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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2570 KP) rated What Comes Around in Books

May 22, 2025 (Updated May 22, 2025)  
What Comes Around
What Comes Around
Annette Dashofy | 2024 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
We’ve Been Waiting for This
This book opens just days after book twelve ended, which makes sense. Helpless ended with Zoe deciding to finally stand up to Dr. Charles Davis publicly. But before she can line everything up to fire him, Pete and Zoe are called to scene of a homicide. A woman has been brutally murdered in a hotel room. The surprise is that the victim was Davis’s ex-wife who came to the area to tell Zoe something. What was it?

Because this storyline has been brewing in the background for multiple books now, I was hooked from the moment I picked up this one, always have a hard time putting it down. I didn’t expect the ending, but it made perfect sense when Zoe figured it out. As always, the characters are entertaining, new and old alike. Zoe and Pete split the point of view character duties, and the shifts are always clear. This series is darker than the cozies I often read, but don’t let that stop you from reading these books. Sadly, this is the final book (sob!), at least for now. Fortunately, the author is working on other things to entertain us. If you are already a fan of Zoe and Pete, you’ll love this book. If you aren’t yet a fan, dive in today. You’ll be hooked in no time.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2570 KP) rated Stakeouts and Strollers in Books

May 8, 2026 (Updated May 8, 2026)  
Stakeouts and Strollers
Stakeouts and Strollers
Rob Phillips | 2026 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Low on Sleep. High on Crime
Charlie Shaw is trying to juggle being a new father of a six-month-old and a new career as a private investigator, but he’s struggling. While he’s out on surveillance, he meets a teenager who is looking for her father. Charlie can’t help but feel for her, and he decides to take on the case even though she can’t pay him. However, he quickly figures out that he’s brought a lot of danger on his family. Is his client’s father still alive? Can he figure out what is happening before the danger hits too close to home?

When I saw this won Minotaur’s Best First Mystery aware, I knew I had to give it a try. The tone was darker than I was expecting, complete with some language and violence. Still, I did get some laughs, especially from the banter between Charlie and his wife. The plot went in some unexpected directions on the way to the logical climax. The characters were all well developed, and I fell in love with Charlie and his family. I did feel Charlie took some unnecessary risks, especially as a new father. One location in the San Francisco setting was a bit of a stretch, but few will care. Overall, I enjoyed this debut and will be back if we get a sequel.