Murder on Pleasant Avenue
9.0
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When midwife Sarah and detective Frank Malloy’s friend and new partner Gino Donatelli is accused...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated Mistletoe and Murder in Books
Oct 18, 2023
I find missing person mysteries to be that much more compelling, so I was hooked on this one quickly. I did figure a couple of things out early, but there were still plenty of surprised on the way to the climax. Meanwhile, I loved spending time with the characters old and new. We get some good updates on ongoing storylines, and the ending sets up the next full length book. I am a bit surprised that the wedding came in an ebook only novella, and there isn’t a lot of time for Christmas trappings, but both of these are minor issues. Fans will be happy to get a chance to visit the characters again. While this might not be the best place to start if you are new to the series, I definitely recommend you start the series soon.
The Fragrance of Death
9.0
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Restaurateur Sally Solari has a nose for trouble, but when her sense of smell goes missing, it's not...
Murder at a London Finishing School
10.0
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Long before American adventuress Beryl Helliwell and prim and proper Brit Edwina Davenport teamed up...
The Family on Smith Street
7.0
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A happy family. A picture-perfect street. A secret someone would kill for. My husband James and I...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Annihilation (The Spread #6) in Books
Jul 31, 2022
Book 6 continues to follow Aaron and his friends fighting against an alien invader to prevent the destruction of the earth however, aliens are not the only dangers they encounter so be warned! Not everyone or everything is as it seems and, as is usual with Mr Wright's work, no one is safe.
I have become totally and utterly invested in the characters in this series; I have seen them grow and develop, at their best and their worst and I am sad to come to the end but what a perfect ending it is.
This is a gripping series and one I would highly recommend you read from the start. I suppose you could just drop in with this book but why on earth would you?!?! You would be missing out on so, so much.
Once again, my thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with an advance copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
ClareR (5784 KP) rated Nightcrawling in Books
Aug 27, 2022 (Updated Aug 27, 2022)
Kiara, 17 years old, gets drawn in to prostitution and is picked up by a group of corrupt cops who like to ‘invite’ young sex workers to their parties. And a lot of these girls are too young. Kiara included.
It really angered me that people who were supposed to take care of and protect people, young black girls included, should take advantage and blackmail them.
Kiara and her neighbours son Trevor, live in poverty. Kiara has stopped going to school, so has no qualifications and no one will employ her. Trevor’s mother goes missing for days at a time, and Kiara sees children's services as a last resort, wholly unacceptable. So to feed them and to pay the rent, she walks the streets, sells sex, and does what the cops want her to do. These men made me feel quite murderous, actually.
Nightcrawling made me feel emotionally exhausted, but I had to read every page. It’s a story that drags you in, grabs your attention, and doesn’t let go until the last page. The fact that it’s based on a true story makes it even more saddening.
If you’re up for a challenge, I’d recommend this. It deserves its place on the Booker Prize long list.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole.
Merissa (12363 KP) rated The Water King's Bride (The Descendants #2) in Books
Oct 12, 2022
Heidi and Isaiah have stopped their constant bickering from book one as they both realise they have feelings for the other. That has to take a backseat though, as Heidi is desperate to find her father and missing people. We meet a multitude of new characters and reunite with some old ones, although whether that's a good thing remains to be seen.
As with book one, this is just as fast-paced and it is full of action. Whilst it fits with the story, I would like to see more about the characters, their backgrounds, the world they live in. Sometimes, it feels as though it's a spin-off from another series, one that explains about TimeKeepers, etc.
Saying that, this was a brilliant addition to the series that kept my attention and had me turning the pages. A fantastic story and I can't wait to see what happens next.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
A Novel Disguise
9.0
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When Miss Tiffany Woodall assumes the identity of her half-brother after his death, she realizes she...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated A Stolen Child in Books
Jun 21, 2023
Maggie has been on quite a journey in this series, and it’s nice to see this natural step in her career. The plot starts strongly. While it does get a little uneven in the middle, things pick up when we get to several logical twists at the climax. I liked how Maggie’s knowledge of the neighborhood where the crime took place played an important part of the plot. The suspects come to life, and it is nice to see Maggie’s relationships grown, both personally and professionally. As a police procedural, this is a bit darker than the cozies I typically read, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. If you are looking for a solid police procedural set in Ireland, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.