Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Tales
Robert Louis Stevenson and Roger Luckhurst
7.9
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'Instantly the spirit of hell awoke in me and raged...I was suddenly struck through the heart by a...
Every Three Hours
10.0
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The new pulse-pounding latest instalment in the outstanding Darby McCormick series. 'One of the best...
Beast (Six Stories, #4)
10.0
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A frozen girl A haunted town A deadly challenge Six Stories Which one is true? In the wake of...
Before He Kills
6.0
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In the cornfields of Nebraska, a woman is found murdered, strung up on a pole, the victim of a...
Marked for Life
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When a high-ranking head of the migration board is found shot to death in his living room, there is...
Adjoining Rooms
6.0
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Knox Townsend can hardly believe it when he walks into Playgroundz Café Store #57 to find his old...
Contemporary MM Romance Novella
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2484 KP) rated The Plot and the Pendulum in Books
Oct 12, 2022
This book is perfect for its October release day. It’s got a spooky edge to it, but fans of the series don’t need to worry, we still have plenty of laughs and fun with the characters we know. I appreciate how the large cast is balanced with some of them given more page time, but everyone making an appearance. The pacing of the plot was a bit uneven, with a bit too much set up leading to an abrupt climax. Still, along the way, we get some fun surprises and suspects. As always, we get some good extras for a book club meeting like Lindsey hosts at the library. If you are looking for a slightly spooky book filled with fun, be sure to pick this one up.
Murder on Mistletoe Lane
9.0
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American heiress Stella Kendrick and her husband, British aristocrat Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst,...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Remain Silent in Books
Jun 11, 2020
I love Manon and this was yet another well-written mystery from Steiner. The introduction to this book features one of the most amazing, realistic, and yes, depressing, ruminations on marriage, life, and death that I may have ever read. In fact, Steiner so perfectly captures real life, especially juggling being a working mom. I love that she doesn't shy away from how hard Manon finds parenting, or gloss over the difficulties of marriage. Once or twice I might have found these tirades a bit tiresome (back to the case, I say!), but overall, it's refreshing to find a book that tells it like it is.
Speaking of, this is such a timely read, focusing on immigration, racism, and the overall hatred of "otherness" that seems to permeate the world right now. The central plot focuses on the infusion of immigrants, particularly Eastern Europeans, into England. The story told is a heartbreaking one of anger and loss. Steiner deftly weaves a tale from multiple points of view and time periods--we hear not only from Manon and Davy, but Lukas' friend Matis, who spearheads the pair's immigration from Lithuania, only for them to find themselves basically prisoners. They are indebted to the man who brought them over, trapped in a smelly workhouse, and forced to do menial labor to pay off their "debt." With Lukas dead, the story leading up to his death unfolds, and it's absolutely riveting and heartbreaking. Steiner handles the sensitive issues surrounding immigration and racism wonderfully, crafting a well-done mystery that still gives this topic its due.
"'Why do they hate us so much?'"
Overall, I cannot recommend this book (4.5 stars) or this series enough. I have followed Steiner on social media for years and was devastated to learn she was diagnosed with a brain tumor after submitting this book. My heart goes out to her and her recovery.