A Very Merry Murder Mystery-Review

 

Christmas Cozy Mystery

I really enjoy cozy mysteries, so as the Christmas season was approaching, I found several Christmas themed cozy mysteries that I downloaded to my Kindle. I found one set of books that contained three different cozy mysteries all about a woman named Meridith and called Merry.  In these mysteries you are introduced to Merry and her interesting cast of friends who live in a small town.

Santa Slaughter

The first book in A Very Merry Murder Mystery series is set during a Christmas festival in a small town.  Meridith "Merry" is in between jobs and is working as an elf in the Santa hut.  Her friend Maggie has a booth by the Santa hut that sells hot chocolate.  On the first day of the festival Merry is working to set up the candy canes and her helpers are getting the children in line to see Santa.  The first two children enter the hut and start talking to Santa when he gets called away for a minute.  When Merry goes to take the photos she discovers that Santa is not there, the children show her how he went out the back door of the hut.  When Merry goes out to check on him she finds him on the ground and the mystery begins.  

First Date Disaster

In the second book, Merry's life his getting on a good track.  She now has a job running the cafe/coffee shop in her small town.  She also has a love interest in the town veterinarian.  When the book opens, they have yet to go on a date but that soon changes and things are looking up until they run into a dead body on their first date. Merry feels invested in solving the murder especially when a friend of hers becomes a suspect.  Rob, her date, is supportive and helpful but what a start to a relationship!  Will this work out? Will the murder be solved?  You will need to read the book to discover these answers.

The Body in the Bookstore

The third book in the series takes place when one of Merry's favorite authors, Aloysius Hunt comes to town to talk about his newest book at a local bookstore.  Merry's Aunt Cassie is also a big fan of the Mr. Hunt, so she comes to town to attend the event with Merry.  Before the event they are serving people in the cafe when a group of big fans of the Aloysius Hunt come in for some snacks and drinks before the big event.  They follow Mr. Hunt wherever he is speaking and they are very excited about his newest book.  

All is going well until they are at the bookstore, and a tragic accident occurs.  When it turns into a murder, it looks like they have another mystery to solve.

The Books on Amazon

The first three books in this series, along with the other six, can be purchased on Amazon in paperback or for Kindle.  Here is a link to the books A Very Merry Murder Mystery

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Reviewing Simone Stier's Cafe Cozy Mystery Series

 Simone Stier's Cafe Cozy Mystery Series starts with A Shot of Scandal where we first meet Parker Hayes, former true-crime podcaster who has decided she wants to try small town life and is reinventing her life as a cafe owner. When a murder and theft occurs at a high society gala in Magnolia Grove (said small town), Parker's plans for a peaceful life start to dissipate as her investigative senses start to itch.

If you love cozy mysteries then this is a great series to look into, it includes all the classic cozy tropes of small town, found family & quirky cast. The setting is the southern town of Magnolia Grove and the books really do make it feel like a warm, tight-knit community.

The characters are great, Simone Stier has done a great job in making the town's residents feel real. Parker's friendships and conflicts with other locals are often a highlight in the books. Although each book can be read as a standalone, if you read them in order you see Parker's growth as she lets people in and develops friendships.

I love the name of her cafe - Catch You Latte which is a very subtle nod to her history as a very successful true-crime podcaster. We learn more about why she stepped away from her podcast as we work our way through the early books. There are often references to episodes of her podcast and it's her experience as a former private investigator and podcaster that give her a unique view point on these situations.

I will say that for a small town there's a high body count and somehow Parker seems to keep stumbling into these murder cases at community events, galas, even haunted mansions.

The tone of these books is very cozy, there's humor, warmth, friendship and plenty of coffee and pastries. One of the recurring characters is Hazel who is a student that loves baking so works for Parker in her cafe baking the amazing cakes for Parker to serve. She also dyes her hair a different shade for each book, the color to compliment the coffee special that is featured in the book. I love the sound of these coffee creations as much as I enjoy the story.

In later books Parker also hires Renee to bake and let's just say Renee and Hazel are like chalk and cheese,. I'm looking forward to see where their relationship arc is going to lead.

Another notable character in the books is Major - her part time dog, because every small town cafe owner needs a dog in my opinion. Then there's Parker's love interest Walt, the town historian. I won't dwell on the myriad of other characters in these books - they are all just waiting for you to discover them.

The mysteries are well constructed with red herrings, twists and clues. There's also a good balance between investigating crime and her day to day cafe challenges. In book 2 (A Drizzle of Danger) for example her grand opening turns into a major crisis when a body is found near her cafe.

Later books continue to raise stakes and weave more complex plots eg A Measure of Mayhem involves a Polar Plunge at a festival, property disputes and hidden grudges. Just as you're thinking surely there's no more secrets this small town can hold and is there anyone left to kill? We see Parker being asked to help investigate a 15 year old cold case in a neighboring small town of Willow Springs in A Dusting of Doubt. 

These books are great for readers who prefer "cozy" over "dark" crime where the violence is implied rather than graphic. The book's tone stays light even when the stakes are high, making them relaxing reads. If you enjoyed Cleo Coyle's The Coffeehouse Mysteries you will love this series.

The series isn't over yet! There are 14 published books so far with one about to be released on December 1st and when you look at the author's page there are 9 other titles that have been listed as also coming! I am halfway through book 12 at the moment.

I love reading cozy mysteries to relax and unwind when my head is too full to concentrate on my more favorite genres of psychological thrillers or gritty whodunnits. Cozy mysteries tend to be more predictable and everything gets resolved happily which means you don't stay awake afterwards thinking about them and you also don't have to concentrate too hard to figure out what's happening.

I also love that a number of cozy mysteries are more character focused and this series is one where you really feel wrapped up in the community as you read the book - like friends on a page.

With all of that it probably comes as no surprise that I was introduced to this series earlier in the year when I was sick and promptly read the first five books in quick succession. I was introduced to a couple of other cozy mystery series at this time as well, but this is the only one where I have an alert to download the new books every time they are published which should tell you that I definitely give this series a big thumbs up.

If you want to enjoy this series and lots more amazing books then you might want to try out Kindle Unlimited - I love it and would rather give up Netflix than my Kindle Unlimited account!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Cozy Mystery Review-Murder at Cape Costumers

In her latest book in "A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery", Maddie Day again brings together all of the interesting characters in a small Cape Cod town's book club.  The book group is dedicated to reading and discussing cozy mysteries, but when a real murder mystery happens in their small town they feel a need to help the police uncover the murderer.

Synopsis of the Book

In a charming village on Cape Cod, a Halloween murder shocks the community.  Enzo, the victim, is found dressed as a skeleton. A group of amateur sleuths from a local cozy mystery book club can't resist the urge to investigate, despite the police warning them to stay out of it.  As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of secrets and motives among the villagers, including the new owners of the costume shop, Shelly and Harini, an investment advisor, and the victim's nephew.  Can the book club solve the crime before they become the next victims?

The Book on Amazon

Maddie Days books can be found on Amazon in paperback, audible and kindle versions.  Here is a link to all 7 of the Cozy Capers Bookclub Mysteries.  Cozy Capers Book CLub

More Cozy Mystery Reviews

I always enjoy a good cozy mystery and so do many of the other writers for Review This.  Here are a few of the cozy mysteries we have reviewed.

• Murder on Cape Cod  This is another Maddie Day mystery.
  
• Tea by Sea   Wednesday Elf reviews this cozy mystery.
  
• Irish Village Mystery series  Margaret reviews a mystery series that takes place in an Irish Village.
  
• Toes on the Dash  This delightful cozy mystery series takes place in Colorado, and the main character is a high heeled tow truck driver.
  
• The Lighthouse Keeper  Lou reviews this cozy mystery that takes place by a lighthouse.
  
• Everything Bundt the Truth  This cozy mystery is one of a series that takes place around dinner parties.
  

 

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Walter’s Purple Heart - Book Review

Serious, sad, lighthearted and told with humor.

Each chapter is titled by a name, flipping between Michael, Walter, Mary Ann and Andrew

Synopsis of Walter’s Purple Heart

Walter's Purple Heart

Michael Steeb is an aimless 21-year-old pot farmer in Central California in the 1980s. He has no real plans or interests...until the day he connects with memories of a life that seems to belong to someone else. That "spirit" is Walter, a young American soldier killed in World War II.

Forty years ago….

Seeking answers on the Ouija board, he later comes to understand that Walter is an earlier incarnation of himself.

Michael eventually realizes that he has been given a mystery to solve. He is being asked to lead Walter's family to closure and peace and deliver the real truth behind Walter's Purple Heart. Somehow, he needs to achieve the forgiveness absent for so many years so Walter can move on, and leave his anger behind.

To accomplish this task given to him, Michael sets out to find Walter's best friend, Andrew, and Mary Ann, the fiancée Walter left behind. Mary Ann recognizes Walter in Michael immediately. But Andrew thinks Michael is nothing but a con man and doesn't believe a word he says. Michael, encouraged by the spirit of Walter, continues to try and accomplish the goal Walter has set for him. 

Summary 

A large part of the story is narrated by Walter ~ from beyond the grave.  Walter's Purple Heart is a fast-paced war drama and a deeply felt romance, with a unique twist on the prospect of multiple lives. 

A romantic story about a dead World War II soldier who transcends the barriers of time to touch the lives of the people he loved in his life.  Catherine Ryan Hyde at her best in this fascinating metaphysical fiction story.  

Related Links:

• Reviews of books by Catherine Ryan Hyde
• Book Reviews by ReviewThisReview's contributing writers can be found at ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of Walter’s Purple Heart is written by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Dead Heat Book Review

A horseracing mystery by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

After a successful eleven-year career as a jockey in England (during which he became one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and a champion steeplechaser, riding as jockey to the Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth), Dick Francis wrote his first book, an autobiography (The Sports of Queens), which led to a job on a London newspaper as a racing correspondent. In 1982, he published his first mystery book that dealt with crime in the horse-racing world. Through a publishing career of nearly 40 books, Francis’ wife, Mary, was his researcher, proofreader and biggest fan. 

Mary died in 2000 and Dick, heartbroken, virtually gave up writing. Six years later, their son Felix talked his dad into writing again and they collaborated on Dead Heat. Herein, is my review of this book.

Synopsis of Dead Heat

Dead Heat

The main character in Dead Heat is Max Moreton. Max is locally known as a celebrity chef, enjoying success in his horse-racing themed restaurant in Newmarket called The Hay Net. Max also frequently caters special meals at nearby racetracks. His troubles begin when he caters a dinner at Newmarket races where dozens of guests end up with food poisoning. Max cannot figure out what went wrong.

But, that incident was just the beginning of Max’s problems. The very next day, he caters a VIP lunch in one of the special boxes at Newmarket races, and he is nearly killed in an explosion. It suddenly becomes time for Max to start trying to figure out what is going on and why it seems as though someone is trying to kill him. 

Summary

The clever plot of Dead Heat has some interesting and some quirky characters (there is the laughing lawyer for one) and a romantic interest between Max and a beautiful viola player from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London who originally starts out to sue him! In addition, the reader gets to enjoy the ambience of the world of haute cuisine. 

I enjoyed this first collaboration of Dick Francis with his son Felix. The team went on to publish 3 more books together. Since Dick’s death at age 89 in 2010, Felix Francis has continued on in the same vein, writing horse-racing mysteries. 

• Click here for more Books by Francis (Dick & Felix)
• For More Book Reviews, Check Out ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of ‘Dead Heat by Dick & Felix Francis was written by Wednesday Elf

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Review of The Writer-James Patterson

 I am a big fan of James Patterson novels.  I have enjoyed his books for years and follow several of his series of books, always looking forward to the newest book.  While looking through his newer books from the library, I came across one that came out earlier this year.  It was co-written with J.D. Barker and in reading the description on the cover I was very curious about the book.  The cover has the claim "You'll Never Forget the Ending".  I decided I needed to read that book and I was not disappointed.  The book keeps you guessing on who the killer is the entire book.  I thought I had it figured out several times, but boy was I wrong.  In the final chapters of the book there is a real twist that I would have never guessed.  Wow! What an ending!

Book Summary

The book starts with Declan Shaw, a NYPD detective standing in a subway train station contemplating throwing himself overboard, when he suddenly gets a call sending him to the scene of a murder.

The scene is in the home of a award winning novelist and her doctor husband.  The husband has been stabbed, and the wife is standing over him in bloody clothes with the murder weapon.  At first glance it is an open and shut case, but then nothing is what it seems in the rest of the book.

We are introduced to Declan's partner, his lieutenant, the wife's attorney and many more possible suspects. There is also another case of a woman in a nearby alley that plays into the picture.  In addition, there are some doubts about a prior case that Declan and his partner worked and the suspect was found guilty and is in jail.  

There are so many twists and turns that I hate to give anymore away.  I will tell you this is a very compelling book and once you get into it, it is hard to put down.  I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fascinating murder thriller.

Book on Amazon

The book is available on Amazon in hardcover, kindle and audio books.  Here is a link The Writer

Reviews on James Patterson Books

Writers for Review this have written several reviews on various James Patterson books.  Here are a few.

• The President is Missing Book Review
• The Golf Miracle Trilogy by James Patterson – Book Reviews
• James Patterson's The Christmas Mystery Book Review and Book List
• Shattered by James Patterson - Book Review
• LOST by James Patterson - Book Review
• Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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A Bridesmaids Guide to Murder ~ A Book Review

Who in their lifetime has not heard of a Bride that goes completely off the rails during all the preparations for the upcoming nuptials?  Bridezilla is the moniker that comes to mind!

Well you might think that A Bridesmaids Guide to Murder should be on the list of books to be read beforehand, by all the bridesmaids,  so that you could have all the scenarios covered but you would be wrong!

A Bridesmaid's Guide to Murder by Abigail Scott is a fun and interesting story, about a Bridesmaid for Hire!

Emilia Walsh is that aforementioned Bridesmaid.  She is a professional Bridesmaid who steps in to take care of all the "little" things that can and do go wrong at weddings.  She is skilled at fixing dresses, makeup and hair, so that whatever disaster could happen will have a happier ending when she puts her hands to the problem. 

I don't think there is a wedding that has taken place that hasn't had it's share of "drama" sometime before the actual wedding happens.  But that is what Emilia is there to handle.  She is the Maid of Honor and nothing escapes her steady observations of all the people involved in this affair.

She singlehandedly handles overbearing mothers and friends with firmness and gentleness at the same time.  Nothing, but nothing will rattle this Bridesmaid.  

We are down to the wire with everything in place for tomorrow's wedding, when the unthinkable happens.  One of the groom's men is murdered!  Now this is something the Emilia didn't sign up for and has never happened before.  What is going to happen now?

Well, let me tell you, there is a lot of things going on that you just never imagined. The detective assigned to the case and Emilia get together to figure out what happened and why.  Her notes will be the starting point to figure out WHODUNIT!  After all a Professional Bridesmaid has to take lots of notes with all the details recorded.

I'm not going to give away the story line, you will have to read it for yourself!  Just let me say that this was a great way to spend a few summer evenings and you will never guess the culprit and the reasons behind all the chaos that was created.  

Abigail Scott has done a great job engaging the reader in this cozy mystery and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good story with a lot of twists and turns right to the very end.

Enjoy all your Summer Reading!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Fear in First Gear a Book Review

 

I love cozy mysteries, and Karen Whalen has some really fun ones to read that are sure to keep you up reading to find out the mysteries. Fear in First Gear is #7 in her Tow Trucker Driver mystery series.  In this book you again meet with the delightful cast of characters in a small Colorado town.  First there is Delaney, the shoeaholic tow truck driver who is the main character. Coming back and reading another book about her is like meeting up with an old friend.  Then you have the fun cast of characters in Delaney's life.  Her romantic interest is Ephraim the town sheriff.  Her best friend is Kristin, who owns a coffee shop.  Other supporting characters include Zach, Kristins romantic interest, who is with the local police.  There is also Kristins cousin Axle, who rooms with Delaney and Tanner a fellow tow truck driver who is always willing to help to Delaney in the tow truck business.

Book Summary

The book starts off with a blizzard in this small Colorado town.  Delaney is asked to check out Clarkson Pass and make sure no one is stranded before there is a need to shut down the snow gates.  As she is driving up County Road 350 she sees a car off in a ditch and as she gets closer, she sees a woman with her eyes staring out in the car.  Delaney has to travel quite a distance before she finds somewhere to turn her rig around.  The snow is coming down harder and she does not have any cell service.  As she passes where she thought the car was, she can no longer see it, so she makes her way to the nearest place she has cell service and calls in what she believes to be a dead woman in the car.  Now Delaney has found other dead bodies during her tow truck career and the police are leery about what she thinks she has seen.  Meanwhile the blizzard has gotten worse, an avalanche goes through the area and the pass has been shut down.

In the days and weeks ahead, Delaney is determined to find out who the woman is in the car and find her murderer. She is constantly sidetracked by law enforcement who want her to leave the investigating to them.

As the story goes on Delaney finds herself in several situations where social media posters delight in reporting about her.  Here are some of the posts that received lots of attention:

• Tow Truck Driver finding bodies.
• Hi-heeled tow truck driver.
• Tow truck driver tows a bear across town.
• Mishaps during lip syncing with the band.

To read about the above situations and find out how Delaney discovers the answers to the mystery you must read this delightful book.  You can get the book on Amazon at the following link.

Here is the book on Amazon. Fear in First Gear

More Reviews on Karen C Whalen Books

The author has written three different series of books.  The Tow Truck Driver Mysteries, the Dinner Club Mysteries, and the Sea Oaks Beach mysteries.  I have reviewed several of the books and have thoroughly enjoyed them all.  Here are some of my reviews.

 

• Booty in the Backseat- Book Review
• Book Review-Stiletto to the Pedal
• Book Review - Friends Come to Call
• Book Review - Toes on the Dash
• Reviewing Murder at Sea Oaks Beach
• Everthing Bundt the Truth
  
• Washed Up on Sea Oaks Beach
  

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben

Book Review of a new thriller by Harlan Coben, the #1 New York Times bestselling author and world renowned storyteller. This is Book #2 of the 2 book series with Detective Sami Kierce whom we first met in Fool Me Once. 

Synopsis of Nobody’s Fool

Nobody's Fool

As Nobody’s Fool begins, it has been a year since we met Sami Kierce in Fool Me Once, and Sami’s life circumstances have changed. He has been forced to leave the police department in disgrace and wants nothing more than to put his past behind him.  But, somehow the past just isn’t done with him yet! 

When Sami Kierce was a young college grad, he and some classmates took the summer to backpack in Spain. While there, he met a girl, Anna, and, when his friends moved on to the next stop on their itinerary, Sami stayed. Several days later, he wakes up covered in blood with a knife in his hand and his girlfriend dead. Panicked, he runs. 

Now, twenty-two years later, with Kierce no longer a detective, we find him working as a private investigator. He is now married and has a baby. To make ends meet, he also teaches a class for wannabe sleuths at a night school in New York City. Suddenly one night he spots a familiar face in the back of the room. It is unmistakably Anna. When he begins to approach her, she runs. 

Kierce knows he has no choice but to find this woman and solve the mystery that has haunted his thoughts every moment since that terrible day in Spain.

With the help of his students, Sami begins to investigate, because the facts simply don’t add up. It is difficult for him to face the past, but Kierce needs to finally find the truth, and to prove once and for all that he’s nobody’s fool. 

Summary

This twisty and stunning thriller is book #2 in the two-book series featuring Sami Kierce. 

Netflix has adapted many of Harlan Coben’s novels into TV series. Fool Me Once (reviewed by Sylvestermouse) has already been made into a TV series. It seems safe to say that this novel, Nobody’s Fool, will soon join the series. 

For More Reviews of Harlan Coben Books, Click Here

For More Book Reviews, Click on ReviewThisBooks.com

*Nobody’s Fool Book Review written by Wednesday Elf

Books 1 &  2 of Harlan Coben’s two-book Detective Sami Kierce series 

Fool Me Once

Nobody's Fool

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Lethal Prey by John Sandford - Book Review

A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel

I have been a fan of John Sandford’s books since his first one (Rules of Prey) published in 1989.  Sandford has written 35 books in the ‘Prey’ series, featuring Lucas Davenport as the main character. In 2007, Sandford began the Virgil Flowers series ~ now totaling 12 books. 

Both series are police procedurals in the mystery/thriller genre, with the main characters being in law enforcement. By the time we meet Virgil Flowers (in Book #1 - Dark of the Moon), both Virgil and Lucas work for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and Davenport is nominally Virgil’s boss.

By Book 31 in the Prey series, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers have begun handling difficult cases together. Lethal Prey is the 4th novel starring this pair of investigators, providing, as always, a very interesting mystery to solve, plus giving the reader an extremely amusing time with their delightful ongoing ‘cop’ humor. 

Synopsis of Lethal Prey

Lethal Prey (A Prey Novel)

In Lethal Prey, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers have once again joined forces, this time to try and solve a 20 year old cold case crime and track down a ruthless killer who will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried. 

The crime was the murder of Doris Grandfelt, an employee at an accounting firm who was brutally stabbed to death.  Despite her twin sister Lara Grandfelt’s persistent calls to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the killer was never found.

Now Lara, diagnosed with breast cancer and confronted with the possibility of her own death, is determined to find Doris’ killer. She offers a $5 million reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest. To this end, she releases the entire investigative file online onto true crime sites. Dozens of true crime bloggers show up looking for new evidence and leads (toward a share of the reward). The problem is, all discoveries have to be reviewed and followed up by Lucas and Virgil. 

The crime bloggers DO end up providing new clues and leads, which is helpful to the detectives. But they also blast every clue online, allowing the killer, whose identity the reader knows in Chapter One, to keep one step ahead. As the killer eliminates more people to prevent the detectives from discovering the identity of the murderer, Lucas and Virgil find the whole case not only frustrating, but deadly. 

Summary

The ending leaves some things unresolved, thus leaving the reader to decide how things work out both for the killer and with Virgil's future plans. Or, perhaps Sandford is just leaving it open for a future follow-up book). 

This non-standard Sandford ending has caused readers’ reviews to be mixed, with some finding this lack of conclusion disappointing. Others, such as myself, found the story very interesting, and the witty banter between Virgil and Lucas highly entertaining. I am never disappointed with any John Sandford novel and enjoyed Lethal Prey very much. 

Related Reviews:

• For more reviews of books by John Sandford, Click Here
• For more book reviews, click on ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of Lethal Prey is written by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Book Review- Peaches and Peril

 

                                                 Peaches and Peril by Karen C Whalen

I just finished another delightful book by Karen Whalen.  This one is part of her Dinner Club series of mysteries.  It features Jane Marsh and a cast of interesting characters. This book had me guessing who the murderer was till almost the end of the book.  It was a great page-turner.

Book Synopsis

This book begins when Jane Marsh and some of her fellow dinner club members went for a weekend to enjoy the Peach Festival in a small Colorado town and look to finalize preparations for Jane's upcoming wedding.  In the beginning we find the characters at a Murder Mystery game  at the B&B where they are staying.  Each of the attendees is in costume for their character in the "Murder Mystery Game" and they all have notes about their characters.  Jane messes up early on by mistakenly revealing that she is the killer.  This pretty much brings the mystery to a halt and the participants end up calling it an early evening.  Now the real mystery will begin when Jane comes across a dead body in the B&B.

The police are called and everyone that has attended or worked at the B&B, including the members of the Diner Club, become suspects.  The book continues with Jane trying to figure out the killer.  There is much at stake including the reputation of the B&B and the small town election for mayor.  This is a small town where everyone knows everyone, and everyone seems to have an opinion.  

If you are looking for a cozy mystery with lots of characters and possible suspects this is the book for you.  I didn't guess the killer till almost the end and it was fun to follow Jane's logic on who might be the culprit.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon.

Peaches and Peril

More Book Reviews by Karen Whalen   

      Karen has written three different series of cozy mysteries.  The are: A Tow Truck Murder Mystery, A Dinner Club Murder Mystery and A Sea Oaks Beach Murder Mystery.  I have written reviews on several of the books.  Here are links to my reviews.

• Book Review- Washed Up on Sea Oaks Beach
•  Book Review of Everything Bundt the Truth
• Booty in the Backseat- Book Review
• Reviewing Murder at Sea Oaks Beach
• Book Review-Stiletto to the Pedal
• Book Review - Friends Come to Call
• Book Review - Toes on the Dash                   

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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This is Why We Lied ~ Book Review

A Will Trent Thriller by Karen Slaughter

Karin Slaughter’s latest Will Trent thriller is filled with twists, turns, shocks and surprises. The story includes one very toxic family who run a lodge in the gorgeous northern Georgia mountains, 8 suspicious guests, and one killer. But since everyone appears to be guilty of something, who killed Mercy McAlpine?

Synopsis of This is Why We Lied

This Is Why We Lied: A Will Trent Thriller―A Gripping Murder Mystery Set in an Off-the-Grid Lodge Where Everyone is a Suspect (Will Trent, 12)

Will Trent works as an investigator for the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation). Throughout the series, he first met, then began dating, Sara Linton, an ER doctor in Atlanta. Sara eventually takes the position of Medical Examiner for the GBI. 

Now in Book #12, we find that Will & Sara have married. They choose the McAlpine Lodge in the Georgia mountains as the ideal getaway to celebrate their honeymoon. 

This family-owned off-the-grid mountaintop property appears to be the perfect place  to unplug and reconnect. Until…. A bone-chilling scream disturbs the night.

Who killed Mercy McAlpine?

Will finds the manager of the Lodge, Mercy McAlpine, dead. A  vicious storm is raging and the one access road to the property becomes washed out.  Therefore, it becomes obvious that the murderer has to be someone on the mountain.

As Will and Sara begin to investigate both the very strange McAlpine family, as well as the other guests, they realize that everyone is lying.  They are lying about their past and to their family and to themselves. Normal rules do not seem to apply at McAlpine Lodge.

Trapped on the mountain at the resort, Will and Sara are going to have to watch their step while they untangle a decades-old web of secrets and discover what happened to Mercy. The killer could strike again at any time, so the couple’s romantic honeymoon trip now becomes a race against the clock as they realize they have to return to their regular police duties to solve a murder! 

Summary

In addition to 12 books in the Will Trent series of police procedurals, with continuing characters Will Trent and Sara Linton, along with Will’s partner Faith Mitchell and their no-nonsense boss Amanda, Will Trent is now a television series. The TV series is in its third season and can be viewed Tuesday nights on ABC or streamed on HULU.  

• Will Trent Book Series
• Will Trent TV - Season 1
• Will Trent TV trailer

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*This is Why We Lied Book Review written by Wednesday Elf

 

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