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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Murder on the Home Front in Books
May 4, 2023
Body in the Air Raid Shelter
Billie Harkness has been on the job as one of only two female constables in the Hull police force for a few weeks now. In that time, neither her co-workers nor the public have come to accept her any more then when she first started. One of her true allies has been Peter Upton, a fellow constable who has been training her. When the two of them find a dead body in an air raid shelter, Billie discovers some details that don’t make any sense. Can they use those to figure out what happened to the victim?
It was great to be back in summer 1940 with Billie and Peter. While most of the book is written from Billie’s third person point of view, we get some scenes from Peter’s, and they help flesh out the characters and plot wonderfully. I was hooked the entire way through the story, although I did wonder where it was going a bit at first. Once the body turned up, things were full speed ahead until we reached the end. There is a strong sub-plot that is unfortunately too real and should not have been acceptable then or now. I appreciated how it was handled. The overall mystery is something that could only be told in England during World War II, and it helped bring details of that time in history to life for me. If you enjoy historical mysteries, you need to pick it up.
It was great to be back in summer 1940 with Billie and Peter. While most of the book is written from Billie’s third person point of view, we get some scenes from Peter’s, and they help flesh out the characters and plot wonderfully. I was hooked the entire way through the story, although I did wonder where it was going a bit at first. Once the body turned up, things were full speed ahead until we reached the end. There is a strong sub-plot that is unfortunately too real and should not have been acceptable then or now. I appreciated how it was handled. The overall mystery is something that could only be told in England during World War II, and it helped bring details of that time in history to life for me. If you enjoy historical mysteries, you need to pick it up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Under Lock and Skeleton Key in Books
Oct 3, 2022 (Updated Oct 3, 2022)
The Body in the Sealed Off Room
After her career as a magician in Las Vegas ended in a near fatal accident, Tempest Raj has returned home to her family. That includes time with her father’s construction business, which creates hidden rooms, secret staircases, etc., for his clients. Tempest is on hand at his newest job site when they discover a room that appears to have been sealed for decades. However, when they open it, a body falls out, and Tempest recognizes the victim. So, how did the victim get there? And who killed her?
This series is going to focus on locked-room mysteries, and it starts out with a good one. I enjoyed the dual puzzles of who did it and how the body got into the locked room. The beginning of the book was a little rough. While we don’t get a complete data dump with back story, there is a lot of material here, and the constant teasing of it was almost as bad. Still, as the book progressed, it got better, and the parts that aren’t completely resolved here will make great fodder for future books. Tempest is a great main character, and I quickly grew to love her family and friends, including a character imported from another of this author’s series. The magic and hidden room aspect gave this book a bit of a middle grade mystery vibe, which I completely loved. I will definitely be back to find out what happens to Tempest next.
This series is going to focus on locked-room mysteries, and it starts out with a good one. I enjoyed the dual puzzles of who did it and how the body got into the locked room. The beginning of the book was a little rough. While we don’t get a complete data dump with back story, there is a lot of material here, and the constant teasing of it was almost as bad. Still, as the book progressed, it got better, and the parts that aren’t completely resolved here will make great fodder for future books. Tempest is a great main character, and I quickly grew to love her family and friends, including a character imported from another of this author’s series. The magic and hidden room aspect gave this book a bit of a middle grade mystery vibe, which I completely loved. I will definitely be back to find out what happens to Tempest next.
Theo and Sprout: A Journey of Growth
Book
Sprout says she’s there to help him, to guide him. Theo, an introverted, teenage boy form a large...
Young Adult Literary Fiction
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated WhatsApp Messenger in Apps
Nov 3, 2017
Best messaging app
The vast amount of WhatsApp users means it is really easy to keep in touch with people from across the world! Its no-nonsense format means it simple to access, without having to go through a labyrinth to get to the main messaging body. The group system is fantastic, and the mute button - even more so. And there's no problems with sending videos, images, audio and documents.
No muss, no fuss - a grown up service.
No muss, no fuss - a grown up service.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos (Meg Langslow, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meg is participating in a reenactment of the Battle of Yorktown. While she's watching for things that don't fit into the period, she also finds a dead body. Worse yet, Meg's brother Rob is the chief suspect since the victim wanted to buy his computer program.
Another fun mystery filled with laughs, twists, and great characters.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-revenge-of-wrought-iron.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Another fun mystery filled with laughs, twists, and great characters.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-revenge-of-wrought-iron.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Caught in the Middle in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Merry is a reporter in a small Pennsylvania town. One night, she arrives home to find a body in her trunk. Which means the killer starts coming after her. I loved this book just as much as the first time around. The Christian aspect is handled well, the story moves quickly, and the characters are lovable.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-caught-in-middle-by-gayle.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-caught-in-middle-by-gayle.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Dive Deep and Deadly (Luanne Fogarty Mysteries, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Luanne Fogarty is a diver who helps out the sheriff's department when needed. When she finds a body in a cave but it is gone by the time they return, she gets involved in a strange mystery. The writing is so vivid you feel like you are diving with Luanne. And the mystery keeps you turning pages.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-dive-deep-and-deadly-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-dive-deep-and-deadly-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Moon Water Madness (Luanne Fogarty Mysteries, #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Adjunct county diver Luanne Fogarty is asked to search for a body in a private lake. The twist is, the man died 50 years ago. Why search for him now? What happened to him all those years ago? Just like the others in the series, this one offers vivid writing, memorable characters, and a solid plot.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-moon-water-madness-by-glynn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-moon-water-madness-by-glynn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Past Tense (Diagnosis Murder, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The body of a woman washes up on the beach, but inside are pictures from Mark's first case. As he thinks back to what happened then, will it give him a clue about the current murder? This is an emotionally gripping book that really explores Mark's character in the new way. Highly recommended for fans of the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-diagnosis-murder-past-tense.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-diagnosis-murder-past-tense.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated A Dime a Dozen (The Million Dollar Mysteries, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Callie is looking at the non-profit her in laws started to honor the memory of her late husband. But her home coming is anything but peaceful when a stink bomb goes off in the local church and a body is found nearby. Once again, the plot is great, and the development for Callie is very good.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-dime-dozen-by-mindy-starns.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-dime-dozen-by-mindy-starns.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.