A Birder's Guide to Murder by J.R. Ripley

When a vendor drops out of the American Birding Expo in Philadelphia, the organizer, Phoebe, asks Amy to step in. She doesn't think it's a good idea but it might be that she can spend some alone time with her boyfriend. Even if there are three other people going with them. Including a strangely reluctant Esther.
It starts off bad with their reserved rooms not being available and Amy insulting the VIP, but then it gets worse when said VIP is found dead by none other than Esther who immediately becomes a suspect in his murder.
I had only read one other book in this series and wasn't fully invested in Esther. With this book focusing so much on her, it made it a little less enjoyable for me.

Three stars
This book came out November 13
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley; Opinion is my own

Fowl of the House of Usher by J.R. Ripley

Amy Simms' ex is in town. Along with the young and gorgeous psychologist he dumped Amy for. The young and gorgeous psychologist who has invited Amy (and her beau) to a dinner party. A dinner party at the Usher House, known in local parts for its... rather eerie atmosphere. Amy's boyfriend can't come and neither can her best friend Kim's. So it's the two of them, headed up the mountain at the start of a snow storm for the most awkward dinner party. Besides the ex and the redhead, there are two couples that Craig is trying to woo into a business proposal and then the caretaker couple that is at the house. The snow builds up, everyone is trapped in the house, and then there's a murder. And another. It's up to Amy to try to figure it out. As long as she's not next on the list.
I didn't love the resolution of the book, it was a little outside what was fairly clued and didn't make much sense. But as locked room mysteries go,  it wasn't bad and I'll keep an eye out for the next in the series.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 15
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley