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Hazel (2934 KP) rated What His Wife Knew in Books
Feb 20, 2022
Was it suicide or was it murder? That is the question and one that this book does a great job of unravelling.
Oscar is found dead by his brother at the bottom of Cloud Drop; a note is found which just says "sorry" and his wedding ring in his car - a slam bunk you might say but his wife, Beth, is having none of it and the more she delves, the more she realises her husband is not who she thought he was but neither are those around her.
This was proper good! The story was compelling with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and although I guessed the main twist, it didn't ruin the story for me at all as it was great getting there. The main characters are excellent and well developed and the pace is good.
All in all, a great psychological/domestic thriller and one which I would recommend to lovers of this genre.
Thank you Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Oscar is found dead by his brother at the bottom of Cloud Drop; a note is found which just says "sorry" and his wedding ring in his car - a slam bunk you might say but his wife, Beth, is having none of it and the more she delves, the more she realises her husband is not who she thought he was but neither are those around her.
This was proper good! The story was compelling with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and although I guessed the main twist, it didn't ruin the story for me at all as it was great getting there. The main characters are excellent and well developed and the pace is good.
All in all, a great psychological/domestic thriller and one which I would recommend to lovers of this genre.
Thank you Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2051 KP) rated Deadly Valentine in Books
Oct 24, 2022
Murder Among the New Neighbors
Annie and Max Darling have finally moved into their new house and are meeting their neighbors. Annie is less than delighted to find out that Sydney Cahill lives next door, mainly because Sydney made a pass at Max in front of Annie. Still, they can’t get out of attending the Cahill’s Valentine’s Day party. Then, that night, someone kills Sydney. Since their new neighborhood is gated, it quickly becomes obvious one of their neighbors is the killer. Can they figure out who did it?
This book has a few of the staples of the series, including the mass introduction of suspects, but that’s mainly worth noting in passing. Overall, it is fun. While the characters could be stronger, we do care, thanks mainly to Annie and Max. Max’s mother, Laurel, is visiting again, and she provides some great laughs along the way. The mystery is complex enough with enough twists and suspects to keep me guessing. It’s easy to see why this series is so beloved.
This book has a few of the staples of the series, including the mass introduction of suspects, but that’s mainly worth noting in passing. Overall, it is fun. While the characters could be stronger, we do care, thanks mainly to Annie and Max. Max’s mother, Laurel, is visiting again, and she provides some great laughs along the way. The mystery is complex enough with enough twists and suspects to keep me guessing. It’s easy to see why this series is so beloved.
Rum and Choke
10.0
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Sherry Harris gives readers a new adventure to dive into with the latest installment of her...
Over My Dead Blog
9.0
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Murder is just a click away for book blogger Arwen “Winnie” Lark. With review requests...
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Miranda Writes by Gail Ward Olmsted in Books
Jul 5, 2022
Miranda is an up-and-coming lawyer, with a gorgeous boyfriend everything seems to be going great until her key witness disappears and everything comes crashing down on her. It has taken her a year to start building things back up when a ghost from the past calls her will Miranda be able to make things right?
This is a really easy-going laid-back story. There are bits where it is a bit fraught but it flows so well I was able to read through it all quite quickly without feeling I had got lost. It was a fun book fair enough, the case she deals with is not the nicest and could cause a trigger for some people as it involves rape and murder, but the subjects are both handled delicately and sensitively.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and loved the ending I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for others but I was happy with it.
A recommended read from me.
This is a really easy-going laid-back story. There are bits where it is a bit fraught but it flows so well I was able to read through it all quite quickly without feeling I had got lost. It was a fun book fair enough, the case she deals with is not the nicest and could cause a trigger for some people as it involves rape and murder, but the subjects are both handled delicately and sensitively.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and loved the ending I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for others but I was happy with it.
A recommended read from me.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2051 KP) rated Murder of a Mail-Order Bride in Books
Aug 8, 2022
After Marriage Comes Murder
Long time bachelor Al Little has found a bride thanks to the internet, and he is thrilled that Svetlana is coming to town. Lizzie Hale, owner of the romance bookstore in Tinker’s Cover, Ohio, gets roped into helping make sure their first meeting and their wedding is perfectly romantic. But when Svetlana turns up dead in the middle of the reception, the question becomes, who would want to kill a new comer to town?
This is a strong second book. The plot kept me engaged the entire time. I did guess a couple of plot points early, but there were so many more I didn’t see coming, including the ending. The book is focused on the new characters central to this mystery, and they are all strong. We do have a small core cast of characters who are back, and they are fun. I also enjoy watching Lizzie’s romantic life, which is a great romantic comedy sub-plot. If you are looking for a slight twist on a cozy mystery set up, this is a series you will love.
This is a strong second book. The plot kept me engaged the entire time. I did guess a couple of plot points early, but there were so many more I didn’t see coming, including the ending. The book is focused on the new characters central to this mystery, and they are all strong. We do have a small core cast of characters who are back, and they are fun. I also enjoy watching Lizzie’s romantic life, which is a great romantic comedy sub-plot. If you are looking for a slight twist on a cozy mystery set up, this is a series you will love.
The Lost Children (DCI Matilda Darke #9)
9.0
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Matilda Darke is back… APRIL 2020: LOCKDOWN With street crime at an all-time low, Matilda...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2051 KP) rated Stuff Dreams Are Made of in Books
Feb 16, 2023
“There May Have Been a Murder”
Skip Lesser and James Moore have renovated James’s truck to use it to serve food at the revival meetings being help by Reverend Cashdollar. They quickly start to hear rumors of several deaths connected to this ministry, including someone Skip met 10 years ago. Will they figure out what is going on over the course of the weekend?
Obviously, this “reverend” is not preaching anything I would consider Biblical, and I appreciated the fact that I never got the feeling anyone was taking it seriously as such. While this set up might sound like it, this isn’t a cozy, with a liberal amount of foul language and a bit more violence. The pacing was very uneven, with some page turning twists and suspenseful scenes being slowed down by lots of recaps and talking. Still, I do like Skip and James and their struggles with life in general. I don’t think this will be a favorite series, but I’m glad I am finally getting to book two.
Obviously, this “reverend” is not preaching anything I would consider Biblical, and I appreciated the fact that I never got the feeling anyone was taking it seriously as such. While this set up might sound like it, this isn’t a cozy, with a liberal amount of foul language and a bit more violence. The pacing was very uneven, with some page turning twists and suspenseful scenes being slowed down by lots of recaps and talking. Still, I do like Skip and James and their struggles with life in general. I don’t think this will be a favorite series, but I’m glad I am finally getting to book two.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2051 KP) rated Kinsey and Me: Stories in Books
Jul 9, 2023
Short Stories and Essays
This book breaks down into two unequal sections. The first roughly 70% is made up of nine short stories featuring Kinsey Millhone, PI in Santa Teresa. She solves a murder with a disappearing body and a case of a man who fell off his roof. She also gets involved when an actor gets kidnapped.
The back section featuring thirteen vignettes as author Sue Grafton reflects on her life growing up with a functioning alcoholic father and a destructive alcoholic mother. While she admits they are autobiographical, she frames them around a character named Kit.
Fans of Kinsey will delight in these nine stories, all previous published, but decades ago so hard to track down outside this collection now. Personally, I found the back section depressing, but I suspect these stories were theopoetic for Ms. Grafton to write, and I can see others benefiting from them, too.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy the collection. If you are new to the series, you can jump in here, too, and meet Kinsey without ruining any of fun of the novels.
The back section featuring thirteen vignettes as author Sue Grafton reflects on her life growing up with a functioning alcoholic father and a destructive alcoholic mother. While she admits they are autobiographical, she frames them around a character named Kit.
Fans of Kinsey will delight in these nine stories, all previous published, but decades ago so hard to track down outside this collection now. Personally, I found the back section depressing, but I suspect these stories were theopoetic for Ms. Grafton to write, and I can see others benefiting from them, too.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy the collection. If you are new to the series, you can jump in here, too, and meet Kinsey without ruining any of fun of the novels.
The Current Between Us (Layne Family Duet #1)
8.0
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This re-release includes never seen before bonus content. Gage Synclair, international,...
Contemporary MM Romance