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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2591 KP) rated Welcome Home to Murder in Books

Jan 17, 2025

Retired From the Army Doesn’t Mean the End to Dead Bodies

Tessa Treslow left her hometown in Idaho as soon as she graduated from high school. She’s now spent over twenty years in the army and is ready to retire. Since she still doesn’t know what she is going to do with the rest of her life, she agrees to return to New Oslo for an extended visit. While reuniting with her parents and aunt, she senses that there is something they are keeping from her. But she learns more in the more horrific way when she and her aunt find a dead body in the garage her aunt runs. The police, in the form of Tessa’s high school boyfriend, feel that her family has the perfect motive. Can Tessa figure out what really happened?

This series debut has been on my radar for a while, and I’m glad I finally got to pick it up. It has some twists on the familiar cozy tropes, and I enjoyed those. There is a depth to the characters I appreciated, and I also liked that we got details about Tessa and the others over the course of the book without any data dumps. The mystery had a few pacing issues in the middle, but overall, it was good with plenty of red herrings and a logical climax. I’m looking forward to seeing what else Tessa can find in her hometown.

Kudos

Illusion of Truth (A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery #3)

James L’Etoile

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Hunter becomes the hunted Sacramento Detective Emily Hunter is exposed to inhumanity on a daily...

Crime Mystery Thriller

I Have Some Questions For You

Rebecca Makkai

6.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The riveting new novel from the author of The Great Believers, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and...

Merissa (14048 KP) rated Some Kind of Truth in Books

Apr 19, 2024

Some Kind of Truth

Westley Smith | 2024 | Mystery, Thriller

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

SOME KIND OF TRUTH is a dark mystery crime thriller about a reporter on the search for truth. Steve James has gone through his own trauma that is similar to that of the girl on the USB stick he anonymously receives. After receiving the approval of his editor, he goes to small-town USA - Hanover if you want the particulars - to find out just what happened.

This was a good story that had me turning the pages, even as I suspended reality. Steve, and the local journalist helping him, Amy, go around the town and surrounding areas, going into houses, and making discoveries that should have been reported to the police.

There were a few errors that I spotted, just as Lance Corporal Lewis Brenner changing to Lance Corporal Kyle Brenner and Private Lewis Lomax. They weren't enough to spoil my reading but they were noticeable.

Steve was a sympathetic character to begin with, but his constant musings about drink and alcohol became monotonous, even knowing the reasons why he used them as a crutch. He can see things others might miss, although he is not infallible.

A dark and gritty story that I can definitely recommend.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 13, 2024

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2591 KP) rated White Elephant Dead in Books

May 23, 2024

Rummaging for Blackmail Secrets

Broward’s Rock is getting ready for the Women’s Club’s annual white elephant sale. When Kathryn Girard disappears with the club van while out collecting donations, Annie’s friend and best customer, Henny Brawley, heads out after her. But then no one hears from Henny. Annie and her husband, Max, start searching for her. They find the van with Kathryn’s body in the back and Henny’s car nearby. The new police chief thinks that means Henny much have killed Kathryn. But Annie knows better. The real question is, why would anyone want to kill Kathryn? And what happened to Henny?

It isn’t long before Annie and Max realize blackmail is involved, and it adds an interesting layer to this mystery. As usual, I found the suspects a bit flat, and I had a hard time remember who was who. Likewise, one aspect of the plot is just dropped, and I wish it had been fully developed. Still, things came together for a logical climax. I’m catching more of the references to other mystery books, but I still find there are too many of them, so they can get annoying. The series regulars are in fine form, and they gave me plenty of laughs. Most of my issues with the book are regular problems for me in the series, but I still enjoy the books. If you are a fan who hasn’t read this book yet, you’ll enjoy it, too.

Kudos

Helpless

Annette Dashofy

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

As a massive weather system barrels toward them, Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams and his...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2591 KP) rated Waters of Destruction in Books

Apr 3, 2025

Last Call for the Bartender

It’s been a few months since we last checked in with Valerie and Kristen, and in that time, they’ve completed their move to Hawai’i. While they are trying to settle into their new life, Valerie agrees to help out their friend Sachiko who needs a bartender at the restaurant she manages. The old bartender has disappeared, but when his body turns up, the police start looking at Sachiko as a suspect. Can Valerie figure out what really happened to him?

Since Valerie and Kristen were fighting in the first book, I had trouble buying into their relationship. I’m happy to say they were getting along better here, and I enjoyed spending more time with them. The rest of the characters were great as well, and I hope we see many of them again. The plot appeared to be wandering a bit at the beginning, but everything came into play on the way to the surprising climax. Some of the characters do use Pigeon English, but I didn’t have trouble following their dialog. There is a glossary in the back if you want to learn more as well as five recipes to enjoy after you’ve finished. The setting came to life, and it was the next best thing to getting to visit myself. This is a fun second book for when you want a tropical retreat filled with murder.