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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2398 KP) rated Murder Gets a Makeover in Books

Oct 15, 2021 (Updated Oct 15, 2021)  
Murder Gets a Makeover
Murder Gets a Makeover
Laura Levine | 2021 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who Gave Bebe a Makeover as a Corpse?
Thanks to her neighbor, Jaine Austen is getting a free makeover. Unfortunately, it is with Bebe Braddock, who turns out to be a nasty woman. When Jaine goes to a fitting, she finds Bebe’s dead body. The police start looking at Jaine as their top suspect, so she tries to find the real killer. Meanwhile, Jaine’s cat, Prozac, becomes a viral star after saving a toddler’s life and her father thinks he finally has the goods on his nemesis in the retirement community.

Between the strong sub-plots and the solid mystery, this book is always hopping. Author Laura Levine does a great job of juggling everything and keeping us entertained the entire time. The book is filled with laughs, mainly coming from the sub-plots. The characters are more caricatures, but they fit the tone of the series perfectly and do their job of entertaining us. I did feel this book wasn’t quite as good as most of the series, but it’s mostly minor nitpicks. Overall, I enjoyed Jaine’s latest adventure and am sure that her fans will laugh as the pages fly by.
  
Sharpe's Assassin
Sharpe's Assassin
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's been 15 years or so since Bernard Cornwell last returned to perhaps his most famous creation Richard Sharpe, in Sharpe's Fury.

In chronological order, that was then, novel # 11 of 23 (including short stories in that count).

While Cornwell continued on with his 'Saxon Stories / Last Kingdom' series starring Uhtred of Bebbanburg (read those. Enjoyed those), I've always held a soft spot for the soldier-up-from-the-ranks of Richard Sharpe, so I was quite happy to hear that he would be returning to that character.

This is that return, chronologically novel # 23 of 24, taking place almost immediately after the Battle of Waterloo (worth reading Sharpe's Waterloo again - you don't need to, but it gives context). There's no historical battle (for the setting) this time around; instead we have Sharpe getting caught up in/foil an a plot to assassinate the Duke of Wellington - who, here, seems to have mellowed somewhat towards Sharpe - and the returning King Louis XVIII, with a large portion of the novel set in and around the environs of Paris (in particular The Louvre).

Good to have Sharpe and Harper back together!
  
A Dangerous Breed
A Dangerous Breed
Glen Erik Hamilton | 2020 | Thriller
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Learning About the Past – Danger in the Present
A trip with his friend Hollis to get medical help for an injured man puts reformed thief and former Army Ranger Van Shaw in the sights of a dangerous man. Suddenly, Van is being extorted to break into a biotech firm and steal an unspecified item. Meanwhile, Van might be on the trail of his father for the first time in his life. If he finds him, does he want to know this man after all?

Normally, I enjoy these books and all the twists and turns they give us. This one left me unsatisfied. While the stories do reach logical and suspenseful conclusions, I can’t help feeling there should have been more. Neither story was developed enough for a full novel, but took time away from each other. Of course, the characters, new and returning, were excellent as always. While I was expecting more language and violence than the books I normally read, there was one particularly distasteful scene. This book is disappointing since I usually enjoy the series. This one is for fans only.