Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins Volume I by Matthew Mercer, Matthew Colville, Olivia Samson, Chris Northrop

Two adventuring crews meet up and try to solve the mystery of why people are dying near a salt water swamp. As they explore, they are set upon by another group, have to face several magical beings, and are killed dead. The beginning of the book and several pages during the story show us that people will die on this adventure but it is still wrenching to see it. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 15, 2019

Followed by Volume II

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Emily Goes to Exeter by M.C. Beaton

Miss Hannah Pym inherits a vast sum of weslth from her employer. She decides to travel England with the money and starts by purchasing a ticket to Exeter. It is the coach that used to go past her employer's house and she would dream of riding it. And her first travel is quite the adventure with a highwayman, a runaway bride, and a widow who is about to married to a man who may not be as he appears. The runaway bride's groom is also there and Miss Pym's new goal is to bring the two together because, well, they are so well-suited (at least by station). 

This book was originally written in 1990 but, even thirty years later, holds a lot of charm. 

Four stars
This book came out November 1, 1990

Followed by Belinda Goes to Bath

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd

Caroline was disappointed by love when her father killed himself in disgrace. She broke off her engagement (her fiance didn't protest much) and became a lady's companion. Now her aunt wants her to come "home" for her cousin's come out ball. Caroline insists that her boss be allowed to come and bring her daughter as well. They are merchants so the daughter,  Dorothy, will have a great fortune and she is also pretty so she could potentially marry well. Her manner needs some work but she is presentable.

Caroline's cousin, Mabel, has insisted that a motley group be invited to her ball including many of the orphans that her parents took in. But strange things are happening. First, the butler is locked in the basement. Then Caroline's great aunt is murdered and her aunt and uncle refuse to acknowledge that anything is amiss.

The solution was a bit convoluted but I did enjoy most of the story.

Three and a half stars
This book came out May 31, 2022

Followed by Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Fry has a habit of creating sentences that make me pause my recording so that I can think about them, mull them over, taste them in my mind’s mouth. In other words, he’s a really good writer. And he has taken that skill to update the myths of Greece into a modern day story book. Over 15 hours of learning about the Gods and their foibles. It starts with the Titans and runs through Zeus and his many, many, many, …  many love affairs as well as the rest of the pantheon of the gods. 

Four and a half stars

This book came out 

Followed by Heroes

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

A friend of Stephen's, Kuldesh , is an antiques dealer. He knows that antique shops are sometimes sites of drug pickups but he'd prefer his not be one of them. Of course, when a gentleman comes in with a box full of heroin, Kuldesh also knows not to refuse. It is this box that will lead to Kuldesh's death and the involvement of the Thursday Murder Club. 

We are introduced to any number of new characters in this book but, if you've read other books in the series, it will not feel overwhelming. There are drug smugglers, antique forgers, a gentleman named Bob (Computer Bob) who helps out when Mervyn falls for an online scam, and a fox that is comes toward Stephen and Elizabeth's apartment every night. There are also a number of deaths including at least one character we've grown to love.

Lots of emotions wrung out in this book. Delightful as always. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out September 19, 2023

Follows The Bullet That Missed

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown

Christopher is wondering why his grandfather's house isn't being decorated for Christmas. It seems that they've been invited to the home of an old friend of Lord Edgington. But when they arrive, the house is curiously silent and seemingly unoccupied. Slowly, other guests begin to arrive including Christopher's friend Marmaduke and his father, the questionable businessman, then others including an unassuming teacher, a comedian, a cricket player, and more. They have something in common: no one knows why they were invited. 

A nice addition to the series. 

Four stars

This book came out November 14, 2021

Follows Death on a Summer's Day

Followed by the Tangled Treasure Trail

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari

Saffron Everleigh is a researcher at the University College of London. She is trying to navigate through a world changed by WWI and one that is not generally open to young ladies. This includes navigating overtures and gossip. What it doesn't normally contain is attempted murder.

With the rest of the faculty in her department, Saffron is invited to a dinner party. She is not worried about how to behave (there are some allusions to wealthy grandparents) but she is worried about encountering the department head who tried to attack her. Everyone is gathered to talk about a new expedition that will be taking place shortly. That doesn't mean there isn't some intrigue as various people melt out to balconys or find places for a rendezvous. Saffron almost finds herself in a sticky situation when she accidentally meets Alexander Ashton, a researcher she just met, in a darkened hallway. They are almost discovered by Mrs. Henry: her husband is leading the expedition and she is the person who is poisoned later in the evening. 

Saffron probably wouldn't have gotten involved but the police have arrested her mentor and father figure Dr. Maxwell. She decides to mount an investigation of her own that may or may not end up putting her in a precarious situation. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 7, 2022

Followed by A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own