Parting Breath - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: Parting Breath by Catherine Aird

Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  Murder in the Quadrangle

The college dons at the University of Calleshire fully expected trouble when the students planned to shake their ivory tower with a sit-in at Almstone Hall. But no one expected the very peculiar theft from a dormitory room...or the very dead body in the college quadrangle. For Detective Inspector C.D. Sloan, the ivied halls hid a host of clues - from the words whispered with the dying man's parting breath to what a madrigal singer saw. So it was only a matter of time until he uncovered the murderer hidden in the groves of academe...but could he do it before death became another victim's alma mater?

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed other books by this author and am trying to read through all of her books.  

My Impression:   I really enjoyed several of the previous books I've read by this author but this one was a bit of a miss for me.  This mystery got bogged down with a huge cast of characters and too many details.  There is large quantities of professors and just about the same number of students.  The reader is reminded regularly of what subject the character lectures or reads and what is going on with that specific subject.    As the book went on I found I had a hard time keeping up with who was who and I kind of stopped caring.  

When the solution was revealed I had a hard time remembering exactly who the author was talking about which definitely took the surprise and shock value down a notch.  I really like this author but this is a short book with a complicated mystery and a huge cast crammed into just over 150 pages which just got a bit jumbled feeling and confusing.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author but this isn't one I would recommend.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  Not every book can be a win and I've enjoyed most of what I've read from her.

Would I Recommend this Book? Not really.  I would recommend this author but this book wasn't the best representive of her work.

Friday Fives - Five Books to Take to the Beach

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.  We have a beach trip coming up and I'm putting together my travel list!  Here are 5 books I'm planning on bringing on the trip.

1.  Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry - I love this author and this sounds like a fun quirky mystery.  

2.  Midsummer Mysteries by Agatha Christie - Short stories seem like a good choice when I have a short attention span - especially when the short stories by my favorite author.

3.  The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry - This is the newest in one of my favorite cozy mystery series - that also takes place at the beach!

4.  Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - I love this book and have been wanting to reread this one.  

5.  A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber - I love this author and reading magical realism at the beach seems fitting.  

What would you take to read at the beach (or on the way there)?

Books from the Backlog - The Dress Shop of Dreams

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 Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna Van Praag

Blurb:  Since her parents’ mysterious deaths many years ago, scientist Cora Sparks has spent her days in the safety of her university lab or at her grandmother Etta’s dress shop. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta’s charming tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but the colorfully vibrant racks of beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets: With just a few stitches from Etta’s needle, these gorgeous gowns have the power to free a woman’s deepest desires.
Etta’s dearest wish is to work her magic on her granddaughter. Cora’s studious, unromantic eye has overlooked Walt, the shy bookseller who has been in love with her forever. Determined not to allow Cora to miss her chance at happiness, Etta sews a tiny stitch into Walt’s collar, hoping to give him the courage to confess his feelings to Cora. But magic spells—like true love—can go awry. After Walt is spurred into action, Etta realizes she’s set in motion a series of astonishing events that will transform Cora’s life in extraordinary and unexpected ways.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I really enjoy magical realism and it has been too long since I've read any.

What I'm Reading - May 7th

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

Print Book:

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie - This is the May pick for the Read Christie challenge and it's one I haven't read in a long time.  I'm really enjoying all the twists and turns and this is one of those books that you can feel Christie having a good time with the writing.

Ebook:  

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster -  I'm really enjoying this sweet cozy read.  It's not a book that I think will stick with me but it is one that has been a pleasure to read.  This should be finished today and then I'll be starting The Spirit Moved by Carol J Perry.

Audio Book:  

What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama - This was a pick from my TBR jar and is a reread.  I am loving the listen just as much as I did my first read.

Slow Read:  

The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan - This ahs been on my overdue review shelf for far too long and it's one I've always meant to read.  I've just started it so I don't really have an opinion yet but I have high hopes.

What are you reading today?

Birthday Season - Ten Books I Might Buy

 

I started celebrating a birthday season a number of years ago where I try and squeeze in visits to my favorite places and my favorite activities in the 6 weeks around my birthday.  And what would a birthdya season without a trip (or two) to a bookstore!  I've got a visit planned for my favorite used bookstore and my favorite indie bookstore in the next few weeks and here are 10 books on my Maybe list.

1.  The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa - This sounds quirky and cozy and just generally lovely.

2.  The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods - I saw an amazing review for this one and it sounds like the kind of book I thoroughly enjoy.

3.  The Museum Detective by Maha Khan Phillips - I haven't heard much about this one but the blurb definitely caught my attention.

4.  Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn - I enjoyed the first book in this series and am really curious to see how the series expands.

5.  You Will Never by Me by Jesse Q Sutanto - I love this author's Vera Wong books and I do enjoy a creepy thriller!

6. One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman - This sounds fun and quirky and like a solid mystery.

7.  A New Take on Cake by Anne Byrn - I really enjoy this author's cookbooks and still use her Cake Doctor books that came out ages ago when I need a reliably tasty cake for something.  I'm also loving her latest cookie cookbook so this looks like a good one to pick up.

8.  The Affair of the Mutilated Mink by James Anderson - I loved the first one in this series and need to pick up the second one.  

9.  Terror in Topas by A.M. Stuart - This is the last book in a historical mystery series I've really enjoyed and I need to finish the series.

10.  The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - I have read my copy (which I'm pretty sure I got used) to pieces so I need to pick up a new and preferably beautiful copy of one of my favorite books.

What books would you want to pick up for your birthday season celebration?

Shot Through the Book - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Shot Through the Book (A Lighthouse Library Mystery #12) by Eva Gates

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

Description:  The upcoming YA book festival at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is bringing in renowned authors from all over the world. When best selling author Todd Harrison unexpectedly visits librarian Lucy McNeil at her Outer Banks beach house after a meeting, she is puzzled by his presence, since they’re virtually strangers. After she steps inside to get him a drink, she’s shocked to discover that he’s been murdered on her deck in the few minutes she left him alone.

Not knowing why he wanted to meet with her in private, or how someone managed to kill him in the time it takes to make lemonade, Lucy is determined to help with the investigation and figure out what happened. When Heather Harrison, Todd’s widow, shows up in town, her motivations aren’t inspired by grief. She’s intending to use her husband’s tragic death to launch her candidacy for state senator and her first order of business is to go after the local police force–and Lucy herself.

Caught between an intrusive fan club mourning Todd, squabbling authors fighting for prominence in his absence, and a politically ruthless widow, Lucy must roll up her sleeves and catch the killer before the chapter closes on justice.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've read and enjoyed this series since the beginning so of course I had to pick this one up!

My Impression: This series has gotten stronger as it has gone along.  I really love the character redemption of Louise Jane.   At the beginning of the series the less Louise Jane the better but as she has become a bigger part of Lucy's life and Lucy has gotten to know her more the more I enjoy her page time.  She hasn't changed but I understand her motivations now and she never fails to make me laugh.  She and library cat with attitude, Charles are probably my favorite side characters.  

The mystery was a good one.  A popular YA author has been murdered and at first glance no one really has motive to kill me.  However, as Lucy investigates, she begins to see that all might not be as it seems.  The author's wife is awful and their marriage was far from happy.  As well, his next book is going to be a direction change that might not have left all his fans happy.  The solution fit together nicely and tackled some issues that are important to be addressed.  With the way it wrapped up it wouldn't shock me if this was the last in the series and if that is the case I found it to be a satisfying ending.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  This author has several other series under her Vicki Delany name that I really enjoy and I will always pick up another book by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book?   Definitely!  You can jump in with this one but I think it's even better if you read through the series.

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

This Week in Reading - May 4

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber - I'm so excited about this one.  I've really enjoyed everything I've read by her and I can't wait to read this one.  (Publisher)

Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke - I really enjoyed the first book in this kind of strange ghostly mystery so of course I had to pick up the second book! (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster and Perfect Storm by Paige Shelton

Listening:  I'm taking an audiobook break and listening to some of my podcasts that have stacked up.  My current favorite one DNA:ID about how DNA is solving Doe cases and other cold cases.  

It was a quiet but stormy week.  We've made progress on a home repair that was a bit baffling about how to tackle so it felt really good to get some traction.  I've been doing a lot of baking which I enjoy and J and I played one of those Hunt a Killer games where you get a box of evidence to solve a mystery.  It was very fun.  So far a pretty good birthday season!  My actual birthday is this coming week and I haven't decided what I'm going to do but I feel like a bookstore trip is on the table for this week.

Have a great week and happy reading!