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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Snow Way Out (Snow Globe Shop Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Cami Brooks is enjoying running her family’s curio shop and reconnecting with her friends. One night, after hosting a snow globe making class, she is walking how through the park when she finds a man asleep on the park bench. Only, he’s not sleeping, as she discovers when he falls over, revealing the knife in his back. The scene looks just like a strange snow globe she’d seen in her shop before she left, but when she goes back with the police, it’s gone. What is happening?
The characters in this book were wonderful. I could feel the basis for their friendships and the loving relationships with Cami’s family. They could have used a bit more development, but I would have been willing to revisit them if the plot were better. Sadly, the book is filled with events happening to Cami; she doesn’t do much to drive the plot at all. Worse yet, the climax is weak and the explanation for some of the events is adequate at best. And let’s not discuss a scene that would never happen involving Cami and the police.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-snow-way-out-by-christine.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The characters in this book were wonderful. I could feel the basis for their friendships and the loving relationships with Cami’s family. They could have used a bit more development, but I would have been willing to revisit them if the plot were better. Sadly, the book is filled with events happening to Cami; she doesn’t do much to drive the plot at all. Worse yet, the climax is weak and the explanation for some of the events is adequate at best. And let’s not discuss a scene that would never happen involving Cami and the police.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-snow-way-out-by-christine.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Mouse Trapped (Mirage Mysteries #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Phoenix Robbery detective Marsha “Mouse” is shot in a meeting with an informant gone wrong. All the police have to go on is part of a name and the original tip that the thieves were targeting a collection of Native American silver jewelry. Homicide detectives Joe and Tom are pursuing some of the tangential leads, which brings them into the Robbery side of the case. Can the two figure out what happened without inciting a turf war within the police department?
It’s nice to have a mystery that involves another crime as well, and I enjoyed tracking down the thieves as a way to find the killer. Since the only clue is part of a name, we get too many suspects with similar sounding names, meaning we have to work hard to remember them all until we really get to know the characters. New Christian Joe is trying to grow in his faith, something I enjoyed seeing. I first read this book over 25 years ago, and it’s nice to see it stacks up to my memories of the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-mouse-trapped-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
It’s nice to have a mystery that involves another crime as well, and I enjoyed tracking down the thieves as a way to find the killer. Since the only clue is part of a name, we get too many suspects with similar sounding names, meaning we have to work hard to remember them all until we really get to know the characters. New Christian Joe is trying to grow in his faith, something I enjoyed seeing. I first read this book over 25 years ago, and it’s nice to see it stacks up to my memories of the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-mouse-trapped-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Sue (5 KP) rated Death Over Easy in Books
Aug 13, 2018
Roberta “Robbie” Jordan is busy running her country store/café and has newly opened her B&B for business. Her first guests at the B&B include her father Roberto and his wife Maria visiting from Italy plus a few musicians in town for a bluegrass festival.
On the first night of the festival, Roberta and Maria recognize one of the performers as a young woman named Pia from their town in Italy. Pia is later found choked to death by a banjo string and there are many suspects that the police are looking at including Robbie’s father and stepmom, her boyfriend Abe, and the festival chairperson Sue. Can Robbie find the real murderer before someone she loves is booked for murder?
This is a cozy mystery with a strong female lead who has a knack for amateur sleuthing. The rest of the ensemble of characters include the usual quirky and witty townspeople, a laundry list of potential suspects, and for once a few police officers that are not bumbling idiots. It has a good plot and the author has a nice flow to her writing style. While this is a few books into the series, it can easily be read as a standalone without the reader getting confused by the storyline.
On the first night of the festival, Roberta and Maria recognize one of the performers as a young woman named Pia from their town in Italy. Pia is later found choked to death by a banjo string and there are many suspects that the police are looking at including Robbie’s father and stepmom, her boyfriend Abe, and the festival chairperson Sue. Can Robbie find the real murderer before someone she loves is booked for murder?
This is a cozy mystery with a strong female lead who has a knack for amateur sleuthing. The rest of the ensemble of characters include the usual quirky and witty townspeople, a laundry list of potential suspects, and for once a few police officers that are not bumbling idiots. It has a good plot and the author has a nice flow to her writing style. While this is a few books into the series, it can easily be read as a standalone without the reader getting confused by the storyline.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Long Bright River in Books
Dec 15, 2019
A Tale of Two Sisters
An engaging story of two sisters whose lives take very different paths. I loved the writing in this book and felt I was drawn into seeing the run-down Philadelphia neighborhood this book is set in.
Less a thriller and more a very character-driven tale of Michaela (Mickey,) a cop and her complicated relationship to her drug-addicted sister. When women start turning up dead on Mickey’s patch her concern for her sister intensifies. The book switches between the present day with Mickey’s search for a killer and her sister in a neighborhood suspicious of police and the tale of their growing-up in less than ideal circumstances.
Part police procedural/mystery/thriller I wouldn’t pick this book up if that’s what you are really craving as this isn’t done in a particularly satisfying way with what felt like a slightly rushed resolution after a slow-burn start to this aspect. I would, however, recommend picking it up if you fancy a gritty emotional look into the world of a neighborhood ravaged by drugs and the strong family ties that persevere.
Many thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Less a thriller and more a very character-driven tale of Michaela (Mickey,) a cop and her complicated relationship to her drug-addicted sister. When women start turning up dead on Mickey’s patch her concern for her sister intensifies. The book switches between the present day with Mickey’s search for a killer and her sister in a neighborhood suspicious of police and the tale of their growing-up in less than ideal circumstances.
Part police procedural/mystery/thriller I wouldn’t pick this book up if that’s what you are really craving as this isn’t done in a particularly satisfying way with what felt like a slightly rushed resolution after a slow-burn start to this aspect. I would, however, recommend picking it up if you fancy a gritty emotional look into the world of a neighborhood ravaged by drugs and the strong family ties that persevere.
Many thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated Close to Home in Books
Jan 7, 2020
I didn’t want to put this down!
Eighteen months ago, I wouldn’t have picked up this book. I thought I didn’t like police procedural, crime or thriller novels. However, The Pigeonhole has opened up a whole new genre to me, and I’m so glad - I wouldn’t have read this book for a start!
I think Adam Fawley is going to be a detective that I will enjoy reading about. This isn’t a pleasant subject: an eight year old child, Daisy Mason, goes missing, and rather than doing everything they can to help find her, her parents are positively obstructive. Her younger brother is withdrawn - in fact it really doesn’t look good for the parents.
The police team are all great characters to read about, and DI Fawley is very human. We learn about his tragic background, and the reason why he works so hard to find Daisy.
I just really liked everything about this - the storyline isn’t needlessly gruesome, the characters are really well described and the ending was so good (oh, it had me rubbing my hands together!). To be honest, I’ve already bought the next two books in the series!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Cara Hunter for reading along.
I think Adam Fawley is going to be a detective that I will enjoy reading about. This isn’t a pleasant subject: an eight year old child, Daisy Mason, goes missing, and rather than doing everything they can to help find her, her parents are positively obstructive. Her younger brother is withdrawn - in fact it really doesn’t look good for the parents.
The police team are all great characters to read about, and DI Fawley is very human. We learn about his tragic background, and the reason why he works so hard to find Daisy.
I just really liked everything about this - the storyline isn’t needlessly gruesome, the characters are really well described and the ending was so good (oh, it had me rubbing my hands together!). To be honest, I’ve already bought the next two books in the series!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Cara Hunter for reading along.
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