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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen in Books

Oct 13, 2021  
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen
Rhys Bowen | 2021 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Royal Intrigue at Christmas
Lady Georgiana and Darcy are looking forward to their first Christmas as husband and wife, but then they are invited to spend the holiday at a house party being given by one of Darcy’s aunts. The implication that the queen herself wants them nearby is the only thing that makes them go. When they arrive, they learn the queen is worried someone is after a member of her family. Can Georgie figure out what is going on in time?

Fans of the series will expect that the book will get off to a slow start as we get updates on the various supporting characters we’ve gotten to know over the series. While we get hits of the plot, celebrating Christmas also slows the pacing down a little. But there is a good mystery in there, and I didn’t have the how or who figured out until Georgie pieced it to together. The end of 1935 was a huge time in British history, and I loved how the real intrigue played into this story, weaving in things we’ve been reading about since book one. This is a Christmas fans will definitely be glad they spent with Georgie.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies in Books

Jan 4, 2024  
The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies
The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies
Laura Levine | 2010 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Star Crash
Jaine is visiting her parents in Florida for the holiday. In between watching her cat being spoiled rotten and her dad try to get his horrid gold Christmas tree set up, Jaine attends the community's Christmas play. At the end, the leading man is supposed to float off the stage, but instead he falls to his death. Considering he was a horrid womanizer, the suspects are plentiful. But who actually wanted him dead?

Outside of e-mail exchanges in every book, this is the first time we've met Jaine's parents, and I got quite a hoot out of meeting them. The series is comic in nature, and that comedy continues here. The plot kept me guessing until the end. The story was mostly populated with people we haven't met before, but they all seemed real enough to make me care about the outcome.

Do note that this is a novella, originally about 100 pages. Keep that in mind when you sit down to read it.

Also note that this was originally published in the anthology Gingerbread Cookie Murder, so check that you haven’t read it already.

But if you haven’t picked up this story yet, you are in for a treat when you do.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated Shock and Paw in Books

Dec 13, 2024 (Updated Dec 13, 2024)  
Shock and Paw
Shock and Paw
Cate Conte | 2024 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder During an Electric Christmas Season
This December, the Daybreak Island Chamber of Commerce is planning several events, hoping to draw visitors during the off season. Maddie James is trying to focus on running her cat café for a change, but she finds herself drawn into the drama surrounding the events, especially the decorating contest. But when a murder happens, Maddie really jumps into things, especially with her best friend one of the suspects. Can she figure out what is going on?

I’m glad we got a second Christmas entry in this series. As always, it was fun to visit the characters again, although I do feel like some of the minor characters are hard to keep track of. The pacing in this book was off. Yes, everything came into play once the murdered happened, as I figured it would, but it wandered around quite a bit on its way there. Still, I was really caught up in the second half, and the suspects kept me guessing on the way to the logical climax. I also enjoyed the Christmas spirit we got in addition to the murder and mayhem. Fans of the series will find this puts them in the holiday mood.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated Sheer Window in Books

Nov 6, 2024  
Sheer Window
Sheer Window
Diane Vallere | 2024 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Poly Would Be Thankful to Learn What Is Happening Across the Street
This Thanksgiving, Poly Monroe is hosting a few friends for the day in the apartment over her fabric store. When she learns that someone has moved into the apartment over the bar across the street, she decides to invite them to join the festivities. However, not only does she not get a response when she goes over there, but she manages to twist her ankle. Now injured in her apartment, she finds herself watching what is happening across the street. She thinks something strange is going on. Is she right? Can she get anyone to believe her?

This is a fun novella to get us in the Thanksgiving mood. Obviously, it is a loving homage to Rear Window, and the story really leans into that with several references and nods to the film. The story is strong and pulled me in. It’s also the perfect length for this novella. We still get to see quite a few of the series regulars, which I enjoyed as well. Since it’s a novella, it will be easier to slip this into a busy holiday season. And when you pick it up, you’ll find it is sheer delight.