Tag: mystery

BONUS REVIEW: Wishful Thinking by Helen Harper

BONUS REVIEW: Wishful Thinking by Helen Harper

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Harperfire in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The full title of this book is Wishful Thinking (How to Be the Best Da** Faery Godmother in the World – or Die Trying).

Saffron Sawyer is a “dope fairy, ” one of the fairies responsible for the hallucinations seen by people who are on drugs. On a good day, those hallucinations can help people muster the courage to face the difficulties they are fleeing with drugs. They have even convinced some people to go into rehab. But now Saffron is headed to “the show” – she’s gotten an interview to join the fairy godmothers!

While Saffron gets the job, it’s nothing like she expects. The other fairy godpersons can be petty and abrasive. No one seems to want to help her settle into her new role. Maybe it’s the audit going on in the department. The Devil’s Advocate is onsite, and everyone seems skittish.

Then Saffron discovers the agency’s big secret. Five fairy godpersons have gone missing. Suddenly it’s all clear – Saffron isn’t there to fill an open position. She’s there as expendable bait for a kidnapper. But Saffron didn’t snooze through her years as a dope fairy. She’s scrappy and determined to solve the mystery and secure her spot as a fairy godmother for good!

Review

A fun addition to the urban fantasy genre. I loved Saffron – she’s smart, sassy and scrappy. She puts up with a lot of flack in this book, but she dishes plenty back as well.

I enjoyed the world building for this. The different fairy types were interesting. The “dope fairy” piece was jarring when I first started the book, but in the larger context it worked. And the Devil’s Advocate was a fascinating character.

The mystery with the kidnappings is solid. And the over-arching story with the villains doesn’t end with the end of this book. There will be more to work through in the rest of the series.

This felt a little like the Enchanted, Inc. series, which I love, thanks to the different fantasy characters, the world building, and the fight between good and evil. I will be watching for book 2, Wish List, which might be out later this year. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

It all starts with a trip to the vet.

Tara, Andy Carpenter’s beloved golden retriever, is getting something checked out, and her vet, Dr. Dowling, tells Andy about a weird situation in which he finds himself.

A man brought in a French Bulldog named Buster and asked to have the dog euthanized. He doesn’t give a reason, but he filled out the forms and paid almost $200 in cash and left a sweet, perfectly healthy dog behind to die.

When the vet tries to follow up with the man to see if he can rehome the dog instead, he discovers the contact information is false. When he checks the dog, he finds a chip that says the dog’s name is Truman. His real owner is a man named James Haley. And James Haley was just found dead.

A local kid is arrested for the crime, and Andy gets drawn into his defense as he starts to dig into the guy who tried to have Truman killed and his possible connection to the death of James Haley.

Review

This is a pretty standard Andy Carpenter mystery. Andy’s usual team works on the case. They get help from local and federal law enforcement. There’s a possible organized crime component. And the threads Andy keeps pulling are hard to connect and even harder to get admitted into his court case.

Everything I enjoy about this series is present here – Andy’s sass and sarcasm, his quirky yet efficient team, great dogs and a twisty court case. The resolution to the mystery was as satisfying as always. And I especially loved how things were resolved for Andy’s client.

If you’ve read a couple of these, you can read the rest in any order in my opinion. I recommend starting with some of the early books just to establish Andy’s team, but the books stand well on their own. (Personally, I started with book 15 and it was never an issue.) If you like mysteries, mysteries with animals, or legal/lawyer-centered mysteries, don’t miss this series! It’s a must-read for me. This is book 19, and book 20 comes out in a few months – Dachshund Through the Snow. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Liar in the Library by Simon Brett

REVIEW: The Liar in the Library by Simon Brett

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Black Thorn in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Having Burton St. Claire in Fethering was a big deal for the small town. While it was a bitterly cold January evening outside the Fethering Library, it was cozy inside with the crowd of readers eager to hear about St. Claire’s bestselling book.

While the crowd was mostly mature female fans, there were others who were less impressed by the writer. There were questions about his skill as an author, hints at some self-published works St. Claire seemed reluctant to acknowledge, and of course whispers about his ex-wife and current wife. Not to mention rumors of his aggressive behavior with women and his indiscretions.

Still, it’s a shock when he’s found dead the next day in his car outside the library. Jude was the last person to see him. He had offered her a ride home, but had something… more in mind. She slapped him and walked home in the rain. Now, she’s a murder suspect.

Review

I was surprised to discover that this review copy was for a book that was originally released over a year ago. The paperback edition is releasing this month – and the cover absolutely caught my eye! While this is not a series I had ever read before, I love stories about books and book stores and libraries, so I picked this one up.

This is book 18 in the Fethering Mystery series. Coming in mid-series can be tricky with character relationships and history. In this case, the friendship and previously sleuthing by Jude and her neighbor Carole didn’t come across in this book well. Carole seems self-absorbed, cranky and pouty instead of acting like a real friend to Jude, especially early in the story.

The mystery is good, if infuriating. I don’t mind when the protagonist is a suspect, but when evidence is stacked against her, it makes me anxious. And Jude has quite a bit of hearsay and conjecture stacked against her. I was able to figure out the culprit but not the motive on my own. There were some nice twists thrown in.

On the mystery alone, I’d have rated this higher. But the writing style was a little wordy for my personal preferences. I was able to skim past several chunks of material that didn’t impact my understanding of the mystery. And I didn’t care for Jude or Carole. Characters are a big part of why I read, so when I don’t care for the main ones, it makes it harder to enjoy a book.

I think fans of the series will enjoy this one. As I said, the paperback cover is gorgeous. It will definitely catch your eye on a shelf. And the mystery is well constructed. If this series is new to you, I’d say try to start with an earlier book to get a better feel for the characters. Based on just this book, I won’t likely read more books from this series.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: If You're Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser

REVIEW: If You’re Out There by Katy Loutzenhiser

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Zan (Alexandra) and Priya are crushed about the move. California is a long way from Chicago. But Priya’s step-dad has a new job. These things happen. Sometimes they even happen the summer before senior year.

But when Pria goes completely silent, Zan is devastated. Priya won’t answer her calls, reply to texts, or respond to emails. Zan’s only connection is through Priya’s social media posts. She seems thrilled with her new life in California. Apparently she wants nothing from her old life in Chicago.

Logan is a new guy at school. Zan doesn’t know much about him. They were kind of thrown together in Spanish class. He’s the one who first notices that Priya’s online behavior seems weird. Up to that point, Zan’s been focused on her angry and hurt feelings. But Logan’s questions help Zan re-examine things. And she starts to think maybe something more is going on with Priya. Maybe Priya is trying to send a call for help.

Review

Amazing!! I had no business starting a book at 10:30 on a weeknight. But I was intrigued by this premise. And I adored Zan and Logan. Next thing I knew, I had finished the whole book. It was fantastic! If you like teen mystery/suspense stories, check this one out.

I loved the characters in this. Zan’s family is warm and caring – and complicated (divorced parents, mom’s girlfriend has just moved in) – like most families. Logan’s situation is even more complicated, and it’s slowly revealed as the novel unfolds. I don’t want to give anything away. I’ll just say I LOVED Logan!

Zan has a lovely community around her – friends, her family, the cop who taught her to box to deal with her anger after the divorce. And they all share Zan’s disappointment that Priya is blowing her off. But no one believes her that more is going on.

The story of Zan’s search for the truth was so satisfying! Her emotions felt spot on – hurt and anger at Priya, desperation for an explanation, her attempts at resignation and acceptance of her “new normal” without her best friend. The author did an amazing job in weaving the story together. It was absolutely fantastic!! Highly recommend – you don’t want to miss this one! (language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Murder at the Palace by Margaret Dumas

REVIEW: Murder at the Palace by Margaret Dumas

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

After discovering her husband’s infidelity in all its publicized Hollywood glory, Nora Paige flees to San Francisco. Her best friend Robbie puts her up in her guest house and asks her to step in as manager of The Palace, a theater that shows movies as classic as the building is.

On her first day, Nora meets her core staff – Marty, the grumpy projectionist; Albert, who’s been seeing movies at the Palace for over 80 years; Callie, the film student; and Brandon, the teen concessions worker. All of them were quite fond of the last manager, Kate, who had died only a couple weeks earlier from a fall. When Nora discovers a dead body at The Palace, though, Kate’s death starts to look less and less like an accident.

With the help of her staff, her friend Robbie, Kate’s best friend Monica, and Trixie the ghost of an usherette who died at The Palace, Nora is looking into what really happened to Kate. What she finds will have a long-lasting impact on The Palace.

Review

I loved this! Nora was GREAT! I loved how she is processing the changes in her life while dealing with all the things going on at The Palace.

The setting of this is so fresh. I loved the classic movies angle, both for the theater and also throughout the story. I’m excited to track down some of the movies that are part of the book.

The cast of characters is quirky and eclectic. And there’s enough of them to be interesting without there being too many to track. Nora’s relationship with her grumpy projectionist is my favorite. I so want her to put him in his place when he questions her movie “cred,” but I figure that will come eventually. The author throws in an interesting wrinkle right at the end which will carry readers into book 2. I can’t wait!

The mystery is great. Not too drawn out, but with interesting suspects and motives. Lots of questions for Nora to work through and for readers to puzzle out, too.

I’m a huge fan of this series launch. I’m eager to see where things go in the future with this must-read Movie Palace Mystery series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Survive or Die by Catherine Dilts

REVIEW: Survive or Die by Catherine Dilts

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Aubrey Sommers thought she was going on a romantic getaway with her husband, Grant. Things had been strained lately, and she was wondering how long their marriage could hold out. But then Grant invited her on this surprise trip. They sent their kids to stay with grandparents. It was going to be a magical week.

The surprise, though, was the fact that it was a mandatory work trip for Grant at a wilderness camp. The camp once hosted the defunct reality show Survive or Die. Grant’s boss is using the camp for a survival-of-the-fittest contest where the winner gets a raise and the loser gets fired. No wonder someone left a death threat on the guy’s car. Great vacation!

Things don’t get much better for Aubrey. While Grant is apologetic about his deception, he says he really wants Aubrey there. But he prioritizes the game and his job over her every time there’s a choice to be made. She’s stuck on the “leftovers” team while she watches another woman try to make inroads with her husband.

But her week is going better than Stewart’s. His wife just found him dead at the camp.

Review

Early on I wasn’t sure about this one. There are a TON of characters – almost too many to track, especially at the start. Then there are several point-of-view characters. This is essential with a cast this large and a setting this vast, but it made it hard to know early on who I was supposed to track as the “sleuth” for this mystery.

But this evolved into a great story with some crazy developments and even crazier twists. The survival story alone kept me turning pages – what a disaster these poor people were dumped into! Add to that an early attack/murder that no one noticed and then Stewart’s death which seems to be an accident. So the reader knows *something* is going on, but you aren’t sure what. The questions and the twists and the business pieces and the backstabbing keep growing and getting more convoluted as the story goes on. It got the the point where I couldn’t put the book down. I had to know what was going on!

I’m a character-driven reader. And this book is full of unique, quirky characters. I didn’t really get attached to any particular ones. I stuck with this book because of the plot moreso than seeing what happened to any particular characters. But the main 6 or so were fascinating to watch as they negotiated the dilapidated survival camp, the dangerous tasks, and the interpersonal tensions. If you like intricate stories with lots of quirky characters in challenging circumstances, don’t miss this one. It was a wild ride!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Killing November by Adriana Mather

REVIEW: Killing November by Adriana Mather

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When November’s dad says he needs to sort out a break in at her Aunt Jo’s, she understands. The three of them have always been close. And as a former CIA agent, it makes sense for him to help Jo with a security issue. So November doesn’t fuss too much about being shipped to a boarding school for a few weeks.

But Academy Absconiditi is nothing like November expected. The location of the school is secret, and it is camouflaged to keep it that way. There’s no electricity, no internet. The only normal class she has is history, but even then it’s a weird twist on the usual study of world wars.

November is more prepared for the weird school than she would have thought. She’s physically active, so she can handle the running, sparring and climbing. And she’s bright. She’s been encouraged to think outside the box, so she’s ready for deception and some of the school challenges. What she’s not ready for is the world of secrets and lies she discovers about her own life. She’s also not ready for the dead body.

Review

This was stunning! I sat in rapt attention from start to finish. There are so many secrets for November to discover. And none of the answers come quickly or easily because everyone thinks she already knows everything. And revealing her ignorance would be very dangerous. It was a brilliant Catch-22 from the author, and I was captivated by the whole thing.

I don’t know that we got to see the full extent of November’s skills or her ferocity in this book. In so much of it, she was clueless, but had to be cagey. If there’s a sequel (please, please, please), we might get a more complete picture of who she is and what she can do.

The mystery is excellent. November is surrounded by liars and schemers, political agendas, and secret grudges. It’s the perfect climate for a twisty mystery.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Mysterious secrets, characters with hidden agendas, and plenty of suspense will keep you turning pages until you hit the resolution. Fantastic!! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

REVIEW: The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Freeform in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Kira was five, Cady found her, alone, in a forest. Wild. Feral. Cady took her in, fostered her, adopted her, and raised her with her own son, Jude. Jude, Kira, and their best friend, Free, call themselves the Miscreants. Always together, always ready to find or stir up trouble.

Together, Cady and the teens raise and train search and rescue dogs. Padawan is their young star, a gifted golden retriever. Silver is the older German Shepherd who is an emotional anchor for Kira when the trauma of her past threatens to pull her under. NATO and the Duchess are the bloodhounds. And Saskia is the temperamental husky whose own traumas make her a perfect partner for Kira. They understand each other in a special way.

Cady’s estranged father calls her in for a search and rescue in her home town. A 9-year-old girl has gone missing in the mountains. Cady, the teens and the dogs join the search process. And while Kira is determined to do for the girl what she herself needed at one time, she is not ready for what the case will stir up for her – and for her whole family.

Review

This was excellent! Classic Jennifer Lynn Barnes awesomeness. I was laughing on the first page, and in love with Jude by page 2. He’s a lot like the character Asher from The Fixer series – another character I adored. You can read my review of her other series here and here. From there, I quickly connected with Kira and the dogs, and I had to see how the story would play out.

You can see Barnes’ background in psychology with the development of Kira. Her reactions to childhood trauma and the emotional repercussions now felt completely on target. I felt like Kira had done some extensive work on her trauma issues even while there is obviously more work to be done.  And the writing of the dogs was terrific. I loved Silver and Saskia’s interactions with Kira especially.

If this had just been a psychological piece about Kira, I’d have been enthralled and happy to keep reading. But this is also a mystery/suspense story involving Cady’s family history, the missing girl, and some stunning and twisty developments. Outstanding!

This book is a perfect example of why Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a must read-author for me. She always delivers! This book is the full package – rich, fascinating characters; an engrossing plot; lots of snark and humor; and a story you don’t want to put down. I highly recommend this book to fans of suspense books, dog stories, and the author’s other books. (Trigger Warning – hints of abuse stories throughout could be triggering for some readers, although I thought the descriptions were pretty subtle for general readers.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer

REVIEW: The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Esther’s step-dad is driving her to Camp Vermeer for a week of art camp festivities. Unfortunately, he’s directionally challenged. They end up on the wrong mountain in a torrential rainstorm with a wrecked truck. When they finally cross a flooded road and hike through the muck to a campground, they discover his mistake. They are at Camp Archimedes – a math camp.

The camp director is very welcoming. She makes sure Esther and her step-dad get food and dry clothes. And she has space for them to stay until the rain stops and the truck gets fixed. All Esther cares about is getting to Camp Vermeer. But it would be nice if these math kids would stop giving her the side eye like they know she doesn’t belong.

So Esther sets out to solve the camp’s big math challenge question. And she does – in less than 24 hours and before any of the other campers can solve it. So Esther’s already in problem solving mode when she stumbles onto the weird riddle. It almost sounds like if the riddle isn’t solved, someone is going to die! But Esther thinks that’s pretty crazy. Until her roommate disappears.

Review

Check out that cover! I love it. This is a fun puzzle story/mystery along the lines of The Westing Game or The Puzzling World of Winston Breen. It also reminded me of Capture the Flag. I love books like this, so I was excited to get to read about Esther’s adventures at math camp.

I love how Esther got sucked into this unexpected math camp, first because she has something to prove, but later because she cares about the people she has met. The puzzles are a nice plot point – and Esther gets to learn about them along with the reader. She’s not an expert already. But her creative thinking is a big help.

I think readers are going to love this – there’s art, math, family, friends, puzzles, adventure and a great mystery. While the major puzzle sounds dangerous, this story is still completely middle grade appropriate. Be sure to check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: In Another Life by C. C. Hunter

REVIEW: In Another Life by C. C. Hunter

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Chloe and her mom have moved to Joyful, Texas in the wake of her parent’s divorce. And she’s furious. Her dad cheated, her folks split, and then her mom got cancer. Thankfully, her mom is recovering. But it’s an awful thing for a kid to have to go through on her own. Now she’s just focused on getting through her senior year as the “new girl” and coaching her mom back toward health.

Cash is stunned when the gorgeous girl crashes into him at the gas station. But it’s less about the slushie he’s now wearing and more about the girl’s face. She looks exactly like the age progression picture of Emily.

Cash’ foster parents, the Fullers, lost their daughter Emily when she was almost three. She was kidnapped, and the Fullers – especially Mrs. Fuller – have never stopped hoping she’d be found. At first Cash is afraid Chloe might be there to scam the Fullers. But her adoption story seems to be legit. If Chloe really is Emily, what does that mean? Did her adoptive parents kidnap her? What will the Fullers expect of her? How will they feel about the growing attraction between Cash and Chloe/Emily?

Review

This was terrific! Lots of great emotion to this story. Chloe and Cash are fascinating characters – and they feel absolutely real. The author does an outstanding job building an emotionally intricate story that makes the questions about Chloe’s identity a nuanced and complicated situation.

Chloe and Cash made this book for me. They both feel “broken” – Cash, because of his history before foster care and Chloe because of the break up of her family and the difficulty of life with cancer. And they recognize that brokenness in one another and are drawn together. They see in each other someone who knows pain and isn’t afraid of it. They are lovely together.

The mystery/suspense story of Chloe’s identity was great. This drew me into the book at the start and was engaging all the way through. I think if the emphasis of the book was the mystery, the suspense in the end would have played out with different timing. A suspense story would probably end with a big, explosive moment. The way this wrapped up left me feeling like the REAL story is the relationships at stake in the book rather than the suspenseful part of the story. And the ending is 100% satisfying. If you enjoy Young Adult suspense, you should definitely check this one out! (Language, sexual content takes place mostly off the page)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½