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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated All That is Hidden in Books

Mar 16, 2023  
All That is Hidden
All That is Hidden
Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Politics Turns Molly’s World Upside Down
Molly is shocked when her husband, Daniel, announces that he has quit his job with the New York City police department to run for New York Sheriff on the Tammany Hall ticket. Knowing how much Daniel hates bribes, she can’t believe it, but he tells her to trust him. Along with this change, they are moving into a house of Fifth Avenue, which also doesn’t make Molly happy. As she tries to adjust to her new life, she finds that something is going on beneath the surface. Then a murder takes place. Can Molly figure out what is going on?

It's always a delight to visit Molly in 1900’s New York City. The time and place come expertly to life as we watch her try to figure out exactly what is happening. As is often the case in this series, it takes a little while for the story to truly begin, but once it does, we are treated to an interesting mystery. One part of the ending was a little abrupt, but that’s a minor complaint. I’m happy to say I liked Daniel here overall, which isn’t always the case, and the rest of the regulars were their charming selves. I also liked most of the suspects, which made solving the murder that much more interesting. Fans old and new will lose themselves in Molly’s latest case.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Halloween Party Murder in Books

Aug 26, 2023  
Halloween Party Murder
Halloween Party Murder
Leslie Meier | 2023 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
After Party Murder
Lucy is helping plan a haunted house fund raiser at the home of relative new comers Ty and Heather Moon. However, when Lucy finds a dead body during the after party, things take an unexpected turn. Will she figure out what is going on?

I don’t normally read this series, so I was thrilled to actually recognize the characters of Ty and Heather since they also featured prominently in the previous Halloween novella collection Leslie headlined. This novella focuses mostly on the mystery at hand, and doesn’t bring in sub-plots involving Lucy’s family. Again, since I don’t read the series, this was a good thing for me since I don’t have the connections to all the supporting characters. The mystery was good, and I enjoyed watching Lucy’s efforts to figure out what was happening. The element I struggled with the most was the politics brought into this story. There is a local election happening, and the campaigning does play into Lucy’s motives to solve the case, but I still felt like we were being lectured during many of those scenes.

NOTE 1: This is a novella, so expect something shorter than a typical novel before you pick it up.

NOTE 2: This novella was originally the headlining story in the Halloween Party Murder anthology. If you’ve already read it there, you don’t need to buy it again here.
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Mar 1, 2023  
Sneak a peek at the romantic suspense mystery novel COPPER WATERS by Marlene M Bell, Author on my blog, and enter the amazing #giveaway for a chance to #win a signed ARC paperback of the book; a leather bucket bag; a 100% New Zealand gray wool throw; a Hagestad hammered water bottle; a Lucy Pittaway notebook; and a $50 VISA gift card!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2023/03/reviewapalooza-and-giveaway-copper.html

**ABOUT THE BOOK**
A rural New Zealand vacation turns poisonous.

Antiquities expert Annalisse Drury and tycoon Alec Zavos are at an impasse in their relationship when Alec refuses to clear up a paternity issue with an ex-lover.

Frustrated with his avoidance when their future is at stake, Annalisse accepts an invitation from an acquaintance to fly to New Zealand—hoping to escape the recent turbulence in her life.

But even Annalisse’s cottage idyll on the family sheep farm isn’t immune to intrigue.

Alec sends a mutual friend and detective, Bill Drake, to follow her, and a local resident who accompanies them from the Christchurch airport dies mysteriously soon after. A second violent death finds Annalisse and Bill at odds with the official investigations.

The local police want to close both cases as quickly as possible—without unearthing the town’s dirty secrets.

As she and Bill pursue their own leads at serious cost, the dual mysteries force Annalisse to question everything she thought she knew about family ties, politics, and the art of small-town betrayal.
      
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated No Hallowed Ground in Books

Jun 25, 2025  
No Hallowed Ground
No Hallowed Ground
Steve Hockensmith | 2024 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
More Action in the Old … Mid-West
The team of Diehl, Hoop, and Eskaminzim are back on the trail. This time, they are heading a bit further east than normal when they are sent to Missouri. According to their client, some thieves have just made off with the cash for a local bank, and if it isn’t returned quickly and quietly, it would cause the bank to close. Not that our heroes believe that. But when they learn the truth, the realize that the stakes would impact the entire country. And they realized just how outnumbered they truly are. Can they win against overwhelming odds?

If you are looking for an action book, you’ll be glad you picked this one up. There are some entertaining twists to the story, and the plot is strong enough to hold the action scenes together. The characters are good, but they could be a little stronger. Still, they are developed enough to make you care about the outcome. I appreciated how the changing points of view were used to increase the suspense. I also appreciate how the politics of March 1894 was brought into the book. It informed the action without ever being preachy. While we got some language, I was more bothered by some of the violence, so know that before you pick up the book. But if you want a historical action story, do pick up this book.