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On the Lamb
On the Lamb
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bonfire Body
Spring is in the air in Ocean Crest, New Jersey, and with it, changes. Lucy Berberian has gotten her own place, and it’s near the beach and her family’s Mediterranean restaurant, which she manages. The worst part is dealing with her landlady’s nephew, Gilbert, who is determined to get his aunt into a retirement home so he can get his hands on the valuable piece of land. A rare Saturday night to enjoy a bonfire on the beach ends when Lucy and her friends find Gilbert’s body in the sand. Lucy’s friend Melanie becomes the prime suspect, and she begs Lucy to figure out what is going on. Can she clear her friend?

It had been a while since I read the previous book in the series, but it wasn’t long before I was caught up with Lucy and the rest of the cast again. I was happy to see relationships and characters continuing to grow. The mystery is good, with several viable suspects and plenty of secrets for Lucy to uncover. The climax was logical and suspenseful. I did have some problems with logic in other places, like character’s ages. I can make it work, but it would have been nice having things like that actually spelled out for us. I would love to visit Ocean Crest if it were real. Even at the down time of Spring, when this book is set, it sounds like a fun town. We get another three delicious sounding recipes at the end of the book. If you’ve enjoyed the previous entries in the series, you’ll be happy you to catch up with Lucy and the gang again here.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated The Library Game in Books

Apr 18, 2025 (Updated Apr 18, 2025)  
The Library Game
The Library Game
Gigi Pandian | 2025 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Strolls into a Library
Tempest Raj and the rest of the team are working on turning a house into a new library in Hidden Creek, this one focused on classic mysteries. While the library isn’t ready to open yet, they are participating in the Summer Stroll program that kicks off in a few days. Their contribution will be an escape room and an interactive mystery play that Tempest wrote with her best friend, Ivy. Naturally, Tempest is there for a dress rehearsal. Unfortunately, it goes horribly wrong with one of the actors turning up dead after a scripted power outage. However, by the time they call the police, the body is gone. Is he really dead? If so, who moved the body?

The case is even more impossible than I was able to work into my teaser, and I had fun watching Tempest lead us to the logical solution. The pacing might have lagged a bit in the middle, but that might be me. It was fantastic to spend time with all the regulars again, and I’m curious where some of the relationships will go from here. The suspects were good, too. We get a delicious sounding recipe for Blackberry Crumble Cobbler and more references to classic mysteries. I really need to find a time to read some of them. This book will work well as an intro/standalone if you haven’t read the earlier books in the series yet. But you’ll want to go back to read them after the fun you’ll have here. Fans will be glad they picked up this book.
  
Aggie tries to do her job of supporting her preacher husband and raise their daughters in the best way she can. Avoiding scandal is her number one priority. So why then, is there a naked dead woman on her front doorstep? The characters lept off the page at me as if I'd known them for a long time even though this is a series debut. The plot was fan moving and fun as well. My only issue? I don't agree with the character's theology, but I didn't expect to, and I devoured the entire series.

Read my full review at <a href=http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-blessed-is-busy-body-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
MM
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Before Natalie and Monk can have an official grand opening for their new PI business, they wind up with two cases. First, there's the murder suspect who won't explain why he was moving a body in a vacant field. Then there's the mass shooter who vanished despite being surrounded by police.

Both of these mysteries are great and kept me engaged the entire way through. The characters and their growth are wonder as well, and the humor had me grinning when I wasn't outright laughing. Fans of the series will love it.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/06/book-review-mr-monk-is-open-for.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1)
Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1)
Neal Shusterman | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.0 (22 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not feeling Deadish
I rarely give out 10/10 ratings
But Neal Shusterman deserves it
He has formed so many different worlds
Slightly different from our own
And wholely different from each other
He has brought me into Everlost
Shown me life after the Second Civil War
And now I have expirence a world
That has conquered mortality.
Two young people
Must learn how to kill people
The Sycthedom
Is the only political body standing
And it’s splitting
At its core
Massacrists
And compassionate killers
Must fight for the moral code
That will rule the only killers in the world.

This story is thrilling
And has left me not feeling so deadish.
  
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Anna Steele (111 KP) Jun 15, 2018

When I am in a state of hightened emotion I cannot tamper myself by writing in prose. This is how I journal, and how I write really emo finsta posts