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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated Panty Raid in Books
Apr 28, 2022
Combining Work with Pleasure. And Murder.
Samantha Kidd and her fiancé, Nick Taylor, are in Las Vegas for a working vacation. Samantha has been sent to attend a lingerie show, but the couple have arrived early to enjoy some time away. However, things take a turn when Nick runs across his friend Marc Rico when they are checking into the hotel. Nick starts acting funny before revealing a dark story from his and Marc’s past. The next morning, Samantha finds a dead body across the street from their hotel. Can she figure out what is happening?
This book captured my attention early and never let go. I enjoyed the creative clues and red herrings Samantha had to navigate on the way to the solution. There are one or two things about the climax that we have to deduce for ourselves, but they are minor. Since Samantha and Nick are out of town, they get plenty of page time, and I enjoy seeing their relationship continue to grow. Not to mention how Samantha is maturing. The rest of the cast is good, and there is a reappearance of a recurring character here. There’s also plenty of humor, and I was laughing and grinning the entire way through. If you are looking for a fun mystery, this book is a winner.
This book captured my attention early and never let go. I enjoyed the creative clues and red herrings Samantha had to navigate on the way to the solution. There are one or two things about the climax that we have to deduce for ourselves, but they are minor. Since Samantha and Nick are out of town, they get plenty of page time, and I enjoy seeing their relationship continue to grow. Not to mention how Samantha is maturing. The rest of the cast is good, and there is a reappearance of a recurring character here. There’s also plenty of humor, and I was laughing and grinning the entire way through. If you are looking for a fun mystery, this book is a winner.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated Murder Off the Books in Books
Sep 15, 2023 (Updated Sep 15, 2023)
Grand Opening, Book Launch, and Murder
After months of work, Tess Harrow is ready to open her new bookstore and celebrate the launch of her latest bestselling thriller. However, her plans are changed when her mother, Bee, shows up unexpected. Trailing Bee is her latest boyfriend, Levi, who is a suspected serial killer preying on older women. Naturally, Tess doesn’t react well to that, but the next morning, Levi has been murdered. With as close to home as this hit, Tess can’t help but put her plans aside and start investigating. Can she figure out what happened?
Those who have read the first two books in the series will know what to expect here. We get a plot with some wackiness that fits this story and these characters perfectly. I did find some of the humor fell flat for me (might just be me), but I still laughed plenty. Yet the story comes together for a logical climax. The characters are all strong and entertaining as well. I did find a handful of political comments, which were superfluous to the story, threw me out of the story. The author does a good job of skirting spoilers for the previous books, which fans will know is a pretty big task. If you want a mystery filled with humor, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
Those who have read the first two books in the series will know what to expect here. We get a plot with some wackiness that fits this story and these characters perfectly. I did find some of the humor fell flat for me (might just be me), but I still laughed plenty. Yet the story comes together for a logical climax. The characters are all strong and entertaining as well. I did find a handful of political comments, which were superfluous to the story, threw me out of the story. The author does a good job of skirting spoilers for the previous books, which fans will know is a pretty big task. If you want a mystery filled with humor, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
Wicked Crown (The Wicked, #1)
Book
She's not who-or what-she appears to be. Neither is he. Supermodel Vori would be happy to stay in...
Urban Fantasy Paranormal Romance Fake Relationship Royalty Bad Boy
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated Seams Like Murder in Books
Oct 4, 2022 (Updated Oct 4, 2022)
Can Abbey Sew Up a Murder?
When her life in Los Angeles falls apart, Abbey Chandler heads up the California coast to the town of Hideaway Grove where she spent many happy summers as a child visiting her aunt. Abbey’s hardly arrived before she catches a glimpse of a hit and run behind her aunt’s bakery. Now, instead of trying to figure out what to do with her life, Abbey is trying to figure out who killed the town’s new librarian. Everyone seemed to love the victim. Who wanted her dead?
This book gets out to a quick start, but then the pacing becomes uneven. There is lots of set up for future books in the series here. I enjoyed seeing Abbey reconnect with old friends and making new ones as well as discovering a love of sewing, but it did slow things down. Don’t misunderstand, there is a good mystery here, and I like how things came together at the end. I also really liked most of the characters, although the sheriff was shockingly clueless. There are many scenes in the aunt’s bakery that will have you drooling, but this is a crafting cozy series, so our extra is a guide to creating pillowcase dresses. If you are looking for a promising new series, this is one to check out.
This book gets out to a quick start, but then the pacing becomes uneven. There is lots of set up for future books in the series here. I enjoyed seeing Abbey reconnect with old friends and making new ones as well as discovering a love of sewing, but it did slow things down. Don’t misunderstand, there is a good mystery here, and I like how things came together at the end. I also really liked most of the characters, although the sheriff was shockingly clueless. There are many scenes in the aunt’s bakery that will have you drooling, but this is a crafting cozy series, so our extra is a guide to creating pillowcase dresses. If you are looking for a promising new series, this is one to check out.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated A Fatal Groove in Books
Jul 27, 2023
Murder is Anything but Groovy
It’s the weekend of the Bluebonnet Festival in Cedar River, Texas, and Juni Jessup and her sisters are looking forward to fun while also selling coffee and introducing the bands on the main stage. Their first customer of the first day is Mayor Bob. When Juni goes to drop something off at his office a little later, she finds him dead. With their reputations once again on the line, the sisters try to figure out what is happening. Mayor Bob was popular because he didn’t make any waves, so who would want to kill him?
After an initial strong start, the book stalled a bit introducing some sub-plots before it really got started again. I did guess the killer a little early, but I needed Juni to fill in most of the rest. Once again, there are some odd uses of they/them pronouns, and Juni’s first-person narration comes across as judgmental a few times. Overall, I do like her and I love her relationship with her sisters. The love triangle is still in play, although it takes a back seat to the rest of the happenings. There are lots of smiles and some laughs along the way as well. If you enjoy music and are looking for a fun mystery, this is the series for you.
After an initial strong start, the book stalled a bit introducing some sub-plots before it really got started again. I did guess the killer a little early, but I needed Juni to fill in most of the rest. Once again, there are some odd uses of they/them pronouns, and Juni’s first-person narration comes across as judgmental a few times. Overall, I do like her and I love her relationship with her sisters. The love triangle is still in play, although it takes a back seat to the rest of the happenings. There are lots of smiles and some laughs along the way as well. If you enjoy music and are looking for a fun mystery, this is the series for you.
Danger on the Atlantic
8.0
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In Agatha Award-winning author Erica Ruth Neubauer’s third wanderlust-inspiring historical...
French Quarter Fright Night
9.0
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The third in the fabulous cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and...
You Feta Watch Out
9.0
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Humbug! leads to Homicide! in the new Grilled Cheese Mystery by Linda Reilly . . . Christmas in...
Death and The Poet (The Publius Ovidius Mysteries #2)
Book
14 AD. When Dokimos the vegetable seller is found bludgeoned to death in the Black Sea town of...
Historical Mystery
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated Helpless in Books
Mar 19, 2025 (Updated Mar 19, 2025)
Murder and Kidnapping in a Storm
With the remains of a tropical storm hitting the area, the last thing that Zoe Chamber-Adams and Pete Adams need is a criminal running around the area. But that’s just what they’ve got. They are called to a horrific scene on a neighbors’ farm. The wife has been shot, the husband left for dead, and their daughter kidnapped. As Pete tries to find the daughter before she is taken out of the area, Zoe tries to learn what she can from the husband. Will the storm help or hurt them?
This is more of a ticking clock thriller than a mystery, with the book taking place over the course of a day. As much as I love this series, this one was a bit of a letdown. I found Zoe’s portion of the story slowed the plot down, and I found it a very dark book, even by this series’ standards. On the other hand, the overall plot of the book was great and I was still always reluctant to set the book down. It was great spending time with Zoe and Pete, and I enjoyed seeing the updates we still got on the series regulars and some ongoing stories. Fans of this great series will still be glad they picked up this book.
This is more of a ticking clock thriller than a mystery, with the book taking place over the course of a day. As much as I love this series, this one was a bit of a letdown. I found Zoe’s portion of the story slowed the plot down, and I found it a very dark book, even by this series’ standards. On the other hand, the overall plot of the book was great and I was still always reluctant to set the book down. It was great spending time with Zoe and Pete, and I enjoyed seeing the updates we still got on the series regulars and some ongoing stories. Fans of this great series will still be glad they picked up this book.
