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Bad Magic and the Big Top (Blackwood Bay Witches Paranormal Cozy Mystery)
8.0
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Welcome to Blackwood Bay, where magic and murder have come out to play...Life for fledgling new...
Girls of Yellow (Elise De Jong/Sami Ali Book 1)
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A GRIPPING, SUSPENSEFUL CRIME THRILLER WITH A SHOCKING PREMISE. Imagine a world where modern...
Girls of Yellow Elise De Jong/Sami Ali series Orest Stelmach thriller mystery
Snow White Must Die
10.0
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In a small town in Germany a boy is accused of murdering his beautiful girlfriend. On a September...
A Link To Kill (Hawthorne & Horowitz Mystery #3)
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I couldn't see the sea from my bedroom but I could hear the waves breaking in the distance. They...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated Deadly Summer Nights in Books
Sep 15, 2021
Relaxing Summer Murder
Elizabeth Grady is starting the second summer running the Haggerman’s Catskills Resort, which her mother has inherited. She is hoping things will go smoothly this year, but that’s before she finds the body of one of their guests floating in the lake. The local sheriff thinks the victim was a communist. With rumors swirling around the resort, and guests threatening to leave, Elizabeth has to step in and figure out what really happened before the resort is ruined. Can she do it?
As much as I loved the book, I found the mystery to be rather week. We get too much about life at the resort for it to have the time to be fully developed. However, it’s hard to complain since resort life sounds fabulous. I’m not ready for summer to be over, and I enjoyed dreaming about spending time on the lake with nothing to do. The book is set in the 1950’s, and I felt like I was transported back in time as well. The characters are as charming as the setting, and I want to see more of them. I enjoyed this book enough that it won’t be my only visit to Haggerman’s.
As much as I loved the book, I found the mystery to be rather week. We get too much about life at the resort for it to have the time to be fully developed. However, it’s hard to complain since resort life sounds fabulous. I’m not ready for summer to be over, and I enjoyed dreaming about spending time on the lake with nothing to do. The book is set in the 1950’s, and I felt like I was transported back in time as well. The characters are as charming as the setting, and I want to see more of them. I enjoyed this book enough that it won’t be my only visit to Haggerman’s.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated Once Upon a Murder in Books
Feb 21, 2024
Not as Strong as the First Book
It’s 1784, and spinster Tiffany Woodall is hoping to put the chaos and intrigue of the last few months behind her. However, when she finds a dead body on her way to work at the castle one morning, she knows that isn’t going to happen. When the local bookseller, the man Tiffany loves, is accused of the crime, she can’t help but get involved. Can she figure out what happened?
The first book in this series was one of my favorites of last year. This book wasn’t as good, but it was still enjoyable. As with the first book, the mystery takes a backseat at times. However, here the other storylines weren’t as compelling. This is especially true of the romance. I was glad it wasn’t dragged out too much and I bought it in a way I wouldn’t in other series, but I wasn’t as invested in it. When the murder really kicks in during the second half, I was more fully on board, and I love how that was resolved. Likewise, I still loved all the characters and did enjoy seeing what happened to them. Fans of the first will want to pick this up. If you missed the first, you’ll definitely want to start there.
The first book in this series was one of my favorites of last year. This book wasn’t as good, but it was still enjoyable. As with the first book, the mystery takes a backseat at times. However, here the other storylines weren’t as compelling. This is especially true of the romance. I was glad it wasn’t dragged out too much and I bought it in a way I wouldn’t in other series, but I wasn’t as invested in it. When the murder really kicks in during the second half, I was more fully on board, and I love how that was resolved. Likewise, I still loved all the characters and did enjoy seeing what happened to them. Fans of the first will want to pick this up. If you missed the first, you’ll definitely want to start there.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated Mushroom Capped in Books
Jan 10, 2024
Jackie Finds Murder Mushrooming
Former celebrity chef Jackie Norwood has landed in Conway, Maryland, for their second annual mushroom festival. She’s especially excited about connecting with her friend, Marshall. However, she quickly discovers that there’s lots of tension in town thanks to a big farming company trying to buy up the mushroom farms in the area. When Jackie finds the owner of the company dead, Marshall becomes the prime suspect. Can Jackie clear him?
I loved the first book in the series, and it was great to be spending time with Jackie again. All of her family and friends from the last book are back as well. While it would have been nice to see a bit more development for them, I still enjoyed spending time with them and loved the humor they brought to the story. The story started quickly, and when I reached the end, I appreciated just how the clues and motives were layered into the story. I was engaged the entire time, and the ending made perfect sense. If you like mushrooms, you’ll be interested in the five delicious sounding recipes at the end of the book. This is looking to be a great culinary cozy mystery series, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens at Jackie’s next festival.
I loved the first book in the series, and it was great to be spending time with Jackie again. All of her family and friends from the last book are back as well. While it would have been nice to see a bit more development for them, I still enjoyed spending time with them and loved the humor they brought to the story. The story started quickly, and when I reached the end, I appreciated just how the clues and motives were layered into the story. I was engaged the entire time, and the ending made perfect sense. If you like mushrooms, you’ll be interested in the five delicious sounding recipes at the end of the book. This is looking to be a great culinary cozy mystery series, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens at Jackie’s next festival.
Merissa (13997 KP) rated The Gentleman's Gentleman (His Lordship's Realm #1) in Books
Mar 13, 2024
THE GENTLEMAN'S GENTLEMAN is the first book in the His Lordship's Realm series which, as you might expect, is in the same world as His Lordship's Mysteries. Alfie and Dom are mentioned in here, but the spotlight is on Jarrett and Gil.
They certainly are a case of opposites attract, and it worked so well! When Jarrett is accused of murder, Gil is the only one who believes him. Unfortunately, the reason he believes him is one neither of them can talk about unless they want to be hung! This leads to a series of events as Gil tries to prove Jarrett's innocence.
The mystery side worked well, as I would expect from a Samantha SoRelle book, but for me, it was the slow-burn romance that worked so well, set in such difficult times. And with the added nuggets of historical information too, it made for an interesting read.
Thoroughly enjoyable with wonderful characters. I am hoping to see snapshots of Alfie and Dom though, but that's just me! 😆 Definitely recommended.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 1, 2024
They certainly are a case of opposites attract, and it worked so well! When Jarrett is accused of murder, Gil is the only one who believes him. Unfortunately, the reason he believes him is one neither of them can talk about unless they want to be hung! This leads to a series of events as Gil tries to prove Jarrett's innocence.
The mystery side worked well, as I would expect from a Samantha SoRelle book, but for me, it was the slow-burn romance that worked so well, set in such difficult times. And with the added nuggets of historical information too, it made for an interesting read.
Thoroughly enjoyable with wonderful characters. I am hoping to see snapshots of Alfie and Dom though, but that's just me! 😆 Definitely recommended.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 1, 2024
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated Dance Hall of the Dead in Books
Jun 19, 2024
Murder Crosses Tribal Lines
It’s early December on the Navajo reservation. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, who works for the Navajo Tribal Police, has been called to work on a case involving two missing boys. There is a huge pool of blood at the last place they were scene. One of them, a Navajo, was seen the next morning and is wanted as a witness, although some suspect he might be the killer. The other is a Zuni youth, and that just complicates the case for Leaphorn since that tribe has their own police department. As Leaphorn investigates further, he finds many things that just don’t add up for him. Can he make sense of it, find the missing boys, and catch a killer before the killer strikes again?
Leaphorn is much more of the main character this time around, but we still haven’t met Chee. It’s interesting to see how this series evolves over time. The mystery is strong here, especially since there is a thriller element to it that kept me engrossed. I did feel the discussion of Navajo culture slowed things down at times; those passages can be a double-edged sword. Still, this is a book that fans old and new will find entertaining.
Leaphorn is much more of the main character this time around, but we still haven’t met Chee. It’s interesting to see how this series evolves over time. The mystery is strong here, especially since there is a thriller element to it that kept me engrossed. I did feel the discussion of Navajo culture slowed things down at times; those passages can be a double-edged sword. Still, this is a book that fans old and new will find entertaining.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2566 KP) rated Murder Italian Style in Books
Jun 18, 2025
Samantha Sleuths in Style on a New Continent
Samantha and her husband thought his father was treating them to a vacation to visit family friends in a small Italian village over New Years. When they arrive, however, they learn that Samantha’s ability to solve crime has been requested. Twenty-six years ago, a murder occurred in the village, and their hostess’s boyfriend has been serving time for the crime ever sense. While reluctant at first to figure out what happened, Samantha soon becomes intrigued. Can she overcome the language barrier to find the truth?
Since we are out of the country, we don’t see most of the usual gang, but the new characters make up for it. We come to care for them enough to make us care about the outcome of this cold case. There are a couple of small things that could have used a little more explanation, but the main questions are answered satisfactorily. We may be in a foreign country, but we still get Samantha’s usual wit and breezy narration. And her love of snack foods takes an Italian turn, which left me hungry. Fans will enjoy this trip abroad. Pack your bags for another fun mystery.
Since we are out of the country, we don’t see most of the usual gang, but the new characters make up for it. We come to care for them enough to make us care about the outcome of this cold case. There are a couple of small things that could have used a little more explanation, but the main questions are answered satisfactorily. We may be in a foreign country, but we still get Samantha’s usual wit and breezy narration. And her love of snack foods takes an Italian turn, which left me hungry. Fans will enjoy this trip abroad. Pack your bags for another fun mystery.