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Network of Deceit
Network of Deceit
Tom Threadgill | 2021 | Crime, Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great Deductive Reasoning
Detective Amara Alvarez from the SAPD (San Antonio Police Department) Homicide brings us a great new case in Network of Deceit. From the first page, I was hooked on this story. I was a big fan of Collision of Lies the first book in this stand-alone series, for the character development Tom Threadgill uses, and how he walks us through the case just as if we were there asking the questions to figure out the case right along Detective Alvarez. Detective Alvarez has a light sense of humor, and she is a bit of a quirky character take this for instance: “[Detective Alvarez] heading home to Larry, her three-foot-long pet iguana”. I also love Tom Threadgill’s use of dry sarcastic humor and wit in the conversations between Detective Alvarez and Detective Jeremiah “Starsky” Peckham is it fun to read and adds another layer to the story.

This particular case was rife with speculation, suspense, and unanswered questions that left me guessing until the end. A true mystery in every sense of the word. We are shown every step in the case and it is not tv fast paced, it is realistic. Tom Threadgill gives accurate timelines for the turnaround on things like autopsy reports and toxicology reports, unlike most tv shows. I also really enjoyed the cybercrime aspects of the story and I thought that it was explained in an easy-to-understand way for anyone, even if you do not have any previous knowledge of cybercrimes.

I would suggest that you go back and read Collision of Lies before this one as it gives you more background on the characters and you would have a better understanding of the case the previous book covers that is mentioned a few times in this one. But this one can be read as a stand-alone since the whole case is started and wrapped up in this book. Overall, I truly loved this book, and the way Tom Threadgill moved the case along, and I am looking forward to what other adventures that Detective Alvarez takes me on. 5 out of 5 stars.
  
Abide With Me : A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
One simply has to adore a nun who writes detective romance stories, has a murder club to help her with amateur sleuthing, and looks to famous literary detectives for advice. (0 more)
A young journalist is visiting Gwenafwy Abby, presumably writing a story on the new directions the church is taking. When she is found dead, Sister Agatha does not believe the theory of an accidental death. She starts a new notebook and dives into the case chasing down clues. Does the young woman’s death have something to do with scathing articles she has written in the past? Or, could it be an ex-boyfriend who just happens to show up in town, and just who was it seen entering the woman’s cottage after her death?Sister Agatha is a bit of a handful. She doesn’t do anything by half measures. One simply has to adore a nun who writes detective romance stories, has a murder club to help her with amateur sleuthing, and looks to famous literary detectives for advice. What would Miss Marple do??? Agatha’s weakness for cake lends itself to wonderful descriptions of mouthwatering traditional Welsh food. In this story, nearly everyone close to the Abby is a suspect. As much as Agatha and the reader want the killer to be found out and caught, it is likely that it will be heartbreaking for the nuns. Agatha keeps her moxie to the thrilling end of the investigation though.These are characters I would love to sit and visit with. From the put upon police department and store clerks to the individual sisters at the Abby. Maybe spend a few days learning to make cheese, especially since Gouda is my family’s fave.I loved the social commentary on modern technology and how it fits into a cloistered setting. Mostly I just giggled over the names of the shops in town, I won’t spoil them all, but, my favorites are The Fatted Calf farm to table market and Lettuce Eat Vegan.So why should you read this book? Because it is quirky, brilliant, softboiled Cozy at its best. The cast of characters and their personal stories will have you scrambling to read the first two books, or waiting impatiently for the next one.
  
    Candy Crush Jelly Saga

    Candy Crush Jelly Saga

    Games

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    There's a new player in town, the wiggling, jiggling Jelly Queen and she's here to challenge you to...

The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill
C.S. Robertson | 2022 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well, this is like no book I have read before and most definitely in a good way and whilst, in my honest opinion, I don't think the cover does it justice, please don't let it put you off.

I'm sure we have all read or heard about those very sad situations where someone dies and lies undiscovered for days, weeks or even months and have wondered what their story is and why they died so alone in the world; this is a story that unlocks some of that mystery but from a very unique perspective - the cleaner who removes all evidence of that lonely death.

Grace McGill is that cleaner. She does a job that very few people would want to do and she is good at it but there is more to Grace than meets the eye; she is an extremely interesting and complex character that is, what some might call, slightly odd but I found her fascinating.

Things plod on at a fairly sedate pace where we get to know Grace, her background, her foibles and eccentricities. She goes into great detail how she sets about cleaning a scene, which some might find a little too descriptive, and how she tries to get to know the person and their story.

One such death has her intrigued and she sets on a path to find out more and this is where the story and action really begins and just about half way through, there is a totally unexpected and jaw-dropping moment which totally surprised and shocked me and completely shifted the book into something else and I was hooked until the end racing through the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

This is like no other book I have read before; it's a little bit strange with a quirky but endearing main character and a unique story that I would recommend to others who enjoy reading things that are a little bit different from the usual.

I have never read anything by this author before but will definitely be looking out for him in the future and I must thank Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
  
Prince of Flowers (Wild Hearts #1)
Prince of Flowers (Wild Hearts #1)
Nazri Noor | 2022 | LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
PRINCE OF FLOWERS is the first book in the Wild Hearts series and we are introduced to a world that is both contemporary and magical. It was a little weird to start with when Playstations are being discussed but it soon turned to the magical side, and all was right for me.

I say for me because it certainly wasn't for Sylvain. Locke is a summoner, a super senior summoner as he has been at Wispwood for years. His father was a big name and it's a lot for him to live up to but, to be honest, it didn't sound as though he was that bothered about doing the work either. Yes, he wants his Summoner's Crest but the only reason that is mentioned is so he can get his hands on his inheritance.

He summons Sylvain and can't understand why Sylvain is a bit perturbed. Sylvain, quite rightly, wants to know what's going on and why. The "Humanoids" have been summoned in the past, but it isn't common," line didn't sit that well with me. It didn't seem quite right. Maybe that's just me.

The spark is there between the two of them from the start - although whether it is attraction or being contrary to each other is up to you to figure out. I did enjoy how they worked things out and ended up working together.

I really did enjoy this book and certainly want to continue with the series. I am hopeful that in subsequent books we will get more world- and character-building than we got here. Although there was some, it just didn't feel as though it was enough. I want to know more about the magical side, about Locke's relationship with his father, about where his father went, about Evander Skink, so much more!

All in all, this was a great read and a brilliant start to a new series. Individual and quirky, I have no hesitation in recommending it.

** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!