Puzzle House by Duncan Ralston

Alexei Vasiliev is dead. He made escape rooms in life and has one last, grand puzzle left for after his death. The first three chapters introduce the first three players: Henry Hall who is in solitary, a former cop kept separate from the general population; Joy Reese is a movie star and Alexei's widow; Dr. Oscar Evans is an epidemiologist who has been ignoring the signs of his own cancer. Oh, and Henry has a handler named Atkins who doesn't seem to fit in his own skin. These three (four?) come together and solve the first puzzle which gets them the option to either keep playing or to leave the house. All continue to play where they are joined by Dr. Rudyard Thomas, an associate professor of archeology. As they wait, Joy notices a timer counting down and the five of them witness a devastating act which leads to a sixth member joining them, Ileana Athanasiou, a politician. 

I really liked the first three quarters of this book and there were hints about what the end was going to be but it still felt a little like a hard left turn. I think other people would enjoy this book more but I am just grateful that I finished it during the daylight hours. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 15, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Wicked House Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Postman Always Dies Twice by Zara Keane

There wasn't much to this book but it is a nice addition to a fast, fun, and fluffy series. If you are looking for something light, this is a perfect read. A number of coincidences and some information at the end that means it isn't fairly clued but an amusing read. 

The island postman is something of a Lothario. It's well known that he sleeps with as many women as possible. Maggie doesn't particularly enjoy his attentions but she is still shocked when she finds his body at the bottom of a cliff on a dark and stormy night. Sergeant Reynolds immediately gets her back up when he arrests not only her friend Lenny's brother but their grandfather as well. But she doesn't lose too much time since she has been hired by her former nemesis, Melanie, to look into the ghostly appearances at the Whisper Island Hotel. It will be up to Maggie to put everything right and tie up this mystery with a bow. 

Four stars
This book came out April 17, 2017

Follows Dial P for Poison

Followed by How to Murder a Millionaire

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Job by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

Kate and Nick are off again. As the book opens, somebody is robbing famous museums. And trying (sloppily, in Kate's opinion) to frame Nick for it. They discover it's one of his old teammates, Serena Blake. She needs help in getting revenge on the man who killed her brother. A mobster whose face her brother has changed, Menendez is one bad dude.

It's a bit light and fast but sometimes, that's just the kind of book I'm looking for. A great book while in the midst of a number of weighty non-fictions.

Three stars

This book came out November 1, 2014

Follows The Chase

Followed by The Scam

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Willa Mercy didn't grow up with her two half sisters but now they're all together for their father's funeral. She's the only one who grew up on the ranch so she's astonished to learn that the ranch has been left to all of them equally as long as they all stay for a year. None of them are excited about that thought.

Tess is a Hollywood screenwriter so she is, of course, not excited to stay. But the family lawyer, Nate Torrence, a long drink of water, is making her rethink that stance.

Third sister, Lily, is glad to be at the ranch for the year as she is running from her abusive ex-husband. She's finding herself falling in love with Willa's (maternal) half brother, Adam.

I did read this book when it came out but think it held up fairly well. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out March 12, 1996

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

The Chase by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg

This book is why I keep giving Evanovich a chance. Most of her books are too over the top for me. But this one hit the spot between too outlandish and strict procedural to be just plain fun.

Kate O'Hare is an FBI agent working with a known con man and thief, Nick Fox (which will bring inevitable comparisons to Eve and Roarke.) When the book opens, she is helping him pull off a bank heist so they can get evidence to put a man behind bars. The bigger caper is that they have to steal a bronze rooster that was already stolen from the Smithsonian. The Chinese government now wants the rooster back and the US doesn't want to admit that they've lost the statue. Complications arise when it turns out a former Chief of Staff, now the head of a military contract security firm is the one who has the original.
The yes-no relationship between Kate and Nick is more believable than the triangle between Stephanie, Ranger, and Joe. Also less annoying. Probably because it's early in the series. I'll wait and see how the rest of it goes.

Three stars

This book came out June 18, 2013

Follows The Heist

Followed by The Job

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Most Magnificent Maker's A to Z by Ashley Spires

I had read "The Most Magnificent Thing" and really enjoyed it. This book was also a joy. With delightful illustrations, Spires goes through the alphabet with different words related to inventing. Like in the first book, Spires includes ideas around the fact that failure is not bad, it's just a way to cross off a path that didn't work and I love that. 

Four stars

This book comes out September 5, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Kids Can Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper

Riley Everett never even knew her mother had a sister and now she's going to a small island in Michigan to meet the woman. But she is unexpectedly sick on the trip over and has no luck being able to use the toilet as Edison Held is hogging it. When he finally comes out, they quarrel but then she pukes on his shoes.

Both regret the interaction and are willing to get to know each other a little better. Which is good because Riley is dealing with some big changes in her life. Her aunt actually died right before Riley got to the island so she's alone in the big house. Well, except for the ghosts. Because there are ghosts. But we really only get to see a couple. 

Soon Riley is getting to hang out with Edison, is learning more about her own powers, and is making friends who are also working with her.

There are a lot of parts missing in this story that I wish we had seen. More of Riley and Edison's growing relationship, more of Riley and her friends learning to use their powers, more time with Riley and her mom. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 5, 2023

Starfall Point #1

Followed by Big Witch Energy

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own