authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
Title: A Murderous Relation Author: Deanna Raybourn Series: Veronica Speedwell #5 I adore this series My profuse thanks to Deanna Raybourn, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. No major spoilers, but I might have let a few minor ones slip through. This book was awesome. If I hadn’t had a prior commitment last night, I’d have inhaled this book in one day. After reading the very first …
Book Review by Elise Cooper Bookmarked for Murder by V. M. Burns is the fifth book in the Mystery Bookshop series, one of three the author writes. Many of the amateur sleuths in this series are not young at heart, which adds to the plot. “I write three series and this one is from the “Mystery Bookshop series.” It has a story within a story with a contemporary murder and a historical cozy mystery. The protagonist has two poodle dogs, …
Title: The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter Author: Caroline Flarity Series: n/a Solid plot, interesting mythology, characters and style need some work I would like to thank Caroline Flarity, East Side Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book won’t become a favorite, but I enjoyed it. Spent most of today binging it. I easily became immersed in Anna’s world and was intrigued by Flarity’s take on paranormal mythology and the …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Passengers by John Marrs is a pulse-pounding read. This riveting story delves into the potentially destructive nature of technology and how social media contributes to a mob mentality, where people determine who will live and who will die. Imagine a world where there are only driverless cars. The rationale is that there will be less accidents, less deaths, and more safety. This is exactly what takes place in England because of a government …
Title: Penny for Your Secrets Author: Anna Lee Huber Series: Verity Kent #3 Better than I expected! I would like to thank Anna Lee Huber, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. In the past I haven’t liked the Verity Kent series as much as the Lady Darby books, but surprisingly I enjoyed this one more than the previous two. Admittedly, it had a slow beginning. I understand narratively …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is a story with a lot of mystery and action blended with some romance. As the chapters progress so does the suspense. The story starts out with an intense scene where the main heroine, Vivian DeMarco, finds her boss lying on the floor and just minutes away from death. Readers might remember her from the previous book, Living Lies, but in this novel, she more than redeems herself. She …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd creates an atmosphere of suspense and tension, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This story never lets up from beginning to end. A psychopath, Mara Phillips, has a vendetta against the main character, Kellen Rae. She has escaped a maximum-security facility for the criminally insane. This psychopath targeted Kellen, her husband Max, and their daughter Rae who still has a maturity level beyond her …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Here Comes Santa Paws by Laurien Berenson blends a cozy mystery with fantastic characters along with tidbits about dogs. As the story progresses readers attempt to solve this “who done it” murder right with the main character Melanie, ever the amateur sleuth. The plot begins with Melanie’s Aunt Peg calling her to announce someone left three Australian Shepherds puppies in the Christmas stockings at the end of her driveway. While visiting her Aunt and …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Cruel Deception by Charles Todd brings back Bess Crawford in a riveting mystery. As always tidbits of the historical context of the war allows readers to feel as if they were transported in time to another place and era. As Bess is pondering her future at wars end, she is asked by her Matron to travel to France to find out what has happened to her son Lawrence Minton. He is a WWI …
Title: A Bad Day for Sunshine Author: Darynda Jones Series: Sunshine Vicram #1 Don’t repeat your mistakes, Jones I would like to effusively thank Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for letting Christmas come early by allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. When a new Darynda Jones book drops out of the wild blue yonder directly into my lap more than six months before its due to be released, there’s only one …