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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated French Quarter Fright Night in Books
Sep 4, 2024
Frightful Time with the New Neighbor
Ricki James-Diaz is leading the efforts of the Bon Vee staff to put on the best haunted house New Orleans has seen this Halloween. Those efforts are being hampered by their new next-door neighbor, who is constantly making complaints about them. Ricki is shocked when she learns who has bought the house – mega movie star Blaine Taggart, the best friend of her late husband. Ricki had hoped to never see Blaine again, but things get complicated when another dead body turns up on Bon Vee property. Can Ricki once again figure out what happened?
I’m so glad that a new publisher picked up this series. It was wonderful to visit Ricki and her friends again. I enjoyed getting to see some of the relationships grow in this book, even if Ricki’s relationship with the detective isn’t really realistic. I also enjoyed seeing Hollywood pop up here. The mystery itself is strong with some nice surprises before we reach the logical ending. It was fun to visit the city during Halloween. As always, I laughed several times while reading. We also get some recipes inspired by vintage cookbooks at the end of the book, including several appropriate for the season. Fans will be just as happy as I was that Ricki and her friends are back.
I’m so glad that a new publisher picked up this series. It was wonderful to visit Ricki and her friends again. I enjoyed getting to see some of the relationships grow in this book, even if Ricki’s relationship with the detective isn’t really realistic. I also enjoyed seeing Hollywood pop up here. The mystery itself is strong with some nice surprises before we reach the logical ending. It was fun to visit the city during Halloween. As always, I laughed several times while reading. We also get some recipes inspired by vintage cookbooks at the end of the book, including several appropriate for the season. Fans will be just as happy as I was that Ricki and her friends are back.
A Trace of Poison
7.0
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In England’s stately manor houses, murder is not generally a topic for polite conversation....
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated The Dark Wind in Books
Aug 14, 2025
Plane Crash Brings Mystery
Navajo police detective Jim Chee has recently transferred to a new area in the reservation, and his unfamiliarity with the area and people is making it hard to investigate cases. For example, there’s the John Doe body he can’t even identify. And he has no leads on the case of the windmill that is being sabotaged. While out staking it out overnight, Chee witnesses a plane crash. A plane that was flying low without lights. Chee figures those flying the plane were up to no good, and he is ordered to stay away from the Federal investigation. But it’s kind of hard when the Feds think he knows more about the crash. Can he figure out what happened without framing himself more?
While this is the fifth book in the series, and the second to feature Jim Chee, it reads like a standalone, with little from the previous book being brought up here. That isn’t to say that the characters are bad, it’s just a difference in storytelling from what we get today. I found the characters pulled me in. The mystery was strong with plenty to keep me guessing and a red herring that distracted me. Yet the ending was logical. As always, the landscape and culture came to life. I’m looking forward to more.
While this is the fifth book in the series, and the second to feature Jim Chee, it reads like a standalone, with little from the previous book being brought up here. That isn’t to say that the characters are bad, it’s just a difference in storytelling from what we get today. I found the characters pulled me in. The mystery was strong with plenty to keep me guessing and a red herring that distracted me. Yet the ending was logical. As always, the landscape and culture came to life. I’m looking forward to more.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Fallen Star in Books
Nov 26, 2025 (Updated Nov 26, 2025)
Body in a Barrel
LA County Sheriff Detective Eve Ronin and her partner are called to the scene of a body found in the Malibu Lagoon. Of course, it couldn’t be a body floating in the water. That would be too easy. In this case, the body was found floating in a fifty-five-gallon drum. What’s even more shocking is that Eve recognizing the victim. With his ties to some of the most powerful people in the county, can she find the killer without getting impacted by the politics of the case?
This book does contain some heavy spoilers for earlier stories in the series by necessity, but there is enough background you could jump in here. And what a wild ride it is. The plot spins in some unexpected directions, but I believed it all on the way to the logical climax. The characters are a little thin, but I do care about them. And I appreciate the depth we did get for Eve. The banter between the characters was fun, and the locker room humor was kept to a minimum. The violence was a little more than in the books I typically read. I’m ready for the next already, and fans of the series will be glad they picked this one up.
This book does contain some heavy spoilers for earlier stories in the series by necessity, but there is enough background you could jump in here. And what a wild ride it is. The plot spins in some unexpected directions, but I believed it all on the way to the logical climax. The characters are a little thin, but I do care about them. And I appreciate the depth we did get for Eve. The banter between the characters was fun, and the locker room humor was kept to a minimum. The violence was a little more than in the books I typically read. I’m ready for the next already, and fans of the series will be glad they picked this one up.
Black & White (Parker City Mysteries #4)
Book
Parker City, 1985 . . . A picturesque spring morning takes a disturbing turn when the frozen body...
Police Procedural Mystery Crime
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated A Scaly Tail of Murder in Books
Feb 15, 2024 (Updated Feb 15, 2024)
Iguana Solve a Murder?
Just as Frankie Chandler is trying to adjust to being engaged to Detective Martin Bowers, her ex, Jeff, comes to town. Rather surprising since she hasn’t seen him since she moved to Arizona from Wisconsin. He came to town following Charity, a woman he’s just met. The problem? Charity turns Jeff down, but she has his keys. So Frankie agrees to go to the spa where Charity works to retrieve them. When she arrives, she finds Charity dead with Charity’s pet iguana the only witness. Can Frankie figure out what is going on?
Yes, this is one of the rare paranormal series I read since Frankie has discovered she really can communicate with animals. Since the last couple of books have found Frankie out of town, I enjoyed seeing all the regular haunts this time around. The characters are also fun, although I did have some issues with how Frankie treated Jeff in this book. Likewise, a couple of times, Frankie seemed to know something we hadn’t seen her learn. But both are minor overall. The plot had plenty of viable suspects and some nice surprises before we reached the logical end. Meanwhile, the characters provided plenty of smiles and laughs. If you are looking for a light paranormal cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this book up.
Yes, this is one of the rare paranormal series I read since Frankie has discovered she really can communicate with animals. Since the last couple of books have found Frankie out of town, I enjoyed seeing all the regular haunts this time around. The characters are also fun, although I did have some issues with how Frankie treated Jeff in this book. Likewise, a couple of times, Frankie seemed to know something we hadn’t seen her learn. But both are minor overall. The plot had plenty of viable suspects and some nice surprises before we reached the logical end. Meanwhile, the characters provided plenty of smiles and laughs. If you are looking for a light paranormal cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this book up.
In Sunshine or in Shadow
10.0
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Retired Detective Molly Murphy Sullivan is back with In Sunshine or in Shadow, the next book in this...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Ashes Never Lie in Books
Nov 29, 2024 (Updated Nov 29, 2024)
Team Ups are Hot
When a new house burns down before the new owners can move in, the fire department is ready to chalk it up to faulty wiring. But arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker think something else is going on. Before they can fully investigate that case, they are pulled to another arson, but the evidence just points to a bigger mystery. Teaming up with homicide detective Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone, can the four figure out either case?
As a fan of Lee’s other books, I really enjoyed seeing Eve and Duncan pop up in this book. If you haven’t met them before, no need to worry, you’ll easily follow their characters here. Meanwhile, it was nice to get to know Sharpe and Walker more in their second case, this time told from Walker’s third person point of view. Something about the set up didn’t quite work for me, but once the book got rolling, I was hooked all the way to the over the top but still fun climax. We get a little bit of language and crude humor here, but it is kept to a minimum. On the other hand, there are lots of jokes and teasing that I did enjoy. Overall, this is another winner you’ll have a hard time putting down.
As a fan of Lee’s other books, I really enjoyed seeing Eve and Duncan pop up in this book. If you haven’t met them before, no need to worry, you’ll easily follow their characters here. Meanwhile, it was nice to get to know Sharpe and Walker more in their second case, this time told from Walker’s third person point of view. Something about the set up didn’t quite work for me, but once the book got rolling, I was hooked all the way to the over the top but still fun climax. We get a little bit of language and crude humor here, but it is kept to a minimum. On the other hand, there are lots of jokes and teasing that I did enjoy. Overall, this is another winner you’ll have a hard time putting down.
The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper
8.0
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It’s been years since Sandy Fairfax was a teen idol and starred in his hit ‘70s television...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated The Devil Comes Calling in Books
Nov 10, 2025
Matthias and Emma Hunt the Devil
Detective Matthias Honeywell is called to the scene of a double homicide. The victims were found in a home being renovated and were shot execution style. One of them was Emma Anderson’s predecessor as a crime beat photographer for ErieLIVE. While Honeywell conducts his investigation, Emma begins to wonder if a co-worker is involved. But with a complication from Honeywell’s past in town, will that distract him from the case?
While it’s been two years for us since the previous book, it’s only been a few weeks for the characters. I recommend you read the previous book because this one picks up a storyline from that book; I wish I’d had time to reread it myself. Also, keep in mind this is a police procedural, not one of the cozies I often read and you’ll be fine. As always, this book started strongly and kept getting better. I was hooked long before I reached the logical yet surprising climax. Honeywell gets some very nice backstory here, and Emma continues to be a strong second viewpoint characters. The switches between the two are always easy to follow. The suspects are strong, and I’m happy to see the supporting characters continue to grow. This book was worth the wait. Dive into this series today.
While it’s been two years for us since the previous book, it’s only been a few weeks for the characters. I recommend you read the previous book because this one picks up a storyline from that book; I wish I’d had time to reread it myself. Also, keep in mind this is a police procedural, not one of the cozies I often read and you’ll be fine. As always, this book started strongly and kept getting better. I was hooked long before I reached the logical yet surprising climax. Honeywell gets some very nice backstory here, and Emma continues to be a strong second viewpoint characters. The switches between the two are always easy to follow. The suspects are strong, and I’m happy to see the supporting characters continue to grow. This book was worth the wait. Dive into this series today.