January 2023 Rereads

No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #7

This book came out May 8, 2006

Follows Owls Well that Ends Well

Followed by The Penguin who Knew too Much

Audiobook from Audible

The Penguin who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #8

Three stars

This book came out August 7, 2007

Follows No Nest for the Wicket

Followed by Cockatiels at Seven

Audiobook from Audible

Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #9

This book came out July 8th, 2008

Follows The Penguin Who Knew Too Much

Followed by Six Geese A-Slaying 

Audiobook from Audible

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai

Four and a half stars

This book came out October 18, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 3, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Mastered By Love by Stephanie Laurens

Royce Varisey, Duke of Wolverstone, has spent the greater part of his life as Dalziel, master spy. But now his work is done and his father is dead. He has to go back to the home he was thrown out of and take over. But when he gets back, he finds that Minerva Chesterton, his mother's ward, has transformed into Wolverstone's chatelaine. Royce is immediately attracted, but is frustrated when she doesn't seem to return his feelings.

Minerva has always loved Royce, but she knows that he has to marry soon which will break her heart. She is willing to stay on at Wolverstone but then she is going to go live her own life.

Unfortunately, Royce's last spy doesn't believe that he has given up the chase and is going to work to ensure that he is never captured.

Four stars

This book came out July 28, 2009

Follows Edge of Desire

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Something About her by Rachel Higginson

Dillon's brother Ezra has decided that he wants her to be the new executive chef at his least successful restaurant. She's not at all sure that she's ready to be in charge but this might be her one shot. Besides, her friend Vera's brother Vann sort of goads her into it. Then he rescues her when her car battery dies. And then when she needs help taking charge in her own kitchen. He's there. 

And I liked that about Vann? What I didn't like as much? Same thing as Book 2 in this series. There's a lot of concentration on the fact that Dillon was sexually assaulted and then it's all taken care of in a few sentences. It was better in this book but still fixed rather fast. Overall, still a good read.

Three stars

This book came out February 26, 2019

Follows The Problem with Him

Ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Problem With Him by Rachel Higginson

A sous chef in a popular kitchen, Kaya Swift is pretty certain that she is one day going to be a head chef. If only Wyatt Shaw, the head chef, weren't such a hardass. And if only he weren't so darn hot.... But he's the head chef and in charge of her. Kaya thinks they have a hate-hate relationship but it might be that Wyatt sees them differently. She loves being a chef and knows that her time at Lilou, one of the best restaurants in the city, is coming to an end. She is ready for the next step in her professional career but there is the possibility of something good with Wyatt.

I didn't love the end; would Wyatt know about Kaya's job for 3 weeks before she does? That's just... ick.

Four stars

This book came out June 26, 2018

Follows The Difference Between Us

Followed by The Something About Her

Ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

The Biscuit Barrel Murder by Geoffrey Start

I requested this book from NetGalley based on the title. A couple of the reviews that were available compared this to Blotto and Twinks; I have no clue what that is but I'm always up for a new mystery series. And this one is not a bad start to a series (I think?) but there are a LOT of people that are introduced and some odd leaping about from first person to third that threw me off in the beginning. There are also a lot of characters. A LOT of characters.

Sir Wispy Fescue, Strangely Drye, and Wanda Cushway have a detective agency. They are hired to prove by Lord and Lady Alfreton to prove that their daughter, Miss Josephine Leighton, did NOT murder her fiancee, Viscount Thurmaston, with the biscuits that she baked for him weekly. So the team are off on an adventure to interview various suspects (all of whom Sir Wispy seems to latch on to at various points as being the murderer which was sort of interesting). Also included on the adventure are Sir Wispy's and Strangely's wives, Constanza and Libby who seem rather tolerant of their sleuthing although Libby does seem overly worried about Sir Wispy not getting hurt which, of course, he does. 

Not sure if this is a series; it might make some sense if it is since so many people were introduced so quickly. I would be interested in reading more though. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out January 28, 2023

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and The Book Guild

Opinions are my own

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm by Betty MacDonald

I like the first two books in the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series but after that... eh. The books are usually charming with their magical realism. This book features a lot more magic, a lot less realism.

We start off with the Not Truthfulness Cure. We've got a young gentleman who can't seem to tell the truth and there are a lot of different stories going around town. So he's left with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle for a month. Yes. His parents just drop him off at a woman's farm, out of town (she's moved since the first two books) and this is someone they don't really know. Okay. 

Next up is the Pet-forgotten cure where a little girl can't take care of her many, many pets. 

In the Destructiveness Cure, we meet Jeffy who likes to take things apart. Of course, being at Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's will show him why that's not a good idea. Suddenly in this book, Penelope the parrot, who was a regular parrot before, talks in full sentences.

There is also the Fraidy-Cat Cure. Phoebe is scared of everything but when Mrs Piggle-Wiggle gets trapped and getting over being a fraidy cat has to happen quickly.

Lastly we have the Can't Find It Cure where Morton comes up with a fabulous treasure... which was how the last book ended.

You can probably tell that I was frustrated with this book as being a retread of a lot of earlier stories.

Two stars

This book came out in 1954

Follows Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic

Followed by Hello Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Brooding Bodyguard by Angela R. Casella

Sinclair Jones is a famous actress who has a few problems. First, she's not sure what she wants to do with her life now that she's no longer playing a teenager on TV. Second, her mother (former momager) trashed her reputation so her reputation in the industry isn't exactly sterling. Oh, and she seems to have picked up a stalker.

For the first, she's been trying a number of new things like painting or creating things with clay. For the second, she's fake dating a man who tapes television shows about man vs. wilderness. For the last, she has a bodyguard.

Rafe used to be a painter. Then he got shot and became a personal fitness instructor (and got ripped.) Now, in between jobs, he has been asked by some of his father's friends to watch over Sinclair. He is expecting a snobby millionaire but finds someone who is much more complex. The more time they spend together, the more he wants to plumb her depths (har.) But her stalker is escalating and no one seems to be able to figure out exactly how to stop them.

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 19, 2023

Follows A Stolen Suit

Followed by A Reluctant Roommate

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

In late 2001, the first adaptation of Harry Potter made its way on to the big screen. The child actors were instantly catapulted into fame. As the young villain of the piece, Tom Felton says that he never got as much press as the actors who played the main three characters, but it did, of course, change his life.

Felton had already been an actor and he walks us through the roles he had and some of the people he met on various sets. He also tells us about working behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films and gives us a lovely glimpse of many of the actors on the films, including those who have since passed away. And they are very short glimpses with very little going too far into depth. 

Read by Felton himself, this book is an interesting look at how the children of Harry Potter grew up on set but also how Felton himself changed both before and after the films. He definitely struggled afterwards but seems to have pulled himself back up by his bootstraps.

Four Stars 

This book came out October 18, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens

When Christian and Letitia were young, they were inseparable, in love. But then Christian went to serve king and country. He returned: Letitia was married. Well, life has happened and Christian is now the Marquess of Dearne and Letitia needs his help. Her husband is dead and her brother is the main suspect. 
So, the book opens with a dead husband and ends with a marriage with lots of "for romance reasons" in between. It was generally an entertaining book but there was a lot of glossing over details, etc.

Three stars

This book came out August 26, 2008

Follows Beyond Seduction

Followed by Mastered by Love

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau

Some people seek the spotlight, some have it thrust upon them. Helen Tsang is among the latter. After her boyfriend broke up with her, blaming her, in a public place and it was videoed and made into a meme. It is almost a year later and she wants people to believe that she's moved on. She hasn't but she wants to get them off her back. 

So, she taps her friend Taylor, to be her fake boyfriend. They've been friends since high school and he knows her well enough to be a believable partner. 

This is a romance so the inevitable happens. Helen catches feelings. But how can Taylor even feel the same way?

Lau is an amazing writer and this book was a fast and fun read. It was just a little too fast for me. I wish we had seen more of Helen and Taylor and how they would function as a couple (not just faking it). I also wish we had seen a little bit more of Helen's friends as they feel like sequel-bait and it would be nice to get to know them a little better.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 24, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Kobo Originals and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett

Hallett obviously created this book as a labor of love. The codes are intricate, the story is refreshing, and the way the story is told is one I haven't read before. I would classify it as an epistolary novel since it is ostensibly told through documents. 

Unfolding in transcriptions of files taken from a found iPhone, we learn the story of Steven Smith, recently released from prison. We don't learn why he was in prison until the end of the book but it is that experience which took him away from most of his son's life, the son he is transcribing all of these events for. 

The main story revolves around a book Steven "Little Smithy" found on a bus. When he brought it into school and showed his teacher, she used the book to connect his remedial English class to the written word. She also seemed to take note of the book and tells them about a code in the book. On a field trip to visit the author's house, their teacher vanishes. Decades later, Steven is trying to figure out what actually happened but it seems to have dropped him right into danger. 

Four stars

This book comes out January 24, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Beyond Seduction by Stephanie Laurens

In previous books in the series, Gervase keeps being called home. Finally, we, the readers, find out what it's all about.
His sisters, having seen what happened when one of their neighbors got married, are terrified. They do not want to be shipped off to some boarding school. Instead, they wreak havoc around Gervase's estate in order to keep an eye on him and who he is dating. In a moment of pique, Gervase promises to marry the next woman he sees (who fulfills a list of criteria, including him liking her (he's not stupid)) .
This is a romance novel so a woman shows up pretty darn quick. He doesn't exactly believe that she'd fit his requirements having known Madeline Gascoigne in the past but now he's at least looking at her with new eyes.
Madeline needs Gervase's help. She's not looking for a husband; she's her brother's guardian and she has to keep that estate together. But there is an electricity between them that she wants to explore.
There are the same basic beats as the rest of the books in the series: Man wants to get married, woman doesn't, they get married, but with its own little twists.

Three and a half stars

This book came out in 2007

Follows To Distraction

Followed by The Edge of Desire

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Murder Through the English Post by Jessica Ellicott

The book starts out with Edwina in her new position, that of magistrate for Walmsley Parma. In true Edwina fashion, she is nervous about being in charge but it is the last case of the day that causes her some angst. Michael and Norman had gotten into a fight and the local constable got punched in the face. 

The argument began because an unsigned letter accused Norman of spreading rumors bout Michael's service and whether or not he was really injured on the front line. An understandable reason to get upset. Not a good reason to clock Constable Gibbs. Edwina is able to clear up the misunderstanding but she is worried. She becomes even more worried when it becomes clear that there is a spate of poison pen letters being spread throughout the town. Even Beryl gets one (though, being Beryl, she is highly amused rather than any other emotion.)

When one of the recipients takes drastic measures, Constable Gibbs asks the ladies to look into who is sending the letters. Eventually the mystery will be solved, but not before there is a death. 

The ending was a little convoluted and there were a couple of phrases that were repeated a little too often but overall a nice addition to the series.

Beryl and Edwina Mystery #6

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 26, 2022

Follows Murder in an English Glade

Followed by Murder at a London Finishing School

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder at the Seaside Hotel by Sonia Parin

Oh. My. Lanta. This book was SOOOOOO slow. I'd estimate that half the book is just Evie coming up with wild theories about the death of a maid in a seaside hotel. And we're never really given a reason she's so involved other than the fact that the police never interviewed her (seemed like this was tongue-in-cheek) and that she didn't like that the police weren't giving this maid respect. We never really do find out why the police didn't look into the death but luckily Evie has an old friend (Inspector O'Neill) who is
willing to come down and take a look. Also involved? Evie's maid, chauffeur, and "good friend," Tom. 

Two and a half stars

This book came out July 28, 2019

Follows Murder in the Cards

Followed by Murder in the Third Act

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

To Distraction by Stephanie Laurens

Deverell, Viscount Paignton, would like to find a wife. He seeks counsel from his aunt Audrey. Born several years after her brothers, she is closer to him in age and knows him well. Her recommendation is one of her many goddaughters. The woman's name? Phoebe Malleson. She is a little older than some of the current crop of unwed ladies and the reasons she is unmarried, according to Audrey, are what makes her perfect for Deverell. 

For her part, Phoebe has decided that she would rather not wed. Deverell's interest is therefore not welcome, especially since she's heard that he was involved in the government somehow and some of her pursuits are not quite... legal. 

Deverell is determined to make Phoebe trust him. He is anxious to start his future, one that includes the woman he was instantly entranced with.

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 29, 2006

Follows A Fine Passion

Followed by Beyond Seduction

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Intentional Leadership by Rose M. Patten

Patten believes that some leaders are natural, they just know what to do. But, leaders can also be made. they can learn to plan for the long-term. Using real-life experiences by leaders from across industries, Patten goes through the Big 8 capabilities that people need to be successful leaders in today's world because, today, it is harder than ever to be a leader. The world is changing quickly and we can't rely on the tried and true methods of yesterday working the way they used to. 

Patten doesn't just dive into the 8 capabilities. Instead, we learn about the problems facing leaders today. We see the myths about leadership that still exist as well as the new problems that are facing leaders as the working world evolves.

The 8 capabilities are further divided into three sets which really resonate with the current workplace: Mindset (personal adaptability, strategic agility, self-renewal); Personal Values (certainty of character, empathy); Connecting (contextual communication, spirited collaboration, developing other leaders.) Patten goes through each of the 8 capabilities in the later chapters and explains more about what they are and why they're needed. 

Overall, a lovely book though there are a lot of mentions of subsections and other leadership ideas which can be a little confusing at times. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 7, 2023

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and University of Toronto Press

Opinions are my own

The Difference Between Us by Rachel Higginson

Molly Maverick is happy for her BFF, Vera. Vera's in love and getting married.  It's just too bad that Vera's fiance comes along with HIS BFF, Ezra Baptiste. Model-gorgeous, Ezra is a multi-bazillionaire who seems to have a fascination with Molly. Apparently, nobody else in his life tells him "no" and the fact that she did means that she is unique. So he basically strongarms her into helping him, even after a pretty decisive turn down from Molly by doing an end run and hiring the firm she works for as a designer and specifically requesting her. And Molly already has enough to deal with given the fact that her boss's son doesn't seem to have gotten the memo on the things that constitute sexual harassment. And there is a LOT of this book that is devoted to the description of that harassment. Which would have been fine had it not all been resolved in a couple of sentences. So much build-up for so little in return. Higginson's writing saved this from being a DNF for me and she handled Molly's reactions and why she acted the way she did pretty well but I wanted more on-page justice.

Two and a half stars

This book came out 

Follows The Opposite of You

Followed by The Problem with Him

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

A Fine Passion by Stephanie Laurens

Jack Warnefleet is trying to escape the matchmaking mamas of London by escaping to his country manor. There, he finds that in his absence as a spy for the Crown, Clarice Altwood, a marquess' daughter who escaped London after she refused to play by society's rules, has been acting in his place. After getting over their initial opinions of each other, they realize that they are actually very attracted to each other. But they still have to work with each other to try and overcome a recurring character from the Bastion Series who is trying to paint Clarice's cousin as a traitor.

One of the better Stephanie Laurens (possibly my favorite in this series) before she really starts getting into character's "true selves."

Four stars

This book came out in 2005

Follows A Lady of His Own

Followed by To Distraction

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson

Vera has made a mess of her life. She had set out to be a famous chef but had sidetracked her life  in a massive mistake. Now she's back home, taking care of her dad who had cancer. She's also decided to open a food truck. Too bad the five star chef across the street has decided that she's competition, or something. He seems personally affronted that her food truck is across the street. Plus, he's taken up writing notes about how her food could be better. Even worse, he's usually right.

This was a great read even if I didn't quite  get how the two clicked together. Am excited to have found a new series.

Four stars

This book came out March 30, 2017

Followed by The Differences Between Us

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

A is for Audra by John Robert Allman, Peter Emmerich

This is one of the books from NPR's Best Book that intrigued me. And it's a delightful book though I think you need some Broadway knowledge to really appreciate. Going from A to Z (with a couple of stretches), this book lauds the divas of the Great White Way. The poems are short and easy; the illustrations are delightful. 

Four stars

This book came out November 12, 2019

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

A Lady of His Own by Stephanie Laurens

Probably my favorite in the series (though the next book in the series is up there as well), Charles St. Austell goes home to help find a spy and ends up falling in love. Penelope Selborne was his one-time lover twelve years ago but he has never really gotten over her. Now, she is sneaking around his house in the dead of night and he's wondering why. And why won't she tell him more about what she is doing? Is she protecting herself, or someone else?

Spies, murder, intrigue and romance. Who could ask for more?

Four stars

This book came out January 1, 2004

Follows A Gentleman's Honor

Followed by A Fine Passion

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie

Alice Asher of Andover has been murdered. It seems to be an open-and-shut case of a woman killed by her brute of an ex-husband. So why is Hercule Poirot interested? Well, he received an anonymous letter about the murder. And when Elizabeth "Betty" Bernard is murdered in Bexhill, the stakes are definitely raised.
Poirot gathers some of the people affected by the murders, especially when the victim of 'C' turns out to be a well-known gentleman. It is in talking to these people that Poirot discovers the insidious reason for this series of murders.

Hercule Poirot #13

Four stars

This book came out January 6, 1936

Follows Death in the Clouds 

Followed by Murder in Mesopotamia

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews

You can try to read this book without having read the books before it but it will be much more helpful (and enjoyable) if you have read the other books first. There are a lot of people and a lot of species that are easier to follow if you know some of them already. I had a hard time following when I read this book as a serial on teh authors' webpage. It was easier to read it all at once and an amazing story as an audiobook. The narrator was perfect for this book. 

Sean and Dina just cannot get down time. The stories of Sean's prowess have spread throughout the werewolf community and now many of his kind are showing up to try and win his favor. One of them drops the news that Wilmos, an old werewolf, has disappeared. They are able to find out where he is but they are unable to get there without help. Which means that they will need to do a favor in return.

And what a favor. The only beings with a portal near Wilmos are the Dominion and what they require in return is a safe place to complete the selection for a mate for their king. Yes, this is a galactic Bachelor, a contest that touches everyone at the Gertrude Hunt, including Caldenia.

Four stars

This book came out December 13, 2022

Audiobook comes out January 13, 2023

Follows Sweep of the Blade

Reread as audiobook from Hoopla August 2024

The Power of Regret by Daniel H. Pink

I heard about this book from  NPR's Best Books and thought, "Why not?" I think I'm like most people, that there are things in my life that I regret. But so much of American culture these days encourages us to live life with no regrets. But why? Pink urges us to look at that statement and see that maybe it is incorrect. Maybe we do need to have some regrets. How else will we know how to improve ourselves? But there are ways to avoid regret. . In this book, Pink goes through the four core types of regret and talks about ways that we can avoid foundation, boldness, moral, and connection regrets. It is these regrets that we should focus on when making decisions; in five years, ten. Otherwise, "satisficing" is good enough. To undo regrets, you can apologize or try to undo action regrets or "at least it". For both action and inaction, practice self-compassion, normalize (zoom out several years), or try to work through them whether by talking with others or writing it down somewhere.

Three and a half stars

This book came out February 1, 2022

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot, famously not good at river travel, takes to the air in this book. And it's a lovely glimpse into history as we see stewards serving full teas with actual tea cups. Unfortunately, not everyone completes the trip alive. An older woman is discovered to be dead, potentially from a wasp sting (one was flying around the cabin) but Poirot thinks it's something different. 

A large part of this book is other characters, Jean Dupont and Norman Gale, trying to solve the murder themselves. The overall solution is similar to other twists in Christie stories but the story (minus the casual racism that occurred in the '30s) is overall a fine read.

Four stars

This book came out March 10, 1935

Follows Three Act Tragedy

Followed by The ABC Murders

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Back in a Spell by Lana Harper

Nineve "Nina" Blackmoore is having some really bad luck at the moment. First, she's been dumped. Second, her family is known as being kind of the "bad guys" around town which is severely hindering her love life as she tries to jump back in the dating pool. Third, her magic is acting really weird. Like, way overreacting to any spells she tries to cast. And the dreams... Plus she seems to be witchbound (married) to a guy that her friend picked off a dating application. 

Morty isn't sure what's going on. First, his date ends up being the lawyer whose family sent a whole bunch of letters trying to buy his family bar. Then, he woke up and had magic. Like, real magic. What the heck? Only Nina will know the answer but he's not sure he wants to be near her. Yet he can't stay away. Is she really a black-hearted witch like the rest of her family?

I wish we had gotten to see more of Morty and Nina's relationship. It went from "I think I should hate you" to "Let's hang out forever" really, really fast. There was a lot of plot movement for the series but I wish we had seen more for them.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 10, 2023

Follows From Bad to Cursed

Followed by In Charm's Way

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group

Opinions are my own

The Spare Man Mary Robinette Kowal

I've really enjoyed Kowal's books in the past and, upon hearing that this was like a sci-fi version of The Thin Man, immediately reserved the book from my local library. And this is like the movie (the book didn't have as much comedy) in that you have now "retired" detective who has married an heiress. In this book, we get more from the wife since the book is told from her point of view.

Tesla and her new husband are on a planetary cruise when a murder occurs. Though she is recognizable to the point of creating a horde, she has been able to fly under the radar to this point. The ship's security is less than stellar and, not knowing who she is, immediately pin their gaze on her husband as the guilty party. Tesla is less than impressed and decides (against her attorney's direct orders) to investigate herself. How else is her husband supposed to be freed?

This book is good but it is very much the first in a series and there is a lot of world-building. I do hope there are more in the series though as I have enjoyed Kowal's characters in the past and I think this book will improve when there are more books in the series.

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 22, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder on the Golden Arrow by Magda Alexander

Apparently Kindle Unlimited has decided that I enjoyed one book about a privileged young lady solving murders in the early 1900s so it will recommend ALL of the series about privileged young ladies solving murders. This one is a little different in that the heroine is neither aristocracy nor an orphan but it follows much the same lines.

Kitty Worthington is a socialite and, though she has just finished a year in finishing school, she has little interest in marriage.  Her brother Ned has come to retrieve her as well as further some of her father's business interests but now they are on their way home. On the way, they encounter a woman, Rose Trevvyan, who is a part of Ned's past, one he'd rather not see again. Later, Kitty overhears the woman talking to her husband; Rose is planning on blackmailing Ned but her husband, Jack, is reluctant.

They, along with a motley crew of characters, board The Golden Arrow. Along the way, Rose gets very sick and falls dead, poisoned. Nearly everyone on the deck had a connection to Rose and almost everyone had the opportunity to get poison into her system. The police seem inclined to pin the murder on Ned but Kitty, an inveterate reader of Agatha Christie, has other ideas.

Going to be honest, some of these series are starting to run together in some ways but I did enjoy this book and am immediately going to return it and read the next in the series. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 21, 2021

Followed by Murder at Westminster

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

A Gentleman's Honor by Stephanie Laurens

Alicia and her sister, Adriana, have made a desperate bid to save their family. After their parents died, they were left with their three brothers. So they're using the last of their fortune for Alicia, masquerading as a widow, to bring her sister out into society. Hopefully Adriana's good looks will allow her to marry well (and  hopefully for love) and support the rest of them. 

Too bad Mr. Ruskin has attached himself to Alicia. And especially bad that, after a somewhat public argument, Alicia is found over his dead body.

Luckily, Tony Blake, Viscount Torrington, is the first to find her. He can immediately tell that she is not the killer in this situation. He is also immediately intrigued by Alicia. So now she has to balance the fact that she is falling in love with this man with the fact that she is supposed to be a widow in the know about how live (and physical love) work. Oh, and there's the tiny matter that someone seems to be working behind the scenes to make society believe that Alicia is a murderer.

Not my favorite in this series but not a bad book at all. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out in 2003

Follows The Lady Chosen

Followed by A Lady of His Own

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

This is one of Agatha Christie's stories that isn't part of one of her series. In this book, the narrator, Charles Haward, has fallen in love with a beautiful young woman. Sophia Leonides is part of an interesting family though; her grandfather, unlike most people, has made a great deal of money during the war. His family almost all live with him in a great mansion. Also living with them? His very young wife as well as the grandchildren's tutor who wasn't fit for the war. 

Sophia's grandfather dies suddenly and it is a case of poisoning. While most of the family seems to believe it is the very young wife and the tutor, Charles' father (the lead on the case) isn't as sure and conscripts Charles to find out more. 

The ending is like no other in the Christie catalog and probably shocked a number of readers when it came out. An enjoyable read, this fairly short book could have been maybe even a little shorter but was still fun to get through. 

Four stars

This book came out in 1949

Borrowed as ebook from Liby

Opinions are my own