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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Sprinkles of Suspicion in Books
Jun 4, 2020
Emory Finds Herself Caught up in a Murder
When Emory discovers that her husband, Philip, is having an affair with her best friend, Tori, Emory naturally gets very angry and gets into a very public fight with Tori. That creates a problem, however, when Emory finds Tori’s very dead body just a few hours later. Naturally, the police consider Emory their best suspect, so Emory sets out to give them other suspects. As she tries to clear her name, is she prepared for the secrets she will uncover?
Between the Orange County, California, setting and the culinary cozy hook, I couldn’t pass this book up. As always, I enjoyed seeing the action taking place in areas I recognized even if I don’t know them super well. This book works in many ways like a TV pilot, readjusting Emory’s life as well as giving us a murder to solve. The murder got overshadowed a bit at times, but I always found the book compelling to read. There are several good surprises and twists to the mystery. The ending was a little weak, but it does answer all of our questions. I certainly sympathized with Emory since she comes across as very trusting, something that creates problems when your life becomes a mystery. I did feel her family was a little too self-absorbed. I’m sure it was supposed to be funny, but I found it more annoying. The 11 recipes at the end include some Western themed dishes as well as a couple of delicious sounding cupcakes. All told, this is a fun series debut that will leave you wondering just where cupcakes and murder will take Emory next.
Between the Orange County, California, setting and the culinary cozy hook, I couldn’t pass this book up. As always, I enjoyed seeing the action taking place in areas I recognized even if I don’t know them super well. This book works in many ways like a TV pilot, readjusting Emory’s life as well as giving us a murder to solve. The murder got overshadowed a bit at times, but I always found the book compelling to read. There are several good surprises and twists to the mystery. The ending was a little weak, but it does answer all of our questions. I certainly sympathized with Emory since she comes across as very trusting, something that creates problems when your life becomes a mystery. I did feel her family was a little too self-absorbed. I’m sure it was supposed to be funny, but I found it more annoying. The 11 recipes at the end include some Western themed dishes as well as a couple of delicious sounding cupcakes. All told, this is a fun series debut that will leave you wondering just where cupcakes and murder will take Emory next.
Lock In (Lock In #1)
8.3
Rate It
Book
Not too long from today, a new, highly contagious virus makes its way across the globe. Most who get...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated As Gouda as Dead (A Cheese Shop Mystery, #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Just days before Charlotte and Jordan are to wed, the body of Tim O’Shea, the local bar owner, is found on Jordan’s cheese farm. The personal nature of the murder leads Charlotte to start investigating to figure out who would want to kill the man who was a friend to so many.
I was surprised when I realized who the murder victim was going to be, but I liked that it made the case more personal to me as well as the characters. The large cast is charming and fun as always. I do grow a little tire of the character’s wild theories (especially Rebecca), but that’s a minor complaint overall.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-as-gouda-as-dead-by-avery.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was surprised when I realized who the murder victim was going to be, but I liked that it made the case more personal to me as well as the characters. The large cast is charming and fun as always. I do grow a little tire of the character’s wild theories (especially Rebecca), but that’s a minor complaint overall.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-as-gouda-as-dead-by-avery.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2470 KP) rated Suede to Rest (A Material Witness Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Poly inherits the family fabric store from her great-uncle, she fully intends to sell the building. However, a string of sabotage and a murder behind the shop make her wonder why someone wants her out of town so fast. Could it have to do with her great-aunt’s murder ten years before?
I was hooked on this book from the beginning. The plot is great with plenty of enjoyable twists and turns. The characters were fully formed as well, and I easily fell in love with many of them. I will definitely be back for the sequel.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-suede-to-rest-by-diane.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was hooked on this book from the beginning. The plot is great with plenty of enjoyable twists and turns. The characters were fully formed as well, and I easily fell in love with many of them. I will definitely be back for the sequel.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-suede-to-rest-by-diane.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books
Mar 28, 2018
Convoluted murder mystery
I would love to watch this as a TV series because as a book it seems rather all over the place. Following Aiden Bishop, who seems to be appear in a new host body every day in order to solve a Gosford Park-style murder, he's also stacked against competitors desperate to flee this entrapment.
The premise is fantastic - it's Inception mixed with Agatha Christie- but I feel the author Stuart Turton may have overstretched himself because by the end it's a tangle of a mess, and finishes rather abruptly, trying to tackle loose ends. I may be in the minority, but I found myself drifting away quite a bit, actually forgetting characters. There's far too many murders and body swapping, and I don't think it reached its potential.
The premise is fantastic - it's Inception mixed with Agatha Christie- but I feel the author Stuart Turton may have overstretched himself because by the end it's a tangle of a mess, and finishes rather abruptly, trying to tackle loose ends. I may be in the minority, but I found myself drifting away quite a bit, actually forgetting characters. There's far too many murders and body swapping, and I don't think it reached its potential.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Booked for Trouble (Lighthouse Library Mystery #2) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This is the second book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series, but you can jump right in without feeling like you have missed anything. I loved the lighthouse / library setting it feels cozy and calm, at least until a murder takes place right outside. I also liked the cast of characters in this one. Lucy has believable problems, and the supporting cast are a likable bunch. The mystery itself was fast paced and not too obvious. I will definitely go back and read number one in the series.
With a home perched above a library full of books, a lighthouse, a murder, and a library cat this was a perfect cozy read!
***NOTE: I received an advanced review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review***
With a home perched above a library full of books, a lighthouse, a murder, and a library cat this was a perfect cozy read!
***NOTE: I received an advanced review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review***
Elizabeth Sharrod (5 KP) rated The Woman in the Window in Books
Jul 9, 2019
This debut thriller by AJ Finn is an easy read with some great character development especially in regards to the main protagonist, an agrophobe ex psychiatrist who enjoys watching her neighbours through her window while drinking her favourite alcoholic beverage. Soon she finds herself the only witness to a murder where she questions her sanity (did this murder really take place and if so who did it and can she make anyone believe her?)
Finn really creates a character that anyone can relate to or feel for. A thriller of its genre which is already being made into a movie. The story has some twists (a tad predictable if you have an eye for detail.) However, it was an easy and enjoyable read.
Finn really creates a character that anyone can relate to or feel for. A thriller of its genre which is already being made into a movie. The story has some twists (a tad predictable if you have an eye for detail.) However, it was an easy and enjoyable read.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder in Books
Mar 1, 2020
What a great thriller debut book for Holly Jackson. I was engrossed from the start to the end with helping Pippa and Ravi find the real killer of Andie Bell. There were so many twist and turns I felt like I was watching a documentary on how solving a real murder case might go. I was invested in the characters as well as the writing was on point.What a great thriller debut book for Holly Jackson. I was engrossed from the start to the end with helping Pippa and Ravi find the real killer of Andie Bell. There were so many twist and turns I felt like I was watching a documentary on how solving a real murder case might go. I was invested in the characters as well as the writing was on point.
King of Assassins
Book
THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . . Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc, years of...
TC
The Cossack's Bride
Book
A gripping thriller from the No.1 New York Times bestseller, which sees Natalie Nevsky drawn into a...