The Supper Club Murders by Victoria Dowd

The murder crew is back at it again. All five have been invited to a safari dinner (I know it as a progressive dinner) from a former bookclub member who is now the wife of a baron. Some people look down on Lord Black because he bought his title but it is a title nonetheless. And the safari supper will take place in the village, Greystone, surrounding their castle, Black Towers. It's a new place with some familiar characters though relationships have shifted dramatically - there is not nearly as much fighting between Ursula and her mother.

There are also new faces with some familiar names -- Scarlett Bradshaw, Joseph Greengage (a plum), Mrs. White, Reverend Vert (green), etc. And, while it is one of them that will die, one of their own will as well.

I really sort of slogged through the first book in this series (and I would still recommend reading it and the second books because they set up so much back story) but liked this one a lot. The characters are growing, infinitesimally but growing. The murder and solution aren't any less bananapants but even the new characters have depth that makes them interesting to read about.

Four stars

This book came out September 16, 2021

Follows Body on the Island

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

December Rereads

As always, opinions are my own

Once a Soldier by Mary Jo Putney

Rogues Redeemed #1

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 28th, 2016

Followed by Once a Rebel

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

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

Hard copy I didn't keep

Passing Strange by Catherine Aird

It's a flower show that gets Inspector Sloan pulled down to Almstone. It seems that someone has been strangled. It is, in fact, the local and much beloved nurse, Joyce Cooper. She was running the fortune teller's tent but was discovered behind it.

This year has been very unusual for the show anyway because the tomato plants weren't judged at all correctly. And it is that point that, while Sloan does end up solving the murders, brings home the proof.

A nice addition to the series. I don't think you have to have read any of the books before it to really appreciate the story. Short and readable.

Three and a half stars

This book came November 1, 1980

Follows Some Die Eloquent

Followed by Last Respects

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Body on the Island by Victoria Dowd

I didn't particularly like the first book in this series but I had already borrowed the second and third from Kindle Unlimited and the premise for the third had looked interesting on NetGalley so I went ahead and started the second book. I still wasn't impressed but read the last chapter (sorry to the people that hate this but it's what caused me to not DNF this book.) Like the first book (which I don't think you have to have read but I would highly recommend it even though I didn't enjoy it) this is told from the perspective of the narrator who has fictionalized names in order to keep people protected. This time, our narrator Ursula Smart has signed up herself, and her aunt and mother for a survival course. Of course, her mother's friend Mirabelle ends up coming along as does Bridget who no one had talked to since the events of the last book but who reads about it on a group chat.

There is still a lot of quibbling and fighting among the group but we actually learn some things in this book that were only danced around and alluded to in the last book. Other characters are annoyed by the fighting and it actually causes them to get onto the wrong boat in the morning. But no one realizes it until they are already out at sea with a storm raging around them. And then the boat goes under and Ursula witnesses a murder. There are two others who don't make it to the nearby island alive and everyone else are left with no food and very little shelter. But then the body count starts piling up...

Three and a half stars

This book came out February 23, 2021

Follows The Smart Woman's Guide to Murder

Followed by The Supper Club Murders

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Death Sends for the Doctor by George Bellairs

A letter comes to the newly promoted Superintendent Littlejohn, addressed to his now title. From the little town of Abbot's Caldicott, the letter asserts that a murder was committed there. When Littlejohn calls down to the the local Sergeant, a man named Plumtree, Littlejohn isn't impressed. Apparently, the only person who is out of town is the local doctor, Beharrell. And then it's discovered that the man is actually still in his house, in a hidden room, dead. 

Littlejohn comes down to investigate and discovers a web of gossip and deceit that has been going on for decades and it all seems to center around the doctor's wife who disappeared suddenly one night with her supposed lover.

A good book and fairly clued, it did take a bit to wade through.

Four stars

This book came out in 1957

Follows Death in High Provence

Followed by Corpse at the Carnival

Ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Head Over Hooves by Erin Nicholas

Drew Ryan is the quintessential "good guy;" he even gives off vibes. That's why he's come down to Louisiana. The Landrys are a family that rush in to do good things so all he has to do is deliver some reindeer for their petting zoo and then spend the rest of the week doing wicked things with some good-time girl. But the first woman he meets is Rory Robins. She is trying to put down roots in Autre and is trying to prove herself by putting together Santa's village by herself. But it's not going so well. 

Rory just wants to find a home. But her no-good father is in town and, conman that he is, is probably going to ruin her life once again. And he certainly tries by stealing the load of toys meant for the children of Autre. 

There is quite the short timeline from meeting to Twu Lurv but at least we have one, ONE story in my recent streak where the guy is willing to move. I didn't feel like we got to know Drew more than his surface and Rory even less than that but it was a sweet holiday story.

Three stars

This book came out November 16, 2021

Follows Sealed with a Kiss

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Witch Trial by Cate Conte

Violet Mooney is still trying to figure out her new life. Her mother (and a half-sister!) are newly back in her life as is the knowledge that she is a hereditary witch. Part of that discovery is that Violet is taking over her grandmother's chair on the Magickal council. 

Since Violet is so new, her mother wants her to have an advisor. Enter Blake Alexander, new legal council for the Council. Also a major hottie. He wants to lead Violet through the ways and means of her new community but she isn't sure why she needs someone to do something she can figure out on her own. And is he really trustworthy with his family background?

The story of a reporter genied in the first book continues in this one. This book also ends rather abruptly. An interesting series but there is so much going on it is hard to keep track of everyone and everything. We learn a little bit more about the magical world this series is set in and a little bit more about the people but it is a slow drip. I have a feeling this series would be better if you could read the books all at once. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out December 28th, 2021

Follows Witch Hunt

Followed by Witch Way Out

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own