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.  A Skeleton in the Family by Leigh Perry - I've been wanting to read this series for years and finally got around to picking up the first book.  It did not disappoint.  I like that the author didn't even attempt to explain how the Sid the skeleton exists.  She just leans into the fact it makes no sense and then continues on with the mystery.  Sid is a fun character - he's both funny and sympathetic and always curious.  The mystery was intriguing as Georgia and Sid try and figure out just who Sid was before he was Sid.  I like the supporting cast of characters and the details of Georgia's job with all the perils of academia.  This was an enjoyable read and is the beginning of a series that I am looking forward to continuing.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

2.  The Rose Code by Kate Quinn - This was a tense read and for the first half a very grim one.  I loved the story of the three very different women with three very different skills working at Bletchley Park during World War II.   Oslo's relationship with Prince Phillip was interesting, I really loved Mab's story, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for Beth.  The story deals with some really tragic situations and consequences, and Beth's storyline is frankly terrifying.  The first half to three quarters of the book was almost a bit too grim and there were times that I didn't feel like the story was making much progress though Quinn's writing and ability to bring characters to life kept it from being a drudge to read.  The last third was fantastic and I was absolutely hooked.  I was tackling random cleaning projects I'd been putting off just so I'd have more time to listen.  I also really loved how the epilogue was done.  I enjoy this author and the audio was fantastic.  I will definitely be looking for more of her books.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  Murder, She Wrote: The Body in the Trees by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran - I really love this series and my favorites are the books set in Cabot Cove with all the familiar side characters and the cozy dynamic of the little town in Maine.  I love how Maeve especially is so kind and helpful but has a very firm limit on how much time she can spend with people.  This was a delightfully cozy read with two mysteries - one about a purse snatcher and one about a tourist in town for the fall leaf colors.  As with most books in this series the focus is more on day to day life than active mystery investigation.  I really liked the discussions of dealing with some of the more elderly residents in town who were starting to have physical limitations.  The mystery solution was a bit of a surprise but made sense.  I do wish that it and the solution to the bicycle bandit had been fleshed out a bit more but overall, it was an enjoyable cozy read.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

4.  The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth - This is my second Hepworth book and it will definitely not be the last.  This is a complex story of a family when there are adult children and a significant amount of money involved.  The two primary narrators are Diana (the Mother-in-Law) in the title and Lucy (the daughter-in-law). I really liked how the author put their version of specific incidents side by side so we can really see what the intentions were and how events transpired.  There's a mystery but I was more fascinated with the evolution of the characters and relationships.  That said the mystery aspect was very well done and quite a surprise.  There is quite a lot of talk of one of the characters struggles with infertility so if that is a difficult topic for you this may be one to avoid.  It's done well but it is the focus of a storyline.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5.  A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch - I love a good historical mystery and this was a good start to a series.  Charles Lenox is a wealthy Victorian gentleman with an interest in history and everything around him.  When a maid, previously in the employee of his friend and neighbor Lady Jane, commits suicide he's pulled into the investigation with surprising complex motives.  The setup and pacing was a bit slow but overall the mystery and investigation was enjoyable.  I liked characters and the basic setup of the series and am looking forward to continuing with the series.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)