tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33962146189005252792024-03-17T11:33:12.245-04:00Not a Book SnobMysteries, Thrillers and Moreomnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.comBlogger536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-16611068049986702382024-03-17T11:19:00.004-04:002024-03-17T11:19:51.660-04:00There are Strange Things out in the Wilderness<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAPl5f5nmt_1Y2vPVQJJ94Qvid5IgEtPdvmEzN4LF_UD55cNModupEPknnrRbmXcHQDiBN_MLaucT9Mg4GU3qRRMJE69kE8ebri3VylRxQa3EL7NW5M6gmn5Dc4ip8-iZwQQxCDPK_fsW3oC7Z1TWYhJVwXAZ7sJeJATf4ssah9Fxo16aRAUeR9pnPiY/s499/boy%20who.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAPl5f5nmt_1Y2vPVQJJ94Qvid5IgEtPdvmEzN4LF_UD55cNModupEPknnrRbmXcHQDiBN_MLaucT9Mg4GU3qRRMJE69kE8ebri3VylRxQa3EL7NW5M6gmn5Dc4ip8-iZwQQxCDPK_fsW3oC7Z1TWYhJVwXAZ7sJeJATf4ssah9Fxo16aRAUeR9pnPiY/s320/boy%20who.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><p><br /></p><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>THE BOY WHO CRIED BEAR</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Haven's Rock #2</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Kelley Armstrong</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>St. Martins Minotaur</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>February 20, 2024</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I have been a fan of Kelley Armstrong's books for a very long time since I first became aware of her Otherworld series in the early 2000s. Whether it is Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Time-Slip, or whatever Rockton or Haven's Rock could be classified as she consistently delivers unique characters and great stories.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Haven's Rock Series is a spin-off of the Rockton Series, set in the contemporary Canadian Yukon. Rockton was a well-hidden town, founded initially for people fleeing political persecution. Over the years, it became a refuge for anyone who could pay to get in. Casey Duncan was fleeing her possible prosecution for murder and the revenge of the victim's family. Brought in as a detective reporting to the Rockton Sheriff, Eric Dalton. The pairing became both professional and personal. Casey and Eric are now a married couple. When Rockton fell apart, the two founded Haven's Rock. Haven's Rock is meant as an escape for people fleeing trouble not of their own making, and hopefully, fewer serial killers and psychopaths.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Haven's Rock has accepted a mother and two children whose father was killed in front of them after testifying in a trial. The two boys are the first children in Rockton or Haven's Rock, causing concerns they have never faced before. When the younger boy reports seeing a bear with human eyes near the settlement, no one knows what to think. The boy, Max, is insistent, and everyone is all out to find him when he appears to have been abducted. Plenty of strange people are out in the woods, but why would Max be abducted? Coupled with this dilemma, Casey and Eric have their own issue, which is also about a child.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Boy Who Cried Bear is another gripping installment in this well-constructed series. While the novel could be read as a stand-alone, I think everyone should start with the first in the series and possibly go back to Rockton. You won't be disappointed!! Thanks to NetGalley.com and Minotaur for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING 4.5 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-70111514689737742602024-02-20T15:49:00.001-05:002024-02-20T15:49:16.918-05:00Adelaide to Darwin through the Outback on a legendary train<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QE98pJhmia1kmKp7QzCB6T9VsO-7bvRreQ2cNhWXeM6SKMc1RfZAAFYRSwu1p4F47xggNwiGl6TV0bt381PWqvRcj5Kg7vscto4NuO0nP51X8a6hIkmwfb7qe2OnmAtFoz6ORsf01O_OX10Dem3JD_KaorHpJ2IN1POe4Z0LP-ir9Nsmin5_W-QKLpQ/s2775/everyone%20on%20train.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QE98pJhmia1kmKp7QzCB6T9VsO-7bvRreQ2cNhWXeM6SKMc1RfZAAFYRSwu1p4F47xggNwiGl6TV0bt381PWqvRcj5Kg7vscto4NuO0nP51X8a6hIkmwfb7qe2OnmAtFoz6ORsf01O_OX10Dem3JD_KaorHpJ2IN1POe4Z0LP-ir9Nsmin5_W-QKLpQ/s320/everyone%20on%20train.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: arial;"><b>EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Benjamin Stevenson #2</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Mariner Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> January 30, 2024</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I have been eagerly awaiting <i>Everyone on This Train is a</i> <i>Suspect </i>since last year's <i>Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. </i>It was, hands down, my favorite mystery novel of 2023. It was highly satisfactory, a clever and inventive take on the tropes inherent in "Golden Age" mystery fiction, with a fair amount of violence mixed in for a more modern audience. Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance reading copy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This time, our "hero," Ernest Cunningham, has been invited aboard The Ghan, a legendary and lavish train traveling through the Australian Outback from Adelaide to Darwin. It's a very different setting from the previous book, the snowy mountains of New South Wales, but just as dangerous in an Australian high summer. The reason for the trip is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Australian Mystery Writers Society. Ern's actual crime book about his family has done very well, and Elizabeth (his girlfriend we met in the prior book) is along. Elizabeth, too, wrote a book about their experiences.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The train is full of mystery fiction luminaries, primarily the Scots writer Henry McTavish, whose next book is the end of a long-running and very lucrative series. The rest of the train comprises a motley crew of lesser writers, agents, rabid fans, warring publishers, and one very "literary" writer who is above it all. The connections between these disparate characters run deep and are only sometimes cordial. The first murder comes as no real surprise, but as others pile on, Ern sets out in his own fashion despite the danger.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There are a lot of characters in this book, and I found them easy to lose track of. They did not seem quite as well drawn as Ern's family. Still, I recommend this book highly because of Ern's distinctive and snarky voice. He needs to have more regard for his personal safety, or he will not be around for long. There is quite a twist at the end, related</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> by Elizabeth, that I did not see coming!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 4 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-22444268723058523652023-08-27T12:37:00.000-04:002023-08-27T12:37:17.361-04:00The Age of Steam and Conspiracy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwOzr9H1wVF_PfdshiMdMS2GJaRw1MZhJ4TV9CXO5aMCF6Bp-fEp2b8taKOI1H_VY__LmH3jUXjCrt0eVvrnPHunV_rUrX5WZ7v3IyPgwawBLFFbqNeIaNTHOFpdL8Pv00PW7Tkrtvqb-gl0qFcIS1Iv6v9A9EARbG_X1cSkOio8oQFCGRvI-ZHVyw8Y/s400/murder%20at%20the%20merton%20library.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwOzr9H1wVF_PfdshiMdMS2GJaRw1MZhJ4TV9CXO5aMCF6Bp-fEp2b8taKOI1H_VY__LmH3jUXjCrt0eVvrnPHunV_rUrX5WZ7v3IyPgwawBLFFbqNeIaNTHOFpdL8Pv00PW7Tkrtvqb-gl0qFcIS1Iv6v9A9EARbG_X1cSkOio8oQFCGRvI-ZHVyw8Y/s320/murder%20at%20the%20merton%20library.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;">MURDER AT THE MERTON LIBRARY</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Wrexford and Sloan #7</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Andrea Penrose</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Kensington Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 26, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord Wrexford sets out quickly to Oxford when he receives a message from an old friend, Greeley, a Librarian at Merton College Library. More important, he was the dearest friend of Wrexford's younger brother, Thomas. Thomas was killed in a French ambush in Portugal during the Napoleonic Wars, and Wrexford has always felt guilty that he was not there to save him. Greeley was the only survivor, grievously wounded in both body and spirit. Wrexford would never ignore a request from Greeley. Upon his arrival, he finds that the librarian has been murdered and a valuable manuscript is missing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Meanwhile, in London, Lady Charlotte is investigating a possible arson fire at a laboratory under her pen name, AJ Quill.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> This is the age of steam; Stephen Fulton has just introduced the steam paddleboat in America to great success and acclaim. The British are all in on developing an ocean-going steamboat. As was the custom, consortiums are being formed to reap the benefits. Some of the consortiums have dubious characters involved, and Charlotte wants to get to the bottom of them, especially since their friend, Kit Sheffield, is tempted to join one of the most dubious.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As always, the burgeoning world of science is at the heart of the Wrexford and Sloane mysteries. The Regency era brought many new scientific advances and new ways to cheat others out of their wealth. In this particular entry, I found myself lost in all the theories of propulsion from DaVinci to more modern theorists. However, the cast of characters redeems that. Time spent in the company of the Wrexfords, their formerly street urchin wards, Raven and Hawk, and Peregrine, the new addition, Peregrine, is well-spent. It is an unconventional family, but a family nonetheless. We even get answers about Charlotte's taciturn housekeeper, Mac, and a resolution to just who was responsible for the death of Thomas in the ambush that killed him.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">RATING- 3.5 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-45009265997892231512023-08-15T17:24:00.005-04:002023-08-15T17:24:38.256-04:00Intrigue and Adventure on the High Seas<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrn1Prhf7GFyZ6XDdahHj8bDD4j6qckX0gme-eIcIomYAyxucQEXtIyC6xB8dqNkg3FuVjtkm_AJlLEEC97WaZYS_a5Kkvs8H5g4JCAyVYTY0u2CMB1NLBcvhvGEPUw9lMnF9lFG2EKf32a_Q6RJChvm7jcHG4nTXrLBf2HOTOIzes6fNpDAkPXJZ19w/s400/spanish%20diplomat.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrn1Prhf7GFyZ6XDdahHj8bDD4j6qckX0gme-eIcIomYAyxucQEXtIyC6xB8dqNkg3FuVjtkm_AJlLEEC97WaZYS_a5Kkvs8H5g4JCAyVYTY0u2CMB1NLBcvhvGEPUw9lMnF9lFG2EKf32a_Q6RJChvm7jcHG4nTXrLBf2HOTOIzes6fNpDAkPXJZ19w/s320/spanish%20diplomat.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>THE SPANISH DIPLOMAT'S SECRET</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries, # 3</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Nev March</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Minotaur Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> September 12, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> The third story in this award-winning series features Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana embarking on a journey from their home in America to England at the behest of Diana's brother, Adi. Adi is in England on business and wants Jim's help with a matter he only wants to discuss in person. It suits Captain Jim since he has sensed a growing distance between himself and Diana. At first glance, the couple seems ill-assorted. Jim is a half-caste orphan invalided out of the Indian Army, and Diana is from a noble, wealthy Indian family and was university educated in England. Jim's service to the family (Murder in Old Bombay) made him almost a family member. They welcomed him with open arms when Diana set her cap for him. Diana usually gets what she wants! Jim's investigative skills, army background, and Diana's social skills make them a formidable duo.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>As much as Jim is happy to take the journey, an old problem arises. Jim is a very bad sailor who never seems to quite overcome it. After one of his bouts, he goes out on the deck, hoping for fresh air and relief. While there, he meets an old soldier, Don </span><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span>Juan Nepomuceno</span></span><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;">. </span><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span>The two feel a sense of kinship, and the old man is kind to Jim. However, Don Juan is not universally loved, as becomes apparent when he is murdered in a grisly and very personal manner only a few hours later. His past includes the execution of many US Navy prisoners in Cuba years before. Many hate him, and some onboard have reason to do so. The fact that Don Juan is highly placed in the Spanish nobility threatens to create an international incident. The ship's captain asks Jim to find the killer before docking at Liverpool.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Hundreds of passengers are on the ship, from first class to second, and steerage. Then there is the crew. The author does a fine job of keeping them separate and distinct from each other. Diana, as always, involves herself but is limited to the first-class areas. Jim spends every waking hour, while not seasick, all over the ship and learning much about the operations of an ocean liner. Action and life-threatening danger are never far from the duo as they race to solve the murder. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Proxima Nova, Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">I have enjoyed each of the books in this series and was not disappointed in The Spanish Diplomat's Secret. There is a foreshadowing of the next puzzle for Captain Jim and Lady Diana in the person of Adi. I will be looking forward to it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-53777161822294480022023-07-09T13:40:00.001-04:002023-07-11T13:10:55.941-04:00A Very Surprising Find<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodZT-ewJWYuCKK990TreLJ8Tz4G6kNkf1pX00Xkw2rNID1EN85Yd1jTD_x2nuLP3YHOPipR0JVu4uTDGx781-rtSXico7hGyb1uXV5mWz1vzc-6704a2XgZ7EKUo8i0ssl5nJIjeyMexFL0sK9c5-E7sOgjiE9mh_8WufG9Yhxvo8CUxZh1yjP4fvuTc/s400/blackstone%20lodge.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodZT-ewJWYuCKK990TreLJ8Tz4G6kNkf1pX00Xkw2rNID1EN85Yd1jTD_x2nuLP3YHOPipR0JVu4uTDGx781-rtSXico7hGyb1uXV5mWz1vzc-6704a2XgZ7EKUo8i0ssl5nJIjeyMexFL0sK9c5-E7sOgjiE9mh_8WufG9Yhxvo8CUxZh1yjP4fvuTc/s320/blackstone%20lodge.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>THE PUZZLE OF BLACKSTONE LODGE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Rachel Savernake #3</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Martin Edwards</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Poison Pen Press</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>August 1, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As a lifetime reader of murder mysteries, especially British crime, I know of Martin Edwards. Edwards is the foremost expert on British Golden-age mysteries with many books, stories, prefaces, and non-fiction to his credit. To my knowledge, I had never read one of his novels, so when The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge popped up on NetGalley, with this fabulous cover, I jumped on it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Disheveled, heavy drinker and smoker Nell Fagan is "on her uppers," having lost her last reporting job, and is looking for a big scoop. She thinks she has found it when Vernon Baker asks her to look into his mother's death. She had married a much younger man who drove a wedge between mother and son. Vernon next knew that she had gone to a sanitarium for some rest in Yorkshire and died there. Vernon asks her to investigate the place, Blackstone Lodge. Having burned her bridges with just about everyone, Nell heads up to Blackstone Fell. She finds an odd and dreary place with a dangerous landscape. People go missing, never to be seen again; one in 1606 and one in 1906, most famously. When Vernon Baker is killed in London due to an "accident,." Nell returns to London to consult with Rachel Savernake.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rachel Savernake is a wealthy young woman, the daughter of a notorious "hanging judge" in London. Evidently, the judge went bonkers after his wife died, taking his young daughter to grow up on the isolated island of Gaunt. Not surprisingly, when the judge died, Rachel headed back to London with her small band of one housekeeper, one maid, and a man of all work. All three are devoted to her. She is a mystery to everyone except her staff. She does have a hobby, solving grisly murders, which has given her fame and the police fits. Even in 1932-ish, the police did not approve of women solving crimes. Especially Rachel, who is coldly analytical, giving nothing away. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">When Nell returns to Blackstone Fell and promptly goes missing herself from the exact location where others have gone before her, Rachel rents a cottage and follows behind. Blackstone Fell is a seething mass of gossip, bad blood, and extra-marital activity. The Vicar himself is a wife-abusing zealot. There are plenty of bad actors to go around.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Following Rachel and Nell is Jacob Flint, a fellow reporter with Nell who has been involved with earlier investigations. Jacob seems genuine enough, but who knows in this group of characters? Rachel herself and her loyal band of employees are the main attractions. Rachel is mysterious to the nth degree and not at all likable. No doubt, it would help to read the previous two books, which I plan to start right away.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Puzzle of Blackwood Lodge is atmospheric, masterfully plotted, and totally fascinating. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance digital copy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">5 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-65615508027130222152023-06-28T22:24:00.003-04:002023-06-28T22:27:44.841-04:00A Trio of Senior Sleuths Catch a Serial Killer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoue_uuClJmKTPsB4RVQkyq9akEFlGc6Mfz1o5-3ZM-yISkaDLxgfDgtnDaUH84C1D6QmbRYRjpTDEZtDSKQLJODafSgDRwYRGmOAm6sfGRXCZaVyboz8ZjqNqYHFhspe4Ah5SwTv94joVQvGC-0uxRa9EsUSE8dHK4OD-h68ugyHjvu8rmJS-5tcC0k/s2560/charity%20shop%20.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoue_uuClJmKTPsB4RVQkyq9akEFlGc6Mfz1o5-3ZM-yISkaDLxgfDgtnDaUH84C1D6QmbRYRjpTDEZtDSKQLJODafSgDRwYRGmOAm6sfGRXCZaVyboz8ZjqNqYHFhspe4Ah5SwTv94joVQvGC-0uxRa9EsUSE8dHK4OD-h68ugyHjvu8rmJS-5tcC0k/s320/charity%20shop%20.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>THE CHARITY SHOP DETECTIVE AGENCY</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Peter Boland</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Joffee Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>December 22, 2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I picked up <i>The Charity Shop Detective Agency</i> as part of my Kindle Unlimited membership because I wanted something light to read. It bore a similar description to that of <i>The Thursday Murder Club</i> and features a trio of senior sleuths. When 86-year-old Sarah Brown is found murdered, stabbed in the back, and with a domino clutched in her hand with her name scratched on it, the ladies running the "Dogs Need Good Homes" Charity Shop spring into action. Sarah Brown was one of their favorite customers, part of a group for whom they provided a place to meet, tea, and cakes every Tuesday morning. Fiona, Sue, and Daisy have a surprising set of skills for retired ladies, all of which they employ in their dogged pursuit of the killer as the bodies pile up. The pretty small town of Southbourne has a serial killer on its hands. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Have no fear, though; with the help of Fiona's scruffy terrier, Simon Le Bon, and the reluctant cooperation of DI Fincher, all will be well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Charity Shop Detective Agency </span></i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">has all the ingredients of a classic cozy mystery set in an English village; likable, if somewhat bungling, main characters and quirky supporting characters. All three ladies have technology skills, skulking about and even lock picking. It was surprising, to say the least, but less dramatic was their commitment to each other. All for one and one for all would be a fitting motto. I was reasonably sure of the guilty party, but the author threw in enough red herrings to keep it interesting. There may have been too many twists and turns in the plot as it slowed the story's progress.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am looking forward to a second book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING-3.5 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-46989281595144805622023-06-14T11:55:00.002-04:002023-06-20T15:36:17.242-04:00Don't Judge This Book By Its Cover<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeP4XDA1ye0c7GUPDbU8nmbZZ2ieLcPMoMyGfEHd85VdLcA-VWJK0n_YgvkKJBS0T4jwJaQ5Ob9wLMhGvy9tXUxQkZZp_RAE551ISld74B1-0Xo0CwtFZpAlxw4VofbxwzLR_NzLTpSVGHpYoi0h0rxK1st8PxAcDkQrds4P5zBSh30cNRTUizIqM/s2153/60538170.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeP4XDA1ye0c7GUPDbU8nmbZZ2ieLcPMoMyGfEHd85VdLcA-VWJK0n_YgvkKJBS0T4jwJaQ5Ob9wLMhGvy9tXUxQkZZp_RAE551ISld74B1-0Xo0CwtFZpAlxw4VofbxwzLR_NzLTpSVGHpYoi0h0rxK1st8PxAcDkQrds4P5zBSh30cNRTUizIqM/s320/60538170.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>MURDER ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Alexandra Benedict</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Poisoned Pen Press</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> October 5, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One might expect a cozy mystery by looking at the cover, or at least I did. All the Poirot-esque elements are certainly here but in a much more modern, darker form. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Just retired London Metropolitan detective Roz Parker took a first-class ticket to Scotland on the last overnight Express before Christmas. She must arrive on time as her daughter is in labor, and Roz has somehow managed to miss most of the significant events of her life. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The train has a very motley crew of travelers on board. We first meet Meg, a social media influencer taking the train to post updates and sell some products. Meg is obviously in trouble with her</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> boyfriend, Grant. Grant is a reality TV star who is handsome and can be charming but is also belittling, and there are more than hints of physical violence. Meg is terrified of him but also alarmingly co-dependent. We also have a put-upon husband with a herd of children and a drunken wife. A group of university students are on their way to Scotland to participate in a trivia contest on TV. An elderly woman and her son, and a mousy young woman who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. Roz takes her under her wing but has her own problems because her daughter's labor has become life-threatening. When the train grinds to a halt in a blizzard, and bodies keep dropping, Roz must take things in hand to find the killer. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Murder on the Christmas Express tackles issues never seen in the cozy genre; sexual violence, rape, and the lasting effects of trauma. It also has the most unattractive cast of characters, except Roz and a few others I have ever encountered. What did I like about Murder on the Christmas Express? The plotting was excellent, with one twist, turn, and misdirection after the other. It definitely kept me reading until the end to see who the killer might be. I'm giving it 3 Stars based on that page-turning quality and the somewhat hopeful turn of events at the novel's close.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">3 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-85105663062601539392023-05-30T14:13:00.001-04:002023-05-30T14:13:18.240-04:00Hidden Beneath Maine Waters<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-f4PySc3uYEE5vHuQkQ26hBcU5HpqeCn3YCHn0JKJbiOe-wHxZphXwQ-a03qTt5rimZVWBx4pnMbBIbuPDAVMv90UTAoVtm7YnX9Nn4GOKRRxu-Adr75KHQDI8Wzf9FHHNAXJU5_SXUTMBYhGxJoeSYr3UL276XIZAD-lZylvZESj2hiUzsAQy5TA/s2535/book%20reviews.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="1550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-f4PySc3uYEE5vHuQkQ26hBcU5HpqeCn3YCHn0JKJbiOe-wHxZphXwQ-a03qTt5rimZVWBx4pnMbBIbuPDAVMv90UTAoVtm7YnX9Nn4GOKRRxu-Adr75KHQDI8Wzf9FHHNAXJU5_SXUTMBYhGxJoeSYr3UL276XIZAD-lZylvZESj2hiUzsAQy5TA/w206-h320/book%20reviews.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>HIDDEN BENEATH</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> A Maine Clambake Mystery #11</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Barbara Ross</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Kensington Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> June 27, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I'm always delighted when a new book is published from one of my favorite "set-in-Maine" series. As someone who visits Maine regularly, it is one of my preferred places on earth, winter or summer, following the stories of the Snowden Family Clambake. After living away from Maine for years, Julia, the eldest daughter, has returned after her father's death to help save the Clambake from bankruptcy. Julia has had many ups and downs, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">both business and personal, but now the Clambake is stable. As is Julia, even though she is still hurting from her decision to end the relationship with Chris, the man she thought was her life's love.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Hidden Beneath </i>centers on her mother, Jacqueline, and her relationship with other teenage girls years before on Chipmunk Island, an island nearby. Chipmunk is home to a summer colony of wealthy families who only mix a little with Busman's Harbor residents. One of the girls, Ginny, now middle-aged women, had gone missing five years earlier and had been declared dead. Jacqueline asked Julia to accompany her to Ginny's memorial even though the summer season was just starting. There are unusual overtones at the event, and when Jacqueline visits Ginny's cottage, she finds that furniture has been moved and walls have been painted over. The women who were friends years ago are looking for Ginny's missing will. When it is found, Jacqueline learns that she has been named executor. She is astonished because she has only seen Ginny in passing for years. But, being Jacqueline, she is determined to get to the bottom of the riddle of Ginny's disappearance and needs Julia to help.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The mystery of Ginny's disappearance and all the events leading up to it is a twisty tale that kept me guessing. The main attraction of the series for me are the characters and settings, all familiar to me. Having a mystery to try to solve is a big plus. This time I failed and was also blindsided by a possible new romance for Julia from an unexpected quarter! Thanks to NetGalley.com and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING-4.5 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-13108342680190329312023-04-25T11:08:00.000-04:002023-04-25T11:08:16.948-04:00Pie Can Be Deadly<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcaEXLUYWG4WaSe27P_10601RUn4tdfqBEqTijDl-2h_Dib--CGlb7el-mSAPosbAMzmze5Q5Xbq953wu_IJkz4eE1U3AtKTHUHMGXyguz4pEX0_9oOZqSh5ww3L_c-EEfikPXuevKxoHO030xXsVp2_X6nsTVSQgonVS0ZiXti2SXTPjI-6gYh17/s2115/MARSHMALLOW%20PIE.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2115" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcaEXLUYWG4WaSe27P_10601RUn4tdfqBEqTijDl-2h_Dib--CGlb7el-mSAPosbAMzmze5Q5Xbq953wu_IJkz4eE1U3AtKTHUHMGXyguz4pEX0_9oOZqSh5ww3L_c-EEfikPXuevKxoHO030xXsVp2_X6nsTVSQgonVS0ZiXti2SXTPjI-6gYh17/s320/MARSHMALLOW%20PIE.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> <span style="font-family: arial;"><b>DEATH BY CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW PIE</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> Death By Chocolate #6</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> Sarah Graves</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> Kensington Books</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> April 25, 2023</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jake (Jacobia) and Ellie are gearing up for a new season at Eastport, Maine's bakery, The Chocolate Moose. Since the opening of The Moose, they have been successful and are an institution. This year, however, they have competition from Choco's, another bakery nearby owned by Brad Fairway, a newcomer to Eastport. Fairway is not above undercutting the Moose's prices and spreading rumors about bad hygiene at The Moose. The opening of the annual arts festival brings matters to a head. Jake and Ellie confront Fairway about his business practices and get no satisfaction. Both women are suspects when Fairway is found dead later, especially Ellie, whose gun was the murder weapon. The State Police are zeroing in on Ellie, and the Eastport chief of police, Bob Arnold, can't seem to divert them. Even worse, Jake thinks she recognizes Fairway from the "bad old days" in New York. Is the other shoe about to drop finally? As the arts festival goes on, there are more murders and attacks on the artists, muddying the waters considerably.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I have been reading Sarah Graves' books for years, beginning with her long-running Home Repair is Homicide series. All are set in Eastport and feature the same main characters, Jake and Ellie, and their extended families and friends, with others coming in and out (quite often as victims). They are remarkably full of action for cozy mysteries, but at their heart are about friendship and the ties that bind. All the books are atmospheric, presenting Eastport very much as it is, perhaps a bit busier. Eastport was once a vast shipping center with its deep harbor. Those days are long gone.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Death by Chocolate Marshmallow Pie is another enjoyable book in the series, but in some ways has the feeling of an ending. One significant character leaves, and many plot loose ends are wrapped up. I sincerely hope not. I will miss my visits to Eastport if so.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Thanks to NetGalley.com and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">RATING 4 Stars</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-5661247693722784582023-04-07T17:10:00.000-04:002023-04-07T17:10:02.383-04:00Plucky Heroine and German Spies<div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g8yngDmpv15t5RoobUNWoznX5GHYjp66cOes2dSrPSzR4NqpMtjuPIialV6HFVHAwSCJ9gqItRoCmIfvvTnrcpQTe-VP9vQPsrSH2qXk_4ZASPiQOqy41_0yZW9fv-fOtttOhL39U0W7ZYs3eDuaxDjS0wiX7W8aRiJlgkVUYxGEnDR8R-evH96i/s400/playing%20it%20safe.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g8yngDmpv15t5RoobUNWoznX5GHYjp66cOes2dSrPSzR4NqpMtjuPIialV6HFVHAwSCJ9gqItRoCmIfvvTnrcpQTe-VP9vQPsrSH2qXk_4ZASPiQOqy41_0yZW9fv-fOtttOhL39U0W7ZYs3eDuaxDjS0wiX7W8aRiJlgkVUYxGEnDR8R-evH96i/s320/playing%20it%20safe.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>PLAYING IT SAFE (Electra McDonnell #3)<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Ashley Weaver<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>St. Martins Minotaur<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>May 9, 2023</b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The previous book in the Electra Mac Donnell series ended on the night the Blitz began in London on September 7, 1940. Electra had just finished a job for His Majesty's Government. As part of a safecracking family, she has agreed to use her considerable skills at picking locks in service to the war effort. In return, the government will exonerate them from previous crimes, as long as they commit no more. However, Electra and the MacDonnell clan are patriots and would have helped without the extra incentive.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Things have been disastrous in the East End, with nightly German bombers. Much loss of life and property has not defeated the people of London, not by a long shot. She has yet to hear anything from the straitlaced and upright Major Ramsey, who is her contact in the government and supervisor. As always, he appears suddenly and sends her to Sunderland. He tells her to get a room at a particular boardinghouse, tells her he will see her there and hands her a book on birdwatching. Electra considers his close-mouthed attitude ridiculous but has learned to trust him. Electra is very good at making contacts and friends wherever she goes and soon finds herself a part of a group of young people. When one of the group drops dead in front of her in the street, she begins to think that the members are a part of whatever mission she is on. When the Major tells her the nature of it, the two are entangled in their most dangerous mission yet.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Playing It Safe is an excellent addition to this series. I enjoy the interaction among the MacDonnell family, who have looked after her since infancy. Although her mother died in prison, accused of killing her father. She has never discussed it with her uncle, who was her father's brother. But Electra needs to learn more about her mother and seems to be on the verge of doing so. Then there is the undeniable attraction between herself and the Major, which explodes into fireworks this time, despite themselves. There is plenty to look forward to in the next book, and I certainly do!</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to NetGalley and St.Martins Minotaur for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 4.5 Stars</span></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-41094816136322249512023-03-28T14:06:00.000-04:002023-03-28T14:06:20.734-04:001926, Instanbul-Anything can happen<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyLGL-0Ov5MulSecXv_tAoB4t3_toG6250aLG9KanDNevnlV3eXXOVU4YTqjrOWSCsi-AwcINHAgQ-XZp0FG815ZfZB1f99x8klXXICYCuaf8yCwh593FM8bc4LEOS72X8DDjiW2vkMxoNbJppHRNQftSg2a0kg0h47DvU6mOb-oqLVJbsn7VLusS/s2105/istanbul.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyLGL-0Ov5MulSecXv_tAoB4t3_toG6250aLG9KanDNevnlV3eXXOVU4YTqjrOWSCsi-AwcINHAgQ-XZp0FG815ZfZB1f99x8klXXICYCuaf8yCwh593FM8bc4LEOS72X8DDjiW2vkMxoNbJppHRNQftSg2a0kg0h47DvU6mOb-oqLVJbsn7VLusS/s320/istanbul.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>INTRIGUE IN ISTANBUL</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Erica Ruth Neubauer</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>A Jane Wunderly Mystery #4</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Kensington Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>March 28, 2023</b></span></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I discovered the Jane Wunderley series about a month ago and binged through the first three (Murder at Mena House, Murder at Wedgefield Manor, and Danger on the Atlantic). I have always been fascinated by the period between WWI and WWII when the world went through one cataclysmic event after another. First, the Great War was meant to be the "war to end all wars." Following that, the Great Depression an economic disaster that took away the livelihoods of millions worldwide. Finally, the rise of fascism in Europe and the advent of WWII. For Jane Wunderly, the Great War ended a personal nightmare and set her on a path toward independence. Her sadistic first husband went off the war and never came back. Jane took back her maiden name and swore never to marry again. She has an opportunity to travel first to Egypt, then to England, and then a voyage back to America. Accompanying her is her annoying, alcoholic Aunt Millie. Millie has the money to travel, and Jane has always wanted to understand her aunt better. On that first trip to Egypt, she meets Redvers, a handsome and somewhat secretive English Englishman with a shadowy job with the British Government. Adventures with spies, assassins, and thieves ensue, and Redvers is always at her side. Jane is rethinking the single life.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Intrigue in Istanbul takes Jane and Redvers to Jane's childhood home in Boston. Redvers wants to present himself to her widower father, Henry, a historian. They discover an empty house, and nobody knows when or where he may have gone. While going through her father's mail, she finds that he has mortgaged their home for a large sum and is in arrears. The loan is due in just three weeks. Jane has an idea where he might be, however. He specializes in the history of Suleiman the Magnificent and has been obsessed with a storied object called the "Sultan's Heart." He has to be in Istanbul; she has a good idea of where he has lodged and some of his associates. As they reach Instanbul, she finds she has no idea what danger he has gotten himself into or of Redver's associates from his past there.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am a fan of '30s and '40s movies that portray Americans abroad in a lighthearted and somewhat glamorous manner. Intrigue in Istanbul fits the bill very well. There are spies, assassins, and all sorts of colorful characters in an exotic and mysterious setting. It's a lot of fun and a perfect escape read. The author has visited the city and takes pains to be accurate. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy in return for an honest opinion.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 4 Stars</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-80861888959651479402023-03-16T17:38:00.000-04:002023-03-16T17:38:17.008-04:00The First Book in an Explosive Trilogy from Spain<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt5Nm3wmV3sB9XjSw_2A_RzqfSIP3H66jPlbmpF-425EJUE3HbpK1vIBzcb1MS624QQ5sDACwUkgeC9lazdOu62haWgdLmUbLNcvn8ttHTMKiqBfSgDSaHIzCeof4LqQlGjMhUJxQKt1R0Hz31eWU5u5vH-TbRf7MwpJWCQ3L08BXlxKg1ugLCuBV/s500/red%20queen%20audio.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt5Nm3wmV3sB9XjSw_2A_RzqfSIP3H66jPlbmpF-425EJUE3HbpK1vIBzcb1MS624QQ5sDACwUkgeC9lazdOu62haWgdLmUbLNcvn8ttHTMKiqBfSgDSaHIzCeof4LqQlGjMhUJxQKt1R0Hz31eWU5u5vH-TbRf7MwpJWCQ3L08BXlxKg1ugLCuBV/s320/red%20queen%20audio.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>RED QUEEN</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Juan Gomez-Jurado</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>MacMillan Audio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>February 14, 2023</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <span>So far, 2023 has been a good year for thrillers, and Red Queen is outstanding. Originally published in Spain in 2018, it has gained a worldwide following and is now available in English. Juan Gomez-Jurado has introduced a detecting duo and a cast of characters as fascinating as any I have ever read. Inspector Jon Gutierrez of the Madrid Police is in hot water, not for the first time. He is a clothes-horse, despite being barrel-chested and overweight. Gutierrez also still lives with his mother and is gay, neither of which makes him popular on the force. This time he may have finally ruined his career by planting evidence on a pimp and drug dealer. Gutierrez did it to help one of the pimp's girls get loose from his influence. The girl, however, filmed it and put it on social media. Suspended without pay and with Internal Affairs on his heels, he has no idea what to do. Then he receives a phone call from someone only known as the "Mentor," who offers him an opportunity to resurrect his career.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The "Mentor" is part of a shadowy organization that pursues the worst of criminals, serial killers, killers-for-hire, and terrorists. "Mentor" wants him to meet with a former operative, half-English, half-Spanish Antonia Scott. She is a genius forensic expert with a mind like a high-functioning computer. They need her to solve several high-profile kidnappings of influential and wealthy people and the death of one of the children of the families involved. Antonia, however, has refused since her husband was shot and has been in a coma for three years. Her father has taken her young son away and assumed custody of him. She only leaves her apartment to go and sit with her husband in the hospital every night. Her life has collapsed, and she blames herself. The killer was after her, not her husband. Gutierrez has a tall order to get her out of her apartment, but the situation escalates when Carla Ortiz, the daughter of one of the world's wealthiest men, is kidnapped. There is no ransom demand, at least financially, but the families involved are not forthcoming about the orders made. Carla has only 40 hours left to live.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There is non-stop action in Red Queen, kidnappings, car chases, subterranean pursuits, bombings, and encounters with some of the worst people one could imagine. If you aren't afraid of shadowy international organizations who think they have the right to decide the fate of everyone, you will be after reading this novel. Through skillful character-building, Juan Gomez-Jurado has written a story of love, friendship, and healing. I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I received the audiobook of Red Queen from McMillan Audio and NetGalley. It was superbly narrated by Scott Brick, who I was aware of, but this is the first time I heard him. I will be on the lookout for his work in the future. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 5 Stars</span></p><p></p></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-55905084561996839842023-03-10T11:56:00.002-05:002023-03-10T11:56:51.573-05:00Bluestockings and Blackguards<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEkCihxqo4iL-cIMBL9w2m_wR0IPW7MWdli3vQduXccieaA0CXu_M9icxATcIJH4McTupysMn5t1byfZb7tyo7iBX_SDApWMOqembYlTlw3cG_4Rcj75SBtaFP7fKZSzSgcdDuX-4hsPHzDZHjvkNg22wjwekogFz6FaaGhsKxU_5wWkeaCAQ-cjV/s400/manners.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEkCihxqo4iL-cIMBL9w2m_wR0IPW7MWdli3vQduXccieaA0CXu_M9icxATcIJH4McTupysMn5t1byfZb7tyo7iBX_SDApWMOqembYlTlw3cG_4Rcj75SBtaFP7fKZSzSgcdDuX-4hsPHzDZHjvkNg22wjwekogFz6FaaGhsKxU_5wWkeaCAQ-cjV/s320/manners.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>OF MANNERS AND MURDERS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> A Dear Miss Hermione Murder # 1</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Anastasia Hastings</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Minotaur Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> February 7, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Of Manners and Murders is the first book in a new series set in the late 1800s in England. Violet has returned with her half-sister, Sephora, from many years in India upon the death of her diplomat father. Having lived in India for years, encouraged by her father to see and learn everything, Violet has managed to avoid the prejudices of the English abroad. She would be called a "bluestocking" in every sense. Sixteen-year-old Sephora, however, is as empty-headed as a young lady was expected to be in Victorian England. The sisters are living with their flamboyant Aunt Adelia, who has suddenly taken off to the Continent with her "gentleman friend." Imagine Violet's surprise when Aunt Adelia discloses that she is Miss Hermione, author of England's most popular advice column. Not only that, she expects Violet to take over the column. Violet is in her twenties, firmly considered "on the shelf," and has no romantic experience other than one unhappy love affair. She feels obliged to act as her Aunt's proxy due to her fondness for Adelia.</span></p><div><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Opening the first letter, she finds something far removed from a plea for romantic advice. Ivy Armstong, from a village close to London, is a newly married woman convinced that someone is trying to kill her. She even encloses newspaper clippings with pictures of her suspects circled. Violet feels that the matter is pressing enough to travel to the village of Willingdale to speak with her. Upon her arrival, however, she finds that Ivy's burial service is taking place. Violet presents herself as a friend of Ivy's from boarding school and sets out to find the culprit. Is it the handsome new husband, a jealous curate in love with Ivy, or a woman from the village angling for the new husband herself? What part did the village doctor play? While traveling back and forth from the village, she needs to pay attention to Sephora, who gets herself in massive trouble.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I found Manners and Murder enjoyable, with a couple of exceptions. I don't usually object to multiple POVs, but the breakaways to Sephora were annoying in this case. The reader already knows Sephora is an empty-headed, selfish, and self-involved twit. Her secondary drama was not particularly interesting, at least to me. One of the villains, and there were several, was almost cartoonishly evil. I do, however, like Violet very much and am interested in what may happen between her and the dashing American gentleman. He might be Violet's perfect match.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 3.5 Stars</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-77290725158629338272023-03-02T10:57:00.000-05:002023-03-02T10:57:18.656-05:00Hilarious, Horrifying, and Engaging New Novel From Australia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5ZsowHsJJdPENFSbEP5J_lNxSWWCKjEDLTCiUyKreQHWfs6uRSXGZYdwKXhS_2jQhBGQKILxJpuEliiWPt0IuZ6o8zvkyfiqXCYyxL84f7Wm3OiyavGPd0Y88-8y5aZG0pRwq3n0-b9whJPW5QkIez8GhLn6gSkAPcXvpN82VS8au2mNWTZ7l9gM/s400/everyone%20in%20my%20family.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5ZsowHsJJdPENFSbEP5J_lNxSWWCKjEDLTCiUyKreQHWfs6uRSXGZYdwKXhS_2jQhBGQKILxJpuEliiWPt0IuZ6o8zvkyfiqXCYyxL84f7Wm3OiyavGPd0Y88-8y5aZG0pRwq3n0-b9whJPW5QkIez8GhLn6gSkAPcXvpN82VS8au2mNWTZ7l9gM/s320/everyone%20in%20my%20family.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Benjamin Stevenson</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Harper Collins</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>January 17, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Meet Ernest Cunningham, "Ern," the narrator of Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone. Ern is the self-published author of numerous books telling others how to write crime fiction. He begins with Ronald Knox's 1929 Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction. Knox was a Catholic Priest and member of the legendary Detection Club. Other members included Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and G.K. Chesterton. You should take a look at them, as they are essential.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/tips-masters/ronald-knox-10-commandments-of-detective-fiction</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ern is attending a family reunion at a ski lodge in the mountains of New South Wales, AU. He never looks forward to reunions because he has always felt like an outsider. This reunion promises to be particularly fraught as Ern's brother, Michael, is getting out of prison after a stretch for murder. Ern happens to be the person who testified and put Michael there. The Cunninghams are unhappy with Ern, not his mother, Audrey, and her husband, Marcello, not Michael's ex-wife, Lucy, not Ern's soon-to-be ex-wife, Erin, or his managing Aunt Katherine. The only one who seems happy to see him is his half-sister, Sofia. That may be because she needs money and somehow knows about the bag containing 267 thousand dollars Ern has been holding onto for Michael. Soon after their arrival, a body is found, the victim of a particularly horrible death. Very quickly, the lodge is snowed in, and the temperatures drop precipitously. Not only is the snow falling, but so are the Cunninghams. Is there a serial killer loose known as The Black Tongue? Can one of the Cunninghams be the killer, or is someone seeking revenge for Ern's father, Robert, and his notorious criminal past? People don't often forget about cop-killers, even if they are long dead.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is one of the most original pieces of crime fiction I have ever read; horrifying and hilarious at once. Anyone who has read Golden Age mysteries will recognize all the tropes of the snowed-in scenario but with a new spin. Stevenson's Ern has a terrific "voice," sly, ironic, and likable. I was suspicious of his claim to be a reliable narrator, but that is what he proved to be. I don't expect to read another book this year that will engage me as much as Everyone in my Family has engaged me.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 5 Stars</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-43130704835154941182023-02-25T14:53:00.000-05:002023-02-25T14:53:35.014-05:00Accident or Cold Blooded Murder?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDEvcEzRU-nFp7Cv_ECnzKnWlynfhBLJLTqk5DnyVXFQNt9qcsCipDpt4x90Ox54tBctkqg0KgV4x-W9QzRq2i-_N14dCNU1xudD2qkldK9Y9OA6A1IQaUjuwb1WChQR9aedkKsXURhrAO5PxPKqSeboEazXLhVrJqY1L5HIsPW8zqz7_0YqCrfmy/s400/a%20sinister%20revenge.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDEvcEzRU-nFp7Cv_ECnzKnWlynfhBLJLTqk5DnyVXFQNt9qcsCipDpt4x90Ox54tBctkqg0KgV4x-W9QzRq2i-_N14dCNU1xudD2qkldK9Y9OA6A1IQaUjuwb1WChQR9aedkKsXURhrAO5PxPKqSeboEazXLhVrJqY1L5HIsPW8zqz7_0YqCrfmy/s320/a%20sinister%20revenge.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>A SINISTER REVENGE</b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Veronica Speedwell #8</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Deanna Raybourne</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Berkley Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> March 7, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Veronica Speedwell has been not precisely pining but concerned by the absence of Stoker for several months. The two parted at an impasse due to events in An Impossible Imposter, previous in the series. She has an idea where he might be but has decided to take him at his word and give him space. However, when his older brother, Tiberius, Viscount Templeton-Vane, visits her and asks her to help him find Stoker, she drops everything. Tibirious has a problem that requires Stoker's talents. Twenty years previously, Tiberius made his "Grand Tour" in the company of several young men, self-named "The Seven Sinners." When the seven finished their tour and were dispersing from the Devon Templeton-Vane estate, one of their number met his end on the crumbling Devon cliffs. Lorenzo d'Ambrogio was a fossil enthusiast and had just made the discovery of a lifetime, a megalosaurus buried in the cliff. When the cliff crumbled during a storm, it took both the megalosaurus and Lorenzo. Long thought to be an accident, Tiberious was none the wiser until he received news cuttings about the deaths of two of the "Sinners" enclosed in a threatening note, proclaiming "Revenge for Lorenzo" and a threat to Tiberius. His response is to set up a reunion of sorts with the remaining survivors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When Veronica and Tiberius find Stoker wandering in the forests of Bavaria and present the plan to him, Stoker thinks it a hare-brained and dangerous scheme. But Tibirious knows his brother well and baits the trap with a commission to build a life-sized model of a megalosaurus. As a natural historian and taxidermist, Stoker cannot resist the challenge. He is also troubled about his brother's safety but downplays it. The people who gather at the Estate are not seemingly murderous, but there are undercurrents. At least some of them are hiding secrets regarding the death of Lorenzo and are willing to do anything to keep those secrets.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Veronica Speedwell, modeled on various "Lady Travelers" from the Victorian Era, is completely emancipated, a lepidopterist by trade. She has traveled the world bringing back rare butterfly specimens to earn her living. She is also stubborn as a mule and perfectly matched to Stoker. The verbal by-play between the two is always entertaining, and the scrapes they get into are often hair-raising. I enjoy this series tremendously and look forward to each one eagerly. Thanks to NetGalley.com and Berkley Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">RATING- 4 Stars</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-23542325762887515992023-02-19T08:44:00.002-05:002023-02-23T14:58:55.518-05:00A Hotbed of Murder and Criminal Activity in a Sleepy Market Town<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZVz-cpsRFjAbqmfP4uo6qBxWj-S6eZ9QJXwMO17s2Sa07WkFRrUkDRU5_Oy8ZrdzSCaHFJiniurzhkVRl_9DbvNsCHA2U1_D17HkFYxQ9jmFaxa59boh_KBnGD4NGYp2QqEmyElW6jqqbdD27Z6VkubKdBl1yzdFXHSm3bDZjHwWtqeE6BQ1DaYH/s499/haxford.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZVz-cpsRFjAbqmfP4uo6qBxWj-S6eZ9QJXwMO17s2Sa07WkFRrUkDRU5_Oy8ZrdzSCaHFJiniurzhkVRl_9DbvNsCHA2U1_D17HkFYxQ9jmFaxa59boh_KBnGD4NGYp2QqEmyElW6jqqbdD27Z6VkubKdBl1yzdFXHSm3bDZjHwWtqeE6BQ1DaYH/s320/haxford.jpeg" width="201" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>MURDER IN HAXFORD</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Pignon Scorbion and the Barbershop Detectives #2</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Rick Bleiweiss</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Blackstone Publishing</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>February 21, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Murder in Haxford is the second entry in Rick Bleiweiss's Pignon Scorbion cozy mystery series set in 1910 in the small market town of Haxford. Haxford may be a sleepy town, but it is a hotbed of murder and criminal activity for the dapper and erudite new Chief Inspector. Being new to the area, Scorbion quickly enlists the aid of an old friend, Calvin Brown, who owns the local barbershop. He also assembles a band of quirky characters who assist in his investigations. They include Thomas, Barnabus, and Yves, all barbershop employees. An ambitious reporter, Billy, at one of the local newspapers also wants to be in on the investigations. Last but definitely not least is Thelma Smith, the beautiful and brilliant proprietor of the local bookstore. The "deputies" make Calvin's barbershop the center of their activities.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our first murder takes place at the Haxford Market Fair, at a hot air balloon demonstration. One of the balloons plummets to the earth carrying one dead occupant. However, the dead man was not killed by the fall but by an arrow to the heart. The cast of possible suspects includes an assortment of village drunks and "ne'er do-wells," their wives, and relations. But who and, as importantly, why? There are many more bodies to account for before the end of this complex case, and justice is done. Next comes the poisoning death of a moneylender/artist, which has to be the oddest juxtaposition of occupations ever. Several individuals are in deep arrears on their debts, but what of the people involved in his side business of forging the works of well-known painters?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Murder in Haxford is a fun, quirky cozy, as was its predecessor, Pignon Scorbion and the Barbershop Detectives. Pignon Scorbion is a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot with none of their more annoying "tics." The descriptions of his sartorial splendor and two-toned shoes are always amusing. Haxford in 1910s England might never have existed, but it is a charming fantasy.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 4 Stars</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-1640972384028231132023-02-09T21:01:00.000-05:002023-02-09T21:01:26.532-05:00Secrets Surface in a Small Australian Town<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAZSkkbNcu7YPZIMLubyrCyF_vmOh_QyiWLm1cc4YekE5mpf-obOexqK_yQuDWgKZe0p8aOkvhymg9EXiKbGeoXFWC3Bz-bLlx-qfM_VD5Em4ldYV4hO0fc4vhxF9qHLRQBY2wSbCEmEf_E6kfflQBtcOh3pB9sSh-NKmbRtD9zDSeU9rCUF2ls5K/s1368/exiles.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAZSkkbNcu7YPZIMLubyrCyF_vmOh_QyiWLm1cc4YekE5mpf-obOexqK_yQuDWgKZe0p8aOkvhymg9EXiKbGeoXFWC3Bz-bLlx-qfM_VD5Em4ldYV4hO0fc4vhxF9qHLRQBY2wSbCEmEf_E6kfflQBtcOh3pB9sSh-NKmbRtD9zDSeU9rCUF2ls5K/s320/exiles.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>EXILES</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Aaron Falk #3</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Jane Harper</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Flatiron Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>January 31, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I've been waiting patiently (somewhat) for the final entry in Jane Harper's splendid Aaron Falk Trilogy. The trilogy introduced me to Australian crime fiction and was highly atmospheric, packing an emotional punch, and perfectly plotted. From THE DRY, through FORCE OF NATURE, and now EXILES, Jane Harper's books have shown me a new world. Aaron Falk is a detective in the financial crimes division of the Australian Federal Police based in Melbourne. But he comes from the outback town of Kiewarra, as seen in THE DRY. On his consequential visit to his hometown, he formed a friendship with the new Chief of Police, Greg Raco, and his wife, Rita. The Racos have asked him to be their new child's Godfather. The christening will take place in Greg's hometown, Merrilee. The previous year, Falk visited them for the Merrilee Food and Wine Festival, and the christening is taking place the very same weekend.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><div><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The previous year's Festival dealt the Raco extended family a considerable blow. His older brother Charlie's ex-wife, Kim, disappeared from the Festival, leaving her new daughter, Zoe, in a pram, never to be seen again. Her new spouse, Rohan, was having dinner with his parents and was cleared as a suspect. The Racos and their Merrilee friends and family are completely "at sea," saying that Kim would have never left Zoe alone. Charlie and Kim's daughter, Zara, now living with Charlie, and her friend, Joel, are insistent on this. The memories of Kim are close to the surface, especially since her friends had almost lost contact with Kim in the year previous to her disappearance. She had been living in Adelaide, not far away. Tragedy has been no stranger to Merrilee in the past few years. The daughter of the police chief died as a result of an alcohol overdose, and a respected member of the community was killed in a hit-and-run.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As memories surface, it becomes clear that the secrets of all these events are in the close-knit community. The solution to Kim's disappearance will upend their little paradise. But new connections and a new relationship convince Falk that there are more things in life than policing, and after years of being solitary, he can find a new home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to Net Galley and Flatiron Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 5 Stars</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-30789472015425198672022-12-24T13:26:00.004-05:002022-12-24T13:29:22.497-05:00Rockton's relocation brings new questions<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxd_0LStRQuT7nYeujUIayvGZyB9X5ATNzgORxjF_aHz1tYHadGLnSJ2Vc3mJXmxSGtrRjFMUhZ3RGLMtx4d9A8mQDJT1gpoiBfrhVuFOPuc2D_eWDpWpQEO-AMdqyk25sEKCRG4ivHNhTNvopHEx_766OLgzeb02jg2wPfBzDkhisCmrBpI9-eKE/s2560/murder%20havens%20rock.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxd_0LStRQuT7nYeujUIayvGZyB9X5ATNzgORxjF_aHz1tYHadGLnSJ2Vc3mJXmxSGtrRjFMUhZ3RGLMtx4d9A8mQDJT1gpoiBfrhVuFOPuc2D_eWDpWpQEO-AMdqyk25sEKCRG4ivHNhTNvopHEx_766OLgzeb02jg2wPfBzDkhisCmrBpI9-eKE/s320/murder%20havens%20rock.jpeg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>MURDER AT HAVEN'S ROCK</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Haven's Rock</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Kelley Armstrong</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>February 21, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Murder at Haven's Rock is a spin-off from the earlier Rockton series after seven books. Set in the Canadian Yukon, Rockton is one of the most unique crime series I have read, and I was sad to see it go, even though that storyline had run its course. Rockton was founded as a refuge for people on the run from abusive relationships and problems not of their own making. People with unpopular political views also made up the shifting population. Over the years, Rockton devolved into a money-making enterprise, allowing some unsavory and murderous characters to take refuge there. Sheriff Eric Dalton, who was born there, and his now-wife, Casey Duncan, are tasked with riding herd on the population. Detective. Casey was one of the latest residents running from her problems. Throughout the series, their relationship matures. Casey, in particular, grew more comfortable in her own skin.</p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">When Rockton met its end, the two had enough resources (along with others) to build a new Rockton called Haven's Rock. The plan was to stay away during the settlement building, which is nearly finished. Eric and Casy are called back because the project's architect has vanished into the forest. As one of the crew says, "shit happens up here." Does it ever!! There is a missing woman, a dead woman, an attacked worker, and a gold miner hiding in the forest. There is also a woman living in a highly camouflaged cottage who claims to be a nature photographer. Haven's Rock is not as secluded or safe as hoped.</p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Some of Rockton's former residents will be returning but are only mentioned here until the end. April, Casey's physician sister, has to come back when the bodies multiply. The new characters are certainly "colorful" and may have nefarious plans. The bad apples will go, but some others whose motives are not clear ask to remain. I predict another stellar series from Kelley Armstrong that will keep me guessing.</p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own. </p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">RATING- 4 Stars</p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-62466528680302844052022-12-24T12:45:00.002-05:002022-12-24T12:45:57.176-05:00The Start of a New Contempoary Trilogy from Jayne Ann Krentz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5weu1LAuXwyqz7vt0MhAsfDMjkMx5cg5OL-OudGPfPsrptc3Ah2MjD_b0pZdkBgd9u9gL2W88ZJ7x_iQZEiW90PfMRknqYBi2KHj9CUpRKXrm8eePDKYaJaTlueIDJYd5csg3X7jLOUx4rn2SedpQSePloh-VrkoeQtj4izXd_p03NRoZaU4Ffg5/s346/sleep%20no%20more.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5weu1LAuXwyqz7vt0MhAsfDMjkMx5cg5OL-OudGPfPsrptc3Ah2MjD_b0pZdkBgd9u9gL2W88ZJ7x_iQZEiW90PfMRknqYBi2KHj9CUpRKXrm8eePDKYaJaTlueIDJYd5csg3X7jLOUx4rn2SedpQSePloh-VrkoeQtj4izXd_p03NRoZaU4Ffg5/s320/sleep%20no%20more.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>SLEEP NO MORE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>The Lost Night Files #1</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Jayne Ann Krentz</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Berkley Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>January 3, 2023</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Few authors are as prolific and successful in their chosen field as Jayne Ann Krentz, and has who knows how many NYT Bestsellers to her credit. Sleep No More kicks off a new trilogy, The Lost Night Files. Krentz specializes in Romantic Suspense with a paranormal twist in both contemporary and historical settings.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><div style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pallas Llewellyn spent the night at The Lucent Springs Hotel and woke up with frighteningly enhanced psychic abilities and no memories of the night. Two other women, Amelia Rivers, and Talia March, had the same experience. They reacted differently, but all their lives have changed. The three have banded together and now have a cold case podcast. They cover all sorts of cases, but their own is always uppermost. When Pallas gets a message from Ambrose Drake suggesting she investigate the Carnelian Sleep Institute and that he witnessed a murder there, she agrees to meet him. After a rough start, the two make a deal to work together. There is a lot of shady activity in the town of Carnelian, including murder, drug rings, and financial malfeasance at a small local college.</span></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Krentz always writes engaging characters, and Sleep No More does not disappoint. I especially liked Ambrose Drake, a writer whose life has been upended by his experience at Carnelian. He suffers from crippling sleep deprivation and is not precisely the macho hero. His writing career is in shambles, and his personal life even more so. In fact, he is a mess, but the two manage to find love and support despite it all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">RATING-4 Stars</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-88735287307078216812022-10-30T11:03:00.001-04:002022-12-24T13:01:13.711-05:00Timely and Compelling Police Procedural<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu2IAYW24F4nwscjI8LChLxXbujWMRDEVEdWLjCkp5Ola1l0glov0Ff2PkajAh_YgJL9gENJWMMy28tSfSIDcJco8QjdxokMtTxHcrmy_bJKTA15976R0MlsjRUCQKn8K88lyWNCBLhO4sgpJLOl4U29MlY3yxcxb6SEoZDMmIAqohWaPL7ZjQoxP/s400/blackwater.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsu2IAYW24F4nwscjI8LChLxXbujWMRDEVEdWLjCkp5Ola1l0glov0Ff2PkajAh_YgJL9gENJWMMy28tSfSIDcJco8QjdxokMtTxHcrmy_bJKTA15976R0MlsjRUCQKn8K88lyWNCBLhO4sgpJLOl4U29MlY3yxcxb6SEoZDMmIAqohWaPL7ZjQoxP/s320/blackwater.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">BLACKWATER FALLS</span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Detective Inaya Rahman #1</span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ausma Zehanat Khan</span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Minotaur Books</span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">November 8, 2022</span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The picturesque town of Blackwater Falls in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado seems an ideal place to live and work. The setting is glorious, with camping and trails for visitors. The leading employers are Apex Dynamics, a tech research firm, and Natural Foods, a meatpacking plant. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There is also a large population of Muslim refugees from all over the world, primarily Syria and Somalia, most of whom work at Natural Foods.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Underneath the surface, however, bubbles a stew of hate and corruption. The hate comes from a prominent evangelical church and its accompanying biker gang, the Disciples. The corruption stems from the Sheriff, who has a finger in every pie and absolute control in the town. Inaya Rahman is a local who has returned after a traumatic stint at the Chicago PD. She is part of the new Community Response Unit, led by Lt. Waqas Seif. Her first significant crime is genuinely horrific, the murder of a promising refugee student, Razan Elkader. Razan was nailed to the door of the local Mosque in a sick parody of the Crucifixion. The disappearance of two Muslim teenage girls preceded the murder of Razan, ruled runaways by the Sheriff with little to no investigation. Neither the church nor the Sheriff has escaped scrutiny. The FBI has an operative implanted with the Disciples and the police department.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Blackwater Falls is a complex and timely novel in which just about everyone's motives are suspect at one time or another. Inaya is a well-portrayed character, as are her Hispanic partner and a Black firebrand attorney. Both are female, and the three become close friends and colleagues. I suppose I am as ignorant as the average American about the lives of immigrants. Blackwater Falls gave me a look into those lives, especially a Muslim woman who wants to operate as a professional yet feels the tug of her religious beliefs. Inaya's decision to wear the hijab when the other women in her family do not is just one instance. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The themes of violence and social justice resonate in Blackwater Falls and make for a compelling read. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 4.5 Stars</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><p></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-89871984389325196012022-10-27T14:58:00.000-04:002022-10-27T14:58:30.927-04:00Hilarious Sci-Fi Romp<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHeWhvmLsW2O2NyuWWgPiUGlfXmUzpZwc51kzYlVx7WuBmlJRwSQB0Rh8ihkPk2X7OqRR3BycuKilYDdFoVDb-g2G8bXmyfJnrosDSFzTJTdqtR11wCvW08_5oIiV5XhvZVIAukGK6on25daBT8UY2-lhHlnDSHcUSVpF9oOEwbjXAK0mJsb6Cccj/s400/station%20eternity.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHeWhvmLsW2O2NyuWWgPiUGlfXmUzpZwc51kzYlVx7WuBmlJRwSQB0Rh8ihkPk2X7OqRR3BycuKilYDdFoVDb-g2G8bXmyfJnrosDSFzTJTdqtR11wCvW08_5oIiV5XhvZVIAukGK6on25daBT8UY2-lhHlnDSHcUSVpF9oOEwbjXAK0mJsb6Cccj/s320/station%20eternity.jpeg" width="205" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">STATION ETERNITY</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">THE MIDSOLAR MURDERS # 1</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">MUR LAFFERTY</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ACE/BERKLEY BOOKS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>OCTOBER 4, 2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sci-Fi is not my usual genre. I have read only one series in its entirety: Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga, and that multiple times. The premise of Station Eternity caught my interest immediately. Mallory Viridian has a long-standing problem. Over and over, she finds herself at murder scenes and seems to be the only person who can solve the murder. She has only failed in very few cases. Unlike Jessica Fletcher of "Murder She Wrote" fame, it hasn't made her in demand at parties. The cops hate her and have prevented her from finding jobs. What remains of her family hate her after the murder of her uncle. Her cousin's subsequent arrest and conviction for the crime and her failure to exonerate him are the last straw. Earth's "First Contact" with aliens has just occurred, and Mallory asked for sanctuary aboard Station Eternity, a sentient space station. What could go wrong with no other humans on board?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">However, there are two other humans, the Earth Ambassador and a person Mallory knows from her college days. Xan was a casual friend who later joined the US Army. He was also a chief suspect in a murder Mallory couldn't solve. He was reportedly abducted by aliens the same night the murder occurred. The station is a bit of a prima donna, and she houses several alien races. The wasp-like Sundry seems to have a particular fascination with Mallory. She has befriended Stephanie, the giant Gneiss, made of rock. The Gurudev are insect-like stick figures, and the Phantasmagores can blend into any background. One similarity is that they all can form symbiotic relationships with other species and find humans lacking because humans cannot. Even Eternity has a symbiote; a Gurudev, Ren, is murdered, and everything goes to hell in a handbasket. A shuttle is headed from Earth and loaded with VIP visitors, the first to be allowed. Eternity goes mad and partially destroys the shuttle.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Station Eternity is a wild ride full of unique, often hilarious, and sometimes horrifying characters. It keeps you guessing until the end with non-stop action. Who will survive, and why is Mallory's estranged aunt aboard the shuttle?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to Netgalley and Ace for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Rating- 3.5 rounded up to 4</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-73086144180101217482022-10-20T15:35:00.003-04:002022-10-20T15:36:26.424-04:00An Engrossing Regency Mystery<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QbICJ9tF8opWTBJjOkc2YmQcej9Tj4CCZKeR5FdNgx7R1_iC-Z4hwEXy4FpauOOQbWLiLgFtMip7lITAZAQ9z73qpeuthN1VWFGx9GPowRsf3k5B5S-i-NuVwqo8bj_XWWX8auiJA1KZ26zIsu_R6Tp3klf1cYJ79By69M5w3btJC_bHxWVRMv3M/s499/serpentine.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QbICJ9tF8opWTBJjOkc2YmQcej9Tj4CCZKeR5FdNgx7R1_iC-Z4hwEXy4FpauOOQbWLiLgFtMip7lITAZAQ9z73qpeuthN1VWFGx9GPowRsf3k5B5S-i-NuVwqo8bj_XWWX8auiJA1KZ26zIsu_R6Tp3klf1cYJ79By69M5w3btJC_bHxWVRMv3M/s320/serpentine.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>MURDER AT THE SERPENTINE BRIDGE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Wrexford and Sloane #6</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Andrea Penrose</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Kensington Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>September 27, 2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The newest book in this historical mystery series takes us back to London in the summer of 1814 when the nation was celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Paris of the years-long Napoleonic Wars. The celebrations center on the grand Parks of London, with the staging of the replica Battle of Waterloo on the Serpentine River in Hyde Park. Lord Wrexford and his new wife Charlotte will inevitably be at the center of the celebrations due to their high positions. Complications arise when Wrexford's two wards, Raven and Hawk, discover a man's body floating in the Serpentine. The man, identified as Jeremiah Willis, a well-known engineer, and inventor, was thought to be set upon by criminals hoping for loot. The oddity was that Willis was plainly dressed and a black man. More pressing are Charlotte's family obligations. Her brother Hartley has invited them to his in-laws' estate. Belmont. When they arrive, they see all is not well. Belmont is distracted, his wife Louisa is stiff, and there are signs of economic stress. A visitor from London arrives, demanding to see Wrexford. It seems that Jeremiah Willis was far from unimportant. He was designing a repeater gun whose use would revolutionize warfare. The plans have not been found, and the government wants them back. So do all the major European government representatives present for the celebrations. There are rumors of an auction of the plans. To gain Wrexford's cooperation, the man insinuates that he knows Charlotte's alter ego, A. J. Quill, a notorious satirical artist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Wrexford and Sloane novels are favorites of mine. They never displease, full of action, historical detail, and color. The characters are well-rounded and believable. My favorites are the former street urchins, Raven and Hawk, who are maturing into intelligent and gifted young men. A welcome addition is Peregrine, the future Lord Belmont. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Rating- 4 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-81684257902746585002022-09-20T07:44:00.000-04:002022-09-20T07:44:21.468-04:00Timely and Chilling Novel of Nazi Sympathizers in Pre- World WarII Hollywood<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Xi2j19fzCRI7AxYXYkpQKi4KZEF2yYlehxTc9updG9uyVOnxFrkodIOHhhllxfm-fGYqjcENn3cyL4NZ_36XHX0SxD6seDGDu0k3zSh1FxCKCdzzn7VlQsWyy3e9xIGxOfe-DDY8YbzejIh2ZSZmOoLvl87gsy1z0w6CMVF0vhesdStb-A3w6WLp/s400/mother%20daughter.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Xi2j19fzCRI7AxYXYkpQKi4KZEF2yYlehxTc9updG9uyVOnxFrkodIOHhhllxfm-fGYqjcENn3cyL4NZ_36XHX0SxD6seDGDu0k3zSh1FxCKCdzzn7VlQsWyy3e9xIGxOfe-DDY8YbzejIh2ZSZmOoLvl87gsy1z0w6CMVF0vhesdStb-A3w6WLp/s320/mother%20daughter.jpeg" width="216" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;"><b>MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Susan Elia MacNeal</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Bantam Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 20, 2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's 1940 in New York, and everything seems to be coming up roses for Veronica Grace and her widowed mother, Violet. Ever since childhood, Veronica has wanted to be a journalist, modeling herself on Martha Gellhorn. She is graduating with honors from Hunter College and has a great job lined up. Her father, a Naval Commander, has been dead for six years, so her uncle Walter has come from Southern California to celebrate. Little do they know that everything is going to change. Veronica has a secret. She has been having an affair with an older reporter who was supposed to be mentoring her, and his wife has found out about it. Unluckily, the wife is part of a mighty publishing family who has reported it to Hunter and Veronica's prospective employer. Veronica's dreams are smashed, and even worse, she is just one of a string of girls who were fooled by him.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Uncle Walter has a plan for them, though. He has a small cottage in California to offer them so they can make a new start. Despite having lived their whole lives in Brooklyn, Violet and Veronica see no alternative. A scandal like this can't be hidden or glossed over, not in 1940. The little family heads off to sunny LA with heavy hearts and no idea how to start over. Veronica finds it challenging to find a job, especially without any experience or education she can mention. Violet is a typical housewife and mother of the time with no work experience. She is, however, a talented seamstress and specializes in custom embroidery on clothing. One day mother and daughter engaged in a casual conversation with a woman who told Veronica of a possible job with the woman's brother-in-law doing stenographic and general office work. Violet's beautiful embroidery is also noticed by rich, well-connected women, primarily women connected to right-wing causes. Veronica takes the job but soon discovers that her seemingly "nice," jovial employers are part of the America First Committee and are distributing poisonous propaganda for the Nazi Regime. She is sickened and horrified, and when she tells Violet, the two women go first to the police, then to the FBI. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The police can do nothing and seem, if anything, sympathetic. And J. Edgar Hoover was only interested in chasing Communists. A call to a Naval colleague of Veronica's father brings results, however. He puts them in touch with two active agents trying to stop the Nazi influx. Since Violet and Veronica are of German heritage and look like perfect blonde examples of Aryan womanhood, they will have no problem infiltrating. The women agree since they both are patriots who hate the rise of the Nazis. It becomes clear to them that they will be in great danger. The Nazi sympathizers are planning something "big" if Roosevelt is re-elected. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The plot of <i>Mother Daughter Traitor Spy </i>would be quite fantastical if one didn't know how dangerous Nazi sympathizers were all over America, especially on the coasts. Xenophobia ran rampant when it became clear that America was being inexorably drawn into another World War. However, the characters of the agents, Violet and Veronica, as well as the Nazis, are based on real people. The agents went on after the War to successful careers and prominence. The women who placed themselves in such peril have been largely forgotten, which seems to be how such things go. Veronica's real name was Sylvia Comfort. One can't read <i>Mother Daughter Traitor Spy </i>without seeing the parallels to today's political climate. This is a nail-biting thriller with characters to remember.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks to Bantam Books and Netgalley.com for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-21486783651659708222022-09-06T11:56:00.002-04:002022-09-06T12:02:14.648-04:00Not the Usual Longmire<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIIaFgN58ECrOq-6s6TxobuSYaXtlPqZq4m1lmD-7pe128D8hl7QPLSA8iRiE6TGoAyqEOwia4xlZsZjuiWh-pB_J08F9cjT78K1pLtSwkFjTIe0kkthnNoCAQBLIeb1nQ_5lByKCBTETfJrMLZ32a8h0fCRffr69QbGeOczu2EcgPCYuu-XER_KH/s346/hell%20and%20back.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIIaFgN58ECrOq-6s6TxobuSYaXtlPqZq4m1lmD-7pe128D8hl7QPLSA8iRiE6TGoAyqEOwia4xlZsZjuiWh-pB_J08F9cjT78K1pLtSwkFjTIe0kkthnNoCAQBLIeb1nQ_5lByKCBTETfJrMLZ32a8h0fCRffr69QbGeOczu2EcgPCYuu-XER_KH/s320/hell%20and%20back.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: arial;"><b>HELL AND BACK</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Walt Longmire #18</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Craig Johnson</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> Viking</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> September 6, 2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It has been a while since I read the Walt Longmire series, but when I had a chance to read <i>Hell and Back</i>, I </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">was pleasantly reminded just a few pages in. Johnson's prose is beautiful, and the character of Walt is one that you just want to spend some time with. This is not quite the Walt I remember since Johnson takes him into mystical territory. He has strayed there in previous novels, but not to this extent.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Hell and Back </i>opens with Walt waking up snow-covered in a street. He is also covered in blood and doesn't know his name or where he is. He sets off for the nearest lights in a diner just beginning to close. Despite an advancing blizzard, the pretty waitress (who looks somewhat familiar) still makes a meal for him. She also helps him with his name on the hatband inside his cowboy hat. He is in Fort Pratt, Montana. Fort Pratt was the home of an Indian Training School that burned to the ground over a hundred years ago, killing thirty boys. The waitress tells him there haven't been any good stories in Fort Pratt since.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The fact that Walt is missing is not lost on Vic Moretti, his under-sheriff, and his longtime friend, Henry Standing Bear. Both, along with Walt's giant indeterminately bred hound "Dog," have set off to find him in the teeth of the blizzard, and the story switches between them and Walt. Walt's wanderings feature meetings with all sorts of characters in the snowy landscape, both natural and possibly imagined. The gates of the training school are still standing. When Walt crosses onto the grounds, he thinks he is back in time to when the school was still operating, to the very day it burned at 8:17pm.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This departure may throw longtime readers of the series, but Johnson gives us the twists in plotting and robust character building that we expect. I am decidedly not a fan of Westerns, probably because I watched too many bad ones on TV in my childhood. Johnson has taken a risk with <i>Hell and Back </i>but succeeds in all ways.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thanks to NetGalley and Viking for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 4.5 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><p></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3396214618900525279.post-63754316454671170002022-08-29T17:03:00.002-04:002022-08-29T17:03:49.559-04:00This Garden is Not Eden<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3U7gftVWTN-bDwya2W99ivfRRKTl_HuLdK9jtg4QqBEdMPBeM7-4JZJsDbHf0GUFMAqnGAX3QP81H-_RjuFERMZqBfTBZNJqqg6Cihra2m68AQ9h2gUah_M_Y4hhhhdrBeUoCtJPt-Dyp7sM3z79uYO8PH6iEG209MAgvIySszMmOFMB3tIc7ddVq/s400/back%20to%20the%20Garden.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3U7gftVWTN-bDwya2W99ivfRRKTl_HuLdK9jtg4QqBEdMPBeM7-4JZJsDbHf0GUFMAqnGAX3QP81H-_RjuFERMZqBfTBZNJqqg6Cihra2m68AQ9h2gUah_M_Y4hhhhdrBeUoCtJPt-Dyp7sM3z79uYO8PH6iEG209MAgvIySszMmOFMB3tIc7ddVq/s320/back%20to%20the%20Garden.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>BACK TO THE GARDEN</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Laurie R. King</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Bantam Books</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>September 6, 2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Laurie R. King is best known for her long-running Mary.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Russell and Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, but she has also written several excellent stand-alone novels. <i>Back to the Garden </i>falls into that category. The Gardener Estate is steeped in California history and has seen many transformations. It is reminiscent of the Hearst San Simeon Estate, with baronial interiors, exteriors, and extensive gardens. The Estate has always remained in the Gardener family's hands. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> In the 1970s, the Estate rested in the hands of the "Old Bastard," always referred to by his grandsons.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">" Fort" and Rob Gardener are the heirs to the Estate. "Fort" has already taken off for an ashram in India and disinherited. The rebellious and volatile Rob refuses to be part of his grandfather's plans. He joins the Army and is promptly sent off to Viet Nam. Only a cousin stays involved with the running of the Estate, but since his last name is not Gardener, he can't inherit.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When Rob returns from Viet Nam and inherits, he is still rebellious and volatile. He is also deeply immersed in the 1970s "counterculture." He and his partner, Meadow,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">remake the house and grounds into an experiment in communal living. All sorts of people come and go from 1970s cultural icons to petty criminals. "Fort" reappears, still with no designs on the Estate, rather than a seemingly small request. All seemed well until Rob and Meadow decided to have an art and music festival, mainly to showcase the success of their experiment. On that weekend, everything changes. Meadow and "Fort" disappear, and the commune breaks up quickly. Currently, the Estate is managed by a Trust, and Rob is a hermit living on the grounds. The Estate has been returned to its former glory, and big plans are afoot. An immense statue, The Three Eves, has to be moved and shored up. A human skull and remains are discovered beneath.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Anyone who lived through the 70s might remember that there was also a surfeit of serial killers operating in America. Young women on the roads were killed and disappeared all over, particularly in California. When a Cold Case investigator, Racquel Laing from the SFPD, gets wind of the find, she thinks it would fit her case, that of The Highwayman. The Highwayman is in custody, but he is dying. Racquel is on a mission to find out who, other than the nine women they know about, fell victim to him. He isn't talking unless forced to, and Raquel is determined to find out every victim before time runs out. The intersection of the history of the Gardener family and the Highwayman is bound together.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Back to the Garden </i>is an intricate and compelling read with King's signature full-bodied characters and atmospheric writing. Thanks to NetGalley.com and Bantam Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">RATING- 4.5 Stars</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>omnireaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03091485644149238596noreply@blogger.com0