What Cannot Be Said - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads:  What Cannot Be Said (A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery #19) by C.S. Harris

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

Description:  July 1815: The Prince Regent’s grandiose plans to celebrate Napoléon’s recent defeat at Waterloo are thrown into turmoil when Lady McInnis and her daughter Emma are found brutally murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in a chilling imitation of the stone effigies once found atop medieval tombs. Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy immediately turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for help with the investigation. For as Devlin discovers, Lovejoy’s own wife and daughter were also murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in the same bizarre postures. A traumatized ex-soldier was hanged for their killings. So is London now confronting a malicious copyist? Or did Lovejoy help send an innocent man to the gallows?

Aided by his wife, Hero, who knew Lady McInnis from her work with poor orphans, Devlin finds himself exploring a host of unsavory characters from a vicious chimney sweep to a smiling but decidedly lethal baby farmer. Also coming under increasing scrutiny is Sir Ivo McInnis himself, along with a wounded Waterloo veteran—who may or may not have been Laura McInnis’s lover—and a charismatic young violinist who moonlights as a fencing master and may have formed a dangerous relationship with Emma. But when Sebastian’s investigation turns toward man about town Basil Rhodes, he quickly draws the fury of the Palace, for Rhodes is well known as the Regent’s favorite illegitimate son.

Then Lady McInnis’s young niece and nephew are targeted by the killer, and two more women are discovered murdered and arranged in similar postures. With his own life increasingly in danger, Sebastian finds himself drawn inexorably toward a conclusion far darker and more horrific than anything he could have imagined.

Genre: Mystery - Historical    

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the previous books in the series so of course I had to pick this one up.

My Impression: I have really enjoyed the previous books that I've read in the series but I think this one might be my favorite one yet.  While the last few books have involved a more international angle this one was far more domestic involving the death of a mother and child.  This sets Devlin and Hero onto a journey of looking into workhouses and the treatment of children when they are apprenticing as well as diving into the history of Devlin's friend, Sir Henry Lovejoy.

This series tends not to be the fastest paced read but instead unfolds with the perfect amount of detail and character development.  I love Devlin and Hero as well as the people that surround them.  The characters are all smiles and sunshine.  Not all their relationships are smooth and they don't handle everything perfectly at all times which is kind of refreshing.  I like how they have evolved as a family and how other relationships have evolved as well.

The mystery really kept me guessing.  I had no idea how everything was going to work out or even why things were happening until almost the end but I enjoyed every page it took to get there.  While not central to the bulk of the plot there are still mentions as to what is going on in France which provides a nice bit of context in the time period.  I really enjoyed this book and this is a series I plan on continuing with.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I missed the first few books and am looking forward to going back and reading thiose as well as continuing with any future books in this series.  

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy historical mysteries where the setting isn't just window dressing this is a must read.  

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

My Library Loves List for 2024

 

Every year I pull up the random number generator (I love picking things with a random number generator!) and pick 10 books off the list I've saved on my library account.  I don't make it a goal to read all 10 as I don't want to over schedule myself as I do have a lot of projects going but I use it kind of as a guide.  Here are the 10 I picked (or the random number generator picked) for this year.  I don't know a huge about any of these but the blurb or cover caught my eye enough to add them to my Library TBR.

1.  The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clarke and Alafair Burke - I read this one and enjoyed it!

2.   17 Carnations: The Royals, the Nazis, and the Biggest Cover-up in History by Andrew Morton

3.  Murder by the Book: The Crime that Shocked Dickens's London by Claire Harman

3.  The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove by Cathy Erway

5.  Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis - I'm pretty sure I've read this but it's not on my Goodreads and I don't remember it so I figure it can't hurt to reread it.

6.  Go Ask Fannie by Elizabeth Hyde

7.  The Daughers of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase

8.  A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss

9.  Letal Licorice by Amanda Flower

10. With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson

Have you read any of these?  Any I should skip or move to the top of the pile?

Love at First Book - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads:  Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay

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

Description:  Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence.

Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around.

When Siobhan’s health takes a bad turn, she’s more determined than ever to finish her novel, while Kieran tries every trick in the book to get his mother to rest. Thrown into the role of peacemaker, Emily begins to see that Kieran's heart is in the right place. Torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her own growing feelings for the mercurial Irishman, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.

Genre:  Romance - Contemporary    

Why I Picked This Book:  I love this author's cozy mysteries and the premise of this one caught my eye so I had to give it a try.

My Impression: This was a fun grumpy/sunshine read while also dealing with some serious issues - especially about parent/child relationships.  Em has spent the bulk of her life taking care of her mother while sacrificing her own interests and even her health.  I loved her friend Sam and she was such a good friend and I also really liked that Em talked so openly and honestly about seeing a therapist.

Kieran (or Kier or Murphy) has a challenging family life as well though his issues aren't quite so obvious at first.  While I connected with Em almost immediately it took a bit longer to warm up to Kieran.  He's a bit sharp and reserved and isn't always the most sensitive in dealing with people.  I really enjoyed how he gravitates towards Em and how they bring out different sides of each other.  Their banter was fun without feeling over the top.  I was dreading a misunderstanding situation but it ended up not being too much of an issue thankfully.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  I really loved the side characters and the food mentions and frienships really added to the book.  I especially enjoyed that Em doesn't say she's a reader but she talks knowledgely about books that she has read and it is clear just how much she loves Siobhan's books.  This is the first romance I've read from this author but it definitely won't be the last.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to reading more of her mysteries and romances.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy bookish romances this is a must read!

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

This Week in Reading - 5/12

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:

A New Lease on Death - I really enjoy another series by this author so I couldn't resist this one - especially since it involves ghosts!  (Publisher)

Shock and Paw by Cate Conte - I've read a book in this series and enjoyed it so I decided to pick this one up as well.  If I enjoy this one as much as the previous one it's going on my series list to finish. (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  What Cannot Be Said by C.S. Harris and Run! by Patricia Wentworth

Listening:  No One Needs to Know by Kevin O'Brien

We were in Williamsburg, Virginia last week and had such a good time!  We spent a day at Yorktown, 2 days at Colonial Williamsburg, a day at Jamestown and a day at the Colonial Williamsburg art musuems (we let Will stay at the hotel that day - he would not have enjoyed it!).  It was a fun vacation and Will learned a good bit so it works as a field trip too - the beauty of homeschooling!  I've already got a list of places I want to go that we werent' able to get to for our next trip to the area.  

While we had such a good time it's been so good to be home and getting back into our regular routines.  We had some crazy storms this week but thankfully no real damage.  I have a break from obedience classes next week and am so looking forward to being a bit lazy and getting some extra reading done.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

Death on the Agenda - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: Death on the Agenda (Henry Tibbett #3) by Patricia Moyes

Rating: Liked It (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Representing Britain at an international conference on drug smuggling, Inspector Henry Tibbett must investigate the fatal stabbing of an important conference official

Genre: Mystery - Classic 

Why I Picked This Book:  I read a few books in this series years ago and really enjoyed it so I've gone back and am trying to read them in order.

My Impression:  For the most part this was a really fun mystery.  I really liked seeing a few characters from the first book in the Henry Tibbett series.  I really liked the international conference element with people from all over the world but no real connection to each other.  Since no one, for the most part, has any past with any of the other people it is hard to know who to trust.  

The wrap up of the mystery was a surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed the reveal and the process of the unraveling.  This book would have been easily 4 stars for me except for one incident that happened later in the book.  It didn't seem necessary - especially as there was no ulterior motive.  It left me seriously disappointed in Henry and wondering why Emmy put up with him at all.  

Overall, this is a good mystery with a likable (until the last part) main character - I just wish Henry would have made a different decision towards the end.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Yes but it may be a bit.  I've really loved this series and the mystery was good.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy classic mysteries this is a good series.  

Friday Fives - Five Books Set in Virginia

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  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.  We just got back from a vacation in Virigina and like I did last vacation I'm listing 5 books that I'd like to read that take place in Virginia.

1.  Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams - This series has been on my TBR and on my bookshelf for ages.  It looks wonderful.

2.  Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews - This actually takes place in Yorktown, Virginia which is one of the places we visited.  It's also one of my favorite cozy mystery series and I only have one book to read before I get to this one in the series so I need to get reading!

3.  Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano -  This book sounds completely fun in a completely bonkers kind of way!

4.  Haunted by Heather Graham - I've heard mixed reviews on this book but I typically enjoy Graham's books and this one involves ghosts and a Colonial-era estate so it sounds fun.

5.  The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges - This book only partly takes place in Virginia but I say that counts and I really want to read this one.

Have you read any of these?  Any favorite books that take place in Virginia?

Books from the Backlog - Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock

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:  Mrs. Jeffries Takes Stock (A Victorian Mystery #4) by Emily Brightwell

Blurb: Inspector Witherspoon has never come up against a case which he couldn't solve . . . with the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries. But now he's confronted with a bewlidering murder. It seems as though the victim has cheated his stockholders out of a fortune, which leaves each of them with a strong motive for the crime. So Mrs Jeffries is confronted with a complex brew of murder and high finance. This time even she might not manage to add it all up . . .

This charming series of Victorian murder mysteries features mild-mannered Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard and, more importantly, Mrs Jeffries, his housekeeper. A policeman's widow herself, her quick wits allow her to nudge the Inspector in the right direction to solve the crime.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I've read and really enjoyed all of the most recent books in this series and am trying to catch up on the earlier books.  This is the next one I have to read.