The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry

Maureen Doherty is trying to find a reason to get tourists to Haven (and thus to her inn). She thinks she might have found a perfect hook. Now she just has to solve that pesky murder so people might actually come. 

Aster Paterson, the bookshop owner, is the one who finds the body of the dead "how to" writer. While nobody is really sad that Terry's gone, they're sort of shocked he's been murdered. And there are even more surprises when Aster's dead husband, Peter, starts appearing around town. 

Of course, Maureen knows from ghosts but none of her dead friends seem to know anything about Peter so she's on guard. As if her life isn't complicated enought with her boyfriend Theo making it very obvious that he's about to propose.

This book didn't come together for me quite as well as previous books in the series. It was a fun romp but didn't feel as tightly written. 

Three stars

This book comes out June 25, 2024

Haunted Haven #4

Follows Haunting License

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham with John Hopkins (narrator)

Chief Inspector Barnaby is called in when a woman in her eighties believes that her lifelong friend has been murdered. The local coroner believes she died of natural circumstances but her friend doesn't believe it for a moment. When Barnaby goes to look, he finds some clues that concern him as well. This one request draws both the Chief Inspector and his sargeant, Troy, into village life which is richer and much more disturbing that people might otherwise assume. 

I love the television series and am impressed with how well they stuck to the general story of the book but being able to adapt it for another medium, one that ended up being much longer than the original eight books. 

Four stars

This book came out November 5, 1987

Chief Inspector Barnaby #1

Followed by Death of a Hollow Man

Audiobook of mine in Audible

Opinions are my own

The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

This was a very interesting story wherein Hercule Poirot helps a young detective find the reason why three people were murdered in a hotel. And why all three had cufflinks left in their mouths.It was an okay story but it was not a Hercule Poirot story. It felt like the characteristics were just shoehorned in. If it hadn't been a "Poirot book," I think it would have been more enjoyable to me.

I reread this book but this time listened to it. It's interesting that the narrator really brought Hercule into focus for me. I still don't think this was done in the Agatha Christie style and this really could be any other detective, but hearing the voice and the accent brought it a little closer to what I had been hoping for.

Three stars

New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #1

This book came out September 9, 2014

Followed by Closed Casket

Borrowed as audiobook from Blackstone

Opinions are my own

Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie

I love Tommy and Tuppence. I think that's actually how I started my review for "The Secret Adversary." But they are just so much fun. In this book, the not-so-newlyweds, well, Tuppence, is bemoaning how boring life has become. Luckily, their old boss walks in and asks if they would like to help catch some spies. What follows is a series of short stories, some having to do with the spies, some not. All fun. There's even the added enjoyment of Tommy and Tuppence pretending to be classic detectives along the way.

Five stars
Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries #2

This book came out in 1927

Follows The Secret Adversary

Followed by N or M

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts

Jude has recently upended her life, quitting her job as a professor and leaving Chicago to travel to Ireland, the home of her maternal grandmother. She's not sure why she's leaving, just that she is unsatisfied with her life and wants to find something more.

She meets with ghosts and Gallaghers and learns that there is sometimes more to life than being merely content.

Four stars

Gallaghers of Ardmore #1

This book came out November 1, 1999

Followed by Tears of the Moon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

This book is ancillary to a series but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read previous books. Mrs. Blossom, Muriel, was an assistant to an investigator, but now she's about to have an investigation of her own. 

Muriel's life has turned upside down a few times recently; her husband died, the family (grandchildren) moved to Japan and left her behind, and she won the lottery. It's the last that allows her to take a fancy vacation in Europe. 

On the way, she meets Allan. He seems attracted to her and, while she's shy to believe it, she is willing to vary her journey plans to stay with him. Unfortunately, the romance doesn't last long and she's back on track for the travel plans she was given. There's a young man (forties), Danny, who is following her. But his story keeps changing as to why. 

Lippman explains that, in the previous books, she was accused of fatphobia based on how she described and treated Muriel. This book is... maybe bettter? She had sensitivity readers but I'm not sure how much she listened to their reviews. There's still a lot of focus on Muriel's frame. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 17, 2025

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

Mia Crawford is on an enforced vacation. She's been at her financial planning firm for five years and, as a an anniversary present, she's on a ferry to a private island in the Carribean. She tried to get the cash equivalent but was roundly dismissed. She's a little wary because she'd rather read a book than have a grand adventure. 

The resort is an interesting place. It's owned by a reclusive billionaire. It's also the site of a recent disappearance, a woman who was at the resort left the island on a day trip but never returned. Mia is connected to this woman when she picks up a book from the take a book/leave a book pile at the resort and it is filled with handwritten notes that directly relate to other guests on the island.

Though Mia is used to being on her own, she befriends the daughter of one of the other guests. She also starts spending time with the handsome bartender Jason. But both relationships may pull her into danger.

Overall a lovely story though my suspension of disbelief was pulled pretty taut several times. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 17, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own