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David McK (3918 KP) rated Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15) in Books

Mar 6, 2022  
Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15)
Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15)
Jim Butcher | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.6 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hells Bells!
<2022 update>

I should perhaps mention that Michael Carpenter and his family don't actually turn up until a fair ways into the story ...

<original 2015 review>

"Last year I died, but I got better"

It's probably been over a year since I read the last Harry Dresden book, as I'd been waiting (and waiting, and waiting ...) for this one to come out in paperback. Was it worth the wait?

Absolutely yes.

I know it's still only March (nearly April), but this is a strong contender for my choice for book of the year - definitely the best I've read so far this year, with the bar set VERY high for any others later this year to match.

As this starts, Harry is still on Demonreach island, still recovering from previous events in Cold Days. It's not long, however, before Mab - the Winter Queen - has Harry (as her Winter Knight) paying off on of her debts, forcing him to work with Nicodemus Archleone and the Knights of the Blackened Denarius. Harry has to help Nicodemus to rob a vault belonging to the Lord of the Underworld Hades himself, while somehow staying alive and a step ahead of the inevitable betrayal.

As the Knights of the Denarius are involved, this also means that the Knights of the Cross - or, more specifically, Michael Carpenter - are back in the novel, as counter-points to the fallen angels. So, too, are Waldo Butters, Molly Carpenter, Bob the skull and Karrin Murphy with Thomas, however, conspicuous by his absence.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2658 KP) rated Island of Thieves in Books

Jun 23, 2022  
Island of Thieves
Island of Thieves
Glen Erik Hamilton | 2021 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
“A Thrilling Adventures of Thieves and Mysterious Islands and Magic Potions”
Van Shaw has been hired by an eccentric businessman to assess the security of the art gallery on his private island during a several day business meeting being hosted there. Van isn’t sure he believes the story he’s been given, but the money is good, so he agrees to the job. When he arrives, he finds the man’s normal security forces more hostile than expected. Then he finds a dead body on the beach. What has Van stumbled into this time?

I picked up this book expecting another thrilling adventure, and I wasn’t disappointed. The plot was a little slow in the set up, but once it got going, there were plenty of twists and action to keep us engaged. I was surprised to see the book switch to third person point of view, which made it a little harder than I expected to connect with Van again, but the multiple points of view we had for the climax made it clear why this book needed that switch. And the changes from one point of view to another were always easy to follow. I did have a little trouble connecting the characters to which side they were on, but that might be me. We do see some of the other series regulars, and I love how they bring out other sides in Van. Overall, this is another great entry in the series. If you are a fan of thrillers and you haven’t started these books yet, do so today.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Hell Bay (DI Ben Kitto #1) [Audiobook] in Books

Mar 12, 2023  
Hell Bay (DI Ben Kitto #1) [Audiobook]
Hell Bay (DI Ben Kitto #1) [Audiobook]
Kate Rhodes | 2018 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the first book by Kate Rhodes I have read or listened to and it definitely won't be the last as Hell Bay was gripping and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

DI Ben Kitto returns to the place of his birth, the beautiful but bleak Scilly Isles, with the intention of taking some time following a tragedy which has resulted in him wanting to resign from his job as a detective in the murder investigation team in London but being told by his superiors to take some time out instead.

Unfortunately, this doesn't quite work out when a young girl is found on a remote beach having been stabbed to death and left to the mercy of the sea. The culprit must be one of the islanders and it is Ben Kitto who is tasked with investigating but what he uncovers is an island full of dark secrets.

With great characters, a fantastic setting and a great plot written at a perfect pace, Hell Bay is a gripping story that had me guessing and second guessing myself from the start and made all the better by the great narration of Stephen Perring who, despite the numerous different characters, did an excellent job.

Definitely recommended and I will be looking out for the rest of the series to feast my beady eyes or ears on and my thanks go to Simon & Schuster Audio UK and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of Hell Bay.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2658 KP) rated The Cambodian Curse and Other Stories in Books

Oct 9, 2026 (Updated Oct 9, 2026)  
The Cambodian Curse and Other Stories
The Cambodian Curse and Other Stories
Gigi Pandian | 2023 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Get Ready for an Impossible Crime or Nine
This is a collection of short stories and novellas that feature Jaya Jones as she finds herself involved in some locked room mysteries. The title story was originally written for this collection and involves a murder and theft at a local art museum. In another, after being stranded in Denver due to snow, Jaya must figure out who killed an author in the hotel’s library. She also gets involved in a theft and disappearance at a conference. A couple of stories star Jaya’s friend Sanjay, and one of Sanjay’s stories finds him trying to solve a murder on an island off the coast of San Franciscos. There’s also a story featuring Tempest, the main character of the author’s Secret Staircase Mysteries. In the final story, Jaya must figure out who stole a valuable chess set.

All told there are nine stories in this collection. I might have been ahead of Jaya a couple of times, but for the most part, I was kept guessing until the end. And the stories are all fun. The collection jumps around in Jaya’s life, but there aren’t spoilers for the novels, so anyone new to her world could use this as an introduction. It’s fun to see many of the characters from the series pop in and out, and the new characters serve the stories well. I’m glad I’m up to date on Jaya’s adventures and look forward to seeing what she gets up to when the series continues next year.