Tag Archives: Mystery

Meditation and Mischief by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

Posted on by
15

Meditation and Mischief by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

 

Amazon / Bookbub

 

Description:
When this club selects a book, magic happens!This book club does more than read their books – they are absorbed into them to become the amateur sleuths! In order to leave the book, they must solve the mystery and reach The End.

In this journey they travel to The Golden Island Wellness Retreat for yoga, meditation, workshops, and spa treatments. They’ll bond with nature and improve their spiritual wellbeing. They’ll find their inner peace – and a dead body, of course.

Graduates from an acting college have gathered at the retreat for their ten-year reunion. Old friends reconnect, but apparently, so have old enemies. The book club must evaluate the attendees to determine whose baggage has led to murder.

 

 

 

Review:

Meditation and Mischief by Elizabeth Pantley is the 8th book in her Magical Mystery Book Club series. Refresher: The magical library consists of 8 members, who choose a book, and they are transported into the story, with cozy mysteries that they have to solve. This is a fun, enjoyable, lighthearted series, with wonderful characters and a magical cozy mystery.

In this journey, our book club members are whisked away to The Golden Island Wellness Retreat, a tropical resort, as they become transported into the story. The resort has yoga, spa, meditation, workshops for a perfect vacation spot, which includes a college reunion during their stay.  In a short time, a man is murdered at the spa; and the book club members must now try to find the killer.  The dead man, Owen, is a famous tv star, and all the members (especially Molly) see him as he is now a ghost.  It’s up to our amateur sleuths to solve the case before they can return home.

This was once again a fun adventure, with a number of red herrings that kept throwing them off; a number of the suspects were part of the college reunion.  There was a lot of humor, as the club had a lot of shenanigans throughout.  I loved Frank, who is my favorite (cat who talks); I like Paige, who is the leader and always reasonable. Mollie, the resident ghost, who is unseen, to others, but the book club sees her, and she secretly discovers some clues. The big surprise is that Gee Gee makes an appearance, since she is able to visit a couple of books.

What follows is a another terrific, enchanting and fun addition to this series, that has all the members trying to find clues, as well as suspects. I really enjoy this series, as it is so very entertaining.  All the characters in the Magical Mystery Book Club are very good, with Paige leading the way. There were a few surprises along the way, which changes a few things at the end. Mediatation and Mischief was a wonderful lighthearted fun magical mystery, which was very well written by Elizabeth Pantley.  I look forward to the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

Share

Furever After by Sofie Kelly – a Review

Posted on by
14

Furever After by Sofie Kelly – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
Kathleen is busy running the library and planning her upcoming wedding to detective Marcus Gordon when she suddenly stumbles across a body in the library. She is surprised to learn that the deceased was in the middle of an unlikely heist—it seems he was trying to steal one of the paintings that had been in a box in the library’s workroom. Kathleen never knew any of the library’s rotating artwork was valuable and can’t imagine what the dead man wanted with it.

But then an art history expert called in by the police identifies the almost-purloined painting as a piece that might have been part of a previous high profile art theft. Owen’s and Hercules’s whiskers are already twitching, and events soon make Kathleen realize that whoever killed the wannabe art thief has more than murder on their mind. Kathleen and her clever cats will have to work fast to prevent anyone else from getting hurt.

 

 

Review:

Furever After by Sofie Kelly is the 16th book in her Magical Cats mystery series. I have read a few books in this series, which are always fun. Our heroine in this series is Kathleen Paulson, the librarian of Mayville Heights, as well as her adorable two cats, Hercules and Owen. It is always fun to see Hercules and Owen find ways to give Kathleen little hints to help solve crimes.  Kathleen is planning her upcoming wedding to detective Marcus Gordon, and to her shock when she opens the library, she comes across a dead body.

Kathleen worries that her beloved library’s safety is at risk when they realize that the person was trying to steal a painting from the library.   Marcus takes over the case, but Kathleen does her own investigating; trying to figure out why the deceased was trying to steal one of the paintings.  She began to do research online with the help of Owen & Hercules; to find out if one of the paintings was considered valuable.  Both Marcus and Kathleen realize that who ever killed the victim, is still around to find the missing painting; working fast to prevent anyone from getting hurt.

There are so many wonderful secondary characters, and Kathleen will talk to the local people in trying to find clues. I loved Hercules and Owen, who were so much fun.  I also loved Kathleen and Marcus together, as they made a great couple.    

Furever After is a lighthearted, fun and comforting mystery, that was so very well written by Sofie Kelly.  Again, Hercules and Owen were delightful, as they always managed to get Kathleen’s attention ‘pawing’ out the clues. The story was fast paced, and kept me glued to my kindle.  If you want a fast cute fun mystery, I wholly suggest you read this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – a Review

Posted on by
15

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM /

Description:
A cat a day keeps the doctor away…
Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

 

 

Review:

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida is a Japanese novel that became an international sensation.  The story is a vibrant and charming celebration of the powerful healing of cats.   The mysterious clinic is an old building in a narrow alley, that offers unique treatments, especially for patients who are struggling in their lives. The doctor is kind of weird, as well as the receptionist; depending on the patient’s situation, they prescribe a cat for their wellbeing. Each of the patients are given a cat, for two weeks or more, and surprisingly they do begin to reach their own self-discovery and healing.

Each cat is different, as they become wonderful therapeutic companions that help guide the owners with comfort, warmth and hope; with many of the patients wanting to keep their cat.  Each of the patients were had different issues; an unhappy businessman finds himself enjoying physical labor; a young girl at school having problems; a middle age man who struggles, a bag designer tries to control her emotions and another woman who tries to find her lost cat.

Each of the cat have their own interconnected short stories:

 Bee, female gray cat – around 8 years old
Margot,  female mixed breed – 3 years old
Koyuki – white kitten – 2 ½ months old
Tank – Male shorthair – 2 years old
Mimita – male Scottish fold – 5 months old

 Each of the owners will find their way to happiness and comfort; though some of the cats will be given back to the clinic, and eventually find their own cat.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was a cute story line, with people finding transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, adorable, and endearing cats.  We’ll Prescribe You a Cat was very well written by Syou Ishida.  This is a different kind of read, which has become an International sensation in Japan.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

Share

Passions in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Posted on by
15

Passions in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
On a hot August night, Lt. Eve Dallas and her husband, Roarke, speed through the streets of Manhattan to the Down and Dirty club, where a joyful, boisterous pre-wedding girls’ night out has turned into a murder scene. One of the brides lies in a pool of blood, garroted in a private room where she was preparing a surprise for her fiancée—two scrimped and saved-for tickets to Hawaii.

Despite the dozens of people present, useful witnesses are hard to come by. It all brings back some bad memories for Eve. In her uniform days, she’d suffered an assault in the very same room—but she’d been able to fight back and survive. She’d gotten justice. And now she needs to provide some for poor young Erin.

Eve knows that the level of violence and the apparent premeditation involved suggest a volatile mix of hidden, heated passion and ice-cold calculation. This is a crime that can be countered only by hard detective work and relentless dedication—and Eve will not stop until she finds the killer who destroyed this couple’s dreams before the honeymoon even began…

 

 

Review:

Passions in Death by J.D. Robb is the 59th book in her fantastic Eve Dallas series.  I have noted previously that I am a huge fan of this wonderful series, having read every book and novellas. I also love Eve and Roarke, who I still consider the best literary couple. Passions in Death was another fantastic addition to this series.  I will never have enough of this series, and marvel how Robb continues to give us fascinating stories at 59 books later.

The story begins at the Down & Dirty Club, where a pre-wedding bachelorette party are dancing and drinking the night away, celebrating two women’s upcoming nuptials. Shauna Hunnicut and Erin Albright are getting married in a few days. Erin slips away to a private room to fix up a special surprise for their honeymoon; where she ended up being murdered, lying in a pool of blood, having been garroted.

Eve is called, with Roarke accompanying her to the Down and Dirty club, as someone has been murdered.  This was also a memory from Eve’s past, as it was the same room when she was attacked the night before her wedding to Roarke. With Eve and Peabody on the case, the evidence looks like a premediated murder from someone possibly close to Erin and Shauna. Eve begins to investigate all of their close circle of friends. Who within the group is the killer?  In a short time, Eve will lean toward two suspects who are clear suspects, with both having unhappy and angry pasts.

It was great to see many of the wonderful secondary characters, besides Roarke; Peabody, McNabb, Mavis, Bella, Summerset, Feeney, and of course Galahad. As always, I love Roarke, as he was many times with Dallas during interviews.  They are an amazing couple.

What follows is an intense, exciting, non-stop action filled race to find out who the real killer was; with edge of your seat suspense. To say too much more would be spoilers, and this is too great of a story to ruin it for you. 

Passions in Death was a compelling, captivating, horrifying thriller from start to finish. J.D. Robb once again gives us another masterpiece to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come. Passions in Death is another masterpiece to this amazing series, which is always so very well written by J.D. Robb.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton – a Review

Posted on by
14

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.

A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.

 

 

Review:

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton is the 2nd book in her Elise King series.  This is another one of Barton’s exciting suspense novels, with Detective Elise King, once again the lead. We also get to see two other POV’s, one from Kiki Nunn, a journalist who is investigating the recent murder, and one from Annie, who lost her son 13 years ago in the same woods that Karen Simmons was recently found murdered.  

Detective Elise King is assigned to the case, even though she still has her own issues getting over her treatment of cancer. Karen’s body was found in Ebbing Woods, propped up against a tree and suffocated. Elise wonders if someone from the dating community met her murderer from there, as Karen has a reputation of having interactions with various men. Was one of them a stalker?  Most of the town knew about Karen’s reputation, and believed she reaped what she sowed.

Kiki Nunn is a reporter, and had recently interviewed Karen on the pros and cons of online dating. After Karen’s murder, Kiki is determined to jump on the case, to get her on the top of her field. She is upset about the murder, and is willing do everything to help find who killed Karen; Kiki constantly calls Elise to give her some clues, which does drive Elise crazy; since it’s too dangerous for Kiki to be involved with trying to discover clues.

Though 13 years ago, Annie lost her son, but with the murder taking place in the same woods, she is determined to look further into what has happened.  Annie and her husband have problems, and she suspected him of having affairs; which led him to tell Annie that years ago, he did have an affair with Karen.  Annie now decides she needs to get more information about her son’s death, and find the truths.

I did think that for almost half the book, it was a bit slow, especially going back and forth with all three narrators; but the last half picked up a lot, and became very exciting. I really did like Elise, who really was a great detective, especially so focused on the finding the killer. Kiki was another good character, as she was brave, but she took too many chances that endangered her life.   Annie was very good, and will learn more information about her son’s death, that would change everything. From the start to finish, there was so much going on, with many suspects, which did cause the beginning to be slow.

Talking to Strangers was a very good exciting mystery thriller, that was challenging and kept our attention throughout.  Talking to Strangers was very well written by Fiona Barton.  If you like mystery thrillers, a great detective, I suggest you read Talking to Strangers.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q Sutanto – a Review

Posted on by
15

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q Sutanto – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
Influencer Meredith Lee didn’t teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite. Then, Mer gets lucky; she finds one of Aspen’s kids’ iPads and swipes it. Now, she has access to everything: the family calendar and Aspen’s social media accounts. Would anyone else be able to resist tweaking things a little here and there, showing up in Aspen’s place for meetings with potential sponsors? Mer’s only taking back what she deserves—what should have been hers. 
 
Meanwhile, Aspen doesn’t understand why her perfectly filtered life is falling apart. Sponsors are dropping her, fellow influencers are ghosting her, and even her own husband seems to find her repulsive. If she doesn’t find out who’s behind everything, she might just lose it all. What everyone seems to forget is that Aspen didn’t become one of TikTok’s biggest momfluencers by being naive. When Meredith suddenly goes missing, Aspen’s world is upended and mysterious threats begin to arrive—but she won’t let anything get in the way of her perfect life again.

 

 

Review:

You Will Never be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto is standalone mystery thriller. We meet Meredith Lee, who is a successful Momfluencer, on both Instagram and Tik Tok. Meredith runs into an up-and-coming influencer, Aspen Palmer, and takes her under her wing, with both becoming BFF. Meredith taught Aspen to be an influencer, and how to increase her followers.  Eight years later, Aspen has surpassed Meredith’s online popularity with millions of followers and Meridith is losing more each day. The ladies have a nasty fight, especially after Aspen cuts her off, ignores her and blocked her calls; and now they are enemies.

Meredith’s bitterness rises and as she begins stalking Aspen, secretly sabotaging her life; she changes appointments of Aspen, finding information about what is upcoming and slowly Aspen sees things are falling apart. Her sponsors have dropped her, influencers are ignoring her, and she sees both Meredith and later Liv, kissing her husband. Who is doing this to her?

About half way through the book, there is a twist, as Meredith goes missing, and Aspen’s world is upended and she puts herself live to show her worry about Meredith, as well as getting everyone to help find her; pleading to those who kidnapped Meredith and return her best friend.  Followers go out of their way to help look for Meredith, and Aspen has reached out to millions.

Personally, I thought both Meredith and Aspen were not really likeable & mean, as they only cared about themselves.  I knew this was a mystery, so I expected a whodunnit and even murder.   Meredith’s sister was stuck taking care of Luca, and was desperate to find her.   Aspen’s family, especially her husband Ben, were not happy with all that was going on.  To say too much more, would be spoilers, and I do not want to ruin it for you. 

You Will Never Be Me is a wild, crazy adventure that as we reach closer to the end, there were a number of twists and surprises.  You Will Never Be Me was very well written by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Sutanto always writes different kinds of stories, with this book centering on friendships and obsession.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

Share

CITY OF SECRETS (Detective Margaret Nolan 4) by PJ Tracy-review

Posted on by
12

CITY OF SECRETS (Detective Margaret Nolan 4) by PJ Tracy-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 20, 2024

Los Angeles Police Detective Margaret Nolan and her partner have worked a lot of different cases, ones where things aren’t always as they appear. And it’s Nolan’s job to find the truth in the darkness around her. When they’re called to the scene of what looks like a fatal car-jacking, Nolan soon realizes her victim was a founder of a company about to sell for millions, and within a day of his death, his partner’s wife is abducted. As Nolan learns more about the victim and his life, she gets pulled into a disturbing world of sex, violence, and big business; and an even darker world, where whispers of an “Angel of Death” are beginning to surface.

•••••

REVIEW: CITY OF SECRETS is the fourth instalment in PJ Tracy’s contemporary, adult DETECTIVE MARGARET NOLAN mystery, crime thriller focusing on Detective Margaret Nolan and the investigators of the LAPD. CITY OF SECRETS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for backstories and cohesion.

Told from numerous omniscient third person perspectives CITY OF SECRETS follows as the LAPD begins an investigation into the murder of a billionaire businessman and owner of Peppy Pets just hours before the sale of his struggling corporation. In what appears to be a car-jacking gone wrong, Nolan and her team quickly discover that all is not as it appears to be. When the dead man’s former business partner and wife are kidnapped, the possibility of a ransom has yet to be revealed, someone else is pulling the strings in a game of winner take all.

Meanwhile, former US miliary soldier Sam Easton returns, hoping for a position with the LAPD’s SWAT team but before he is hired, Sam finds himself on the hunt for a killer, whose connection to the Cartel run dangerous and deep including the import of millions of dollar in illegal drugs.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, animated and spirted secondary and supporting characters including the return of Nolan’s forbidden love interest Detective Remy Beaudreau, and several members of the LAPD and forensics departments. We are introduced to former co-owner of Peppy Pets Dr. Rome Bechtold and his estranged wife Nicole, as well as company CFO Cynthia Jackson. The requisite evil has many faces.

CITY OF SECRETS is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, murder and mayhem. From the Cartel to organized crime, drugs and kidnapping, rogue killers and dysfunctional family values CITY OF SECRETS pulls the reader into a dramatic and twisted story of intrigue, suspense, power and madness-a wonderful addiction to any crime lovers’ collection.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn – a Review

Posted on by
14

Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
Ten years ago, June’s beloved husband drowned on their honeymoon, his body never found. Now, a decade later, June is finally ready to move on. She owns a natural wine bar in Brooklyn and is engaged to a patient, supportive man named Kyle. She’s excited to finally begin a new chapter in her life and start a family.

But out of the blue, she sees him—Josh, her first husband. Is this just a hallucination from the guilt June carries about finally moving on, or is it possible that her husband never died in the first place?

June tries to forget about this vision, chalking it up to grief and nerves, but soon enough, she stumbles across a website for a winery in Napa, and the owner in the photo is identical to her dead husband. With her upcoming wedding looming and a fiancé who’s already worried she hasn’t quite left her past behind, June secretly flies to Napa for answers. But she’s not prepared for all the secrets she’s about to unlock because everything she thought she knew about her first love is a lie.

 

 

Review:

Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn is a standalone suspenseful novel. The story revolves around two POV’s in different timelines; June in present time and Bev, around 20 years ago.  We meet June, in the present time, as she owns a wine bar in Brooklyn, and is engaged to a Kyle, who is always supportive of June. 10 years ago, June was married to Josh for a short time, as he drowned and his body was never found. One day at the wine bar, she notices someone who looks like her deceased husband; thinking she is having delusions, she searches the internet, which leads her to a family winery, Andrew and Sadie Smith, with Andrew looking exactly like her husband Josh.  June decides to pretend she is looking into the winery and goes to Napa to find the answers.

Bev, is married to David, who runs their winery, and has a son Josh, and a baby, Kieran.  Bev discovers her husband has cheated on her, and kicks him out, until she can learn more about who was the woman he was with.  During this timeline, Josh is a young adult, with a number of girlfriends, where he does get into trouble. We also know that Bev finds herself falling for her friend, Emilia, but isn’t sure she can get past David’s betrayal. Within Bev’s past pov, she knows that she wants something with Emilia, and after a bit, her sister Camille will come up with an idea to allow her to swap places, and be with the woman she loves.

Back into the present, June visits an older Bev, and when she explains thinking that Josh is still alive, she will get the shock of her life.  Josh was a twin, and Andrew is his brother, with both of them not getting along: as Andrew was sent to boarding school. Bev explains that Josh did drown, and the man she sees is Andrew, who is married to Sadie. June decides she wants more information about what happened to Josh all those years ago.  Kyle, June’s fiancée wants to help her, and flies to Napa to give her support. 

The last third of the book picked up a lot, with June determined to find the truths about Josh’s death.  When Kyle arrives, Andrew suspects Kyle of Josh’s death all those years ago, as he found a photo of Kyle, which led to Kyle to prove his innocence; since he really did not know Josh. There were a number of twists as we raced to the climax. I did like Kyle, who totally loved June, and in the end, they will move forward to embrace a new chapter in their lives.  The epilogue is a surprising twist that reveals how Josh died and who was sadly responsible.  I did think this was an unexpected revelation.

Till Death Do Us Part was a suspenseful journey, filled with emotions, family drama, mystery and lots of surprising twists along the way.  Till Death Do Us Part was very well written by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, though early on it was a bit slow.  If you enjoy suspense mysteries, I suggest you read Till Death Do Us Part.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share