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Little Voices by Vanessa Lillie [Book Review]

Posted on September 26, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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BOOK INFO

Title: Little Voices

Author: Vanessa Lillie

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publish Date: October 1, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

The voice in her head says he’s guilty. She knows he’s innocent.

Devon Burges is in the throes of a high-risk birth when she learns of her dear friend’s murder. The police quickly name another friend as the chief suspect, but Devon doesn’t buy it—and despite her difficult recovery, she decides to investigate.

Haunted by postpartum problems that manifest as a cruel voice in her head, Devon is barely getting by. Yet her instincts are still sharp, and she’s bent on proving her friend’s innocence.

But as Devon digs into the evidence, the voice in her head grows more insistent, the danger more intense. Each layer is darker, more disturbing, and she’s not sure she—or her baby—can survive what lies at the truth.

MY REVIEW

During labor, Devon learns that one of her friends has been murder. The prime suspect is another of Devon’s friends. Devon is having some postpartum problems, primarily hearing a cruel voice in her head. She tries to ignore the voice, while also looking to prove her friend’s innocence and find the real killer. As she investigates, the persistent voice in her head continues and the danger of finding the killer grows.

Devon is a likable, though unreliable, narrator. She’s hearing a little voice in her head, and it’s a cruel voice that tries to wear her down and convince her she is not good enough. She is suffering with postpartum depression, so the discouraging voice is mostly believable.

Little Voices was mystery thriller with murder, financial crimes, and women’s issues. Devon is a smart woman dealing with a difficult time in her life. She is aware that all is not right in her personal life, but she stays professional and driven.

In the end, Little Voices was a little too unbelievable for me, but I found it to be an entertaining read. Good for readers that enjoy domestic suspense and legal/financial thrillers. Dark, dramatic, and twisty.

Clarets of Fire by Christine E. Blum [Book Review]

Posted on September 25, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Clarets of Fire

Author: Christine E. Blum

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: September 24, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery #4

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Wine connoisseur Annie “Halsey” Hall must turn up the heat on a felonious firebug . . .

Halsey and the ladies of the Rose Avenue Wine Club are celebrating with newlyweds Penelope and Malcolm, who are thrilled to be opening their new winery. They’re also partnering with a cherished neighborhood eatery, Rico’s Pizza, which will be serving young clarets from their fall harvest. But as Halsey attempts to savor the bouquet of her Tooth & Nail Cab, a different scent intrudes—smoke. The nearby pizza parlor is going up in flames. As they rush to the scene, Halsey’s rescue dog Bardot pulls a body from the burning building—the pizza delivery driver—but it’s too late.

When investigators determine a rag soaked with gasoline in a bottle from the winery started the blaze, police suspect both the pizza parlor owners and Penelope and Malcolm of arson and murder. With her friends’ business and freedom at stake, it’s up to Halsey to smoke out the real arsonist—before somebody else gets scorched . . .

MY REVIEW

Clarets of Fire is the fourth book in the Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery series by Christine E. Blum. A neighborhood pizza place is burned. The fire was arson, and someone was killed in the blaze. The prime suspects are owners of a local winery. Halsey and her friends in the Rose Avenue Wine Club are on the case to clear their friends and find the guilty party.

A light and fun cozy mystery, especially good for wine lovers. The entertaining group of friends adds to the fun of this series. However, I always find Bardot, Halsey’s dog, to steal the show.

A solid mystery with charming characters. Clarets of Fire can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the series in order. I have read the previous three books, and look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery Series:

Full Bodied Murder
Murder Most Fermented
The Name of the Rosé
Clarets of Fire

Murder in the First Edition by Lauren Elliott [Book Review]

Posted on September 23, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Murder in the First Edition

Author: Lauren Elliott

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: September 24, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #3

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Addie Greyborne is preparing for the holidays at her bookstore in seaside New England—but a winter storm is coming, in more ways than one…

Addie’s getting into the spirit for the upcoming Charity Auction—especially since she’s got an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to donate. Her former colleagues at the Boston Public Library have confirmed that its worth runs toward the high five figures, which should help with the new pediatric wing. Her mood darkens, though, when a visitor from the past appears—Jonathan Hemingway, the father of her late fiancé. His presence stirs up sad memories for Addie, but also has her fuming when Jonathan, true to his womanizing ways, runs off for a lunchtime liaison with Teresa Lang, who’s in charge of the auction.

Soon after, Addie heads to Teresa’s office at the hospital—and finds the poor woman’s dead body. What she doesn’t find is her valuable first edition. What sort of Scrooge would steal from sick children and commit murder in the process? As a Nor’easter bears down and a mystery emerges about Jonathan’s past, Addie must find out if she can appraise people’s motives and characters as well as she can appraise rare books…

MY REVIEW

Addie Greyborne is back for book three in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series by Lauren Elliott, Murder in the First Edition. Addie donates a valuable book to a local charity auction. When Addie discovers the organizer of the event is dead and the donated book is missing, she investigates to discover who could be behind the murder and theft.

I’ve read the first book in this series, Murder by the Book, but haven’t yet read the second book, Prologue to Murder. As with most series, this one is probably best read in order. Murder in the First Edition can be read as a standalone though.

I enjoy Addie’s book store and the small town atmosphere. This is one of my favorite settings for a cozy mystery. The fact that the mystery revolves around a missing book only adds to my enjoyment. The mystery involves Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, and proves to be a valuable item for the local charity auction. Addie uses her knowledge of books to find the book thief.

The mystery is a standalone from the previous books, but Addie’s personal story continues. In this book, she is reunited with someone from her past – her late fiancé’s father. She doesn’t really trust him, and this plays a big part of the story. Plus, Addie has a couple of local men interested in her, but she’s having a hard time moving on and starting a new romance.

A delightful cozy mystery. I enjoyed Murder in the First Edition, and plan to go back and read book 2 in the series. This is a cozy mystery series I look forward to keeping up with. Good for fans of cozies who enjoy bookish themes set in a small town.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series:

Murder by the Book
Prologue to Murder
Murder in the First Edition
Proof of Murder
A Page Marked for Murder
Under the Cover of Murder
To the Tome of Murder

The Body in the Gravel by Judi Lynn [Book Review]

Posted on September 23, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Body in the Gravel

Author: Judi Lynn

Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Publish Date: September 24, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Jazzi Zanders Mystery #3

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Even in a lovely town like River Bluffs, Indiana, flipping houses can be a challenge. Especially when there’s the proverbial skeleton in the closet—and a literal corpse in the driveway . . .

House-flipper Jazzi Zanders has her work cut out for her. Her latest flip, which she co-purchased with her fiancée Ansel and cousin Jerod, is a three-story fixer-upper that’s more of a droopy-downer. One corner of the house is sinking and needs to be jacked up with a new cement foundation. That costs money. And causes headaches. And creates a work environment that’s not only hostile, it’s downright deadly . . .

Jazzi knows it’s a tough job. Which is why she hired Darby to lay the cement. But when Darby gets into a fiery argument with the furnace man—and then never shows up to lay gravel for the driveway—Jazzi starts to wonder if the rumors about Darby are true. Did he kill his wife and son and bury them in the yard like some folks claim? When Darby’s dead body comes pouring out of a gravel truck, murder upstages the real estate market as her biggest concern . . .

MY REVIEW

House-flipper Jazzi is back for the third book in the Jazzi Zanders Mystery series by Judi Lynn. Jazzi, her fiancé Ansel, and her cousin Jerod have a new project with a big home that requires a lot of work. One of their first tasks involves repairing the cement foundation and redoing the driveway. They contract with Darby, a cantankerous old man, for the cement work. When Darby turns up dead, Jazzi is on the case to find the killer.

I’ve read the previous two books in this series and recommend reading them in order: 1) The Body in the Attic, 2) The Body in the Wetlands. That said, they can be read out of order. The personal stories are continued, but the mystery is standalone for each book.

For me, this series is an okay cozy read. The writing is a bit clunky and I sometimes shake my head with the characters dialogue and actions. Still, I find it entertaining. My biggest fault with this series is how the detective on the case always involves Jazzi and asks for her help in solving the case. It’s a fictional story though, so I can gloss over that absurdity and enjoy the mystery. Mainly, I enjoy cozy mysteries with house flipper protagonists, so I’ll keep reading this series.

A light, cozy mystery. Likable characters and a decent mystery.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Jazzi Zanders Mystery Series:

The Body in the Attic
The Body in the Wetlands
The Body in the Gravel
The Body in the Apartment
The Body from the Past
The Body in the Beauty Parlor
The Body in the Trench
The Body in the Buick
The Body in the Wheelbarrow
The Body in Someone Else’s Bed

Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak [Book Review]

Posted on September 19, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

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BOOK INFO

Title: Necessary People

Author: Anna Pitoniak

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publish Date: May 21, 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

One of them has it all. One of them wants it all. But they can’t both win.

Stella and Violet are best friends, and from the moment they met in college, they knew their roles. Beautiful, privileged, and reckless Stella lives in the spotlight. Hardworking, laser-focused Violet stays behind the scenes, always ready to clean up the mess that Stella inevitably leaves in her wake.

After graduation, Violet moves to New York and lands a job in cable news, where she works her way up from intern to assistant to producer, and to a life where she’s finally free from Stella’s shadow. In this fast-paced world, Violet thrives, and her ambitions grow — but everything is jeopardized when Stella, envious of Violet’s new life, uses her connections, beauty, and charisma to get hired at the same network. Stella soon moves in front of the camera, becoming the public face of the stories that Violet has worked tirelessly to produce — and taking all the credit.

Stella might be the one with the rich family and the right friends, but Violet isn’t giving up so easily. As she and Stella strive for success, each reveals just how far she’ll go to get what she wants — even if it means destroying the other person along the way.

MY REVIEW

Stella and Violet have been friends since college. They seem like opposites, but they balance one another out. Stella is privileged and irresponsible. Violet is hardworking and serious. After graduating, Stella travels and Violet starts an internship at a cable news station in New York. When Stella returns to New York, Violet’s advancements are overshadowed and threatened when Stella is hired at the same station. Violet has always been there for Stella, but Violet isn’t giving up on her dreams.

Told from Violet’s point of view. She’s driven and hardworking, but not always likable. Both women are manipulative with one another and others in their lives. While they both have traits that are unlikable, they also both have moments to sympathize with. Necessary People is one of those novels where unlikable characters really works. Even though I wasn’t loving either woman, I was curious as to how their relationship would play out.

Necessary People is an intriguing thriller about a toxic friendship. Well developed characters that make this a highly enjoyable read. Dark, complex, and compelling.

Books by Anna Pitoniak:

The Futures
Necessary People

The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke [Book Review]

Posted on September 19, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Two Lila Bennetts

Author: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Publisher: Lake Union

Publish Date: July 23, 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Two Lila Bennetts by Liza Fenton & Lisa Steinke

BOOK BLURB

Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.

In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.

Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.

The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

MY REVIEW

Lila Bennett has made some bad choices. She has now reached a decision that splits her life in two. In one life, she is taken hostage by someone who knows everything about her. In the other life, someone is after her, and exposes her secrets as she escapes capture.

Lila is a criminal defense attorney. She’s made plenty of enemies, so narrowing down who is after her proves challenging. She has made choices that impact her personal and professional lives. As those choices are revealed, her life is forever changed. Lila is not exactly likable. She’s lied to the people in her life for many years. She always has an excuse, but she knows that she’s done the wrong thing. When her life splits, she finally faces those choices and has to face the ones she has hurt.

The Two Lila Bennetts is an intriguing thriller about choices affecting our path in life, and having to face the consequences. Fast-paced, complex, and suspenseful.

Books by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke:

Your Perfect Life
The Status of All Things
The Year We Turned Forty
The Good Widow
Girls’ Night Out
The Two Lila Bennetts
How to Save a Life

The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger [Book Review]

Posted on September 16, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Stranger Inside

Author: Lisa Unger

Publisher: Park Row

Publish Date: September 17, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

When former journalist Rain Winter was twelve years old, she narrowly escaped an abduction while walking to a friend’s house. The abductor was eventually found and sent to prison, but years later was released. Then someone delivered real justice–and killed him in cold blood.

Now Rain is living the perfect suburban life, spending her days as a stay-at-home mom. But when another criminal who escaped justice is found dead, Rain is unexpectedly drawn into the case, forced to revisit memories she’s worked hard to leave behind. Is there a vigilante at work? Who is the next target? Why can’t Rain just let it go?

Introducing one of the most compelling and original killers in crime fiction today, Lisa Unger takes readers deep inside the minds of both perpetrator and victim, blurring the lines between right and wrong, crime and justice, and showing that sometimes even good people are drawn to do evil things.

MY REVIEW

Rain is a stay-at-home mom, but misses her work as a reporter. When the suspected killer in a case she once worked is found murdered, she is drawn back into the case. To complicate matters, the recent murder is similar to an old case that Rain had a personal connection to. Rain is consumed with finding the killer.

Rain is taking a break from work to stay home with her child, but her reporter instincts kick in when a vigilante killer seems to be on the loose. The recent murder of a suspected killer is eerily similar to the murder of the man who attempted to abduct Rain when she was a kid. Rain was able to escape her kidnapper, but her best friends were not so lucky. As an adult, Rain still has a hard time with the guilt she has from her surviving while her friends suffered. Rain uses her skills and connections to discover the killer and how it connects to her past.

The Stranger Inside is an addictive thriller that alternates between points of view. This is my second book to read by Lisa Unger, and she’s an author I’ll be sure to read more from in the future. Dark, captivating, and suspenseful.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Lisa Unger:

The Red Hunter
Under My Skin
The Stranger Inside
Confessions on the 7:45
Last Girl Ghosted
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
Christmas Presents
The New Couple in 5B

Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook [Book Review]

Posted on September 12, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Buried in the Stacks

Author: Allison Brook

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: September 10, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: The Haunted Library Mysteries #3

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Librarian Carrie Singleton is building a haven, but one of her neighbors is misbehavin’. Can resident spirit Evelyn help Carrie catch the culprit who made her a ghost?

In winter, the Haunted Library is a refuge for homeless townspeople. When a group purchases a vacant house to establish a daytime haven for the homeless, Carrie offers the library as a meeting place for the Haven House committee, but quickly learns that it may be used for illegal activities.

As the new Sunshine Delegate, Carrie heads to the hospital to visit her cantankerous colleague, Dorothy, who had fallen outside the local supermarket. She tells Carrie that her husband tried to kill her–and that he murdered her Aunt Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost, six years earlier.

And then Dorothy is murdered–run off the road as soon as she returns to work. Evelyn implores Carrie to find her niece’s killer, but that’s no easy task: Dorothy had made a hobby of blackmailing her neighbors and colleagues. Carrie, Evelyn, and Smoky Joe the cat are on the case, but are the library cards stacked against them?

MY REVIEW

Buried in the Stacks is the third book in The Haunted Library Mysteries series by Allison Brook. In this latest book, Carrie sleuths to solve the murder of her coworker Dorothy. Dorothy wasn’t a very pleasant person to be around, but as the new Sunshine Delegate, Carrie made an effort to be nice. When Carrie suspects foul play, she wants to find the killer. Plus, Dorothy was the niece of Evelyn, the library ghost.

I’ve read the previous two books in this series and have enjoyed each one. I do recommend reading this series in order, since it helps to know everyone’s backstory. Still, this could be read as a standalone if you don’t get the chance to read the first two books, Death Overdue and Read and Gone.

A charming cozy mystery with a touch of the supernatural. The supernatural part concerns the library ghost, Evelyn. A friendly ghost who only Carrie can see. I have found Evelyn doesn’t play a big role in these books, but it’s a unique way to include a character.

Great setting with the haunted library and plenty of quirky characters. Recommended to readers of cozy mysteries. A delightful read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in The Haunted Library Series:

Death Overdue
Read and Gone
Buried in the Stacks
Checked Out for Murder
Death on the Shelf
Dewey Decimated
Overdue or Die

Fatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron [Book Review]

Posted on September 11, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Fatal Cajun Festival

Author: Ellen Byron

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: September 10, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Cajun Country Mystery #5

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Byron cranks it up to eleven in the fifth fast and funny Cajun Country mystery.

Louisiana B&B owner Maggie Crozat kicks up her heels at a country music festival–but she’ll have one foot in the grave if she can’t bring the killer of a diva’s hanger-on to heel.

Grab your tickets for Cajun Country Live!, the pickers’ and crooners’ answer to the legendary New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Maggie Crozat, proprietor of the Crozat Plantation B&B, plans to be in the cheering section when her friend Gaynell Bourgeois takes the stage with her band, Gaynell and the Gator Girls.

The festival’s headliner, native daughter Tammy Barker, rocketed to stardom on a TV singing competition. She has the voice of an angel…and the personality of a devilish diva. But Maggie learns that this tiny terror carries a grudge against Gaynell. She’s already sabotaged the Gator Girls’ JazzFest audition. When a member of Tammy’s entourage is murdered at the festival, Tammy makes sure Gaynell is number one on the suspect list.

Gaynell has plenty of company on that list–including every one of Tammy’s musicians. Posing as a groupie, Maggie infiltrates Tammy’s band and will have to hit all the right notes to clear her friend’s name.

MY REVIEW

Fatal Cajun Festival is the fifth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat and her family and friends are back in another fun book for this series. When mysteries happen in Pelican, LA, Maggie is quick to help investigate and find the guilty party.

In this book, a local festival is happening in Pelican. Tammy, a singer, returns to her hometown of Pelican to headline the festival. Tammy holds a grudge against Gaynell, one of Maggie’s friends. Along with Tammy are her manager and band members. When Tammy’s manager is killed, Gaynell becomes a suspect, and Maggie sleuths to prove Gaynell’s innocence.

I have now read three books in this series, and have enjoyed each one. I plan to go back and read the books I skipped. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but the personal events happening with the characters is a continuing storyline.

Fun characters in a delightful setting. I love the quirkiness and Southern charm of Pelican and its residents. An entertaining read for fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Cajun Country Mystery Series:

Plantation Shudders
Body on the Bayou
A Cajun Christmas Killing
Mardi Gras Murder
Fatal Cajun Festival
Murder in the Bayou Boneyard
Cajun Kiss of Death

29 Seconds by T.M. Logan [Book Review]

Posted on September 9, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: 29 Seconds

Author: T.M. Logan

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: September 1, 2019

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

“Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear.”

Sarah is a young professor struggling to prove herself in a workplace controlled by the charming and manipulative Alan Hawthorne. A renowned scholar and television host, Hawthorne rakes in million-dollar grants for the university where Sarah works—so his inappropriate treatment of female colleagues behind closed doors has gone unchallenged for years. And Sarah is his newest target.

When Hawthorne’s advances become threatening, Sarah is left with nowhere to turn. Until the night she witnesses an attempted kidnapping of a young child on her drive home, and impulsively jumps in to intervene. The child’s father turns out to be a successful businessman with dangerous connections—and her act of bravery has put this powerful man in her debt. He gives Sarah a burner phone and an unbelievable offer. A once-in-a-lifetime deal that can make all her problems disappear.

No consequences. No traces. All it takes is a 29-second phone call.

Because everyone has a name to give. Don’t they?

MY REVIEW

Sarah is a professor working with a manipulative boss, Alan Hawthorne. Alan is holding back Sarah’s advancement with the university. She is not the only woman he has mistreated and threatened. Sarah knows he brings a lot of money to the university, and the higher ups always stand by him. When Sarah is given the opportunity to make her problem disappear, she has to decide if she can handle the consequences.

Sarah has put up with a lot while working with Alan. A woman can only be pushed so far though, and Alan has pushed Sarah until she doesn’t think she can handle anymore. The question is how far she is willing to go. Sarah’s turmoil over her decisions is realistic.

A fast-paced and compelling thriller. Unlikable characters. Twisty plot. This is the second novel I have read by T.M. Logan, and they have both been entertaining reads. I look forward to his next book.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by T.M. Logan:

Lies
29 Seconds
The Vacation
The Catch
Trust Me
The Curfew
The Mother
The Dream Home

The Sleepover by Carol Wyer [Book Review]

Posted on September 5, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Sleepover

Author: Carol Wyer

Publisher: Bookouture

Publish Date: September 5, 2019

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Detective Natalie Ward #4

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

She said she’d gone to a sleepover. But she never made it. Someone must know why…

When Detective Natalie Ward is called to the home of fourteen-year-old Roxy Curtis she can’t help but empathise with Roxy’s distraught mother Cathy. Roxy hasn’t come home, last seen heading next door for a sleepover with her best friend Ellie. As the mother of two teenagers herself, Natalie knows that this is every parent’s worst nightmare.

But when Roxy’s body is found in the basement of a beautiful Victorian mansion on the other side of town, Natalie’s darkest fears are confirmed. What was Roxy doing there? The people who knew her best should know – but Cathy seems evasive, and Ellie refuses to talk. Natalie is determined to find out what secrets they are keeping…

Then Roxy’s mother Cathy disappears.

When her body is found two days later, Natalie is forced to face the fact that Roxy’s loved ones are in real danger. Things take a more sinister turn when Ellie vanishes, her mobile phone switched off. Is Ellie hiding something about the night Roxy died that could put her in terrible danger? And can Natalie work it out before another innocent life is taken?

MY REVIEW

The Sleepover is the fourth book in the Detective Natalie Ward series by Carol Wyer. In The Sleepover, Natalie and her team investigate the mysterious death of Roxy, a fourteen-year-old girl. Roxy’s remains were found in the burned home of two brothers, who seem to have no connection to Roxy. The team questions everyone in Roxy’s life, and it seems everyone is keeping secrets.

The mystery is intriguing and not easy to figure out. I love a crime novel that keeps me guessing as to who is behind the crime, and this one delivers on that. The characters are complex and captivating. I enjoy how this series blends the personal and professional lives of Natalie and her team. It makes the characters more real.

This book could be read as a standalone, but I recommend starting with Book 1, The Birthday. The crime that the team investigates is different for each book, but the personal dramas in the team members lives continues.

A fantastic crime series. I highly recommend this series to fans of police procedurals. Gritty, complex, and compelling.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Detective Natalie Ward series:

The Birthday
Last Lullaby
The Dare
The Sleepover
The Blossom Twins
The Secret Admirer
Somebody’s Daughter

Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on September 2, 2019January 15, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Treacherous Strand

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: September 3, 2019

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #2

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Perfect for mystery readers who enjoy character driven mysteries, with a strong female protagonist and a powerful sense of place

A woman’s body washes up on a remote beach on the Inishowen Peninsula. Partially clothed, with a strange tattoo on her thigh, she is identified as Marguerite Etienne, a French woman who has been living in the area. Solicitor Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is consumed by guilt: for the second time in her life Ben has failed someone who needed her, with tragic consequences. When local sergeant Tom Molloy dismisses Marguerite’s death as the suicide of a disturbed and lonely woman, Ben cannot let it lie. Ben uncovers Marguerite’s strange past as a member of a French doomsday cult, which she escaped twenty years previously, but not without leaving her baby daughter behind. Disturbed by what appears to be chilling local indifference to Marguerite’s death, Ben pieces together the last few weeks of the French woman’s life in Inishowen. What she discovers causes her to question the fragile nature of her own position in the area, and she finds herself crossing boundaries—both personal and professional—to unearth local secrets long buried.

Treacherous Strand is the second in a series of mysteries set in the fictional town of Glendara on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal with amateur sleuth, solicitor Ben O’Keeffe. These atmospheric and immersive mysteries are being adapted as elevision series to be filmed in Inishowen.

MY REVIEW

Treacherous Strand is the second book in the Inishowen Mysteries series by Andrea Carter. Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is back with another mystery in the small town of Glendara. When Marguerite, one of Ben’s clients, ends up dead, Ben believes the death to be suspicious. The more Ben uncovers about Marguerite’s life, the more she believes Marguerite was killed.

An atmospheric amateur sleuth story. Ben is an attorney living in a small Irish town. It is a very close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Ben moved to the town several years earlier, and is still considered an outsider. She doesn’t know the family histories and the stories from the town’s past. She’s learning though. With her work and occasional sleuthing, she’s picked up a lot of info about some of the locals.

I recommend reading the first book in this series, Death at Whitewater Church, before this one. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.

This book reads almost like a cozy mystery – small town, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth. There is a little romance thrown in, but the story focuses more on the mystery than Ben’s love life. An enjoyable read for fans of cozies with atmospheric settings.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:

Death at Whitewater Church
Treacherous Strand
The Well of Ice
Murder at Greysbridge
The Body Falls
Death Writes