mystery - No Apology Book Reviews

Interview with Lisa Childs (Only the Dead Within, The Cowboy’s Baby Surprise, Personal Security)

July 18, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Only The Dead Within, The Cowboy’s Baby Surprise, and Personal Security by Lisa Childs shows her ability to write in multiple genres. These three recent books show how diverse Childs is with her writing style because she writes thrillers, mysteries, and family-oriented stories. Only the Dead Within is the thriller, Personal Security the mystery, and The Cowboy’s Baby Surprise the family story. Only The Dead Within tells the story of Child Protective Services Investigator …

Interview with Linda Castillo (Rage)

July 11, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Rage by Linda Castillo has a riveting plot. Like a fine wine, she only gets better with each story. Kate Burkholder is a unique character that readers will always root for. The action starts from page one where an Amish man is brutally murdered. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Yutzy, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. The investigation has …

Review Roundup Summer 2025 – Part 1

June 25, 2025

A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in early summer 2025. Beware of spoilers! Title: When We Had Forever Author: Shaylin Gandhi Series: n/a Thanks to Shaylin Gandhi, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I didn’t get to it before time was up; I borrowed an ebook copy from the library, so I can review the story but not the narration. Apologies. I want …

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

June 15, 2025

Title: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds Author: Allison Brennan Series: n/a Much thanks to Allison Brennan, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Cheryl Lee for inviting me to join the blog tour. CLICK HERE TO READ AN EXCERPT I liked this book, but the resolution left me wanting. I really hate having unanswered questions when I finish a book; it’s right up there with love triangles. …

Interview with Amanda Flower (I Died for Beauty and Not They Who Soar)

June 6, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower is the last Emily Dickinson book of the series. Not They Who Soar is the second book of the Katharine Wright series. I Died for Beauty has Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa investigating a fire in Amherst, 1857. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound because of one of the worst winters in New England’s history. In the Irish community …

Interview with Mary Alford (Amish Country Killer)

May 31, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Amish Country Killer by Mary Alford features a police chief dealing with an Amish cold case where Amish girls have disappeared. Readers will try to solve the case along with the characters as they second guess the clues. The plot opens when Diana Fisher decides to return to her childhood town in Rachel’s Crossing Kentucky, to become police chief. She is following in her father William’s footsteps who once was police chief there. Fifteen …

Review Roundup Spring 2025 – Part 2

May 15, 2025

A roundup of several more small reviews I wrote in Spring 2025. Beware of spoilers! Title: A Most Extraordinary Pursuit Author: Juliana Gray Series: Emmaline Truelove #1 I liked Emma well enough, but there was a lot going on. 1. She inexplicably sees and converses with dead people; I think the intent is for her to wrestle with her conscience Jiminy Cricket-style, but it comes across more like she’s having full-on hallucinations. Frequently. 2. People are inexplicably moving through time, …

Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano

May 13, 2025

Thanks so much to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read free copies of the entire series to date! #1 Title: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It Loved this! A brilliantly written novel. The mystery had so many layers; every time I thought we’d finally figured it out, a plot twist would peel back another layer. Involving the Russian mob might be rather trite, but it really took things up a notch. I love …

Interview with Pamela Fagan Hutchins (Her Burning Lies)

May 9, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Her Burning Lies by Pamela Fagan Hutchins has it all: a suspenseful plot, great banter, and wonderful characters. Sheriff Deputy Delaney now has two adopted daughters. Sheriff Leo has his sister and nephew living with him. Not only do they need to deal with matters associated with their newly expanded families, but there is a wildfire nearby that they are actively fighting. Then there are dead women appearing in the fire area with swords …

Interview with Shaina Steinberg (An Unquiet Peace)

May 2, 2025

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper An Unquiet Peace by Shaina Steinberg brings back the partners Evelyn Bishop and Nick Gallagher, who are now engaged. Not only are readers treated to the cases Evelyn and Nick are working on but also see the role their wedding will play in the story. The first book, Under the Paper Moon, shows how Nick and Evelyn fell in love during the war while working together as OSS partners, only to break up over …