“I abhorred weakness of any kind but most particularly in my tea.”
A baffling mystery, a plucky heroine, and plenty of sparks-1887 in London has never “I abhorred weakness of any kind but most particularly in my tea.”
A baffling mystery, a plucky heroine, and plenty of sparks-1887 in London has never been so electric! This one had a slow start, but soon the plot ignited and I was wrapped up in this intriguing tale.
“I am quite determined to be the mistress of my own fate, Mrs. Clutterthorpe, but I do sympathize with how strange it must sound to you. It is not your fault that you are totally devoid of imagination. I blame your education.”
Veronica Speedwell has embarked on another adventure in search of butterflies to study and collect. When Veronica is nearly abducted during her travels, a baron helps foil the attack. He leaves her in the care of natural historian, Stoker.
“That is the hallmark of a good partnership, you know-when one partner sees the forest and the other studies the trees.”
Veronica is a woman in Victorian England, but she is forward thinking and determined to be in charge of her own life. It was refreshing to read how she handled the naysayers and judgmental notions leveled at her. She freely tossed about humor, pursued knowledge, and exhilaration. The more I read the more I like Miss Speedwell.
“In my experience it is far better to tell a man what he wants to hear then do as you please, than attempt to reason with him.”
The barely budding attraction between Veronica and Stoker puts the slow in slow burn, their witty dialogue is delicious. I laughed so much, the audiobook made an early morning trip bearable. Shoutout to banter!
I plan to continue this action packed series.
“I have known enough of women to understand that they are as duplicitous and vicious as men. If they are capable of being our equals in malice, why not in our better qualities as well? There are no masculine virtues, Veronica. And none sacred to women either. We are all of us just people, and most badly flawed ones at that.”...more
Prepare to toss practical thinking out of the window with this easy read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Good for a quick entertaining read, IPrepare to toss practical thinking out of the window with this easy read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Good for a quick entertaining read, I didn’t find the characters engaging though.
Finlay is written over the top rocking the frazzled mom motif which worked for the sake of a few laughs until I read further. Her antics soon had me squinting in a “get it together somewhere in your life way”. Despite having a nanny, she isn’t writing her novels, her house is a wreck, and she can’t complete basic tasks. Instead of being lost in the story I was wondering what she was spending her time doing.
I understand bad days happen, I understand we can’t control all the things, but when a character is running around playing stressed for the sake of stressed it isn’t endearing or humorous. It reads like a manipulative short cut to comedy and it isn’t creative.
Of course multiple men are interested in her because being a complete mess=attractive. What is fiction without a love triangle of some sort? ...more
A hybrid mashup of police procedural with paranormal elements by Joy Ellis? **immediately downloads**
It isn’t often that I’ve read a mystery tha3.25⭐️
A hybrid mashup of police procedural with paranormal elements by Joy Ellis? **immediately downloads**
It isn’t often that I’ve read a mystery that involves tracking a dangerous serial killer that also encompasses puppies, warm characters, and manages to feel authentic. Ellis pulled it off here. This novel was quite unique. I adore reading something that feels different, like the author took a chance or I may not know what to make of initially. I like to travel outside the box. This novel has its issues, but it was enjoyable to read overall. It’s the author’s first novel, she recently unearthed it from her attic after twenty years.
The police remain baffled regarding the identity of a serial killer.
Ellie McEwan is injured in a car accident. Soon upon awakening she’s bombarded by an onslaught of colorful lights surrounding people. Can Ellie’s new skill be refined to help track a killer targeting talented women?
There are two distinctive halves of the novel. Almost as if the first half is a separate book from the second. The tone has an abrupt shift. In the first half there’s a deep dive into Ellie’s accident and her recovery. There’s also a great deal of time spent with secondary characters. As a reader, I felt like I could sink into life alongside these characters one moment and then there was an unease about the killer lurking around the next. In the second half the secondary characters start to take a backseat and the crime solving takes the focus. There’s a clear divide and the atmosphere shift is drastic to the point of giving whiplash. Cohesive weaving between the two sections would’ve made a world of difference for the novel.
This book felt like a grisly procedural told in a cozy voice. Despite there being issues, I enjoyed this novel. There was just something special about Ellie and the world building Joy Ellis created here. ...more
The elderly community has been having their moment in the literary character spotlight and I am happy about it. I love the possibilities venturing awaThe elderly community has been having their moment in the literary character spotlight and I am happy about it. I love the possibilities venturing away from the tired old formulas bring to the table. Opening books opens minds and when heroes/heroines aren’t of a cookie cutter variety for whatever reason it sends an important message.
Judith Potts is a seventy-seven year old woman living in her mansion on the Thames. She’s a crossword setter who enjoys swilling whiskey, skinny dipping, and donning her trusty cape. Judith hears what she believes to be the murder of a neighbor during one of her aforementioned skinny dipping excursions. The police brush off her concerns, so she decides to poke around herself. Her amateur sleuthing soon turns up two unlikely allies in Suzie, a down to earth, dog walker and Becks, the local Vicar’s wife. The three women have distinctive voices, personalities, and backstories. More deaths occur and the obvious suspects have convenient alibis.
Is there a connection? Or Is there a serial killer?
Red herrings abound making this twisty mystery a fun one to unravel. It is light and cozy with a smooth flowing style.
(No spoilers, but come on) My side eye moment came towards the end with some of the decisions Judith makes. They were predictably setting up certain plot points and it just felt wrong to me despite the explanations in the book. I felt she was a smarter character and my brain rebelled.
Overall the novel engaged my brain and funny bone. Sifting through clues with these quirky heroines was an unconventional romp. ...more
This was my first time reading a novel by Katy Brent and I plan to check out her other work.
Molly Monroe awakens with a vicious hangover, next to a sThis was my first time reading a novel by Katy Brent and I plan to check out her other work.
Molly Monroe awakens with a vicious hangover, next to a stranger, and to add insult to injury she’s gone viral for performing a sex act in public. After being bombarded with humiliation, she finds her dear friend and roommate, Posey, dead.
Molly immediately suspects foul play, but her credibility has taken the mother of all hits and the death is ruled accidental by authorities. Undeterred, Molly begins her own investigation into Posey’s work and personal life. There’s a lot of surprises, twists, and secrets that make this a good mystery. Molly is a flawed character, but her determination to get to the truth, despite the toxic online nastiness being hurled at her and people referring her to mental health services each time she finds a lead, is admirable. I like a gal that can dig her heels in, in the midst of a shit storm. Molly Monroe is one such gal.
Katy Brent did more than write a murder mystery with this novel. She took on topics such as sexual assault, misogyny, and gave an up close look at the unequal footing women find themselves standing on so often.
I would’ve liked to have seen the ending come together a little stronger, but overall I enjoyed this and wanted to see good things happen for Molly. ...more
Big hair, designer shoes, shoulder pads, over the top attitude, and glamorous ambition can only mean one thing, the widows are back baby! This time soBig hair, designer shoes, shoulder pads, over the top attitude, and glamorous ambition can only mean one thing, the widows are back baby! This time someone has put a plan in motion to frame a few of the widows for the mayor’s murder. Motives seem to arrive from every direction in this whodunnit.
Can the ladies unravel the mystery in time?
All things ‘80’s shine in this fun jaunt into the past. When I listened to the first installment, Young Rich Widows, it exceeded my expectations. Unfortunately, the second go around lost a little of its magic for me, but there are some welcome additions that balanced out some of the negatives.
The narration of these characters is fantastic! The comedic timing hits its mark in a few moments and had me laughing. I loved the idea of these women becoming more independent and would’ve liked to have seen their business lives explored more, but the growth was nice. The Aidan character’s addition to the series was hands down my favorite aspect of the entire book. His character brought a storyline featuring indigenous culture to the plot which was a fascinating surprise. I could have read an entire novel about his character.
However, the widows felt disconnected from each other. I didn’t believe the bond despite having read the first book. The mystery was obvious and a stronger novel could’ve existed without it. The way the widows’ friendships with each other were portrayed had me scratching my head. If your friends only show up to support you when you’re in a dire situation, what kind of friends are they? Also they are quick to think the worst of each other. If someone is my friend, they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. ...more
My first Donlea was this gripping mystery and I would recommend it for the most part. Although there were a few negative aspects, they weren’t strong My first Donlea was this gripping mystery and I would recommend it for the most part. Although there were a few negative aspects, they weren’t strong enough to tank the overall experience. Twenty Years Later is a twisted blast if you enjoy unraveling a mystery.
During the early chapters I had this mental picture of being handed jigsaw puzzle pieces one by one. Those early chapters are information heavy and swap back and forth between the dual timelines and mysteries that comprise the story. I kept wondering how much of this information did I need to catalogue mentally to keep up or solve the mystery myself if that were possible because I do love to find a clue if it’s there. (Yes, there are some.) A lot of it is introducing the characters Avery and Walt and it drags. Especially, Avery’s sections I didn’t dislike her, but I didn’t find her to be an engaging character. When it was her perspective I was interested in strictly the facts and that’s a strong indication that her character just didn’t grab me. I found Walt more captivating and endearing. Although his character arc felt incomplete, I would’ve liked to have known more about him.
In one timeline there’s the sensationalized murder of a high profile author. His murder is front page fodder with adultery, kinky sex, and a mistress stands accused. The mistress is killed in the 9/11 attacks and her remains are identified twenty years later.
In the second timeline, Avery Mason, TV host with a massive fan following has her own family secrets to contend with. Career wise she wants to cover a story on the remains being identified and investigate the murder case that was dropped twenty years ago in the shadow of 9/11. She seeks out Walt, who was the green detective handpicked to run the investigation. Together they comb through the old evidence in hopes of uncovering something new.
There are some portions that seem repetitive. Despite the opening chapters moving rather slow, the further I read the harder it got to put the book down. What an amazing feeling that is!
*Just a heads up* The audiobook contains a character who places phone call from inside the first tower during the 9/11 attacks if that might be triggering for some.
Overall I found this novel to be well written and to have delivered an unforgettable twist. Recommend....more
Lone Wolfe Protector as a title sounds a lot like a specific type of paranormal romance book that I’ve seen a million times, but it’s not. It has someLone Wolfe Protector as a title sounds a lot like a specific type of paranormal romance book that I’ve seen a million times, but it’s not. It has some paranormal elements and some romance elements, but at its heart this is a mystery novel, and an excellent one at that. I put the audiobook version on a few nights ago with zero expectations during a bout of insomnia. Then HELLO the premise grabbed me. The setting is a small, rural town in the mountains with a lot of folklore, history and an eerie atmosphere. One of my favorite types of settings, so I was in. I instantly liked or was at least interested by the entire cast of characters. I noticed that there are more books in this series. I can’t wait to revisit this little town and see what else might be lurking about. The cover might look like a romance novel plain and simple, but it’s so much more....more
I can’t quit you, Murderbot. If Wells decides to write 500 Murderbot Diaries, you’ll find me standing there, fingers crossed hoping for 501. *The eventI can’t quit you, Murderbot. If Wells decides to write 500 Murderbot Diaries, you’ll find me standing there, fingers crossed hoping for 501. *The events in Fugitive Telemetry take place before the previous book Network Effect. ...more
Roxanne Conrad/Rachel Caine knew how to write a novel that provided an escape to creative worlds and unique characters across genres. Copper Moon is aRoxanne Conrad/Rachel Caine knew how to write a novel that provided an escape to creative worlds and unique characters across genres. Copper Moon is an older selection, but it was true to her style and unpredictable. I’d categorize this novel as a thriller with a paranormal edge.
The novel is set in Texas complete with desolate stretches of highway, diners where everyone knows everyone’s business, small town judgements, and enough secrets to keep a mystery fan guessing.
Abby is a professional musician/music teacher, who starts to have odd visions or are they actual flashbacks of some sort, upon meeting artist John Lee. The two pursue a romance, but the road is a bumpy one with danger and mistrust lurking all around.
There’s a few great twists that keep the plot rolling at a clip. It’s hard to put this book down because there’s a lot to unravel. If there’s anything lacking here it’s strong editing.
I miss being able to grab the latest Rachel Caine book on publication day. It was nice to experience one I hadn’t read before....more
I didn’t like a single character is this novel, but it is compulsively readable. The author did an outstanding job at capturing alcoholism in a realisI didn’t like a single character is this novel, but it is compulsively readable. The author did an outstanding job at capturing alcoholism in a realistic light. The dreary, mysterious atmosphere fit the nature of the world and characters. I didn’t find the “mystery” particularly difficult to figure out, but I can see what all the hype surrounding this novel is about. Unreliable narrators are usually a wild card for me, but the format works good here....more
I remember discovering a well worn collection of L’Amour’s paperbacks, the pages permeated with coffee and cigarette smoke in my grandfather’s rustic I remember discovering a well worn collection of L’Amour’s paperbacks, the pages permeated with coffee and cigarette smoke in my grandfather’s rustic cabin. The pages were yellowed with age, the western covers complete with cowboys, horses, and land yet to be tamed much less settled, telling more about the inner spirit of my grandfather than he would tell you in his own words. I had planned to read at least one of these for so many years, but since it isn’t a genre I usually read I just never have. Until now. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator brought the story to life with a rich voice that fit the story to a tee. The story is a simple one the main character feels he owes a debt to a man who is fighting foes on all sides to keep his land. He’s a gunfighter and decides to do what he can to help the situation. There’s everything a good western movie would have. If you like those you will probably like this. My favorite aspect regarding the writing is the pacing. This story moves at a clip and no word is wasted. It’s action packed and a quick easy read. It’s not a super deep novel, but it’s not meant to be. ...more
An epistolary tale, of a brilliant family, trying to function in crisis mode. The humor, intellect, and sorrow were palpable. I was captivated findingAn epistolary tale, of a brilliant family, trying to function in crisis mode. The humor, intellect, and sorrow were palpable. I was captivated finding a few more minutes for a few more pages. Isn’t it funny how readers can squeeze in a quick chapter when we want to?
There’s a trend in novels, where odd quirks are being thrown about in an attempt to make characters seem unique yet, relatable. It’s happening often enough that it’s becoming tiresome and poorly executed. And I love quirk. Thankfully, these were well-developed characters whose quirks seemed genuine. It was refreshing to read witty, snarky, dysfunctional characters that are struggling with real issues that matter.
The daughter, Bee, has her sights set on a trip to Antarctica. The discussions of the trip are a catalyst to show the level of anxiety Bernadette is living with. The Antarctica sections were intriguing because that continent remains a mystery to most. Bee has faced medical, social, and familial challenges and her dream is to visit this bleak desolate landscape. When she first mentions Antarctica my mind wandered to all the reasons it might have initially appealed to her.
Bernadette’s mental struggles are shown, but her intellectual brilliance is told. It gave her character a more unbalanced vibe. I wanted to experience her creative process in the present so badly. I was left feeling like there was more to unpack with her character. The moments when her love for Bee came through were intense and honest.
The ending felt rushed like someone hit the pause button on the characters’ lives. Open endings are ok with me, but in this case the story could’ve used another chapter or an epilogue.
This novel gave me the feeling of those moments when you try not to laugh because it’s inappropriate given your current circumstance or company, but the harder you try the harder it becomes. Humans say and do crazy things and those antics can snowball making the life you once knew unrecognizable.
Sometimes you have to get a little lost to find yourself....more
Corruption ran rampant in 1920’s New York and this book drops us right down in the middle of it.
True Crime (The Dot King Case) meets historical fictiCorruption ran rampant in 1920’s New York and this book drops us right down in the middle of it.
True Crime (The Dot King Case) meets historical fiction and it’s fascinating. This novel has been meticulously researched. Being told from multiple POV works well to add more intrigue. I loved how as the perspective shifted, it brought more questions to the forefront. Each layer of the case that was peeled back, revealed new possibilities, lies, and blame.
The Broadway Butterfly has all the trappings of a memorable read. DiVello created something special here....more
The Cuban Heiress is loosely based upon the tragic events regarding the, SS Morro Castle which caught fire in 1934 while sailing from New York to HavaThe Cuban Heiress is loosely based upon the tragic events regarding the, SS Morro Castle which caught fire in 1934 while sailing from New York to Havana. The luxury ship was caught between two severe storms at the time and the captain had been found dead, throwing the crew into a panic.
Chanel Cleeton reimagines this one a little differently than her previous works. The approach here is less layered, featuring characters who aren’t who they seem. So the reader is trying to suss out the characters’ true identities and intentions. Unfortunately, this made character development take a back seat. There’s a heiress, businessman, smuggler, thief, and a mysterious woman. There’s a lot of twists in the plot and it makes for a decent read. I’m not going to describe the plot due to possible spoilers.
There’s some wonderful instances of foreshadowing featured that I couldn’t help, but yell out YES, when I came across them.
The ship as a setting was drab and might have put real limitations on what could occur. Although reading on the deck sounded like bliss, I must confess. Maybe, it’s that I usually enjoy Cleeton’s fabulous descriptions of settings and I missed that experience terribly here. So, completely possible that it was a me thing.
Overall, The Cuban Heiress reads more like a mystery set against a historical backdrop than historical fiction for some reason. I couldn’t quite pinpoint why I kept thinking that. I liked the book regardless. It’s an OK read, but it’s lacking the magic and emotional connection that usually permeates her writing. I’m still a huge fan. ...more
An old heist and a new murder have Lake Eden’s citizens on edge as they are gearing up for Fourth of July celebrations. If you like the Hannah Swenso An old heist and a new murder have Lake Eden’s citizens on edge as they are gearing up for Fourth of July celebrations. If you like the Hannah Swenson series this book fits in perfectly. The culprit in the murder is obvious, but I don’t read these for a complex mystery to solve. Think palate cleanser, sometimes as someone who reads constantly I find that necessary. These are novels with a cozy atmosphere with characters that are slowly developing along the way. Lake Eden seems like a lovely area to explore. I mean lovely if you don’t mind a murder here and there. These books are packed with recipes. I’ve cooked two myself and they were divine. When there’s no leftovers you know it’s good. ...more
The initial aspect that stood out was how beautiful the writing was in The Ferryman. I kept rereading passages because they were flat out brilliant. TThe initial aspect that stood out was how beautiful the writing was in The Ferryman. I kept rereading passages because they were flat out brilliant. This is the first novel by Cronin I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. The cover art is a perfect fit for the novel. It showcases the eerie atmosphere on one hand and is a quite literal representation on the other. The Ferryman is a sci-fi book on the surface, but it touches on everything from psychology to politics and the separation of social classes. Enigmatic one moment and pulse pounding the next, I was drawn straight into this layered world. There’s a lot to take in, but it was a fascinating, suspenseful read. I found this read to be equal parts bizarre and intelligent. I keep mentally revisiting this novel, thinking more in depth about the characters and variations on the situations presented. The Ferryman is proving to be an unforgettable read. ...more
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