Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove

Willow Stone used to spend summers with her godmother Sue on Little North Island. But when she was fifteen, the summers stopped. Now she's grown, and an organist and curious about Sue. But what she finds is not what she expects and it sends her back to the island. 

Now, she's trying to figure out a weird small town that has... dynamics. Plus, there are ghosts. Which I wasn't expecting.

Three stars

This book came out February 17, 2026

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

Arden is just starting out as an author at the beginning of the book. She's at a book signing and shrugs it off when one of her fans asks her to grab a meal or coffee with her. But then she sees him again. And again. And someone breaks into her house. Then again, when she's home. But he's wealthy so he gets off with a time of five years. 

In that time, Arden begins to heal, writes more books, and decides to move to Oregon, following her family. She also meets the people of her town, including Joe Riley who owns the hardware store as well as his grandson, Gideon. Gideon is a double-threat as a romance hero, being not only a woodworker but a former cop. 

Of course, the two begin to fall in love. But the danger still lurks.

If you like Roberts, you will enjoy this book. It definitely follows her formula but it's a good formula and enjoyable. 

Four stars

This book came out May 26, 2026

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene

Nancy is trying to relax and read a book but is having trouble concentrating. Luckily, she's interrupted by a knock on the door. Not so luckily, it's Nathan Gombet who is trying to get something from Carson Drew. Her father isn't home but, when he comes back, confirms that Gombet is someone that Nancy should avoid.

Luckily, she has a mystery to distract herself. There are a pair of elderly sisters who are concerned that their house is haunted. Nancy decides to stay at their house so she can experience what they are hearing. And it is certainly puzzling, but she is able to figure out what is happening in the end, leaving the sisters with a happy ending.

This book hasn't aged as well as the first one. I think it was just some of the language that made me realize how old these books are but I'm going to keep working my way through the series. 

Three stars

Nancy Drew #2

Follows The Secret of the Old Clock

Followed by The Bungalow Mystery

This book came out in 1930, rereleased June 16, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Dover Publications and Netgalley

Opinions are my own

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz, narrator Ari Graynor

Isabel "Izzy" Spellman grew up with parents who are private investigators. She also grew up with an older brother who was perfect. So she decided to become a nosy screw up. That more or less changed when she messed up enough to bother even her brother when she turns 23. Now she's 28 and her sister has been missing for three days. There is a little bit of hopping in time but most of the story is told in chronological order describing her parents, her former cop uncle, and her fourteen-year-old sister who wants nothing more than to be a private investigator. 

This book has actually aged better than I thought.

Four stars

#1 Spellman Series
This book came out January 1, 2007

Followed by Curse of the Spellmans

Audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder Under the Mistletoe by Erica Ruth Neubauer, narrator Sarah Zimmerman

Jane is engaged! And she's going home to meet Redvers' family. Well, his father as his mother and brother are both dead. It's quite a shock to find out that his father is engaged as well. To a woman who has had two previous husbands. When Jane and Redvers ask the local doctor about the cause of her last husband's death, he is more than a little abrupt in asking them to leave. 

As the story goes on, Jane meets Redvers aunts and is surprised to see her own aunt as well. There is a death and people's true motives are uncovered. 

A nice book between the others. 

Four stars

Jane Wunderly Mystery #4.5  

Follows Intrigue in Instanbul

Followed by Secrets of a Scottish Isle

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Widows’ Guide to Murder by Amanda Ashby

Ginny Cole has been surprised by a lot of things lately. Her husband's death, how much more expensive everything is without him, the fact that she was hired so quickly as a part time librarian in her new home in the village of Little Shaw, the murder of her new, thoroughly dislikeable boss Louisa. 

Because Ginny is the first person in, she is the one to discover the body. And that also gets her pulled in to working with three other widows in Little Shaw to protect Alice, one of the women's daughters. 

I enjoyed this cozy because Ginny did seem well-rounded and actually worked with police and didn't take unnecessary chances. I wish we had gotten to see more of some of the other characters be as built-out as Ginny but there were a number of characters and this was (I'm assuming) a first book in a series. The number of characters also filled in some of the space for the plot so there wasn't a lot of space for this to be a fairly-clued story. 

Three and a half stars

The Widows' Detective Club #1

This book came out March 3, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Labors of Hercules Audiobook edition Agatha Christie with Hugh Fraser (Narrator)

Hercule Poirot is feeling like he is in a rut. Then a friend mentions that he is not very like his namesake, Hercules. So he decides to undertake the Labours of Hercules before he retires. In fact, he will only take cases that relate the the labors. So, a Pekignese dog becomes the Nemean lion. The multi-headed Hydra becomes a rash of gossip. He even has to descend into Hell.

During the short stories, we see familiar characters like Miss Lemon, George, even the Countess, Vera Rossakoff. An interesting mix of stories; some stretch quite a bit to be added to the original labors while others (like the last) are almost spot on the nose. 

Four stars

Hercule Poirot #26

Follows The Hollow

Followed by Taken at the Flood

This  book came out in 1947

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano

Sydney Forrester has never known her mother. But little did she know that a search for the woman would lead her to a new life. While more or less happy in London, Sydney is given the chance to change her life at Blakely House when she learns that she's the sole inheritor of the place. She assumes it's a small cottage but instead, it is a large house on a small island and it is feared by the neighbors.
She arrives with her cat, Micah, in the middle of a storm. She is saved (?) by a one-armed Frenchman but finally makes it into the house where she is immediately charmed by all of the movement, then immediatley after scared by the servants. It's then that she finds out that she is not actually the sole inheritor but one of four. Now it's up to her to figure out not only the machinations in the house, but in person.
The ending to the main story was a little overwrought but an overall okay story.

Three and a half stars

This book came out Aprill 15, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb

The book opens with two people entering a hotel room. They have a direct line of sight to a nearby park, the place where their target is ice skating. By the end of the prologue, three people are dead, the target and two more.
It's up to Eve and her team to work on discovering who the LDSK (long distance serial killer) is/are and what the thread is among the people they've murdered.
It was really interesting to me that Eve seems to pick up almost immediately on the fact that this isn't just random killings, that someone seems to be targeted. I was also a little bummed that we didn't get much character movement in this novel. It was pretty much the same team without much except Bella's birthday going on behind the scenes. Not like the last book where we got a nice glimpse of the Miras, especially Dennis.

Four stars

In Death #43

Follows Brotherhood in Death

Followed by Echoes in Death

This book came out September 6, 2016

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines

Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie are on the hunt for a missing farmer. Oscar had to foreclose on his family's farm and is now concerned that the young man, Danny, is missing. But is he missing just because he is ashamed to have lost the farm? Or is there something more sinister at work?
The actual mystery didn't take center stage as much as the plight of today's farmers. There are so many factors working against the people who love the land of the south and for more than just development. Yes, there is a developer who is not set up as the Big Bad as much as a general nuisance. 

The ending was a bit dramatic but does set us up for the series to continue.  

Three and a half stars

Sarah Booth Delaney #30

This book comes out May 26, 2026

Follows Doggone Bones

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

Opinions are my own

The Hollow by Agatha Christie, Hugh Fraser (Narrator)

Dr. John Christow has a varied romantic background. Now, at a weekend at his friends' Sir Henry and Lady Lucy Angkatell's house, known as The Hollow, he has his wife (Gerda), his girlfriend (Henrietta, an artist), and an ex, Veronica (moviestar). It's supposed to be a relaxing weekend away, but the romantic entanglements are going to create stress. It doesn't help that the nephew of the Angkatells, Edmund, is loafing around making eyes at Henrietta.

But tensions rise and John is dead. Henrietta is standing over him with a gun. It seems to be an open and shut case but Hercule Poirot is on site and working with Inspector Colquhoun to discover what really happened.

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #25

Follows Five Little Pigs

Followed by The Labours of Hercules

This  book came out in 1946

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

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 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

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

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

Follows Foreboding Foretelling at Ficklehouse Felling 

Followed by Death Reports to a Health Resort

This book came out January 1, 2025

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

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

Follows Evil Under the Sea

Followed by The Hollow

This book came out in 1942

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

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

The Vacation Mysteries #3

Follows No One Was Supposed to Die at this Wedding

This book comes out April 28, 2026

ARC audiobook kindly provided by Minotaur Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin

Annie adores her mother. She really does. Plus she knows her mother inside and out. Which is why she's so confused when her mother starts talking about Felicity (Fliss.) First of all, Felicity is a sculptor. Second of all, she's Detective Crane's ex-girlfriend. I mean, what the heck?

But then, Annie findes Felicity dead and missing a particular body part. Is it linked to the threats her mother's been getting? How can it not be? End the end, there are ties to her mother, father, and her Aunt Frances as history overlaps on itself, even as the chapters bounce back and forth between Annie's view and her aunt's diaries. The whole time, she is concious of the last prediction of Peony Lane. 

There was a lot going on in this book. A lot. But there was some good character and relationship building.  

Three and a half stars

Castle Knoll Files #3

Follows by How to Seal Your Own Fate

This book comes out April 28, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Dutton and NetGalley

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

Follows One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Followed by Five Little Pigs

This book came out in 1941

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own