Tag: mystery

REVIEW: Animal Instinct by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Animal Instinct by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Corey Douglas was a cop, one somewhat random case always bothered him. He didn’t usually work domestic violence cases, but he answered this call about a neighbor hearing an escalating fight. The alleged victim refused to press charges, saying she fell. Her boyfriend was far too smug to be innocent. But Corey was powerless to do much more than file the report.

Now, Corey and his former K-9 partner, Simon, are PIs along with a couple other investigators, including Andy Carpenter’s wife, Laurie Collins. When the alleged domestic violence victim is murdered in what looks like a drive by, Corey is convinced the boyfriend struck again. The K-Team agrees to help Corey look into the case.

What seemed simple at first becomes more convoluted than any member of the K-Team could have predicted. And Corey has the most to lose if they can’t puzzle out the truth.

Review

This was excellent! Come for the fantastically plotted mystery, stay for the terrific cast of characters and the sassy tone of the writing. Rosenfelt is in fine form with the second K-Team book. All of my favorite characters are part of the case including Andy Carpenter, the defense attorney from Rosenfelt’s long-running series.

The mystery in this one is exceptionally twisty. I had no clue what was going on, but I was happy to just be along for the ride. The resolution was supremely satisfying!

I don’t know that readers have to read the K-Team books in order or to have read the Andy Carpenter books first. The case here stands solidly on its own. But I think readers will enjoy the characters enough to want to go back and fill in the gaps if they start reading here. David Rosenfelt fans should be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

BONUS REVIEW: Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sage and her friend, Harley, just opened their coffee cart, Ground Rules. They’ve been getting to know their neighbors – other food truck owners – and watching the protesters across the street, protesting a development going in.

On what should have been their third day of business, Sage discovers the gate to the square open, the door to her coffee cart ajar, and a dead body. And the murder weapon, a box cutter, was something Sage had been using in her cart for the last two days.

Now Sage is a murder suspect, her business is temporarily closed for the investigation, and she finds out her estranged mother has ties to the case. If Sage wants to be able to focus on the full launch of their business, she’s going to have to clear her name and find a killer.

Review

This was so good! There’s an engaging cast of characters, excellent pacing to both the mystery and the series set up, and tons of great coffee-related moments. For serious coffee lovers, there are lots of little details about what Sage and Harley are doing with their business, both the food cart and the roasting pieces. For those of us who take a more simple approach to caffeine, though, the details are fun but don’t bog things down.

The mystery does a great job of drawing out the details of Sage’s childhood and the situation with her mother in genuine and unforced ways. I was really impressed by how the author used the mystery to share that backstory rather than dumping the information in some other way. This way of crafting the story was one of my favorite parts of the book. Also, the reveal of the killer caught me completely by surprise, which was fun.

I loved the characters in this! Sage will keep me coming back for more books in this series. I was fascinated by the ways her character is self-aware, especially about the impact of life with her mother on her personality now. She does a great job thinking through the boundary between being personable and manipulating people. I hope her romantic life will settle on my favorite of her two suitors. And I’m eager to see how some of her other relationships develop, especially with Harley, who is off-page for a lot of the book. I never got a good feel for her in the book, so I have high hopes that book 2 will dig more into their friendship and business partnership.

This books releases NEXT week, on March 30, 2021.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it ! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature by Renée Treml

REVIEW: Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature by Renée Treml

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and HMH Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sherlock Bones is a mystery-solving superstar at the Natural History Museum. Sherlock, the skeleton of a tawny frogmouth, along with his helpers Watts, a stuffed parrot from an exhibit, and Grace, a raccoon, takes on the case of a swamp monster stalking around the museum.

Review

This is book 2 in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel series for kids. As I was reading this, I imagined this was for kids in the 6-9 age range, but the range from the publisher is 8-12. I think any elementary school reader who loves mysteries, quirky characters, and animal facts will enjoy this one. The characters are punny, and the animal facts were interesting. Readers can follow along with the detectives and work out the solutions on their own.

I got a kick out of this! It’s a funny story with unusual characters in a fascinating setting. I would like to go back and read the first one to see how the author sets up this unique team of sleuths. I would happily hand this to a young reader – I think kids will enjoy this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Falling into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley

REVIEW: Falling into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Hayden was a child she got “weird” when it came to mirrors. She once saw a strange boy through a mirror and felt like she almost got sucked into one. When her cat went missing, her family told her it must have gotten out and wandered off. But Hayden was sure it was the mirror.

Ever since, Hayden has stayed away from mirrors. But after an accident, Hayden finds herself in that mirror world – Destiny Falls. She finds long lost family, a magical mansion, a mystery, and a dead body.

Review

I know that’s a super short summary, but I don’t want to ruin any of the delightful world-building in this book.

What a treat! I wasn’t sure what to expect with this story, but I found great characters and a fascinating setting with a twisty and engaging mystery. It was a start to finish read. I have so many questions! The biggest is when I can get my hands on book 2. (The answer is March 15 – The Disappearance of Emily.)

There are so many pieces of this that were perfect for me as a reader:

  • Hayden is a great protagonist – she’s bright and curious. I loved watching her sleuthing on the murder as well as her investigation of her new surroundings and situation.
  • She’s pulled into a magical world that is great. A lot of the magic has a fun “Room of Requirement” feel to it that I thoroughly enjoyed.
  • Hayden’s long lost family – and the history of that family – is fascinating. And there are still questions there to explore.
  • The mystery is much larger than the murder. I loved how it developed across the whole book, bit by bit. One of the fast few clues pulled it all together for me. I loved watching it all work out.
  • If I had to pick a genre for this I would say it is more fantasy than mystery because the larger story is about Hayden, about this family and mirror world, about the magic there and her adjustment to it, and about the mysterious characters causing trouble there. But the fantasy and mystery pieces are so well woven together, it’s hard to separate them from each other. And both genres are a big appeal for me.

If you are looking for a magical cozy with a great protagonist and a strong family legacy angle, don’t hesitate to pick this one up. I loved it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Get a Clue by Tiffany Schmidt

REVIEW: Get a Clue by Tiffany Schmidt

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Huck’s intentions were good. He can’t help his highly observational nature. With so few people in the class, it was obvious the instructor was refusing to call on girls in the class. Huck offered to speak up, but the instructor’s primary target said no. So Huck took the video as proof to share with his friends from his old school.

He never meant to post it.
He never meant for it to go viral.
He never meant for a picture of one of his classmates to be turned into a slew of unflattering memes.

So Huck is learning from his mistake. He’s keeping his mouth closed and his observations mostly to himself. He’s doing extra work with Ms. Gregoire and also reading Sherlock Holmes. And he’s pining for his crush, Win, who goes to another school. Any excuse he can find to hang out with Win’s older brother Curtis, Huck takes so he can maybe see Win.

Huck’s observational skills get a workout with Win’s family. There are a lot of unspoken things in the family that are practically screaming at Huck. He saw what happened last time he tried to fix something.

But when Huck discovers someone is pulling a smear campaign on Win that is costing him friends, the trust of his family, and a chance to transfer to Huck’s school, he promises Win he’s going to figure out the mystery. Just like Holmes would. Although that means Huck needs to stay objective about the case. No dating Win until the mystery is solved.

Review

I was devastated to read this would be the last of the Bookish Boyfriends series, “at least for now” according to the author. I have adored this series from the first book. Each new book is my “series fave” – until the next book is released. Books 2 and 3 were in my most favorite of favorites lists for the years when I read them. I adore the premise of the series, the characters, the humor, the charm, the books, and the romances.

Huck feels like a young Shawn Spencer (from the show Psych) although with more emotional insight and self-awareness. His observational skills are (usually) brilliant and on target. He’s also charming like Shawn (and unlike Sherlock Holmes), so he’s adorable, someone you are cheering for from the beginning.

I loved the mystery in this. It was a pretty intense situation for such a fun and funny series. It made for a lovely contrast. And the severity really highlights some of the issues Win is dealing with. Huck learns some good lessons about boundaries as he wrestles with the best course of action to both solve the mystery and protect Win.

The emotional and relational pieces of the story are excellent as always. All of my favorite series characters are here. The interplay is great; the chemistry between Win and Huck is delightful. And I loved watching what it meant to Win to have someone who really sees him and believes him in his corner, fighting with and for him.

If every teenager named in this book was given a story of their own, I would buy every last one. This series is such a breath of fresh air for me. It always makes me laugh and always leaves me with warm feelings about the main couple. These are perfect examples of comfort books – the ones you go back to time and time again because you know they will provide the perfect escape. Do not miss the fourth book in this incredible series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding

REVIEW: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

REVIEW: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Negalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Finlay Donovan is watching her life slip away from her. Her next book is overdue, and she hasn’t written a word of it. She can’t afford to pay back her advance – she can’t even pay her electric bill. Her ex is threatening to pursue full custody of their kids. And he laid off the nanny she was counting on for some child-free writing time.

During a meeting with her agent, Finlay notices a woman sitting nearby, watching her. But the woman misunderstands Finlay’s conversation about her romantic suspense novels and thinks Finlay is a killer for hire. And the woman is willing to pay big money to have her husband killed.

Finlay’s curiosity is too much to ignore, so she goes to check out the husband. Just to see what kind of guy he is.

Before she really knows what is going on, the guy is dead, his wife has gone missing, and Finlay has the name of someone else to kill. This whole, weird situation is just the creative  jump start she needed to write her new book. But she’s not sure which risk is worse – the risk of being arrested and having her kids taken away or the risk of being discovered by the big, dangerous men tied to the dead body she now has in her garage.

Review

The premise of this is brilliant, and so is the execution! I haven’t had this much fun with a mystery in awhile – and I have read some excellent mysteries in the last month.  But the mysteries I read and enjoy tend to follow a pattern. And this throws the pattern right out the window. And I loved it!

I loved Finlay and the nanny, Vero. What a team they make! I loved watching Finlay get a handle on her life again, especially thanks to Vero joining their family again. And their partnership regarding the dead body was fantastic.

There are laugh-out-loud moments in this as well as a few twists that made me gasp out loud. And the epilogue is a stunning set up for the next book. I was already excited about reading another Finlay Donovan adventure, but that epilogue made book 2 a must-read for me.

Mystery and suspense fans should be sure to check out this clever, funny, captivating story. I loved it! (Language, off-page sex, sexual references, TW: references to sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: City of Villains by Estelle Laure

REVIEW: City of Villains by Estelle Laure

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When a teenager from her high school goes missing, police intern Mary Elizabeth Heart is assigned the case. She’ll be working with one of the only other Legacies at the station, young Officer Bella Loyola.

Mally Saint was not someone to be trifled with. When her friends decided she was too bossy to be invited to their annual fairy party, she showed up anyway and let her bird, Hellion, destroy the place. Then she targeted each of her three “friends” for acts of retribution. Those girls were obviously Mary Elizabeth’s first suspects.

But when another Legacy goes missing, it seems to Mary Elizabeth and Bella that there is something larger going on than acts of revenge over a party. And this time, it’s personal to Mary Elizabeth. In fact, the police chief assigns the second case to other officers – non-Legacies who don’t take it seriously – and threatens to pull Mary Elizabeth off Mally’s case if she can’t pull it together. Mary Elizabeth is going to have to decide what is more important to her – keeping her job or protecting her found family.

Review

The reviews on Goodreads for this were less than stellar, which worried me. But I enjoyed it! It took a little while for the world building to come together for me. And some of the writing and word choices for the world were awkward, especially early on when I was trying to grasp everything. But once the system was established, it was easy to fall into the story.

I thought the set up was clever. Former magic wielders – Legacies – sharing a community with “Narrows” who are the outsiders. There are prejudices and class differences rumbling in and around the story, setting up some of the book’s conflicts. Then there was the mystery of the missing teens. I was intrigued.

In addition to the core story of missing kids and lost magic and community tragedies, there are other pieces working between and around the characters – Mary Elizabeth’s murdered family, her hero worship of the police chief who tracked their killer, sexism and discrimination between the Legacy and the Narrow, and the importance of Mary Elizabeth’s found family. For me, this wasn’t a character-driven story. I didn’t love or connect with any particular characters in a special way. I was intrigued by the mystery (although I did pick out the culprit right away) and the sleuthing of Mary Elizabeth and Bella as well as this re-imagined origin story for familiar Disney characters.

Early on it was easy to get distracted trying to figure out who each character was supposed to be in the larger Disney universe (some are more obvious than others). But it didn’t take long for me to get drawn into the story instead. I will definitely be reading book 2 to see what happens to these characters next. There are some unanswered questions at the end of this, and I am eager to see how things play out. (Some language and violence, magic, some sexual harassment/sexist workplace behavior)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano

BONUS REVIEW: To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ]

Summary

Gabriella Goodhue grew up a thief on the streets. She used to work with a partner – Nicholas Quinn – but when she was caught at age 12, her street “family” abandoned her. She spent her teen years in an orphanage.

Gabriella is pulling her thieving skills out as an adult to help a friend. Miss Jennette Moore has been accused of stealing her fiancé’s family fortune in jewels. But Gabriella knows that’s not Jennette’s character at all. She’s obviously been framed. When Gabriella’s prime suspect hosts a party, Gabriella uses the opportunity to sneak in and check the woman’s safe.

Instead of finding jewels, though, Gabriella finds Nicholas breaking into the same room. Gabriella is angry and bitter that Nicholas never came after her when she was caught as a child. But Nicholas has his own version of what happened.

The ladies at Gabriella’s boarding house, calling themselves the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency, are determined to use every skill, secret, and connection they possess to clear Jennette’s name. While Nicholas says he is working toward the same end, he has changed so much, Gabriella is not sure she should trust him ever again.

Review

Another excellent book from Jen Turano. I thoroughly enjoyed this “found family” story that kicks off a new Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series. Hopefully, each one of the Bleeker Street ladies gets a book. I am here for every single one of them!

There’s a TON going on here, and I was captivated by all of it. Jennette’s case launches the Inquiry Agency, and also pulls Gabriella and Nicholas back into one another’s orbits. From there the author adds in several other cases for the ladies and their growing ensemble of helpers. The story also includes more information on what happened in the years since Gabriella and Nicholas have seen each other – as well as some secrets neither knew before. It felt like easily three books’ worth of story, in only the best ways. The pacing never dragged, and I never felt like the author didn’t have her various story threads firmly in hand. The faith pieces of the book are subtle and felt natural, something I am a stickler for when I read Christian fiction.

I was invested in every single part of this book. The ending was fantastic and supremely satisfying. I truly can’t wait to read book 2, To Write a Wrong, which is scheduled to release late in the summer of 2021.

Fans of the author should not miss this one. I love finding a terrific series right from the first book. And while you wait for book 2, you can check out the author’s extensive backlist.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: A Lady Compromised by Darcie Wilde

BONUS REVIEW: A Lady Compromised by Darcie Wilde

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Rosalind is off to stay with the Winterbourne family for a month to help her friend – and the Duke of Casselmaine/Devon Winterbourne’s cousin – Louisa with her wedding. But before she leaves London, Rosalind receives a letter from one of Louisa’s friends hoping Rosalind might help her with a delicate matter. Rosalind’s specialty.

Helen Corbyn is still mourning the death of her older brother. He was to fight a duel – with Helen’s fiancé. She was going to interfere, with her fiancé’s encouragement. He didn’t want to fight her brother. But when she got to the site, her brother was already dead. The inquiry blamed it on poachers, but Helen never believed that. And a small part of her is afraid her fiancé is responsible. She wants Rosalind to find the truth.

At the same time, Rosalind’s days at Cassel House will give her and Devon the opportunity to see if their one-time understanding could once again blossom into a match and a future together.

But Devon doesn’t know all the secrets Rosalind has been holding. If they are to have any sort of future, she will need to tell him the whole truth – and see if, once he’s heard it all, he still wants her in his life.

Review

This is book 4 in the excellent Rosalind Thorne Mystery series after A Useful Woman (♥♥♥♥♥), A Purely Private Matter (♥♥♥♥♥), and also And Dangerous to Know (♥♥♥♥). I love this series, and I love the main characters – Rosalind, Alice, and Adam.

This was dizzying in its complexity! The one question of the cause of Colonel Corbyn’s death was exceedingly twisty. His death occurred months ago. There’s no consensus on the nature of his wounds, and the body has already been buried. There are several people who know what the duel was about, but none of them are talking. There are inheritance rules and gossip and rivalries at play. And Rosalind is not in London, so she is at a disadvantage with these families and their histories.

On top of that, there’s Rosalind’s relationship with Devon, his projects in his community, and his prickly mother. And then Rosalind is separated from the people she loves in London and the regular routine of her life there.

All of this makes for a busy story. I’m afraid if I tried to read this a few chapters at a time, I might not have been able to keep hold of all the threads. There is almost too much going on in this one. I’d recommend reading this when you have time to devote to large chunks so you can keep the whole plot in mind.

I enjoyed this journey with Rosalind, although the case left me feeling more scattered than earlier books. I also missed Alice as a more central character. But the epilogue here sets up a future story where Alice and Rosalind will have to work together again. And I am here for that story!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½=Good+

REVIEW: Blind Search by Paula Munier

REVIEW: Blind Search by Paula Munier

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It starts with Henry, a nine year old autistic boy who slips away from the adults who are supposed to be watching him and wanders off into the woods. He sees something he shouldn’t. And a woman dies.

Mercy Carr and her dog, Elvis, get caught up in a hunting party their rich neighbor is having. While they’re all rambling on about a bear that got away, Elvis finds the body. An architect, in town to pitch ideas on a project the hunting party is working on. She had been dating Henry’s father. They had argued recently. He’s arrested for her murder.

Mercy and Elvis, along with game warden Troy and his search and rescue dog, Susie Bear, find Henry hiding deep in the woods. He’s possibly seen something that could help with the case, but he’s not talking. Immediately, Henry connects with Elvis and Susie Bear, and by extension, Mercy and Troy. If they can keep him safe and comfortable, maybe he will open up to them, and they can solve the murder.

But when Henry leads them to another body, kicking off a string of trouble that includes a blizzard, it seems keeping Henry safe and solving these murders might be more complicated than Mercy anticipated.

Review

This was a BUSY story! There’s a lot of Henry stuff, plus the murders. There’s also criminal activity in the woods that may or may not connect to the murders. You also have the interesting dynamics at work within the hunting party. And on top of that you have the will-they-or-won’t-they thread between Mercy and Troy. I feel like I got my time’s worth out of this twisty mystery!

Many times I have said I love a story with great kid characters and/or great animal characters. This book qualifies. Henry’s a fascinating kid. I loved his D&D-like references to Mercy, Troy, and the dogs. The author did a great job with the adults who were closest to Henry accepting him as he is. The dogs, who I loved in the first book, were exceptionally written here, especially in their care for Henry.

This series is a must-read for me. If you loved the first book, A Borrowing of Bones, like I did, do NOT miss this one! I don’t know that you have to read these in order, but book 1 does give good backstory for the characters. I didn’t love the ending of this with Mercy, but it’s an interesting way to launch into book 3. The Hiding Place is currently scheduled to release next March.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read