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.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books that Make You Cry

Today's Top Ten List from The Broke and the Bookish is the Top Ten Books that Make you Cry.  I've been searching my mind trying to come up with books that make me cry for days.  This one was challenging for me since I tend to avoid books that will make me cry like the plague.



1.  Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

Cried doesn't seem quite strong enough.  I sobbed, wept through pretty much this entire book.  I don't know if it's  having teenagers or having a four year old but even though I've read this book about Anne's children going to war it's never affected me quite like it did a few months ago.  This wasn't just teared up - this was openly weeping to the point if I read more than a chapter or so a night my eyes would be swollen the next day.

2. Marley and Me by Josh Grogan - This is another one I sobbed during.  I cried so hard at the ending that J wouldn't believe I was that upset over  a book.

3.  The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom - I resisted reading this book for awhile despite having a friend strongly recommending it.  I was afraid it would be preachy but it was wonderful.

4.   Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - This one isn't sobbing but there are scenes that cannot be read without crying.

5.  The Shell Seekers by Rosamunce Pilcher - This one doesn't affect me quite like it used too but I read this book to pieces in high school and college.

6.  Love Story by Erich Segal - I cannot even think about this book without remembering the story a friend told me about how she was reading in class and as she was getting to the ending she all of a sudden remembered the first line and spent the rest of the time torn between not being able to put the book down and not wanting to get caught reading (and crying in class).

7.  Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult - I read this for a book club a few years ago and I have mixed feelings about it.  I cried but I felt so manipulated that I was mad about it.

8.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - The scene with Rue's death. Oh the tears.

9.  The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn - I know I'm in the minority here but I loved this one.  And cried quite a few times.

10. She: The Old Woman Who Took Over My Life by Kathryn Tucker Windham - this is Windham's final book as she looks back over her life.  She died before it was finished.

Crusin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge 2014

This is my last reading challenge!  Really it is!  Actually it probably isn't. I have a tendency to overdue things and apparently challenges are no exception.  When I saw The Crusin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge on Socrates' Book Reviews I just couldn't resist.  I think I've been reading cozies since I could read and they probably make up the largest section of my TBR shelves.  So I'm signing up for Super Sleuth (13 - 20) and am hoping for the best.  I think I'm even more excited about reading the reviews from other cozy readers.

So I think I'm at 4 Challenges - Ireland, Foodie, TBR and this one.  That seems perfectly manageable right?

At the River's Edge - Review

At the River's Edge by Mariah Stewart

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  After Sophie Enright catches her long time boyfriend in a compromising situation with a coworker she heads home to St. Dennis to take a look at her life.  She realizes she misses her family and is becoming dissatisfied with her career as a prosecutor.  She decides a move is in order to be closer to her family and to pursue her dream of owning a cafe.
She meets landscaper Jason Bowers and sparks begin to fly.  However, when it seems like their dreams may contradict each other can they make it work?

Genre: Romance/Fiction

My Impression:  Mariah Stewart has long been one of my go-to author with her more suspenseful books but I've really enjoyed the softer change of pace with the Chesapeake Diaries.  I read the first of the series in December (review) and enjoyed it.  Normally I don't mind reading books out of  order but I think this is a series that would be better if read in order.  There is so much of the town's history and family relationships that are explored little by little in each book that it's a much deeper, more developed read if read in order. I loved Jason, he's intense with his own baggage but still is able to develop healthy positive relationships with people.  I like that he does what he feels is the right thing in regards to Curtis and Logan. I found Sophie a little less likable and all the secret keeping from her family got a little annoying.  However, I love that Stewart makes very different characters for each of her books and it's not the same type over and over just in different situations.  I also love her ability to draw a warm and friendly town environment without being overly cutesy or over the top drama.  The characters aren't perfect but are all the more realistic for that.  This is warm comfortable reading - perfect for a rainy day with a cozy blankets and hot chocolate.  I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

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

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, but I think it's better if you read them in order.

Take Control of Your TBR March 2014 Challenge!

Lately I've been swamped with e-books and Agathas and my TBR pile is definitely starting to overflow.  It doesn't help that my wishlist on Paperback Swap is still up an running.  When I came upon the Take Control of Your TBR Challenge I couldn't pass it up!

This will actually help me with my Irish and Foodie Challenges too. Plus, I'm kind of missing real books and am quickly running out of bookcase space.

So starting March 1st I'm switching over to TBR reading.  I've already got a list going in my head!

Showcase Sunday

I found this link up at Book Biscuits and Tea and had to join.  I love the idea of tracking my incoming books every week.

This week I didn't manage to pick up any paper books though not for lack of trying.  I'm anxiously waiting a paperback or two from Paperback Swap and a cookbook I ordered from Amazon.  At the library several books tried to jump into to my bag but I fought them off and just got some books to read to the Tornado.

I did manage to make up for that in e-ARCs from Netgalley.  Some of these I requested awhile ago and are just now getting approved and some were new requests.

My Irish Table by Cathal Armstrong and David Hagedorn

I've flipped through this one and marked a few recipes to try.  Lots of interesting recipes especially sides, breads and desserts.

Death of a Policeman by M.C. Beaton

I've read 1 or 2 of hers through the years and enjoyed them though I don't remember much about them.  I don't think I've ever read any of the Hamish MacBeth series so I'm looking forward to it.

Delancey: A Man, A Woman, A Restaurant, A Marriage by Molly Wizenberg

There were squeals of joy and some bad dancing when I got the approval for this one.  I LOVED A Homemade Life so much that it made the short list of books I allowed myself to keep.  Can't wait to start reading this one.

My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories by David Lebovitz

Another food book.  Love the cover of this one and got him confused with Dave Lieberman who I liked when he was on Food Network.  

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

It's a British mystery with a Private Detective and his ward.  Couldn't pass it up.

January Wrap Up

I was 1 short for making my goal of 15 book this month.  I actually read 1 more non-Christie book than I expected but came up 3 short on the Christie books.  The last 2 definitely drug a bit with slowed me down.

1. Secret Adversary
2. Partners in Crime
3. N or M?
4. By the Pricking of My Thumbs
5. Postern of Fate  (Review for the Series)
6. Once in a Lifetime - Jill Shalvis  (Review)
7.  When We Touch - Brenda Novak (Review)
8.  The Tastemakers: Why We're Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up With Fondue - David Sax (Review)
9.   The Tyrant's Daughter - J.C. Carleson (Review)
10. Scandalously Yours - Cara Elliot  (Review)
11. Queen of Hearts - Colleen Oakes (Review)
12. The Return of the Rogue - Sabrina Jeffries (Review)
13. Cocaine Blues - Kerry Greenwood (Review)
14. Brooklyn Graves - Triss Stein (Review)

With the exception of the last Christie book I enjoyed every book I read this month which is a nice change from the last 2 or 3 months.

Favorite Book: Either The Tastemakers or Return of the Rogue

Most Unexpected: The Tyrant's Daughter.  Completely not what I thought it was going to be and was so much better because of that.

Book I've Recommended the Most - The Tastemakers or Queen of Hearts.  The concept for Queen of Hearts is just amazing.