May 2025 Monthly Reread

As always, opinions are my own

Devil May Care by Elizabeth Peters

Three and a half stars
This book came out in 1977

Borrowed as audiobook from Blackstone Audio

How To Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

It took me awhile to settle into this book. It depended quite a bit on knowing characters from the previous book in the series. I never quite remembered who everyone was. And, for as often as I pick up books with the alternating timeline premise, it's still not one of my favorites although this book utilized it better than many others.

More secrets are coming up from the past. Annie's aunt, even though she was paranoid and alone toward the end of her life, spent a lot of time investigating people in her small village and putting together files on them. And those files will come in handy when a roof collapses and evidence from a decades old mystery is uncovered. That evidence leads to deaths in the present, some from characters that have been in both books. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 29, 2025

Castle Knoll Files #2

Follows by How to Solve Your Own Murder

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie

Sarah's father has chronic fatigue and it's affecting the whole family. It's to the  point that the family is about to lose their house and she might have to move. But that would be terrible since she finally found a place where she belongs and two best friends who need her too. And it's her friends who suggest that they go out to the old abandoned funhouse. It's rumored that triplets hid treasure in the building a long time ago and that it is still there. The three of them are really good at escape rooms so they're certain they can find the treasure.

This is a fun romp that I would have adored as a kid. As an adult, it makes me very nervous that they decided to go out to a building that hadn't been open in many, many decades iwthout telling anyone where they went. There were some parts that defied even my ability to suspend disbelief but I overall enjoyed the story.

Four stars

This book came out April 2, 2024

The Delta Games #1

Followed by The House with No Keys

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Doggone Bones by Carolyn Haines

Sarah Booth is ready for a new case but is not expecting Tammy Odom to ask her to find a lost dog. This is not the last dognapping, either. Even Sweetie Pie and Chablis are taken for awhile. It will be up to Tinkie and Sarah Boothto get as many dogs back as soon as possible before they disappear for good.
An old foe is back again.

Three stars

Sarah Booth Delaney #28

This book came out May 27, 2025

Follows Blue Christmas Bones

ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Death on Deadline by Robert Goldsborough with L.J. Ganser (Narrator)

Goldsborough has done an amazing job capturing Stout's stories and cadence. This book is no different. In it, Lon Cohen relates to Archie that his newpaper might soon be under new leadership. The new owner is a right-wing magnate who is more concerned about sales than about the truth. 

The current owner inherited from her husband, but only a little over a third of the shares. Her stepson, stepdaughter, and nephew all own chunks as well as her lawyer and the current editor. While some of them are guaranteed to work with her, she's going to have to work on others. Either way, she's going to fight the takeover. At least, until she ends up dead of an apparent suicide. Wolfe doesn't believe it and is on the case. 

Four stars

Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Mysteries #2

This book came out in 1987

Follows Murder in E Minor

Followed by The Bloodied Ivy

Borrowed as audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Opinions are my own

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts

The book opens on the day that Sloan Cooper dies. She's a Natural Resources officer and happens in on a robbery in progress. We get a description of her time in the hospital and an overview of her recovery at her parents' home in Heron's Rest. They have some new neighbors on their lake. Nash Littlefield has left the big city and his big city life to become contractor. His younger brother has decided to move with him, defying the family that wanted them to grow up and be doctors and lawyers and such. The two end up in each other's spheres when their siblings fall into insta-love. Nash and Sloan are also attracted to each other but their siblings being in a relationship makes it complicated. Plus, Sloan just moved back and accepted a job that gets her a promotion. And, though it's not technically in her town, she's worried about a number of disappearances. Especially concerning is that all of the people who have gone have something in common with her.

This is a Roberts book that is more about a mystery and less on the romance though there is some good relationship and character development. The baddies were on the gross side and their personalities felt over-exaggerated but I still enjoyed the story overall. 

Four stars

This book comes out May 27, 2025

ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

My Father Always Finds Corpses by Lee Hollis

Jarrod Jarvis, former child star and murder solver, is now in his fifties. He's mourning the loss of his partner, Charlie, and his semi-estrangement from his daughter, Liv. Right now, he's focusing on directing a play and managing all of his actors, at least one of whom has an even bigger personality than he does.

Liv, meanwhile, is wrestling with a decision. He boyfriend, a documentary film student named Zel, wants his next film to be about her. About her reunting with her birth mother. She's not sure that she wants to go along with it, but Zel has already set the ball in motion. Through the process, Liv meets more of her family. Just when she's starting to wonder whether this was a good idea, Zel is murdered. 

It's only then that Liv learns that her father used to be a boy detective. And the two will team up to solve Zel's murder.

This was an interesting mix of genres and premises and I look forward to more from Hollis in this (hopefully) series. 

Four stars

This book comes out May 27, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday

Edward "Effie" Astley is an eligible young lord. All of London knows it. In fact, women are throwing themselves at him. He mostly spends his life writing and trying to avoid his father. At least he has his yearly Earl's Trip to look forward to. Except, he sort of forgot. Again. But his friends know him well and are prepared for this eventuality. 

One of the people that Effie has been corresponding with is Juliana Evans. She does not know that Effie is a man but she is about to uncover that truth.

I was really expecting this book to be more like the first, with a clear throughline with points of both heaviness and levity. This book took longer to get through as there seemed to be a lot more meandering and even plodding at points. I also didn't completely believe that the end would be an HEA because I'm not sure that their relationship grew in this book as much as Effie did as a person. 

Three stars

This book comes out May 27, 2025

Follows Earl's Trip

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Just F**king Say It by Susie Ashfield

stars

This book came out May 21, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Elliot & Thompson and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Murder in E Minor by Robert Goldsborough with L.J. Ganser (Narrator)

It's been several years since Archie and Nero were betrayed by one of their own. In that time, Nero has taken on no new cases. While Archie has adjusted to the new normal, he would prefer they were acting like the detectives they are. 

Even though most people know that Wolfe is no longer in the business, he still gets occassional calls, including one from a young woman who says that Wolfe knew her uncle in Montenegro. This turns out to be the truth and she comes to the apartment. It seems someone has been sending threatening letters to her uncle, who is the maestro of the New York Symphony Orchestra. And when the man ends up dead, Nero feels honor-bound to try and clear the name of the man who the police have arrested, the niece's boyfriend. 

Four stars

Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Mysteries #1

This book came out in 1986

Followed by Death on Deadline

Borrowed as audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Opinions are my own

Murder in Fulbridge Village by Jay Gill and narrator Sam Booth

Private detective Henry Fleming is visiting his friend Lily, a retired author. It seems that she is poised to go into business making jam with a well-known company. A friend of hers in the village is the one who put the deal together.  The friend is a beautiful widodw who ends up murdered after the village fair. 

When the police decide that his friend is the most likely suspect, Henry takes the case to see if he can't prove her innocence. 

Three stars

Henry Fleming Investigates, #1

This book came out December 22, 2022

Followed by The Mystery of Watermead Manor

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

The Beast of Littleton Woods by T. E. Kinsey

There have been some mysterious sightings in Littleton Cotterell. People are swearing they've seen a giant cat. Something like a tiger or a jaguar. People are skeptical until there's a death. Even then, Lady H and Flo are having trouble believing it to be true. But they are pulled into a murder that occurred right in their own back yard.

If you've read other books on the series, you'll enjoy this one as well.

Three and a half stars

Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #12

This book came out May 6, 2025

Follows An Assassination on the Agenda

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer

Opinions are my own

A Killer in the Wings by Benedict Brown

Chrissy is about to take on the first murder where his grandfather lets him take point. Well, really he's being pushed into the lead. While his grandfather has taken something of a backseat, he has already declared a killer, it's up to Christopher to figure out who.

The book opens on a murder mystery play. Except one of the players is actually murdered on stage. It just so happens that his understudy is Marmaduke, Christopher's former bully now friend. At least Christopher thinks they might be friends. But, there hasn't been a likely murder in a while so Lord Edgington loads up the car and sends them on thir way. Eventually, as usual, the entire manor ends up in London as his lordship can't seem to travel without them. 

There are a number of stars in this particular play, some of whom have known each other for a very long time, some who are newer on the scene. The actual mystery is a little thin but the descriptions of the locations, as always, are worth the read. 

Three and a half stars

Lord Edgington Investigates #11

This book came out September 22, 2023

Follows Blood on the Bannisters

Followed by The Christmas Bell Mystery

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts

This is a fast, fun, and fluffy read. Not a lot of depth. But enjoyable.

Seth Quinn is back from traveling the world and is ready to stay at home with his family. But when he returns, he notices a new flower shop in town. It's owned by Drusilla Banks Whitcomb and she is a D.C. transplant, there to start a new life after an embarrassing breakup. The two get together and fall in love but Seth had a return of issues from his past and it will take the whole family to help him solve them.

Three stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #4

This book came out November 4, 2002

Follows Inner Harbor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

No One Was Supposed to Die at this Wedding by Catherine Mack

Best-selling mystery writer Eleanor Dash has many reasons to celebrate. She's back together with the man she loves, the first movie based on her book has just wrapped, and her best friend, the star of the film, is about to get married. In fact, Emma's marrying the male lead of the film, internationally known Fred Winters. Their wedding is supposed to happen on an island after the last days of filming. Too bad someone is trying to kill Emma. And, of course, there are no shortage of suspects.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. Some recurring characters felt shoehorned in (I'm side-eyeing you, Connor) and some of the plot points were a little shakey but the story was a good one and fairly clued. 

Four stars

This book comes out May 13, 2025

The Vacation Mysteries #2

Follows Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies

Followed by This Weekend Isn't Going to End Well for Anyone

ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and Edelweiss

Opinions are my own

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts

Phillip Quinn is the "professional" brother. He's a marketing exec while his brothers are a lobsterman and an ex-racer. He's the one who lives in the city but is still coming down to not only help build their boating business but to care for the latest of the adopted Quinns, ten-year-old Seth. He's also the one dealing with the insurance after there was some doubt about whether their father had an accident or if he committed suicide after paying Seth's mother for him. There are rumors about whether their professor father had an inappropriate relationship with a student that resulted in Seth being born.

Sybill has heard those rumors, but she knows the truth because Seth's mother is her sister. She's in town, supposedly to study small town communities. In truth, she's following up on the boy who stole her heart six years ago when he and his mother stayed with her for a short period of time. She just wants to make sure he's being treated well by the Quinns and to help if needed. It's just to bad that she has this pesky attraction to Phillip and that's going to make things messy if he finds out exactly why she's in town. 

Three stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #3

This book came out December 1,1998

Follows Rising Tides

Followed by Chesapeake Blue

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

Danika Dizon would like to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a private investigator.  Her mother would like her to go to college. To make money, Danika is telling fortunes with her tarot cards. She need $900 to fix up her car. 

One day she's confronted by Alex. It seems that Danika gave her sister a fortune and then she disappeared.  Their parents are not concerned but Alex is. Working on her very first case gives Danika a thrill but it may also lead her into some big trouble.
I love Manansala and this book is very indicative of her work, gripping with great character development. 

Four stars

This book comes out May 13, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Random House Children's and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Rising Tides by Nora Roberts

Of the four boys taken in by Ray Quinn, Ethan was the one who became a lobsterman, staying close to the shore. His whole life has been about loving Grace Monroe from afar. Even after Grace got pregnant, got married, and quickly divorced, Ethan loves her and loves her daughter just as much. But he knows that, because of his past, he's no good for her. They can never be married. But Grace doesn't understand that. 

She's worked hard. First to try and realize her dream of becoming a dancer in New York and then raising her daughter. Now she's working hard to make sure that Ethan knows not only he loves her but that they can be together, forever.

The ending on this one was a bit abrupt. First Ethan was all "I can't, oh woes, I can't" and suddenly it was all "Yay! I can totally do this." And I never quite got why they were together. Other than a childhood love. And, I guess, with Grace being twenty-two she was still young-ish but still should be past puppy love and I didn't see that they were past that.

Three stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #2

This book came out August 1,1998

Follows Sea Swept

Followed by Inner Harbor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau

Noelle works for an engineering company. She's often staying late, covering for her coworker. On this particular day, she's working late (not unusual) but, tonight she decides to go to the night market. There's a booth with a handmade sign advertising dumplings for $5. Noelle decides to take a chance. And that stand is the only thing missing when Noelle wakes up and it's Friday again.
Cam is a brewery owner who is, throughout this book, going through time normally. He and Noelle meet several times in her loop and it feels like he's just starting to know her when the loop abruptly stops.
The time loop in this book is different from other time loops and I quite enjoyed it although I was frustrated. I did enjoy that Noelle had a friend in the time loop, but for me, Avery felt more like a prop to help the story along than a developed character. That may have been a function of us seeing the book through Noelle's eyes. Overall, I did enjoy the book.

Three and a half stars

This book came out May 6, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

The Most Magnificent Team by Ashley Spires

The girl and her dog are going out to make a new thing. Only there's somebody already there. In her place. What is she to do? Except make a friend. But the two have very different working styles. Will they be able to work through them?
I normally enjoy Spires books and this one was... fine. While the conflict was well-defined, the resolution was a little mushier.  

Three and a half stars

This book comes out May 6, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Kids Can Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Narwhal's Sweet Tooth by Ben Clanton

From previous books in the series (and this one as well), we know that Narwhal loves sweet things. Waffles are definitely his favorites but ice cream, lollipops, and doughnuts are on his list as well. And that's an issue because his narwhal's horn has just cracked. It hasn't fallen off completely but it sure does hurt. So Jelly and Narwhal go on a quest to see if they can find someone who can help. As usual, an adorable story but too short. 

Four stars
This book comes out May 6, 2025

Narwhal & Jelly #9
Follows A Super Scary Narwhalloween

ARC kindly provided by Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sea Swept by Nora Roberts

Cameron Quinn is living the good life. Races, women, the fast life. What more could you want? But then he finds out that his father is in bad shape. Ever since Ray and Stella Quinn adopted Cameron when he was twelve, his life has been good. He owes everything to Ray. So he immediately goes back to the States. It seems Ray crashed into a telephone pole while rescuing another child. It is up to Cam and his two brothers (and sequel bait) to make sure that the child Ray was working to save, Seth, stays safe.

Anna Spinelli is the social worker assigned to Seth's case. She's skeptical at first that Cam and his brothers can care for a ten-year-old boy but is really attracted to Cam so she's willing to hang back and let them try. Or something like that. But that's what it seems like. 

Eventually, she and Cam do hook up and fall in love.

Three and a half stars

Chesapeake Bay Saga #1

This book came out in 1998

Followed by Rising Tides

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Goldsmith's Conspiracy by C.J. Archer

India's place in the world is being confirmed including her work with the government trying to bring magicians and the artless together. It's too bad that two of her biggest enemies have teamed up to try and bring her down. Most especially by trying to make sure that no peace is brokered. And the latest plot has one of their very good friends in the crosshairs, almost ready to be hanged.
I wish there had been more character development over the whole series. Basically people were set in the first couple of books and never really progressed. But the world building kept me engaged far enough into the series that I decided to finish the whole thing.

Three stars

This book came out March 1, 2022

Glass and Steele #13

Follows The Spy Master's Scheme

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

The Journal of a Thousand Years by C.J. Archer The Journal of a Thousand Years by C.J. Archer

This book wraps up the Glass Library series. It's fast, but all of the plotlines are wrapped up. And it certainly starts off quickly with two different kidnappings, one being the deep betrayal of a friend. There's also a few deaths (only one on page). 

Sylvia gets some more time with her father. He is not impressed by having a daughter at first, but softens enough to not only give her a family heirloom, but to teach her how to use paper as a weapon. He shows her how to do it without even having to speak the spell out loud (the fact that she can do it shows just how powerful she is.)

With all of that happening, the end did feel like there was a lot going on in the last 16-20 minutes of listening but it was all happy, happy, joy, joy.

Three and a half stars

Glass Library #6

This book came out March 4, 2025

Follows Secrets of the Lost Ledgers

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Cherry Bombe by Kerry Diamond, Claudia Wu

My mom got me this book even before it made it on to Oprah's Favorite Things list in 2018. It's an okay book of beautiful pictures filled with recipes that look like anyone could cook them. I haven't tried any of the recipes yet but I've marked a couple for the future.

Three stars

This book came out October 10, 2017

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own