Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews

Caerphilly College has no heat anywhere on campus which means that all of the students have been outsourced and Meg and her professor husband's house is a likely spot since it is large and rambling. That includes one student whose final thesis project is interpreting a Spanish play into English and then performing it. The 80-something playwright is discovered to be alive and has even flown over for the event. However, the head of the English Department (which oversees the drama students as well) has shown up with her minion from the President's Office saying that the thesis is unacceptable. Since this isn't the first time she has proved herself to be thoroughly unlikable, it's no surprise that she ends up dead. In fact, the bigger surprise is exactly how many people actually tried to kill her. 

There was a lot going on in this one but I think it is the basis for at least one of the twin's names.

Three stars

This book came out July 6th, 2010

Meg Langslow #12

Follows Swan for the Money

Followed The Real Macaw

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Reread November 2024 as Audible audiobook

The Ravishing of Lol Stein by Marguerite Duras

I had had this book on my shelf for a long time and I can't remember why. Perhaps I'll look back through my lists and see when I added this book to my TBR shelf. It might have worked for me when I was younger but it was very abstract, switching from third person omniscient to first person. Very hard to follow. 

And that could be what makes it interesting; it is not true stream of consciousness but it does unfold rather like a series of memories. The story is told from the eventual lover of Lol Stein and starts with the memories of his former lover, Lol's friend. And I think that is what makes it good "literature", it's a new theme even it makes for harder reading.

Three stars

This book came out in 1964

Hard copy of a book I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

Not my favorite Agatha Christie for sure but an okay read nonetheless.  Part of my yuck includes casual racism and romanticizing of physical violence. 

Short synopsis: Girl, who recently lost her father, sets out to find adventure. When she witnesses an accidental death on a train platform, it sets off a train of excitement which leads to South Africa as well as several attempts on her life. Colonel Race is actually a minor character but the events in this book do lead him in to his life of fighting crime.

Three stars

This book came out May 1923

Follows The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Followed by Poirot Investigates

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

No Stone Unturned by James W. Ziskin

Hot on the heels of the last book, hotshot reporter Eleanor "Ellie" Stone has been asked to come and photograph a crime scene. It is the lovely, beloved daughter of the local judge. She is able to scoop the competition but she is also asked by the judge, personally, to figure out what happened to his daughter.

There are many twists and turns in the case; Jordan might have been a beloved daughter but that didn't mean that she didn't have her own secrets. Then her best friend is murdered as well. Ellie might have the closest shave of her life in trying to figure out what is going on in this story.
These books are getting a little too grim for me so I may stop reading but I think that there are some readers who will appreciate the story.

Three stars

Follows Styx & Stone

Followed by No Stone Unturned

This book came out October 15th, 2013

Hard copy of mine

Opinions are my own

June 2021 Rereads

 As always, opinions are my own

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

Four stars
This book came out December 4th, 2018
Borrowed as ebook from Libby

All the Colors of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz

Four stars

This book came out January 7th, 2021

Follows The Vanishing
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 7th, 2014

Gone Gull by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #21

This book came out August 1, 2017
Follows Die Like an Eagle
Followed by How the Finch Stole Christmas

How the Finch Stole Christmas! by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #22

Three stars

This book came out October 24, 2017

Follows Gone Gull

Followed by Toucan Keep a Secret

Terns of Endearment by Donna Andrews

Meg Langslow #25

Three and a half stars

Follows Lark! The Herald Angels Sing

Followed by Owl Be Home for Christmas
This book comes out August 6th

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Three stars (bumped to three and a half on re-read)
This book came out September 4, 2018

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

How Y'all Doing? by Leslie Jordan

Leslie Jordan has been a favorite of mine since Ski Patrol and I loved discovering his true personality as he blew up on Instagram. This is a rather short book (~4 hours) but is a joy to hear Leslie read his own stories starting with the show he was on "The Cool Kids" which is where he really learned what Instagram was.

He gives his stories including the time Debbie Reynolds called his mother which almost made me cry, information on his seasons on American Horror Story, meeting Dolly Parton, and more. One of the amazing things is that he worked breaking horses for a number of years before becoming an actor.

Definitely consume this as an audiobook. Hearing it in Jordan's voice is the reason I would give this four and a half stars.

Four and a half stars

This book came out 

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna

I am really enjoying this series in general. Each book takes its time without rushing anything. We don't get to see a LOT of Stella and Lyndy's relationship developing and the backstory on the mystery for this one was a little underdeveloped but it is just a light, cozy mystery that is perfect for beach reading. 

Stella and Lyndy are finally heading toward marriage, the random murders and her father's meddling notwithstanding. The invitations have been sent, the wedding is announced in all the papers, and everyone is starting to come over - even some uninvited guests. 

In the invited category is a family that Stella's father invited because they are influential in Kentucky. Stella was always set up to be the daughter's best friend but the girl didn't treat her very well and that continues to this day with backhanded compliments and little digs that no one else seems to notice. 

For the uninvited guest, there is one rather sinister young man with a pistol and murder on his mind but also Stella's father's brother and his children. It is looking like it will be an interesting gathering but Stella and Lyndy are just ready for one thing, to finally be married. Except that it looks like a murder is going to change their plans...

Four stars
This book comes out  June 29th, 2021
Follows Murder at Blackwater Bend

Followed by Murder at the Majestic Hotel

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