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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Claws for Suspicion in Books
May 4, 2022
Kari’s Life is Upended Before Murder
The shelter that Kari Stuart bought when she won the lottery is finally in great shape. However, all that is threatened when Kari’s ex-husband shows up in town. Charlie Smith arrives baring the news that there was a mistake with their divorce, and they are technically still married. As a result, he is entitled to half Kari’s winnings. Or, he will settle for the land the pet shelter is on. Kari has no interest in giving Charlie anything, so she starts trying to figure out how to get him to go away. Then he dies, and his death looks like murder. The police view Kari as their prime suspect since she is the only one in town with a motive. Can Kari convince them that someone else killed Charlie?
While the ex coming back to town isn’t a new plot element in a cozy mystery, Charlie’s motives and the complications are definitely fresh here. I did feel the plot stalled a bit before Charlie actually died, although it was setting up motives and suspects before it happened. Once it did, Kari followed a logical set of clues to the climax. I always appreciate how well things are laid out when I reach the end of the books in this series. I love Kari’s circle of friends, and it was wonderful to spend time with them again. The suspects fit wonderfully into the world. Naturally, there’s plenty of animal cuteness here as well. Fans of the series will be happy with this book, and if you haven’t started it yet, you’ll be happy you picked up one of the books.
While the ex coming back to town isn’t a new plot element in a cozy mystery, Charlie’s motives and the complications are definitely fresh here. I did feel the plot stalled a bit before Charlie actually died, although it was setting up motives and suspects before it happened. Once it did, Kari followed a logical set of clues to the climax. I always appreciate how well things are laid out when I reach the end of the books in this series. I love Kari’s circle of friends, and it was wonderful to spend time with them again. The suspects fit wonderfully into the world. Naturally, there’s plenty of animal cuteness here as well. Fans of the series will be happy with this book, and if you haven’t started it yet, you’ll be happy you picked up one of the books.
Corpse Thief (Joshua Hawke #1)
7.0
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PART ONE of the searing new thriller featuring Joshua Hawke; Criminal, Informant, Body Snatcher,...
Merissa (11953 KP) rated The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees #1) in Books
Mar 17, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)
THE TROUBLE WITH TRYING TO DATE A MURDERER is the first book in a new series by Jennifer Cody, Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees.
Told from Romily's point of view, we find out he had his vocal cords removed as a child, and lived through two mass murder attempts. For someone who is mute, he has a lot to say! And he manages just fine - so long as he has his trust mobile phone to hand, plus his attitude - he is able to get his meaning across.
I wasn't too sure about reading this book as Rom-Com isn't really my thing, due to the very personal nature of humour. However, I would say that Ms Cody has pulled this off brilliantly. The story keeps moving along, helped by Romily's sass, and you will be swept away by it.
I do wish it had had more in the way of world-building and relationship-building. The world wasn't so hard because I just simply saw it as contemporary and that was it. But I do like some build-up to the relationship side. I read more about who and what a Harbinger is and does than I did about how Romily and Fox went from being attracted to so much more.
Still, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, wacky, crazy book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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!
Mar 10, 2022
Told from Romily's point of view, we find out he had his vocal cords removed as a child, and lived through two mass murder attempts. For someone who is mute, he has a lot to say! And he manages just fine - so long as he has his trust mobile phone to hand, plus his attitude - he is able to get his meaning across.
I wasn't too sure about reading this book as Rom-Com isn't really my thing, due to the very personal nature of humour. However, I would say that Ms Cody has pulled this off brilliantly. The story keeps moving along, helped by Romily's sass, and you will be swept away by it.
I do wish it had had more in the way of world-building and relationship-building. The world wasn't so hard because I just simply saw it as contemporary and that was it. But I do like some build-up to the relationship side. I read more about who and what a Harbinger is and does than I did about how Romily and Fox went from being attracted to so much more.
Still, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, wacky, crazy book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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!
Mar 10, 2022
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Mad: Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know Trilogy in Books
Nov 7, 2017
Awful, I wanted to tear my hair out
I think I may be too sane or too old to have read this book. It definitely did not appeal to me. Most of the time you wish for the antagonist to meet a horrible accident or to be killed in a brutal fashion. But mostly the author's over emphasis on inner monologue becomes grating to the point it gives you a headache.
The story is over the top involving murder plots, psychopaths, sex and the mafia and completely implausible. And it all surrounds a psychopathic twin called Alvina. It's like reading a long drawn episode of Sunset Beach - beyond ridiculous and just irritating to the extreme. I persevered until the end but suffice to say I won't be reading this author's books again.
The story is over the top involving murder plots, psychopaths, sex and the mafia and completely implausible. And it all surrounds a psychopathic twin called Alvina. It's like reading a long drawn episode of Sunset Beach - beyond ridiculous and just irritating to the extreme. I persevered until the end but suffice to say I won't be reading this author's books again.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated A Dance with Dragons: Part 1: Dreams and Dust in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Ugh! I'm so frustrated! Who knows how long I'm going to have to wait to find out happens next!? That is the crappiest part of this book. There are still so many loose ends with the conclusion of this part.
As usual, this book did not disappoint. There was still the usual blend of treachery, lies, murder, etc. Without giving too much away, I was thrilled to read about Cersi finally getting hers!! She is one of my least favorite characters. But I was also bummed to read the arc of Jon Snow. :( I'm hoping that Martin has a surprise up his sleeve still with Snow. He was an intriguing character.
I guess all I can do now is wait with the rest of the world to see what happens next. Well played Martin!
As usual, this book did not disappoint. There was still the usual blend of treachery, lies, murder, etc. Without giving too much away, I was thrilled to read about Cersi finally getting hers!! She is one of my least favorite characters. But I was also bummed to read the arc of Jon Snow. :( I'm hoping that Martin has a surprise up his sleeve still with Snow. He was an intriguing character.
I guess all I can do now is wait with the rest of the world to see what happens next. Well played Martin!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated To the Nines (Stephanie Plum #9) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
In the 9th installment of the Stepahnie Plum series Stephanie finds herself as the "prize" in a real-life game of murder. The players in this game are set up to hunt each other down by being given email clues from the Web Master an unknown person who directs the game & controls those who play it. Stephanie unknowingly thrusts herself into the game when she goes out to hunt down a guy who has bailed on his visa bond.
This book was much more suspensful than the last few in the series. There's lots of tasering, shooting, kidnapping, & bodyguarding. I figured out who the Web Master was with about 100 pages left to go...though I had my suspcisions earlier on. That didn't take away from the plot though.
This book was much more suspensful than the last few in the series. There's lots of tasering, shooting, kidnapping, & bodyguarding. I figured out who the Web Master was with about 100 pages left to go...though I had my suspcisions earlier on. That didn't take away from the plot though.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated 12th of Never (Women's Murder Club, #12) in Books
May 10, 2018
I am a huge fan of James Patterson. The Women's Murder Club is my favorite series. This book did not disappoint at all.
This time, Lindsay Boxer is having a baby. She and Joe Molinari successfully got married in the last book and now baby makes three. Lindsay is just getting back to work and boy does she have her hands full. A body has been stolen from the ME's office. An old case she helped the FBI on has resurfaced and there is a professor who is dreaming about murders before they happen.
All of this is a lot for a regular cop to handle, but add in the emotions of just having a baby and trying to catch a killer and will Lindsay be able to handle it all.
This time, Lindsay Boxer is having a baby. She and Joe Molinari successfully got married in the last book and now baby makes three. Lindsay is just getting back to work and boy does she have her hands full. A body has been stolen from the ME's office. An old case she helped the FBI on has resurfaced and there is a professor who is dreaming about murders before they happen.
All of this is a lot for a regular cop to handle, but add in the emotions of just having a baby and trying to catch a killer and will Lindsay be able to handle it all.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid Mysteries, #1) in Books
May 10, 2018
Ray Reid moved to Florida and didn't expect to have this much "fun". After meeting a few of the locals he finds himself in a twisted murder plot and he is the murderer, except he didn't do it. With the help of his sharp tongue sister from big city Philly, they get to the bottom of the mystery and find the real killer. This book was a real page turner. I kept wanting to pick up the book and find out what was going to happen next and why this guy would get himself into this kind of situation. The story is too sketchy to be convincing, so why is Ray in jail. Getting him out and getting to the bottom of things is what his sister, Sandy is going to do.
Sue (5 KP) rated Cut, Crop & Die (Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-n-Craft Mystery, #2) in Books
Apr 23, 2018
book description:
All it took was one scone. When the hot-tempered (and widely hated) hobbyist Yvonne Gaynor eats a tainted pastry at Kiki's scrapbooking crop party, it triggers an allergy that leads to Yvonne's death. Even worse, the police suspect foul play when they realize that someone tampered with the treats and swiped the victim's allergy medication.
An expert at stealing design ideas, Yvonne had enough enemies to fill a memory album. Soon, the scrapbooking community pins her murder on Kiki's friends and our ace scrapper finds herself dealing with anti-Semitic threats at the shop, a quarrelsome pre-teen daughter at home, a meddlesome mother-in-law, and constant financial pressure. Despite help from the handsome yet annoyingly coy Detective Detweiler, Kiki has her work cut out for her in solving the crime.
All it took was one scone. When the hot-tempered (and widely hated) hobbyist Yvonne Gaynor eats a tainted pastry at Kiki's scrapbooking crop party, it triggers an allergy that leads to Yvonne's death. Even worse, the police suspect foul play when they realize that someone tampered with the treats and swiped the victim's allergy medication.
An expert at stealing design ideas, Yvonne had enough enemies to fill a memory album. Soon, the scrapbooking community pins her murder on Kiki's friends and our ace scrapper finds herself dealing with anti-Semitic threats at the shop, a quarrelsome pre-teen daughter at home, a meddlesome mother-in-law, and constant financial pressure. Despite help from the handsome yet annoyingly coy Detective Detweiler, Kiki has her work cut out for her in solving the crime.
Jessi Bone (48 KP) rated Out of the Dark in Books
Mar 18, 2019
Out of the Dark, Alexis is fleeing a horrific tragedy after witnessing the murder of her family she leaves Seattle and relocates to New York City. Aiden Steffan just happens to be her first client and be a world-renowned male model. Even though Aiden Steffan image is everywhere is the image is everywhere. Sparks fly between Alexis and Aiden until a trip to Bahama changes everything. Alexis and Aiden's Past come to a head when the past resurfaces come to a head when the past resurfaces and he knows where and with whom Alexis is with. Arlene Gonzales does not disappoint with her steamy romance and you feel for the tragedy and pain that plague Alexis and Aiden and has you fighting for them to finally find each other in the end.