Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna

 

Three stars

This book came out November 25, 2025

A Stella and Lyndy Mystery #7

Follows Murder on Glenloch Hill

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Entitled by Andrew Lownie

An interesting look at the relationship of Prince Andrew and Fergie. There was a lot of information but it felt somewhat surface level (which it probably will be unless you get to interview the people themselves.) I think part of my fatigue in listening is that thewriting followed a specific, rather repetitive pattern that I don't think I would have minded if I had read the book as  a hard copy. It was interesting how much there was about Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein. 

Three stars

This book came out January 1, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup

This was an interesting premise and I think Bearup did a fine job at having a story within a story but having so many characters started to weigh down the actual progress of any of them DOING anything.

Caroline Lindley just wants to finish her book. If only her characters would do what they are supposed to. But her characters don't really understand their motivations and they tell her so. Especially Lady Rosamund Hawkhurst. 

As the widow of a prominent nobleman killed in war, Rosamund us used to holding her family together. A new threat has come to the kingdom and she is required to go back to her home country to try and broker peace. She's to travel with one knight who most definitely is not going to be a love interest. No matter what Caroline tries.

Three stars

This book came out February 5, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, Anthea Bell (Translator)

A story told from the third person omniscient point of view of a flock of sheep whose shepherd has died. They adored their shepherd. He read to them every night, gave them good grass, and took them out into the fields. But now he's dead. And it is, apparently, murder. The sheep don't trust the humans to be able to solve the case so they start working on it themselves. 

It is interesting to see both how perceptive the sheep are and how they so very badly read into the human situations. 

Three stars
Sheep Detective Story #1

Followed by Big Bad Wool

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Phineas and Ferb's A-MAZE-ing Creature Double Feature by The Disney Comics Group; Scott Peterson; Joshua Pruett

Whoever writes the comics has a fine understanding and love of the show. This time, there are two stories. One where Doof isn’t the villain (surprise). Instead, it is a group of scientists who dump a space chemical into the river and it starts making giant spiders and frogs and platypi. Does it make any sense? Does it ever? Is it fun? Yes.

The second story has the boys and their friends building a maze that ends up being giant when shot by Doofenschmertz’s latest invention, the elong-inator-anator. He also ends up with a big head and Perry has a large tail which makes for some interesting story lines.

Three and a half star

This book comes out November 25, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Papercutz and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume

Sheila Tubman was a side character in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Now, she's front and center. She has a little bit of a lying problem along with a fear of swimming and dogs. Her family is getting out of the city for the summer and watching another family's house. And dog...

She's going to make some new friends this summer, including Mouse who isn't going to put up with Sheila's lies, but is surprisingly good at not calling her out on it. 

Four stars

Fudge #2

This book came out in 1972

Follows Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Followed by Superfudge

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole, Lorna Bennett (Narrator)

Rosemary hasn't seen her grandmother in a long time. That's what makes it so surprising that she's been left her grandmother's whole estate. She's careful not to get her hopes up though anything will help. Her daughter's father has left them in a mountain of debt and Rosemary is drowning. 

Going to the small town to see what her inheritance is, Rosemary is also trying not to get her hopes up. She hasn't spoken to her grandmother in years and the house probably isn't much anyway. Once she's in town, however, she becomes a suspect in her grandmother's murder and isn't allowed to leave. 

The shocks don't stop coming when Rosemary discovers the other family legacy and has to figure out how to save them all.

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 25, 2023

Myrtlewood Mysteries #1

Followed by Experimental Magic

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own