Tag: mystery

Book Review: Where He Left Me, by Nicole Baart

Image belongs to Atria Books.

Title: Where He Left Me
Author: Nicole Baart            
Genre: Thriller   
Rating: 4 out of 5

College professors Sadie Sheridan and Felix Graham are on sabbatical at Hemlock House, located on a remote mountain homestead established years ago by Felix’s family. When Felix leaves on a work trip but doesn’t return, effectively stranding Sadie on the mountain, her world collapses.

Alone at Hemlock House, frantic Sadie struggles to make sense of what her missing astronomer husband left behind. Forced to confront two mysterious trespassers just as a powerful storm bears down, Sadie and the strangers have no choice but to ride it out together. As conditions worsen and shocking secrets are revealed, Sadie must face whether or not she ever knew the man she married and is she fighting only for her own survival now—or still for the man who promised her the stars?

This was a solid thriller read—and did not make me look forward to winter even a little. I liked how the mystery of what was going on with Felix built slowly, twisting and turning on different rabbit trails, and ending up being unexpected. Sadie got on my nerves a bit with her back-and-forth mentally, but I liked her well enough. This is a solid read.

Nicole Baart lives in Iowa. Where He Left Me is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.)

   

Book Review: A Dark and Deadly Journey, by Julia Kelly  

Image belongs toSt. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books.

Title: A Dark and Deadly Journey
Author: Julia Kelly   
Genre: historical fiction  
Rating: 5 out of 5

After being sidelined for a pesky gunshot wound, typist-turned-field agent Evelyne Redfern is ready for her next assignment with Britain’s secretive Special Investigations Unit. When a British Intelligence informant in Portugal mysteriously disappears just after hinting that he has vital information about German plans that could tip the balance of World War Two, Evelyne and her dashingly irksome partner, David Poole, are sent headed to Lisbon to find him.

Once they land, Evelyne and David aren’t even able to leave the airport, before she discovers one of their fellow aeroplane passengers murdered and uncovers a diary with a clear link between the victim and their missing informant. With their mission in jeopardy before it can truly begin, Evelyne and David fight to keep their cover intact as they descend deeper into the shadows that surround Lisbon’s glittering collection of wealthy expats and dangerous spies. This case will test Evelyne and David’s training, charm, and wit―and their growing attraction for one another.

I’m still loving this series! Historical fiction is my jam, particularly World War II-era stories, and I do love a good murder mystery, so this makes it a winner in my book. Evelyne and David are great characters and I’ve loved getting to know them more with every book. I’ll admit, I did figure out who the killer was a bit before the reveal, but I was not expecting that ending!

Julia Kelly is a bestselling author. A Dark and Deadly Journey is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Sisterhood, by Tasha Alexander

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books.

Title: The Sisterhood   
Author: Tasha Alexander         
Genre: Historical fiction    
Rating: 4 out of 5 

London, 1907: When the Season’s most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman. But all is not what it seems, and after a toxic beverage is revealed to be the cause of death, the king himself instructs Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves to unearth the truth.

Who would want to harm one of the most popular women of the year? Is it her fiancé with whom she had an unusually brief courtship; a rival for his affections bitter at being cast aside; her best friend who is almost certainly hiding a secret from Colin and Emily; a disappointed suitor with a hidden gambling habit; or a notorious jewel thief who has taken a priceless tiara from the Goldsborough home? When a second debutante succumbs to poison, the race is on to find a ruthless killer.

Emily and Colin’s investigation leads to a centuries old tomb in the center of London with a mysterious link to another death dating back to Roman times and the violent reign of Boudica, ancient Britain’s fearsome warrior queen. As the stakes rise and the clock ticks down, Emily must find the killer before they strike again.

I haven’t read any of the Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries series, but that wasn’t a problem. I had no problem feeling at home in this world and with these characters. This was a solid historical fiction read and a nice mystery, as well. I did not figure out who the killer was before the reveal, so there’s that, but I enjoyed all the different characters.

Tasha Alexander lives in Wyoming. The Sisterhood is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Vanished, by Dr. David Jeremiah  

Image belongs to Thomas Nelson.

Title: Vanished
Author: Dr. David Jeremiah         
Genre: Mystery/thriller, Christian   
Rating: 4 out of 5 

The end of the world . . .

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, John “Haggs” Haggerty has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture–including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense.

Meanwhile, his own world feels like it’s falling apart. He’s still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he’s trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be.

Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption.

This was a fast-paced, easy read, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the Left Behind series when it first came out, but it feels very dated now, so this was an interesting contrast to that, but I liked the more modern take. I Liked the varied settings and the characters, but their relationships showcased their personalities the best. I’m interested to see how this series develops.

Dr. David Jeremiah is a bestselling author. Vanished is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson Fiction in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge, by Kate Khavari

Image belongs to Dreamscape Media.

Title: A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge
Author: Kate Khavari 
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery/thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Saffron Everleigh returns to Ellington Manor after her grandfather suffers a heart attack. Back in her childhood home for the first time in years, Saffron faces tense family relationships made worse by the presence of the enigmatic Bill Wyatt, hired on as a doctor to the ailing Lord Easting. But the man is no doctor—in reality, he is a mysterious figure involved in the trafficking of dangerous government secrets, and his presence at Ellington can only mean trouble.

When their neighbors, the Hales, invite a spiritual medium into the village who starts angling for Saffron’s mother’s attention, Saffron realizes that there is more afoot in her hometown than she originally thought. Not to mention inviting Alexander to Ellington has put their budding relationship under her family’s microscope.

As tensions rise at Ellington, Bill demands that Saffron hand over old research documents belonging to her late father. With her relatives under his power as their ‘doctor,’ Saffron fears she may be forced to surrender the files along with her hopes of ever understanding her father’s obscure legacy. Nothing and no one is as they seem at Ellington. It’s through the perfumed haze of the séance’s smoke that Saffron must search for the truth before it’s too late.

I enjoyed this audio book. The narrator is good and is perfect for this series. So much family drama here! I thought Saffron’s grandmother was pretty awful, and her grandfather wasn’t much better. I enjoyed the mystery aspect quite a bit, but the family drama less so (that’s just my own personal preference). The writing is solid and kept me engrossed in the story. This is a good series!

Kate Khavari lives in Dallas-Fort Worth. A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Party of Liars, by Kelsey Cox   

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: Party of Liars
Author: Kelsey Cox     
Genre: Thriller   
Rating: 4 out of 5 

Today is Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday party, an exclusive black-tie bash in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where secrets are as deep-rooted as the sprawling live oaks. Sophie’s dad has spared no expense, and his renovated cliffside mansion—once thought haunted—is now hosting the event of the season. Then, just before the candles on the three-tiered red velvet cake are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the starlit dance floor below.

It’s a killer guest list . . .

DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s been plagued by self-doubt ever since the birth of her own baby girl

ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who senses a looming danger in this cavernous house

MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who is not nearly as meek as the popular kids assume

KIM: the cunning ex-wife who has a grudge she can’t let go of . . .

Everyone is invited in. Not everyone will get out alive.

I really never figured out exactly what was going on or who was guilty—of what until the end! Kim was pretty horrible for most of the novel, so much hatred and vitriol and alcohol. I couldn’t figure out if Dani was crazy, or as almost-perfect as she seemed. Sophie and Mikayla seemed like typical teenage girls on the surface, but were they really? Ethan and his friend Curtis were just a little too high-handed, weren’t they? There was a lot going on here, and I was engrossed from the beginning. And what about the dollhouse/mansion? Creepy!

Kelsey Cox lives in the Texas Hill Country. Party of Liars is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review and Blog Tour: Grave Birds, by Dana Elmendorf

Image belongs to Harlequin/Mira.

Title: Grave Birds  
Author: Dana Elmendorf
Genre: Fantasy   
Rating: 4 out of 5

Grave birds haunt the cemeteries of Hawthorne, South Carolina, where Spanish moss drips from the trees and Southern charm hides ugly lies. Hollis Sutherland never knew these unique birds existed, not until she died and was brought back to life. The ghostly birds are manifestations of the dead’s unfinished business, and they know Hollis and her uncanny gift can set them free.

When a mysterious bachelor wanders into the small town, bizarre events begin to plague its wealthiest citizens—blood drips from dogwood blossoms, flocks of birds crash into houses, fire tornadoes descend from the sky. Hollis knows these are the omens her grandfather warned about, announcing the devil’s return. But despite Cain Landry’s eerie presence and the plague that has followed him, his handsome face and wicked charm win over the townsfolk. Even Hollis falls under his spell as they grow closer.

That is, until lies about the town’s past start to surface. The grave birds begin to show Hollis the dead’s ugly deeds from some twenty-five years ago and the horrible things people did to gain their wealth. Hollis can’t decide if Cain is some immortal hand of God, there to expose their sins, or if he’s a devil there to ruin them all. Either way, she’s determined to save her town and the people in it, whatever it takes.

This was a fun, quirky book. I loved the setting and the characters. Hollis was a lot of fun, and Cain was interesting. The small-town life was portrayed well, with enough eccentricities to be believable. I really enjoyed Hollis’s greenhouse home. That was so unique to me! The one problem I had with this was how abruptly Hollis and Cain’s relationship went from antagonist to romantic, with almost no transition. Other than that, this was a solid read.

Dana Elmendorf is from Tennessee. Grave Birds is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club, by Gloria Chao  

Image belongs to Harlequin/MIRA.

Title: The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club   
Author: Gloria Chao          
Genre: Mystery    
Rating: 4 out of 5

The body in the closet was going to be a problem. Kathryn Hu knew it. Yes, Tucker Jones was a cheating scumbag, and yes, she’d agreed to meet Olivia and Elle—Tucker’s other girlfriends—to exact revenge for all he’d put them through… But then they found him. Dead. 

Do they look guilty? Yes.

Do they feel guilty for having wished him dead just hours before? Maybe a little.

But—solid motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA aside—they’re innocent. They swear.

To clear their names, Kat, Olivia and Elle team up to find the real killer. But as they go undercover and lie to everyone, including the hot detective working the case, they realize that every person in their ex’s life had a reason to want him dead. Will they uncover the truth before they go down for a murder they didn’t commit?

Talk about a comedy of errors! This made me laugh several times, and the podcast transcript irritated me. Tucker was the worst—especially how he made Kat, Olivia, and Elle question their worth, even before they found out just what a jerk he really was. Kat’s opening bad days was a lot and made me really emphasize with her. I liked her and would be happy to read more about her.

Gloria Chao graduated from MIT, became a dentist, and is now a writer. The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

 

Book Review: Tell Me Something Good, by Court Stevens   

Image belongs to Harper Muse Audiobooks.

Title: Tell Me Something Good (audio)
Author: Court Stevens         
Genre: Mystery/thriller   
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This is a story of the rich and the very poor. This is a story of an illegal auction with dire consequences. This is a story of murders past and present. This is a story of intertwined relationships and the silent ripples they leave behind, where love becomes a guiding force, revealing the lengths one will go to protect those they cherish.

Over twenty years ago, a young hunting guide in rural Kentucky was driving his boat in the early morning mist when his peaceful cruise was cut short by a scene so disturbing, he packed up and moved away. Nine women died early that morning, but it was linked to a similar crime in Texas, so the locals quickly wrote it off as having nothing to do with them.

Now, all these years later, when everyone has nearly forgotten about that grisly part of their past, one man’s accidental death will bring everything back up to the surface. The locals who knew better can no longer claim it had nothing to do with them, and one woman, desperate to do whatever it takes to save her mother’s life, will learn that nearly everyone in her life has been lying to her.

The narrator on this did a good job, but I didn’t really like the voice of the story. So many secrets. So many missed opportunities to speak up and avert all kinds of nonsense. But no, the characters refuse to talk to each other. About anything. This didn’t work for me on a lot of levels, and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters—except maybe the donkey. I think this book just wasn’t a good fit for me.

Court Stevens is from Kentucky. Tell Me Something Good is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harper Muse Audiobooks in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Bodies and Battlements, by Elizabeth Penney

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: Bodies and Battlements  
Author: Elizabeth Penney        
Genre: Mystery/thriller    
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Herbalist Nora Asquith is delighted to welcome Ravensea Castle’s first guests to the picturesque village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. After a thousand years of ownership, her family has decided to convert the castle into a bed and breakfast. But when Hilda Dibble, a self-appointed local luminary, is found dead in the knot garden the next morning, Nora’s business is not only at risk—she’s a prime suspect.

Hilda had opposed the hotel plan every step of the way, and although she didn’t succeed in stopping the venture, her disagreements with Nora seem to only further her motive. One of Ravensea’s guests happens to be Detective Inspector Finlay Cole, who is new to the area and now finds himself with a murder case in his lap.

Nora and her actress sister Tamsyn decide to investigate for themselves. They look into the entangled dealings of their newly arrived guests, while also getting hints from Sir Percival, one of the castle ghosts. As they learn, Sir Percival’s tragic death centuries ago sheds light on present-day crimes. Surely they can get to the bottom of this mystery while keeping their new business afloat . . .

This was a decent cozy mystery read, but nothing standout enough to keep me highly invested in continuing the series, if that makes sense. I didn’t feel like the characters were well-developed enough to carry a series, but that should grow with time. Like the each had one quirk that made them interesting, but were otherwise bland. So, a decent read, but not a great read.

Elizabeth Penney grew up in Maine. Bodies and Battlements is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)