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ClareR (6106 KP) rated The Cruise in Books

Mar 17, 2023  
The Cruise
The Cruise
Catherine Cooper | 2022 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well. That’s another holiday off the list.

That’s the problem when an author writes an attention-grabbing book, with a nice setting and not-so-nice events.

Lola, one of the dancers on a cruise ship, falls to her death over the side of the ship, and her brother Antonio is devastated. But then more things are revealed - and I don’t want to give any of them away!

This book has a dual timeline: we go back in time to find out more about the characters, and it gives the reader some idea of why they’ve behaved the way they have. I do like a dual timeline.

No-one’s blameless or particularly nice in this, and I did wonder if Antonio was actually in possession of all/ any of his faculties.

I’m not going to say anything else about the story. I will say that it was a gripping read with a lot of forehead-slapping moments, and a few “Oh my God”s! (It’s not just me that does this, is it?).

Very enjoyable!
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2502 KP) rated Sleep in Heavenly Pizza in Books

Dec 18, 2024 (Updated Dec 18, 2024)  
Sleep in Heavenly Pizza
Sleep in Heavenly Pizza
Mindy Quigley | 2024 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Delilah’s Friends and Family are in Deep Dish
When Delilah and the staff at her restaurant cater a combined Hanukkah and Christmas dinner, Delilah is surprised to run into some family she didn’t know were in town. But the bigger surprise comes the next day when the body of one of the guests is found in a snow pile created for the snow sculpting contest. With her family and friends as the prime suspects, Delilah jumps in to clear them. But what are they hiding?

I always enjoy reading holiday books during December, and this one gave me plenty of Christmas vibes while also including Hanukkah, which was a great touch. The mystery unfolded a little differently, but still pulled me in and kept me turning the pages until I reached the logical climax. Meanwhile, the characters shine, with some nice growth for them and their relationships. There’s plenty of talk about food, and the four recipes at the end sound good. No matter when you pick up this book, you’ll find it delicious.
  
Five Golden Wings
Five Golden Wings
Donna Andrews | 2025 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dueling Weddings and Murder at Christmas
Meg and her mother are helping to organize two weddings for two of Meg’s younger cousins set to take place the Saturday before Christmas. Unfortunately, these young women are constantly feuding, so the weddings are taking place back-to-back, even though they are sharing the venues. The two brides bring nothing but drama in the days leading up to their events, and that’s before Meg finds the wedding photographer dead. Unfortunately, the suspect list is long, including members of the bridal party. Can Meg figure out what happened?

Reading the Christmas set entries in this series has become a Christmas tradition for me. Even when the plot doesn’t involve Christmas explicitly, there is still more than enough holiday cheer to make it feel festive. The mystery itself was a little weak, but things made sense in the end. And the weddings provided plenty to keep me engage, including many laughs. It’s always wonderful to spend time with these characters. If you are looking for a fun Christmas cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.