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