Thursday, June 3, 2021

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie

A series of short stories involving our favorite Belgian detective. It includes stories like “The Kidnapped Prime Minister,” and “The Adventure of ‘The Western Star.’” Stories are solid and short. Perfect for picking up and putting down if you’re at a point in your life where you only have snatches of time in which to read.

Three and a half stars
Follows The Murder on the Links
This book came out March 1st, 1924
Borrowed as audiobook from Audible
Opinions are my own


Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews

In this book, Meg Langslow is involved with her brother Rob's burgeoning computer game company . He thinks there is something suspicious going on but he's not sure what. Since Meg recently hammered one of her hands, she isn't working her normal job so she's helping out while trying to figure out what is going on. If they could only keep a temp there long enough to answer the phones but they keep getting scared by the buzzard in the lobby and the pranks by the office workers. Then, one of the techies is killed and Meg has to help keep her brother out of jail.
Not my favorite book in the series but still good. The technology, of course, hasn't aged well but the rest of the story is good.

Three stars
Meg Langslow #4
This book came out September 6th, 2002
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Reread December 2022; September 2024 as Audible book


Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews

Meg is caught up in another murder, this time at a historical reenactment where Michael's mother is in charge. It's already a little tense and then a man no one really liked is found dead. He had stolen software from Tad, seems to be getting ready to steal Rob's new game, and is generally upsetting people. So there is no shortage of suspects.
Andrews is still finding her footing with this book but it is a fun read and we start to see Meg and Michael getting closer as well as dealing with some of the obstacles in their way.

Four stars
Meg Langslow #3
This book came out October 12th, 2001
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

The Wishing Star by Susan Hatler

The premise of this book is kind of crazy - ex-wife of rock star becomes soap star - but I thought it sounded light and fun. And a good half of the book is. But there is so much time in setting up Charlie Rockwell and her well-founded fears of being one half of someone famous that there is little time for anything else. Luke is sort of blandly wonderful except when he's a complete jerk. And for the BS that Luke pulls, there is not NEAR enough groveling for him unilaterally deciding to tank the relationship. The beginning of the book was sweet and fun but the ending... it was rough.
Charlie is licking her wounds but is running out of money. When her favorite soap opera offers to pay her at least a year's worth of money to use her house, she jumps at the chance. Her favorite character is an officer played by Luke Montgomery. When she steps in for a missing actor one day, she might just reclaim her dream of becoming a Hollywood star in her own right.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out June 4th, 2021 (originally published 2016)
ARC kindly provided by Hatco Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own


Monday, May 31, 2021

May Rereads

As always, opinions are my own

Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow #20
Four stars
This book came out August  2nd, 2016
Follows Lord of the Wings
Followed by Gone Gull






Owl Be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews
Meg Lansglow #26
Four stars
Borrowed as ebook from Cloud Library






Meg Langslow #27
Follows Owl be Home for Christmas
Followed by The Gift of the Magpie
This book comes out August 4, 2020
Borrowed as audiobook from CloudLibrary







The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews
Meg Langslow #28
Followed by Murder Most Fowl
This book came out October 20th, 2020
Borrowed as audiobook from CloudLibrary







Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson #7
This book came out March 11th, 2014
Follows River Marked
Followed by Night Broken
Borrowed as hard copy from Library





Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson #8
This book came out March 5th, 2013
Follows Frost Burned
Followed by Fire Touched
Borrowed as hard copy from Library


Fire Touched (Mercy Thompson, #9)


Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson #9
This book came out March 8th, 2016
Follows Night Broken
Followed by Silence Fallen
Ebook from Libby
Silence Fallen (Mercy Thompson, #10)





Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson #10
This book came out March 7th, 2017
Follows Fire Touched
Followed by Storm Cursed
Ebook from Libby
Storm Cursed (Mercy Thompson, #11)


Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson #11
Follows Silence Fallen
Followed by Smoke Bitten
Ebook from Libby

Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs




Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson #12
This book came out March 17th, 2020
Follows Storm Cursed
Ebook from Libby



The White Cottage Mystery by Margery Allingham
This book came out in 1927
Ebook from Libby






Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews
Aurelia Ryder #1
Four stars
This book came out January 12th, 2021
Ebook borrowed from Libby






The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz

The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz
Three stars
This book came out January 7th, 2020
Borrowed as eBook from Libby

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Lucky Score by Deborah Coonts

Lucky O'Toole isn't sure what's going on in her hotel and she doesn't like it. A man staggers into her lobby and dies and a Senator is implicated. It probably has to do with the football team coming to town which should be good for business but the players are causing more problems than they're worth. One of them is running a party out of her Secret Suite and Lucky knows nothing about it. Romeo, her cop friend and mentee, is keeping secrets. And then there's the fact that she's wondering whether her incomparable fiance is really the man for her.

Three stars
Follows Lucky Ride
Followed by Lucky Ce Soir
This book came out June 29th, 2018
Borrowed as an ebook from Hoopla
Opinions are my own




Saturday, May 29, 2021

Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs

Not every werewolf is part of a pack but that doesn't mean that the Marrok doesn't take care of them. Even if there are some wolves that are too wild doesn't mean that they all have to be put down. But when the wildings are targeted and the Marrok has left town, Charles and Anna will have to step up to try and save as many as they can.
Ufda. This book feels like there was more death than usual in it. But also some tie-ins with witches to the next Mercy Thompson which was really interesting to me. There was also a bit more about Bran's relationship with Leah even though he is absent for most of the book.

Three stars
Follows Dead Heat
Followed by Wild Sign
Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary
This book came out March 6th, 2018
Opinions are my own