Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated A Souffle of Suspicion in Books
Jul 11, 2018
It was nice to return to the Napa Valley with Mimi as our host. The book starts out strongly. While I did feel the pace lagged a time or two, these were minor issues. The puzzle was very good with some clues coming into play late in the mystery that I had completely missed, yet they helped make the resolution completely believable. I did have trouble buying Mimi’s relationship with her friend and police chief Tyson, but the rest of the characters were great. The food left me drooling, so the recipes are the back are a welcome addition to this fun mystery.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4)
7.6
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In the village of King's Abbot, a widow's sudden suicide sparks rumors that she murdered her first...
Christmas Caramel Murder (Hannah Swensen, #20)
7.7
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Christmas normally descends on Lake Eden, Minnesota, as gently as reindeer alighting on a...
Cozy mystery
I Know What You Bid Last Summer (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery #5)
10.0
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Sherry Harris presents the fifth installment of this charming, bestselling cozy mystery series! One...
The Dark Angel
9.5
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In this highly atmospheric mystery, Ruth Galloway—“a captivating amateur sleuth” (Louise...
mystery series fiction
The Christie Caper
8.0
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A group of Christie buffs. . .In honor of Agatha Christie's one hundredth birthday, mystery...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated Yule Log Murder in Books
Dec 1, 2022
I must admit that I haven't read many of Lucy's adventures, sticking mainly to the novellas featuring this character and her family. As a result, I don't have the history with Lucy's family that long time series readers do. That may be why I found them annoying. The mystery itself was very strong, however, with a solution I didn't see coming.
NOTE: This story is a novella, roughly 100 pages, and was originally part of the novella collection Yule Log Murder. If you have that book, there is no need to buy this ebook. If you haven’t read the story, now is the time to sit back and enjoy this Christmas mystery.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated The Ducal Detective in Books
Apr 25, 2024
This is a fun novella that introduces a mystery series with a light fantasy setting. Considering all that the novella has to do, it’s impressive how it balances it in the short length it has. I was immediately drawn to Jacqueline, and I loved what we saw of her here. I also really liked the rest of the characters. The world was fun, and I hope we get to explore it further as the series goes along. For the length of the story, the mystery was good with enough twists to keep us engaged on the way to a logical climax. I appreciated the balance we got in tone between the sadness Jacqueline is experiencing and the lighter scenes. I can’t wait to make a return visit to this series.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated In the Event of Murder in Books
Aug 22, 2024
It's been a couple of years since the first book in this series came out, so I wasn’t sure how much I’d remember about the characters. Fortunately, I was able to slip back into their world without too much effort. Sadly, the mystery was disappointing. The emphasis was more on the planning for the event, and those scenes grew repetitive. We did reach a solution, but parts of it felt forced to me. On the other hand, the characters were charming. I really did enjoy seeing Emma and her family and friends again. I wanted to like this more than I did, but it was mixed for me.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated Death in St. George’s in Books
Aug 13, 2024 (Updated Aug 13, 2024)
The mystery started well, and I was intrigued. Unfortunately, I did find the pacing was uneven as our leads spent quite a bit of time theorizing. Still, there was a strong mystery underpinning the book, and I was impressed when I reached the end. I love Stefanie and Thomas, so I enjoyed spending more time with them even if a sub-plot involving their relationship made me roll my eyes. The suspects became strong characters by the end of the book. I’ve definitely got some sights I want to see if I ever make it to Bermuda in person. Until then, I enjoyed this virtual vacation with murder.
