Viking Private Investigation: Season Three (Viking P.I., #3) by Tommy Ueland

Viking Private Investigations - Season Three by Tommy Ueland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Viking P.I. is back with exciting new cases!

Viking P.I. Tommy Ueland is back, and this time he’s got five new cases (six if you count the longer two-parter separately) for the reader’s perusal. Additionally, a couple of my favorite characters from previous investigations make a reappearance!

In Season Two, Tommy met and managed to ask out Alvide Andersen, a detective with KRIPOS, the Norwegian Criminal Investigation Service. More comfortable with their relationship, Tommy strives to improve his skills and impress his lady. However, he hits a snag when a prior friendship with a famous porn star comes to light during a new case.

Tommy has a good heart. You can feel he’s a nice guy without a lot of stereotypical hang-ups. Sure, there is the occasional whiskey, but he seems to be vigilant of how much he’s drinking and tries to make sure it remains casual. These cases pay his bills, but he also takes on the deserving pro bono investigation, genuinely wanting to help.

In this collection of cases, Tommy relies on a young computer hacker who made his first appearance in Season One. Their mutual friend, Jannick Jørgensen, is in some real trouble, and Tommy and Sondre must work together to help her. Another interesting case sends Tommy on a journey to Svalbard, across snow and ice, for some sentimental answers.

I recommend Viking Private Investigation: Season Three (and the entire series) to readers of detective fiction who would enjoy a smart but regular guy as their star P.I.

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A Right Royal Revenge (Highland Horse Whisperer, #2) by R.B. Marshall

A Right Royal Revenge by R.B. Marshall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A winning return to the high-stakes competition and culture of the horse world in the Scottish highlands.

When Isobel “Izzy” Paterson finds a potential client, Pat McDade, dead in his office before their first meeting and herself a prime murder suspect, she leaps into action to clear her name. However, as she didn’t get the chance to discuss the matter the man wanted her to investigate, she has few suspects to look at other than Pat’s wife, Francine, and the all too chummy show-jumper for Francine’s horse, Darcy.

Roommate and business partner, Trinity Allen, is busy with her very successful salsa class in town, its popularity boosted by a timely newspaper article written by the besotted local reporter, Neil Etherington. Izzy, too, has continued her friendship with Police Sergeant Dean Lovell yet finds herself still thinking about her recent beau, Craig MacDonald. He is still in Windsor temporarily replacing their ailing stable manager.

Meanwhile, Izzy is preparing the queen’s stallion, Eagle, a Highland Pony, and Lady Letham’s mare, Allegra, for competition in the upcoming Royal Highland Show. Princess Anne will be there to present the awards. But, as strange acts of vandalism, some annoying but others that could have hurt someone, are discovered, the list of suspects quickly expands.

A Right Royal Revenge is an excellent cozy mystery, and Izzy is a dedicated and intelligent sleuth. This time, Izzy’s having to work outside the police investigation as she is one of their suspects, and I liked that the author included how this puts a crimp in her budding relationship with the hunky Sergeant Lovely. The mystery is not easy to figure out, but Izzy gets right down to business, asking the right people the right questions, so the resolution makes sense.

Reading this second book in the Highland Horse Whisperer series was like putting on a much-loved pair of slippers: cozy and comfortable. I felt almost as if I knew these people personally, and I was anxious to see how things were going for them. I have missed these characters.

An extra entertaining aspect to me is that the author laces the story with the everyday activities of caring for and training horses. Wow. It is more complex than I ever imagined: both eye-opening and interesting.

As the series progresses, readers learn more about the local community of Glengowrie. I like continuing characters, in general, and many of the Glengowrie crowd are real stand-outs: some offering stability, others humor and quirkiness. It’s nice to see familiar faces.

I recommend A Right Royal Revenge to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, horse-themed stories, appearances by royals, and tales set in Scotland.


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Viking Private Investigation: Season Two (Viking P.I., #2) – Tommy Ueland

Viking Private Investigation: Season Two by Tommy Ueland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The quirky Viking P.I., Tommy Ueland, returns with more entertaining private-eye tales from Norway.

Tommy Ueland returns with more stories of private investigations in the “Land of the Midnight Sun.” As he writes his novel, Tommy keeps hearth and home together by working as a private investigator. While his bread & butter is checking on husbands and wives doing suspicious things, he has also caught a couple of exciting and different types of cases.

In Season Two, Tommy helps a man imprisoned for 50 years determine whether or not he actually committed the crime he’s been incarcerated for almost his entire life. In another, he helps stop some pretty blatant pilfering in a charity shop. During the course of his work, Tommy may have also met the woman of his dreams.

Viking Private Investigation: Season Two was delightful and easy to read. The author has a comfortable, self-deprecating writing style that is funny and very engaging. I particularly liked how matter-of-fact and straight-to-the-point his investigations were. I’ve already gotten the next book in the series; I enjoyed this one so much.

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Viking Private Investigation: Season One (Viking P.I., #1) by Tommy Ueland

Viking Private Investigation: Season One by Tommy Ueland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun collection of stories about a quirky Norwegian private eye!

After our writer-hero makes an unforgettable mistake in his marital relationship, he finds himself out on his ear and divorced. Trying to keep body and soul together while he writes his first novel, he turns to working as a private eye.

Viking Private Investigation: Season One is a collection of short stories recounting cases from the Viking P.I.’s past, including some ghost-chasing, saving a dentist being trolled on social media, and even helping one of the most famous porn stars in Norway.

I am so glad I picked this book up! You know, every now and then, you just randomly come across a book that turns out to be a little gem? Viking Private Investigation: Season One was one of those gems for me. The book was easy-to-read, and the author has a comfortable, self-deprecating writing style that is funny and engaging, and I liked how matter-of-fact and straight-to-the-point his investigations were. Despite the lack of complexity, the stories were still very entertaining. I’ve already gotten the next book in the series; I enjoyed this one so much.

I recommend VIKING PRIVATE INVESTIGATION: SEASON ONE in the Viking P.I. series by Tommy Ueland to mystery readers that don’t want unnecessary complexity in their stories and don’t want to take anything too seriously.


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A Little Dog’s Adventures in a Big Dog’s World: Following Winnie on the Path of K9 Scent Work and Life by Suzanne Catalano

A Little Dog's Adventures in a Big Dog's World: Following Winnie on the Path of K9 Scent Work and Life by Suzanne Catalano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This love letter from a dog owner to her beloved pets, both past and present, is a wonderful recounting of partnership and healing!

A Little Dog’s Adventures in a Big Dog's World is author Suzanne Catalano’s personal experience narrative about her introduction and participation, with her dog Winnie, in the canine sport of scent work. Not a how-to manual, but more a loving tribute to an activity in which she and her puggle (Beagle-Pug mix) have had a successful and satisfying partnership. I was not familiar with this sport, but I have dogs, and I found Catalano’s stories warm, engaging, exciting at times, and always inspirational. Many of her thoughts mirrored precisely how I felt about my relationships with my dogs. Often, I felt like she was reading my mind!

The stories she shared about the actual nose work training and trials were as engaging as they were fascinating. The descriptions of how odor works and travels were new to me and eye-opening. Who knew?!

I liked reading about the AKC events, which I’ve seen promoted in their newsletters but didn’t know what they were. But I was even more surprised to learn about how the sport originated with the National Association of Canine Scent Work.

I recommend A Little Dog’s Adventures in a Big Dog’s World to readers who love dogs, have dogs, or just like dogs. Anyone that has dogs will recognize many of the dog behaviors Catalano talks of as those of their own pups, and smile. But the pure joy of the author’s relationship with her dog, Winnie, clearly comes through in every aspect of this book and is, perhaps, the best part of the reading. Winnie and Suzanne are a delightful pair.

By the way, Peaches and Stoli, the resident basset hounds and security team here in Texas, say “Tell your dog ‘Hi!’”

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Tales from the Café (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #2) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Tales from the Café is right up your alley.

In this second volume of the series, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, readers are presented with the stories of four new time travelers seeking the chance to make something in their lives right. While most are seeking a second chance at something they failed to do in the past, one travels to the future to help someone in their present move on and find happiness.

The stories are similar in nature to those in the first book, and characters from that one reappear along with some new faces. We learn more about the mysterious woman in the white dress who is consigned to spending her afterlife forever anchored to the café seated at a specific table in a specific chair.

The travelers’ stories, why they decided to move about in time, and the results of their travels are all touching and satisfying. However, my favorite revelations were about the women in Kazu’s family and how the task of pouring the coffee to send a traveler on their way is transferred from woman to woman.

If you enjoyed the premise and lovely tales from Before the Coffee Gets Cold and just weren’t ready to say goodbye to the patrons and staff of Funiculi Funicula, Tales from the Café is right up your alley.


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Calliope: The Gods We Dreamt of as Children by Scott Mari

The Gods We Dreamt of as Children by Scott Mari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Calliope's latest story fairly bristles with dire threats from all sorts of newly discovered alien beings!

The Gods We Dreamt of as Children is another exciting entry in Scott Mari's Calliope series, picking up with Calliope's rescue of her mother and arch-nemesis, Mattias. Calliope continues to innovate and build. Friends and enemies, old and new, make their appearance. But we're back in space, and the discovery of even MORE alien races prepares the groundwork for future story development.

Mari does a stellar job developing the alien cultures of the Barovaults and the Larvaltics. They are suitably terrifying, and I enjoyed the plotlines told from their points of view. But the author doesn't stop there. Mari continues to introduce other intriguing and imaginative alien cultures to the mix. Readers will learn, right along with the characters themselves, a lot more about the aliens who practically destroyed the Earth of Calliope's past.

I'm suspicious of Calliope's mother's motives and actions. But I liked her storyline and inclusion in this series, and I want to know more about her time as a captive of the aliens. I'm super curious about how her teaming up with the experienced pilot, Shepherd, will work out because I liked that curmudgeonly character, too. I'm looking forward to more of these characters and their work assignment in intelligence.

Eylana and her family are some of my famous characters in the series. Eylana is fun, sassy, and sexy, and I liked that she has a prominent role in this series. Her sisters are up to their old tricks and, even though they had little "screen time," I found even the mention of them and what they are up to entertaining.

I did have an issue with dialogue in this book; it was confusing and hard to follow at times. I found this especially true when Calliope is talking with her mother. I often felt that their responses didn't make sense and didn't quite follow the conversational thread. I had to re-read passages several times to understand what they were saying, and I often wasn't successful. I had to forget it and move on.

The requisite climactic space battle doesn't occur until the very end of the book. Honestly, I felt like I really had to work for the pay-off this time. Battle scenes can often be confusing, and Mari is usually great at laying things out for the reader, but this time, the action seemed to stay chaotic. There's just a lot going on, and it covers a lot of territory. I'll admit I got lost with who was doing what where and whether or not things were working out or not. Still, the action is heart-pounding and exciting as it unfolds.

The Gods We Dreamt of as Children is the fourth book in Scott Mari's Calliope series. There is an emphasis on the development of space stations, expansion of the Space Force, and new ships and weaponry as the humans prepare for the aliens to bring the battle to them. There is little time spent on the characters' backstories, so the reader will need to be familiar with the characters beforehand. The author absolutely reinvigorates Calliope's story with all sorts of new and dire threats. This novel is a meaty addition to the series and not a standalone book, and I recommend it to readers who have enjoyed books 1 – 3 already.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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The Bothy (Highlands & Islands Detective, #2) by G.R. Jordan

The Bothy by G.R. Jordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Bothy quickly became one of those books I didn’t want to put down.

Since successfully closing their first case together, DI Seoras Macleod and DC Hope McGrath have become solid partners on the job and good friends off. Hope helped him pull out of the tailspin that began with his wife’s sudden suicide some 20 years before. Macleod has even started dating Jane Hilsop, a woman he’s beginning to form a close connection with. But now their team has been assigned to an ugly double homicide in the north on Black Isle, and he must leave just as their relationship is heading to the next level.

These latest murders turn out to be particularly heinous: a man and a woman, beheaded and left in a remote bothy* on the beach which has been doused in petrol and set ablaze. On-the-scene police personnel have yet to ID the two bodies when a well-known DJ at the local radio station is reported missing. As the investigation unfolds, they soon discover any number of suspects had a bone to pick with the dead man, and when they learn the identity of the young woman found with him, things really take a bizarre turn.

The Bothy quickly became one of those books I didn’t want to put down. It was exciting and easy-to-read; the author’s writing style placed me in the story right along with the two detectives and their investigation.

Macleod is an interesting character: almost as if he was frozen in time when his wife took her own life – both emotionally and historically. He still deeply loves his dead wife and has only recently begun to release himself from the tragic relationship. At the same time, the world, social norms, and mores have long moved on without him, and although he is aware of the changes around him, he remains an anachronism in his way of thinking about men and women and modern relationships. DC McGrath is helping him catch up with the times, but his very attitude will help them with this case.

The plotline with the Carlton family and their religious belief in a total patriarchy was fascinating. I liked how Hope and Macleod balanced out each other’s reactions to the whole bizarre family situation.

Several great suspects took prominence at different stages of the case, and I’ll have to say my money was definitely on one of the red herrings through most of the book. I enjoyed finding out that it was someone else entirely.

I did have a couple of story continuity issues, which is why I rated this book four stars and not five. In one instance, the detectives race off from a suspect’s home because another suspect’s car has been found and that person has gone missing. They get ambushed inside a dark bothy, and a scuffle ensues, yet both detectives feel their attacker is the man whose home they had come from in the first place. Another problem arose when Hope followed a suspect into a hidden passageway with a trapdoor located in a closet under a stairway. The suspect just went through the trapdoor but was somehow able to replace a vacuum cleaner back on top of the opening?

I enjoyed the first book in the series, Water’s Edge, but I liked this one even more! I’m so glad there are already more books in the series available. I recommend THE BOTHY, book two in the Highlands & Islands Detective series, to mystery readers who enjoy stories of good detective work set in remote, wild locations such as the Scottish Highlands can offer.

• Bothy – a simple, basic structure that can be used as a shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use without charge.

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Death in the Walled City by Aditya Banerjee

Death In The Walled City by Aditya Banerjee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the plot, the characters, the setting, and the trip back to the early 80s.

On the day of Nitya Chaturvedi's well-deserved promotion to senior management at The New India Courier, a riot erupted inside the old sector of the city known as Old Delhi. Railcars were burned, shops vandalized and looted, and when it was all said and done, 11 people had been killed and dozens injured.

But the incident was still very different than the communal riots that had plagued the ancient walled city. Rather than lasting for days at a time, this one peaked and dissipated within hours, and no one could identify what had touched things off in the first place. Even the torched railcars had been empty ones. Another oddity; one of the victims killed suddenly disappeared – all official records of his death gone, along with the body.

Disgraced senior police officer, Shankar Sen, was on patrol in Old Delhi near the riot's epicenter when the first report was made. He and his driver discovered the first two murder victims in an alleyway near the rail station, their bodies burned. It is one of these bodies that inexplicably goes missing, and Sen is compelled to unravel the secrecy.

Meanwhile, Nitya and her team of reporters at The New India Courier are tasked with writing features about each of the ten victims. When one of her new young journalists discovers they should be looking into the background of 11 lost lives, she teams up with her old friend, Shankar Sen, to get to the bottom of the cover-up, which may involve key members in the police and government itself.

Death in the Walled City is a moody and engaging mystery set in the winter of 1983 in New Delhi. Seeing the inner workings of Nitya's newspaper was intriguing, as was her working environment and the culture of the early 1980s. She was a woman in a man's world. The old boys' club, the office politics of the time, strategic relationships and alliances among colleagues, and the rumor mill are all on full and glorious display. She's joined the senior ranks and there are those that would be glad to see her fail.

The investigation into what was behind this unusual riot was captivating, and the location and culture of Old Delhi were fascinating. The contrasts among the characters' lives were eye-opening, with two separate, and not equal, Indias apparent. I rooted for the underdogs, Shiv and Shankar Sen, and was "all-in" on Nitya's success in her quest for answers from the start.

I really enjoyed the subplots involving the characters' personal and their families. Nitya's mother's machinations to find her a husband was fun. But her sister's marital situation was left at a pivotal juncture. Also, I felt for Shankar and his struggle to balance his work life and family life. I hope there are future books planned so I can see what becomes of these people.

There is quite a bit of exposition throughout the novel. This had me worried, initially, that the book was going to be a lot of telling and not enough showing. However, I came to believe this information was to catch readers up with what had happened historically, not only with the city and culture but with the two main characters, Nitya and Shankar Sen, who have a prior history together. (There is a previous book in which they meet.) But the bottom line is I loved the plot, the characters, the exotic (to me) setting, and the trip back to the early 80s.

I recommend DEATH IN THE WALLED CITY for mystery readers who enjoy stories featuring investigative reporters, underdog police officers, strong female protagonists, a historical time frame, and a setting in India.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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It Takes Two to Mango (Trouble in Paradise, #1) by Carrie Doyle

It Takes Two to Mango by Carrie Doyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Agatha Raisin fans may want to give this fish-out-of-water New Yorker a look!

After Plum Lockhart lost her job as editor of a high-profile travel and leisure magazine (that immediately folded), she couldn't find another job, not anything, in the struggling New York magazine industry. Out of desperation, she accepted a position as a marketing and sales agent with a vacation property leasing agency, Jonathan Mayhew Caribbean Retreats, on the island of Paraiso.

Plum was sure the job would just be a temporary stop-gap until something more suitable came her way. But the heat, humidity, and animosity of one of her new co-workers, Damián Rodriguez, quickly wilted the enthusiasm she had for the job. When his relentless goading evolved into a bet that she couldn't lease out one of their agency's more difficult properties for the coming Presidents' Day weekend, Plum takes on the challenge with a vengeance. However, as the holiday approached and despite the cost discounts and other amenities offered, Plum received only one serious inquiry for the property.

Against her boss's orders, Plum secretly accepts a contract from a bachelor's party group, considered a "no-no" client at the Mayhew agency. All seems to be going well until one of the three young men is found dead by the villa's pool.

Even when all the apparent evidence seems to point at murder, everyone at the resort, including the local police, wants to rule it a tragic accident and sweep it under the rug so as not to upset the tourist trade. But Plum feels responsible and convinces the local police captain investigating the death to take a second look.

But things in Paraiso move at a much slower pace than in New York City, and patience is not Plum's strong suit, so she partners with the resort's head of security, the handsome and sexy Juan Kevin Muñoz, to investigate and move the case along.

This first book in Carrie Doyle's Trouble in Paradise series was fun and frothy, yet a seriously good murder mystery. Plum Lockhart is a tough sell as a likable main character at first. She's pushy, self-centered, and obliviously blunt at times. However, as the story unfolds, she begins to realize some of her flaws and softens up. She still has a ways to go, and it will be fun to witness any further reformation, much like M.C. Beaton's notoriously and originally unlikable heroine, Agatha Raisin (who is actually mentioned in this novel.)

Plum has some engaging supporting characters in the office manager, Lucia Garcia, and the somewhat enigmatic Juan Kevin. I liked that Plum perceives she has a rival for Juan Kevin's attention around every corner; she's that personally insecure. I felt for her that she had so many frenemies, such as her former employee, Gerald Hand, lurking everywhere to see her at what she feels is her most vulnerable.

The author has created a beautiful island resort setting in Las Fruitas on Paraiso. The descriptions of just the drive between Plum's office, townhouse, or the hotel are full of atmospheric beauty, heat, and luxury.

The murder mystery and investigation were intriguing and made sense. There were plenty of possible suspects all along the way for readers' consideration. I was happy with the solution.

I recommend IT TAKES TWO TO MANGO to cozy mystery readers, especially those who would like a trip to a warmer climate, talk of exotic, fruity, umbrella-clad adult beverages, a laid-back pace, and a luxurious resort setting. In addition, I think that fans of M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin may enjoy this new sleuth that shares many of her famous foibles.


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Dying to Get In by Peter and Laurie Interland

DYING TO GET IN by Peter Interland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Surreal, dark comedy set in an upscale retirement community

After his beloved wife, Hillary, experiences a stroke, retired cybersecurity expert Bill Hurley decides it's time for them to relocate to a seniors' community closer to doctors and medical support than their beautiful Maine country home. The only problem is their choice of retirement community has a five-year waiting list: the only openings occur when a current resident dies. Being a man of action, Bill plans to find a way to lessen the wait.

Dying to Get In is a new dark comedy by husband and wife writing team Peter and Laurie Interland that had me laughing out loud and cringing (but with delight!) at times. It's a shorter novel and PERFECT for reading straight through from cover to cover as you'll want to know what is coming next!

I loved the main character, Bill, and seriously rooted for his success. I laughed at what his son, Paul, was having to deal with as his frisky, talented, genius, and fun-loving parents cruised into their golden years. I also liked the friends they were making at Golden Shores; they seemed like fun people, too (well, except for those that weren't supposed to be!)

The age group we're reading about at Golden Shores is beginning to include the children of the 60s and 70s, and it was fun to see that the vices of their youth followed them into their golden years. There is drinking, smoking, pot, THC, and sex featured in the story, so be aware if any of these are an issue for you as a reader.

With a plethora of great characters, a fun, irreverent plotline, and a lovely setting on the coast of Maine, I recommend DYING TO GET IN for general fiction readers, cozy mystery lovers, and readers who enjoy a story with older characters.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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The Interchange by Andrew Orange

The Interchange by Andrew Orange
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Imaginative Russian Sci-Fi novella!

Muscovite and student Tim Ivanov is an underdog in every sense of the word. He's undersized, under-motivated, under-funded (and mom has told him he's now on his own), and the ladies won't give him the time of day. So, when a voice in his dreams - the voice of Hautama, the supreme ruler of the entire world in the year 3500 - proposes to change places (bodies) with him for 13 days in the distant future, he's listening. And agrees. Then nothing happens. So Tim goes about his business as a poor student.

To complete his course of study at the university, Tim and his coursemates are scheduled for a summer at practice camp for ummm… practical experience. But on arrival, the students discover the camp is practically falling down. Not only are the facilities minimal, but those present don't work, and the closest town seems to have based their entire economy on getting money out of the desperate students.

It's pretty grim until that night when the students organize a wild orgy of a party on the shore of the river that runs through the camp. Tim, turned off by the antics of some of his fellow students, is leaving the party to go back to his bunk when he is confronted by a drunk local, getting into a losing brawl. When next he awakens, Tim discovers he's no longer at the camp nor in his own time or body. The Interchange has occurred.

The Interchange is an imaginative novella of time travel set in and near Moscow. The depiction of Russian student life seemed typical of what is usually portrayed in the media, but the author's vision of the future is creative, unexpected, and frightening. The language is a bit rough and crude, as are the characters, but still, I found myself rooting for the main character Tim. I like how Tim gained confidence in his new situation and took action. And I appreciated the footnotes the author provided for terminology and additional explanation tremendously.

I recommend The Interchange for readers who enjoy stories of time travel, visions of a far distant future, or with a Russian flavor and setting.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Hidden Gems.


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The Vanished Collection by Pauline Baer de Perignon

The Vanished Collection by Pauline Baer de Perignon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The fascinating story of one woman's search for her great-grandfather's lost art and true-life story.

When a cousin mentioned that the Nazis might have pillaged their great-grandfather's art collection during their occupation of Paris in World War II, author Pauline Baer de Perignon was caught entirely off-guard. At no time in her life had she ever heard a whisper of such!

Intrigued, she began to research her great-grandfather's collection and, in the process, discovered the truth about her great-grandparents' lives during the occupation. She'd always understood they'd come through that dark time in history pretty much unscathed, and that just wasn't the case at all.

The Vanished Collection is a wonderful tribute to the author's great-grandfather, renowned collector of Impressionist art, Jules Strauss. It is also an exciting tribute to perseverance and dedication to researching the truth. I found the author's recounting of her experiences easy-to-read and absolutely fascinating. I was so caught up in her story that time flew by. I was immersed in her search.

The difficulties she ran into getting the museums responsible for preserving and reuniting the stolen art with their rightful owners or their heirs was eye-opening. So little concerted effort appears to have been put into the process of returning these sentimental, not to mention priceless, items to where they belong.

Also, the story is a heartbreaking, sobering reminder of the Jews who lost everything: their property, possessions, families, and lives. I hope this book spurs other descendants to question what family treasures may be locked away in some museum, safe yet forgotten. I know that I want to read more about this topic now.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the publisher and France Booktours.

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The Foe in the Forest (Stonehaven Mysteries, #3) by Linn Chapel

The Foe in the Forest by Linn Chapel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exciting new entry in the fresh and unique Stonehaven Mysteries series.

Laurel Bachmann is back in Bar Harbor on assignment with a fellow photographer when the two are accused of being involved in a jewelry theft aboard a cruise ship docked nearby. Neither one had anything to do with the heist, but an earring from the stolen collection is inexplicably discovered in Laurel's camera case.

Laurel's former beau, Marc Chevalier, uses his influence to have the two housed at Stonehaven rather than the local lock-up while the investigation ensues. However, the police seem to have already concluded Laurel is the thief.

With Laurel restricted to Stonehaven, Marc decides to investigate on his own, all the while brooding over the relationship between Laurel and Brandon, the other photographer. (Has she settled on another man? Another man who can provide her with the security and peace of mind of a safe life?)

But that's not the only concern at Stonehaven. Something terrible is making its presence known in the Stonehaven forest. A strange gray fog has been spotted, and the very bedrock of the island is developing what could be catastrophic cracks and discolorations. Also, the devastation is creeping closer and closer to the mansion perched on the cliffs above the sea. The forest creatures avoid the north end of the property, where the damage seems to have started. Even "The Cat" and the "Guardian of the Forest" are wary of what lies within. And once he gets Laurel's situation sorted, Marc will have to deal with whatever or whoever is threatening his home.

The Foe of the Forest is the third entry in the paranormal series, the Stonehaven Mysteries, by Linn Chapel. Several months have passed since the events of the previous book, and Marc and Laurel, unable to reconcile their lifestyles with each other, have gone their separate ways, though clearly, they are still in love.

Marc's mother, Serena, falters in her hopes that the two will get back together when she sees Laurel and Brandon in town, jumping to the conclusion that they are a couple. She reports her sighting and conclusion to Marc, who takes it to heart.

Marc's paranormal abilities and more about his magical legacy are explained and explored in this book. The author has created a fresh and unique plot, skill set, and an intriguing backstory for the Chevalier family. Laurel continues to work through her personal need for safety in her life, but she also displays great courage to help the man she loves. An author's note mentions that the next book will conclude the series. Although I'm greatly looking forward to what's ahead for Laurel and Marc, I will really hate to see this story end.

I recommend THE FOE IN THE FOREST to readers who have enjoyed the previous books in the series. I recommend the Stonehaven Mysteries to readers who enjoy a paranormal element in their mysteries, especially those looking for something fresh and new.


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Mrs. Betty Jones: Lady Vigilante Prequel by Hayley Camille

Mrs. Betty Jones: Lady Vigilante by Hayley Camille
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun historical action-adventure featuring an Avon Lady in 1940s New York City

Mrs. Betty Jones: Lady Vigilante is an excellent introduction to the characters and plot that evolves in Lady Vigilante Season 1. This prequel foreshadows what is to come as Betty Jones AKA Suzie Poletti, a seemingly average pre-WWII housewife and mother faces the changes the war in Europe is bringing to daily life and the behind-the-scenes machinations of NYC’s criminal organizations.

Betty is far from your average homemaker, mother, and Avon Lady.

I recommend this series to cozy mystery readers that enjoy a touch of the paranormal in their stories.

Mrs. Betty Jones: Lady Vigilante is currently free on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

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Entrapped (Stonehaven Mysteries, #2) by Linn Chapel

Entrapped by Linn Chapel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A delightful follow-up to The Gargoyle's Secret!

Photojournalist Laurel Bachmann is on assignment in Bar Harbor, Maine, again, and to be polite, she contacts Serena Chevalier, her former boyfriend's mother, just to let her know she's back in the area. Laurel and Marc Chevalier had parted ways during the previous year because Laurel believed she wanted a safer, steadier future than the one Marc could offer. However, Serena still has matchmaking on her mind. She immediately invites Laurel, her father, and her father's friend, Stanley, traveling with them on this working vacation, to dinner at the remote family estate.

When Laurel and her companions arrive, she discovers Marc laid out cold on the floor of his workshop, the victim of a random attack or attempted murder no one knows. She helps him back on his feet, and they find out that they both are involved in the upcoming music festival Laurel is there to cover. Marc is restoring some important garden sculptures in preparation for the big event.

The next day they meet up with each other on the mainland at the estate hosting the festival, and as Marc is reinstalling the final sculpture in the home's beautiful garden, Laurel discovers the dead body of the estate's owner. Worried the death may be related to the rumor that someone is murdering the owners of the grand old estates in the area and fearing for Serena, Laurel and Marc decide to investigate on their own.

Entrapped is the entertaining sequel to The Gargoyle's Secret, book one in Linn Chapel's delightful Stonehaven Mysteries series. Picking up almost a year after the previous novel's events, Laurel and Marc have sadly gone their separate ways though they are clearly still in love. Watching his mother's attempts to get the two back together was great fun, and I was behind her efforts all the way. You can't help but feel for Laurel and her fears for the future, though.

The mystery quickly gives you several good suspects, and I enjoyed discovering who the murderer really was. An exciting chain of events ensues from the discovery of the culprit to the finale.

As Entrapped's story builds on details revealed in book one, I recommend reading The Gargoyle's Secret first. It was a great story, too. Readers who enjoyed the series premiere will also enjoy this sequel. This series is for cozy mystery readers who enjoy a paranormal element in their stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Book Sirens.

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The Prison Dome: Survive or Die Trying by Warren Wagner

The Prison Dome: Survive or Die Trying by Warren Wagner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read this book; it was so good!

Chuck Berger was a great guy: likable and easy to get along with. But during his time as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan, he missed being killed along with his best friends and tent-mates because he'd been out playing poker. His friends died alone when a bomb destroyed their tent, and Chuck has carried the weight of guilt, survivor's guilt, on his shoulders ever since. Out of the Army and back home in the states, Chuck was a changed man, and when he caught his wife in bed with another man, he snapped, killing them both in a moment of rage and black-out. For his crime, he was sentenced to three years inside "The Dome:" a wilderness prison that once was part of South Dakota but now enclosed by an invisible, impenetrable barrier that keeps whatever was inside in and whatever was outside out. Three years didn't seem like much, except no one had ever come out of "The Dome" after their sentence was up…ever.

Such a good story! I was immediately engaged by the plot, the characters, and the wilderness setting, and now I’m fervently hoping there will be a sequel.

Chuck Berger was an unlikely hero. He’s a convicted criminal, a multiple murderer, but even before he went inside “The Dome,” he had become a very sympathetic character. The reader is told that Chuck is a nice guy, and he really is, and he’s also very troubled by survivor guilt.

The denizens and setup of the community he encounters upon his arrival in “The Dome” seemed pretty normal at first. But like Chuck, I could feel that something was just “off” about the whole thing. Their means of waylaying new arrivals to the wilderness prison was extreme yet clever. The author did a fabulous job setting things up to reveal the true nature of the group (and the prison), including the fictionalized portrayals of how things were inside “The Dome” by social media and the entertainment industry of Chuck’s former life.

This is a tale of a dystopian society existing in a wilderness that was once South Dakota. I especially enjoyed the author’s inclusion of nature and woodcraft (I.e., knowledge of the woods, camping, and other outdoor pursuits) throughout the story. I also liked the workarounds for the lack of tools and technology: a couple of interesting MacGyver-ish moments.

I want to note that none of the above slowed the story down one little bit. It enhanced a plot that was exciting and truly action-packed. There is never a dull moment as Chuck overcomes everything that comes his way using the skills he has acquired as a former Army Ranger: realistic, believable skills.

The tension between characters is present every second of the story. There is absolutely no trust anywhere. It really kept the characters off-balance and uneasy, and I felt the same way, too - always wondering about everyone's motives and true agendas.

Another thing I liked is the author had his characters reason through their problems with each other on occasion. The reader can follow their logic and ultimate decision-making as the characters move from problem to solution to implementation. This made the characters seem more human, like regular people you could identify with and get behind. The story made sense.

I recommend The Prison Dome for readers of action-adventure stories and those who enjoy tales of dystopian communities. I’m so delighted I picked up this book and look forward to more from this author.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Conceptus by Brian Herskowitz

Conceptus by Brian Herskowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A riveting police procedural with complex characters and a compelling storyline.

When Detective Laura Drummond was 14 years old, she was attacked by a man in a mask, raped, stabbed six times, and left for dead as she walked home from her first high school dance. Afterward, she was kept in a coma in the hospital for almost a year. Still, Laura eventually awoke, going on to finish school, join the Marines, becoming a successful homicide detective for the Columbus Police Department. However, her adult successes did not erase the impact her tragic childhood had on her.

Laura kept her past a closely-held secret, avoiding commitment and shared confidences with any and all, preferring casual one-night hookups in her private life; her best and only friend, Detective Tom Browning, her on-the-job partner.

But her latest case looks horrifically similar to what happened to her all those years ago. Only this time, the victim is not so lucky to survive. Laura can’t help wondering if HE is back.

Conceptus, the new mystery by Brian Herskowitz, introduces readers to Detective Laura Drummond, a homicide investigator with a tragic past. The horrific murder of a young co-ed has the detective’s long-suppressed past rearing up to stare her right in her face and make her question what really happened when she was a young, naïve 14-year-old. The author creates a complex, multilayered figure in Drummond (or “Law” as she often called), and as the story unfolds, we see how she became the person she is today. Supporting characters, in particular work partner Detective Tom Browning and potential love interest Sharon, round out the exciting story and smooth out some of Laura’s rough edges.

This complex female character is a damaged loner. She has kept herself from getting too involved with anyone up to this point in her life. Her best friend is her partner at work. She’s been keeping her past buried and living a very solitary existence since leaving her childhood home. There is casual sex in the story, but a wonderful love story is also developing. Laura’s reactions to Sharon and Sharon’s reactions to becoming involved with a homicide detective made for a fascinating subplot.

Reading what happened to Laura is not for the faint of heart; it is brutal. It kicks off a riveting plot that involves rape, abuse, bad parents, adoption, the Catholic Church, and kept me reading far into the night; it was that compelling a tale. As the police investigation proceeds, the plot twists and turns and takes the reader places they won’t see coming. I even appreciate that the setting is in Columbus, Ohio, and not L.A., Chicago, or New York City.

For me, Conceptus felt like a great beginning for a new mystery series, though there is no mention of a subsequent book. This may be very wishful thinking, but I hope to read more about Laura, Sharon, and Tom Browning. I recommend Conceptus to mystery readers looking for a harrowing and complex murder mystery story, those who enjoy a grittier police procedural, or LGBTQ+ main characters.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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The Old Boys by Mark Gillespie

The Old Boys by Mark Gillespie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The past is about to catch up to The Lads, but whose past is it?

As the 25th reunion of Strathmore Academy’s Class of 1995 approaches, three estranged friends are thrust together under terrifying circumstances. In their youth, these men had been fast friends, a gang of three, bullies that had terrorized their classmates unmercifully. After school, they’d gone their separate ways: reinvented themselves, faded from the scene. But apparently, someone remembers “The Lads.”

After a traumatic experience as a drug dealer, Jay Green had cleaned up his act. He was now a successful businessman celebrating a recent promotion with a loving fiancée and anticipating the arrival of their first baby. Davie Muir, married with children, moved from Glasgow to London after surviving a horrific lorry accident that killed numerous people and left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life. However, Iain Lewis, the third member of The Lads, got left behind. As his two best-mates-forever dropped him and moved on, Iain remained mired in resentment, struggling to adapt to adult life.

But on the eve of the reunion weekend, an event none of The Lads planned to attend, forces outside their control put these men unexpectedly back together for the first time since leaving school. They find themselves trapped in an isolated cabin in the snowy Scottish Highlands, with only a cryptic note claiming one of the three is a killer who must confess before the sun goes down or they all will die.

The Old Boys quickly proved to be an exciting, unputdownable psychological thriller. What first seems to be about three schoolmates reconnecting in adulthood soon unfolds to reveal their unsavory pasts and becomes a twisty-turny revenge story. I was utterly taken in. The abductions were slick and each cleverly different from the others. The men’s discussions and revelations as they came back together after being apart for so long felt emotionally difficult and realistic. Their continuous struggle to make sense of their circumstances, figure out who was behind it all and find a way out made for a true page-turner.

I recommend THE BOYS for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers, tales where the past not only meets the future but collides with it, and stories of revenge and retribution.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through Hidden Gems Books.


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Kicker One: Going the Distance (The Frankie Scarmazino Trilogy, #1) by Cy Young

Kicker: Going the Distance by Cy Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An injured NFL kicker heads to the Ozarks to check out a teammate’s brother’s death, he discovers someone has taken justice into their own hands to fight domestic abuse.

The year is 1997, and when the NFL New York Giants kicker, Frankie “Scar” Scarmazino, is injured in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he must take time off to heal and recuperate. In his heart, Scar believes he’s lost his nerve to return to the game, but as he’s still in his early 30s knows he’s got to come up with a backup plan.

He confides to a good friend and teammate that he wants to be a private detective, and the friend tells him of the perfect place to start. The teammate’s brother had been murdered back home in his hometown, and the killer was never caught. So Frankie loads up his old Ford Pinto, Gilda, and heads to Jasper, Arkansas, to see if he can catch a murderer.

When Frankie rolls into Jasper, he inadvertently becomes embroiled in the shady goings-on of the small town. He witnesses a man, baseball bat in hand, chasing after a battered and bleeding woman, and jumps to intervene. The sheriff, a personal friend of the abuser, turns a blind eye to the crime, and Frankie finds himself the target of the abusive husband and his gang of similarly-minded wife-beating buddies.

But Frankie is on a mission and will not be run out of town. In the process of his investigation, he discovers that his teammate’s brother isn’t the only recent and unsolved murder. Someone is taking justice into their own hands when the sheriff fails to act and is murdering the men who are abusing their wives and girlfriends.

However, the sheriff is taking an interest in the murders of his buddies and has a local attorney working to help the victimized women in his sights. One meeting with Mira Strickland has Frankie’s senses reeling and his fervent hopes that the sheriff is wrong.

Kicker One: Going the Distance is a fast-paced, easy-to-read, and exciting story featuring a likable hero, dastardly villains, and some very smart and sexy women. Frankie Scarmazino is an interesting guy, a professional football player with some hidden characteristics. When he takes off for the Ozarks, he does so in his old 1971 Pinto and not some flashy, celebrity-worthy luxury vehicle. Beside him on the passenger seat is his most recent knitting project: a sweater he’s creating for his ex-wife as a gift.

In the story, Frankie’s nemeses include town bully Buddy Haymes, his backwoods buddies, and their close friend, Sheriff Bill Burrows. Happily, there’s not much to like about these guys, so it was easy to cheer for Frankie to beat them every step of the way.

The women of Jasper have their own hometown hero in attorney Mira Strickland. After having grown up in Jasper, she left town to pursue her law degree and, until recently, successfully practiced on the East Coast before returning home after having her own husband troubles. Frankie’s immediate attraction to her was fun and created tension and a significant conflict later when her actions and motives begin to look suspicious to him.

I recommend KICKER ONE: GOING THE DISTANCE to mystery readers looking for something light and easy-to-read for a fun and engaging diversion. The football theme was fresh, the setting in the Ozark region of Arkansas different, and despite the underlying crime, fun to read.

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Murder in the Medina (Blake Sisters Travel Mystery, #1) by Carter Fielding

Murder in the Medina: A Blake Sisters Travel Mystery-- Book 1 by Carter Fielding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two engaging sister-sleuths and a “to DIE for” setting!

Finley Blake is an attorney-turned travel writer based out of Manhattan and her younger sister, Whitt, a banker living and working in Manila. Both travel for work and, when possible, try to arrange for their paths cross during their travels to enjoy some sister-time. When Finley gets an assignment in Morocco, the two arrange a meet-up in the gloriously exotic city of Tangier. Finley arrives first and the hotel the sisters have chosen is a charming haven of luxury yet there’s just something “off” about manager. But Finley settles in and heads up to the rooftop bar for some refreshments where she meets a number of the other hotel guests: a film crew shooting a movie in and around the city. They’re a mixed bunch with their own issues but they welcome Finley into their midst.

Whitt arrives the next day and Finley takes her up to the bar to meet her new acquaintances. While they are mingling, the group hears a scream, and rushing back into the hotel, they discover one of the film’s crew is dead.

Murder in the Medina has two delightful main characters, an exotic and evocative setting, and a surprising and baffling mystery. Although the characters are different as night and day in interests and temperament, the author made me feel the love the sisters had for each other. In addition, both women are looking at new relationships with men in their lives and it was nice to be privy to each one’s inner dialogue as they sort out their thoughts and feelings about their futures with their guys. While Whitt feels the glow of a new relationship perhaps moving to another level, Finley encounters a past love. I enjoyed the easy-going, ready-for-anything, and Whitt’s love interest, David.

Besides the engaging characters, the story has a strong feeling of place. The plot takes the reader to several interesting locations in Tangier, Casablanca, and parts in between. The descriptions of the sights and sounds and smells made me feel I was there right beside the sisters as they explored so many fabled places.

There is more than one mystery in the story, and I liked that the sisters really left things up to the police to solve them. However, the reader will have enough clues to zero in on the right suspect yet still be surprised at the end. As far as the sisters, though, there isn’t a lot of bumbling around, getting in the way, or showing up the professionals. Sure, they question the police’s conclusions, but I felt they reacted just like a regular person would if they ran into the same circumstances.

There was a lot of action in the story once things started happening, and that’s pretty early on. There was always something going on! No one gets a breather until the end.

I recommend Murder in the Medina to cozy mystery readers who like a series that moves the characters from one location to another rather than a single setting. Even the fun prequel, Murder in Montauk, lets the reader armchair explore Long Island. Also, readers that enjoy a second-chance-romance storyline might want to take a look here as well.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Real Estate, Dating, and Death (A Vivianne Murphy Mystery, #2) by Ashley Addison

Real Estate, Dating, and Death by Ashley Addison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Intriguing mystery with laugh-out-loud banter between characters that makes this story shine!

Vivianne Murphy and Venice Martino, partners in Rainbow Realty, are beginning to see real success with their business, and life is starting to settle into a good place for them both.

Venice meets a nice man at the local supermarket and accepts his offer of dinner, and soon the two are seeing each other regularly even though Bryan has plans to permanently relocate in the coming summer to a condo in Phoenix.

Vivianne thinks something is off with Bryan but realizes what really has her worried is that her best friend might choose a future in Phoenix over their friendship and business. But then she also finds herself on a date when wealthy client John Berkman shows his interest.

To top things off, Viv’s sassy mother is getting ready for heart surgery back home in New York City. Viv plans to take time off to go back home to visit and help her stepfather, sister, and niece care for her while she recuperates.

But when Annie, Rainbow Realty’s receptionist, arrives to find a young woman in a wedding dress dead in their office’s backroom (which used to be a bridal shop), the two friends find themselves in the middle of a mystery. Detective Traynor from the local police department soon arrives and takes charge of the investigation, warning Viv to keep her nose out of things.

A year after the events of Real Estate, Murder, and Mayhem, the first book in the engaging Vivianne Murphy Mystery series, the lead characters, New York City transplants, Vivianne Murphy and Venice Martino, have settled down and made their real estate brokerage a success. The narrative of Real Estate, Dating, and Death is mostly from Viv’s point of view, but Venice picks up the story when necessary, and that worked well for me. Both are fun voices, but Viv is comedy gold. The banter between the two partners sparkles, and Viv’s conversations with her mother, sister, and niece also had me in stitches at times.

I liked that the story included these two 40-something women stepping out of their recent comfort zones and dipping their toes in the dating scene. They’re still young, no matter what Viv’s mother may say.

I enjoyed the setting in the Pacific Northwest with its vagaries of weather, and the houses in the woods across from each other sounded so fun. In this story, there are also scenes in Arizona that create an interesting contrast. I liked the fun mentions of actual locations in each of the states.

A significant thread in the story is the animals. Both Viv and Ven have dogs that they call and treat like their children. There is wildlife that makes appearances throughout the novel: raccoons and lizards and bears, oh my!

But we read for the mystery, right? At first, I felt the mystery was going to be very secondary to the evolving relationships in the series, but suddenly – WHAM! – it was front and center, and I was shocked and surprised by what unfolded. There were quite a few twists and turns and hidden connections! However, the clues to the mystery are sprinkled throughout the book for the reader to see how everything fits together. And bravo to the author for the “didn’t-see-that-coming” moment at the close of the book. Hopefully, book three is coming soon.

I recommend REAL ESTATE, DATING, AND DEATH to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a character-driven story, a Pacific Northwest or Southwest U.S. setting, or even have an interest in a sleuth involved in real estate.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Regardless of the Consequences (Lance Tallbear, #1) by L.D. Lauritzen

Regardless of the Consequences by L.D. Lauritzen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lance Tallbear, a Native American deputy sheriff, investigates a startling 70-year-old cold case that someone still wants to remain buried.

Wow! I've been hooked on mysteries featuring Native American investigators since the first time I read one of Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee books. L.D. Lauritzen's debut Lance Tallbear mystery held the same magic for me. It is one of the most thrilling mystery tales I've read this year.

In Regardless of the Consequences, we are introduced to Lance Tallbear, a deputy sheriff in Gila County, Arizona: a rough and tumble sort when needs be but always with the goals of doing the right thing for THE PEOPLE and pursuing justice. He has an inner struggle with his desire to work in the white man's world (the Sheriff's Office) and wanting to please his elderly grandfather, Gray Eagle, who wants him to follow in his footsteps as the tribal shaman. After his father's death, his white mother had taken him to live with her during the school year, returning him to his grandfather and the reservation for the long summer break. During those summers, Gray Eagle had trained him extensively in the ways of the shaman. But when he grew up, he left that behind to go into the military and, later, law enforcement. Unfortunately, Gray Eagle viewed this as Lance turning his back on his heritage, as his father before him had done, and this is a continuing conflict between the two as well as in the young man's heart.

Tallbear is not the only character in the story struggling in life; a couple of supporting characters are also walking a troubled path. Young Tommy Hawk immediately engaged me with his hopes and dreams for a better future. Also high on my list of favorites is FBI Special Agent Brad Hanley. He's chasing his own demons, and I rooted for him to overcome them from the start, and I hope to see more of Irene Katz in his future. Officer Sally Yazzie, the captain's assistant, presented such a "Radar O'Reilly" vibe that I hope she returns, too. The author gives us a plethora of bad guys to 'boo .' There were a few unresolved issues regarding them by the story's end; I hope we can look forward to seeing them in sequels yet to come.

The plot is satisfyingly complex, involving a 70-year-old cold case, and it takes our heroes to some great locations on and off 'the rez,' including the Superstition Mountains, the Sonoran Desert, and downtown L.A. The non-stop action never allows the characters to take a breather, and the constant push forward and stress become a factor in the story. The characters battle their physical exhaustion, a harsh environment, and Mother Nature almost as much as the bad guys.

I can recommend Regardless of the Consequences for a variety of mystery readers such as those who enjoy books featuring a Native American sleuth as in Jean Hager's Mitch Bushyhead or Molly Bearpaw books, the southwestern region of the United States such as in the Leaphorn and Chee series by Tony Hillerman, or set where the natural environment is a factor in the plight of the characters as in the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box or Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak books. Readers that like cold case mysteries or those with a tie to World War II secrets and the Nazis may also find Regardless of the Consequences to be right down their alley.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.


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Katherine's Wish by Linda Lappin

Katherine's Wish by Linda Lappin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A vividly immersive novel of Katherine Mansfield’s final years

Katherine’s Wish by Linda Lappin is the mesmerizing novel of Katherine Mansfield’s final years. Lappin researched the story for more than 20 years and developed the story from Mansfield’s own writings and those of people who knew her personally. Written from Katherine’s and her long-time companion, Ida Baker’s points of view, the story gives insight into Mansfield’s relationships, feelings, and thoughts of the world around her, especially her deteriorating health. Her efforts to seek a cure for her consumption during this timeframe, after the First World War, were eye-opening regarding the state of medical knowledge then. (A lot has changed in the last 100 years, however even today, there are still “cures” lurking out there for the desperately ill.)

Lappin’s writing is lovely, so smooth and evocative. I could feel the characters’ emotions as if I were there to share them. My heart ached for both Ida and Katherine. Having finished the novel, I am inspired to read more about Katherine, her work, and many notable friends and acquaintances.

I recommend Katherine’s Wish to readers of literary fiction, historical fiction, and biographies, especially those with an interest in Katherine Mansfield and her contemporaries or those curious about the state of Europe after WWI.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author.


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Red, White, and Blue (Lady Vigilante, #20) by Hayley Camille

Red, White and Blue by Hayley Camille
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Betty Jones pulls out all the stops!

Continuing where Episode 19 left off, Betty, Jacob, and Adina finally put the pieces together on how to find the Tin Man and the Boudoir Butcher, and plan to apprehend the vicious criminals and end their reign of terror among the gangs of New York. But when the showdown comes, who are the ones that end up in the trap?!

Wow! Author Hayley Camille has put Betty through the ringer before but her dynamite Avon Lady has never faced the odds she confronts in this, the final episode of the second Lady Vigilante season, Red, White, and Blue. Betty maintains a realistic view of her chances throughout, but resignedly and bravely faces them.

I was glad to see and satisfied with how this storyline was ultimately resolved. With some plotlines still in play, I look forward to Betty’s return and the continuation of this unique historical mystery series in Season Three.

I highly recommend this episode to readers following the exploits of this kick-ass Lady Vigilante and Avon Lady and the entire series to those that enjoy historical mystery/thrillers featuring a strong female protagonist. As indicated above, the books are episodic, and I recommend they be read from the beginning in chronological order.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author.

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Dragon by Midnight by Karen Kincy

Dragon by Midnight by Karen Kincy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic and imaginative retelling of the Cinderella fairytale!

In Dragon by Midnight, Cinderella (real name: Ginevra Darlington) attends 'the ball' at the personal invitation of Prince Benedict Charming, but rather than seeking the handsome prince’s attention as a prospective bride; she goes seeking a boon. She needs help from the royal family in reclaiming her rightful inheritance – her home - from her horrid stepmother and stepsisters. It seems the manor house was a gift to Ginevra’s mother for a heroic service she performed for the queen, Benedict’s mother. It is a heroic service of such a delicate nature that it has remained a well-kept secret since before Cinderella’s birth.

Still, the attraction between Cinderella and the prince is there, but before she can attain the assistance she needs from him, the magic hour of midnight is upon them. However, instead of losing a glass slipper, this Cinderella suddenly and inexplicably turns into a giant, blue dragon…

From its stellar opening line, “Before she became a dragon, the night had been a dream,” Dragon by Midnight proves to be a wonderful retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale with a dark underlying storyline featuring magic, a jinni, an evil curse, and, naturally, a dragon.

Kincy’s story unfurls simultaneously in the two kingdoms of Viridia and Azurum, the home countries of her two protagonists: Cinderella and the sorcerer, Sikandar Zerian. Although great distances apart, both kingdoms are ruled by royal families with hidden agendas and dark secrets who are cruel and selfish. This is quite a difference from the traditional portrayal of the king and queen who parent Prince Charming in the familiar fairytale and scarily similar to our expectations for the demeanor of stepmother and stepsisters.

The story is told from alternating points of view, in the voices of the two main characters, Cinderella and Sikandar. They feel both genuine and representative of young adults 17 or 18 years of age, even under the extraordinarily fantastic circumstances of the plot. The two display the feelings and emotions one would expect: they get mad, feel an attraction to each other, and have aspirations and hopes that work well within their situations. Both must overcome the impact of being the black sheep, the disappointment, or the unwanted member of their families.

The excitement and non-stop action of Dragon by Midnight start on the first page and never lets up, and the ending, which left things open for a sequel, was still satisfying. I highly recommend DRAGON BY MIDNIGHT for readers who enjoy Young Adult fantasy, fairytale retellings, and dragon tales.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from TBR and Beyond Tours.

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Children's Book Review: Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Exciting and immediately absorbing; I loved it!

Six inner-city teens from the East Coast are flown to California to participate in a summer Wilderness Adventure. The main character, Addy, has never been out of the Bronx and, much like the other city kids, is anxious about the whole trip. Addy is an orphan; her parents died years earlier when she was a little girl, and her grandmother, Bibi, came from Nigeria to take care of her. Addy still has nightmares of losing her mother and father, of the fire, and of needing to know how to escape. Bibi had signed her up for this summer Wilderness Adventure; Addy just wanted to stay home.

Arriving at the Wilderness camp, Addy and the others quickly fall into the routine for the summer program. From the very beginning, Addy realizes that the wilderness, the forest, and the outdoors call to her very soul, and Leo, the camp owner, instinctively sees her as a kindred spirit. Along with Ryder, Leo's dog, the three bond as they begin to systematically explore and map their wild surroundings and record the environmental changes they find - changes to land and animals resulting from never-ending climate change. Leo teaches Addy about maps, topography, and other wilderness skills, and they talk about her returning to continue her studies and work there in the summers to come.

But with the end of summer, the Wilderness Adventure comes to a close, and the teens and their two college-age camp counselors head out for one final challenge, a 3-day hike with overnight tent camping. They've prepared well for this all summer long; however, nothing could prepare them for what they encounter on their first night out.

I loved this book! With interesting young leading characters, all with their own issues and fears, the story evolves, and the tension steadily increases until you find yourself smack in the middle of some honest-to-goodness pulse-pounding action. I almost thought I was breathing the fresh air and, later, choking on ash and embers. The characters were so very engaging that I was much affected as things unfolded. The story easily and totally absorbed me from start to finish.

In addition to the exciting story, the very serious themes of climate change, ecological degradation, and the need for environmental protection come through the action. These concepts with consequences are presented simply and straightforwardly so the youngest readers will understand, and older ones will not feel it's too preachy.

PARADISE ON FIRE is an unforgettable adventure story that is perfect for middle grades, high school, and readers who enjoyed Gary Paulsen's Hatchet.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Ghost Agents (Ghost Agents Trilogy, #1) by Nita DeBorde

Ghost Agents by Nita DeBorde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic paranormal-cozy mystery you’ll be tempted to read from start to finish in one sitting!

The Bureau for Historical Preservation is a secret organization that has operated in the shadows for centuries. Its mission is to keep tabs on the energized “projections” or ghosts, assisting them to cross over to the other side when they’re ready and keeping them safely in line until they do. However, not all ghosts deal with the Bureau. These rogues exist on their own terms outside the protection the Bureau offers.

By day, Claire Abelard works in a candy store and at night she’s a tour guide to the haunted places Galveston, Texas, is known for, both covers for her real work as a Bureau field agent. When she hears rumors from the ghostly community that rogues have been disappearing and the projections are afraid something terrible is happening to them, she tries to get the Bureau involved. But since the missing entities are rogues, Bureau leadership disregards her concerns. Against orders to leave it alone, she decides to investigate on her own not realizing that her entire world is about to be turned upside down.

Ghost Agents, the first book in the Ghost Agents Trilogy, was a fantastic story from start to finish. I loved everything about this book: the premise, the plot, the characters, and the (close-to-home-for-me) setting of Galveston, Texas.

The main character, Claire Abelard, is a determined young woman, dedicated to her job with The Bureau for Historical Preservation, to preserve and promote historically significant locations to keep their stories and local history alive, AND to monitor and assist the ghosts (known as “projections”) stay safe and on the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, such commitment doesn’t come without sacrifices; as a bureau agent, Claire is posted to cities wherever her Level 5 skills are needed most, which keeps her separated from her family in Boston most of the time. Her job doesn’t leave Claire with much time or energy for a social life, either. Not only does she maintain a day job in a candy store as a cover for her bureau activities, but she also has a night job leading ghost tours of some of Galveston’s leading haunted places. Then, after the evening tours are over, she may have to conduct additional bureau business. But she is consistent in her goal to preserve, promote, and protect the ghostly projections in her jurisdiction and those outside it that have gone “rogue.” She’s smart, independent, witty, and an all-around fun character.

Other fun characters include the projections, including Claire’s three “roommates:” Sarah Meriwether, the motherly former owner of their shared home, April Parish, the tragic victim of spousal abuse, and Thelma Gates, a party girl from the 1920s. The author incorporates actual historical figures whose spirits are thought to haunt real venues located in Galveston (one of the most haunted cities in the U.S.) among Claire’s contacts. Some of Galveston’s long history is woven into the storyline as well.

Along with the city’s exciting history, the author does a fabulous job creating the secret world of “The Bureau” and the story and nature of the projections. The background exposition is cleverly delivered in both dialogue and excerpts from the Bureau’s history textbook that its agents-in-training are issued and expected to know.

With its fresh plot, burgeoning romance and sibling estrangement subplots, superb setting, and wonderful characters, Ghost Agents is a great cozy mystery that is sure to grab a reader’s attention and take it on an action-filled adventure. I highly recommend this book to any cozy mystery reader who enjoys a paranormal storyline.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Fools Rush In (Lady Vigilante Crime Series, #19) by Hayley Camille

Fools Rush In by Hayley Camille
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fools Rush In is the exciting continuation of the search for the villains behind the Boudoir Butcher murders.

With a new understanding between mother and daughter after an almost tragic kidnapping, Betty begins training Nancy in earnest to be more fully prepared for the future ahead of her. Undoubtedly, Nancy will be in the thick of things from here on out, and her mother wants her to perfect her skills as soon as possible.

Adina realizes that Betty is not what stands in her way for a future with Jacob Lawrence; it is her own feelings. She is no longer in love with him, and she believes the feeling is mutual. She is ready to accept Betty’s help to keep little Teddy hidden from his birth mother, Violet Mills. But just as things are looking really good on the home front, the Boudoir Butcher rears his ugly mug again.

Fools Rush In continues the search for the villains behind the Boudoir Butcher murders. This is the 19th installment in the episodic Lady Vigilante Crime Series. I loved that this episode shows healing in the Jones’ family relationships as well as those with some of Betty’s friends, such as Adina and Jacob. Amid crisis, Betty establishes some new ties with the ladies downtown but, sadly, must engage unnecessarily with an old adversary.

As usual, the author does an admirable job recreating “the look and feel” of early 1940s New York City, incorporating the fashion, language, and music of the time. A battle between Betty and the Ghost Warriors’ Enforcer, Chén Qiáng, is one of the best fight scenes of the series, and there have been many memorable ones.

Fools Rush In is not a standalone novelette, and readers should start reading the series from the very beginning to enjoy Betty’s adventures. I recommend the Lady Vigilante Crime Series to readers of cozy mysteries, historic cozies, those who like stories set in New York City or set during World War II.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author.

This latest episode in the series will be published on Amazon.com on August 4, 2021.

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A Tale of Two Sisters (The Fortune-Telling Twins Mysteries, #1) by Bettina M. Johnson

A Tale of Two Sisters by Bettina M. Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Tale of Two Sisters is a light and fun cozy paranormal mystery, and the journey to its resolution is both exciting and entertaining.

Maggie Fortune leads a secret ten-member team of monster-hunters who move about the country undercover as part of a traveling caravan of antique appraisers. Like the more well-known “Antiques Roadshow,” the caravan stops in various towns along its way to let people bring them their prized possessions in hopes of discovering hidden riches. However, individuals of the paranormal variety bring in items having a different goal. They want these experts to determine if their possessions are cursed, bewitched, or masking and hiding a supernatural evil, and if they are, they want the items cleansed of the danger or released from the spell. Maggie’s team is comprised of a mix of extraordinarily talented individuals: Maggie and her sister, Ellie, are both witches but others are vampires, shifters, elementals, druids, succubi, and even a ghost.

At their most recent stop, Maggie is approached by the elderly Birch sisters, Esther and Louise, with a lamp. They insist the lamp is actually hiding the spirit of their younger step-sister, Millicent, who passed only days earlier. Not wishing to be buried, they believe Millicent has somehow used the island magic of her people back on St. Lucia to hide her mortal remains from them. They want Maggie to expel Millicent from the lamp and find her body for them so they can give her a proper burial.

Things just sound wrong to Maggie, but she agrees to take on their case. Able to tell special things about an item, such as its history from a touch, Maggie picks up the lamp and finds herself transported to the sisters’ old Victorian home, where she encounters a woman who looks like Millicent. However, when she turns to face Maggie, the woman begins to shriek, and her face is completely blank and without features. Frightened, Maggie breaks the connection, realizing there’s way more to the story than what the sisters have told her. She is determined to have her team get to the bottom of things.

A Tale of Two Sisters is a delightful story chockful of witches and a myriad of paranormal beings, some a familiar variety such as vampires and shifters but also some of the less well-known types like succubi, druids, or elementals. The monster-hunting team is a collection of these various beings, all using their special talents and skills to save the human world from the evils of the unknown. They travel from place to place under the guise of a major antique appraisal business owned and operated by Maggie and Ellie’s family, but even Maggie’s father doesn’t know about the team’s true mission.

Maggie herself is a witch and is the heart and soul of the book. She’s bright, funny, and good-hearted, a character to get behind and root for from the very start. She’s got a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, which she handles well. But when provoked, Maggie shows what a tough cookie she really is. She was so engaging and fun, someone I’d enjoy knowing in real life.

In addition to solving the case of the missing Millicent, the story has what looks to be an ongoing mystery, one that will continue through to the next book in the series, at least, regarding Maggie’s twin sister. Ellie is a ghost, sort of. She’s not quite dead (her body is enclosed in a glass coffin back at the Fortune family’s home, never decomposing), but she’s most certainly not alive either. The members of the team can see her, but only Maggie can hear her speak. So far, she seems free to come and go as she pleases and can touch and move items. The only clue to who is responsible for her current condition is a small statue of a wolf.

I liked that there is a tie to the author’s Lily Sweet series. Lily is a young artist living in Sweet Briar, Georgia, who only recently discovered she was descended from a family of witches and is herself a dark witch. The family in Georgia are cousins to the Fortune family.

This is also a story about sisters and features three different sister groupings: the twins, Maggie and Ellie, the elderly Birch sisters, twins Esther and Louise, and Millicent, and there’s even the succubi sisters, Serena and Sydney. It was interesting to note the different relationships that existed among all the sisters.

Coming in at under 120 pages, this first tale in the Fortune-Telling Twins Mysteries is a smart and fun novella that is easy to enjoy and well worth the time spent reading it. A Tale of Two Sisters is a solid, interesting mystery and the journey to its resolution is both exciting and entertaining. It is a great introduction to this new series. I recommend it to readers who enjoyed the author’s other series, like cozy mysteries featuring the paranormal, especially witches, and even readers who would enjoy a light, fun mystery featuring sisters and antiques.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.


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