Tag: mystery

REVIEW: A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes

REVIEW: A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Callie Reed arrives at her Aunt Mel’s music box store in “Keepsake Cove” for a long overdue reunion. But before they have time to do much catching up, Mel is dead and Callie has inherited her aunt’s store and cottage.

Callie’s not convinced Mel’s death was an accident. While she tries to get settled into her new home and learn about her new business, she also tries to get to know the folks in town. Maybe she can figure out who might have wanted to hurt her aunt.

There are several odd things going on around town. The town treasurer seems to go on more expensive vacations and buy expensive “toys” than his business should be able to support. The guy doing odd jobs around town seems menacing. And Callie’s business “neighbor” is openly hostile and only seems interested in buying out the music box shop and being horrible. Callie has her hands full trying to determine what really happened to Aunt Mel.

Review

This is the first book in the new Keepsake Cove mystery series. The setting is fantastic. The little collectible stores are quaint and quirky. It makes for lots of interesting characters for the town and reasons for lots of people to come through as visitors for future stories.

I loved the main characters. Callie is great and the friends she made in this first book created a solid supporting cast. Her quirky part timer with “psychic” gifts and Tarot readings made for some interesting impacts on the plot. The characters were introduced at a comfortable pace so the reader could keep track of everyone. This is a town and a group of people I’d love to spend more time with.

The mystery was solid. I was able to figure out the solution before the end. I enjoyed working through the clues and possible suspects. While I enjoy mysteries with a little magic or fantasy thrown in, I am not a fan of Tarot and other things that could be considered “occultish.” So that might keep me from reading more in the series in the future. I would have enjoyed the book just as much without that piece in the story.

Thanks to the folks at Netgalley and Midnight Ink for an electronic review copy of this book offered in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Canal Days Calamity by Jamie M. Blair

REVIEW: Canal Days Calamity by Jamie M. Blair

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

As Cameron – Cam – amps up the preparation for Canal Days in Metamora, Indiana, she stumbles across the body of a local. She doesn’t even recognize the man at first. She certainly is NOT getting involved in another murder.

When the police arrest her friend and handyman, Andy, for the murder, Cam has to get involved. And her team, the Metamora Action Agency – two high school seniors and two senior citizens – are ready to start questioning suspects, too.

Cam has a lot more on her plate than a murder! There’s her house full of rowdy dogs, her sister’s business launch, her mom’s visit, new fellas in her mom’s life and her sister’s, her power struggle with her mother-in-law, and parenting her teenage stepdaughter while dating her estranged husband. Not to mention the Canal Days event for the whole town. Cam will need to watch her step as she negotiates it all while hunting for a murderer – or she could be the next victim.

Review

This is book two in the Dog Days Mystery series, but the first  book I’ve read. Because of this, I felt overwhelmed at the start of the book. There are a LOT of characters and businesses in this setting. I needed a list to keep track of everything. I wonder if I had read book one first if I would have had an easier time.

Once I had a handle on the characters, I fell in love with them. The relationships are quirky and complicated, in the best ways. I cared about what happened to these folks, which makes me want to go back and read book one and continue following the series. I’ve read several “good” mysteries lately, but my connection with these characters made this story “great.”

The mystery was good. I was surprised that the body was founds SO early. We hadn’t even met the character before he died. It made me feel invested in the case right from the first chapter.

I’m eager to read book one, Deadly Dog Days, and to tell other mystery fans to check out this series! Thanks to Netgalley and the folks at Midnight Ink for providing an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. This book releases next Tuesday, November 8th.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

REVIEW: The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

On the way home one night, a priest passes by the scene of a car accident. No one is hurt, so she continues on. Shortly thereafter, she comes across a body. A dragon, clinging to life. “Father Penny” administers last rites, heads home, and resolves to reconsider her drinking habits. She’s obviously hallucinating.

Except she’s not. Penny is a rare human who has encountered a creature from Lloegyr, the equivalent of England in a parallel world where dragons, vampires, elves and such exist. With her love of Dr. Who and enough familiarity with Buffy the Vampire Slayer to fill her 55,000 word Master’s thesis, Penny is the perfect choice to be Vicar of General Incursions. Serving as Vicar means Penny would work with the church leadership of both worlds on instances where creatures from either side ended up in the other and problems ensued.

One of the first problems Father Penny has to address is her dead dragon, who appears to have died from poison rather than the car accident.

Review

I agreed to review this at the request of the author who provided an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. I rarely agree to such requests, but I enjoy fantasy stories and dragons and such, so I said I would give it a try. The book was a pleasant surprise!

This was so fun to read. The pop culture references were enjoyable and the characters were fascinating. I loved Father Penny. While my faith didn’t line up all the time with the book, I found the faith pieces genuine and moving. Penny is honest and earnest about the challenges and blessings in her calling. The other major characters are terrific – the humans, dragons, gryphons, and “snail sharks” (Clyde, the baby snail shark, is adorable in so many ways – and terrifying in others).

The story was delightfully layered. There was the human layer of Penny and her brother and their grief over Penny’s husband. Then there was the layer of world building for the fantasy characters/lands. Romance – or potential romance – creates another layer. And finally, there is the poison/murder plot layer. Each part was nuanced and enjoyable. I’m so glad I had the chance to read this! I’m looking forward to checking out the other two books in the series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Mabel Opal Pear and the Rules for Spying by Amanda Hosch

REVIEW: Mabel Opal Pear and the Rules for Spying by Amanda Hosch

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mabel’s parents are spies. Specifically, they  are “Cleaners.” They go in after another spy leaves a problem in the course of their work. Mabel loves that they do such cool, important work. But she likes it even better when they’re home. Then, she and her mom work in the family’s collectible spoon museum. Her dad works on phone lines in Mount Rainier National Park. When her parents are home, her Aunt Gertie doesn’t have to leave Mabel “pity” cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

When Mabel’s parents get called away on a new mission, Aunt Gertie doesn’t show up to stay with Mabel. She wakes up to her horrible Uncle Frank and Aunt Stella and torturous cousin, Victoria, instead. Mabel’s own spy senses know something is really wrong. Gertie has been arrested. Frank and Stella are beyond desperate to get into the spoon museum, and a Washington Border Patrol agent insists that Mabel’s family members are thieves. Mabel will have to follow her 36 Rules for a Successful Life as an Undercover Secret Agent to figure out what is really going on!

Review

I was hooked after the first chapter! Mabel has a terrific “voice.” She’s smart. She’s a reader. She puts her family first (even if it means distancing herself from potential friends in order to protect her secrets). The first chapter introduces us to a lot of the main players and sets up the story without feeling like an information dump. The author does a fantastic job of moving the reader forward, balancing new questions with backstory in just the right portions.

The mystery is great. Mabel’s response to the events feel realistic for a kid her age. There are several questions left unanswered, so I hope that means there will be a sequel!

This book made me giddy! It was a perfect book for me – a smart and resourceful main character, a terrific mystery, and a fun, engaging story. I loved it from start to finish. The Nathan Fillion reference in the back matter solidified this author in my “favorites” department.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Capstone for providing an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Murder, Magic and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

REVIEW: Murder, Magic and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Annis Whitworth has been raised by her Aunt Cassia, who cared for her when her mother became sick while her father traveled for work. Annis has long suspected that her father was a spy. And that seems to be confirmed when his lawyer arrives, talking in code and announcing that her father is dead.

Annis isn’t convinced that her father died in an accident. The facts don’t line up. And she finds a message in the handkerchiefs that are among her father’s things. But when she cannot get anyone to take her seriously, she is determined to figure things out for herself. But all of her father’s money has disappeared. Annis and her aunt have nothing to live off of. But Annis discovers that she can do magic – she can sew glamours and change garments into other items when she sews. So Annis is going to put her magic – and her mind – to work to save her country, save what’s left of her family, and discover what really happened to her father.

Review

This was a delight from start to finish. The story holds up well as historical fiction and also as a mystery. The magical elements are a nice twist. They give this story something special to set it apart. An extra layer of awesome.

Annis and her maid, Millie, are fantastic as a team. But the author makes sure the reader doesn’t forget their differences in station and what assets and liabilities they each bring  to the partnership. There are some great nuances to their relationship.

While I figured out the mystery well before the end, there were several little twists and reveals left to come. Overall the full solution and wrap up was thorough and satisfying. There are a lot of ways to continue this as a series – more adventures for Annis and Millie and others to have in this time period and more to develop on the magic side of the story.

I will absolutely read any additional books in this series because I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Many thanks to Knopf Books and Netgalley for providing an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. It was a treat to read this book!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Doom with a View by Kate Kingsbury

REVIEW: Doom with a View by Kate Kingsbury

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Melanie West and her grandmother, Liza Harris, have finally opened their bed and breakfast after some trouble with a skeleton and a fire. Now they have their first set of guests, the elderly members of a book club who live near Portland.

This kick off week is going to be great! They have a new assistant, Cindi, to help with serving breakfast and cleaning the rooms while Melanie and Liza do the cooking. Cindi even gets her boyfriend to be a magician for their Halloween party. It’s going to be a great event.

But when one of their guests falls through sabotaged railings on the balcony, the local lead detective arrives at the Merry Ghost Inn with his usual gruff demeanor (Liza calls him “Grumpy”). He warns Melanie and Liza to stay out of his case. But they need their B&B to succeed. That means solving the mystery and getting their home and business back to normal. And they have their resident ghost, Orville, to help them again.

Review

This is the first Merry Ghost Inn book – book 2 in the series – I have read. It was easy to get into the story even without having read book one. Most of the action centered around their current guests, which will change with each book. The locals who are likely series regulars are well-defined in the story, even for a second book, so I was able to dig into the story right away. I like this because it means anyone can pick up the series and feel at home even if they didn’t get to the books in order.

The mystery was good. From the start there were several suspects but few clues to start eliminating anyone. I was eventually able to figure out the solution before the end, which is always satisfying.

I liked the main characters, but I didn’t click with them. They are completely likable; I have no complaints. I just didn’t feel drawn into their lives. Maybe that is the draw back of reading book 2 before the first one. Maybe I would have felt more connected by being introduced to the characters in the introduction to the series.

There are some interesting story lines that are laid out and go beyond this particular book, arching through the entire series. But I’m not sure I was hooked enough into the characters to come back to see how those threads work out. I have read paranormal stories before, but the ghost hook here didn’t grab my attention. I wasn’t turned off by it, or by the “seance” in the story, but those pieces didn’t distinguish this story for me from others in the genre. Again, I wonder if this is a drawback of starting with book two. The characters and the ghostly pieces might work better for readers who start from the beginning of the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Duels & Deception by Cindy Anstey

REVIEW: Duels & Deception by Cindy Anstey

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Miss Lydia Whitfield of Roseberry Hall inherited her family estate upon the death of her father. As she was a minor at the time, her uncle and his family moved to Roseberry to supervise the estate and help Lydia, her mother and her sister. Uncle Arthur fancies himself the master of the estate despite Lydia’s capabilities, and as such he tries to make  ridiculous changes, forcing Lydia to call in her attorney. The attorney sends his apprentice, Robert Newton.

Robert is able to help Lydia deal with her uncle and protect the estate from his rogue ideas. He also helps her begin to outline a marriage agreement with Lord Aldershot, the man Lydia’s father had informally selected for her to marry. But before they can solidify the agreement, Lydia is kidnapped. While Robert is able to rescue her and they fabricate a story to salvage her reputation, the kidnappers escape and Lydia is still in danger. Working with Robert, Lydia might have a chance at saving her future. But what will she do about Lord Aldershot when her heart seems to be set on Robert?

Review

I loved this! I rarely read historical fiction. The rules for women in this time period are frustrating to the point of distraction for me. But in this case, Lydia is fortunate to have circumstances and people around her who let her voice carry weight. She doesn’t have to hide her intelligence and wisdom for anyone, even when she knows it will cause trouble.

The characters were terrific. I would happily spend more time with them if there is ever a sequel to this book. Lydia is a strong, bright young woman. Her resourcefulness is outstanding. Loved her character! The mystery was well plotted and kept me turning pages to see what would happen next. I was able to guess the culprit, and I was delighted with how everything wrapped up in the end.

Even though historical fiction isn’t my first choice, I enjoyed this so much I want to check out the author’s previous book, Love, Lies and Spies. This is definitely an author I will keep an eye on in the future! In fact, I just found out that she will have a new book out in the spring of 2018, Suitors and Sabotage! It is already on my 2018 wish list!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Van Gogh Deception by Deron R. Hicks

REVIEW: The Van Gogh Deception by Deron R. Hicks

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A twelve-year-old boy is found in the National Gallery. No one knows who he is or where he came from. The boy remembers nothing – not his name and nothing about how he got there.

The boy is placed in a temporary foster home. He goes by the name Art because the name “Arthur” is in his coat. He knows a crazy amount of information about famous artists and their paintings, so the family goes back to the Gallery to see if anything trigger’s Art’s memory.

But they have no idea that someone is watching them, determined to find Art before he gets his memory back and foils their plans.

When they make their move on Art, they get his foster sister, Camille, too. Soon the kids are on the run with no idea who to trust or why they are being pursued.

Review

This was awesome! I loved everything. The energy and adventure worked for me. I thought the kids’ responses were realistic (although they seemed a little older than their stated ages) for the story. I loved the QR codes embedded in the story so the reader could SEE the art they were discussing in the story. Such a clever idea!

Art and Camille are a lot of fun. Art is bright and curious and determined. Camille is fiercely loyal. They make a great team, and I’d love to see them take on another mystery together.

I feel like I learned things about the art world while having a great time with a terrific story. This reminded me of FRAMED by James Ponti with the art tie-in, but this has it’s own features to love. I’d definitely give this to FRAMED fans, mystery lovers, and art lovers. This would be a perfect addition to home, school and classroom libraries – and even art classrooms. This is a book I will be telling folks about for the rest of this year!

Thanks to Netgalley and HMH Books for providing an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg

REVIEW: The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A young woman visits 221b Baker Street after the suspicious death of her brother. The police think it’s a suicide which is confirmed by one witness. But there’s a second witness, Joanna Blalock, and her statement contradicts the first.

Dr. Watson, the original partner of Sherlock Holmes, and his son, John, are investigating. And when they meet Joanna, they add her brilliance to their team. Watson recognizes it. She is just like her father, Sherlock Holmes. He shares the news with John, but they keep it secret from Joanna. They even tell Lestrade (son of the original inspector) that she was a student of Sherlock Holmes in order to explain her amazing skill at deductive reasoning.

Watson, John, and Joanna will need all of their skills and expertise to corner a killer who keeps eliminating co-conspirators in ways that look like accidents.

Review

This was fantastic! The three main characters clicked in a natural way. They’re likable, they work well together, and they appreciate what each person brings to the team. The budding romance between John and Joanna is sweet.

The mystery is terrific. It’s complicated and they are working against investigative “professionals” who accept whatever explanation is simplest for each death. The deductions from the team are logical. I didn’t feel like the author was “reaching” to explain how Watson and company could deduce the things they do.

The Sherlock Holmes references aren’t too “inside.” I’ve never read any Holmes, but I know the Adler and Lestrade and Moriarty references from movies and TV. There’s nothing to get in the way of any mystery lover checking out this book. I highly recommend it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: VANISHED! by James Ponti

REVIEW: VANISHED! by James Ponti

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Florian and Margaret are working with FBI agent and friend, Marcus Rivers once again on a case. This time they’re going undercover to an exclusive prep school where the First Daughter goes to school. There have been a series of pranks at the school – super glue in locker locks and someone crashed the school’s private social network. Someone using the code name Loki has pulled these pranks. And they seem to be happening around or near the First Daughter.

It’s up to Florian and Margaret to make connections at the school and start figuring out who is responsible for the pranks. But they have several suspects. They have to keep up with their school work while they work the case. Florian has attracted the attention of a bully. And the school administrators are resistant and uncooperative regarding the pranks and Florian’s efforts to find the culprit. Florian has to trust that his Theory of All Small Things will be enough to solve their latest case.

Review

FRAMED, book one in the T.O.A.S.T mystery series, is one of my favorite books from 2016. I’m happy to say that book two lives up to the excellence of its predecessor.

The premise of these books is so clever. Middle school detectives helping the FBI. The TOAST method they use to solve crimes is smart and fun. But the characters are the best part. The adults who know Florian and Margaret well respect their skills and trust their work. Those who don’t know them are put in their place in delightful – and usually gracious – ways.

I laughed out loud several times while reading, and even had to read one especially excellent passage to my family because it was unexpected and completely perfect. I was delighted by the entire book. The mystery kept me guessing all the way to the end. Great history and museum and landmark and art and music pieces in the story round out the mystery plot.

Fantastic! I’m looking forward to reading more in the TOAST series! Thanks to James Ponti for sending me an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I have already passed it on to a former student who is a big fan of the first book in the series. This book will release next week, August 22, 2017. I hope you’ll check it out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥