What Are We Reading And Reviewing in February 2021?

What are you planning to read in February? Don't keep it a "Mystery" or us in "Suspense.

📌 - ★
Carol's February Reading
📌Yesterday’s Papers – Martin Edwards - 5★
📌Nine Times Nine – Anthony Boucher - 3★
📌The Night She Died – Dorothy Simpson - 3.5★
📌Pale As A Ghost – Stephen Osborne - 5★
📌The House That Jack Built – Jakob Melander - 4★
📌Five Total Strangers – Natalie Richards - 5★ (Pick A Winner)
📌The Dark Corners of The Night - Meg Gardiner - 3★
📌Touch and Go – Aidan Bates - 5★
📌Survival Instinct – Fiona Quinn - 3★
📌The Coil – L.A. Gilbert - 2★
📌Edge of Nowhere – Michael Ridpath - 4★
📌Beta Test - Annabeth Albert - 3.5★
📌Buried Passion - Aiden Bates - 4.5★
📌Connection Error - Annabeth Albert- 4★
📌The Unwanted – Jean Nicole Rivers - 4★
📌What Happened At The Lake – Phil Williams - 3★
📌Deadlocked Dollhouse – Maxi Applebottom - 4.5★
📌The Catacombs – Jeremy Bates - 4.5★
📌Tequila Sunrise - Layla Reyne - 3★
📌Only By Death - Kathy Herman- 2.5★
📌A Room in Chelsea Square Michael Nelson - 2★
📌Hid From Our Eyes - Julia Spencer-Fleming - 4★
📌Daddy: Stories - Emma Cline - 2.5★
📌City of Bones - Cassandra Clare - 4.5★
📌Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green - 4★
📌Fire and Water - Andrew Grey - 4★
📌Bundled Up - Annabeth Albert - 4.5★
📌Gathered Up - Annabeth Albert - 4.5★
📌Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall -5★
📌Fire And Rain - Andrew Grey - 4★
📌Fire and Ice - Andrew Grey - 4★
📌Fire and Snow - Andrew Grey - 4★
📌Fire and Hail - Andrew Grey - 4.5★
📌Fire and Fog - Andrew Grey - 5★
📌Invisible Girl - Lisa Jewell - 2.5★
📌Invisible Girl - Lisa Jewell - 2.5★

Gayle's Books for February

Well, I don't have my complete list yet but I am planing to read these:

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason

Dee's February Fling
-My first two library books for February, and one of them is another Matthew Reilly. I read Seven Ancient Wonders by him, in January. Very fast paced book, but I enjoyed it a lot, and gave it four stars.

1. Contest by Matthew Reilly



2. The Last Astronaut by David Wellington

Lynda and Oliver's February Reading Plan

Mystery

💌 Alibi in High Heels - Gemma Halliday - 3 Stars - 2/24/21
💌 Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes - Carolyn Keene - 4 Stars - 2/13/21
💌 Cold Wind - Paige Shelton - 4.5 Stars - 2/20/21
💌 Dark Bones - Loreth Anne White - 4 Stars - 2/21/20
💌 Daylight - David Baldacci-4 Stars - 2/22/21
💌 Escape Room - Megan Goldin - 5 Stars - 2/3/21
💌 Faithless in Death - J. D. Robb - 5 Stars - 2/23/21
💌 Find Me - Anne Frasier - 4.5 Stars - 2/4/21
💌 Free Fire - C. J. Box - 4.5 Stars - 2/16/21
💌 Hidden Staircase - Carolyn Keene - 4 Stars - 2/13/21
💌 I've Got You Under My Skin - Mary Higgins Clark - 4 Stars - 1/19/21
💌 Murder Handcrafted - Isabella Alan - 3.5 Stars - 2/18/21
💌 Scent of Murder - Kylie Logan - 4 Stars - 2/7/21
💌 Shadow Sands - Rboert Bryndza - 4 Stars - 2/9/21
💌 Troubled Blood - Robert Galbraith - 5 Stars - 2/14/21

Other

💌 Address - Fiona Davis - 4 Stars - 2/17/21
💌 Barbarian's Seduction - Ruby Dixon - 3 Stars - 2/1/21
💌 Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan - 3.5 Stars - 2/8/21
💌 Devil in Winter - Lisa Kleypas - 4 Stars - 2/15/21
💌 Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell - 4.5 Stars - 2/2/21
💌 Just Imagine - Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 3.5 Stars - 2/11/21
💌 Lieutenant's Nurse - Sara Ackerman - 3.5 Stars - 2/10/21
💌 They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera - 4 Stars - 2/5/21
💌 Stockman's Daughter - Jacquie Underdown- 3 Stars - 2/12/21
💌 When Calls the Heart - Janette Oke - 3.5 Stars - 2/6/21
💌 Sunne in Splendour - Sharon Kay Penman - 5 Stars - 2/26/21
💌 White Trash Zombie Unchained - Diana Rowland - 4.5 Stars - 2/11/21

Pale As A Ghost - Stephen Osborne- (Indiana)
Duncan Andrews series Book #1
5★
Private detective Duncan Andrews’s best friend Gina is a witch. His dog is a zombie. And his dead boyfriend, Robbie, is a ghost. So it’s hardly any wonder that he uses his connection to the supernatural to help him solve cases. Good thing, too, because Duncan has his hands full. Janice Sanderson, the richest woman in Indianapolis, wants him to find her stripper daughter, Brenda, and another client is having some trouble with a specter haunting her family home. On top of that, Duncan has decided to add dating into the mix, though after Robbie’s death, he’s not sure he’s ready. When Duncan meets Nick while tracking down a lead on Brenda’s boyfriend, he shelves his doubts and agrees to a date. Robbie doesn’t make it easy on him, showing up to spoil his chances, but that is the least of Duncan’s worries because one of his clients’ husbands is missing and there’s a serial killer on the loose…one Duncan fears isn’t human.

I am… as we speak… searching for book 2. Anyone that craves more and more of Jim Butcher’s Dresdon Files series will more than likely love this one. The world is anything but a dull place for our Duncan Andrews…how can it be when his dead boy friend lives with him. What’s special about that you might ask? Oh…did I mention that he’s dead and it’s his ghost that is making itself right at home along with the Zombie dog. Mix that in with the otherworldly creatures he meets and you have what amounts to Duncan’s life. When I first read the description I thought “no way!” But oh yes! Way! I had so much fun with this book. In spite of the witch, ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, vampires, and so on, it is just such a fun book. I am so looking forward to the next one.

Tequila Sunrise - Layla Reyne –(California)
Agents Irish and Whisky Book #4
3★
Former FBI agent Melissa “Mel” Cruz spent years skirting the line between life and death, knowing the next assignment might be her last. Back from overseas and eager to enjoy life outside the Bureau, she’s ready to give Danny Talley a Christmas Eve he’ll never forget. A proven asset in high-stakes missions, Danny’s known for having the skill and brains to get the job done. When the Talley flagship is hijacked during the company holiday party, he’ll do anything to save his family, his love and everything they’ve all worked so hard to build. But their enemies have a secondary protocol—leave no survivors—and that plan is already in play.

It’s really a novella which makes it extremely short. I wondered if Layla Reyne wrote it while still writing "Blended Whisky" where hopefully we will be invited to Aidan and Jamie’s wedding. I guess Danny and Mel did need their story told since they were both such a big part of the first 3 books. It’s not a bad story at all…I just would have preferred the characters of Irish and Whisky to have a larger portion of the story.

Nine Times Nine –Anthony Boucher (California)
3★
The head of the Children of Light, cloaked in his yellow robe, has placed the ancient curse of the Nine Times Nine upon Wolfe Harrigan, the famed author and debunker of cults, who naturally scoffs. The next day, Wolfe’s assistant, Matt Duncan, sees something in the window of Wolfe’s study that throws him into a panic: a man in a yellow robe. When Wolfe is found alone and dead inside the study, the police are stumped. All the windows were locked, and Wolfe’s sister, who was sitting right outside the door, claims she saw no one come out. The baffling case doesn’t add up for family friend Sister Ursula. But she’ll need a miracle if she hopes to divine the truth before the killer strikes again.

I was attracted to this book because it said that it contained a “locked room mystery” which sounded interesting and I had participated in a “locked room” mystery party once and found it fun. I liked some of the story but I found that parts of it were very hard to follow. I believe part of the problem may have been due to the fact that the book was written 81 years ago, (1940). Neither the police nor Sister Ursula had any of the conveniences available at that period to help the reader solve the crime. I couldn’t even think in terms of what was available then. I also found that I was liking the characters less and less and had almost no patience with them I read on. The mystery was worked out in the end… but not by me. I’m giving the book a 3 but I’m sure that it was more me than it was the story that lost it a higher rating.

Five Total Strangers – Natalie Richards - (Pennsylvania)
5★
She thought being stranded was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong.
Mira needs to get home for the holidays…badly. But when an incoming blizzard results in a canceled connecting flight, it looks like she might get stuck at the airport indefinitely. And then Harper, Mira's glamorous seatmate from her initial flight, offers her a ride. Harper and her three friends can drop Mira off on their way home. But as they set off, Mira realizes fellow travelers are all total strangers. And every one of them is hiding something. Soon, roads go from slippery to terrifying. People's belongings are mysteriously disappearing. Someone in the car is clearly lying, and may even be sabotaging the trip…but why? And can Mira make it home alive, or will this nightmare drive turn fatal?

A teenager and five college age kids who had just been passengers on a plane but never met one another before …add then accepting a ride from a total stranger in the middle of a blizzard…and you know you have the ingredients for nothing good to happen…you’re 100% correct. This was one of those kind of stories that you know without a doubt what’s going to happen but you just can’t stop reading. Bad decision is screaming it’s head off… but none of these kids are listening. For the reader…nothing matters except what is happening on those pages. Eating becomes unimportant…sleep is on the back burner…TV? Conversation? Nope…not until that very last page has been read. Something seems off about the other four passengers. Things start to go missing and paranoia becomes the sixth passenger. If you are looking for an action packed story to take through a snowy day...or a sunny day...or a rainy day for that matter... this is it! It’s atmospheric and the suspense amps up from the first page to the surprising revelations.

The Escape Room - Megan Goldin - 5 Stars

Vincent, Jules, Sylvie and Sam are at the top of their game at Wall Street firm, Stanhope and Sons. They are fiercely competitive co-workers who are are required to participate in an escape room challenge as a team-building exercise. They enter the elevator but halfway up the lights go off and the doors stay shut. At first they think it's just jammed but soon realize this is no ordinary competition.

The book has a dual storyline. The first narrative takes place between the four people in the elevator as they try to solve clues that mysteriously appear. The other is from the perspective of Sara Hall, another coworker who seems to have been part of the Stanhope team. We know immediately that Sara has something to do with the elevator inhabitants and can't wait to see how they connect.

There's little to say without providing spoilers. The Escape Room rises above your average suspense novel and is a smart and well-written thriller that is very much worth your time. I think it would make a fantastic movie. I will definitely check out another book by this talented author.

Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower
#1 Amish Candy Shop mystery
c. 2017
3 *s
Bailey King is a NYC chocolatier about to be promoted in a prestigious chocolate shop. Her grandmother in Ohio calls Bailey to come at once as grandfather's heart is failing and he is in the hospital. What Bailey has told no one, not even her best friend Cass, is that her grandparents are Amish. Bailey rushes to her grandparents' home above their Swissman Sweets candy shop. A land developer is buying up all the local Amish businesses, and is pressuring Bailey's grandparents to sell out, too. Her first night at her grandparents, Bailey goes downstairs after everyone is asleep, to get her phone which she left charging down in the candy kitchen (the only place where electricity was allowed.) She can't open the kitchen door, due to something partially blocking the door. A dead man was in her grandparents' candy kitchen. The first half the book was rather slow moving as the author introduces the reader to the small Amish/English community of Harvest, Ohio. There are many quirky Amish and English characters to become acquainted with. This is a decent introduction to a series.

Touch And Go – Aiden Bates
Vanguard Towers series Book #1 (Washington)
5★
“The young man needs a protector. From the moment I see him I know Seb is more than a patient. I’ve never been tempted to cross the patient/doctor line before. For him?...I’ll do it in a heartbeat. His brother wants to hurt him, and he needs someone to keep him safe. Me. Except, I can’t keep my hands off of him. Is a man as inexperienced as Seb ready for something more than a few nights of fun?”

I liked the chemistry between the characters and I liked the “idea” of the brothers. None of them are related by blood but all are joined forever in their hearts by their pasts…all having pasted through the foster system with only one another to depend on and all having made successes of their lives. Derek build the Vanguard Towers as a home place that they would all feel the comfort and love of, and could return to, no matter where their individual jobs and lives might take them. It was a good introduction to a new series and was also in the mountain of books I received from my two good friends. I found book #2 in the box so have the next brother’s story. The book features same sex characters and the sex scenes are graphic…so it’s not a story for everyone.

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
4 ★

Austen and his ER doctor girlfriend travel to Vietnam on a bicycling tour so that Austen can show her his passion for cycling and so that he can pay his respects to the place where his father and uncle fought in the war. But Austen vanishes after taking a solo ride. The only clues he leaves behind are two bright yellow energy gels dropped in the dirt road. As Alexis grapples with this bewildering loss, navigating the FBI, Austen's prickly family, and her colleagues at the hospital, Alexis uncovers a series of strange lies that force her to wonder: Where did Austen go? Why did he really bring her to Vietnam? And how much danger has he left her in?

Alexis thought there were unanswered questions about what happened and she started digging around and talking to people. When she hires a P.I. to help, the suspense starts to build as they find troubling information about Austen. I particularly liked the P.I. The characters and situations were mostly believable and this kept me turning the pages. I thought this was a good story about corruption and what some people will do for money.

Yesterday’s Papers - Martin Edwards (England)
Harry Devlin series Book #4
5★
On Leap Year Day in 1964, an attractive teenager called Carole Jeffries was strangled in a Liverpool park. The killing caused a sensation: Carole came from a prominent political family and her pop musician boyfriend was a leading exponent of the Mersey Sound. When a neighbour confessed to the crime, the case was closed. Now, more than thirty years later, Ernest Miller, an amateur criminologist, seeks to persuade lawyer Harry Devlin that the true culprit escaped scot free. Although he suspects Miller's motives, Harry has a thirst for justice and begins to delve into the past. But when another death occurs, it becomes clear that someone wants old secrets to remain buried - at any price.

I can’t recall ever reading anything by Martin Edwards that was anything but outstanding…I’m happy to say that this one doesn’t disappoint, The ending was a total surprise and brilliantly handled. Harry is a character unto himself and just when you think he’s perfect as he is…he continues to develop. . He gives you the opportunity to feel sorry and exasperated, happy and amazed all at the same time…but never bored. Also those of us that were around in the 1960’s will notice that the titles in this series are all from the 1960’s pop music. The conclusion was rather predictable but I had so much fun on the journey that it didn’t bother me in the least. Mystery fans will really enjoy any and all of Martin Edwards’s books.

>1 Carol420: Darn! I gave up making lists, as I am a mood reader. I randomly grab books from my library. I used to make lists when I was on Shelfari, but just don't focus like I used to. The random joys of retirement, I guess!

<16 That's perfectly okay. There are "list people" and "no list people". I just make lists for everything and my husband just grabs things randomly. I loved the titles of some of the books that you read last month. Just keep sending those great reviews.

Bundled Up – Annabeth Albert – (Oregon)
Portland Heat series Books 1-3
4.5★ for all 3 books

These are all novellas and bundled into 3 stories with 3 more in the next set which I see is in my “Big Box”.

Served Hot
Robby and David are simply sweet together, I was a bit frustrated with them though.. They were both reluctant to just TALK to one another and figure things out. My two friends say this is common in the male/male relationship so I’ll take their word for it. The story is mostly told from Robby’s point of view so we get to know everything he WISHES he could say and yet still doesn't.

Baked Fresh
This story is i loaded with insecurities and fears. It’s about Robin and Vic finding strengths in themselves as well as from one another. It’s also filled with lots of complexities but sprinkled generously with optimism from both characters. I really had my doubts about their future together but have learned from the many stories I have read thus far by this author that things will work out but you always are skeptical.

Delivered Fast
This was perhaps my favorite of the three stories. I loved the lovely young Lance…his large noisy family…and his patience with Chris who had had his heart well trampled on and throw away by his ex …plus he thought he was too old for Lance at the “ripe old age” of 35. It’s a romance but it’s also heavily about true friendship and companionship. I'm glad I didn't give up on Chris learning that happiness means different things to everyone... and no one...not even the person you love most in the world gets to choose yours.

The House That Jack Built - Jakob Melander – (Denmark)
Lars Winkler series Book #1
4★
A young prostitute is found murdered at the common in Copenhagen. The woman’s body has been preserved and her eyes removed with surgical precision. Not long after, another body is discovered treated in the exact same manner. The press quickly names the spectacular case the Sandman Killings. Detective Inspector Lars Winkler is put on the case. With an addiction to classical rock music and the odd line of speed, Lars is struggling to get his life back together, mostly with his sixteen-year-old daughter, Maria, who lives with him in his rundown apartment. His wife has left him for his old friend and former boss. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Homicide and Serious Crime Department is tense. Despite support from his new young partner, Sanne Bissen, Lars feels edged out. While tracking Copenhagen’s most sadistic serial killer to date, his past — which has long been kept secret — is slowly catching up to him.

This first book in the series introduces us to Lars Winkler. Lars isn’t perfect. He’s a loner… a father… a former squatter… and a drug addict. In spite of this he is the most dedicated detective in Copenhagen. At first I wondered if this was the “most dedicated” in the police force…what in the name of everything holy was the rest of them??? Lars wants to get his life back together. He’s not totally drug free but he’s working on it hoping to be a better father for his 16 year old daughter, Maria. His chief thinks that the less time Lars has on his hands the less likely he is to not go back to the way his life was…so he puts Lars on the case and lets him run with it. The story line is solid and easy to follow. The murder case is complex and really not predictable as some are. In whole this masterfully crafted story that makes the reader want more of.

Gathered Up Annabeth Albert –(Oregon)
Portland Heat series Books 4-6
Average 4.5 Stars for all 3 books

Knit Tight
This was my least favorite of the entire 6 books. It did have a good story line…I just didn’t get Evren’s attitude at times toward Brady. You just wanted to wrap Brady up in a big fluffy blanket. Poor guy had sole responsibility of his four younger siblings one of which was a bratty teenage sister that offered him very little support or her share of the responsibilities. Evren’s was overwhelmed with caring for his aunt who was dying from cancer but he constantly gave Brady an on again off again relationship. It was just a frustrating read. Something I have never had with an Annabeth Albert book.

Wrapped Together
This was a really good addition to the Portland Heat series. Old friends appear from other books in the series and Hollis, who had literally drowned in grief for so long, finds a savior in Sawyer. I was really afraid that Hollis was going to drive him away with denial and guilt, but the ending was more than worth waiting for watching the revelations and changes that these two go through.

Danced Close
Kendell and Todd unfortunately have negative views of themselves. Both are sure that the other is going to figure out their “broken parts” and loads of baggage and run. It was with signs of relief that Kendall finally reached a point where he accepted who he was regardless of what others thought. Todd was so protective of Kendall throughout the story that I sure he had his very own cheering section from the readers. Todd’s grandmother was also a wonderful added side character… and it was great it see Vic and Robin from the first book again.

The Night She Died – Dorothy Simpson (England)
Inspector Thanet series Book #1
3.5★
Luke Thanet is a British police inspector with a soft heart, bad back, and bloodhound’s nose for murder. When a young woman is found stabbed through the heart with a kitchen knife, Thanet and his partner, the brusque young Mike Lineham, rush to the scene. Julie Holmes lies dead in her front hall, wrapped in her overcoat, her handbag missing. The perpetrator could have been a burglar, a jealous husband, or a spurned lover. But Detective Inspector Thanet never leaps to conclusions, and always takes his time; it seems the key to finding this killer lurks twenty years in the past. When Julie was a child, she witnessed a murder—a traumatic event so scarring she repressed it entirely. Thanet believes that before she died, Julie’s memory came back—and so did the killer.

I liked the character of Luke Thanet at the start of the book. He was a conscientious and diligent inspector of Scotland Yard and was very good at solving a somewhat baffling murder. As the book went on I began to become frustrated with his condescending attitude and just wished that he would go home, have a big cuppa tea or a shot of brandy and regroup. It was the first book so perhaps the inspector is a bit overwhelmed and will come back in book#2 as a changed man with a little more tolerance for others abilities.

Deadlocked Dollhouse – Maxi Applebottom - (Massachusetts)
Haunted House series Book #19
4.5★
A cursed dollhouse. Seven stages until murder. What can this father do?Mark's always been a bit insecure as a father, his own childhood sucked. He's been terrified he will ruin his perfect daughters. So he buys them presents and hopes he won't screw them up.They certainly won't forget this dollhouse. He doesn't know how to stop it, and all he wanted to do was be a good father. He was worried that they'd grow up to hate him, now he's worried they won't grow up at all.

The “Ghost Story Junkie” says not a bad story but it was fairly typical. I didn’t especially have good or negative feelings for Mark…the father that brought the cursed dollhouse into the life of his family. To his credit…he didn’t know it was cursed and he had had a bad upbringing and was trying to raise his daughters better. High marks for Mark! The dollhouse was a gift that any little girl would have loved…but unfortunately NOT THIS ONE!! After some research he learns the house has a curse made up of seven stages. As he begins to have strange experiences… he frantically tries to solve the curse before it kills his family. I liked the story and the plot built around this dollhouse…it was eerie as well as creepy. The story is short but anyone like me…”The Ghost Story Junkie”…that likes supernatural and paranormal offerings, will more than likely like this one.

Fire and Water - Andrew Grey (Pennsylvania)
Carlisle Cops series Book #1
4★

A young swimmer with Olympic potential, somehow became caught up in an abusive relationship. Terry is a self-recognized, rather superficial young man who previously based his relationships on appearance and material 'things'. He recently escaped the relationship and is settling into his new life. His first encounter with the large and scarred Officer Red Markham occurs when police are called to YMCA pool as a child is rescued from near drowning by Terry and another lifeguard. Terry's initial reaction upon seeing Red is a familiar one as Terry is unable to make eye contact and disturbed by Red's appearance. Terry, on the other hand, is viewed by Red as a "specimen of damn near perfect manhood"; cover model material yet described by Red's partner as "shallow as an overturned saucer". Each of men has been damaged by physical and/or emotional trauma that has affected their self-concept and relationships. Perhaps each has something to offer the other. Time will tell.

I've read books by this author before and really enjoyed his characters and his writing style. Another one from my giant box of books from my two friends. Odd the box of books appears to be having babies...or is that where "novellas" come from? :)

Survival Instinct - Fiona Quinn - (Oregon)
Cerberus Tactical K9 series Book #1)
3★
Military training won’t help you when the enemy is the force of nature. All Major Dani Addams wanted when she started up that trail was to mourn and honor her fallen friend. She has no way of knowing the weather is about to turn on her in the worst possible way—or that she's about to meet a man who will change her entire life. Ex-SEAL Trip Williams and his K9, Valor, were brought in to rescue a film crew that got caught in the storm. He isn’t expecting Dani. But once he finds her, he will keep her safe…even if he has to disobey direct orders and fight Mother Nature herself. All Dani and Trip have to do to get to happily ever after is weather the storm. Should be simple, right? If only…

Loved the dog!!! Dani? Not so much…Trip? Typical muscle bound hero, but okay. You can like him for longer periods of time if you look at his picture on the cover occasionally :) Everything about the dogs and how attached the handlers were to them was interesting and simply....outstanding. To the handlers their dogs were literally life and death and losing them was as bad as losing a family member. The story itself had a tendency to drag on in parts and in others it held my interest even when Dani and Tripp were admiring one another and then continue to argue about whose fault it was they were stuck in a blizzard in a less than perfect cabin in the middle of nowhere Oregon. To his credit, Valor…the dog never uttered a discouraging word...never blamed the two legged disasters and was even willing to share his warm fire. Good dog!

The Sky Took Him by Donis Casey
#4 Alafair Tucker mystery
c. 2009
4 *
Excellent read. It's 1915, and Alafair Tucker, along with her oldest daughter Margaret, 24, and youngest daughter Grace, 3, take the train to Enid Ok. Alafair's brother-in-law, Lester is dying. Lester owns a large Transfer (trucking) and refrigeration company in Enid. Things are stressful enough for Alafair's sister. Now, Olivia, Alafair's niece, has a missing husband. He took off on a business trip and is late returning. This was a great story. This series gets better and better. I love the characters.

The Butterfly Lion - Michael Morourgo - (Africa)
4★
It is for children so therefore it is written in a very basic style...but the depth of story for such a short piece, 125 pages...was fantastic. Of course it was also a little far-fetched...but the story was simply delightful. reminded me of the book my children had about a little elephant that they read over and over. The one thing that bothered me was HOW the little cub came to be with the boy...but at least they didn't go out and capture it and they did show some responsibility. Once I got by that part I caught myself smiling throughout the hour it took me to complete it.

Beta Test – Annabeth Albert – (California/Washington)
Gaymers series Book #2
3.5★

Brilliant graphic designer Ravi Tandel is ahead of the game—he's just been asked to present a top secret project at a huge conference in Seattle. All systems are go…until he learns his buttoned-up office nemesis is coming along for the ride. Tristan Jones isn't really the gamer type, but he knows the back end of the video game business inside out. Together, he and Ravi will give an awesome presentation… if they survive the cross-country trip first.

My giant box of books from my two beat friends contained a lot of Annabeth Albert’s books. I devoured her “Out of Uniform” series and wished that more would magically appear. So far I’m still waiting. “Gaymer” series also had three or four books and this one is the second. I’m not big on these types of games so I approached this series with a great deal of caution. I loved the characters and the dogs in the first book…these two guys just seemed to be dead set on hating one another before they really had even met so I figured the author was going to spend the majority of the book just getting them to tolerate one another. The road trip was a perfect platform. I loved the things that Ravi stood for and defended and I hated that Tristan spent so much time letting his parents determine how his life was going to be lead. The series thus far is okay enough that I’m going to read the third book. This series, like all of this author’s books, contain same sex couples and the sex is fairly graphic.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green – (Illinois)
4★
One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the two boys...Will Grayson and Will Grayson...find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of faithful fans.

The story is about two boys...both named Will Grayson. What do you think the odds are of that happening? The two boys meet randomly and their life changes at that point for everlasting effects. . It's about Tiny Dancer, Tiny Coopers life in the form of a musical. It's about love and depression and friendship…but in a nutshell it's just really a lot of fun. The characters have some flaws and at some point they are all unlikable to a certain degree …and there are some parts that are frustrating…but darn it…you just can’t stop reading or quit laughing. I have read other John Green novels, but nothing quiet like this. It steadily builds to what we are sure must be a grand finale…and the reader is anything but disappointed.

The Coil – L.A. Gilbert – (New York)
2★
Sandwich-maker Mattie Green has one goal: escape San Diego, move to New York, and attend art school. But to make this a reality, he needs to get his GED—not easy, since he can’t read or write. Until he can, he’s stuck working at the diner and selling himself on the side. Mattie’s legitimate job isn’t without perks. Every day the quiet, sophisticated Simon Castle comes by to work on his latest book. Mattie wants more than to pour Simon’s coffee and make his lunch, but he’s sure Simon is out of his league—until suddenly… he’s not. Simon Castle's life is complicated, built around his career and a son who requires a lot of time and attention. It’s not a life well-suited to the inclusion of even a part-time prostitute, so he resolves to keep his relationship with Mattie casual. However, the longer he knows Mattie, the deeper his feelings become. The idea of him with another man tortures Simon, but he can't ask Mattie to be his alone and jeopardize Mattie's hopes for New York—no matter how much he wants Mattie to stay.

This is the first book that I’ve read from my box of books my two friends dropped on me…that I didn’t really care for. The characters were intolerable and unbelievable. I felt sorry for Mattie, especially seeing how Simon was absolutely horrible to him. Simon was so self centered that he couldn’t see beyond what was going to benefit Simon while at the same time, if Simon had asked Mattie to move Heaven and Earth for him…Mattie would have only asked “how far” and "where do you want them?". I don’t find any other books by this author in my box so maybe my friends had the same reaction that I did.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
4 ★

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case. As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late?

This was a fun story with very lively and distinct characters who are all retirees but very interested and serious about figuring out murders. The plot was complex with a lot of twists. There was a lot of humor but there were also parts that were touching regarding aging problems and death. I’m looking forward to the next book with these characters.

What Happened At The Lake – Phil Williams – (Pennsylvania)
3★
The Palmers went to the lake for a week of fun in the sun. But Alex Palmer had an agenda. He wanted his brother to reconcile with their hypercompetitive father. He wanted his daughter to break up with her shady boyfriend. Most of all, Alex wanted them to be a family one more time before he faced his predicament at home. Evil incarnate and a brutal double murder shifted Alex’s focus from wants to needs. He needed to keep his family safe. He needed to find her. He needed to know what happened at the lake. His pastor often said, “God won’t give you more than you can bear.” This had nothing to do with God.

I am still on the fence about this one. I loved the book cover description. It sounds exciting…completed with a murder and something perhaps a little creepy and it had an appealing cover. I really must STOP choosing books by their covers!!! The storyline is straightforward and does contain a few twists. The characters for the most part are likeable. So what was the problem? Everything was described in graphic detail and nothing was left to the reader’s imagination. That will certainly not be a problem for some readers but I like to immerse myself into the story line and form opinions and outcomes along the way. Mr. Williams left no room for that to happen. Another thing that bothered me was the treatment these people…family no less gave to one another including the family pets. Kill the family…kill the neighbor…but don’t hurt the family pet! That by itself would have given the story a zero rating. I’m trying to be fair here…it is Mr. Williams first book…but I hope he lightens up a little on the next one.

The Unwanted - JeanNicole Rivers - (Ukraine)
Black Water Tales series Book #2
4★
In the remote, eastern European town of Borslav there is St. Sebastian orphanage, a place where people discard their unwanted children. For the American, Blaire Baker, it’s the perfect place to volunteer her services. Paired with a cheerful volunteer nurse, Blaire is enthusiastic about the possibilities, but is quickly discouraged when she encounters the nefarious nature of the staff and the deplorable conditions of the facility and the children. Upon arrival, one of the children informs Blaire, “There’s something in the basement.” It isn’t long before strange things begin happening, including Blaire’s flashbacks of the accident that killed her parents. The children soon suffer injuries that Blaire, first, fears may be the deeds of the callous workers but she soon thinks the abuse may originate from a source that is less than human, something “unwanted”.

I was in hopes that the story would be more frightening than it was…but on the other hand I’m not frightened by much that I read…just intrigued. I did find the story intriguing but also very predictable. The ending was exactly what I thought it would be. Still it was a good read for anyone that likes dark horror. I will say that the book produces a much-needed adrenaline rush and I will diffidently continue with the series.

>30 gaylebutz: I'm hoping to read this next month. It's been nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel. Glad to see you enjoyed it.

>28 Carol420: This has been on my TBR for a long time but I still haven't picked it up. It always gets a good review.

>30 gaylebutz: >33 Olivermagnus: I read this earlier in the year - very enjoyable, 4.5★s.

>35 Sergeirocks: >33 Olivermagnus: Osman has a second book with the same characters coming out in September 2021. I hope it’s just as good!

Daddy: Stories - Emma Cline –(California)
2.5★
An absentee father collects his son from boarding school after a shocking act of violence. A nanny to a celebrity family hides out in Laurel Canyon in the aftermath of a tabloid scandal. A young woman sells her underwear to strangers. A notorious guest arrives at a placid, not-quite rehab in the Southwest. In ten remarkable stories, Emma Cline portrays moments when the ordinary is disturbed, when daily life buckles, revealing the perversity and violence pulsing under the surface. She explores characters navigating the edge, the limits of themselves and those around them: power dynamics in families, in relationships, the distance between their true and false selves. They want connection, but what they provoke is often closer to self-sabotage. What are the costs of one’s choices? Of the moments when we act, or fail to act? These complexities are at the heart of Daddy, Emma Cline’s sharp-eyed illumination of the contrary impulses that animate our inner lives.

Other than being well written and an easy read…the book didn’t really have much else to offer people that weren’t particularly rich…and while I hate to play the “race card”…people that weren’t white. The characters have zero redeeming qualities and succeed in self-sabotage in so many ways I lost count. The entire book lacks the depth or the understanding of the average human experience. What it did accomplish was to fill a slot for one of my many challenges so it wasn’t a total waste.

In Contest, an unassuming doctor is suddenly whisked away from his normal life into the New York Library (along with his young daughter), and finds himself smack bang in the middle of a deadly contest. A once in a millennium event that is orchestrated by beings from the far reaches of space. There are seven competitors, each from different planets, who must fight to be the sole survivor. The contestants not only have to deal with their competitors, they have some nasty beasts thrown in the mix, as well as an electrified building.

As with all of Matthew Reilly’s books, the hero finds a way out of situations that seem absolutely impossible. Even though it’s often implausible, it’s what I love about Matthew Reilly’s books. I can suspend my belief and just go along for a ride that tackles the extremes of survival. Of course, there is plenty of violence, so it’s not really suited to younger readers, but the fact that it’s aimed mostly at mythical space beasts makes it a little easier to digest.

Another great white-knuckle-action-packed-adventure from Matthew Reilly. Let’s hope that he releases some more action novels in the future. I can't wait to read more!

>38 deaflower: Nice review. I love Matthew Reilly's books. Haven't ever read a bad one.

Edge of Nowhere – Michael Ridpath – Iceland)
Fire & Ice Short Story – A Magnus Iceland Mystery
4★
Iceland, midwinter: the days are fleeting, the nights endless and sergeant Magnus Jonson has been sent to an isolated fishing village in the West Fjords to investigate the possible homicide of a road construction worker. Ringed by steep mountains, this bleak village is cut off from the rest of Iceland and from the modern world. The locals are adamant that Iceland's legendary huldufólk - hidden people - had a hand in the death. Magnus finds their superstition suspicious... As he digs deeper, Magnus discovers that the victim was not a popular man, leading him to suspect that other, more human, passions are at work.

Magnus Jonson is Icelandic born but raised in the US, where he became a Boston homicide detective; now he's working in Iceland, helping them deal with murder investigations. Superstitions abound and the less than helpful “hidden people” put obstacles in Magnus’ s path…but he sees through all of this to make short work of solving Gustis death. A clue about his own father's death may have come out of his murder investigation passed on by a seer. Does Mangus have answers or just more questions? Maybe we’ll find out in the next book. Overall this one was a good story in an unusual, setting with interesting sidelines about the natives.

Connection Error –Annabeth Albert –(California)
Gayners series Book #3
4★
It’s typical of video game programmer Josiah Simmons to be the last one on the plane on the way to the biggest meeting of his career. Though he’s (mostly) coping with his ADHD, he can’t handle another distraction. But he also can’t ignore his rugged seatmate—especially once he learns the military man’s a fan of his game. Ryan Orson refuses to let his severe injuries pause his career as a navy SEAL. He’s got hours of grueling physical therapy ahead of him, and no time for anything that might get in the way of his return to active duty. But that doesn’t mean he’s above a little first-class flirtation with geeky-cute Josiah. When a delay strands the pair in St. Louis, they agree to share a hotel room and a night of gaming. Neither expects their new connection to move to the next level in the light of day. Opposites may attract, but is this game over before it’s even begun?

Josiah was adorable with all this weird quirks and his attempts to build up his own confidence. Ryan was taking his injuries in stride and working to get back to his military base…neither had ever planned to have any time together once that plane landed. Of course things didn’t happen like that. Josiah never made Ryan feel helpless or like he needed to be tended to. I’m glad that things worked out like they did. They were so sweet together. I really liked all three of the books. Honestly I cannot say which my favorite was because all of the couples are very different in their own ways and all three stories were absolutely engaging.

Apologies for be missing for a while due to excessive work demands linked to COvID and a family COvID bereavement that we have been dealing with.

We are on half-term this week so finally some time to get to things and recharge batteries.

Would people want to do a Group read at the end of this week or is this too short notice?

Thanks,
Andrew

>42 Andrew-theQM: It might be too short notice...but I will try whatever everyone wants to do. Hope things are straightening out for you.

We can look at scheduling one later on then 😊

Not likely to straighten out till this is all over unfortunately.

>44 Andrew-theQM: That's fine, Andrew. There will just be more books for us by then:) Stay safe and well.

Fire and Snow - Andrew Grey (Pennsylvania)
Carlisle Cops series Book #4
4★

Fisher Moreland has been cast out of his family because they can no longer deal with his issues. Fisher is bipolar and living day to day, trying to manage his condition, but he hasn’t always had much control over his life and has self-medicated with whatever he could find. JD Burnside has been cut off from his family because of a scandal back home. He moved to Carlisle but brought his Southern charm and warmth along with him. When he sees Fisher on a park bench on a winter’s night, he invites Fisher to join him and his friends for a late-night meal. At first Fisher doesn’t know what to make of JD, but he slowly comes out of his shell. And when Fisher’s job is threatened because of a fire, JD’s support and care is more than Fisher ever thought he could expect. But when people from Fisher’s past turn up in town at the center of a resurgent drug epidemic, Fisher knows they could very well sabotage his budding relationship with JD.

Police Officer (Jefferson Davis. The southern girl in me loves it:)) a.k.a. J.D. Burnside, befriends a man on a cold winter night that looks in need of an understanding friend. It turns out to be one of the best moves he ever made. I really like this little series and I will hate to see it end. The guys are all such good friends and they all show up in one another's stories even if only marginally. Both JD and Fisher have family difficulties but together figure that they can surmount any obstacle and actually mange to work some issues out. I see my friends have the other books so I'll get to visit the guys in their quaint little town of Carlisle for a little while longer.

Lethal Licorice by Amanda Flower
#2 An Amish Candy shop mystery
c. 2018
3 1/2 *s
Bailey King is running her Amish grandmother's candy shop in Harvest, Ohio. Bailey recently left a high profile chocolatier position in NYC, opting for a new life in Amish country. Bailey is not Amish as her father had left the district years ago. However, Bailey nevertheless loved her Amish grsndparents having spent many summers with them. Since her grandfather died Bailey runs her grandparents' Swissman Sweets. The Amish Confectionary Competition is being held in Harvest. It shiwcases the best of Amish candymaking skills with licorice, taffy, peanut brittle and fudge. To honor her grandfather's memory, Bailey has taken his place in the ACC. However, 2 Amish contestants are exceedingly angry about Bailey being allowed to compete. On the first day of the competition, Bailey's friend Juliet has lost her pet polka dotted pot-bellied pig. While searching in the church, Bailey hears a scream. A young Amish woman, who was playing the organ, hit a sour note. Upon investigating the organ pipes, she finds a body wedged in the organ's pipes. Bailey sets out to find the killer, as well as Juliet's pig. I do enjoy this series. I also get a irritated at some of the stupid choices Bailey makes. it's an interesting look at the Amish way of life through the eyes of an English granddaughter.

Boyfriend Material - Alexis Hall - (England)
5★
Luc O'Donnell is tangentially and reluctantly famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go.

OMG! I enjoyed this book so much that I could have happily awarded it more than 5 stars. How about 10 or 20? It was so funny. I laughed so much every few pages that my husband didn’t know if he should call the men in white with nets or the paramedics and an ambulance. It was also warm and genuinely human. I thought the reason that Luc needed a “fake boyfriend" was a bit ludicrous…but it was also entertaining and just plain delightful seeing these to major opposites come together. It was a book that compelled you to keep reading and finish before you did anything else. At 425 pages that became much easier said than actually done…but the point is that it completely held your interest through each and every one of those 425 pages. Alexis Hall…(which I understand is a guy), …writes totally believable characters you can easily relate to…and I loved Oliver and Luc. I read a large number of books each year. Some are mediocre…some are just “good”…but it is so rewarding, to every once in a blue moon, to find one that is brilliantly written and totally outstanding. This is one of the brilliant, outstanding ones. The characters are same sex… but the sex scenes are minimal…and nearly non existent… but the laughs sneak upon you and are frequent and abundant. I don’t think anyone would find this the least bit offensive.

Hid From Our Eyes – Julia Spencer Fleming – (New York)
Clare Ferguson & Russ Van Alstyne series Book #9
4★
Millers Kill Police Chief Russ van Alstyne gets a 911 call that a young woman has been found dead in a party dress, the same MO as the crime he was accused of in the 70s. The pressure is on for Russ to solve the murder before he's removed from the case.
Russ will enlist the help of his police squad and Reverend Clare Fergusson, who is already juggling the tasks of being a new mother to her and Russ's baby and running St. Alban's Church, to finally solve these crimes.

The story covers time periods from 1952, and 1972…and present day. There is some jumping back and forth in the timelines… so some readers may have problems following the events that occurred then and the events that are taking place in current time especially if you haven’t read any of the other books. This book has been 6 long years taking it’s place in the Fergeruson/Van Alstyne chronicles that takes place in the little town on Miller Kill where Russ is the Police Chief and Clare is the clergy of the Episcopal Church. New baby, Ethan has joined the cast. I gave the book four stars because I was not real enthused with the mystery’s resolution. Nevertheless, this is a worthy addition to this series and welcome back Ms. Spencer- Fleming.

A Room in Chelsea Square - Michael Nelson –(England)
2★
Patrick, the book's opening line tells us, is “very, very rich”. He's also single, and he has his sights set on Nicholas Milestone, a handsome young provincial journalist. Having lured Nicholas to London with the promise of a job on a tabloid magazine, Patrick moves the young man into his suite at a posh hotel, where he lavishes money and expensive gifts on him. Nicholas enjoys his luxurious new lifestyle and meeting Patrick's amusing and fashionable friends, but he soon understands what Patrick's really after. Knowing he won't be able to resist the older man's advances forever, the greedy Nicholas will have to choose between his conscience and his newly acquired love of money.

Oh my my…. how times have changed! There's absolutely no sex in this story, but unless you have spent the last 25 years of your life in a convent you will surely recognize the “INTENT”. Take lots and lots and lots of fancy presents being bought by two rich old men for the cute young men they think are just waiting for them to “buy”… add the lure of job offers that most people at that time would have killed for…. throw in a fancy suite in the best hotel in the entire country…and you can figure out…probably faster than Nicholas did…exactly what these “two old sugar daddies” were after. I really didn’t understand some of it. I think it was the case of “two countries speaking the same language but with different meanings in so many different ways” syndrome. I also didn’t like any of the characters… not even a little bit. The entire story just felt too “dated”...for lack of a better word.

Fire and Hail - Andrew Grey
Carlisle Cops series Book #5
4.5★
Brock Ferguson knew he might run into his ex-boyfriend, Vincent Geraldini, when he took his first job as a police officer in Carlisle. Vincent’s attitude during a routine traffic stop reminds Brock why their relationship didn’t last. What Brock doesn’t expect is finding two scared children in the trunk of a Corvette. He’s also surprised to learn the kids’ mother is Vincent’s sister. But his immediate concern is the safety of the two children, Abey and Penny, and he offers to comfort and care for them when their mother is taken into custody. Vincent is also shocked to learn what his sister has done. For the sake of the kids, he and Brock bury the hatchet—and soon find they have much more in common than they realized. With Abey and Penny’s help, they grow closer, until the four of them start to feel like a family. But Vincent’s sister and her boyfriend—an equal-opportunity jerk—could tear down everything they’re trying to build.

The children in the truck scene” in the opening chapter is based on an actual event that happened in Carlisle Pennsylvania…Andrew Grey’s home town. He used it in the story and it helped to raise awareness of the extent of cruelty that children suffer even in the best of places and by the people you would least suspect to perpetrate it. All of this series has had a child character that has been the victim of abuse of some type. It’s not the “turn off” as you would expect since all of the child characters find loving homes often with relatives that they were unaware existed. This story shows the depth of caring these workers truly have for the children they help. It also shows the extent of the terrible situation these users and abusers put themselves in, where they have no concept of normal. Sometimes victims can also be adults and here we also see Brock and his ex boyfriend trying to reconnect for the sake of the children but also for themselves. The story is entirely beautiful…engaging… and loving. Please be aware that it contains same sex couples.

>50 Carol420: I'm sure the story about "two old sugar daddies" wasn't meant to be funny but it did make me chuckle. Your review was amusing.

>52 gaylebutz: Thank you. There was actually nothing funny or redeeming about the book. The character of Nicholas was just so incredibly clueless.

Buried Passion – Aiden Bates
Never Too Late series Book #1 (Massachusetts)
4.5★
Ryan is a detective with the Abused Persons unit of the Mass. State Police. He loves his job, and he’s very good at it. He balks when his supervisor assigns him to a case with the Cold Case unit, and not just because that’s out of his area of expertise. Everyone in Cold Case is an alpha, and that’s just not a comfortable place for an unclaimed omega to be. Nick is a detective with the Cold Case unit. He’s a strictly by-the-book detective. He trusts to procedure and precedent to get the job done. He doesn’t mind getting stuck with a highly visible case. He doesn’t even mind getting stuck with the pretty omega from Abused Persons, so long as he sits down, shuts up and doesn’t screw with the process that’s worked well for years. Ryan and Nick butt heads almost immediately, although it doesn’t take long for either detective to figure out that at least part of the reason for their strife is the scorching chemistry between them. When their cold case seems to parallel Ryan’s life a little too closely, and when Ryan’s methods don’t fall exactly in line with Cold Case procedure, will their differences drive them apart?

I loved the characters of Nick and Ryan but was very frustrated with their individual attitudes toward one another when first meeting. Nick is a strong “alpha” detective who is paired with Ryan, who is an “omega”. Both are police officers but work in entirely different units but have been paired for their individual abilities to solve crimes. They’re trying to find the killer of two people killed 40 years ago. Nick seems to feel that he’s the only one with a brain and to begin with treats Ryan… a top detective in his own right… really bad….even though he feels he loves him but thinks that Ryan should “know his place”. I half way thought that maybe Nick might be right. There is something a little…well a lot…”different” with all of these people that is not explained very well. They … or at least the men…carry an” Alpha” or an “Omega” gene that is somehow a part of them that they are unable to change… and that they are tested for at about 10 years of age. It determines their “place” in life. I liked Aiden Bate’s Vanguard Towers series and I believe that this one will be turn out to be just as good….as soon as I figure out this crazy gene business.

Crying Blood by Donis Casey
#5 Alafair Tucker mystery
c. 2011
4 *s

This entry into the Alafair Tucker mystery series concerns Alafair's husband, Shaw Tucker. Shaw raises mules and horses, as well as farms cotton. Shaw, his brothers and 2 sons went out quail hunting on a patch of land owned by Shaw's stepdad Peter McBride. McBride bought the land 10 years ago from a Creek woman who asked him to buy the property. While hunting, one of the dog's brought Shaw an old boot. The boot still retained bones from its owner. The men tracked down an old makeshift burial stone pile. Shaw found an old Indian snake bone necklace along with a medicine pouch. In the morning, the men would report the find to the county sheriff. That night, while they were sleeping at the campsite, Shaw heard a disembodied voice call his name, and later saw moccasined feet walk swiftly by him in the fog. Tucker knew that the old property was said to be haunted, but he felt there was a more logical reason for the goings on. This was a wonderful well paced story which wove the past together with the present. I enjoyed getting to know Shaw better, as in previous books he was just a secondary character.

The Catacombs – Jeremy Bates – (France)
World’s Secret Places series Book #2
4.5★
Paris, France, is known as the City of Lights, a metropolis renowned for romance and beauty. Beneath the bustling streets and cafés, however, exists The Catacombs, a labyrinth of crumbling tunnels filled with six million dead. When a video camera containing mysterious footage is discovered deep within their depths, a group of friends venture into the tunnels to investigate. But what starts out as a lighthearted adventure takes a turn for the worse when they reach their destination--and stumble upon the evil lurking there.

I really, really enjoyed this author's different take on the urban legend type mystique of the Catacombs. It’s not a horror story…but it is. It had all the elements to make it so but it also had the felling that you were reading about a true documentary. The camera footage kept running through my mind the whole time I was reading. I had to keep reminding myself that it’s only fiction…but what if??? And it was the “what if” that produced actual goose-bumps. I was fascinated, intrigued and hooked from the beginning. Anyone wanting to undertake this book will need to bear in mind that it’s not the content of horror or the actual wording but the IDEA of what just might be. I’ll be finding more by this author.

Fire and Fog – Andrew Grey – (Pennsylvania)
Carlisle Cops series Book #6
5
Carlisle police officer Dwayne knows what Robin is doing the moment he lays eyes on the young man at Bronco's club. But he doesn't know that, like him, Robin also comes from a family who cast him out for being gay, or that he's still lugging around the pain of that rejection. Robin leaves the club, and soon after Dwayne decides to as well--and is close by when things between Robin and his client turn violent. When Dwayne finds out Robin is the victim of a scam that lost him his apartment, he can't leave Robin to fend for himself on the streets. Despite Dwayne's offer of help and even opening up his home, it's hard for Robin to trust anything good. The friendship between them grows, and just as the two men start warming up to each other, Robin's sister passes away, naming Robin to care for her son. Worse yet, their pasts creep back in to tear down the family and sense of belonging both of them long for. Will their fledgling romance dissipate like fog in the sun before it has a chance to burn bright?

This is book #6 and another really good book in the Carlisle Cops series. All of this series features families composed of partners and child/children…character(s). The children, that would maybe have been, or had been, thrown away, find love, security and a happy home with two parents that love each other. The parents may be the same gender but they provide what every parent, no matter what the gender…wants for their children. There is a crime for the Carlisle Police to solve and a surprise development at the end. I hope there will be more of this series but I can certainly reread these at my leisure.

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare (new York)
The Mortal Instruments series Book 31
4.5★
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing… not even a smear of blood to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

I wasn’t sure at first that I was going to like the book. I’m not much of a fan of fantasy stories but I had read this author before and enjoyed her writing style and I needed…yes…a YA book for a challenge. Surprise! By the end of the first chapter I was thoroughly hooked and finished it in one sitting. Vampires, warlocks, magical beings, werewolves, faeries, mythical monster... what more could you ask for? It had everything! Even if you're not a teen…I have vague memories of this time in my life. This author manages the cross over very well. Just have fun with it.

The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams
2.5 ★

A historical mystery, infused with romance, that links the lives of three women across a century--two deep in the past, one in the present--to the doomed passenger liner, RMS Lusitania. May 2013 Her finances are in dire straits and bestselling author Sarah Blake is struggling to find a big idea for her next book. Sarah embarks on an ambitious journey to England to enlist the help of John Langford, a recently disgraced Member of Parliament whose family archives might contain the only key to the long-ago catastrophe.

I thought this would be mystery and intrigue with a little romance. But it was mostly romance with a little mystery and intrigue. It’s not a bad book but it wasn’t that interesting to me.

Death Along the Spirit Road by C M Wendelboe
#1 Manny Tammo mysteries
c. 2011
4 *s
I found this lurking on my bookshelves. Now, I need to read the other 2 books in the series. Nice twists and turns throughout the story which takes place on the Pine Ridge Reservation in S. Dakota. Manny Tammo is a well respected FBI agent, and a city Sioux. He grew up in Pine Ridge along with his much older brother Reuben. Reuben was a member of AIM back in the 1960s and 70s and a convicted felon, who is now a holy man following the old ways. Manny is sent to Pine Ridge to solve the murder of Jason Red Cloud, a rich architect and land tycoon "the Trump of the West." Manny, being FBI, is not welcomed on the Reservation by the residents or the Tribal Police. Manny's life was in jeopardy within hours of taking up temporary residence in Pine Ridge. Fortunately, Manny was given a bright young police officer for his liaison officer. I was fascinated with the modern history of the Oglala Sioux Nation which permeated this story. Interesting characters and setting made this a great read.

The Bone is Pointed by Arthur W Upfield
Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte mysteries
c. 1947
3 1/2 *s
Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, Bony to friends, is one of Queensland, Australia's best detectives, albeit a thorn in his bosses sides. He is sent to the outback to solve the 5 month old disappearance of a hated sadistic ranch hand. Bony is a half caste who the aboriginals do not trust, and the whites are often confounded by his investigation skills. Bony is proud of his heritage and his prowess as an investigator. His pride becomes the one thing that allows him to finish his investigation despite interference from the local aboriginal tribe. This was an interesting story written and taking place in the late 1940s. Times were different.

The Dark Corners of The Night - Meg Gardiner – (California)
The UNSUB series Book #3
3★
He appears in the darkness like a ghost, made of shadows and fear—the Midnight Man. He comes for the parents but leaves the children alive, tiny witnesses to unspeakable horror. The bedroom communities of Los Angeles are gripped with dread, and the attacks are escalating. Still reeling from her best friend’s close call in a bombing six months ago, FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix has come to Los Angeles to assist in the Midnight Man investigation and do what she does best—hunt a serial killer. Her work is what keeps her going, but something about this UNSUB—unknown subject—doesn’t sit right. She soon realizes that this case will test not only her skills but also her dedication, for within the heart of a killer lives a secret that mirrors Caitlin’s own past. Hesitancy is not an option, but will she be able to do what must be done if the time comes?

I didn’t really dislike the book but I can’t offer it more than a 3 star rating. I didn’t like it as much as I did the first two and frankly I was expecting something more on the level of those two. Unfortunately something was just missing. The plot and the storyline were entertaining enough and it was a fast read but it lacked the excitement that her books usually have and what is the deal with the main character's self mutilation? I'll read the next one because the “Ghost” storyline sounds interesting especially to the “Ghost Story Junkie” , but I do hope that in the next one the realism and originality will be upped more.

>39 Carol420: Thanks Carol. This is my second book of his.

The Last Astronaut by David Wellington (4 stars)

The object entered our solar system, slowed down off the rings of Saturn, and began a steady approach towards Earth. No one knows what its purpose is. It has made no attempt at communication and has ignored all of NASA’s transmissions.

Having forsaken manned flight, the space programs of the world scramble to enlist forcefully-retired NASA legend Sally Jansen–the only person with the first-hand operational knowledge needed to execute a mission to make contact.

With no time to spare she must lead a crew with no experience farther than mankind has ever traveled, to a visitor whose intentions are far from clear…and who, with each passing day, gets closer to home.

The Last Astronaut doesn’t waste too much time getting to the heart of the issue, which I loved. it maintained a pretty quick pace throughout the book, alternating between bouts of action and bouts of discoveries about this alien object. The setting and tone are consistently dark, grim, desolate, and lonely. The image of lights on a space suit cutting through a misty darkness were used repeatedly, which is perfect for this kind of book.

The writing is great. Descriptive enough to give you the idea and convey the tone without lingering too long on it or slowing down the pace. The length also feels just right. At 361 pages, we’re given just what is needed to tell the story, it’s not bloated but it doesn’t feel like any details were left out either.

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower
#4 Magical Bookshop mystery
c. 2019
3 1/2 *s
In this forth installment of the Magical Bookshop Mysteries, Violet Waverly contends with mildly pushy Grandma Daisy, who is now the mayor of Cascade Springs. Daisy has just organized a bike race to benefit the soon to be finished city museum in city hall. Violet promised to take time from the Charming Bookshop to ride in the race with her boyfriend police chief David Rainwater. Violet was a bit on edge as a PI seemed to be stalking her every move, and she was worried that the PI was trying to discover the secret of the magical bookshop. However, before she and Rainwater could finish the race, there was a biking accident and a man was killed. This was a pleasant mystery set along the Niagara River. The story had enough twists snd turns to keep me reading.

Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson
3.5 ★

After a routine delivery, midwife Sarah Brandt visits her patient in a rooming house and finds that another boarder, a young girl, has been killed. At the request of sergeant Frank Malloy, she searches the girl's room and discovers that the victim is from one of the most prominent families in New York-and the sister of an old friend. The powerful family, fearful of scandal, refuses to permit an investigation. But with Malloy's help, Sarah begins a dangerous quest to bring the killer to justice before death claims another victim.

This takes place in early 1900s and it was interesting to hear what women could and couldn’t do, especially from wealthy families. The investigation was interesting and the characters were ok but I didn’t get really drawn into the story. Still, I would try another from this author.

Cast a Blue Shadow by P.L. Gaus
3 ★

As the widow of a revered Millersburg College alumnus and one of the school's biggest donors, Juliet Favor has immense wealth that empowers her acquisition of whatever, and whomever, she wants. So when Juliet is murdered the night before she is slated to sign a new will--one that would prove unfavorable to both the college and her two children, Sonny and Sally--Sheriff Bruce Robertson faces no shortage of suspects. Professor Michael Branden and Pastor Caleb Troyer fear that Martha Lehman, Sonny's Mennonite girlfriend, holds the key.

The idea of the story was interesting but was written in a way that there wasn’t much impact or suspense. I also never really cared about the characters. I think there needed to be a little more development of the story to draw me in. Overall, just a so-so read.