This Week in Reading - February 2

 

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:

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts - I'm so excited about this one!  I love her standalones and this one looks like quite the fast-paced read.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis and Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams

Listening:  The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters

Last week we went up to Memphis to the main St. Jude campus for Will to have his 2 year post treatment scans.  Everything came back great and his growth is sky-rocketing.  He is now officially taller than me and I swear every time I blink he's a little bit taller.  This week had a lot going on and because of that and recovering from the Memphis trip which always takes a lot out of all of us I have been wiped out.  It hasn't helped that I'm feeling kind of meh about everything I'm reading right now.   I don't know if it's my mood or if the books themselves just aren't quite working for me.   I like them all but am just not feeling excited about any of them. 

What I did to make get some cozy in this week:  I made sure to get some extra rest which helped.  Also, on Saturday I went to lunch with a friend and we had such a good time.  Then afterwards Jason and I went to dinner and to see the theater production of The Girl on the Train which was really good.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

Strong Poison - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers

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

Description:  Mystery novelist Harriet Vane knew all about poisons, and when her former lover died in the manner prescribed in one of her books, a jury of her peers had a hangman's noose in mind. But Lord Peter Wimsey was determined to find her innocent.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm slowly reading through the Lord Peter Wimsey books.  

My Impression:  I was so excited to get to this one since it is Harriet Vane's first appearance in print and what an impressive entrance it was!  Harriet Vane is not just accused of murder but actually on trial for murder when Wimsey decides that he is going to have her exonerated.  

It's a new experience for Wimsey working for the defense instead of the police though he does involve his friend who just happens to be a police detective who was never fully happy with the case.  

This was very cleverly plotted which I expect from Sayers but it was also incredibly entertaining and for the first time I found myself really liking Wimsey himself.  I loved the ending and am looking forward to continuing with the series - especially now that Harriet is on the scene.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to reading more in the series soon!

Would I Recommend this Book? Absolutely!  Like Christie's Poirot books the mysteries are only very loosely linked so you could jump in with this one.

Friday Five - 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.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - I love this book and I think every time I read it I love it just a little bit more.  One thing that really stuck out to me is that there isn't the heavy religious or morale overtones that you see in quite a bit of Middle Grade books of this time period.  The focus isn't to be perfect ladylike little girls and whatnot but instead to run and play and do things for yourself as much as possible.   The imagery of the walled secret garden and the big house with a hundred rooms that no one goes in still captures my imagination.  I also love that Martha and Dickens mother isn't well liked and respected because of class or money or pureness of heart but rather because she is kind and sensible.  This is a lovely read and holds up well to a reread as an adult.  My Rating: Loved It! (5 Stars)

2.  Funny Story by Emily Henry - I had picked up another book by this author this summer and ended up DNFing it because I just didn't care what happened to the characters. I was a little nervous going into this one for that reason, but I ended up enjoying it.  Daphne and Miles both have some serious baggage before the great breakup happens and that definitely doesn't help.  I do like a fake dating premise but even more I love when characters connect as they get to know each other and themselves.  I adored the side characters (especially Ashley), and I liked how they all dealt with their various levels of baggage.  This has a found family feel without tipping into the overly perfect.  The fact that Julia Whelan does the audio really enhanced my enjoyment.  I don't know that Emily Henry's books will always work for me but I won't hesitate to pick one up if the premise connects with me.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh - I read the first book in the Westcott series and while Camille is definitely not the most likable character in that book I was curious to see how her story would unfold.  As well, I was looking forward to learning more about Anna's friend Joel who we met in the first book.  And for the most part I really loved this one.  Why Camille isn't always the easiest to like I felt connected to her from the first page as she struggled to come to terms with her new circumstances and her new identity.  I loved her relationship with the children at the orphanage and her struggle to figure out how to interact with her family and explain her current choices.  Her relationship with Joel was really sweet in a way that felt very true for both characters.  What kept this book from being a complete winner was the first physical interaction.  It just felt so out of character and like it came completely out of left field.  It took me completely out of the story for a bit.  Other than that I loved the characters and am looking forward to seeing more of the Westcott family.  My Rating: Really Liked it (4 Stars)

4.  Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins - It's been a long time since I read anything by Kristan Higgins but I'm so glad I picked this one up on a whim! This is a multi-generational multi-POV story about the London family - specifically matriarch and fashion icon Genieve London, her granddaughter Emma from whom she's been estranged for the last 17 years and Emma's daughter Riley who happens to be 17. There's a lot going on in this one with complicated family relationships, a missing child from 60 years before, and all the other complications that come with living and aging.  I really enjoyed all the different POVs and watching the characters develop relationships (especially Gigi and Pops).  The audio for this one is fantastic and I'm looking forward to reading or listening to more from this author.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

5.  The Irish Inheritance by M.J. Lee - I cannot resist a genealogical mystery, and this was an interesting one.  What starts as a straightforward investigation quickly becomes complicated as public records lead multiple ways and there is very little information to go on.  There is a bit of a dive into Irish politics and a dual timeline as well as a good dose of danger.  I liked Jayne Sinclair as the lead character - especially with her police experience.  I enjoyed this but not so much that I'm going to go out of my way to find the rest of the series.  If more are added to the Audible Plus catalog or I stumble across any at the bookstore I will definitely pick them up though.  My Rating Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

What have you read recently?

Books from the Backlog - Murder at Beechwood

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:  Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell

Blurb:  For Newport, Rhode Island’s high society, the summer of 1896 brings lawn parties, sailboat races…and murder. Having turned down the proposal of Derrick Andrews, Emma Cross has no imminent plans for matrimony—let alone motherhood. But when she discovers an infant left on her doorstep, she naturally takes the child into her care. Using her influence as a cousin to the Vanderbilts and a society page reporter for the Newport Observer , Emma launches a discreet search for the baby’s mother.

One of her first stops is a lawn party at Mrs. Caroline Astor’s Beechwood estate. But an idyllic summer’s day is soon clouded by tragedy. During a sailboat race, textile magnate Virgil Monroe falls overboard. There are prompt accusations of foul play—and even Derrick Andrews falls under suspicion. Deepening the intrigue, a telltale slip of lace may link the abandoned child to the drowned man. But as Emma navigates dark undercurrents of scandalous indiscretions and violent passions, she’ll need to watch her step to ensure that no one lowers the boom on her…

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This is a review book that has been sitting neglected for ages.  I've read a couple of books in the series and really enjoyed it but haven't gotten to this one.  

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen

 

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 2024.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen

Blurb:  The Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women, ritually binding them and leaving them for dead before penning them gruesome love letters in the local papers. Then he disappeared, and after twenty years with no trace of him, many believe that he's gone for good.
Not Grace Harper. A grocery store manager by day, at night Grace uses her snooping skills as part of an amateur sleuth group. She believes the Lovelorn Killer is still living in the same neighborhoods that he hunted in, and if she can figure out how he selected his victims, she will have the key to his identity.

Detective Annalisa Vega lost someone she loved to the killer. Now she's at a murder scene with the worst kind of déjà vu: Grace Harper lies bound and dead on the floor, surrounded by clues to the biggest murder case that Chicago homicide never solved. Annalisa has the chance to make it right and to heal her family, but first, she has to figure out what Grace knew―how to see a killer who may be standing right in front of you. This means tracing his steps back to her childhood, peering into dark corners she hadn't acknowledged before, and learning that despite everything the killer took, she has still so much more to lose.

My Thoughts:  I love a good procedural, and this author has been on my TBR for years because I had heard good things about several of her series.  The blurb of this one caught my eye and I was so excited when I saw it was the first of the Annalisa Vega series.  I really enjoyed the mystery and had no idea how everything was going to unravel until just before Annalisa did.  I liked the addition of Nick and how he and Annalisa worked together. This was a bit emotionally darker than I expected but the violence level was enough off screen that I was okay reading it - though there is nothing cozy about this one.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.  My Rating:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten New to Me Authors I Read in 2024

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 New to Me Authors I Read in 2024.

1.  Charlie Donlea - I picked up this one after his 2024 release caught my interest (my library had the audio of this one - not that one) and absolutely loved it. I liked this one better than the 2024 release!

2.  Heather Fawcett - Fawcett's Grace of Wild Things was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and I can't wait to read more from her this year.

3.  Jules Verne - I read Around the World in 80 Days last year and really enjoyed it.

4.  Abbi Waxman - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was one of my favorite reads of 2024.  I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

5.  Sally Hepworth - I found The Soulmate seriously unsettling and am looking forward to reading more books by her.

6.  Jennifer J. Chow - I have several books by this author on my TBR but finally picked up this cozy in 2024 and enjoyed it.  

7.  Megan Goldin - I read Dark Corners early in 2024 and it was such a great thriller that I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

8.  Helen Cooper - I picked up The Couple in the Photo on a whim and really enjoyed it - especially how nothing was what it seemed.

9.  Kelley Armstrong - Probably my favorite new to me author I read in 2024!  I'm reading another book by Armstrong currently and am looking forward to finishing the Rockton series and moving forward to the rest of her books.

10. Brianna Labuskes - The Lost Book of Bonn broke my heart a bit but also made me excited to try more historical fiction by this author.

Who are some of the new-to-you authors you read in 2024?

Beast of the North Woods - Mystery Review

Goodreads: Beast of the North Woods (Monster Hunter #3) by Annelise Ryan

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

Description:  An ice fisherman is savagely mauled to death in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and an eyewitness claims the man was attacked by a hodag. There's just one problem with it's well known that the creature is not real and was created by a local hoaxer. So how could an imaginary creature be chomping on local sportsmen?

The suggestion that a hodag killed someone isn’t well received by the townsfolk because of its beloved ties to the town and the money it generates from tourist dollars. Due to this, people begin to suspect the witness is the real killer, especially when it’s discovered he has a tangled past with the victim.

The witness to the attack happens to be the nephew of Morgan Carter’s bookstore employee, Rita Bosworth, who convinces the professional cryptozoologist to travel to Wisconsin to prove that a hodag not only exists but killed the victim.

Clues may be hard to come by, but one thing's for something killed that man, and that something now has its eyes focused on Morgan.

Genre: Mystery 

Why I Picked This Book:  I have enjoyed the previous two books in this series so of course I had to see what trouble Morgan was going to get into this time.

My Impression:   Morgan really didn't want to get involved in this case and had some serious doubts regarding the validity of the monster siting.  After all the hoax was exposed by it's creator decades ago.   But the person asking for help is Rita, Morgan's close friend and employee, and she can't turn her down.  I really enjoyed getting more backstory about Rita and just getting to know her a bit more as she can be a bit stern in earlier books.  As well, more regarding Morgan's own backstory is exposed as the potential for it become more present than past seems to be around.  

The mystery was an intriguing one as I have come to expect from this series.  This is a combination of a whodunnit or a whatdunnit and does the what really exist.  Through in a very motivated small town and things get very interested.  It did take a bit to really start making progress but I really enjoyed the read - and Morgan's dog Newt frequently steals the show.  I like that Morgan's personal life is also progressing and she's realizing that to be in a relationship she may need to get better at communicating.

This is a good mystery with a sympathetic main character and a unique twist. I love the setting and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author and this series.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?   Absolutely!  I've really enjoyed the three books by this author that I've read and am looking forward to reading more.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like mysteries with a little bit of extra weird this is a fun series and I can definitely recommend it!

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