The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

I listened to a podcast and the speakers were enthusiatic about the book. I have enjoyed most of the books recommended by All the Books. 

Emory is one of the generations following a catastrophe that has destroyed the Earth. Well, all but the people living on the island. They are led by three of the elders, the three people who were alive when the fog came tearing out of the earth. The Elders are Niema, her son Hephaestus, and Thea. 

The island holds a village where everyone works to serve each other. It is a balance that is strictly maintained. When one of the villagers broke the balance by attacking Niema, he was sent away. Everyone is generally content although Emory does have a lot of questions. Sometimes, she even questions the Elders which has caused a rift between Emory and her father. Even her grandfather's death hasn't brough them together. 

Then, there's a murder on the island. The unthinkable has happened. And Emory's questioning nature is pushed forward by Abi (a being not seen on page until the end of the story; most like Jiminy Cricket giving helpful advice and pushing the villagers to behave morally.)

Three and a half stars

This book came out March 28, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Canyons of Night Ghost Hunters by Jayne Castle

Best of the recent Jayne Castle books though it may not make as much sense if you haven't read the other two books in the Looking Glass Trilogy.

Charlotte Enright has always been enamored of Slade Attridge, ever since he saved her from some summer boys and then took her into the Preserve (a mysterious and beautiful area on their island) when she was young. She's back on the island, taking over her aunt's business. Her aunt supposedly dealt in rare antiques but ended up being more of a hoarder than anything else. Apparently she was searching for one particular object she could never find.

Slade is back on the island against his will. He thinks he is losing his psychic powers and is only back temporarily to help fill in until they can get a new police chief. 

Someone else is looking for the object that Charlotte's aunt seems to have found. Someone who is willing to kill to get it. 

Sets up the possibility of more books on the island, perhaps involving the shortly mentioned friend of Charlotte, Rachel who also has had a heartbreaking past.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 30, 2011

Rainshadow #0

Arcane Society #10

Harmony #8

Follows Midnight Crystal

Followed by The Lost Night

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose

One day, Pomona Afton is the toast of the town. Her wealthy family gives her entree into any number of soirees and parties and ensure that she never has to work. And hers is as disfunctional as any number of books have described wealthy families. Though they don't interact often, Pomona's grandmother rules the roost. Even so, Pomona does ignore her when she starts texting and leaving messages. She assumes she'll have time to find out what her grandmother wants. Too bad her grandmother is savagely murdered. Even worse, her grandmother recently updated her will so that, if she did die, all of the family assets were to be closed up immediately meaning Pomona has no home and no money with only 30 minutes to get out. 

For awhile, she's able to live with her brother and his girlfriend but soon realizes that is too small of an apartment. She decides to take her old nanny up on her offer to live with the woman's son. His apartment is even worse but at least she has the opportunity to work in the coffe shop he manages. And it's at his place that she decides she's going to solve her grandmother's murder.

Large parts of this story are improbable and some aren't even the zany stretches I so often enjoy but there is some real growth in Pomona's character (it seemed awfully fast though there were some hints she was ready to change before her life was turned upside down which helped.) It's fluff that wasn't fairly clued but provided me with some entertainment. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out March 18, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian

 stars

This book comes out March 18, 2025

Secret Staircase Mystery #4

Follows A Midnight Puzzle

ARC provided by Minotaur Books and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

The Bride's Runaway Billionaire by Pippa Grant

Both the hero and heroine have been side characters in previous Grant books. They've both also known the glare of the spotlight. Jonas Rutherford was a child star in his family's movies (and still is in movies.) Emma went viral as a bride who's wedding went off the rails when her fiance's misdeedsd came to light at the altar. The two meet each other at a low point in their lives and Emma ends up pregnant.

I didn't love the time jump but the after parts were pretty funny. Emma actually understood Jonah not contacting her after a relatively short amount of time (i.e. it didn't drag on too long.)

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 18, 2024

Three BFFs and a Wedding #2

Follows The Gossip and the Grump

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Remember When by Mary Balogh

Balogh's Ravenswood series around the Ware family and it's matriarch Clarissa's turn to find love. 

Before she married the Earl of Stratton, Clarissa was a Greenfield and her best friend was Matthew Taylor. Matthew was the younger son of a nearby land owner so their friendship was a little over the line considering how wealthy her family was but nothing scandalous. Though they loved each other, Clarissa had a chance to marry the catch of the season and she loves him too. Was that a mistake? Now in her early fifties, she is wondering that fact. But she doesn't think so. Though she and her husband did not have a true love match, they did love each other. But he's gone and Matthew is still here. What could that mean for them?
Matthew was heartbroken when Clarissa married. He also married but his wife died in childbirth. He left to travel the world but returned to the place where he grew up. Now, he's the village carpenter, making beautiful furniture. That's the reason Clarissa stops by, to request a cradle for her coming grandchild. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 7, 2025

Ravenswood #4

Follows Always Remember

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

Midnight Crystal by Jayne Castle

The last of the Dreamlight Trilogy, the lines of Winters and Jones cross lines once more. Now, Adam Winters has become the Head of the Frequency City Ghost Hunter guild but he needs the help of the newly appointed Head of Jones and Jones. It appears that the Winters curse of becoming a Cerebrus (a crazy three-talent)has finally hit him and he needs a dreamlight reader, Marlowe Jones to help him. While they're meeting for the first time, someone takes a potshot at them, trying to chase them into the Underground Jungle. People can get lost and go crazy down there. Luckily, Winters is a full spectrum talent and is able to get them out of there. Now they just need to find the Dreamlight Lamp (before some rogue triplets do) and use it to stabilize the Underground Jungle in order to save their entire world.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 1, 2010

Ghost Hunters #6 

Dreamlight Trilogy #3

Arcane Society #9

Harmony #7

Follows Obsidian Prey

Followed by Canyons of Night

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz

Ever since she woke up from a night she didn't remember, Amelia's talents for seeing people auras has magnified. She can't see them during the day, but at night, she sees a fog of emotions that people have left behind them. This new sight has made it so that she fears going out at night. She's even seeing a therapist for it. But now, her life has gotten stranger since there seems to be a man stalking her. So she calls in some help. 

Gideon Sweetwater is a private investigator. He's wealthy enough to be able to pick his own cases. And he's interested in Amelia's. While he's not exactly sure she's actually seeing what she thinks she sees, he's willing to take a chance. And thank goodness he does, because there actually are some forces after Amelia and not everyone in her life is as they appear. 

You don't HAVE to have read the other books in this series to enjoy it but it would help. 

Four stars

This book comes out January 7th, 2025

The Lost Night Files #3

Follows The Night Island

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread as hard copy from library March 2025

Flashpoint by Catherine Coulter

Characters from previous books return in this one. The first is Lady Elizabeth Palmer. She was caught in a plot that would have killed any number of people. Since then, she's been trying to live a simple life. But now, someone is trying to kill her. Could it be linked to the man who pulled her into his web last year?

The second character is Autumn. She's twelve and is watching a younger boy for the summer while his father goes on a belated honeymoon with his new, young wife. But while Tash's father is away, Autumn discovers that she and Tash share some abilities. And his are warning him that his father is in danger.

I still read this series even though it's a little off the wall for me.

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 2, 2024

FBI Thriller #27

Follows Reckoning

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Apothecary's Poison by C.J. Archer

While Matt and India are generally trying to stay under the radar of the newspapers, they do still read them. And an article about a doctor, claiming that he brought someone back from the dead. Of course, that's going to be of great interest to Matt so they take a chance an interview him. 

It's too bad that, while the man may be a magician, he doesn't appear to be capable of miracles. It's also too bad that the man ends up dead. Because they were there the day before, Matt becomes a suspect. 

A fine story and the ending actually moves the overarching story along.

Three and a half stars

This book came out April 4, 2017

Glass and Steele #3

Follows The Mapmaker's Apprentice

Followed by The Magician's Diary

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle

So good until the end.

Lyra Dore made the find of an amber prospector's life and was ecstatic until her boyfriend at the time, Cruz Sweetwater, claimed the find for his family company, Amber, Inc. She was understandably upset. 

So now she can't believe that he's on her doorstep wanting help to get some of his men out of a trap that's been sprung, keeping them locked in the jungle. Even after she's done, he just won't seem to leave. His entire family claims that he loves her, but can she trust the man who left her taking not only her find but her heart?

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 25, 2009

Ghost Hunters #6 

Follows Dark Hunter

Followed by Midnight Crystal

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

The Mapmaker's Apprentice by C.J Archer

The commissioner that helped Matt out in the last book needs help now. A mapmaking apprentice has gone missing and the commissioner would like Matt and India to help him out. In order to do so, they pretend to be a married couple. 

While visiting the guilds, they discover that the mapmaker's guild is also trying to suppress the knowledge that magicians exist. That leads to a very desperate situation where the pair barely survive. They also discover that their enemies may be more numerous than they thought.

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 25, 2016

Glass and Steele #2

Follows The Watchmaker's Daughter

Followed by The Apothecary's Poison

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Watchmaker's Daughter by C.J. Archer

Down to her last penny, about to be thrown out of her lodgings, India Steele does the only thing she can think of. She goes to the shop of her former fiance (the one who dumped her after her father died) and tells the customers not to buy from him. While she makes a scene, it doesn't do much. Except that one man takes notice, Matthew Glass. He immediately hires her on to find a watchmaker known only to him as Kronos.

Matthew needs to find Kronos soon. We don't learn much about it in this book but it is a life-or-death situation tied to a watch that the man made for him. But is Matthew Glass all he seems to be? Or is he possibly the American fugitive known as the Dark Rider.

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 28, 2016

Glass and Steele #1

Followed by The Mapmaker's Apprentice

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai

Simi and Chloe are ride-or-dies. The book opens with Chloe running to help Simi when there is a man who is mostly dead in Simi's aunt house. So when Chloe calls after a white hacking job turns out to be not so... white, Simi jumps into action. It's there that she meets Jack. 

Jack is a professional thief. A charming thief. One who knows a lot about plants. But he's willing to help Simi. Sort of.

In the best sort of heist, they assemble a team. One that includes Simi's Uber driver, a former suitor, her coworker, and her eighty-something aunt. I may be missing someone but it's a full crew. 

And it's a fun story. I'm glad I listened to it because, if I had been reading, I may have given up because it took a bit to get started.

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 18, 2023

Simi Chopra #1

Followed by 'Til Heist Do Us Part

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Body at the Grand Hotel by Benedict Brown

At the end of the last book, Marius got some new information about what may have happened to his father. But he is trying not to dwell on that and is excited to be distracted by a letter inviting him to be an honorary member of the Torquay Mystery and Detection Society. They are inviting him to give a speech the night before the local October Ball. Marius decides, why not? Bella, Inspector Lovelace, and his family all decide to come along as well. 

When he gets there, he discovers that the group is not exactly the fans he had supposed them to be. Instead, he is thrown to the wolves by their leader, Mrs. Thistlethwaite. The same Mrs. Thistlethwaite who Marius finds dead in the hotel pool the next morning. 

This is a twisty turning mystery that is maybe a little overwrought. There was some time spent in a crossover with Brown's Lord Edgington series and that did feel a little forced. The ending was interesting but I'm not sure everything was sewn together successfully. Still, an enjoyable read, overall. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out November 15, 2024

Follows The Castleton Affair

Marius Quin Mystery #4

ARC kindly provided Storm Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Dead Letter Delivery by C.J. Archer

At the end of the last book, Sylvia found a clue to her mother's past. Fairly soon into this book, we have confirmation of her link to Marianne Folgate. Sylvia also gets a link to her grandparents in the form of letters that arrived after they were killed. The first several that she reads are bills but then come several, asking for her mother's hand in marriage. It seems that her mother had magic and word had gotten around. 

There is one man, Reid, who writes first to ask for Marianne to be married to his son, then three years later asking if they know where the is son is. Could it be that Marianne and Robin's disappearances are related?

This line of questioning will take them around London and to an old sanitarium. It's still in use for the soldiers coming back from the war but does it have any connections to the past?

Three and a half stars

This book came out March 5, 2024

Glass Library #4

Follows The Untitled Books

Followed by Secrets of the Lost Ledgers

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Secret Hook-Up by Pippa Grant

Both Addie and Duncan have appeared in previous books by Pippa Grant. Addie is the batting coach for the Copper Valley Fireballs, a major league team. Of course, she's experienced her fair share of sexism. Not only do people not acknowledge that she might know how to do her job, they also seem surprised when she shows up to an auction in a dress.
Duncan isn't thrilled that Addie is doing the auction. But he at least knows that her bosses asked if she wanted to do it. But that doesn't mean that he's happy hearing how men are talking about her. And not just because the two of them used to hook up.
I really enjoyed this story. Duncan was a little too perfect but Addie got to grow quite a bit. You could really see how the two fit together. That being said, for all that the two had a relationship before, it took a long time for them to get together and figure it out

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 1, 2024

The Copper Valley Thrusters, #6

Follows I Pucking Love You

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own 

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

Bowen Penhallow is a loner (except for his friend Declan who is, admittedly, a ghost). But he has been having a bit of back and forth with Tamsyn Bligh. She is a procurer of magical items. How does she get them? Eh. Maybe best not to ask. But she is a human who is not put off by magical things. She does enjoy meeting Bowen. 

But when she arrives at a house party and realizes that he is there too, she's a bit shocked. Even more shocking is a spell that sends them back in time where they will need to help his grandparents fall in love. They do adjust the course of history, but they also fall in love.

The plotlines don't quite all fit together but it's an overall fun story.

Three and a half stars

The Ex Hex #3

This book comes out October 8, 2024

Follows The Kiss Curse

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyage, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

Sirena is a kitchen witch and she has some strict rules for being a kitchen witch that were passed down by her grandmother. It's those abilities that allow her to brew a wish tea. Her wish allows her to re-live her October in the hopes that she'll get the job she wants. She's been out of the work force taking care of family and her last boss stole her recipes so she's not in a good place. Hopefully, allowing herself some more time will let her correct her mistakes. What she doesn't expect is that she gets to spend more time with Gus.

August Dearworth is a former reality show star. He was a showy magician and reveled in the spotlight. But he loved and lost. Now, he's a historian and surprisingly happy to be in the Grove. He's drawn to Sirena like no one else and the two are magic together. But it's an overwhelming magic and both of them are a little hesitant to jump into a relationship.

What I enjoyed about this book is that we go past the date of the first wish. Often, we get to the day of the wish and everything has worked itself out. Sirena and Gus are going to have an extra couple of months in this story. 

I heard about this book on a podcast and asked for it from NetGalley. I was lucky enough to get a copy and, while it didn't hit quite as nicely for me (not all of the story parts melded for me), I really did enjoy most of this book. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 1, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Christmas Movie Ultimate Trivia Book Test by Neal E. Fischer

This is another book that will probably be better as a physical book than as an ebook. The answers are often on another page and flipping back and forth can get a little hairy. 

The trivia in this book is... amazing. There are So Many movies included in this book. Yes, some of them may be argued as Christmas-adjacent, but the author does address this. There are twelve different categories including thrillers, animated movies, and even a whole section devoted just to Christmas Carol adaptations. It's a fun book with a lot of great trivia. There are even little mini sections in between. 

Other than the navigability issues, it's quite a nice book. 

Four stars

This book came out October 1, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Quarto Publishing Group - becker & mayer and NetGalley

Opinions are my own