The Death of a Policeman - Review

Death of a Policeman: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery by M.C. Beaton

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  When DCI Blair sends a spy to see if he can shut down Sergeant Hamish Macbeth's station things go horribly wrong.  For starters everyone in Lochdubh spots Cyril Sessions for exactly what he is and refuse to give him the information he and Blair want.  Things get worse when Sessions is found dead from a shotgun blast to the chest.  Things begin to lead away from Macbeth when a strange phone number is found in one of the last places Sessions was and the new Scottish police forces finds themselves embroiled in a very sinister mystery where it becomes hard to tell who the enemy really is.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  While I have read several of Beaton's Agatha Raisin books this is my first Macbeth.  There is a lot of back story for this character.  There are 2 past fiances and an ex kind of stalker as well as a rocky history with DCI Blair and who knows what else.  While I was able to still read and enjoy this book I think I would've enjoyed it more if I had started earlier in the series. That being said the mystery was very interesting and not to coincidence based which is one of my pet peeves.  Each link in the story is added due to something uncovered either in an interview or other form of investigation.  The story did meander a bit and the end seemed unnecessary to the core story though it was pretty funny in a very dark kind of way.  There are some very serious subjects presented but they are handled with a very light hand and would be fine for mystery readers who tend to stick to cozies.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes, I think any cozy mystery reader would enjoy it.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes though I would recommend starting with an earlier book.

The Outcast Dead - Review

The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Forensic archaelogist, Ruth Galloway, finds herself submerged in a Victorian mystery when the remains of a murderess known as Mother Hook are discovered.  Much to her dislike she now finds herself on a popular crime show involving the case.  At the same time DCI Harry Nelson finds himself dealing what he believes is a simple but tragic case of a mother killing her own children.  However, when someone who calls himself the Childminder takes credit and another child is killed things begin to take on a more sinister look.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression: I love archaeological mysteries and this one didn't disappoint.  I thought Galloway was tough but still likable and Nelson was sympathetic.  The top of the mystery was horrible but it was handled well without too much extra angst.  The historical element was great.  The main thing that kept this from being a 4 star book for me was Griffiths' use of present tense.  Instead of saying "Ruth walked to her car" it would be "Ruth walks to her car".  It made the pacing feel very rushed and took me awhile to get used to.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes!  Now that I've gotten used to the tense she uses I've added all her previous books to my TBR

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes!  If you like Deborah Crombie I think you'd like this one.

Blackberry Pie Murder - Review

Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Hannah Swenson is used to finding dead bodies but has yet to be the reason they're deceased.  Until now that it is, when a tragic yet unavoidable leaves a man dead on the side of a back road during a terrible storm Hannah has no choice but to find out who he was and what really happened.  Between feeling guilty and wanting to clear her name the town of Lake Eden is once again involved in another murder investigation.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression: Joanne Fluke is one of those names that you see around if you read cozies for any length of time but this is the first one of hers that I've picked up.  All the titles involve food and I was a little worried the mystery itself would be to cutesy because of the titles.  What I found instead was a well done mystery filled with likable characters.  The mystery itself did take a turn into some darker elements in life and those were handled well despite a somewhat artificial feel.  Hannah's mother, Deloris's wedding is an entertaining side plot.  The love triangle doesn't feel very love triangle-y and it was a mystery to me why Hannah hadn't made up her mind as it seemed kind of obvious.  There were 2 elements that kept it from being a 4 star book.  One was the exercise machine. It just felt so random and unnecessary and yet so much time seemed to be spent talking about it.  Also, the ending had a cliffhanger aspect which didn't seemed very abrupt.  I actually went back and reread the last pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything.  Hannah actually does work at her bakery which is a nice change from many cozy amateur sleuths who never actually seem to do their jobs.  The recipes look amazing which isn't normally something I think when reading a book with recipes.  Fluke has a cookbook I've seen bouncing around the library that I'm going to have to track down.  All in all, this is a fun, light, well done mystery and while it isn't the perfect the pros far outweigh the cons.  The good thing for me is she has a tremendous back list I get to read now!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, to any cozy mystery lover.

The Mangle Street Murders - Review

The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  After the death of her father, 19 year old March Middleton, goes to live with her unknown godfather and new legal guardian, the famous detective, Sidney Grice.  March is intelligent, compassionate and quick on her feet. Grice is surly, arrogant and believes that women should be seen and not heard.  When a woman arrives at their home to beg Grice to investigate the murder of her daughter and prove her son-in-law innocent Grice and March quickly find themselves at odds.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  I was expecting a clean British procedural type mystery like Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers.  What I got was a Sherlock Holmes type character with a glass eye with an interest only in justice and a young woman who truly wants to help. Grice is Holmes-like in the fact that he is perfectly aware of his brilliant and doesn't care about making others feel better.  There is no hidden heart of gold here or sudden burst of kindness.  He cares for his reputation as a detective but doesn't care if people like him.  March is easy to relate too.  She's a mix of tough and compassion and is anxious to not just find justice but to make things right.  She dislikes her guardian but admires his brain.  He dislikes her but she earns a tiny bit of respect when she is able to deal with dead bodies without flinching.  The mystery isn't really a who-dunnit and is much more of a did he do it?  All this happens against the dark, dank, crime filled backdrop of turn of the century London.  There were a few things that jarred me while reading this book.  I didn't particularly care for the letters or journal entries that ended a few chapters.  While it provided a deeper look into March's past there wasn't really enough to serve a purpose.  Also, an earlier murder becomes important to the conclusion.  I had to flip back to find the details because it had only been mentioned at the beginning.  The conclusion was wrapped up nicely and had kept me guessing through the book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:   Yes, I think these characters have a lot of potential to make a fascinating series.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, but I think I would be very clear that this is not a cozy.

Agatha Christie Challenge Review - Tommy and Tuppence

I finished the last book of Christie's Tommy and Tuppence series with a sigh of relief last night.  This series is her shortest spanning over her entire writing career.  It's probably also her least known.  Sometimes I discover little known books or authors and wonder why they're not better known.  Not the case with this one.  Two are good and the rest are just okay.  I'd probably only recommend these to the serious Christie fan and they'd already know about them.

The Secret Adversary (1922)
This is Christie's second book and the book where we meet Tommy and Tuppence for the first time.  It begins as the childhood friends run into each other on the street in London.  Both are looking for work after World War 1.  He is a decommissioned solider and she a former nurse/driver.  They're bored, they're broke and they decide to go into business together.  Soon they're swept up in espionage,  criminal masterminds, and American millionaires.  It's definitely not her best but it's a fun adventure story and would be a great one to introduce Christie to younger readers.  It's also free on Kindle right now.  4 Stars

Partners in Crime (1929)
It's been 6 years since we last saw Tommy and Tuppence.  They're now happily married.  Tommy has an office job and Tuppence is trying her hand at being the perfect housewife.  They are given the opportunity to run a private investigator's office while looking for spies.  This sets into motion a series of connected short stories.  They try to reenact the methods of a classic detective in each chapter.  I'd heard of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot and that's about it.  This book didn't age particularly well and is probably best left to Christie fans.  3 Stars

N or M? (1941)
Tommy and Tuppence are now middle aged and frustrated with their inability to find a way to help at the start of World War 2.  Luckily their espionage past comes back to help them out and they are sent to a boarding house on the coast to sniff out a spy.  This is a solid mystery set in wartime England.  The struggle Tommy and Tuppence have to find their place in this war after being so involved in the last one is interesting and not something I've ever really thought about.  There are some classic red herrings and misdirections.  This one's good but a little slow.  3 Stars.

By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968)
This book mostly features Tuppence with Tommy coming in towards the end.  The main problem with this one is that it is coincidence piled onto coincidence.  Tommy and Tuppence visit Tommy's elderly aunt who happens to send Tuppence out of the room who happens to sit next to another elderly woman who happens to say something disturbing who happens to give Tommy's aunt a picture and disappear which happens to be of a house that Tuppence has seen which happens to lead to a mystery which happens to connect back to the disturbing comment.  The mystery itself is interesting with a good Christie twist and is entertaining if you can get past all of the coincidences.  Under no circumstances should anyone watch the movie which is on AmazonPrime.  It has Miss Marple in it which I thought would could be a good thing but it was very very bad.  I'm okay with some changes of plot if the story stays true to the character but this one made Tuppence a drunk and their marriage strained.  It also made the mystery even weaker.  3 Stars.

Postern of Fate (1973)
This is the last novel Christie wrote so I try to cut it some slack but unfortunately I lost count of the number of times I said "Wait, What??" and gave up trying to go back and figure something out.  If I had to describe this book in one word that word would be Confused.  The mystery, the plot, the characters, the time line and myself as the reader were all confused.  I've read this three times and each time I keep hoping it will make sense but it never does.  Tommy and Tuppence move into a home when the retire and find evidence of a murder that occurred sometime in the house's past.  Sometimes it seems like the murder took place around World War 1 and sometimes they're talking about it taking place in someone's Grandmother's time which would be around 1840.  I still haven't figured out why Tuppence riding a toy horse and cart down a hill makes sense or who exactly was trying to kill them in present day.  If I wasn't trying to read all the Christie's in 1 year I wouldn't have finished this one.  1 Star.

After the confusion of Postern of Fate and the astounding number of coincidences in By the Pricking of My Thumbs I'm looking forward to starting a new series.  Next up will be her Stand Alone books starting with the 1920s.

Cocaine Blues - Review

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  This is the first book in the Phryne Fisher series.  Hard nosed and logical Phryne solves a mystery at a dinner party and is quickly begged to go to Australia to check on a wealthy and influential couple's married daughter who has been ill under mysterious circumstances.  There she is embroiled in a hunt to catch a brutal and illegal abortionist and the primary cocaine distributor.  Along the way interesting side characters are introduced with Dr. Elizabeth MacDonald, Dot the maid looking for revenge, and 2 cabdrivers - Bert and Cec.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  I love the 1920s time period but have never been able to find a series that I really enjoyed.  I read some of Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series and while I enjoyed the first one I got tired of everything linking back to World War 1 and the emotional turmoil.  Greenwood's Fisher is much lighter without being silly.  Phyrne is very independent and quick thinking but with just enough commonsense and kindness to keep her from being too prickly.  The mystery was well done if a bit vague.  There is a lot of talking about clothes and fashion which I enjoyed and thought fit with Phryne's character and into the story line but some might find that tedious.  All in all I thought Greenwood presented an interesting character and setting and managed to not make the time period overwrought and silly.  I don't know why it took me so long to discover this one but it definitely won't take me as long to continue with the series!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes - the Kindle edition is only $.99 right now!

Brooklyn Graves - Review

Brooklyn Graves by Triss Stein


Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Single mother and PhD candidate Erica Donato has her hands full between her job at a museum, her studies and her 15 year old daughter Chris.  When her friend and the father of Chris's best friend is found murdered she finds herself trying to provide comfort to Chris and the man's family while also trying to get some answers.  She doesn't have time to deal with arrogant Tiffany expert Dr. Flint of the project he drops on her lap.  However, she does find herself intrigued with the letters from an unknown "Tiffany Girl".  Soon the search for old secrets coincide with new tragedies and Erica finds herself caught in the middle.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  I really enjoyed this mystery.  I loved the look back into history through the letters especially as it was an era and industry that I don't know that much about.  Erica is ambitious, smart, kind and flawed all at once.  She tries to be a good mother and a good student but doesn't' always get it right.  I really loved that she didn't exhibit any beyond stupid investigative behavior and didn't seem to feel that she had the right to ask whoever she wanted want ever she wanted.  This is a pet peeve of mine with amateur detectives.  It drives me nuts when a character barges in and demands people answer questions when they have no reason to ask them.  It also drives me nuts when characters exhibit To Stupid To Live behavior.  I read a book once where the woman brought her 3 year old son to a confrontation with someone she knew was a murderer completely by herself telling no one where she was.  Anyway, that's another rant.  Erica didn't do any of this.  When it looked like her questions were pointing towards the Russian mob she stepped away and let the police handle it.  When she did let curiosity get the best of her she admitted that that had been stupid.  The only thing I didn't like about her was her relationship with her father.  I felt there was a little too much time caught up with what felt like teenage temper tantrums regarding him when he wasn't really doing anything particularly awful or controlling.  I thought Erica was better than that.  All and all this was a good book, the mystery was wrapped up satisfactorily and the link between past and present was done well.  This is the 2nd in a series but can be read on its own.  In fact, I didn't even know it was part of a series until I looked it up online.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  Yes, in fact I'm going to go hunt up the first in the series.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes

Deadly Ambitions - Review

Deadly Ambition by Laura Bradford

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  After a hurricane devastates reporter Elise Burn's hometown, Ocean Point on the Jersey Shore, she has done her best to encourage small business owners to reopen.  This hits a snag when a string of burglaries hits a number of businesses right before they reopen. When robbery turns to murder and Elise's obnoxious intern Ryan is found at the scene Elise suddenly has her hands full.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  This is the first book I've read by Bradford and while it was obvious that there were books before this one they were not necessary to understand the plot of this entry.  I loved Elise.  Her doubts about being up to the task felt realistic but at the same time she was smart and very logical.  I liked that Mitch was willing to listen and didn't treat her like an idiot.  The mystery itself wrapped up nicely and while I had a few guesses about what the ending would be it wasn't extremely obvious.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes definitely

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes

Reunion with Death - Review

Reunion with Death by Sheila Connolly

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Laura Shumway was excited to go on a 40th college reunion trip with 40 of her college classmates in Italy.  She was looking forward to doing something for herself,  seeing the sights of Italy that she had studied as an Art History major and reconnecting with old classmates.  A dead former professor really didn't play a role in her vision.  Especially when it turned out that the dead former professor had a very sleazy past and may have been helped to his death.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  Connolly is one of my absolute favorite mystery authors.  I love both her orchard and museum series and read them as soon as I get them.  This book didn't really live up to her other books.  The pacing of the book didn't really keep me turning pages.  The ending itself while it explained what happened wasn't particularly satisfying.  Also, with 40+ characters it was hard to keep everyone straight and really understand their motives.  On the plus side, I did like Laura and Cynthia and the way the handled the investigation did make sense.  I always hate when people who have no business asking questions go running around being extremely nosy and nobody really seems to blink.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: I might recommend the series but I would definitely recommend the author.

Would I Recommend this Book?: Not at full price but definitely if available on a Daily Deal or through the library.

*I received the book through NetGalley for review purposes.

Christmas Mysteries by MacLeod, Sanders, et.al - Review

Christmas Mysteries by Various Authors

Rating: 3 Stars

Description: This is a collection of 13 stories - 10 Christmas and 3 New Year's - from a large selection of authors.  Some are classic mystery writers and some are much newer.  Most are American but a few are British.  All take place around Christmas/New Year's though most have very little to do with the actual holiday.

My Impression: These were excerpts and not short stories so there was no complete plot with the exception of the Charlotte MacLeod story.  It was a nice way to get to know a number of different authors.  I've been a long time fan of Patricia Wentworth and Dorothy Sayers but it's been years since I read Charlotte MacLeod so it was nice to be reminded of her.  I will probably also be searching out other books from Jane Langton and Gillian White.  I did not care for Ellery Queen or Lawrence Sanders though.

*This book was obtained free from Netgalley for review purposes.

Book, Line and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay - Review

Book, Line and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  In this 3rd entry in McKinlay's library series treasure hunters have come to Briar Creek, Connecticut.  The town is divided between wanting the jobs and tourists that unearthing pirate treasure could provide and wanting to maintain the pristine environment on the surrounding islands.  When the Tourism Director and driving force in getting the treasure hunters to come to Briar Creek is found dead suspicion is everywhere.  Lindsey Norris, the local librarian, has enough on her hands with all this chaos plus regular library business when her ex-fiance shows up in town to try and get back together.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  I love this series and this book was as enjoyable as could be expected.  This is in the cozy mystery genre so there are some plot holes and the ending was a little rushed.  One thing I like is that Lindsey is neither completely perfect or the expert on everything but also isn't so hung up on flaws or issues she can't see anything else which so often happens in this type of book.  I didn't love the ending with Sully but I suspect it will all get worked out in the next book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes.  I'm on the waiting list for the next book in this series and I have most of her cupcake series waiting for me.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes

Fire Engine Dead by Sheila Connolly - Review

Fire Engine Dead by Sheila Connolly

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  In an ironic twist the storage building containing the Fire Museum's collection burn.  Included in the collection was an antique fire engine donated by the grandfather of one of the biggest donors to the Philadelphia Antiquarian Society.  When the donor demands Nell look into the what happened to the fire engine Nell can't really say no.  It quickly becomes apparent that things aren't quite as they seem.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  I always enjoy Connolly's writing and her museum series is no different.  I get a little extra fun out of this series because I worked at a museum for 7 years and the discussions of staffing, funding and collection worries is very familiar.  The mystery is the central issue of the book but there is some space given to Nell's dealing with her staff and new hires and her developing (slowly) relationship with FBI agent James.  The mystery came to a satisfactory conclusion though it did feel a little rushed.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  Yes, the author and series are some of my favorites

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes.

What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie - Review

What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Medium M.J. Holliday and the rest of the crew of the show Ghoul Getters find themselves at an extremely haunted castle in Wales.  When M.J. and Heath have a near death experience at the hands of the castle's Grim Widow and other castle guest start showing up dead in the moat is it possible to get rid of the nasty spirit, get the footage they need to keep their show going, and leave the castle alive?

Genre: Mystery

My Impression: I've always found Laurie's books to be really fun though not necessarily the best written.  However, in both of her series the slightly annoying side character has become a REALLY annoying side character.  By about halfway through this one I absolutely could not understand why M.J. had not packed Gilley up and sent him back to the U.S. or given him to the widow.  There was absolutely nothing redeemable about him whatsoever.  Laurie also has a tendency to make her lead characters know everything about everything and it definitely got to be a little much in this book.  Find a strange button on the ground?  Don't worry M.J. is a button expert, need advice on running a castle turned hotel in Wales?  Don't worry M.J. knows all about that.  Need to solve a non-ghost related murder?  M.J. once again to the rescue.  It got a little old to say the least.  The second half of the book improved a bit and even though the conclusion was a little hurried I thought it was an interesting way to explain everything both on a ghost and non-ghost level.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: I probably shouldn't since the last few have annoyed me so much but I probably will end up at least trying them.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  No, not really unless you really LOVE hauntings.

The White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham - Review

The White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham

Rating: 2 Stars

Description:  When Jerry, the son of Chief Inspector Challenor, gives a pretty girl a ride home he doesn't expect much to come of it.  However, shortly after dropping the girl off he and his father end up back at the girl's home investigating a murder.  It'd be easier to list the people who didn't want to kill the murdered man then those who don't but Chief Inspector Challenor struggles on to find out what happened.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  The best I can say about this book was that I didn't dislike it.  It didn't particularly interest me but it wasn't a chore to read.  It helped that it was short.  Unfortunately, I found this book completely forgettable.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  I may try one of her Campion books but I'm not hunting one up anytime soon.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  No

Dead and Berried by Karen MacInerney - Review

Dead and Berried by Karen MacInerney

Rating: 2 Stars

Description:  Natalie has enough on her plate running her inn on Cranberry Island in Maine without an annoying guest, a disappearing housekeeper, a collection of cats, a reappearing ex-fiance, a falling out with her best friend and a murdered minister.  Can she keep her relationship with John afloat, figure out what happened to Polly, keep her annoying guest from running her out of business and keep Charlene from being arrested for murder?

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  There are aspects of this book I liked.  Natalie is nice and doesn't make to stupid to live choices, the atmosphere of the island and the food seem amazing.  The small subplot involving the history of the inn and a potential ghost were right up my alley but it was a little random and seemed like just extra filler for the book.  Natalie desperately needs to find a new friend.  Charlene is just an awful person and flat out mean to her.  She's definitely not someone to be counted on when things go wrong for Natalie yet expects Natalie to save the day when things go wrong for Charlene.  There was also a lot of clutter in the book.  There was a lot of time taken up with Candy and Benjamin but nothing came of it except for a lot of wasted energy.  As for the ending I was surprised but I wasn't satisfied.  The end seemed kind of hectic and last minute.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Possibly, I have 3 in book form and 4 on the kindle but I probably wouldn't seek them out.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  No  

Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth - Review

Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  Shortly after his arrival back home after 20 years James Lessiter is found murdered.  The list of suspects is huge - the former fiance who is now the sole heir to his fortune, the widow who he is threatening to evict and prosecute for theft, the abandoned husband whose wife ran off with Lessiter years before, and the housekeeper with her criminal son.  Luckily, Miss Silver happens to be staying with a friend in the area and manages to get things under control.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  The Miss Silver series is one of my very favorite mystery series and this entry is no exception.  After reading a British mystery I truly disliked I had to go back to my favorites.  While the series is pretty light weight - lighter than Christie even - the mystery is always well done and the characters (with the general exception of the victim) are always likable.  This isn't my absolute favorite of the series but it's still a fun and satisfying read.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Definitely

Would I Recommend this Book?:  I would definitely recommend this author but maybe not this exact book to start off with.

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James - Review

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman

Rating: 1 Star

Description:  For her first job after the death of her business partner, Private Investigator Cordelia Gray, is hired to find out why wealthy Sir Ronald Callendar's son Mark committed suicide.  As the investigation progresses Cordelia becomes more emotionally invested in Mark and begins to wonder - what if it wasn't suicide at all?

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  P.D. James is one of the great mystery authors - up there with Christie and Sayers - but try as I might I just don't like her books.  I gave this one a try because I thought a new detective might be more enjoyable and it was short so I wouldn't have to slog through 500 pages to decide I didn't like it.  Instead I ended up slogging through 250 pages spending most of that time somewhat perplexed to decide I didn't like it.  The level of connection between Cordelia and Mark passes between odd to morbid.  She is staying in the cottage that he lived and and wearing his clothes, including the belt that he hanged himself or was hanged with.  I figured out the twist about 50 pages before it even came up in the plot and when a big villain reveal happened it took me way too long to remember who that person was.  There was very little to recommend with this book, I thought the characters were unlikable and boring and the mystery was convoluted.  It was impossible to believe that Sir Ronald would go out of his way to hire someone to figure out his son's death.  After 250 pages I felt no more emotional attachment or level of interest to the characters and the story than I did at page 1.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: I shouldn't but I probably will.  I keep hoping I'll read one I like.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Absolutely not.

Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts - Review

Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  A serial killer dressed as a priest is targeting 20 something blond women in Washington DC.  To help catch the killer before the body count grows higher the mayor sends in psychiatrist Tess Court who happens to be a blond 20 something woman.  The serial killer starts to focus on Tess as she and the lead detective start to develop a relationship.

Genre: Romance because of the author but it's really more of a mystery

My Impression:  This was one of the first Roberts books I read and definitely the only 1980s novel of hers that I enjoyed.  I probably didn't enjoy this as much this time as I remember liking it last time.  The crime part is pretty good with plenty of creepy details.  I really loved Tess.  She is smart, driven and has a sense of humor.  She is aware of the need to detach from her patients but is frequently unable to do so.  She is aware that she can come of as to cold or clinical but is afraid to really let her full emotions show.  My primary problem with this book was Ben.  I loved his partner but Ben was a jerk.  He had a valid reason for being leery of her profession but his complete lack of respect for her as a person was pretty jarring.  The fact that she held up okay at a crime scene was a complete turn off to him to the point he stopped calling her (a physical relationship had already started at this point) and began dating another woman.  Towards the end of the book he actually says something along the lines of he may at some point see her profession as having value.  To me this did not bode well for a long term relationship and I thought Tess deserved much better.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Definitely more by this author but probably not of this series.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  No

House of Many Shadows by Barbara Michaels - Review

House of Many Shadows by Barbara Michaels

Rating:  4 Stars

Description:  23 year old New Yorker, Meg Rittenhouse is at the end of her rope after a head injury leaves her unable to work.  Luckily, distant and wealthy cousin Sylvia, swoops in and packs her off to to rural Pennsylvania Dutch country with the job of restoring one of Sylvia's homes.  Despite her hopes that the peace and quiet of the country will help her hallucinations they seem to be back and even stronger and to make it worse Andy, caretaker and step-son to Sylvia, sees them too.

Genre:  Mystery

My Impression: I've been in a serious reading slump so far this month and this is one of those books that always proves a quick read and jolts me out of my rut.  This is a fun read with history, creepy atmosphere and a little bit of romance.  My only real problem with the book is there is an event that happens maybe 100 pages into the book and its never completely resolved.  This happens in several of her books where something will happen that seems important or adds to mystery of the situation and then is never really explained.  As usual Michaels doesn't disappoint and I would pay serious money to go exploring the attic that Meg spends quite a bit of time in.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  Yes definitely!  This is one of my favorite authors.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes!

Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates - Review

Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Katie Lightfoot is dumped and unemployed so she moves to Savannah, Georgia to help her aunt and uncle open a bakery.  Things go terribly wrong when an awful woman with a lot of influence is found murdered right outside right after an argument with Katie's Uncle Ben.  To make things worse Ben is the prime and only suspect in the murder.  Also, turns out Katie's aunt is a witch and so is Katie.  Katie must settle in, get a business of the ground, keep her uncle from being framed for murder and figure out the whole witchcraft thing.

Genre:  Mystery

My Impression:  I like the setting and feel of this book.  The food was talked about enough without it being a primer on how to bake things where someone happened to die.  Katie is likable as our most of the other characters though I'm not too sold on the love triangle thing.  It reminded me a little to much of early Janet Evanovich's with the straight laced cop (in this case firefighter) and mysterious rebel.  I also liked that the police weren't total idiots and Katie generally had a decent reason for doing something stupid.  It was light and fluffy and enjoyable but not something I thought about when I wasn't reading it.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:   Yes, this was fun enough that I'm interested to see where the series goes and how the characters develop.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Probably not.  While it was a fun read it wasn't a standout.