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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Heron's Cry in Books

Sep 16, 2021  
The Heron's Cry
The Heron's Cry
Ann Cleeves | 2021 | Contemporary, Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
An excellent, complex character-driven mystery
Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a farm/artist retreat where Dr. Nigel Yeo has been killed. He's found dead in his own daughter's glassblower studio, stabbed with a shard of one of her vases. Dr. Yeo seems like a nice man: adored by his daughter and a public servant, working to help bring understanding between the public trusts. When a second body is found--killed in a similar way--Matthew realizes that he must dig deep into the secrets and lies of his community to find a killer.

I adore this series and the fact that Detective Matthew Venn, our lead, is a gay man. As with all of Cleeves' books, this is an excellent, solid mystery, with an interesting plot and a team whom you can easily become invested in. Each of her characters is well-written, strong, and original. It's so refreshing, honestly, to read a tale without a crazy unreliable narrator but instead one that simply relies on a strong story and excellent characters. There is a slate of people who could be potential suspects, and we also get backstories for our various detectives: Matthew, Ross, and Jen. Everyone is entwined in this small town (and honestly, if I were them, I'd be a bit worried how many people seem to die there! Cabot Cove, anyone?).

This book kept me guessing the entire time, which I love. I was constantly second guessing myself and wondering who killed whom. It was filled with twists, but nothing wild or unbelievable. This is easily becoming one of my new favorite series. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
  
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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Wife List in Books

Jun 3, 2024  
TW
The Wife List
J.A. Schneider | 2024
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
109 of 220
Book sirens Arc
The Wife List
By J.A. Schneider
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Has a group of men conspired to murder each other's wives - figuring their perfect alibis will save them? That is what Beth Kemp starts to suspect, but is she losing her mind? Her husband says he fears so...

I'll give this marriage one more try, Beth Kemp thinks. She is a successful crime writer in New York City, who regrets that tension has crept into her relationship with her husband, Brad. He too is a writer who, after early success, finds his career fading.

Brad urges that a move to the country would make them happy again - and safe, especially Beth, to avoid the city's stress that triggers her severe asthma attacks. Beth wavers, until her close friend is murdered and the friend's husband has a perfect alibi. She finally accepts that the city with its surging crime has become too hard for her.

The Kemps move to beautiful Sheffield, Connecticut, so perfect it seems too good to be true. It is. When one new friend cries in fear about her husband, and another has a bruise under her eye, Brad tells Beth that she's overimagining. But when she hears of another wife's unsolved murder and yet another friend dies mysteriously, Beth suspects the husbands of covering for each other. Brad tells her she's getting crazy, paranoid.

Then Beth stumbles onto the most devastating shock of all, one she never imagined...

This was a decent read of not a little to predictable. Well written and a good story.
I do like this writers style but like I said it was very predictable.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  
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Merissa (14003 KP) rated Royal (Foster Bros #2) in Books

Jan 23, 2026  
Royal (Foster Bros #2)
Royal (Foster Bros #2)
Jodie Harper | 2026 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
ROYAL is the second book in the Foster Bros series, and you don't need to have read book one to understand this one. What you do need is a whole lot of patience, as these two drove me crazy.

Royal is the Daddy Dom, who says he is more into the caretaking side of things. Memphis is the little who left home at the first opportunity, as he had feelings for Royal. One of the parents knew about this, but didn't say anything. Fast forward a few years, and Memphis' sperm donor dies, so he returns for the funeral, and to see if he and Royal might finally have a future together.

If mis- or non-communication is your thing, then you are going to LOVE this story. If it's not, then you might struggle, as I did. Saying that, there were a lot of things here that I did enjoy, so I will be continuing with the series. The writing and the pacing are well done, and I did enjoy all the interactions in this story. It's Drake's story next, and I can't wait to find out more about the quiet, enigmatic brother.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 23, 2026





<spoiler>I love a good Daddy Dom, especially one heavy on caretaking, so I was thoroughly looking forward to this. I've also never read a book where the 'little' disappears, so I was also looking forward to seeing how that worked out. In a word, it didn't. The Daddy / little part became almost non-existent.</spoiler>
  
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Merissa (14003 KP) rated Rally Point Zero (Team Oh Sh!t #2) in Books

Apr 10, 2026  
Rally Point Zero (Team Oh Sh!t #2)
Rally Point Zero (Team Oh Sh!t #2)
Jacqueline McCall | 2026 | Dystopia, LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
RALLY POINT ZERO is the second book in the Team Oh Sh!t duology, and is also a book of two halves. The first half talks about what isn't always shown in the disaster movies - just how hard it is just to survive following an apocalypse! Gabriel and Blake are still together, but their paths are taking them further apart from each other. Both of them have PTSD in different, but equally traumatic, ways. The second half is what happens when stubborn humans decide to fight back. There is more action and plenty of drama as they devise a crazy plan to retake D.C.

This was a brilliant follow-up to the first book, delivering just as much emotion and action as the first, while continuing to move the story along. I loved Gabriel and Blake's relationship, so full of heart at such a difficult time. Once again, the supporting characters are amazing and help move the story along. I was literally biting my nails as I read, hoping and praying that no one died that I had become attached to.

I know this is a duology, but there are characters here that need their story told. I'm looking at Judd/Victoria, Alvarez/Beaumont, and absolutely not forgetting Phin/Tommy. This was an amazing, not easy, read, but well worth it. I loved every moment spent with Team Oh Sh!t, and hope to return to this series at some time in the future. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED by me.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 10, 2026