A Grave Deception - Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Grave Deception by Connie Berry

Rating: 
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Kate Hamilton and her husband, Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, have settled into married life in Long Barston. When archaeologists excavating the ruins of a nearby plague village discover the miraculously preserved body of a 14th century woman, Kate and her colleague, Ivor Tweedy, are asked to appraise the grave goods, including a valuable pearl. When tests reveal the woman was pregnant and murdered, the owner of the estate on which the body was found, an amateur historian, asks Kate to identify her and, if possible, her killer. Surprised, Kate agrees to try.

Meanwhile, tensions within the archaeological team erupt when the body of the lead archaeologist turns up at the dig site with fake pearls in his mouth and stomach. Then a third body is found in the excavations. Meanwhile, Kate’s husband Tom is tracking the movements of a killer of his own.

With the help of 700-year-old documents and the unpublished research of a deceased historian, Kate must piece together the past before the grave count reaches four.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book:  I have enjoyed other books in this series and the blurb really caught my attention on this one.

My Impression: I so enjoyed this mystery.  I'm fascinated by archaeology and missing persons cases and the fact that this one had both with the addition of antiques, likable main characters, and a really solid present time mystery.  The book starts off with discussions of a major discovery - a 14th century woman buried under the chapel of a village decimated by the plague.  Along with an amazingly preserved corpse is a stunning array of grave goods.  As well, the owner of the estate where the body was found is interested in not just learning more about the grave goods but wants to know more about the woman - and who she was.  The estate owner also happens to be the center of a more modern mystery as his wife disappeared without a trace several years ago.   The murder victim is the lead archaeologist and while no one deserves to be murdered Sebastian makes a pretty good case for why he needed to be removed.  And if this wasn't enough chaos, Kate's husband, police detective Tom, is busy tracking another murderer who is on the run.

This isn't the fastest paced mystery.  There's lots of details on the places and the antiquities that are woven through the book.  This wasn't one I flew through or stayed up super late to finish.  However, it was always one that I looked forward to picking up and was always a little sad to put down.  I was curious about all the different plots and wasn't quite sure what all was going to happen until the reveal.  This is part of the Kate Hamilton series and is a series best read in order. This isn't a hardship as each book has been enjoyable.  If you are looking for a solid mystery with a bit of history and a main character you can't help but like this book and this series as a whole is a great choice.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I have really enjoyed every book I've read by this author and will definitely read anything I see by her.  I've read every book in this series except the first one which I'm hoping to read that one soon.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy a mystery read I would definitely recommend this book, this series and this author.

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

Monthly Reading Recap - October and November 2025

Monthly Reading Total: 25 - 17 for October and 8 for November.  I was on vacation for the bulk of November and had very little reading time so I'm not surprised my November count is so far below my usual numbers.

Type:

Print: 7

Ebook:  10

Audio: 8

Genre:

Mystery - 17

Fiction - 7

Romance - 1

Favorite Books of the Month:

October:  

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis - This is one of my favorite subjects and an author I typically enjoy so I'm not shocked that I really enjoyed this one.  The Audio was really fantastic.

Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connolly - This mystery series involving an American doctor in Scotland is quickly becoming one of my favorites and this one was really enjoyable.

November:

The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber - I didn't read many books in November but even if I had read 100 I'm betting this would have still been a favorite.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one from beginning to end.

Bookish Armchair Travel

Domestic Travel:  In October I visited Pennsylvania for the first time and revisited Wisconsin, South Carolina and Massachusetts (3 times)

In November I visited Alabama for the first time (which is a bit odd as I live there), Virginia, Tennessee, New York (twice), Maine, and Texas

International Travel:  In October I had quite a lot of international travel with trips to Scotland, England (4 times), Portugal, and Egypt (in multiple time periods).  In November my travel was a little less though I did go to England twice.  

How was your reading in October and November?  Where did your books take you?

Friday Fives - December 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 December I'm planning my December TBR.  Since this is the last TBR of the year most of these books are ones in challenges I haven't gotten to yet.  As well, most of my reading this month will be trying to hit my goals as this has not been my best reading year and I'm behind by quite a bit on several.

1.  A Grave Deception by Connie Berry - One last eARC for the month and it's one I'm really looking forward to starting.

2.  Keeper of the Castle by Juliet Blackwell - This is the last one on my series challenge list and I know will be a quick read.

3.  Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh - I loved the previous book I read by Marsh so I'm really looking forward to this one.  Fingers crossed it's as enjoyable.

4.  Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart - I'm expecting this one to be a bit of a slower read but I do love Stewart's ability to create atmosphere.

5.  Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod - I've enjoyed other books by MacLeod and this one is in season which makes it extra fun.

I also have the November and December Read Christie Challenge books to read as well as 2 more of the Authors I'm Going to Read in 2025.  I have both Authors books on audio and I normally get through Christie's books at a pretty good pace so I'm not too worried.

What's on your reading list for December?  How are you doing with your reading goals?  

Books from the Backlog - The One-in-a-Million Boy

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 One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

Blurb:  The story of your life never starts at the beginning. Don't they teach you anything at school?

So says 104-year-old Ona to the 11-year-old boy who's been sent to help her out every Saturday morning. As he refills the bird feeders and tidies the garden shed, Ona tells him about her long life, from first love to second chances. Soon she's confessing secrets she has kept hidden for decades.

One Saturday, the boy doesn't show up. Ona starts to think he's not so special after all, but then his father arrives on her doorstep, determined to finish his son's good deed. The boy's mother is not so far behind. Ona is set to discover that the world can surprise us at any age, and that sometimes sharing a loss is the only way to find ourselves again.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I picked this up a number of years ago but when Will got sick I couldn't read it.  I think now is the time to give it a try.  It had absolutely glowing reviews.

All My Bones - Mystery Review

Goodreads:  All My Bones (An Old Juniper Bookstore Mysteries #2) by P.J. Nelson

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

Description:  Madeline Brimley recently inherited a bookstore in Enigma, Georgia, is embarking on her second career, after her first one (acting) founders upon the metaphorical rocks. Settling in, Madeline recruits her friend Gloria Coleman, the local Episcopal priest, to help her plant azaleas in the front yard of the old Victorian that houses the bookstore. Turning the soil, however, uncovers the body of one Beatrice Glassie, a troublesome woman who has been missing for the past six months.

When her friend Gloria is arrested for the murder, Madeline is determined to prove her innocence and, as she quickly finds out, there aren't many people in town who hadn't wanted to kill Bea Glassie at one point or another. And the very expensive and rare first edition of a particular volume of Grimm's Fairy Tales—ordered by the victim and her sister is somehow tied to the grim death. With the help of her not-quite-boyfriend, a local lawman, and her deceased aunt's best friend, Madeline plans to set a trap to catch the real murderer—before she becomes the next victim.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book:  I read the first book in the series and enjoyed it.  

My Impression:  This has all the hallmarks of a cozy - small town setting, main character owns a bookstore, amateur sleuth, cat sidekick, and a community of unusual characters.  But it doesn't quite read as a cozy to me.  The topics touched on are a bit darker and the setting and characters are a bit grimmer.  As well, while I enjoyed this book, Madeline's world isn't one I'd like to visit nor are the characters people I'd like to be friends with.

The mystery was an interesting one involving a skeleton buried in a front yard, a beloved character maybe not being who they seemed.   There's also some family pressure for a quick arrest that spurs Madeline into investigative action with a little help from her friends.  The pacing was great and kept me engaged from beginning to end.  I wasn't sure just who would end up being the killer - and why but motives and suspects definitely kept me guessing.

This is one you could really start with this one though there is a bit of setup that will help a few non-plot related things make a bit more sense.  If you're looking for a good read somewhere between regular mystery and cozies this would be a good pick.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Definitely!  I've enjoyed the first two books in the series and look forward to reading more from this author.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you're a mystery reader this is a good series and a good one to pick up.

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I Want to Read in 2026

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 Freebie and since 2026 is fast approaching I'm looking through my lists and picking books I want to be sure to read.  Here are 10 on my list for 2026.

1.  The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - I have read and thoroughly enjoyed two books by this author and her more historical fiction/espionage books are really calling my name. 

2   The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - I meant to read this one right after it came out.

3.  Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn - I read and enjoyed the first book in this series and am very curious to see how the author develops the series.

4.  Year One by Nora Roberts - I'm not much of a fantasy/scifi reader but I've thoroughly enjoyed everything Roberts has written so I figure I should give this trilogy a try.

5.  The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor - This author is one I've read quite a bit from and really enjoyed all her books but somehow I've never read this one.

6.  The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst - I adored the first book in this world and am so excited to read this one.

7.  Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams - I've read the first two books in the Schuyler Sisters trilogy and am really hoping to finish up in 2026.

8.  The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell - This was the first book by Jewell that really caught my attention and somehow I've yet to read it.

9.  A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey - I read and loved a book by this author last year and really loved it and this one has really been calling my name.

10. Killing Trail by Margaret Muzushima - This series is on book 10 I think and seems to keep getting stronger.  I've had this one my shelf for years and 2026 seems like the year to read it.

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

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 2025.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Blurb: Rose Mae Lolley's mother disappeared when she was eight, leaving Rose with a heap of old novels and a taste for dangerous men. Now, as demure Mrs. Ro Grandee, she's living the very life her mother abandoned. She's all but forgotten the girl she used to be-teenaged spitfire, Alabama heartbreaker, and a crack shot with a pistol-until an airport gypsy warns Rose it's time to find her way back to that brave, tough girl . . . or else. Armed with only her wit, her pawpy's ancient .45, and her dog Fat Gretel, Rose Mae hightails it out of Texas, running from a man who will never let her go, on a mission to find the mother who did.

My Thoughts:  As someone from Alabama the fact that I haven't read Joshilyn Jackson seems a bit like a crime so I'm glad to have finally corrected my transgression.  This was quite a ride. I'm not sure I liked any of the characters (other than Fat Gretel (the dog) and a few minor side characters) but I very much enjoyed reading this story.  The audio was fantastic and the narrator's Southern accent was well done (and I'm picky about my accents).  This was fun in a bit of a dark and twisted way and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)