For Duck's Sake - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: For Duck's Sake (A Meg Langslow Mystery #37) by Donna Andrews

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

Description:  Meg is in the backyard of the house her brother Rob, Delaney, and their new baby have moved into, supervising some workmen who are using a bulldozer to start digging out a duck pond. She wants to get away from her own house, which has become the staging site for Caerphilly's first Mutt March, which will be held the next day. Meg thinks it will be more peaceful at Rob's house--and it is until the bulldozers uncover a skeleton whose skull has a hole and a bullet rattling around inside.

Meanwhile, Chief Burke begins searching the police records to see if he can identify any missing persons who would fit the bill. He doesn't turn down Meg's offer to help with his identification efforts, and she begins looking in the library and talking to old-timers. She's all the more eager to help because Iris Rafferty, who sold the house to Rob and Delaney and still lives in the mother-in-law suite, disappears the morning after the finding of the body... does her disappearance have anything to do with finding the body? Was it voluntary? Or was she kidnapped--possibly by the prowlers who are spotted lurking around the half-finished duck pond at night? Or do the prowlers have sinister designs on one or more of the dogs who will be marching in the parade?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series but even if it wasn't I wouldn't have been able to resist the title!

My Impression:  Every book in this series has been entertaining and this one didn't let me down!  Meg is hiding at her neighbor's house (which happens to belong to her brother and his wife) supervising the construction of a duck pond when a skeleton is discovered.  This starts a tornado of events involving solving a cold case, a missing woman, rogue ducks, dog-nappers, random trespassers, a deep dive into crimes of 3- to 40 years ago, and a huge dog adoption event.  Meg lives at a pace that would paralyze me and her family chaos would absolutely finish me off but it makes for incredibly entertaining read.

The mystery was a little different.  There's no modern day murder though there are a number of modern day hijinks.  I liked the flow of the mystery and the deep dive into the past of Caerphilly and the corrupt Pruitt family.  It kept me hooked and I flew through the book.  There is dog fighting mentioned but no details and no dogs are harmed.  

This is incredibly long running series but while it might take a little more effort to keep track of all the dynamics if you jump in with this book I don't think you'll have too much trouble keeping everything straight.  With each book it gets a bit easier to remember who is who!  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?   Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to the next book and am also really enjoying catching up on the earlier books in the series that I haven't read.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would!  Especially if you enjoy cozy mysteries.

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

This Week in Reading - August 3

 

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:

Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde - I haven't read anything by this author before but the premise and the cover totally sold me.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  Guess Again by Charlie Donlea and Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis

Listening:  The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

How is it August??  This year has been crazy busy but we have gotten some big jobs checked off the list so I can at least see what I've been doing.

This has been a pretty quiet week.  I've had a mix of headaches and migraines all week so I'm really glad about that.   Dog classes start up this week and Will is back to school.  He's homeschooled but also takes some classes with a group.  That organization is still doing the paperwork but isn't offering classes so I'm kind of scrambling a little for a few things.  He's doing some lab sciences with a friend at a local science museum that looks pretty great.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

Monthly Reading Recap - July 2025

Monthly Reading Total: 13 - One of my lower reading months but I really enjoyed most of what I read.

Type:

Print: 4

Ebook:  4

Audio: 5

Genre:

Mystery - 8

Fiction - 2

Romance - 2

Nonfiction: 1

Favorite Books of the Month:

Favorite Audio - The Postcard by Anne Berest - This narrative nonfiction listen kept me absolutely captivated, eganged, and heartbroken the entire time.

Favorite Read - Hardcastle's Quartet by Graham Ison - This World War I era historical mystery with the grumpy Detective Hardcastle was a surprise win for me.  I typically enjoy historical mysteries but this one was a bit of traditional police procedural delight.  My only complaint is that it's going to be a difficult to track down the rest of the series.

Bookish Armchair Traveling:

Domestic Travel:  I visited Washington, DC and Washington State for the first time this year.  I also revisited Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.

International Travel:  I had a busy month when it comes to international travel.  In addition to my usual visit to England I also went to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Japan, Ireland, and France

How was your July reading?  Where did your books take you?

Friday Five - August 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. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander -I've really enjoyed the other books I've read by this author and this one involves books so I'm really looking forward to it!

2.  The Uncharted Flight of Oliva West by Sara Ackerman - This is on my priority list for this year.  I picked it up in a book bundle in my local bookstore and it looks like a good read but I don't know much about it.

3.  Mr. Zero by Patricia Wentworth - I love Patricia Wentworth and I haven't read this one - or if I have it's been so long I don't remember it so pretty much same thing!

4.  Unsolved Crimes: Infamous Cases That Have Puzzled the Greatest Minds by Sarah Herman - This was a random pick from my library list.  It looks like it could be really intriguing.

5.   Tiny Little Things by Beatriz Williams - I loved the first book in this trilogy about 3 sisters and am really excited to read this one.

What are you hoping to read in August?

Books from the Backlog - Ten Beach Road

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:  Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax

Blurb:  Madeline, Avery, and Nikki are strangers to each other, but they have one thing in common. They each wake up one morning to discover their life savings have vanished, along with their trusted financial manager- leaving them with nothing but co-ownership of a ramshackle beachfront house.

Throwing their lots in together, they take on the challenge of restoring the historic property. But just as they begin to reinvent themselves and discover the power of friendship, secrets threaten to tear down their trust-and destroy their lives a second time.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  Every summer I mean to read this and somehow never get around to it.  

Asylum Hotel - Mystery Review

Goodreads: Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell

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

Description:  Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history. Back in the 1920s it hosted A-list celebrity clientele, and now the locals insist it is haunted by the ghosts of two young women who died there. When Aubrey goes to photograph the site before the renovation begins, she bumps into a man named Dimitri Petroff, a minor online celebrity who shares her fascination with old buildings, the Hotel Seabrink in particular.

When he is found dead the next day at the base of a cliff, the police are quick to close the investigation. But Aubrey feels unsettled by locals who claim he was murdered and that it’s not the first time someone interested in the hotel was killed. As she digs deeper into the property’s dark history (and its origins as an asylum) as well as Dimitri’s professional rivalries, she becomes mired in an unsolved murder case from several decades earlier, one with eerie parallels to the contemporary case. But someone is determined to keep her from discovering the truth—at any cost.

Genre: Mystery - Paranormal

Why I Picked This Book:  The cover and premise really grabbed my attention and I've enjoyed other books by this author in the past.

My Impression:  This was an interesting read.  I love an abandoned setting and especially one that used to be the go to spot for the rich, famous, and glamorous.  I really enjoyed that Aubrey is a photographer and it made sense that she and Dimitri bonded over their love of old architecture.  

To me, this didn't read like a thriller.  The pacing is a bit slower and while there is a death/possible murder that happens early on as well as an unsettling encounter nothing really started happening until a bit later.  

Blackwell does a fantastic job at setting the scene and at description.  I had a sense of the old hotel from the very beginning and while there is no way I would go exploring in there I would enjoy seeing Aubrey's pictures of Dimitri's videos.  The characters didn't quite shine as much as the setting and I never felt I had quite as much of a sense of who Aubrey was as I wanted.  

This was an entertaining read though not the creepy thriller I was expecting it to be.  I really enjoy this author's historical fiction and mysteries and this was a bit of both.  I'm looking forward to reading more from her.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  There are a number of books that I haven't read by this author and I'm really looking forward to catching up on them.  

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes, though be prepared for the slower pace.  

* 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'd Read at the Beach

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 Beach Reads.  I'm not really a big reader at the beach because it's hot and I'd rather be in the water BUT if I was these are some of the books I'd read.  I'm looking for escapist fast paced reads and I think these will be good fits!

1.  It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan - This looks so fun and I've heard such great things about this author.

2.  She Didn't See It Coming by Shari Lapena - This looks like a creepy thriller that might give me a sunburn because I'd get so caught up in the story I'd forget to reapply the sunscreen!

3.  Swept Away by Beth O'Leary - I do love a good forced proximity trope.

4.  Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey - This book looks lovely and beachy and I've really loved what I've read by this author.

5.  Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman - I've really loved what I've read by this author and this looks quirky and fun.

6.  She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica - This is another sunburn thriller I think!

7.  One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware - There's a tropical setting and Ware is fantastic at complicated and claustrophobic plots.  

8.   Every Single Secret by Christina Dodd - This series has been completely bonkers and such fun.  It really just demands beach reading!

9.  What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - This takes place on a tropical island with lots of drama and secrets.

10. The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews - Most of her covers just seem to demand to be read at the beach and this one looks all kinds of dramatic with some serious secrets.

What kind of books seem like beach reads to you?  What would you take on a beach trip?

Something Whiskered - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Something Whiskered (Cat in the Stacks #17) by Miranda James

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

Description:  Charlie Harris and his wife, Helen Louise Brady, have arrived in Ireland for their honeymoon. After a few days in Dublin, they head to County Clare, ancestral home to Helen Louise’s extended family, the O’Bradys. Her cousin Lorcan runs Castle O’Brady as a bed-and-breakfast with his wife Caoimhe and their daughter and son-in-law. But upon arrival at the castle, the newlyweds are shocked to see a body falling from the roof.

The dead man is centenarian Finn, Baron O'Brady, Lorcan’s grandfather, which means that Lorcan now becomes the new Baron O'Brady. Was someone in a hurry for Lorcan to assume the title and ownership of the estate? Or is there another reason for wanting Finn dead? And why is a ghostly cat making an appearance in their room-is he trying to warn them? Charlie and Helen Louise must answer these questions and more as they realize the local garda can't solve the crime alone. And along with Diesel they will have to investigate themselves or risk something wicked coming their way…

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoy this series and have been reading it for a number of books.

My Impression: Charlie and Helen Louise are in Ireland for a combination family visit for Helen Louise's Irish side and their honeymoon.  But before they can relax and get settled in the family castle/bed and breakfast they are met with a horrific sight - Helen Louise's Uncle Finn taking a fatal fall from the roof.  They quickly learn that all is not sunshine and rainbows in the castle within the family or the staff.  

There's a lot of characters to meet and dynamics to figure out but the author weaves everything in without info dumps or without things getting to confusing.  I think it helped that Charlie is new to this situation so a lot has to be explained to him.  I enjoyed the setting and do wish I could explore the library and eat some of the yummy food mentioned.  

The ending wrapped things up well though was maybe a little anti-climatic.  I do hope that there are some mentions in future books of the characters because I'd really like to see how things progress for them.  This is a fun series with likable characters and this was an enjoyable new entry into it.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I have several earlier books in the series to read and I will definitely be picking up future books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a fun series - especially for the later books. You can jump in here without too much trouble as there aren't too many repeat characters in this particular book.

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

This Week in Reading - July 27

 

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 Seven Rings by Nora Roberts - I'm so excited about this one!   I've loved the previous two books and can't wait to read this one. (Publisher)

Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connolly - I've enjoyed this mystery series that's somewhere between cozy and plain mystery and am looking forward to this one. (Publisher)

Ghost Business by Jenn DeLuca - Another one I'm super excited about!  I really enjoyed the first book and am so excited that there's another book in the series. (Publisher)

The Queen Who Came in From the Cold by SJ Bennett - I really liked the previous book in this series featuring Queen Elizabeth II and am looking forward to this one. (Publisher)

A Grave Deception by Connie Berry - This is a fun cozy mystery series involving antiques and an English setting.  (Publisher)

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols - This sounds quirky and interesting and I do love a good cozy mystery.  (Publisher)

At Death's Dough by Mindy Quigly - I've read the most recent book and the first book and enjoyed both though it does make me want pizza. (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell and Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts

Listening:  The Postcard by Anne Berest

It has been a busy couple of weekends all with dog stuff.  Last weekend was a obedience competition and we did pretty well.  We've still got a ways to go but we've come along way too.  This weekend it's been a training seminar which has been really interesting but very time consuming.  Between that and all the renovation stuff I'm exhausted!  

Have a great week and happy reading!

Summer Book Tag

 

I do love some summer reading and when I saw this Summer Book Tag on Bookable's YouTube Channel I just had to do it too!

1.  What book cover makes you think of summer?

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey - Pretty much all of her covers are gorgeously summery but this one came to mind first.

2.  What book has brightened your day? 

The Kamogawa Food Detective by Hisashi Kashiwai - This was a lovely read from start to finish.

3.  Find a book cover with yellow on it

It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle - There's probably more orange but I say this counts!

4.  What is your favorite summer beach read?

At the beach I like fast paced with suspense that doesn't require me to think much (the sun and all that time in the water are draining) and Heather Graham and Nora Roberts' books always do the trick!

5. What action book had you running for the ice cream man?

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon - This isn't really an action read but it is a murder mystery with 3 generations running around solving crime and it kept me hooked!

6.  Sunburn - what book has left you with a bad or painful ending?

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros - I don't love cliffhanger endings AND the ending of this one just made me unhappy.

7.  Sunset - What book gave you the happiest feelings when it ended?

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick  - I enjoyed the book but the ending did give me all the warm fuzzy feelings!

8.  What book cover reminds you of a sunset?

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster - I'm more of a beach person than a lake person but I would love to sit and watch this sunset over the lake.

9. What is one book or series you hope to read this summer?

Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca - This technically comes out in September but September in Alabama is still very much summer so I say it still very much counts. I'm so looking forward to reading this one!

What are some of your summer reading picks?

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.  A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge - I think I'm going to have to face that this series is not for me.  I really want it to be because the main character is Phyllida Bright, Agatha Christie's housekeeper and Christie herself is a regular side character.  Unfortunately, I just don't like Phyllida and never really warmed up to her through the book.  As well, I found the mystery to be a bit slower paced and never really grabbed my interest. This isn't a bad mystery but it just isn't for me.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

2.  Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell - I love the concept of this one. The main character, Emma Cross, is cousin to the Vanderbilts but is on the side of the family without the money.  That means she knows them and all the people that make up their world and can easily move in that society but isn't really apart of that society.  Emma is a bit TSTL at times but she does has the excuse of being a reporter so it is kind of her job to get into crazy situations.  The mystery was a good one and Emma's involvement did make sense.  I'm curious to see how the series develops.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  A Killer Collection by Ellery Adams - This was originally published under the name J.B. Stanley but Adams has republished them under the name she's better known by.  This is such a classic cozy mystery - a likable heroine, a bit of a love interest, a good community of friends and family, and a hobby (in this case an art - pottery) to focus on.  I found the mystery and all the pottery info really interesting.  The ending surprised me and I really liked the way it all played out.  I'd definitely pick up the second book in this series.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4.  Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley - Deep dish pizza has never seemed all that appealing to me but I have changed my mind and there are several variations I'd love to try.  This is the first book in a cozy mystery series set in Wisconsin and focusing on the owner of a Deep Dish Pizza place - and her cat Butterball.  This was a fun read that touched on a lot of darker issues.  The mystery really kept me listening and guessing.  I've read a later book in the series and enjoyed it and now I'm looking forward to reading all the ones in the middle.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5.  The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis - This is such a fun cozy series.  The main character, Florrie, works at a bookstore and has her own line of adult coloring books.  I really loved how she processes information with her drawing.  There's a whole cast of characters which all add a bit to the story and the mystery.  I love in a cozy mystery when characters brainstorm together and this happened frequently a book.  I did find the reveal a bit odd - what I thought was the A plot got solved a bit on the backburner while the B plot ended up wrapping up front and center.  By this time I was more interested in the B plot but it still felt a bit odd.  I'm really looking forward to reading the next book! My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - The Good Sister

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 Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub

Blurb:  Sacred Sisters Catholic girls' school has hardly changed since Jen Archer was a student. Jen hoped her older daughter would thrive here. Instead, shy, studious Carley becomes the target of vicious bullies. But the real danger at Sacred Sisters goes much deeper.
The only person Carley can talk to is "Angel," a kindred spirit she met online. Carley tells Angel everything—about her younger sister, about school, about the sudden death of her former best friend. Angel is her lifeline. And Angel is closer than she knows.

When another schoolgirl is found dead, Jen's unease grows. There are too many coincidences, too many links to her past. Every instinct tells her that Carley is the next target. For someone is intent on punishing the guilty, teaching the ultimate lesson in how to fear . . . and how to die.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf: I kind of went on a buying binge when it comes to this author and this looks like a good and seriously creepy one.  Plus, I read some more from this author to make sure I like her!

Favorite Books of the Second Quarter - 2025

 

We're halfway through 2025 (plus a little) and it has been a busy year.  My reading has definitely taken a hit this year and my numbers aren't quite as high as they usually are by this time of year.  I'll still make my goal I think but not with nearly as big of a margin as I normally do.  Here are my favorite books from April, May, and June.

1.  The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick - Patrick was on my authors to read this year and I picked this one at random.  I really enjoyed it and loved the found family elements.

2.  The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews - I haven't read much historical romance lately but really enjoyed it.  I liked the focus that there are other options than high society London that can still make for a happy life.

3.  Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - I found this really interesting and loved the different elements of Christie that the author dove into.  It has really enhanced my appreciation of Christie's books - and her place in the world of authors.

4.  Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh - I've been slowly reading through this Balogh series and really enjoyed this one.  It's a lovely romance with nice characters.  

5.  Who Will Remember by C.S. Harris - I really love this historical mystery that's a bit on the grittier side.  This was an especially interesting mystery with some engaging side plots.

6.  The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli - I've read a lot of books set during World War II but this one was a little different as it was set in the Italian countryside and the narrator is a young girl.  I found it fascinating and heartbreaking.

7.  Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it.

8.  Crooked House by Agatha Christie - This is one of the most interesting and underrated of Christie's stand alones.

9.  Love, Loss, and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi - I was surprised how much I enjoyed the audio version of this memoir.  The parts about her life in India as well as her battle with endometriosis were really interesting.  A lot of the reviews for this one were brutal but I found most of that unwarranted.

10. It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle - This was a fun candy bar of a book.  A bit bonkers and I think I've already forgotten most of the plot but I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.  

What were some of your favorite reads for the second quarter of 2025?

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books Set in Places Other than the US and England

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 Books Set in X Place.  Most of my reading this year has taken place in either the US or England so I'm trying to find 10 books that I'd like to read that take place in other locations.

1.  Paris by the Book by Liam Callanan- France

2.  Midnight Blue by Simone van der Vlugt - Netherlands

3. Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled by Dorothy Gilman - Syria

4.  No Strangers Here by Carlene O'Connor - Ireland

5.  Plaid and Plagiarism by Molly MacRae - Scotland

6.  Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon - Italy

7.  We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida - Japan

8.  The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams - Bahamas

9.  The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - Germany (specifically West Germany)

10. Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander - Turkey

Do you have any books set in places other than the US or England to recommend?