Showing posts with label first person narrator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first person narrator. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

Vero and Finlay ended the last book missing someone important to them missing and they want to get that person back. To that end, they are heading to Atlantic City. They say it's for a girls' trip but somehow Finlay's children, mother, and ex-husband all end up coming along. 
They get to Atlantic City and meet the loan shark, but it all goes downhill from there. They're unable to make a deal and then the loan shark ends up dead. But how are they supposed to handle this situation? Especially when Finlay's sister and boyfriend show up on the scene.
These books are so well plotted with all of the pieces fitting together nicely and the ending come to a nice knot but still with a bit of a cliffhanger. There is always some disbelief of suspension that goes just a little too far for me but an overall nice read. Definitely read the other books in this series first. 

Four stars
This book comes out March 5, 2024
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, February 16, 2024

Gone with the Witch by Angela M. Sanders

The book opens with an old outhouse being demolished and a set of bones being discovered. But whoever could the bones have been? There is a thought that they could be Martin Garlington. He disappeared almost fifty years ago. But the DNA says not and, besides, his wife, Helen, has just seen a man on a quiz show that she's convinced is her long, lost husband. She prevails on Josie to find out about the man, Bruno Gates, and ask him to come to town. 
Josie does find him and the man comes to town but he is decidedly NOT Martin. What he is, is a flirt who drinks too much at the bar, flirts a little too hard with the women of the town, and is found dead near where the old bones were discovered.
That is just the start of a mystery that unwinds the past fifty years. This time, Josie has some help in solving it. Her powers must be growing because she is once again finding the same book everywhere, but this time, when she opens it, Sherlock Holmes walks out of an illustration and into helping her solve the mystery. He also warns her that her own Moriarity is going to be making trouble for her.
This was a fun story with a lot of foreshadowing for future books. I felt like some of the characters could have been developed a bit more if they were going to be a part of the eventual solution. There are also some new people who have moved to town including a new rare book dealer whose last name is the same as that of a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out February 20, 2024
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own



Friday, January 26, 2024

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

I read the first book by Stevenson, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, and enjoyed it. There was some verbal trickery that I didn't quite agree with but still, a fun book. Having read that book made this one more enjoyable and so did expecting that the author would toy with the readers expectations.
Ernest Cunningham returns as the first person narrator. He's been asked to come along as the debut writer on the Australian Mystery Writer's Society's fiftieth anniversary of their Festival. Along with five other writers, he will be doing a series of panels for a select group. 
Also on the train is his girlfriend, Juliette, and his literary agent, Simone Morrison, as well as any number of other characters. Ernest is not excited to see Simone as he is late on delivering his next book, the one he has already gotten an advance for. It's just too bad because he just doesn't have a brain for fiction. So it's with mixed emotions that Ernest realizes that a death along their journey may not be entirely natural. He decides that he is going to investigate, all while writing his next book (the one we are reading) while adhering to the rules he lists at the beginning of the book. 
As in the first book, Ernest drops clues as to who the murderer will end up being. Also like the first book, many of those clues were deft red herrings. It made it a little hard to read and some of the story felt a little thin but it was overall a very nice read and I'm hoping that the epilogue is a hint to how the next book in the series will be rolled out. 

Four stars
This book comes out January 30, 2024
Follows Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone
ARC kindly provided by Mariner Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own



Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Wisteria Wyverns by Angela Pepper

In the last book, Zara's father returned. It was a surprise because he had generally been an absentee father. A the end of the book, someone else from her past had returned. Her mother. The one who was dead. 
This book gives Zara a chance to get to know her mother again. They're going to be spending a lot of time together in the castle in the next town over because, as they are sitting there, a new ghost enters Zara's body. It's someone that we know if you've been reading the series. Dead body means nobody gets to leave for a while so Zara's going to be spending time with her mother.
Throw in a man who looks just like her neighbor and has the ability to disappear, a wyvern named Ribbons who can communicate with Zara telepathically, and the water district team and you've got another screwball mystery. Not very deep but a fast, fun, and fluffy read.

Three stars
This book came out October 31, 2017
Followed by Wolves of Wisteria
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Watchful Wisteria by Angela Pepper

Zara's newest ghost is one who was persistent. She made it into Zara's body even though she had a blocking gel and was trying to hold her breath. The ghost, Tansy, was Zinnia's plant provider and Vincent's estranged sister. When Zinnia and Zara go to check out the house, there are also ghosts of 
More of the book actually centers around a red fox that Zara rescues in the woods and what it showing up does to upend Zara's life.

Three stars
This book came out July 11, 2017
Followed by Wisteria Wyverns
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

I read this book in October which is usually the time of year I try to branch out into thrillers (not usually a genre I pick up naturally) and this book certainly fit the bill. 
This is something of a locked room mystery as five aspiring writers are invited to a famously reclusive author's home. There is no cell reception, no WiFi, and the closest building is a nunnery miles away. Of course, as they approach, there is a snowstorm.
But who cares? Though our first person narrator, Alex, is somewhat thrown off, some of that might be due to the fact that her former best friend, Wren, who has also been invited. Something happened between the two of them; actually, two somethings that caused their friendship to fracture. That is unpacked as they spend time at Roza Valo's house. 
This is not the spa-type of retreat though. Roza's methods for helping these writers to write are... unorthodox. If you've read "Nine Perfect Strangers," you may be able to draw some comparisons between her and Masha in terms of pushing boundaries. Like that book, some of the characters are not who they seem and that may cause some further issues.    

Three and a half stars
This book came out February 21, 2023
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own


Monday, October 9, 2023

The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating by S. K. Golden

I got to read this as both an audiobook and an ebook and enjoyed both. The voice of Evelyn is brought together perfectly by Amara Jasper who brings to life the well-meaning but pampered princes who is only just starting to figure out how the other half lives.
When the book opens, Evelyn is hosting a fancy dress fundraiser for the mayor at the Pinnacle she is talking to Judge Baker and his heavily pregnant wife Elena as well as Doctor Smith. After checking on some details for the party, Mac, her assistant and beau, convinces her to go with him to Yonkers now that everything seems to be running smoothly. They're in the Pinncale's garage (which Evelyn has never been in before) when she notices a shadow in a nearby car. Curious, she opens the door and discovers the judge with a needle in his arm, apparently dead of a heroin overdoes. Detective Hodges is on the case but with a new partner,  Detective McJimsey. The latter is not impressed by Evelyn. 
The mystery ends up being a little bit convoluted but I was especially impressed by the end of this story and look forward to reading the next in the series with bated breath. 

Four stars
This book comes out October 10, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, October 6, 2023

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

A main reason I love these books is that Meg Langslow is just so darn pragmatic. Is she an amateur detective? Yes, she is. Does she share all of her information with the police chief? Does she actively hide evidence or mess up crime scenes? No she does not. She's smart, she solves crimes, and she does so without being an bumbling idiot. 
Even better, she's competent at any number of things (though she has her failings) and her blacksmithing, which sometimes takes a back seat, is out in full force during this book. There is a reality competition being filmed at Ragnar's estate and Meg is there as a general dogsbody. She has been asked to be in the show but prefers not to. However, when someone attacks her friend and mentor Faulk, Meg reluctantly joins so that he won't lose the investment money he and his husband put into the filming the show which was thought up by another one of Faulk's students. 

I got ARCs of both the ebook and audiobook. The ebook was not as good though I had some personal stuff going on which made it harder to concentrate. The audiobook, and Bernadette Dunn, were amazing as always. 

Meg Langslow #34
Four stars
This book comes out October 10, 2023
ARC kindly provided by MacMillan and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, August 18, 2023

In Charm's Way by Lana Harper

I wasn't especially in love with the last book but I did enjoy this one. There is a lot more in this book about Delilah's personal journey than building a romance and the ending was a little convoluted but overall an enjoyable book. 
Delilah Harlow is still recovering from the events of the last book when she had her brain pretty much scrambled. When the book opens, she is driven to desperation and she tries a spell from a book that she normally would never touch. But she just wants to have her own mind back. Too bad this particular spell makes her a beacon to all of the creepy-crawlies that normally pass Thistle Grove by. 
Into town strides a champion, Catriona Quinn, whose name is just a little too much on the nose. Her mother did that on purpose but it doesn't mean she loves it. She steps into the hero role, even though her armor is a little tarnished. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out August 22, 2023
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group
Opinions are my own

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

At the end of the last book, Finlay and Vero found themselves in the sights of Feliks Zhirov, Russian mob boss. He wants her to find out who the killer is that goes by the name EasyClean. All she wants to do is clean up her eating habits, stop having bodies in her minivan, and avoid all men. This addition to her list is not helpful. Especially since she and Vero find themselves in the police academy. And who is one of the trainers? Nick? Oh yea. But also there is EasyClean as well as Finlay's noisy neighbor.

How are they ever going to get through this one?
Very funny, just like the other books. The Nick/Finlay relationship is a little drawn out and something needs to happen soon but otherwise an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars
This book came out January 31, 2023
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns

April’s not-quite-ex-husband is back in town and she is positively NOT happy to see him. CJ (Clayton Jackson Davenport) immediately provokes Maddy, our narrator, into a bet wherein, if he wins, she’ll shut down her bakery. And she’s not the only one he’s picking fights with having presented Mayor Rivers’ first wife with the news that the two were never divorced meaning Candy doesn’t own her store either. And right after she had told our narrator that there was a tunnel between the two stores. 
Of course, CJ is the one who ends up dead. Maddy is one of the immediate suspects since their arguments were so public. So she's going to investigate and try to clear her own name as well as that of her friends.
I enjoyed getting to know people in this book but didn't feel like there was much character growth and there were some parts of the story that felt like they were wedged in and not developed (the parts with Leroy.) Still a good story but am hoping for more in the next book. 

Three and a half stars
This book came out June 27, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, June 16, 2023

Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

We met both Lexie Bowen and Nilo Shoren in previous books in this series. And I do believe it would help to have read the other two books. I know I've read at least one of the two and still felt like I was missing some information. Besides, Mihalik is a fun writer and you might as well enjoy them all.
So, Nilo took a job from Lexie (and that is, frustratingly, never really talked about to clear up exactly why but maybe it was in the book I haven't read) and she's concerned he's about to do it again. Instead, he is on Valovia to save her from a trap. And they go from one adventure to the next. There is not a lot of relationship building in this story but it is still a fun read and I feel like there might be more coming in this series. 

Four stars
This book comes out June 20, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyage and NetGalley
Opinions are my own



Sunday, June 4, 2023

A Cornish Seaside Murder by Fiona Leitch

It's Jodie's first book back on the force and she's already got another murder to solve. At least it gets her out of being a mermaid... 
It's Merrymaid Week in Penstowan and the story goes that the ugly mermaid turns into a beautiful one as she runs through town with the children chasing her. While hypothetically a lot of fun, Jodie is set up to be the ugly mermaid but never completes her run; she's found a dead body, that of a local fisherman. It seems like someone may be trying to tie it into the legend because the statue of a mermaid usually stored in a church seems to be missing as well. 
As usual, Jodie eventually solves the mystery though there is a bit of a twist at the end of the story.

Four stars
This book comes out June 8, 2023
ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins UK and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Rehearsed to Death by Frank Anthony Polito

I hadn't read the first book in this series but didn't think I needed to. Overall, a fun story although there was a little too bit much at the end and sometimes the language was a bit stilted. I did enjoy PJ as the narrator and really thought he seemed like a nice guy (and a real person) -- except that he was a little TSTL (the S in this case being stupid.) I get fairly annoyed when amateur detectives not only don't call the police, they actively hide evidence.
I wish we had gotten to know some of the suspects a bit more but, while we really got to know some of them, others were just sketches. It made it hard to be invested in finding the murderer.
PJ's play is going to be performed at the local theater but, rather than having the usual director, Violet the mayor's wife, there is a Big Name, Xander Sherwood Deva who comes in. And, for being in town such a short time, he manages to piss off a large number of people. So it's not a big surprise that he ends up dead, strangled with the fancy scarf he was so proud of throwing around. 
JP and PJ aren't just a playwright and actor, they also star on a home renovation show. Oh, and they're going to tackle this murder. 

Three stars
This book comes out May 23, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, May 19, 2023

Witch upon a Star by Angela M. Sanders

Josie's sister is coming to visit! Sure, Jean is only there because of some MLM-ish scheme that teaches you to become a life coach, but Josie is still ecstatic. Until two dead bodies show up, both with ties to the same retreat Jean is attending. Josie is worried and, of course, she's going to investigate. But this will be while keeping her new powers on the down low. 
This was an enjoyable book to the series but I seem to be on a series of books where the characters make some bad decisions. Even her cat thinks her decisions are bad at one point but Josie barrels ahead. 
Thankfully, it's not like some other series where she's actively interfering but it seems to be getting close
 
Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 23, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own


Friday, March 24, 2023

Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer

Jane Wunderly is back in America, anxious to let her father know that she is engaged to be married. Too bad Henry isn't home. Especially startling, he's taken out a large sum of money against the family home and then left the country. Jane and Redvers take off after him as soon as possible, heading to Istanbul. Her aunt Millie and Millie's fiancee travel overseas as well. 
Once in Instanbul, Jane meets several people who know her father, some of them very unexpected and one of whom ends up dead. It will be up to Jane to figure out why her father left, what he's looking for, and who among the people calling themselves his friends can be trusted. 
This seemed a little more serious than I remembered but an enjoyable book overall. 

Four stars
This book comes out March 28, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Witch Way Out by Cate Conte

At the end of the last book, Violet Mooney was whisked away by Blake along with the man she's been dating, Todd. They end up in the office of Mac, a private investigator and leprechaun, but Mac is not there. Instead, there is a pile of goo, evidence that Mac has been genied. Todd immediately disappears. Violet is shocked but she tries to keep her involvement quiet since she also discovered the last genie victim and her mother and Blake are worried that she might actually be the one targeted.
That's fine with Fiona, she doesn't want to rush into danger and she's still trying to get a handle on being a witch. Plus, she's gotten an unexpected call to join the local (and very popular) craft fair. This is a fabulous opportunity to highlight her shop and it's a chance to meet one of her heroes, a proponent of ethical crystal mining, Horatio Hale. But there's a saying that you should never meet your idols and that seems to be true for Violet and Horatio. Not only does he seem to be sneaking around on his ex-wife with another vendor (why keep the relationship a secret?), Violet overhears a conversation that makes it seem Horatio might not be as upstanding as he seems. Plus, there's the gentleman hanging around saying that Horatio kicked him out of the fair. 
If you've read a cozy before, you'll probably realize who is going to end up dead. It's up to Violet to finally step into her power and take control of the whole situation.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out March 28, 2023
Follows Witch Trial
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

I thought I had heard about this book from NPR Best Books but it wasn't on this year's list so It may have been a podcast. The layout of the book is incredible. The first person narrator writes and self-publishes books on how to write books. He starts with laying out the rules from the Golden Age of Detectives and then follows them... to the letter but not necessarily the law.So we see not only the full story of the book but the building blocks as well. And details are deftly woven throughout the book like, "x won't happen for 6 more chapters" or " you won't find out about x until Chapter 27." The ending was a bit fantastical and there were definitely some plot holes but I really enjoyed this book. I have the ebook on reserve to see if the experience of  reading it in print is different from the audiobook. 
Ernest Cunningham, our first person narrator, is meeting his family for a reunion. As it happens in most good mystery stories, everyone there is hiding something. Chapters unfold and we learn that, indeed, everyone in his family has killed someone. We start with Ernie's brother and move on from there as the story moves in and out and all around fulfilling it's own self-prophecies about mystery novels. 

Four and a half stars
This book came out March 29, 2022
Audiobook borrowed from Libby
Opinions are my own

Friday, February 17, 2023

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns

I liked the cover of this book and figured I should give it a try. I wasn't really paying attention to the story until they mentioned the border of Indiana and Michigan where I grew up. Instantly, I started paying more attention - I know this town!
That wasn't what kept me reading though, instead it's getting to watch Maddy slowly figure out how to be an adult standing on her own two feet. 
As we get to know her, it seems that Maddy has always been cossetted and protected by her colonel father. After her ex dumped her basically at the altar, Maddy is ready for a change. Inheriting her aunt's bakery in New Bison makes for an opportunity to get out of town. Once there, she finds out that she's also inherited a large English mastiff named Baby. But there is also a mystery. It seems Maddy's Aunt Olivia was somewhat expecting that she may die and she's left behind the clues for Maddy to follow. 
The characters are fun. The mystery is maybe a little thin and there are some threads left hanging but I overall enjoyed the book.

Four stars
This book came out August 30, 2022
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Back in a Spell by Lana Harper

Nineve "Nina" Blackmoore is having some really bad luck at the moment. First, she's been dumped. Second, her family is known as being kind of the "bad guys" around town which is severely hindering her love life as she tries to jump back in the dating pool. Third, her magic is acting really weird. Like, way overreacting to any spells she tries to cast. And the dreams... Plus she seems to be witchbound (married) to a guy that her friend picked off a dating application. 
Morty isn't sure what's going on. First, his date ends up being the lawyer whose family sent a whole bunch of letters trying to buy his family bar. Then, he woke up and had magic. Like, real magic. What the heck? Only Nina will know the answer but he's not sure he wants to be near her. Yet he can't stay away. Is she really a black-hearted witch like the rest of her family?
I wish we had gotten to see more of Morty and Nina's relationship. It went from "I think I should hate you" to "Let's hang out forever" really, really fast. There was a lot of plot movement for the series but I wish we had seen more for them.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out January 10, 2023
Followed by In Charm's Way
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group
Opinions are my own