Friday Fives - October 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 October, I'm planning my Octobmer TBR.  Here are 5 books I plan on reading in October.

1.  The Key to a Killer by Olivia Blacke - I have really enjoyed this series featuring a young woman and her ghostly roommate.  I'm curious to see what happens next.

2.  A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander - I just finished the most recent book in this series so I'm looking forward to going back and reading more from the beginning of the series.

3.  The Gabriel Hounds by Mary Stewart - This is the next on my Classics list and I do enjoy Stewart's ability to create an eerie scene.  

4.  The Guest List by Lucy Foley - I've enjoyed other books by Foley before and this one sounds creepy and claustrophobic.  

5.  After Midnight: Thirteen Tales for the Dark Hours by Daphne du Maurier - I've read another short story collection by du Maurier and really enjoyed it so I'm really looking forward to this one.  This author is the queen of unsettling and eerie stories.

What are you hoping to read in October?

Books from the Backlog - Blue Moon

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:  Blue Moon by Wendy Corsi Staub

Blurb:  Hair neatly braided, hands serenely clasped, eyes closed, the young woman appeared to be sound asleep. But the peaceful tableau was a madman’s handiwork. Beneath the covers, her white nightgown was spattered with blood. At daybreak, a horrified family would discover her corpse tucked into their guest room. The cunning killer would strike again . . . and again . . . before vanishing into the mists of time.
A century ago, the Sleeping Beauty Murders terrified picturesque Mundy’s Landing. The victims, like the killer, were never identified. Now, on the hundredth anniversary, the Historical Society’s annual “Mundypalooza” offers a hefty reward for solving the notorious case.

Annabelle Bingham, living in one of the three Murder Houses, can’t escape the feeling that her family is being watched—and not just by news crews and amateur sleuths. She’s right. Having unearthed the startling truth behind the horrific crimes, a copycat killer is about to reenact them—beneath the mansard roof of Annabelle’s dream home . . .

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I read the first book in this trilogy last year and enjoyed it.  It has a continuing mystery and I'd really like to find the solution!

The Vanished Sister - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Vanished Sister (The Lady Sherlock Series #9) by Sherry Thomas

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

Description: It’s been three years since Charlotte Holmes struck a decisive blow against Moriarty's operations in Britain, three years of relative calm and benign developments. In a buoyant mood, everyone gathers at Lord Ingram's seaside cottage in North Devon for what promises to be a perfect summer holiday. Until Mrs. Watson receives an invitation from Mrs. Carstairs, her long-estranged sister, to attend a house party nearby.

Mrs. Carstairs has married spectacularly well. She is the mistress of a great manor, a doyen of all domestic arts, and still an unforgettable beauty. Now she clamors for a reconciliation with her sister. Mrs. Watson does not trust Mrs. Carstairs's motives. Yet she cannot help but feel tremors of the old admiration for this once-beloved sister.

Then Mrs. Carstairs disappears without a trace. The next day a woman is discovered floating on the waves, her build and coloring matching those of Mrs. Carstairs. But her husband insists that the corpse fished out of the Bristol Channel cannot be his wife. So where is the real Mrs. Carstairs? Would she have purposely dragged Mrs. Watson into a murder investigation? Or was it Sherlock Holmes's involvement that she needed from the very beginning?

Genre: Mystery - Historical

Why I Picked This Book: I've enjoyed other books in this series and this one sounded really fun.

My Impression: I really like this series.  The Lady Holmes concept with Charlotte occasionally having to dress up as the errant Holmes' brother is an entertaining one.  I like how the characters have developed and am glad to see more Livia and Penelope.  I really loved that this one focused on Mrs. Watson's past - and we got to meet her sister.  The flashbacks into Mrs. Watson's early life added a nice dash of character development.

I also really liked the mystery and was really not sure where that was going to go.  I enjoy Charlotte's investigative style and love how she and the others work together.  I also really enjoyed that this one focuses more on Mrs. Carstairs and the related mysteries and less on the Moriarty plots.  While I have read almost all of the series there is frequently some time in between books and it can be hard to remember all the characters involved in that.

This was a really enjoyable mystery with a clever detective and a great cast of supporting characters.  It has inspired me to go back and do a reread to refresh my memory on everything that's happened over the series.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I'm looking forward to more of this series and rereading the earlier books.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would definitely recommend this series but I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series.  

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Books on My TBR I'd Like to Read This Fall

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 Fall Freebie. I went through my TBR list and pulled 10 books I'd like to read in fall.  I went for a mix of creepy and cozy.

1.  The Bewitching by Silvia Morena-Garcia - This sounds witchy and creepy and really good.

2.  The Guest List by Lucy Foley - This may be a later fall read as it sounds like the setting is frigid but it sounds creepy and claustrophic.

3.  Book Witch by Meg Shaffer - This looks like a lot of fun and a cozy bookish read with a witchy element.

4.  The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfeld - I've had this on my TBR for ages and it looks like a great fall read.

5. The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh - I really want to read this one.  I've loved one book by this author and was very meh on another so I need a tie breaker

6.  A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James - This author never lets me down with providing a creepy eerie story and I'm looking forward to reading them.

7.  The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Wagonner - I don't know anything about this one but the cover looks fun and the title caught my attention.

8.  Home Before Dark by Riley Sager - I want a good mix of creepy reads this fall and this looks like a good one!  I've had good luck with this author in the past.  

9.  A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin - I love this author and I've seen good reviews for this one.

10. The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury - While here school starts in August when it's usually 100 degrees outside when I think of fall school comes to my mind.  This looks like a good academic mystery.

What books would you like to read this fall?

The Pumpkin Vice Cafe - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Pumpkin Vice Cafe (Bakeshop Mystery #23) by Ellie Alexander

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

Description:  As autumn settles over the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, ushering in cool, crisp breezes and a stunning show of color, everyone at Torte is keeping warm by whipping up a bevy of fall treats and spicy lattes. Jules is nearing her due date, and the whole town is abuzz—placing bets on when the twins will make their grand debut. Helen and the team are working on a secret surprise baby shower, complete with cupcakes, cookies, and a feast fit for royalty, or maybe just a mother-to-be.

Meanwhile, Lance and Arlo are busy planning their nuptials in what is sure to be as close to a royal wedding as Ashland has ever seen. But when the high-end wedding planner they hired is found dead in the frigid waters of Ashland Creek, what looks like a tragic accident, a slip on an icy bridge, quickly reveals itself as something much more sinister. Jules knows at once—this was no mishap. A killer is loose in Ashland, and they may be ready to strike again.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've been reading this series since the very beginning so of course I had to pick this one up. 

My Impression: As usual, this was a fun read in a fantastic setting.  I liked the fall setting but living in the South my whole life the idea of snow coming in fall blew my mind a bit.  I did love all the talk of fall treats.  The world of Torte has changed a bit as the series has developed and we have lost some characters but have gained a couple of more.  I'm enjoying getting to know them and seeing what they add to Torte.  Jules' pregnancy is coming to an end and there are definitely some changes in what she can do (and how long she can go without eating).  

I loved how big of a role Lance had in this book and how so much of it centered around his and Arlo's wedding.  I suspect in real life Lance could at times be a bit much but in fiction he's so fun.  The mystery is a solid one with a victim that pretty much everyone wished dead.  Jules and Lance's investigation was active and they touched base with the Professor a decent amount.  I did love following along and I didn't guess who the bad guy was until pretty much the end.  

This is a long running series and is probably best starting with an earlier book as there is a lot of character and relationship developing as the series goes along.  As always, the food mentions were mouthwatering but as so much of it involved pumpkin I didn't want to eat everything mentioned which was a nice change.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I will.  I've really enjoyed this series and other books I've read by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're a cozy mystery fan I'd definitely recommend this series though I would suggest starting with an earlier book. If you've been a fan of this series this one will not disappoint. 

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

Endless Night - Classic Mystery

Goodreads: Endless Night by Agatha Christie

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

Description: Gipsy’s Acre was a truly beautiful upland site with views out to sea – and in Michael Rogers it stirred a child-like fantasy. There, amongst the dark fir trees, he planned to build a house, find a girl and live happily ever after. Yet, as he left the village, a shadow of menace hung over the land. For this was the place where accidents happened. Perhaps Michael should have heeded the locals’ warnings: ‘There’s no luck for them as meddles with Gipsy’s Acre.’ Michael Rogers is a man who is about to learn the true meaning of the old saying ‘In my end is my beginning.’

Genre: Mystery - Classic 

Why I Picked This Book: This was the September Read Christie pick

My Impression: This standalone mystery was published in the late 1960s which is my least favorite period of Christie's books.  However, this one is so much more successful than any of the other books from this time period.  For starters, it has a completely different feel than the usual Christie mystery.  Christie's mysteries are usually straightforward, clean stories that have clues cleverly woven in.  I wouldn't classify her as a particularly atmospheric writer but she is known for being very fair, playing by a set of rules that enable the reader to solve the mystery if they're really paying attention.

This one has an eerie feel and the sense that something else is going on.  It's told by one narrator and while he seems very open and honest we don't have any outside input to truly know.  I don't want to say too much about it because the less known going in the better.  In later interviews Christie herself lists this as one of her favorites and after this reread I can definitely understand why.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  Next month's book is Sleeping Murder which is one of my favorites so I'm super excited.

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes, though keep in mind that this has a very different feel than the typical Christie book.

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.  The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom - As soon as I read the blurb I knew I had to read this one.  Main character starting over, found family, interesting setting, and a bit of history.  I ended up really enjoying it.  I loved Skye and the rest of the new community and her slow introduction to the small island community.  This was a quick read and with a nice flow.  My only complaint is that I wanted a bit more resolution with the World War II plotline - but I tend to prefer my endings with a nice bow on them.  I did just discover this is the first book in a series so I'm hoping for a bit more resolution in future books.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis - This is the second book in the Animal Magnetism and while each book is completely standalone I'm glad I read the first book so that I understand the world and the relationship between Dell and his brothers.  This was a nice romance with two likable main characters though both with a bit of baggage.  There's a good sprinkling of side characters but not so many that it gets distracting.  There's a bit of spice - definitely not closed door - but the focus is much more on the emotional connection.  As usual, Shalvis brings the characters to life and has great pacing and I love the animal sidekicks.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series and this reminded me of just how much I always enjoy this author's books.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  The House of My Mother by Shari Franke - I was never a fan of 8 Passengers and didn't even really know of its existence until right before the end.  However, I was horrified and couldn't look away when the story broke, and Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested.  I put this book on my audio hold list kind of on a whim but ended up finding it fascinating and compelling.  Shari does an amazing job of telling her story of growing up with a complicated and controlling mom while protecting her siblings completely.  Only her brother, Chad (who was not a minor when everything broke) is mentioned in any detail and even then only as it relates to her experience.  Shari tells a story of finding her strength and her voice after a childhood of constantly being dismissed and belittled.  The way Shari has transitioned away from being the child of a family vlogger is interesting and the way she has used her voice to protect those who have come after her is inspiring.  If you want a tell all about the criminal case watch the documentaries but if you want a story of survival and strength pick up this book.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

4.  Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - This is the third book in a trilogy and to be perfectly honest I'm glad to see the back of these characters.  I liked Huck, Irene and Maia pretty well but the rest of the characters annoyed me more and more as the trilogy went along - especially Baker.  The only reason I finished it at all was because I wanted to see how everything with Russ's business played out and by the end I'm not sure if it was worth it.  This is the first series I've read from Hilderbrand and it definitely doesn't have me rushing to pick up any others.  I have a few of her standalones and I'll give them a try but I'm hesitant to pick up any more of her series if this is a true example of how she develops them.  My Rating: Not For Me (1 Star)

5.  The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman - This was a fun concept for a story.  Stella is frozen in place after the death of her father and the end of a relationship that she really thought was going somewhere.  Everyone seems to have an opinion as to what she should do next except for Stella herself.  When in a fit of unhappiness she burns her journal it starts a whole chain of chaos and hopefully helps her find herself.  The magical element was a fun one and I liked that the book primarily takes place in the library.  Unfortunately, this wasn't a total win for me.  The prose was a bit overdone and Stella drove me a crazy.  She seems a bit immature and for the bulk of the book I was pretty sure she just needed intensive therapy and maybe a CT scan.  It was hard to root for her happy ending because it was hard to believe she was ready for it.  I did enjoy the reading experience and would try this author again but I would hope the main character would be a bit more likable than Stella.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)