What Are We Reading And Reviewing in March 2021?

Tell us what your plan to read in March.

"Cad atá á léamh agat i nGaeilge. Lá fhéile Pádraig sona" ("What are you reading and Happy St. Patrick's Day"!)

📌 - ★
Carol Finds a Pot of Gold In Her March Reads

📌Leonard: (My Life As A Cat - Carlie Sorosiak - 5+★ (Early Reviewers)
📌Lying Next To Me – Gregg Olsen - (Pick A Winner #7) - 4.5★
📌Some Can See – J.R. Erickson - 4★
📌You are Invited; a Ghost Story – Sarah Denzel – 3★
📌The Last Laugh – Michelle Dorey - 5★
📌Within The Shadows – Brandon Massey - 5★
📌Dark Corner – Brandon Massey - 5★
📌The House – Paul Carro – 3★
📌Ghost Camera - Darcy Coates - 5★
📌Wolf at the Door – Charlie Adhara - 5★
📌Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing - Charlie Adahara – 5★
📌The Novel Art of Murder – V.M. Burns - 3★
📌The Downstairs Neighbor – Helen Cooper – 4.5★
📌The Bride's Curse - Rayne Hall – 4★
📌Faithless in Death – J.D. Robb – 5★
📌39 Steps - John Buchan - 4★
📌Nana - Brandon Massey - 5★
📌Common Goal- Rachel Reid - 4★
📌Wanted, a Gentleman - K.J. Charles - 2.5★
📌Crafty Cat Crimes - Stefan Dziemianowicz - 4.5★
📌Plan B - Emily Barr - 2★
📌Best Laid Plans - Roan Parrish - 4.5★
📌The Wolf At Bay - Charlie Adhara - 5★
📌Thrown To The Wolves - Charlie Adhara 5★
📌Covenant - Brandon Massey - 5★
📌The Royal Street Heist - Scotty Cade - 4.5★
📌Veiled Loyalties - Scotty Cade 5★
📌Cry Wolf - Charlie Adhara - 5+★
📌Tick Tock - Dean Koontz - 4.5★
📌Fire and Flint - Andrew Grey - 5★

Lynda and Oliver's March Reading Plan

Mystery, Thriller and Suspense

Blood Trail - C. J. Box - 4.5 Stars - 3/11/21
Cracked Spine - Paige Shelton -3.5 Stars - 3/1/21
Deadly Sanctuary - Sylvia Nobel - 3.5 Stars - 3/21/21
Dying for Chocolate - Diane Mott Davidson - 4 Stars - 3/14/21
East of Hounslow - Khurran Hounslow - 4 Stars - 3/27/21
Exit Wounds - J. A. Jance - 4 Stars - 3/23/21
Heartbreak Bay - Rachel Caine - 4 Stars - 3/29/21
Her Mother's Grave - Lisa Regan - 4 Stars - 3/12/21
Missing American - Kwei Quartey - 4.5 Stars - 3/20/21
Mrs. Pollifax on Safari - Dorothy Gilman - 4 Stars - 3/17/21
Murder in Old Bombay - Nev March - 5 Stars - 3/13/21
Murder Wall - Mari Hannah - 4 Stars - 3/6/21
New Husband - D. J. Palmer - 4.5 Stars - 3/15/21
Partner in Crime - J. A. Jance - 4 Stars - 3/2/21
Unquiet Dead - Ausma Zehanet Khan - 4 Stars - 3/9/21
Up Close and Dangerous - Linda Howard - 4 Stars - 3/5/21

Other

Daughter of Sand and Stone - Libbie Hawker - 4 Stars - 3/16/21
Death and Life of the Great Lakes - Dan Egan - 4 Stars - 3/3/21
For the Roses - Julie Garwood - 4 Stars - 3/4/21
Four Winds - Kristin Hannah - 5 Stars - 3/19/21
Nothing Short of Wondrous - Regina Scott - 4 Stars - 3/10/21
The One - Keira Cass - 3 Stars - 3/8/21
Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo - 5 Stars - 3/7/21
Queen's Baby Scandal - Maisey Yates - 3 Stars - 3/9/21
Restraint - Adriana Locke - 3 Stars - 3/25/21
Scandal in Spring - Lisa Kleypas - 4 Stars - 3/18/21
Whatever You Do, Don't Run - Peter Allison - 3.5 Stars - 3/22/21

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing - Charlie Adhara - (Washington D.C./North Carolina}
Big Bad Wolf series Book #4
5★
Agent Cooper Dayton and his partner, Oliver Park, are going undercover—at a retreat for couples who need counseling. They do say the best cover story is one that’s close to the truth…
Agent Cooper Dayton is almost relieved to get a phone call from his former boss at the Bureau of Special Investigations. It means a temporary reprieve from tensions created by house hunting with Oliver Park, his partner both in work and in life. Living together in a forever home is exactly what Cooper wants. He’s just not keen on working out the details. With a former alpha werewolf missing, Cooper and Park are loaned to the BSI to conduct the search at a secluded mountain retreat. The agents will travel to the resort undercover…as a couple in need of counseling.
The resort is picturesque, the grounds are stunning and the staff members are all suspicious as hell. With a long list of suspects and danger lurking around every cabin, Cooper should be focusing on the case. But he’s always been anxious about the power dynamics in his relationship with Park, and participating in the couples’ activities at the retreat brings it all to the surface. A storm is brewing, though, and Cooper and Park must rush to solve the case before the weather turns. Or before any more guests—or the agents themselves—end up dead.

As much as I love a good ghost story, I’m not a huge fan of vampires and werewolves. This book was in the box that my friends left for me…so I thought okay…a gay werewolf…and a dominate human that is as human as anyone could possibly be. As improbable as a hot, sexy, heartwarming hysterically funny romance between a cranky, cantankerous, loner Alpha human with anxiety and PTSD to boot… and the almost equally Alpha, dry-witted, generally Zen-like emotionally controlled, former enforcer of one of the most powerful werewolf packs in existence seems…it really works. Even their cat loves them equally. They are so cute together…well…as cute as a gay werewolf with his ability to grow fur anytime he wants… can be. The story doesn’t portray him as what we think of topically being a werewolf.. Here werewolves are just people… man or woman that can shift into wolf form, but most don’t go around killing anything that moves. I’m looking forward to finding out through the other books what other similarities these wolves possess with ordinary people. This book is nearly at the end of the series… #4 of 5. My two friends have promised they will order the first 3 and the last one as a favor to me. What a great two guys they are!!! It’s a really well written story with mystery and suspense throughout the book and never a single boring moment and comical remarks from Cooper. UPDATE NOTE: YEAH! My friends just brought me books #1 and #2…The Wolf At The Door & The Wolf At Bay. Think I’m going to keep them :)…My friends that is.

Nana - Brandon Massey - (Georgia)
5★
Monica Stephens never knew her birth mother. Raised by a strict but loving adoptive parent, she blossomed into a woman with a thriving career as a pediatrician and a family of her own. But sometimes, she wondered about her origins…especially her biological mother…until Grace arrives.

This is a new author for me and I absolutely loved this first book that I’ve read by him. He writes a well formed, story with great characters that are all endowed with completely, believable human faults. It’s his non-human characters that you have to watch out for. They will take you on one long, wild ride and scare you beyond belief. I don’t scare easily but the character of Grace gave be goose-bumps almost from the first. You know there is something very, very, very wrong. If you’ve read much of the horror genre you almost know what it is…but not how far it has, or will, go. You’ll have to wait until almost the very last page to learn it’s true depth and nature. Nana is a truly terrifying tale with a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter. I am certainly going to be finding more of Brandon Massey’s stories.

Common Goal - Rachel Reid – (New York)
Game Changer series Book #4
4★
Veteran goaltender Eric Bennett has faced down some of the toughest shooters on the ice, but nothing prepared him for his latest challenge—life after hockey. It’s time to make some big changes, starting with finally dating men for the first time. Graduate student Kyle Swift moved to New York nursing a broken heart. He’d sworn to find someone his own age to crush on (for once). Until he meets a gorgeous, distinguished silver fox hockey player. Despite their intense physical attraction, Kyle has no intention of getting emotionally involved. He’ll teach Eric a few tricks, have some mutually consensual fun, then walk away. Eric is more than happy to learn anything Kyle brings to the table. And Kyle never expected their friends-with-benefits arrangement to leave him wanting more. Happily-ever-after might be staring them in the face, but it won’t happen if they’re too stubborn to come clean about their feelings. Everything they both want is within reach… They just have to be brave enough to grab it.

Eric…the above mentioned “Silver Fox”… is 41 years old and this is his last season…he’s retiring….thinks he’s “over the hill”. I’m not a big hockey fan but it was in the box of books…and I see I had read another one in this series last year. Eric is a bit narrow minded thinking that the energetic 25 year old bartender that he’s crazy about is too young for him to place his romantic hopes retirement on. Eric spent way too much time worrying the age difference to death. Kyle showed him in everyway possible that he was equally crazy about him…but Eric just couldn’t let it go…and frankly he was the only one that cared. I liked the characters and how the story developed…but what a stubborn guy!!! I wanted to hit him up side the head with his hockey stick. It needed much less of time picking apart the relationship and looking for excuses and more time just listening to what his heart was telling him.

The House - Paul Carro – (Maine)
3★
The day began when Sheriff Frank Watkins found two bodies and three heads. Then things got strange. Paranormal TV host Charlie "Thunder" Raines has spent a lifetime seeking answers to the unexplained. When he spots a woman no one else on his crew can see, it appears he will finally receive his answers but at what cost? Yoga instructor Suzy Pottle thought she left her past behind by moving cross country and changing her identity. When a door that previously did not exist creaks open in her studio, she discovers the past can never truly die. Before the day is over more doors will open before slamming close, trapping residents of Tether Falls, Maine in a place seemingly existing between two worlds. The mysterious event brings together nine strangers with nine secrets so dark they plan to take them to their graves, with one house willing to accommodate them all.

I liked the story and loved the picture of the creepy old house that graces the cover and drew me to take it and demanded that I give it a home with its millions of brothers and sisters that already reside there. Also the reference to the two bodies and three heads was a “must know where the third head belonged” for me. It would have been nice if Mr. Carro had told us all little more abut the house, made at least some of the characters a little more likeable. The ending was…well… “The End”….I even checked to see if pages were missing. Nope...just “That’s All Folks!” I know that some readers love it if a budding romance or a steamy sex scene can possibly break out in a story. This one tried to produce one of those… however for a romance or sex… steamy or otherwise…to rear it’s head during all this bloodshed seem completely ludicrous and highly unlikely at the most. I just have SOOO much fun with these stories.

Some Can See - J. R. Erickson (Michigan)
A book in the Northern Michigan Asylum series
4★
STEP INTO THE NORTHERN MICHIGAN ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE: Twenty years after Sophia discovers Rosemary’s body, she finds herself trapped in the sprawling and eerily beautiful, Northern Michigan Asylum for the Insane, in the hands of a malevolent doctor who preys on patients who exhibit paranormal abilities. SOMETIMES THE DEAD DON’T REST: In present day 1965, Hattie, much like her mother, thirty years before, is led by a ghost. A newspaper hidden in an attic reveals a secret that has shaped the lives of Hattie and her siblings. Hattie with her sister, Jude, embarks on a crusade to remedy the wrongs of the past and discover the tale of deception that stole their mother a decade before. Hattie and Jude are in a race against time to discover a murderer and save their mother from a horrific fate.

This is a diffidently character driven story. It’s not just a book about some seeing the dead. It is a story of a life stolen, children mourning the loss of childhood and a spiteful sick grandmother. This is a book that lingers in my mind and I can't wait for the next one. It’s a stand alone story… I believe all 8 books are standalones…so no cliffhangers. But it hints that there are other stories to be told from this northern Michigan asylum.

Wolf At The Door - Charlie Adahra (Maryland/Maine)
Big Bad Wolf series Book #1
5★
An ex-FBI agent is partnered with the enemy in this suspenseful first installment of Charlie Adhara’s Big Bad Wolf series. Hunting for big bad wolves was never part of agent Cooper Dayton’s plan, but a werewolf attack lands him in the carefully guarded Bureau of Special Investigations. A new case comes with a new partner: ruggedly sexy werewolf Oliver Park. Park is an agent of The Trust, a werewolf oversight organization working to ease escalating tensions with the BSI. But as far as Cooper’s concerned, it’s failing. As they investigate a series of mysterious deaths unlike anything they’ve seen, every bone in Cooper’s body is suspicious of his new partner—even when Park proves himself as competent as he is utterly captivating. When more people vanish, pressure to solve the case skyrockets. And though he’d resolved to keep things professional, Cooper’s friction with Park soon erupts...into a physical need that can’t be contained or controlled. But with a body count that’s rising by the day, werewolves and humans are in equal danger. If Cooper and Park don’t catch the killer soon, one—or both—of them could be the next to go.

As is a norm for me…I read the #4 book before the #1 book…IT WASN”T MY FAULT!!! Book #4 was in my box from my friends who didn’t realize it was a series until I threatened them with great bodily harm unless they found the rest of them. I now have book #1…thank you Connor and Luke! If I hadn’t read book #4 first I probably wouldn’t have ever picked the series up on my own as I’m not a fan of werewolves or vampires. I can truthfully say that I am now a big fan of this werewolf :) The books can be easily described. They are great adventure…thriller… mystery stories with m/m romance as a parallel storyline. The main characters are estranged from their families to varying degrees, and the murder victims are not mourned much nor missed by anyone. Loneliness is a constant theme echoing throughout...showing how you can choose it at some point in life and then get stuck in it. Conner is so completely likable and constantly makes funny remarks about his view on life and almost everything else. Park is hot…for lack of a better word… but we don't know much about what makes him tick or how he thinks. So far he hasn’t eaten anyone and that’s a good thing. I have book 2 and waiting on book #3 & #5. Hope they find their way here soon.

The Sixth Idea by P J Tracy
#7 Monkeewrench series
c. 2016
4 *s
Lydia, young artist, meets Chuck on a fight to Minneapolis. While talking, they find that they have something in common. Their deceased grandfathers worked on the hydrogen bomb during WWII. So, they make plans to have coffee after landing. Unfortunately, Chuck is found murdered, so Mpls. homicide detectives Gino Magozzi and Leo Rolseth are called back from a mid winter vacation. Several other seemingly unrelated deaths and missing persons, end up in one confusing case for the detectives. They call on the Monkeewrench computer group to assist with The Beast, a massively powerful computer which starts putting the pieces together. Russian assassin s, Alzheimer's patients, secret government agencies, Christmas season, Cold War intrigue, the proliferation of computers, and a weapon of unimaginable power combine to put the Monkeewrench crew anthe detectives through their paces.

I really love the Monkeewrench series and their misfit crew. A bit if humor helps to move the story along through many twists and turns.

The Royal Street Heist - Scotty Cade - (Louisanna)
Bissonet & Cruz Investigations: series Book #1
4.5★
When valuable Civil War era art is stolen from a popular New Orleans gallery, NOPD Lead Detective Montgomery "Beau" Bissonet and his partner set out to solve the crime. When the gallery’s insurance company sends Tollison Cruz to the Big Easy to conduct their own independent investigation, personalities clash and battle lines are definitely drawn. The heist quickly becomes a politically driven high profile case, and Detective Bissonet is furious when he’s ordered to work along side Investigator Cruz to assure a timely arrest. The heat index soars to new levels when the two investigators discover they have a lot more in common than originally thought. With the tension between them temporarily sated, Bissonet and Cruz finally start to work together, on more than just a professional level. But everything comes to a screeching halt when Beau discovers his cohort in crime has been withholding information regarding the investigation and has been concealing a very questionable past. What happens next rivals the scorching summer heat.

I have read several books by this author and always enjoyed them immensely. Like all of his books, the characters were likable…even poor Bruce. One thing I thought was that Beau was way too hard on Cruz. He didn’t even know the man…he had nothing to do with Beau and his former partner breaking up…and yet he was rude to him at every turn to start with. While the romance build was good and the character development was very good, I just, for some reason, didn’t get the same warm feelings for this book as all Scotty Cade’s other books. Maybe it had something to do with that I don’t especially care for the art world. I’m happy that Tollison and Beau are going to give themselves a chance. I really enjoyed their interactions both personal and professional...and will happily read the second book in the series.

The Last Laugh – Michelle Dorey (Connecticut)
The Haunting of Kingston series Book #6
5★
There are some secrets that should have stayed buried. Finding the century home in the idyllic lakeside town of Westport was the best thing that could have happened to Sharon. She’d turn it into a B&B and finally run her own business. Who said that it was all downhill at fifty? This is a change of life all right—a change for the better. She and Peter could slide right into being empty nesters. Except…the Victorian era place isn’t quite as vacant as they thought. It begins with puzzling events like a TV set turning on by itself…then some flickering lights…nothing big; just new house jitters, right? The house was just a new home Sharon would get used to. They’d get an electrician in, and that would be that. Or is it something else? Years ago, Liam Gallagher, a hard working man who loved practical jokes and pranks died in a tragic accident. Or was it an accident? As Sharon tries to uncover these long buried secrets, her own bizarre past comes back to haunt her. As a young child, she had a ‘gift’ of an otherworldly nature. She could find lost items, know peoples’ secrets and even have foretelling of dangerous events. It faded when she matured, and she never spoke of it. But it’s back now…with a vengeance. Rage and long past hatreds are resurrected. Sharon and her family aren’t just in the way. They’re the newest victims. It’s time for one last laugh.

The “Ghost Story Junkie” loves a good haunted house tale… and this is a really great one. It’s based on what is believed to be a true story. How much truth there is in that will totally depend on the views of the reader. Many people are said to have seen the ghost, or at least his effects in the house. Real or not …Liam…the ghost… disrupts the whole family and gives the reader enough chills to last a lifetime. I really liked how the author set the story in motion with lots of twists & turns with the goal to be how to deal with the spirit. It does seem that Liam is not especially dangerous…just mischievous… perhaps lonely and not really liking his “dead state”. I don’t think I would want Liam occupying my house but then these people were occupying his. This is the first book I've read of this author but it defiantly won't be the last.

American On Purpose by Craig Ferguson
4 ★

Craig Ferguson, the host of "The Late, Late Show", traces his journey from working-class Glasgow to the comedic limelight of Hollywood, revealing his personal story of becoming an American citizen.

The book covered his childhood, drug and alcohol problems, relationships and his career in show business. I enjoy Ferguson’s humor and there was some throughout the book but not as much as I expected. He had some serious problems with alcohol and drugs and he had ups and downs in his show business career. He’s had an interesting, if tumultuous, life. I listened on audio and he was the reader which was enjoyable.

Covenant - Brandon Massey – (Georgia)
5★
On a golden summer morning, fifteen-year-old Anthony Thorne is on a fishing boat with his father, rods cast into the lake, when the crack of a rifle shatters the silence. His father slumps forward, blood leaking from his chest. Horrified, Anthony spins in the direction of the gunfire, and sees a shadowy figure race away from the shore and vanish in the cover of the trees--a vision that will haunt him for years to come Fifteen years later: a happily married Marine veteran and author of a bestselling series of crime novels, Anthony has achieved a measure of success. However…the past still haunts him…and in spite of his eyewitness testimony, his father’s murder was declared a hunting accident, and no one was ever brought to justice. On the anniversary of his father’s death, a mysterious message arrives from an unknown sender that promises to lead Anthony to the truth

Question: What would you do if your every move…every aspect of your life could be and was, being controlled by your church… of all things? The abilities this church processes and uses are beyond terrifying in that the possibility in reality DOES absolutely exist with all the technology available in today’s world. This story brings this entire scenario alive and up close and personal. Covenant is an action packed suspense thriller that reads like an action packed movie from the beginning until the very last page. Every year on the anniversary of his fathers unsolved murder Anthony goes into a frenzy to have the murder revisited, to see if any new evidence has been uncovered. Finally he receives a mysterious note with details that contains details and facts that are so accurate that it can’t be a prank. I thought that Anthony was a fool for meeting this perfect stranger… and even crazier to go off with his wife on a quest that you just know is not going to end well. Enter a world where the wages of sin is indeed death.

Nothing Stays Buried by PJ Tracy
#8 Monkeewrench series
c. 2017
4 *s

Marla Gustafson was on her way from Minneapolis to Cottonwood County to visit her dad on the family farm. She stopped along the road near the farm to help out someone stalled along the gravel road. Getting closer she saw a black bloody garbage bag in the road. She ran and was never seen again, just leaving a ring behind near a tree. Sheriff Jacob Emmet was out of clues after searching for Marla for 2 months. He called up to Minneapolis to hire the Monkeewrench crew to use their computers to help look for Marla. Meanwhile Homicide Detectives Magozzi and Rolseth were on the trail of what appeared to be a serial killer. Victims were found strangled in parks with a playing card tucked under their shirts. Leo Magozzi was also worried about Grace McBride, a member of the Monkeewrench crew, as she was expecting their child. The two separate cases in two areas of Minnesota were starting to link together: casinos, drug cartels, FBI, more vitims and a wild southern Minnesota tornado bring the cases together in a wild ride.

I have enjoyed Monkeewrench mysteries since book #1. This one caught my attention as I used to live in Cottonwood Co, Minnesota. However, I soon discovered that the author, although being a Minnesota native, placed the county near the Iowa border on I-35W, which is a good 125 miles southeast of the real Cottonwood Co. It shouldn't have bothered me, but I found this glaring error really irritating to me while reading. But, then folks who live in the Twin Cities area call everything beyond the Minneapolis metro area, "outstate Minnesota", not worthy of keeping the details straight. Nevertheless, it was a good read.

Leonard (My Life As A Cat) – Carlie Sorosiak – (South Carolina/Arizona)
5+★
The cat that Olive rescues from a flood has a secret: he’s not really a cat at all, but an alien who crashed to Earth on a beam of light. The cat, whom Olive names Leonard, was prepared to visit the planet as a human—but something went badly, terribly, horribly wrong

In a galaxy far, far away, beings are immortal. Each being, to celebrate one’s 300th birthday, is allowed to visit Earth for one month. The being can take on any form it likes… penguin, elephant, or human etc…and spend that month experiencing life on Earth in the chosen form. The beings study life on Earth by watching things like I Love Lucy shows. One of these aliens has been planning his trip to Earth for quite a while, and he is ready to take his place as a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He has dreamed of his month on Earth. Leonard says, “I’d … carry many useful things in my pockets: a Swiss Army knife, a butterfly net, a variety of pens for writing. Humor is a valued trait among humans, so for an entire year, I exclusively prepared jokes.” He wants to hold an umbrella in his hands, and he really can’t wait to have hands. But sometimes excitement overcomes one and one loses focus. This is what happens to our little alien. He loses focus on his way to Yellowstone, and instead of becoming a park ranger there for the month; he becomes a cat in South Carolina, rescued from a storm by an eleven-year-old girl named Olive. I absolutely loved every word of this book. It made me laugh out loud, it had lots of tension to keep the pages turning, and it brought me to tears. The story concept is unique, the characters are all believable and interesting, there is lots of humor, and the writing is spectacular. Every human that is or was ever owned by a cat…or an alien…should read this little treasure.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest opinion. The views expressed by this reviewer are entirely my own.

Veiled Loyalties - Scotty Cade – (Louisiana)
Bussonet & Cruz Investigations Book #2
5★
Halloween is Beau Bissonet’s favorite holiday, from carving pumpkins to decorating his yard to donning a costume and scaring the neighborhood kids. But this year his Halloween is about to take a different turn, one that will challenge his skills as a detective and his commitment to his partner in work and love. A year since Beau and Tollison solved The Royal Street Heist, found love, and formed Bissonet & Cruz Investigations, they are thriving personally and professionally. That is until Tollison’s ex, Bastien Andros, shows up out of the blue. Naturally, Beau’s suspicious, but two days after Bastien’s arrival, he goes missing, and Tollison worries his past may catch up to him. A mysterious package makes clear who has Bastien and what’s at stake. With both Bastien and Beau’s lives now at risk, Tollison has only one option: travel to Zurich, Switzerland, secure and deliver the ransom, keep both men safe, and stay true to himself at the same time.

Book #2 of this trilogy is a fast-moving, plot driven, action adventure which begins with Tollison's ex-lover, Bastian, casually dropping into his and Beau's new detective agency, and then proceeds through a series of harrowing episodes in which Beau and Tollison are forced to steal a masterpiece in order to save Bastian's life. The detail that Scotty Cade put into the heist is absolutely outstanding. What aids in making this one a solid “keeper”, is that Bruce and Auggie…Beau’s friends and partner and ex from book one…has a part to play in the story. Good to see them all getting along. Now I am really interested to see more of Bruce and Bastien to see where that goes. Good one Mr. Cade.

Lying Next To Me - Gregg Olsen (Washington)
4.5★
No matter what you see, no matter what you’ve heard, assume nothing. Adam and Sophie Warner and their three-year-old daughter are vacationing in Washington State’s Hood Canal for Memorial Day weekend. It’s the perfect getaway to unplug—and to calm an uneasy marriage. But on Adam’s first day out on the water, he sees Sophie abducted by a stranger. A hundred yards from shore, Adam can’t save her. And Sophie disappears. In a nearby cabin is another couple, Kristen and Connor Moss. Unfortunately, beyond what they’ve heard in the news, they’re in the dark when it comes to Sophie’s disappearance. For Adam, at least there’s comfort in knowing that Mason County detective Lee Husemann is an old friend of his. She’ll do everything she can to help. She must. But as Adam’s paranoia about his missing wife escalates, Lee puts together the pieces of a puzzle. The lives of the two couples are converging in unpredictable ways, and the picture is unsettling. Lee suspects that not everyone is telling the truth about what they know—or they have yet to reveal all the lies they’ve hidden from the strangers they married.

This is a slow moving mystery and thriller that takes it’s time wrapping you up. It will convince you that you know the truth about the characters, only to realize you’ve been lied to…again. After all half the fun of reading mysteries is trying to figure out “whodunit” before the author reveals it. One of the other things that makes this a great mystery is the author fills the story with well-developed, unreliable narrators who lie to your face to throw you off the trail. That’s exactly what happens in this one. There is not one character in this book who can tell the truth. I usually like to have at least one character that I can depend on to not lead me down the wrong path but I didn’t get a single one here. These people are simply all really horrible people and any one of them could have committed the murder. I do like to be made to wonder “what the heck is happening” now and “why did he/she do that”…so I am happy to say Gregg Olsen did an outstanding job of doing that. So he gets 4.5 stars for his efforts.

Ice Cold Heart by PJ Tracy
#10 Monkeewrench novels
c. 2019
4 *s
It's winter in Minneapolis. It's been so cold that homicide detectives Magozzi and Rolseth haven't had a new case in a month. A psychic medium seeks help from the detectives for a woman who may soon be in harm's way. However, down at one of the premier art galleries, a group is protesting the sick and disturbing new artist that has an exhibit. A woman who was last seen at the art show is found dead. Meanwhile, the Monkeewrench Software group is hot on the trail of a bitcoin thief who stole millions. Roadrunner, one of the Monkeewrench geniuses, meets one of his neighbors walking down the frigid streets. Something wasn't right and he was worried about her.

If possible, this book's storyline was more convoluted than previous Monkeewrench volumes. It was a fast chaotic read, but came to a satisfying resolution. I hope there will be more in this series.

Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason
4 ★

Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson investigates the killing of a solitary man, found murdered in his Reykjavik apartment, and discovers that the dead man had been accused but not convicted of a rape forty years earlier.

Inspector Erlendur is grumpy but dedicated to following every subtle clue, no matter which direction it takes him in. The investigation was interesting with some surprising things that came up along the way. It takes place in Iceland and there is a bit of a dark feel throughout from the characters and the setting. I thought this was a good police procedural.

Ghost Camera- Darcy Coates (Washington)
5★
When Jennie finds an abandoned camera in a lighthouse, she takes a photo for fun. But there's something very, very wrong with the picture: it contains ghosts. Jenine and her best friend, Bree, realize the camera is capable of capturing the dead. But with each new photo taken, the specters become more aware and more alert, and begin following the friends. Desperate, Jenine seeks the help of a paranormal researcher. He only has bad news, though: they've meddled with something far beyond their control, and the ghosts won't stop... not until Jenine and Bree are dead.

Darcy Coates is one of my favorite authors of really chilling ghost stories. The main characters are likeable and relatable, which allow the reader to feel empathy for them when they find themselves in a situation they cannot control, and which you know is headed for a really unfavorable outcome. These are young people and they did something that kids that age would do and this helps to reminds us that if this bore any resemblance of reality, it could potentially happen to anyone. The storyline is unpredictable. All in all, this is a goose bump producing, don’t want it to end… good read.

The Novel Art of Murder - V.M. Burns – (Michigan)
Mystery Bookshop series Book #3
3★
The small town of North Harbor, Michigan, is just not big enough for the two of them: flamboyant phony Maria Romanov and feisty Nana Jo. The insufferable Maria claims she's descended from Russian royalty and even had a fling with King Edward VIII back in the day. She’s not just a lousy liar, she's a bad actress, so when she nabs the lead in the Shady Acres Senior Follies—a part Nana Jo plays every year in their retirement village production—Nana Jo blows a gasket and reads her the riot act in front of everyone. Of course, when Maria is silenced with a bullet to the head, Nana Jo lands the leading role on the suspects list. Sam’s been writing her newest mystery, set in England between the wars, with her intrepid heroine Lady Daphne drawn into murder and scandal in the household of Winston Churchill. But now she has to prove that Nana Jo’s been framed. With help from her grandmother's posse of rambunctious retirees, Sam shines a spotlight on Maria’s secrets, hoping to draw the real killer out of the shadows.

This is another book that I picked up because of the pair of cute dogs with big soulful eyes on the cover. I have to stop doing that!! Fortunately this one…unlike others that have tricked me into taking them home had a fairly decent story. I found the character of Nana Jo and her friends at her retirement community to be likeable even if they were a bit eccentric. I believe it’s like most cozies…a series that is just supposed to be taken with a grain of salt and a large dose of fun…as there are so many things that would just never ever happen in reality. No detective would ever share information with a civilian especially one that is a suspect….but then a detective that would allow himself to be nicknamed… “Stinky”… might be capable of most anything. Oh…the two cute little dogs that were the cover draw for me picking this up to begin with are Snickers and Oreo.

Thrown To The Wolves – Charlie Adhara - (Canada)
Big Bad Wolf series Book #3
5★
Agent Cooper Dayton is going to meet his boyfriend’s werewolf family. Unarmed…On their turf…and he’s bringing his cat. When Agent Cooper Dayton agreed to attend the funeral for Oliver Park’s grandfather, he didn’t know what he was getting into. Turns out, the deceased was the alpha of the most powerful werewolf pack on the eastern seaboard. And his death is highly suspicious. Regardless, Cooper is determined to love and support Park the way Park has been there for him. But Park left him woefully unprepared for the wolf pack politics and etiquette. Rival packs...the seating order at the dinner table…a mysterious figure named the Shepherd? The worst is that Park didn’t tell his family one key thing about Cooper. Cooper feels two steps behind, and reticent Park is no help.

You’ve heard the saying “You can’t go home”. No one actually puts much stock in it, but poor Cooper should have been giving it second thoughts. He so wanted to make Oliver Park proud of him and have Park’s family feel that he was worthy of their Oliver. Nothing went right from the start, The car broke down and Oliver left Cooper with the cat while he walked into town but Cooper was visited by an over friendly wolf that could open car doors and even smirk while licking his face. He is then "rescued by a research team that is collecting data about wolves that "act strangely”. To say Oliver Park’s family is dysfunctional would be like calling The Titanic a rowboat. They treated Cooper with about as much disdain as they could possibly offer a human...which was the one main piece of information that Oliver had failed to give them about Cooper. Might have been useful and important when introducing your human boyfriend to your family of werewolves. I have so very much enjoyed this series and love these two characters. I wish there was more books in the series or that there might be a chance of there ever being even one more. I do have the last one in the series that I intend to devour shortly. Things will definitely be changing for both Cooper and Park - I can't wait to see what's in store for them next.

Best Laid Plans - Roan Parrish –(Wyoming)
Garnet’s Run Book #2
4.5★
A man who’s been moving his whole life finally finds a reason to stay put. Charlie Matheson has spent his life taking care of things. When his parents died two days before his eighteenth birthday, he took care of his younger brother, even though that meant putting his own dreams on hold. He took care of his father’s hardware store, building it into something known several towns over. He took care of the cat he found in the woods…so now he has a cat. When a stranger with epic tattoos and a glare to match starts coming into Matheson’s Hardware, buying things seemingly at random and lugging them off in a car so beat-up Charlie feels bad for it, his instinct is to help. When the man comes in for the fifth time in a week, Charlie can’t resist intervening. Rye Janssen has spent his life breaking things…promise…his parents’ hearts…leases. He isn’t used to people wanting to put things back together—not the crumbling house he just inherited, not his future and certainly not him. But the longer he stays in Garnet Run, the more he can see himself belonging there. And the more time he spends with Charlie, the more he can see himself falling asleep in Charlie’s arms…and waking up in them. Is this what it feels like to have a home…and someone to share it with?

Perfect is diffidently not the word you would use when describing Charlie and Rye. Both men have trauma from their pasts…and although they are in vastly different circumstances…they discover they not only have chemistry, but actually complement one another. I was impatient and wasn’t feeling much love or compassion for Rye to start with since he acted worse than a spoiled, angry 8 year old when Charlie was only trying to help him. Their acceptance for one another did finally begin to mesh and there began to be hope for a relationship once Charlie and Rye both started to let go of their fears. It was beautiful to watch them both finally seeing that they were worthwhile as human beings and would be absolutely perfect with each other… each being exactly what the other one needed. The two cats…Jane and Marmot… only added the final perfection to the story...along with all the other "fur babies" that they provided homes for. The events were nicely paced and the story unfolded smoothly once Rye’s temper tantrum was over. It’s another good story by Roan Parrish. Charlie and Rye complete each other and I loved their story. Of course there was a book #1 that I completely missed. What else is new?:)

The Wolf At Bay - Charlie Adahara (Michigan/Maryland)
Big Bad Wolf series Book #2
5★
Solve the crime or fix the relationship—Cooper Dayton can’t seem to do both. Going home digs up bad memories, so it’s something Bureau of Special Investigations agent Cooper Dayton tries to avoid. When he’s guilted into a visit, Cooper brings along Oliver Park, his hot new werewolf partner, in the hopes the trip will help clarify their status as a couple…or not. When Park’s keen shifter nose uncovers a body in the yard and Cooper’s father is the prime suspect, Cooper knows they’re on their own. Familial involvement means no sanctioned investigation. They’ll need to go rogue and solve the mystery quietly or risk seeing Cooper’s dad put behind bars. The case may be cold, but Park and Cooper’s relationship heats up as they work.

It’s been four months since Cooper and Park worked the case that brought them to together as work partners as well as romantic partners. The BSI and The Trust have moved forward with partnering humans with werewolves and Cooper and Park are negotiating being permanent partners both on and off the job. It all blends together to some extent…but of course it’s still a bit complicated and messy as they’re each dragging several,well loaded suitcases, of doubt and personal turmoil behind them. Too further complicate things…Cooper now gets to introduce Park to his dysfunctional family. Things are actually lightened up a bit when the dead body arrives on the scene. This is another well done adventure with these two wonderful characters that all fans of the series are rooting for.

You Are Invited: A Ghost Story - Sarah Denzel (Romania)
3★
When Cath receives her invitation to The Event--a monetized retreat for social media influencers--she can't believe her luck. Irene Jobert is the most famous influencer in the world, and now Cath will be one of the five participants chosen to stay with Irene in a renovated Transylvanian monastery. The catch? Their every move will be live-streamed to millions of people around the world. Patrons pay for constant access to their favorite social media stars: Irene, the model; Nathan, the gamer; Jules, the blogger; Daniel, the fitness guru; and Cath, the writer. Nestled halfway up a mountain, the five are isolated, with nothing but the internet to connect them to the world. That is, until eagle-eyed live-stream followers all around the globe notice a sixth participant…a dark figure lurking in the background.

I saw this book on the website of one of my favorite ghost story writers…Darcey Coates. While it wasn’t necessarily recommended by Ms, Coates herself…she did give a blurb about the book that sounded intriguing. I thought the book started out rather slow and it took some time to actually pick up where something was happening besides the other participants meeting and assessing one another. I actually thought the story to be slightly muddled for lack of a better word. It seemed the author couldn’t quiet decide in which direction she wanted the story to go. I know that this author can write a well told tale and her writing style is easy to read…but not so much on this one. The idea of combining a traditional ghost story in a remote Romanian nunnery, long deserted after the nuns were all murdered....along with wolves....maybe even a vampire...blend with the ultra-modern world of Internet influence and technology and you have a good story that could have worked well...but this one just didn’t do it for me they way I had hoped. The best part was when the 6th uninvited participant appeared.. I’ll give it 3 stars just because I feel it may have been more me than the story itself that felt "off".

In Plain Sight by C. J. Box
4.5 ★

This novel sees game warden Joe Pickett's life take a turn for the worse after millionaire Opal Scarlett goes missing. As Pickett discovers more and more disturbing truths, it becomes clear that someone wants the dogged game warden to keep his nose out of the investigation.

Joe Pickett is in a tough situation right from the start of this story. He and his family are being harassed by someone but the sheriff doesn’t like him and won’t help. His new boss wants to drive him out of his job. And a local rich, powerful man won’t cooperate when Joe tries to investigate an illegal hunting complaint against him. There’s tension throughout, which is sometimes worsened by Joe’s stubbornness and independence. The story’s well-rounded by good family relationships and an exciting ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Where the Crawdads sing by Delia Owens
3.5*

This is my debut review for the group so apologies for inadequacies. I hope that I am giving the flavour of the story without including spoilers.
This remarkably atmospheric book tells the story of Catherine Elliot(Kya) who lives in a remote part of the Marshes on the South Carolina coast with her large but dysfunctional family. As a little girl, Kya is left to fend for herself. She has little contact with people, her only support coming from a black couple,Jumpin and Mabel. Then she meets Tate who understands her wild, solitary nature and shares her love of the Marsh’s wildlife and ecosystem. He teaches her to read and she becomes an expert biologist and artist.
Kya’s later history is complex given her combination of great gifts and lack of the usual social skills. Her life becomes connected to that of a young man who has died mysteriously and her outsider status causes locals to be suspicious of her.
The investigation into this death is a major strand in the novel, but is not the whole of it. As readers we become absorbed by Kya’s world of wind and water, birds and wildlife, and the mystery and beauty of her environment.
Delia Owens is a naturalist whose first novel this is and she has written a book steeped in the poetry of the natural world which speaks to us of our own times with fragile eco systems under threat in many places. I found it to be a book of rare beauty and sensitivity.

Crafty Cat Crimes - Stefan Dziemianowicz (and 43 others) – (Scotland)
4★
The game is afoot, and the four footed are its most cunning players in Crafty Cat Crimes. In one hundred cagey cat-tale mysteries, the largest literary litter of kitty crime-stoppers ever convened in one volume prowl the mean streets in pursuit of feline felons, justice, just desserts--and the occasional pat on the head. You don't have to be a cat lover to enjoy these stories of crime and intrigue. You just have to like challenging mysteries where a twist in the tale comes naturally. There is virtually no crime these cats don't put the paw on. Whether confronted with cat burglary, catnapping, or murder most foul, they work through seemingly insoluble puzzles with a stealth, feline finickiest, and silent grace that are the envy of their two-footed counterparts.

This is a 613 page anthology of very short mystery stories, all featuring cats in one way or another. Cats being mysteries themselves are very good at solving mysteries created by we imperfect humans:) Each of the 100 little stories here, by different authors, take only minutes to read and all feature cats either as the good guys… or in some cases the bad. Of course everyone who is, or has ever been, owned by a cat knows that there is no such thing as a “bad” cat...simply misunderstood. Some of the stories are deadly serious while others are absolutely hilarious. Even if you are a “dog” person you will find these little stories delightfully entertaining…and for “cat” people…they are diffidently recommended by your cat.

>28 Maura49:
As my grandfather used to tell us every time we'd ask if something was okay....your "Debut Review" was "finer than frog hair". We are not a fussy bunch...we just like to see what you have read and how you felt about it...good or bad or indifferent. You happened to like this one a whole lot more than I did. I just couldn't buy that this young child was left alone for all those years with no adult or agency in authority coming in and taking over. You leave your 6 year old alone for even a day or a week and see how quick some local or government agency comes in in some form or another. Anyway...we all have different tastes and that too is more than okay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your "debut" review and hope for lots more.

False Light by Eric Dezenhall
LTER
c. 2020
4.5 *s
This is one of the best novels I've read this year. It is fast paced with plenty of interesting looks into the current state of the media. "Fuse" Petty is a veteran journalist who is being put out to pasture. Fuse is a technology luddite, a good friend, a good husband and father, as well as an excellent print journalist.His best friend seeks his advice on a very serious matter. The friend's daughter was assaulted while interning for a very well known "gotcha" type online reporter. Since, Fuse is currently on leave, he undertakes a scheme to help bring justice to his friend's family. For some reason this reminded me of that old movie "The Sting." The author uses many thinly veiled incidences pulled from headline news of the past few years to create some if the characters and subplots. It was a well woven engaging read.

The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston

A TRAGIC DISAPPEARANCE
After a harrowing, otherworldly confrontation on the shores of Exmouth, Massachussetts, Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast is missing, presumed dead.
A SHOCKING RETURN
Sick with grief, Pendergast’s ward, Constance, retreats to her chambers beneath the family mansion at 891 Riverside Drive–only to be taken captive by a shadowy figure from the past.
AN INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT
Proctor, Pendergast’s longtime bodyguard, springs to action, chasing Constance’s kidnapper through cities, across oceans, and into wastelands unknown.
BUT IN A WORLD OF BLACK AND WHITE, NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS
And by the time Proctor discovers the truth, a terrifying engine has stirred-and it may already be too late.

I absolutely loved reading this book. It was equal parts clever, suspenseful, full of unforeseeable twists and chilling and extremely interesting characters. I enjoyed the premise of the plot and I loved the fact that things were told in such a way that as a new reader to the series, I was able to get an idea about what might have happened in the earlier parts. I even got a decent idea as to how the chemistry between the characters worked up until this part. So I was really happy to get all the important background information that the authors cleverly infused without affecting the present narration.

This book had really strong characters and even though I did not fall in love with the main guy, AXL Pendergast (mainly because he wasn’t the main character in this particular story) I was really drawn towards the other main characters in this book. I’m pretty sure that Diogenes might have been the crazy serial killer in the parts before this one, but in this part, I loved him as he was a completely changed man standing right on the turning point in his life. And it makes me wonder that now that I actually like the villain of the story, how could I possibly read the previous parts. Anyway, back to the character dissection, I did not much like the character of Constance. She was too “ancient” for me to feel connected to her. I did love Proctor, he is this smart, intelligent and stud guy who’d do anything to protect his people. So yeah, this is one of those books that’ll make you fall in love with more than half of the characters.

The storyline was strong and so were the characters and the writing, so there was actually nothing that I, as a reader, couldn’t have liked. The book started with one hell of a fast paced beginning with Proctor running around the world changing plane after plane chasing the kidnapper and I was hooked right from the start. But then a really mind-bending twist followed and I was like, “What the hell?” and then things started to get really interesting, to say the least.

The ending was a bit slow, but that could be overlooked considering that it is an ongoing series, so a mild closure for all the characters is needed. Though I would have loved to read more about proctor towards the end, considering that the book started with him. Also, a few scenes between Constance and Diogenes felt like a slog, especially when they both started talking about the ancient aristocratic stuff, but maybe that’s just me.

Other than these minor issues, I loved the book, so much that I’m planning to read this entire series from beginning in the coming days. If you like reading nice suspenseful stories rich with strong characters and storylines then this book (or rather series) is for you.

>32 deaflower: This is one of my all time favorite series. Pendergast is something else.

39 Steps - John Buchan - (Scotland)
4★
A self-described "ordinary fellow" stumbles upon a plot involving not only espionage and murder but also the future of Britain itself. Richard Hannay arrives in London on the eve of World War I, where he encounters an American agent seeking help in preventing a political assassination. Before long, Hannay finds himself in possession of a little black book that holds the key to the conspiracy — and on the run from both the police and members of a mysterious organization that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.

Though it takes place before World War I… it offers insight into the view of what was happening at that time making the tale timeless. With some minor changes, it could easily be a thrilling espionage adventure told in modern day. All books deserve, and should be judged, for their context…. and while most do…we all know that some don't. The fact that this one has a solid four-star average after hundreds of reviews…easily says how much fun this was to read. The book differs from Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation in that there is no love interest for Hannay here… because it simply isn’t needed.

Lethal Mistake – Scotty Cade - (Louisiana)
Bussonet & Cruz Investigations Book #3
5★
Beau Bissonet and Tollison Cruz are back, along with Bruce, Auggie, and now Bastien, Tollison’s ex-partner. From the initial spark between them in Zurich, Bruce and Bastien’s attraction has flared, and Bastien has come to the Big Easy to explore what lies ahead for them. It’s Mardi Gras, and New Orleans is alive and festive, teeming with excited tourists and locals alike. The first few parades go off without a hitch. And then a man is targeted, shot, and killed right in the middle of a crowded street. Auggie and Bruce are called in to investigate, but before they even get started, more deaths occur, one at each of the next two parades. Auggie realizes he’s dealing with a serial killer and jumps into action. Beau and Tollison join the investigation and stumble upon some similarities in the murders that are too strong to ignore. But before they can unravel the perpetrator’s motives and get ahead of him, he fires another shot that affects the tightly knit group of friends in a way none of them could have ever imagined. Together they must all come up with a plan to stop the killing and serve justice in the process.

Beau and Tollison with Bruce and Sebastian, sort out a few more last grievances with their ex boyfriends together.. I loved Beau and Tollison's funny banter throughout the book. I’ve read many of this author’s books so can say with conviction that Scotty Cade has a clear and precise writing style that makes it easy to become engrossed in the story. It seems that once you start reading his books you can't put them down. I just wish that there would be more than only 3 books in any of his series. You just get to love the characters and then they’re off hiding in the pages…but there are always new ones to take their place. I think he should have one huge reunion with every character from every book he has written to date. Now that would surly be worth reading. I have never been disappointed in any of his books.

Plan B- Emily Barr – (England/France)
2★
Emma adores living in Brighton, but she loves Matt more. When he suggests they buy the perfect farmhouse in France, she reluctantly agrees, even though he continues commuting to London while she looks after their daughter and the builders. But France is not the idyll he promised, and when she discovers the true reason he spends half his time in London the foundations on which Emma has built her life start to crumble.

The storyline is good with lots of twists and a few surprises… but believe me when I say that it dragged on longer than was necessary complete with extended descriptions composed of vivid details that soon became so tedious and B-O-R-I-N-G. These included just about everything from the neighbor visits to shopping trips, to the dust on the furniture…adding absolutely nothing to the story line. By the book cover’s description you believe that you know what is happening and most of us will start to feel very sorry for Emma…the main character and will begin planning anatomy rearrangement for Matt. The only reason you will finish it is to see what Matt is up to…but you can skip pages by the dozens and not miss is a single, solitary thing.

Within The Shadows – Brandon Massey (Georgia)
5★
At just thirty-one, Andrew Wilson has it all: close friends, a great house in an Atlanta suburb, and a successful career as a mystery writer. Only one thing is missing--a special woman to share it with. Then one day he meets someone new, a woman who seems almost too good to be true. Beautiful, smart, and sophisticated, Mika Woods is everything that Andrew has ever wanted and more…at first. After one night of passion, soon Andrew discovers that Mika isn't quite who she appears to be. Or even, what she appears to be. But it's too late to turn back. Mika has been waiting a lifetime for a man like Andrew. And what she wants, what she desires, she will have…no matter who has to die.

It’s a really good story with a great surprise twist at the end. I would technically call it a horror/paranormal novel as it has supernatural elements…but it’s also very much a suspense novel. The characters are very likable… except for Mika. No more said about her. You’ll have to find out for yourself. There is quite a bit of semi-explicit sex and less-explicit violence…but unless the reader is very sensitive to either of these things…it shouldn’t distract from the story. This is the second book I’ve read by Brandon Massey, and I have to say that he writes a book that is creepy s well as having just the right amount of horror…ans is more than capable of giving plenty of scares.

Cry Wolf – Charlie Adhara (Washington D.C.)
Big Bad Wolf series Book #5
5+
Agent Cooper Dayton never thought anything could be harder than solving murders…until he had to plan a wedding. After taking down an old adversary, Agent Cooper Dayton of the Bureau of Special Investigations has earned a break. Not that planning a wedding to his sexy shifter partner, Oliver Park, is necessarily stress free, but it’s better than worrying about the ominous warning, delivered months ago, that Cooper’s life is in danger. When he’s dragged to an event by his family, Cooper braces for an awkward evening, but instead finds himself in the middle of an ugly feud between Park’s ex and a rebel pack leader. What was supposed to be a quick outing turns into a full-blown murder investigation after the pack leader ends up dead, Park’s ex goes missing, and Cooper and Park are sent a series of disturbing wedding gifts that are somehow connected to it all. The list of potential suspects is long, and with the bodies piling up, Cooper must turn to the one person he trusts the least: the villain he’s already put behind bars once and who has nothing to lose by lying and everything to gain if Cooper is out of the picture for good.

Hey Ms. Adhara….I DON’T WANT THIS TO BE THE LAST ONE !!!! I did everything possible to stretch it out…but the end came eventually:( I don’t believe I have yet to find a series in the box of books from my friends that I have loved more than this one…and I have found some real close seconds. Somehow, it seems that this author is teasing us with the possibility since she definitely left things only semi settled but also open to maybe be more?? I can reread the series if I find I need a Cooper and Park fix… and that may be sooner rather than later. These aren’t just same sex couple romance stories. They are really good mysteries with page turning suspense. Good thing my friends only wanted a few of the books back…cause they aren’t getting these!

The Downstairs Neighbor - Helen Cooper - (England)
4.5★
From her downstairs apartment in suburban London, Emma has often overheard the everyday life of the seemingly perfect family upstairs--Steph, Paul and teenage daughter Freya--but has never got to know them. Until one day, she hears something that seizes her attention: Freya has vanished and the police are questioning Steph and Paul about their life. The effects of Freya's disappearance ripple outward, affecting not just her parents, but everyone who lives in the building, including Emma and local driving instructor Chris, who was the last person to see the teenager before she went missing. Each character's life is thrown into sharp focus as devastating mistakes and long-held secrets are picked apart and other crimes come to light--including a child gone missing twenty-five years earlier, and a shocking murder--that make clear that the past never stays where we leave it, and that homes can be built on foundations of lies.

This is Helen Cooper’s debut novel…and I really can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. It was very well-plotted plus it had believable characters. Emma, didn’t mean to hear her upstairs neighbors, but once she heard a little she became enthralled…and very worried. All of the tenants, including Emma, had secrets. All of the inhabitants of this house had made many mistakes. Not malicious, but mistakes born from misunderstandings, guilt, and misguided, life-altering decisions. Some mistakes just keep growing and soon take on a life of their own…including another missing child from 25 years ago. The story is filled with deceptions…family secrets….sacrifices… and choices that turned disastrous. It a really excellent read by this new author.

Eye on the Prize: the Art of Deception - It has many twists and turns and kept my attention. I have been reading many works of independent authors just for something different. This one was definitely worth the try.

>40 quagliato09: Hello, and welcome to the group. There used to be a group on the site that most of us belonged to before we came here w that was dedicated to independent authors. That of course, was before Amazon closed Shelfari down. I don't know if there is one here or not.

Wanted, A Gentleman – K.J. Charles –(England)
2.5★
Theodore Swann is a jobbing writer, proprietor of the Matrimonial Advertiser lonely hearts gazette, and all-round weasel. He’s the very last man that Martin St. Vincent would choose to rely on…and the only one who can help. Martin is a wealthy merchant who finds himself obliged to put a stop to a young heiress’s romantic correspondence in the Matrimonial Advertiser. When she and her swain make a dash for Gretna Green, Martin drags Theo on a breakneck chase up the country to catch the runaway lovers before it’s too late. Theo guards his secrets. Martin guards his heart. But as the two of them are thrown irresistibly together, entanglements, deceptions, and revelations come thick and fast.

I didn’t care much for the story or the characters. They were “stuffy” and “snobbish “as well as predictable. Actually the entire story was predictable. It’s a good thing I needed a book with a 50% brown cover for a challenge or it would have gone back in the box.

The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley
3.5 ★

HERTFORDSHIRE, 1928 The paths of Tom and Alice collide against a haze of youthful, carefree exuberance. And so begins a love story that finds its feet by a lake one silvery moonlit evening. LONDON, 1986 Bequeathed an old portrait from her grandmother, Kate Darling uncovers a legacy that takes her to Corsica, Paris and beyond. And as the secrets of time fall away, a love story as epic as it is life-changing slowly reveals itself.

This was partly a love story between Alice and Tom and their difficulties. But also a story of relationships between mothers, their children and grandchildren and the serious consequences of certain decisions that they make, even if well-intended. The characters were likeable with mildly interesting lives and a few mild twists and secrets. This was basically a pleasant read and I like this author’s writing style so I would read more.

Dark Corner – Brandon Massey (Mississippi)
5★
A terrifying novel about a town besieged by evil . . . and the one man who is determined to fight the darkness . . . When renowned author Richard Hunter dies in a boating accident, his son David travels to Mason's Corner, Mississippi, to find out more about the father he never really knew. At first, Mason's Corner seems friendly and unassuming-–the perfect small town. But after a newcomer moves into the old-–and supposedly haunted-–mansion on the hill, everything changes . . .People begin to disappear. Dogs viciously attack. And soon David discovers that the terror consuming this place has its roots in his own family tree . . . For something has risen in Mason's Corner. Something with bloody ties to the town’s past….something undead…and hungering for vengeance.

Give the book about 5 or 6 chapters to really get started. It will hold you a willing captive from then on. The story is told from several points of view and I don’t believe it will take you long to figure out exactly what the evil is that is encasing this delta town…but it will take you and the towns people longer to figure out how to get rid of it…if that is even possible. All of the Brandon Massey books that I've read so far are filled with suspense and generous doses of horror. I will admit this particular horror wasn’t my favorite type but it was well done with a good plotline that Mr. Massey carried out beautifully.

The Bride’s Curse - Rayne Hall - (Bulgaria)
4★
The tales in this book belong to the ‘quiet’ horror category – more creepy than gory, rich in atmosphere and suspense. Instead of throwing you into a whirl of violent action, I’ll take you on a gentle visit to experience Bulgaria – the wealth of her nature, her economic poverty, her legends and traditions, her creepy abandoned homes and her timeless beauty – all from the safety of your armchair. The stories are personal, arising from my perceptions and imagination. Still, I hope you’ll gain a ‘feel’ for the country. After each story, I’ll tell you a little about the genesis of that tale, the sources of my inspiration. Bulgarian artist Savina Mantovska from Sofia has created beautiful illustrations, enriching each story with her vision. Come and join me under the grape arbor while the sinking sun streaks the mountains with crimson and purple. Sip a blood-red pomegranate juice or a fiery rakia, and enjoy my creepy tales.

Rayne Hall puts her unique spin on its people, customs and life, in her adopted Bulgaria…giving us its sights, smells and tastes in stories where the unknown and the dread slowly build, reminding me a great deal of Shirley Jackson. Be prepared also not to experience a “happily ever after” ending in any of these stories. Each story is different, but the writing is consistently atmospheric and spellbinding. The author manages to blend suspense into every line with descriptions that makes you feel that you are actually there…along with some very interesting characters that you would NEVER wish to ever encounter. I am a big fan of the paranormal but not so much of the horror genre…but I found that this collection is more on the creepy side than they are gory.

Wrong Hill to Die On by Donis Casey
#6 Alafair Tucker Mysteries
c. 2012
3 *s

Alafair and her husband Shaw Tucker travel from Oklahoma to Tempe, AZ with thir sick daughter. The doctor has said that the dry heat may be just the thing to help Blanche's lung condition. They stay with Alafair's youngest sister Elizabeth and husband Web. Elizabeth has a pot luck complete with a Mariachi band to welcome them. Tensions were high among some of the guests, as Pancho Villa had just raided Columbus NM, a town that Alaifair had just recently traveled through on the train. The next morning, while collecting breakfast eggs, Alafair was enjoying the scent of orange blossoms and checking out the view, which was so different from home. She chanced upon a body in a drainage ditch on her sister's property. The law was called and the search for a murderer was begun by a US Marshall, rather than the local law enforcement. Things weren't what they seemed in the small town of Tempe. I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous Alafair Tucker mysteries. I didn't particularly like the residents of Tempe, including Elizabeth. There were interesting bits of local history thrown in, but not enough to make me totally thrilled with the story.

Fire and Flint – Andrew Grey – (Pennsylvania)
Carlisle Deputies serried Book #1
5★
Jordan Erichsohn suspects something is rotten about his boss, Judge Crawford. Unfortunately he has nowhere to turn and doubts anyone will believe his claims--least of all the handsome deputy, Pierre Ravelle, who has been assigned to protect the judge after he received threatening letters. The judge has a long reach, and if he finds out Jordan's turned on him, he might impede Jordan adopting his son, Jeremiah. When Jordan can no longer stay silent, he gathers his courage and tells Pierre what he knows. To his surprise and relief, Pierre believes him, and Jordan finds an ally... and maybe more. Pierre vows to do what it takes to protect Jordan and Jeremiah and see justice done. He's willing to fight for the man he's growing to love and the family he's starting to think of as his own. But Crawford is a powerful and dangerous enemy, and he's not above ripping apart everything Jordan and Pierre are trying to build in order to save himself.

I read all the Carlisle Cops series and love each and every one. What made them especially special was we didn’t loose the characters we had grown so fond of from any of the books. They all made reappearances…even if only minor in each of the following books. Here we again have a special story complete with a sweet, lovely romance. This one, like all the previous ones… has a little bit of everything. Andrew Grey is one of my book supplying friends favorite authors so I have lots of these books to look forward to…but I always hate to see the last page come. Whether this author writes only one more or one hundred more…I will look forward to reading them all.

Faithless In Death – J.D. Robb – (New York)
Eve Dallas (In Death) series Book #52
5★
The scene in the West Village studio appears to be classic crime-of-passion: two wineglasses by the bed, music playing, and a young sculptor named Ariel Byrd with the back of her head bashed in. But when Dallas tracks down the wealthy Upper East Side woman who called 911, the details don’t add up. Gwen Huffman is wealthy, elegant; comforted by her handsome fiancé as she sheds tears over the trauma of finding the body…but why did it take an hour to report it? And why is she lying about little things? As Eve and her team look into Gwen, her past, and the people around her, they find that the lies are about more than murder.

52 of these wonderful books with these bigger than life, adorable characters and J.D. Robb still manages to come up with fresh and believable plots. Every one of these books will hold the readers interests from the first page to the last and always bring new as well as seasoned readers back again and again for more. I don’t want to give anything away here but I couldn’t help but notice that when this book was being written in 2020 Ms. Robb used many of the “isms” that we are facing in our society at this same time…the cops of that future time (late 2050,- early 2060) dismissed as being incapable of happening…racism, sexism and homophobia to name but a few. There is a little less of the “home life” that have always made these books....”homey’…but we see the murder worked…the bad guys sent “off planet”…and Eve and that “Hunky Irishman” are still in love. What more could you ask for?

Unrestricted Access by James Rollins
3★
Experience the exciting breadth of #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins’s wild imagination and adventurous spirit in this anthology of his short masterworks, including a new full-length novella featuring Captain Tucker Wayne and his military war dog, Kane, as well as eleven previously published short stories, gathered together for the first time.

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting characters from all of Rollins's different series, learning more about them, getting more backstories on both the characters and on Rollins's thought process as he wrote each story. So much fun!

The stories in this collection are well written and entertaining, and they left me wanting more. I devour anything that Rollins writes. It's why I love his novels so much, because I love to just immerse myself in his books for a good 400 pages.

Spinning Dixie by Eric Dezenhall
c. 2007
3 1/2 *s

Jonah Eastman is the grandson of a mobster from Atlantic City, New Jersey. He is also the newly out of work due to a verbal slip, Press Secretary for the President of the United States. In 1980 Jonah spent his first summer before college working at a Tennessee plantation. While there, he fell in love. Now, in 2005, between jobs, Jonah is called back to the plantation by his former love. She needs help, as her soon to be ex-husband trying to take away her plantation. Summer love, mobsters, Civil War reenactors, the Tennessee National Guard, a Masonic ring, a walkman, and a dapple gray horse all weave together in this story of twists and turns, a big spin in Dixie. I really enjoyed this book, as I have enjoyed other books by Dezenhall. They are always convoluted and keep me turning the pages.

Grandma's Casseroles
c. 2003
4 *s

Casseroles are my favorite type of meal and cooking. Casseroles are no fuss and usually use few pots and pans. There are everything from brunches to sides to meatless meals to good old fashioned suppers in this book. There are many full color photos for those who like that sort of thing. The only problem is that some of the ingredients are hard to find, or may no longer be in production. But, on the whole, a nice spiral bound cookbook. I love spiral bound as they lay flat while in use.

>53 Raspberrymocha: My Grandmother could make anything into a casserole. She had a lot of people to feed so she was very good at stretching things. She wrote everything down that went into them if she and everyone else liked it enough to want to do it again. Her recipes went into a big spiral bound book. When she died my mother and several of my aunts were going to make copies of some of the recipes so everyone would have their own and the book would remain whole. The only problem was she wrote them all in Gaelic and none of her children or her grandchildren spoke enough Gaelic to translate nor could we read Gaelic. I can speak and write some Gaelic but have unfortunately forgotten more than I remember.

The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina
4.5 ★

In a wealthy suburb of Glasgow, a young woman is found savagely murdered. The community is stunned by what appears to be a vicious, random attack. When Detective Inspector Alex Morrow, heavily pregnant with twins, is called in to investigate, she soon discovers that a tangled web of lies lurks behind the murder.

This was an absorbing police procedural that really drew me in. I really liked the Morrow character and the way she investigated, how she asked questions and how she figured things out. The character development was excellent including Thomas, the teenager accused of the murder, and his dysfunctional family. The ending tied up the loose ends in a surprising and satisfying way. Overall, a story that kept me very interested all the way to the end.

Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H. W. Brands
4 ★

The extraordinary story of Andrew Jackson--the colorful, dynamic, and forceful president who ushered in the Age of Democracy and set a still young America on its path to greatness--told by the bestselling author of The First American. The most famous American of his time, Andrew Jackson is a seminal figure in American history. The first "common man" to rise to the presidency, Jackson embodied the spirit and the vision of the emerging American nation; the term "Jacksonian democracy" is embedded in our national lexicon.

This was an informative, thorough and well-researched biography of Jackson. He lived a very full life and was extremely committed to doing what he thought was right to keep the Union together. In his years as president, I saw many parallels to politics today with many political disagreements, accusations and mud-slinging. Although not a page-turner, it did keep me interested throughout.