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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2320 KP) rated Crime and Poetry (Magical Bookshop, #1) in Books

Mar 9, 2018

When Violet Waverly arrives in Cascade Springs, New York, she finds that her grandmother isn’t sick like she’d been told. Instead, her grandmother needs to tell her some family secrets involving the old bookstore that she runs. Violet isn’t interested in learning about them, however, and plans to leave the next morning. Only in the morning, her grandmother’s beau is found strangled. With her grandmother a suspect, Violet must stick around to figure out what happened, and she will get some help from a very unlikely source.

I normally try to avoid magic in my mysteries, but this concept sounded like so much fun I had to give it a try. I’m glad I did since I enjoyed the story very much. Magic does play a part, but only a small part, in solving the mystery. Most of the book is still spent following Violet around as she attempts to figure out what is happening. The characters are strong, and I can see them feeling like old friends soon. A couple of sub-plots felt predictable and slow things down a tad at times, but that’s a minor issue overall.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-crime-and-poetry-by-amanda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Kudos

BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Shine Like the Dawn in Books

Jan 2, 2019

Shine Like the Dawn

Carrie Turansky | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

I have not read many of Carrie's books yet, but I love the settings she has chosen. Shine Like the Dawn takes place in 1903, at the beginning of the Edwardian Era we see so many new inventions and exciting contraptions, like motor vehicles!

This story starts with tragedy and through the difficult lessons and circumstances that both Nathaniel and Maggie find themselves in, it was so good to see them act and react as normal human beings. And through it all, they learn and grow. Maggie is full of questions and is determined to seek justice, no matter the risk or cost. Nate is such a protector, of the ones he loves and the ones that he is responsible for.

Filled with unanswered questions, Maggie dives into an investigation. With Nate's help will she be able to solve a tragic mystery that is now years since past? Will she learn how to trust God to give her the answers she NEEDS, even if they aren't the answers she WANTS? Be swept back in time to solve the crime and bring justice to Heatherton alongside Margaret Lounsbury.

I received a complimentary uncorrected proof of Shine Like the Dawn from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Kudos

Alpha Dog (2007)

8.0 (2 Ratings) Rate It

Movie

Based on true events. Gangsta life on a white tip as good white boys pretend to be bad black boys....

Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Whisper Man in Books

Aug 31, 2019 (Updated Aug 31, 2019)

The Whisper Man

Alex North | 2019 | Crime, Thriller

7.6

(8 Ratings)

Book Rating

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

In The Whisper Man, recently widowed Tom Kennedy moves to Featherbank for a fresh start. What he does not realize is the town has a dark history and, as the old saying goes, history always repeats itself. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and killed people whom he lured out of their house by whispering at their windows at night. Kennedy quickly becomes too familiar with this because his son hears whispering at his window.

The Whisper Man is a dark, suspenseful thriller by Alex North. According to his bio, North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name. This is his first book published under Alex North. Betterreading.com sums up the mystery by saying "So, who is Alex North? Time will probably tell, but in the meantime, the biggest thriller of 2019 has been written by the Whisper Man himself."

The short chapters move the story at a fast pace. I had a hard time finding an appropriate place to stop reading because each chapter ended with me wanting more. There is a supernatural element but it is not the main focus.

I am looking forward to more by Alex North, whomever he is.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/30/19.