The Franchise Affair - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

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

Description:  Robert Blair was about to knock off from a slow day at his law firm when the phone rang. It was Marion Sharpe on the line, a local woman of quiet disposition who lived with her mother at their decrepit country house, The Franchise. It appeared that she was in some serious trouble: Miss Sharpe and her mother were accused of brutally kidnapping a demure young woman named Betty Kane. Miss Kane's claims seemed highly unlikely, even to Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, until she described her prison -- the attic room with its cracked window, the kitchen, and the old trunks -- which sounded remarkably like The Franchise. Yet Marion Sharpe claimed the Kane girl had never been there, let alone been held captive for an entire month! Not believing Betty Kane's story, Solicitor Blair takes up the case and, in a dazzling feat of amateur detective work, solves the unbelievable mystery that stumped even Inspector Grant.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm slowly reading through Josephine Tey's mysteries.

My Impression: I'm not exactly sure while Inspector Grant is in this at all because Robert Blair is definitely the star of the show.  The premise is an interesting one that I haven't come across before.  I really wasn't sure at all how it was going to unravel and how everything was going to be explained.  

This was an interesting read from beginning to end.  I loved the world that built up around the Sharpe's as the case came to light.  Stanley and Nevil were definitely my favorite characters though I couldn't help but like Robert as well.  This wasn't the fastest paced book but it never lagged and I always looked forward to picking it up and getting a little more of the story.  

My only real issue with this was Betty Kane's age.  By today's standard she's a child but I suppose at the time the book was published a 15/16 year old wasn't viewed quite the same.  It was still a bit jarring at times but for the most part didn't impact my enjoyment of the mystery I just wish she had been a bit older.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I had been on the fence about her after having mixed results with some her books but with the last few I have read I'm definitely looking forward to trying more.

Would I Recommend this Book?   Yes, I would.  It's definitely a mystery unlike any other I've come across and I thought it was very well done.

Friday Fives - Five Books I'm Taking On a Road Trip

 

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 road trip coming up and this trip will have some down time so I am bringing a stack of books in addition to my Kindle.  Normally I mostly rely on my Kindle and have one print book just in case for space reasons but that isn't as much of an issue this time.  Here are 5 books I'm planning on bringing.

1. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - The first half of the trip will be medical appointments for Will - nothing bad but just yearly checkups since he is now coming up on 2 years post-treatment.  Even though I have no worries about the test results just being there brings up a lot of stress and this book sounds like the perfect antidote.  It's a reread and one of my favorites though I haven't read it in awhile.

2.  A Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong - I really enjoyed the first book in this series and if this is half as fast paced and distracting as the first book it will be the perfect read for a trip.

3.  Shady Hollow by Juneau Black - This looks so lovely and cozy.  Plus I really enjoyed a later book in the series.

4.  Incident at Badamya by Dorothy Gilman - Gilman is one of my comfort read authors and I haven't read this standalone yet despite it being on my shelf for a bit thanks to the kind gift from my friend Tina.

5.  Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter - I picked this one up at a book fair for adults back a few years ago.  It looks interesting and a bit different with a multimedia setup.  I'm looking forward to reading it.

Have you read any of these?  Do you take a stack of books on a road trip or are you more of a Kindle reader?

Better Than Friends - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads: Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis

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

Description:  When Olive Porter’s off-the-grid parents go missing, she reluctantly seeks out Noah Turner, her ex and the only person she both trusts implicitly and not at all.

As a special investigative agent for the National Park Service, Noah’s used to living under intense pressure. Or he was until he got injured on the job. Now unhappily recuperating at home while being smothered by his loving but nosy family, he’d love nothing more than a good distraction.

So when Olive shows up looking like a million bucks, he has to do a gut and heart check. Because nope, no matter what, he can’t fall for her again, the woman who once blew up his entire life and never looked back. How ironic then that his own personal hell (Olive) is also his ticket out of town. The question is, will the risk be worth the reward?

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoy this author's books so I always try and pick up the newest ones.

My Impression:  I really like Jill Shalvis's books and I especially love how she creates friendships.  This book is a perfect example as the relationship between Olive and Katie is really wonderful despite their differences and some past issues.  Olive's relationship with her grandmother is also really sweet - especially since they are very much alike.  Olive's relationship with Noah however is not quite so smooth.  

It took me a bit to really connect to Olive and Noah's relationship.  I liked them both and was enjoying the book but I wasn't really rooting for their relationship.  I wish I had understood a bit more about the past confrontation earlier in the story.  

I did enjoy the mix of character growth, mystery investigation, and romance in this book.  As I expect from a Jill Shalvis, this was a fast paced fun read that tackled some deeper issues.  I really liked Olive and Katie from the start even though I wish there was a bit more communication.  I'm looking forward to reading more books from Shalvis in the future.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I always enjoy any time spent with a Jill Shalvis book!

Would I Recommend this Book?  This is a good contemporary romance with a bit more too it and would be a great read to pick up if you're in the mood for a good story.

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

A Death in Diamonds - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Death in Diamonds (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #4) by S.J. Bennett

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

Description:  1957 - A young woman is found dead in a mews house a mile from Buckingham Palace, wearing only silk underwear and a a diamond tiara. An older man is discovered nearby, garrotted and pierced through the eye with a long, sharp implement.

According to the police, a high society card game was going on downstairs that night. One of the players surely committed the murders, but each of them can give the others an alibi.

When someone very close to her is implicated, the young Queen is drawn in to the investigation...

Genre: Mystery - Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  I've had this series on my TBR since the first book came out so when I was offered this one I couldn't turn it down.

My Impression: So, this is the 4th in the series but while books 1 through 3 seem to be set more in the recent past this one takes place in 1957 so it doesn't feel quite like jumping into the middle of the series.

I really enjoyed this book. I adored Joan and her relationship with the Queen was lovely.  I really enjoyed the Queen herself with her commonsense attitude and her way of dealing with the "mustaches" that are always around her telling her what to do.   I really liked that we see her as both a leader and mother and wife though sometimes her different roles do conflict with each other.  The investigation was interesting as while the Queen has quite a lot of resources and access she's can't exactly go running around freely asking questions.

The ending was a surprise, and I loved how it unraveled.  What kept this book from being a solid 4 stars for me is that the beginning was a bit slow and felt disjointed as two different plots had to be woven together.  After the first 10 or 15% I was fully hooked but it did take a bit of pushing through to get there.  Overall, I really enjoyed this and am excited to read the earlier books in the series.  After a slow start this was an engaging and entertaining mystery with an interesting take on a historical mystery.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I would!  I'm really looking forward to getting caught up on this series and will be reading the next book when it comes out.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like historical mysteries this is a great read though you may need to be a little patient with the beginning.

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Newest Additions to 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 the Ten Newest Additions to My TBR.  I bought a ridiculous number of books back at the end of 2024 so I'm not buying books right now but here are 10 I've added to my To Buy list when I get my inventory read down a bit!

1.  Olive, Mable, and Me by Andrew Cotter - This is entirely Tina's fault but I am looking forward to reading this one!

2.  Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell - It'll be several months before this one comes out but I love her books and can't wait to pick this one up.

3.  West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge - My aunt recommended this one over Christmas and while our reading tastes don't always line up this one looks really interesting.

4.  One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman - I read a book by this author last year and loved it.  This one looks really good.

5.  Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks - This looks really fun and a bit different.

6.  The Sorority Murders by Allison Brennan - I love the sound of the premise and this is an author I've been wanting to read.

7.  The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes - The premise of this looks gorgeous.

8.  The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score - For whatever reason this author has never really landed on my radar evne though she has a lot of books that look like I'd enjoy them.

9.  Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson - This was another family recommendation and it looks intriguing if a bit darker than what I normally read.

10. The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper - Secret dollhouses in a secret room found by a librarian.  Yes please!  I also read and very much enjoyed her book - The Other Alcott so I have high hopes for this one.

What books have you added to your TBR recently?

The Rainfall Market - Fiction Review

Goodreads:  The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang (Translated by Slin Jung)

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

Description:  On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshackle building appears. This is The Rainfall Market. Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries and anything your heart desires.

But you cannot enter without an invitation.

Serin, who lives in a small flat with her mother and dreams of a bigger, better life, can’t believe her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to step inside The Rainfall Market.

Once inside she will have the opportunity to swap her life for a new one. A better one.

Accompanied by Isha the cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin tentatively steps inside. There she is told she has just one week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness.

However, there is a catch.

If she doesn’t find her dream life, she'll be trapped inside the market forever . . .

Genre: Fiction - Fantasy

Why I Picked This Book:  I couldn't resist the cover and the premise sounded interesting.

My Impression: This was an interesting read.  Serin is a girl about to come an adult without much hope for the future.  Her sister has runaway and not come back, her mother is working herself into a shadow of who she was, and Serin feels alone.  The Rainfall Market is like an answer to everything she's ever wished for and the day the invitation comes is perhaps the most exciting of her life.

This was a bit of a slower read and there is a bit of repetitiveness as Serin spends time in the Rainfall Market.  While I enjoyed it, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it in smaller doses - a chapter at a time.  As well, I think this would be more enjoyable in print form - partly because the cover is gorgeous but mostly because there is a guide to the Market at the beginning and it would have been easier to flip back and forth if I had a physical copy of the book.  

This was a nice read with an interesting cast of characters and an endearing main character and sidekick.  I'm also very glad I read the book knowing as little about the story as possible as it was fun to see how the story played out.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I'm not sure the author is an auto-read just yet but I will be keeping an eye out for future books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like unusual reads with an interesting world of characters this is a good choice though I do recommend reading it a chapter at a time.

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

This Week in Reading - January 19

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:

Nothing!  I'm trying to keep my acquiring down for at least January though I may extend to the first quarter.  I have so much stuff that I want to make a bit of progress on stuff I already own before adding to it and that includes books.

Currently:

Reading:  Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis and Murder in Retrospect/Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

Listening:  The Irish Inheritance by M.J. Lee

Watching:  J and I have been watching Death in Paradise together and really enjoying it.  I've also been watching Murder Mystery & My Family which is old cases being reinvestigated by family members of the convicted.  Both are on BritBox and I've been enjoying both.

How I Made This Week a Little Cozy - This week got away from me a bit as regular life with classes and meetings and homeschool stuff keeping me busy.  I did do some baking which I always enjoy.  Friday I got a massage which I've been trying to do regularly for both pain and stress management and was able to take a nap afterwards.  I spent some more time going through my cookbooks which I always enjoy.  It was definitely a good reminder that as my regular schedule gets going, I'm going to have to be more intentional about my down time.  

Have a great week and happy reading!