Blood Martinis & Mistletoe by Melissa Marr

In an alternate universe, Geneviève Crow lives in New Orleans and makes it her business to kill the draugrs, the people who rise from the dead. The problem being that she was poisoned in the first book of this series and nearly died. Now she's dealing with some really gross things (like the need to drink blood) that she had hoped would never have to. This, of course, in addition to still being engaged to a literal faery prince.

A fun interstitial with some character growth that probably would have been confusing in the second book had I not read it.

Three and a half stars

This book came out May 18, 2021

Follows The Wicked and the Dead

Followed by The Kiss and the Killer

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Matter of Loyalty by Anselm Audley, Elizabeth Edmonson

Hugo, Georgia, and Freya are back for a last adventure. This book was not quite as good which is explained at the end of the story. 

One of the scientists at the "Atomic" has gone missing. It is assumed that he is the one that was leaking scientific information which makes Sir Bernard very happy as he can close out that mystery with a sigh. At least, he could until the man's body shows up with a single gunshot wound in the neck. And Georgia and Polly are the ones to find him which shakes everyone up. 
Old favorites are included in this story. 
Saul Ingram is once again in hot water - he seems to be the easy target to point at for any number of sins
Uncle Leo-the priest and former spy
Aunt Priscilla- still managing  but lovable
New characters
Jarret - in from the Home Defense, was the best man at Freya's aborted wedding
Dr. Arpad Barandy - defecting Hungarian scientist staying at the castle
This was a good series and I liked how Edmonson was building on each successive story. I'm sad that we won't get to see the final stories. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 19, 2017

Follows A Question of Inheritance

Borrowed as Kindle audiobook

Opinions are my own

Murder in an English Glade by Jessica Ellicott

This is the first book I read instead of listening to it and I miss listening to Barbara Rosenblat. Otherwise, it is a fine story wherein Beryl and Edwina actually leave Beeches and stay at a nearby manor which is not only hosting the Girl Guides but also an artists gallery. It is an interesting "case" with the lady of the house asking them to pretend to "investigate" her sister-in-law. Constance knows her sister-in-law, Ursula, is of good virtue but they have a cousin who is determined to make up stories. Especially since Ursula is so mucjyounger than Hubert, Constance's brother, she is afraid that the rumors will be believed.

However, their time at the manor quickly changes when one of the artists, Louis Langdon Beck, is murdered. He was apparently not a nice man but just how not nice is going to be uncovered.

I liked the character building for both Edwina and Beryl in this book. The solution of the mystery felt a little unfinished, like we could have seen more about the killer's motive but it was an overall good story.

Four stars

This book came out October 26, 2021

Follows Murder Comes to Call

Followed by Murder through the English Post

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Wicked and the Dead by Melissa Marr

Geneviève Crowe makes money from killing draugr, the again-walkers of New Orleans. She also kills them because she feels she has to. She realizes the danger but she feels compelled to keep humanity safe. But something weird is happening. The newly risen draugr are acting like they've been dead for decades. Rather than shambling lumps, they are fast-moving and coherent.

As she starts to solve the mstery, the world Marr built starts to unfold. It's very much like ours, but a little more magical. It is also inhabited by fae, including Gen's friend Eli. There's an underlying attraction between the two but she doesn't want to ruin what relationship they have and a romance could change that. But they'll have to work together to figure out what this new venom is and why people who are generally against the existence of the draugr are the once being targeted.

This was an interesting start to a series but there was a lot of info dump and some of the plotlines were a bit disjointed. 

Three stars

This book came out September 2, 2020

Novella follows Blood Martinis & Mistletoe

Followed by The Kiss and the Killer

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

When She Dreams by Amanda Quick

Krentz revisits a former theme and has a main character who practices lucid dreaming. This book doesn't go quite as much into this skill as previous books and I wish we had seen more of Maggie using it to solve what exactly is going on at a California-based psychic dreaming conference. 

There is more reliance on the skills of Sam Sage. Former-police-inspector (now disgraced) private eye Sam doesn't believe in woo-woo type of stuff. But Maggie does make a comment about his coat rack that has him wondering. Really though, she's hired him to figure out who is impersonating her employer, Aunt Cornelia, an advice columnist. 

The romance was great but the mystery felt a little shaky. Still worth a read. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out May 3, 2022

Follows The Lady Has a Past

Followed by The Bride Wore White

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread November 2022 as audiobook from Libby

April Rereads

As always, opinions are my own

Miraculous Mysteries

Anthology put together by Poisoned Pen Press

Three stars

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

Isabelle works for a publishing company. She is not an editor as she thought she would be at this point. Nor is she a writer. Instead, she is still an editorial assistant. But while on a trip to California, she overhears her boss complaining about how a rich and entitled Hollywood scion hasn't turned in his manuscript. So Isabelle volunteers to go and help him get working on it. She does not expect him to be quite as cranky as he is. She REALLY doesn't expect to end up staying in his fabulous California villa and working her regular New York hours, then helping him in the afternoons. And the fact that he might not be as grumpy as he originally seemed might be the biggest surprise of all. 

This Beauty and the Beast adaptation was adorable. I wish we had seen a little bit more of the relationship developing and had hoped to see more about what happens with Isabelle's coworker but it was an enjoyable book overall. 

Four stars

This book comes out May 3, 2022

Follows If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

ARC kindly provided by Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley

Opinions are my own