favorite Books of the Month:

The Third to Die by Allison Brennan - This police procedural was such a page turner and I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author.

Favorite Audio:  The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston - I'm not a big fan of time travel but this was more of a timeline slip and it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Monthly Armchair Reading:  

Domestic Travel:  I visited Washington for the first time this year and revisited Arizona, Maine, New York, North Carolina, and Massachussetts.

International Travel:  I went to England 4 times, Ireland, Scotland, and Austria

Friday Fives - November TBR

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. Since this is the first Friday in November, I'm planning my November TBR.  Here are 5 books I plan on reading in November.

1.  Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts - This is the first in Nora Roberts' latest trilogy and I'm so excited to read it.

2.  The Luck Runs Out by Charlotte Macleod - This is the next book in the Peter Shandy series and I really enjoyed the first one so I'm looking forward to it.

3.  A Gala Event by Sheila Connolly - I'm on the downhill slope of this series with only two left.  This is one of the first cozy series I started reading and it'll be nice to finish it.

4.  The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor - This month I'm focusing on books I've been meaning to read and this book is at the top of that list.

5.  The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - This is another book I've been meaning to read and one I've heard nothing but good things about.

What are you hoping to read in November?

Books from the Backlog - Daughter of Egypt

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:  Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

Blurb:  1920’s London was enthralled by the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Filled with priceless statues, jewels, and the gold-encased mummy of the boy Pharaoh himself, the burial site unleashed a fascination with the ancient world and revolutionized the world of archeology.
The discovery was made by Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and his associate, famed archeologist Howard Carter. What no one knows is that without the pioneering spirit of Lady Evelyn Herbert, Carnarvon’s daughter, the tomb might never have been found. As a young woman, Evelyn was fascinated by the story of Hatshepsut, a woman who had to assume the guise of a man in order to rule Egypt. Although she brought peace and prosperity to Egypt, her male successors ruthlessly and thoroughly erased her name from history.

Lady Evelyn’s ambition to find the tomb of Egypt’s first woman ruler exposes her to life-threatening danger and pits her against archeologists who refuse to believe the tomb can be found―and certainly not by a woman. Refusing to give up, Evelyn is on the verge of success when she is suddenly forced to make an agonizing choice between loyalty to her beloved father and Carter and realizing the dream of a lifetime.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf: This has been on my TBR since I first heard about it.  I really like this author and love the sound of this one so I need to read it soon!

What I'm Reading Right Now - November 4

I always have a few books going.  Here is what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about them.

Ebook:

Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts - I just started this so I don't have an opinion yet but I have high hopes.

Print Book:

Charisma by Jo Bannister - So far I'm enjoying this straight forward police procedural pretty well.  It's not outstanding and I don't know that I will be moved to track down the rest of the series but I am curious to see how it ends.

Audio Book:

The Lieutenant's Nurse by Sara Ackerman - I'm not fully hooked on this one yet but I am enjoying it and am looking forward to seeing how the characters develop.

Slow Read:

Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell -This was one of my most anticipated read last year that I never really got into. So far, I'm liking it okay, but it is definitely not this author's best work.

What are you reading right now?

Top Ten Tuesday - One Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I've Read

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 One Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I've Read.  This is a topic I always enjoy!

1.  Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter - Fine

2.  Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney - Unsettling

3. The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston - Lovely

4.  After Midnight by Daphne du Maurier - Uneven

5.  The Saint Mary's Cipher by Anna Elliot and Charles Veley - Fun

6.  Sauvigone for Good by J.C. Eaton - Okay

7.  The Claus Conspiracy by Tamara Berry - Fun

8.  The Third To Die by Allison Brennan - Suspenseful

9.  Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry - Fascinating

10. The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas - Compelling

The Best Christmas Ever - Fiction Review

Goodreads: The Best Christmas Ever by Sarah Morgan

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

Description:  As the snowstorm of the century bears down on New England, reclusive author Mabel Miller is preparing to spend yet another Christmas alone with her cats. While everyone else is making merry, she’ll be avoiding the whole painful holiday. No decorations. No tree. No traces of Christmas. That is, until the weather intervenes and sends not one but two cars spinning into the stone wall surrounding her isolated cottage. Now she has a house full of strangers when the last thing she wanted was company for Christmas.

Yet Mabel’s unexpected guests—a family with two young children expecting Santa to drop gifts down the chimney, and two work colleagues who clearly have a history—are determined to make the best of the situation. As her attempts to protect her privacy are thwarted by the two little ones who are charmingly oblivious to her boundaries, soon Mabel is making cocoa and cookies for the first time in years, and allowing them into her library, a place that contains so many of her secrets.

Mabel has her reasons for keeping her truths so deeply hidden. But this Christmas, if Mabel is brave enough to share, she might finally be able to rewrite the past and find a festive happy-ever-after - for her new friends, but also herself.

Genre: Fiction 

Why I Picked This Book: I've really enjoyed everything I've read by this author and this sounded like a good one!

My Impression:  Three groups of characters are racing a snowstorm and dealing with very different feelings regarding Christmas in this latest from Sarah Morgan.  When all three paths collide everything is turned upside down for the better.  I loved all three main characters - Mabel, Brooke, and Izzy - as well as all the other side characters - Jason, Matt, and the two little girls Elsie and Poppy.  I'm not always a huge fan of kids in books but these two were handles really well and really added to the story.  

This was a warm and cozy read but tackled some really serious issues regarding families and relationships.  Family relationships can be complicated at the best of times especially when holidays are involved and I really liked how Morgan handled the different perspectives.  It never got too angsty but nothing was presented as an easy fix.  I also really enjoyed the relationships between the three women and the friendship that developed as well as the very different relationships between the two different couples.  

This was a lovely cozy holiday read that was neither cheesy or cookie cutter sweet.  I thoroughly enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I need to look through this author's backlist and pick up the books I haven't read and I'll definitely be looking for her new books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would!  If you're looking for a cozy holiday read with relatable and likable characters this is a perfect pick.

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

Sleeping Murder - Read Christie 2026 Review

Goodreads:  Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie

Rating: Love It (5 Stars)
Source: Purchased

Description: Soon after Gwenda moved into her new home, odd things started to happen. Despite her best efforts to modernize the house, she only succeeded in dredging up its past. Worse, she felt an irrational sense of terror every time she climbed the stairs.

In fear, Gwenda turned to Miss Marple to exorcise her ghosts. Between them, they were to solve a “perfect” crime committed many years before.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the October 2026 Read Christie Challenge pick - and it happens to be my favorite Miss Marple Mystery.

My Impression: While this was Christie's last published book she actually wrote in in the 1940s and put aside to be published after her death.  If you are reading the Miss Marple books in order it will be a bit surprising as all of a sudden Miss Marple is suddenly in much better health and Colonel Bantry has come back to life.  As is common in her books, Miss Marple is very much a side character who gently (or pointedly) steers the characters to the truth.

This is definitely one of my favorites and a reread didn't make it lose its status.  I really enjoy Gwenda and her husband Giles digging into the investigation.  The story itself does start with a coincidence but coincidences do happen.  Miss Marple is at the top of her game though Giles and Gwenda don't always fully listen.  They do have a lot of respect for her and for each other which I appreciated.

This was a delightful read with a fascinating mystery.  I've read it countless times, and it never lets me down.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Of course!  Next month is And Then There Were None which is another favorite.

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes, this is always on my Top Ten list for Christie recommendations and that hasn't changed.

Friday Fives - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

 

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. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison - This was a surprise hit for me.  I'm a bit iffy on rom-coms and a Booktuber who I usually like the books she hates and vice versa really enjoyed this one.  As well, it was (very loosely) inspired by the movie Sleepless in Seattle which while I like fine isn't a favor.  However, I'm so glad I took the risk and went on and picked this one up.  I really enjoyed it.   Lucie is a fantastic and sympathetic main character and the developing of her relationship with Aiden is really fun to watch.  The slight involvement and pressure by the outside world was kind of fun and I loved all the side characters that make up Lucie's world.  Aiden is a little more standoffish but his motivations were interesting and I enjoyed getting to know him.  I loved the world of the radio station - especially Jackson.  There is one doors wide open lights on spicy scene that was a big much for my preferences but overall while I really enjoyed this one from beginning to in.  The audio was really well done, and I went on and reserved book 2 from my library before I even finished this one.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

2.  Inherit the Bones by Emily Littlejohn - This has been on my TBR for ages and I was so glad I finally took the time to pick up the audio.  It was a really interesting mystery involving a cold case, a missing person (kind of), and a whole heaping helping of possible corruption and influence.  The main character is Gemma Monroe, a detective who has a bunch of baggage and is also 6 months pregnant.  The mystery was a good one and while I guessed parts there were other parts that were still a surprise.  The world around Gemma is not always a nice one but has a lot of complicated characters that even though I wasn't always sure how I felt about them I do want to see more of them.  There were times that Gemma really annoyed me but never so much I didn't want to finish the mystery.  It's definitely a series I would like to continue with but not one where I must pick up the next book right away.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan - This took me a bit to get into but once I did I was absolutely hooked.  Joy Davidman is a fascinating person.  Brilliant, intense, a constantly questioning mind, desperately trying to be the best mother she can be and a bit of insecurity.  Her relationship with C.S. Lewis aka Jack was entertaining and interesting if a bit frustrating at times.  While the actual letters between the two were destroyed the characters were brought to life with a lot of research and a lot of respect for who they were as authors and as people. At the same time they are far from perfect and feel authentic and genuine.  Once I was pulled into the story I found it fascinating, frustrating and at times incredibly poignant.  I will say this is one of the few times where I felt like listening to the audiobook negatively impacted my feelings about the story.  The narrator's almost robotic narration was a bit distracting and undermined the emotions in the story.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

4.  The Guest List by Lucy Foley - This is the third Lucy Foley book I've listened to and it may be my favorite so far (over The Hunting Party and The Paris Apartment).  All of the people are either terrible or miserable or both.   The wedding is set to be beautiful, the bride and groom are equally gorgeous, and the remote island setting could not be more breathtaking.  The problem is that not all it is what it sounds and little by little things get revealed for how they are.  This is told in multiple POVs and I found each perspective interesting even if I didn't like all the characters.  The way it all worked out kept me absolutely hooked.  Foley doesn't really do extended ending so while the reader gets the conclusion of the story we don't get much of the fallout or what happens next.  The audio is fantastic with multiple narrators who all do a fantastic job.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5.  The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston - I've heard good things about this author but none of her books had ever really appealed to me until this one came out.  At first, I wasn't sure what I thought of it.  I wasn't disliking it but I wasn't loving it but as the story went on I got more and more invested.  I really liked getting to know Sophie and watching her get to know the people and the gardens of Lilymoor.  I enjoyed her time both in and out of the golden hour garden (though to be honest I probably enjoyed the out part a bit more).  Time travel is on my list of least favorite plot points but this worked - probably because it's more of a time slip than actual travel.  I really liked getting to know all the characters and that ending had me absolutely enthralled.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4.25 Stars)

Recipe Thursday - Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

One of my goals for 2026 is to sort through all the recipes I have laying around tucked into folders and notebooks as well as my gigantic Pinterest/food blog collection that hasn't been touched in years.  I've been having quite a good time with it.  I enjoy cooking but it can become a chore pretty easily and this has made it a lot more fun for me as I feel like I'm working on a project.   Around here we've taken to calling it Recipe Thunderdome as all recipes have to be auditioned before earning their place in the final recipe binder. 

*For context I'm a reasonably capable home cook but one who is often trying to multitask and who is pretty much completely self-taught. *

Today I'm Sharing:  Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes from Life in the Lofthouse

Changes: I left out the red pepper flakes (because I forgot) and used smoked Paprika vs regular.

Thoughts on the Recipe: This came together really easily and pretty quickly without too many ingredients.

Cook Time:  Maybe 30 minutes?    

Served With: Salad and bread

Results:  This was good as long as you like Sun-dried tomatoes as that flavor comes through the most.  It makes excellent leftovers and could also be made vegetarian pretty easily by leaving out the chicken.  

Verdict: 

The Bone Woman - Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Bone Woman by Paige Shelton

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

Description:  The desert runs through Hazel Dylan’s marrow. She grew up on the edge of The Wild, an untamed expanse outside her hometown of Black Vulture, Arizona. She became fascinated with bones as a child while observing her taxidermist father, Wilmot, until he disappeared without a trace decades ago. Now, after years of study and countless cases, she’s known as the Bone Woman. She can read the dark stories that bones tell.

When a hiker makes a disturbing discovery in The Wild—bleached human bones arranged with surgical precision into a taxidermy-like sculpture of a coyote mid-howl—Sheriff Calloway summons Hazel to the scene. Not just for her formidable expertise but because it looks like it could be Wilmot’s work. Could Hazel’s father be behind this twisted creation? Are these his bones?

Hazel doesn’t want to believe either is true, but after another sculpture is found and Wilmot’s well-known talisman—a rogue finger bone—is discovered amid both sets of remains, she can’t deny the optics.

As the case takes Hazel deep into her past, she unearths long-buried secrets. And with time running out, she’ll have to risk her own skin to catch the killer.

Genre: Mystery 

Why I Picked This Book: I've enjoyed other books by this author and this sounded intriguing.

My Impression: I really liked the writing in this one.  Shelton does a fantastic job making the setting come alive and setting a grim and forbidding atmosphere.  I also think the add-in of the killer's POV was well done.  It was enough to get a sense of the madness but not so much it took over.  I liked Hazel and the community of Black Vulture.  They're a little odd but they're supportive without being over the top with it.  The mystery itself was interesting especially when combined with the mystery in Hazel's past.

While there were a lot of positives the book didn't fully connect with me.  For starters while the writing did keep me engaged the story doesn't progress very quickly.  By 50% there are only 2 skeletons, and I didn't feel like I knew very much more than I did at the beginning.  As well, I found the attitude towards Hazel's father being a taxidermist a bit odd.  She mentions harassment and things like that like he had been a serial killer and not an actual trade - especially since he had a reputation for being an ethical one.  Also, I would have liked more evidence of Hazel's gift for "reading bones".  It's mentioned a lot but with very little explanation.  

While not perfect this was an enjoyable mystery.  I like this author and like how she tackles grittier subjects without it getting too violent or over the top grim.  It this is a series I will definitely pick up the next book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Yes, while not perfect it was overall enjoyable and I've liked everything I've read by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would with some reservations.  If you're interested in a unique mystery this is a good pick though I wouldn't expect a slightly slower pace.

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Halloween Freebie

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 picking ten books I'd like to stay in and read on Halloween night (with candy - of course!).

1.  Dracula by Bram Stoker - Somehow I never read this but my husband just finished it and is obsessed so I should probably give it a try!

2.  The Witches by Roald Dahl - I'm a total wimp when it comes to spookiness so this looks my speed.

3.  Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn - I loved this book when I was a kid even though it completely creeped me out.  It'd be fun to do a reread.

4.  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - This would be starting not a full read as it's a billion pages but I've heard such good things about it Halloween would be a good time to start.

5.  Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris - Harris is so creepy and this one has been on my TBR for ages.

6.   Home Before Dark by Riley Sager - This sounds like such a fun creepy read.

7.  Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews - I really enjoy this series and I love her Christmas books so I bet the Halloween mystery would be super fun.

8.  Wicked Autumn G.M. Malliet - This is more autumn than Halloween but it still sounds perfect for a nice fall night read.

9.  A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James - A haunted house (maybe?) and a creepy author sounds perfect for a Halloween read.

10. It Could Have Been Here by Lisa Jewell - I do love a dilapidated house and Jewell is one of my go-to authors for creepy reads.

What would you read on Halloween night?