The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie Jr.

I can't remember which podcast I heard about this on and, by the time I got it, had forgotten the story. It took me awhile to get into the book. The prelude kicks off the story with a rare instance of the narrator speaking directly to you, the reader. I had to flip through and make sure the rest of the book did not continue in that vein because that is one of my least favorite conceits for a story. However, I kept going and was drawn into the world of Babs Dionne and her daughters Lori and Sis. The book mainly focuses on Lori and Babs thought we get a rich tapestry of secondary characters as well. 

This is a lovely glimpse of so many towns in the rural United States. Once vibrant but depending on one main industry which, when it collapses, takes the town down with it. When that happens, drugs often move in. Babs has become the leader of the town in many ways. Is she a good person? Objectively not. Is she doing the best she can to save the people she loves? Yes. 

Four stars

This book came out March 25, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own 

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend

Margaret Finch is described in the book as tall and big-boned. Several times. There are also a number of references to her nickname, Big Bird. So, a bit of an oddity. And her personality only helps to set her apart. Her life is ruled by routines with the same outfits on the same day of every week, getting to work on time, etc. She also has a rigid sense of rules and will follow them, even to the point of her own detriment. 

Her entire world is shattered when she finds her boss dead. When thinking back over the scene, she becomes convinced that he was murdered. But, having no friends and few people who even like her, no one wants to listen to what she has to say. 

This was a short book with a lot of beats that repeat, but was overall an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 18, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

Every girl dreams of marrying well, especially in the early 1800s. Not every girl would want to marry a man who is seventy years old, older than her father. But not every girl has a sister who also needs to marry and, while both are pretty enough and have a good lineage, their family cannot provide them with a dowry. And Genevieve would like to at least give her sister a chance at love. So she marries Lord Burnsby. And seven months later, she is visiting his hunting lodge in the Highlands. She will meet his heir and the heir's wife. She does not expect Lord Godric, boyhood friend of the heir, nor Lord Burnsby's seemingly mad illegitimate sister, and his daughter. Genevieve certainly doesn't expect to meet Sophonisba, Lord Burnsby's mistress of thirty years. And she certainly doesn't expect to find her own voice and start speaking up. Nor to find love while she's still married.

A Gothic novel in the best sense. I couldn't get past our heroine falling in love while still married but I enjoyed the ghosts, the drama, and, of course, the compulsory madwoman in the attic (although Mima is allowed to roam freely in this book.)

Four stars

This book comes out May 12, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Death Masks by Jim Butcher with James Marsters (Narrator)

The war between the Red Court and the Council is raging. There is a possible end in sight if Harry will agree to battle mano-a-mano with the vampire's champion. But he still has to make a buck so when a priest from the Vatican is referred to him, Harry is interested. He's shocked to learn that the item that the priest is searching for is the Shroud of Turin. And if those aren't enough, he's pulled into the investigation of a headless, handless corpse. Then, there's the fact that Susan, his ex(?)-girlfriend is back in town.

There was SO MUCH going on in this book. It took me awhile to get into it and I wish we could have seen more of the "problem of the week" that was in this book but there was a lot of time spent on the overarching stories. 

Three stars

Dresden Files #5

This book came out September 3, 2002

Follows Summer Knight

Followed by Blood Rites

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery

Steven Pike has just left jail. He only has enough money to get to Tithe Hall. Well, to the railway station. He barely makes it to the hall. There's only one problem; no one is expecting him. But the butler quickly pivots and adds him to the crew. They'll need the help. Something big is happening and SOMEONE needs to watch seventy-nine-year-old Miss Decima. She's scared off most of her previous ladies maids. Like The Nanny, he's there so he's pulled into the madness. The viscount is having everyone seal up their rooms so that the catastrophes that Halley's Comet is going to cause (as reported by papers of the time) will be mitigated. But when everyone wakes up the next morning, someone is dead. As the newcomer, one who just got out of jail, Steven is going to have to launcch his own investigation to clear his name.

Four stars

Stockingham & Pike #1

This book came out October 30, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk, Allyson Morgan (Narrator)

The comparisons to an Agatha Christie novel are glaring. It starts with the narrators name, the title that is so close to the 4:50 to Paddington, and a snow storm that stops a train. 

 The narrator had a plan. Well, a couple of plans. Her husband has bought her a ticket to a train that has no cell service. She can ride it to Montrea  and then come home. Plenty of time for Agatha to write the five thousand words needed to follow up her best selling novel. She's going to use it for a different plan that the reader (listener) wont know for most of the book. Agatha purposely chose a seat that wasn't near anyone else. So she's surprised when Finch sits down next to her. He wants her seat and is determined to get it. So, Agatha moves. As she does, she notices that Cyan (sp?), her stalker/ex-something, is also on the train. That  would have been bad enough, but then the train stops. And someone dies.

We go back and forth between the past and the present and see how Agatha got to this place, what her plans really are for the train ride, and why this day is so important for her.

The beginning was a bit slow and the ending didn't make sense with the tone of the rest of the book, but I really enjoyed the middle.

Three stars

This book came out October 28, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Payback by Elizabeth Rose Quinn

The third person point of view bounces around a bit between many of the main characters so every interactioni is shaded by their own knowledge that they may or may not share with the reader. The view we most often see is that of Cami. She is heading to her weekend jail, called Pay to Stay. Rather than serving a full sentence, wealthy offenders can pay $200/night to do their time on the weekends. We find out that she is taking the fall for her boyfriend and he, in turn, is funding her lifestyle, including her nights at the Pay to Stay. 

We also learn more about a woman who is taking the fall for her father who has dementia, one who is a campaign manager, a doctor's wife, one with an emotional support iguana, and a nun. Also in the jail are the guard whose brain we also see (he's someone who craves power and a prisoner who is being transported. One of them ends up dead and the rest are trying to solve the murder.

I enjoyed most of this story and it really felt like "And Then There Were None," but then it went way off the rails and I wasn't expecting that. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out May 5, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary

It's the wedding of the year; Gloria Beaufort's second grandson is getting married. To a school teacher. But it's going to be a production. Including Christine Red, a reporter from Bespoke Weddings. Yes, Christine stepped on her editor and mentor to get this job, but it's going to be worth it to see her life's ambition fulfilled.
And it's going to be a major event with everyone being flown to Ireland to stay in a picturesque castle. But the title of the book tells us that someone will die. At least one person. And that everyone's secrets will start to come out. 
With different characters and alternating timelines, there's a lot going on in this book.

Three stars

This book came out September 23, 2025

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher with James Marsters (Narrator)

Harry knows not to mess in the realm of the Fae... now. But he made a promise to his godmother when he was young and she gave that promise to the Winter Queen. The Winter Queen  will release Harry from his promise if he performs three tasks. The first thing is to figure out who killed the Summer night so that the Winter Queen is not blamed.

It's going to be impossible for Harry to do this by himself, but luckily he has made friends and allies (whether he wants to or not.)

Three and a half stars

Dresden Files #4

This book came out September 3, 2002

Follows Grave Peril

Followed by Death Masks

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Mystery and Malice aboard RMS Ballast by P.J. Fitzsimmons, Tim Bruce (Narrator)

Inspector Wittersham has asked Anty if he can help get him onto the RMS Ballast. What Anty doesn't known is that the Inspector has an ulterior motive. He wants to take down the owner of the RMS Ballast for never actually delivering the mail that he is being paid to deliver. Of course, neither knew that he was going to be so desperately seasick.

Anty was only invited because the owners think he is in love with their daughter and his cousin Teddy begged him to come. She has two suitors that will also be aboard. There is an unknown lothario who is also on board. And a crusty captain with a bird that corrects his grammar. 

This is a murder mystery and someone will die. But this book also contains a treasure map and hilarity. 

Four stars

Anty Boisjoly #8

This book came out January 1, 2025

Follows Foreboding Foretelling at Ficklehouse Felling 

Followed by Death Reports to a Health Resort

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

April 2026 monthly rereads

 As always, opinions are my own

Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 16th, 2018

Meg Langslow #24

Follows Toucan Keep a Secret

Followed by Terns of Endearment

Audiobook from Audible

Terns of Endearment by Donna Andrews

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 6th, 2019

Meg Langslow #25

Follows Lark! The Herald Angels Sing

Followed by Owl Be Home for Christmas

Owl Be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews
This book came out October 15th

Meg Langslow #26
Follows Terns of Endearment
Followed by The Falcon Always Rings Twice
Borrowed as ebook from Libby

The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

This book came out August 4, 2020

Meg Langslow #27

Follows Owl be Home for Christmas

Followed by The Gift of the Magpie

Audible book of mine

The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

This book came out October 20, 2020

Meg Langslow #28

Follows The Falcon Always Wings Twice

Followed by Murder Most Fowl

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Murder Most Fowl by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #29

This book came out August 3, 2021

Follows The Gift of the Magpie

Followed by The Twelve Jays of Christmas

Audible book of mine

The Twelve Jays of Christmas by Donna Andrews

Three and a half stars

Meg Langslow #30

This book comes out October 19, 2021

Follows Murder Most Fowl

Followed by Round up the Usual Peacocks

Audible book of mine

Round up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #31

Four stars

This book comes out August 2, 2022

Follows The Twelve Jays of Christmas 

Followed by Dashing Through the Snowbirds

Audible book of mine

Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #32

Four stars

This book came out October 11, 2022

Follows Round Up the Usual Peacocks

Audible book of mine

Birder She Wrote by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #33

Four stars

This book comes out August 1, 2023

Follows Dashing through the Snowbirds

Followed by Let It Crow, Let It Crow, Let It Crow

Audible book of mine

Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Let it Crow! by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #34

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

Follows Birder, She Write

Followed by Between a Flock and a Hard Place

Audible book of mine

Between a Flock and a Hard Place by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #35

Four stars

This book comes out August 6, 2024

Follows Let It Crow, Let It Crow, Let It Crow

Followed by Rockin' around the Chickadee

Audible book of mine

Rockin' Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #36

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 15, 2024

Follows Between a Flock and a Hard Place

Audible book of mine

For Duck's Sake by Donna Andrews

Four stars

Meg Langslow #37

This book comes out August 5, 2025

Follows Rockin' Around the Chickadee

Followed by Five Golden Wings

Audible book of mine

Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews

Four stars

Meg Langslow #38

Follows For Duck's Sake

Followed by Probable Caws

Audible book of mine

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

Ernest Cunningham #1

Four and a half stars

This book came out March 29, 2022

Followed by Everyone on this Train is a Suspect

Audible book of mine

veryone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Four stars

Ernest Cunningham #2

This book comes out January 30, 2024
Follows Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone

Followed by Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

Audible book of mine

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

Three stars

Ernest Cunningham #3

This book comes out October 22, 2024

Follows Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect

Followed by Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief

Audible book of mine

The Case of the Canterfell Codicil by P.J. Fitzsimmons 

Four stars

Anty Boisjoly #1

This book came out October 30, 2020

Followed by The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning

Audible book of mine

The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning by P.J. Fitzsimmons

Four stars

Anty Boisjoly #2

This book came out July 1, 2022

Follows The Case of the Canterfell Codicil

Followed by The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine

Audible book of mine

The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine by P.J. Fitzsimmons

Four stars

Anty Boisjoly #3

This book came out November 30, 2021

Follows The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning

Followed by The Case of the Carnaby Castle Curse

Audible book of mine

The Case of the Carnaby Castle Curse by P.J. Fitzsimmons

Four stars

Anty Boisjoly #4

This book came out November 30, 2021

Follows The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine

Followed by The Reckoning at the Riviera Royale

Audible book of mine

Reckoning at the Riviera Royale by P.J. Fitzsimmons

Three and a half stars

Anty Boisjoly #5

This book came out November 29, 2022

Follows The Case of the Carnaby Castle Curse

Followed by The Case of the Case of Kilcladdich

Audible book of mine

The Case of the Case of Kilcladdich by P.J. Fitzsimmons, Tim Bruce (Narrator)

Three and a half stars

Anty Boisjoly #6

This book came out May 5, 2023

Follows Reckoning at the Riviera Royale

Followed by Foreboding Foretelling at Ficklehouse Felling

Audible book of mine

Foreboding Foretelling at Ficklehouse Felling by P.J. Fitzsimmons, Tim Bruce (Narrator)

Four stars

Anty Boisjoly #7

This book came out November 18, 2024

Follows The Case of the Case of Kilcladdich

Followed by Mystery and Malice Aboard RMS Ballast

Audible book of mine

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie, Hugh Fraser (Narrator)

Sixteen years ago, a famous artist was killed. Of course, it was the long-suffering wife who had endured any number of affairs. Most recently, he had told her that he was leaving her for his latest model, a young, rich girl. Plus, he was trying to send her sister away to boarding school, the sister she had so grievously wronged as a baby and now tried to do everything for.
Their child was sent to Canada. She's now about to get married, but she wants to know whether her mother's letter, proclaiming her innocence, is true or not. No one but Hercule Poirot would be able to solve this case.

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #24

This book came out in 1942

Follows Evil Under the Sea

Followed by The Hollow

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian

Zoe Faust is finally settling down. She's been living out of an RV for years but bought a house in Portland, Oregon. She's hopeful of putting down roots. But that hope is dashed when her contractor dies on her front steps and she makes the mistake of telling the police that it's poison. Of course, they're going to suspect her. At least she had already met the officer before when he came to drag away the young teenager who broke into her house.

All this would be bad enough but it turns out she also has a living gargoyle that she has to deal with. In her centuries of living, she's not had to put up with anything like this. But maybe it's something she can get used to. 

I'm not sure all the bits and bobs of this story hang together particularly well but it was an enjoyable story. 

Three and a half stars

Accidental Alchemist #1

This book came out January 8, 2015

Followed by The Masquerading Magician

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Salt, Sweat & Steam by Brigid Washington

stars

This book comes out April 28, 2026

ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone by Catherine Mack

As the narrator even notes, there are a LOT of people in this book. There were nine people that were going to be integral to the story introduced within the first 11% of the book (might have been 10, 11 is just when I looked.) I had to write them all down just to keep track of how each one was related to the narrator. And I've read the other two books in this series. The ending was a bit complicated but the clues were there if you listened.

Eleanor is going to a writing conference. Just because her last two vacations have contained murder doesn't mean this is going to end badly, right? Sun, sand and writing. It should be a blast.

Except that they walk right into a dead body. The hotel is, of course, wanting to downplay the incident. Eleanor is ready to leave but her boyfriend, Oliver, and her sister/assistant, Harper aren't as enthusiastic. They want to stay. 

Eleanor decides that she has not other option but to stay at a conference that contains not only the people she loves, but her ex-boyfriend Connor, his former partner (who Eleanor included in her books), her own ex-best-friend, and a BookToker who doesn't like ANYONE'S books. Oh, and crazy Kathy (sp?), Eleanor's very own stalker. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 28, 2026

The Vacation Mysteries #3

Follows No One Was Supposed to Die at this Wedding

ARC audiobook kindly provided by Minotaur Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin

stars

Castle Knoll Files #3

This book comes out April 28, 2026

Follows by How to Seal Your Own Fate

ARC kindly provided by Dutton and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher, narrator James Marsters

It's about a year after the previous book. Harry has been busier than usual. The ghosts of the city seem to be in a tizzy. And a young woman walks into his office, asking for help. She says she sees visions and that Harry is going to be the reason one outcome occurs versus another. He's been working with Michael, a knight of the Lord. And they'll have to keep working together in order to take down an old enemy who is now walking through their nightmares. 

Three stars

Dresden #3

This book came out September 1, 2001

Follows Fool Moon

Followed by Summer Knight

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie with narrator David Suchet

I get this story and the "Triangle at Rhodes" confused with each other. Both are Poirot on vacation with a glamorous woman, in this book, Arlena Stuart, who ends up dead. Both have a female confidante. The confidante in this one is a famous dressmaker who was the childhood friend of the dead woman's husband. In this story, the dead woman's husband has a daughter. His first wife was accused of murder and acquited. The second wife (the dead woman) was also accused of murder and acquited. However, Arlena was rather stupid and vain. She was also having a rather ill-concealed affair with a gentleman who was also on vacation at the Jolly Roger, Patrick Redfern. 

Three stars
Hercule Poirot #23

This book came out in 1941

Follows One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Followed by Five Little Pigs

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher, narrator James Marsters

 Harry is still under a curse, he's still in Chicago, but he's trying harder to find work since his job with the Chicago police force hasn't been as lucrative since the first book in the series. His friend asks him about a particular rune but it's magic far beyond what she can control so Harry refuses to tell her, which is the right thing. But then he's pulled into a series of murders that look like they were committed by something like a wolf. It's bad enough that the FBI is in town to take the case. 

Three stars

The Dresden Files #2 

This book came out January 9, 2001

Follows Storm Front

Followed by Grave Peril

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene, narrator Laura Linney

Seventy years later, this book holds up amazingly well. Of course, this is the series that was updated after it was found that the original series was a little, um, dated, especially in regard to the overtly racist overtones. This wasn't the first Nancy Drew book I read, but it's remains one of my favorites.

Nancy sees a young girl run into the road and almost get hit by a bus. Meeting the girl's great aunts sets her on the path of solving the mystery of a missing will. Interestingly, it's almost as much to spite the Topham sisters as it is to help a number of people that Nancy gets involved.

Four stars

Nancy Drew #1

This book came out in 1930

Followed by The Hidden Staircase

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own