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We Deserve Monuments
10.0
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Family secrets, a swoon-worthy romance, and a slow-burn mystery collide in We Deserve Monuments, a...
Smile Beach Murder
8.0
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From author Alicia Bessette comes an all-new mystery series featuring Callie Padget, a former...
Pay or Play (Charlie Waldo #3)
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Blackmail, sexual harassment, murder . . . and a missing dog: eccentric, eco-obsessed LA private eye...
Thriller Private Detective
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Public Anchovy #1 in Books
Aug 2, 2024 (Updated Aug 2, 2024)
Who Made Their Enemy Sleep with the Fishes?
Delilah O’Leary is thrilled that she’s been asked to cater the posh fund raiser for the library since she needs events like this to help her restaurant get through the lean winter months. The event is being held at a remote mansion on the outskirts of the town. Unfortunately, the first big storm of the season is due in that night. Even worse, someone dies during the event, and the storm traps Delilah, Detective Capone, Delilah’s staff, and some of the guests, at the mansion. As it becomes clear that the death was a murder, Delilah begins to poke around. Are they trapped with a killer?
This is a mystery trope we don’t see very often any more, and I was a little concerned about the author pulling it off when I sat down to read it. I need not have worried. There was plenty here to keep me engaged and confused as we worked toward the logical climax. We do see most of the regulars (only one gets a cameo as a result of the set up), and it was nice to get updates on them. Meanwhile, the suspects kept me guessing. The atmosphere of the storm also added to the fun of the story. There are some recipes at the end, and the focus on creating a pizza with alternative ingredients. This is the best book in the series to date.
This is a mystery trope we don’t see very often any more, and I was a little concerned about the author pulling it off when I sat down to read it. I need not have worried. There was plenty here to keep me engaged and confused as we worked toward the logical climax. We do see most of the regulars (only one gets a cameo as a result of the set up), and it was nice to get updates on them. Meanwhile, the suspects kept me guessing. The atmosphere of the storm also added to the fun of the story. There are some recipes at the end, and the focus on creating a pizza with alternative ingredients. This is the best book in the series to date.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated A Murder Most French in Books
Apr 25, 2024 (Updated Apr 25, 2024)
Murder Most Rare
When this book opens, Julia Child is excited about a demonstration that a famous chef is going to be doing that afternoon at Le Cordon Bleu, and she insists that her friend and neighbor, Tabitha Knight, go with her. However, the demonstration ends abruptly when the chef dies after taking a sip of a rare and expensive wine he’d received just before the event started. Despite vowing to stay out of it, Tabitha can’t help but wonder what is going on. Can she figure it out?
As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but wonder why the characters, who are speaking French, are throwing French words into every line of dialogue. But that writing quirk aside, this was another great book. I loved getting to visit the characters again, and Tabitha was just as smart and resourceful as in the first book. Meanwhile, the new characters lead us on a merry chase in a well-constructed mystery. I was satisfied when everything was explained. As with the first book, there is a smattering of foul language. Once again, Paris in post the World War II era came to life, and I enjoyed this look at the time period. Don’t read this book hungry since all the talk of food will make your mouth water. I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Tabitha and Julia and look forward to their next adventure.
As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but wonder why the characters, who are speaking French, are throwing French words into every line of dialogue. But that writing quirk aside, this was another great book. I loved getting to visit the characters again, and Tabitha was just as smart and resourceful as in the first book. Meanwhile, the new characters lead us on a merry chase in a well-constructed mystery. I was satisfied when everything was explained. As with the first book, there is a smattering of foul language. Once again, Paris in post the World War II era came to life, and I enjoyed this look at the time period. Don’t read this book hungry since all the talk of food will make your mouth water. I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Tabitha and Julia and look forward to their next adventure.
Murder on Mistletoe Lane
9.0
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American heiress Stella Kendrick and her husband, British aristocrat Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst,...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Flower Power Trip in Books
Dec 4, 2024
Murder at the Masquerade Ball
It’s the start of summer at Braxton, but Kellan Ayrwick is finding the campus is anything but calm. Not only is he personally teaching a course over the summer, but the Mendel Flower Show has decided to use the campus for their presentation this year. The season is kicking off with a masquerade ball to raise money for a needed library renovation. However, the night ends in tragedy when Kellan finds a dead body in a staff only section of the library. With a friend’s sister the prime suspect, can Kellan figure out what is going on?
Those who are familiar with the series will know that there is a lot going on in these books, and this one is no exception. Yes, we do get some updates to the ongoing soap operaish storylines, including another cliffhanger. The focus is on the new mystery here, however, and it does a good job of keeping us guessing with plenty of twists and red herrings. The ultimate solution was satisfying. My biggest gripe is that Kellan seems to have some contentious relationships with the other series regulars. I hope we are growing beyond some of those issues soon because I read cozies for the groups of characters I want to revisit. Still, I enjoyed this book overall. I definitely recommend you read these books in order because of the ongoing saga. I’m hoping I can make it to the next one soon.
Those who are familiar with the series will know that there is a lot going on in these books, and this one is no exception. Yes, we do get some updates to the ongoing soap operaish storylines, including another cliffhanger. The focus is on the new mystery here, however, and it does a good job of keeping us guessing with plenty of twists and red herrings. The ultimate solution was satisfying. My biggest gripe is that Kellan seems to have some contentious relationships with the other series regulars. I hope we are growing beyond some of those issues soon because I read cozies for the groups of characters I want to revisit. Still, I enjoyed this book overall. I definitely recommend you read these books in order because of the ongoing saga. I’m hoping I can make it to the next one soon.
Kill or Bee Killed
8.0
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Perfect for fans of Laura Childs and Amanda Flower, this second Bee Keeping mystery takes Bailey...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated A Matter of Life and Depths in Books
Nov 7, 2024
Charlotte Must Face Her Pain Head on
Charlotte and her sister, Jane, have settled into their new life as permanent residents on the luxury cruise ship. But as the ship heads to Japan, Charlotte is less than happy to discover that her late husband’s mistress, Kyrie Dawn, and her toddler son have joined the staff with Kyrie Dawn being the new yoga instructor. Charlotte hasn’t even wrapped her head around that when a murder happens. Charlotte finds herself investigating for the last reason she would have expected. Can she figure out what happened?
I’ve read books with similar initial setups before, and I appreciate that this book didn’t go for the predictable victim. It allowed for some great character growth in Charlotte and some of the other characters. It may not all be realistic, but I did like it overall. Like the first book, we met the suspects all at once, so it took me a while to get them all straight. The mystery was strong, with some good surprises and a couple red herrings on the way to a logical climax. A minor subplot involving a diary that Charlotte was reading from her great-grandmother seemed a bit confusing to me, although I do understand why it was there thematically. On the other hand, there were some delightfully funny moments, and the setting was great. Overall, I enjoyed this murderous cruise very much.
I’ve read books with similar initial setups before, and I appreciate that this book didn’t go for the predictable victim. It allowed for some great character growth in Charlotte and some of the other characters. It may not all be realistic, but I did like it overall. Like the first book, we met the suspects all at once, so it took me a while to get them all straight. The mystery was strong, with some good surprises and a couple red herrings on the way to a logical climax. A minor subplot involving a diary that Charlotte was reading from her great-grandmother seemed a bit confusing to me, although I do understand why it was there thematically. On the other hand, there were some delightfully funny moments, and the setting was great. Overall, I enjoyed this murderous cruise very much.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Shattered Sight (Jackson Davis Mysteries #1) in Books
Mar 19, 2025
Can Jackson Handle Returning to Work?
Six months after an accident while pursuing a suspect injured his partner, Jackson Davis is returning to his job as a detective on the Niagara Falls police force. He's assigned a new partner, a rookie who just got promoted. And they've landed a confusing case. A business CEO was found at the bottom of the falls, but was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Even her family and co-workers can't agree on what might have happened. Can they make sense of enough clues to solve the case? Or will being back be too much pressure for Jackson?
Jackson's mental health is a major subplot of this book, and I'll admit it gave me some anxiety while reading. Talk about great writing. But I ultimately liked where that story ended and what it allowed us to learn about all the characters in the book. I really did enjoy getting to meet them and am looking forward to spending more time with them. The suspects were also strong. The mystery was great since there were so many avenues to pursue, I had a hard time figuring anything out. Yet in the end, things did make sense. Since this is a police procedural, the content is definitely more than the cozies I often read, but the few scenes were obvious when they were coming. This is a solid series debut, and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Jackson.
Jackson's mental health is a major subplot of this book, and I'll admit it gave me some anxiety while reading. Talk about great writing. But I ultimately liked where that story ended and what it allowed us to learn about all the characters in the book. I really did enjoy getting to meet them and am looking forward to spending more time with them. The suspects were also strong. The mystery was great since there were so many avenues to pursue, I had a hard time figuring anything out. Yet in the end, things did make sense. Since this is a police procedural, the content is definitely more than the cozies I often read, but the few scenes were obvious when they were coming. This is a solid series debut, and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Jackson.