Murder Uncorked by Maddy Day – a Review

Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day – a Review

 

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Description:
Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A. transplant to California wine country, who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from Agatha Award–winning and national bestselling author Maddie Day.

As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!

With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . .

 

 

Review:

Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day is the 1st book in her new Cece Barton Mystery series. We meet Cece Barton, who is widowed, with a daughter away at school; Cece moved to Colinas, California, to be close to her twin sister, Allie.  Cece is the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar working long hours, but she has a couple of part time people, who help cover her during late hours, giving her time to go home or dinner.  Her sister, Allie owns a Victorian Bed and Breakfast, and is always there for Cece.

Having heard two men arguing, Cece fills their glass of wine to break it up.  But the next day one of the men is found murdered, which causes a detective to visit her to find out what was the argument about, as well as her own emails from the victim. Cece decides to start her own investigation, to ensure that the detective is not looking at her.  She constantly talks to those she knows asking questions, which does begin to annoy some possible suspects.  At times, Allie will also help Cece look for evidence, but when Cece nearly is hit by a truck while on her bike, she realizes that she is putting herself in danger, getting too close to the culprit.

What was really nice about this cozy mystery, was getting to meet her friends, not to mention other neighbors and colleagues.  I got a kick out of her eating at some friend’s restaurants, such as Ko, Eddie and Henry. I also loved her friendship with, Mooncast, who though part time, she was always willing to cover for Cece. Her relationship with Allie was fantastic. Allie tries to get one of her customers, Benjamin, a hunk, to get together with Cece. I really enjoyed this book, especially all these wonderful friends, sister and her wine bar; which made this such a fun, delightful story.  I also enjoyed all the different dishes she ate at the restaurants, which was more vegetarian style.

Cece does spend a lot of time checking into the victim’s past, trying to look into their relationships. She really was an excellent sleuth, smart, always asking questions, which also put her in direct danger.   The last third of the book was exciting, with Cece in a life-threatening situation.  I liked when the detective expressed appreciation for Cece findings on who killed the victim. To say too much more would ruin the story.

Murder Uncorked was a very good story, with great friends, family, suspects and a possible future romance.   Murder Uncorked was very well written by Maddie Day.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Payback In Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Payback In Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

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Description:
Lt. Eve Dallas is just home from a long overdue vacation when she responds to a call of an unattended death. The victim is Martin Greenleaf, retired Internal Affairs Captain. At first glance, the scene appears to be suicide, but the closer Eve examines the body, the more suspicious she becomes.

An unlocked open window, a loving wife and family, a too-perfect suicide note—Eve’s gut says it’s a homicide. After all, Greenleaf put a lot of dirty cops away during his forty-seven years in Internal Affairs. It could very well be payback—and she will not rest until the case is closed.

 

 

Review:

Payback in Death by J.D. Robb is the 57th book in her fantastic In Death/Eve Dallas series. As I have noted previous times, 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. Payback in Death was a fantastic addition to this series.  I will never have enough of this series, and marvel how Robb continues to give us fascinating stories at 57 books later.

Eve and Roarke completed their vacation in Greece, which extended to a week-long stopover in Ireland, visiting Roarke’s family. It was nice to see the family again, as Eve was very comfortable around them; she also surprised Roarke with an anniversary painting of all the family. They arrived back home in New York, with plans to enjoy their last evening, before going back to work. Eve suddenly gets phone call from a friend, Webster, requesting her to take the lead, with retired Internal Affairs Captain Martin Greenleaf dead.  Eve and Roarke go to the scene, where they meet Webster, and he explains there was a suicide note, which he feels is not real. After examining the note and layout, Eve immediately recognizes that this was a staged attempt to look like suicide.  

As Eve takes control of the case, she and Peabody begin their investigation to find the real killer. The victim was responsible for putting many dirty cops away during his lengthy career; leaving many suspects who could have wanted payback.  I have to say I love Eve and Peabody together, and it was nice to see her team working all together; I also love when Roarke goes with her on some interviews. I always enjoy spending time with the many recurring characters, such as Peabody, Nadine, McNab, Mira, Mavis, Feeney, Reo, Summerset, Galahad, and Eve’s entire police team.

The tension escalates with so many possible suspects, and especially after the son is also attacked within the family home.  Eve, early on suspected some neighbors, from the beginning, but until closer to the end, she finally found the evidence that she needed to set the trap.  I absolutely love how Eve, and at times Peabody interrogate the murderer and get them to reveal themselves.  Amazing.

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. J.D. Robb once again gives us another masterpiece to this wonderful series, which I hope keeps on rolling for many years to come. Payback 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

 

                        Chapter One
Someone had either kidnapped the sun or decided screw the ransom and killed it dead.
For two glorious weeks, before its abduction or demise, it had blasted heat and light so
the sea below the villa in Greece sparkled, diamonds on sapphire. It had baked every ounce of
stress away and left generous room for sleep, sex, wine, basking, and more sex.
No better way, to her mind, to spend a slice of summer in 2061.
Lieutenant Eve Dallas, murder cop, hadn’t thought about murder and mayhem for days.
That alone equaled vacation. Add a villa of sunbaked gold stone, views of sea and hill, of olive
groves and vineyards out every window, top it all off with lazy, private time with the man she
loved, and you had it all.
It was a hell of a perfect way to celebrate their third anniversary.
Sometimes it still amazed her. How the cop and the criminal (former), two lost souls
who’d pushed, punched, and kicked their way out of misery, somehow found each other. How
they’d managed to build a good, strong life together.
Whatever changed, shifted, evolved, that remained constant.
They built together.
Now, after two weeks of ridiculous indulgence—not that Roarke would think it at all
ridiculous—they’d arrived in Ireland under a sky of stacked clouds and dripping rain.
Maybe the Irish were sun killers.
And yet, the green shined so vivid here as the fields spread, the hills rose, the stone
walls glistened in the wet. The skinny road they traveled snaked, and hedgerows dripping with
bloodred fuchsia closed in like living walls.
She checked herself. Maybe a touch of stress but only because the Irish, in addition to
being suspected sun killers, opted to drive on the wrong side of snaking, skinny roads, and
Roarke drove as if he powered down a straightaway.
He was so damn happy, and his happiness rolled right through her. She didn’t consider it
a Marriage Rule to share such a cheerful mood, but it did stand as an advantage.
She studied him awhile—a more pleasant view than the breaks in the hedgerows that
displayed sheep, cows, occasionally horses, and various other four-legged animals.
He had that face. Those wild Irish blue eyes, that perfectly sculpted mouth, and all that
black silk hair to frame it.
Those lips curved, those eyes smiled—just for her—when he glanced at her.
“Not much farther.”
“I remember.”
The last time they’d visited his family’s farm in Clare—a family he hadn’t known existed
during his nightmare childhood, or his very successful career as a thief, a smuggler, a (fairly)
legitimate businessman who’d built an empire—they’d pursued a contract killer.
Lorcan Cobbe, the vicious boy from Roarke’s childhood, became a vicious man, and one
who’d wanted Roarke dead.
Tables turned, she thought. And now Cobbe sat in an off-planet concrete cage, and
would for the rest of his vicious life.
“There’s a break in the clouds ahead.”
She peered at the leaden sky. Maybe, if she squinted, there was a slightly less gray
patch.
“You call that a break?”
“I do, yes.” Ireland, like the green, wove through his voice as he reached over to lay a
hand on hers. “It means much to them for us to come like this, spend time with the family. It
means everything to me that you’re willing to.”
“I’m happy to go. I like them, the whole insane mob of them. And it’s nice to spend
some time here when we’re not with a bunch of cops.”
“It is. And yet, that was a satisfying visit after all.”
“Because I stood back and let you kick Cobbe’s ass.”
He smiled again at the “let you.” “My cop understands me, and loves me anyway. And
there now, see, there’s a bright spot.”
She couldn’t deny what he’d called a break now showed hints of blue.
“Bright’s a strong word.”
He turned, turned again, and there she saw the field where she’d once landed in a jetcopter—with the damn cows—because he’d needed her. Where she’d first met Sinead Brody
Lannigan, Roarke’s mother’s twin.
The stone-gray house, the barns and outbuildings, the thriving gardens.
Even as Roarke turned into the drive, the front door burst open. Sean, Sinead’s frecklefaced grandson, ran out.
“You’re here at last! We’ve been waiting forever, haven’t we? And Nan and Ma made a
welcome feast. I’m fair to starving, as they won’t let me have so much as a nibble.”
He stood, fair-haired and bright-eyed, in the dripping rain.
“I’ll help with the bags.”
“There’s a good lad. And how’s it all going, Sean?”
“Fine and well. Are you wearing your weapon then?” he asked Eve. “Can I see it?”
“No and no.”
“Ah well.” He shouldered a bag Roarke handed him. “Maybe later then. We’ve had no
trouble, not even a bit, since last you came. But maybe now we’ll have some.”
“Bring that bag in,” Sinead, honey-blond hair in a sleek tail, hands on narrow hips, called
from the doorway. “And stop badgering your cousins. Welcome, welcome to you both. We’ve
missed your faces. No, no, don’t bother with the bags.”
She embraced Roarke, held a moment, then turned to Eve to do the same. “We’ve
enough able men to bring them in and up to your room.”
Inside, all color and movement, voices raised in greeting, more hugs. Eve figured she
hugged more in five minutes at the Brody farm than she did in a couple of years—or more—
otherwise.
Someone handed her a glass of wine.
Food covered the counters in the farmhouse kitchen that smelled of fresh-baked bread
and roasted chicken.
The chicken might’ve been clucking out in the coop that morning, but Eve wasn’t going
to think about it.
Someone handed her a plate piled with enough food for three starving people. A pair of
dogs raced by, then a couple of kids.
Sinead drew her aside.
“I’ve the gift you had sent ahead tucked away. You’ll just let me know when you want
it.”
“I guess after all this.”
“We’ll take it up to your room then?”
“Oh. No. He should have it here. Everyone’s here. At least I think they are.”
“Every mother’s son and daughter. I didn’t know if you’d want a private moment for it.”
“No, it’s . . . family. It’s a family thing.”
Green eyes soft, Sinead kissed her cheek. “I’m grateful for you, Eve. If I haven’t said so,
know I’m grateful for you. Now, let’s get you a seat so you can eat. Make room there, Liam, our
Eve has legs longer than yours.”
So she sat, the long-legged cop with her choppy brown hair and whiskey-colored eyes,
in the middle of noise and confusion that could rival a New York traffic jam.
She hadn’t known family, only abuse and violence, and had forged a career founded on
standing for the dead. She had family now—the family she’d made, often despite herself, in
New York.
And family here, in an Irish farmhouse.
She caught Roarke’s eye in the melee. When he raised his glass to her in a quick toast,
she did the same.”
***
She hadn’t planned just how to give him his anniversary gift, hadn’t been entirely sure she
could pull it off since she’d come up with the idea.
But when she’d considered giving it to him in Greece, alone, it hadn’t seemed the right
way.
After the feast, with the family sprawled in the living room, dining room, and kitchen,
with a dog snoring and a baby nursing, with Roarke’s great-grandmother knitting something or
other, seemed like the right way.
“Are you sure now?” Sinead asked when they went into a parlor, into a cupboard. “I
haven’t seen it or—at great cost, I’ll add—given into the temptation to take a peek, but I know
the idea of it, and there’ll be tears. Some will be my own, I expect.”
“I think it’ll mean more to him this way.”
She hoped so.
She carried the brown-wrapped gift to where Roarke and his uncle held a conversation
having to do with sheep.
“A few days late—in case you thought I forgot.”
She knew she’d surprised him—a rare thing—when she handed him the long, wide
package.
“Tear it open, would you?” Sean demanded. “Nan wouldn’t so much as give us a hint
what it was.”
“Then we’d best find out.”
More family crowded in as Roarke removed the paper, the stabilizers.
And inside, found family.
The painting held the farmhouse, the hills, the fields in the background. And everyone
stood together—the whole insane mob of them, young, old, babes in arms, Eve and Roarke
centered.
Sinead stood behind Roarke’s right shoulder. Roarke’s mother, lost so long before, at his
left.
“It’s the lot of us. Is that my aunt Siobhan, Nan?”
“It is, aye. Aye, that’s our Siobhan. Ah, it’s beautiful. It’s brilliant.” Turning, she pressed
her face to her husband’s shoulder. “And here I go, Robbie.”
“This is . . . Eve.” Roarke looked up at her, his heart in those wild blue eyes. “I have no
words.” He reached for her hand. “You’ve put Summerset in it.”
“Well.” She shrugged at that. “Yancy painted it.”
“I see the signature. It couldn’t be more precious to me. How did you manage this?”
“Sinead sent photos, and Yancy figured it out.”
“Hand it over, lad.” Robbie took it from him. “And stand up and kiss your wife.”
“That I will. I love you, beyond reason.”
When he kissed her, the family cheered. Then crowded around to get closer looks at the
gift.”
***
Young and old, the Irish partied well into the night. Music—which meant singing, dancing—
plenty of beer, wine, whiskey, and yet more food. Since the patch of blue had spread its way
over the sky, the revelers spilled outside to keep right at it under moon and starlight.
When Eve found a moment to sit—hopefully far away enough so no one would pull her
into another dance—Sean settled beside her with a plate of the cookies they called biscuits.
“I liked the case about the girls taken, then locked into that terrible school place. Well
now, I didn’t like how they were shut up in there,” he qualified, “but how you got them out
again.”
“How do you know about that?”
“Oh, from the Internet,” he said easily, and bit into a cookie. “And there was talk of it all
even in Tulla. I heard my own father saying how proud he was our own Eve freed those poor
girls from a terrible fate, and saw those who harmed them got their comeuppance right
enough.”
“I had some help with that.”
“Well now, of course. You’re the boss of the police, and wasn’t it fine meeting them
when you came last? So, when you found the bad ones, did you stun any of them?”
What the hell, she thought, and took a cookie from the plate. “As a matter of fact.”
“Brilliant, as they deserved it and more. And did you have a chance to—” He punched a
fist in the air. “And get in a good one.”
“Yeah, I got in some good ones.”
“As did Roarke, I’m sure, as they all say he fights like a demon.”
“He holds his own.”
“The one who came here in the spring meant to hurt my nan, and any of us he could.”
Those bright eyes darkened with a hard fury she not only understood but respected. “He came
to hurt Nan, as it would hurt Roarke.”
“He’ll never touch your nan, or any of you.”
“And that’s the truth of it because you locked him up. I think I’ll not be a farmer, even as
I love the farm. When I think on it, I think I’ll lock people up—the bad ones, of course.”
“There’s more to it than that, kid.”
“Oh sure and there’s more. You have to train so you know how to protect people, and
take an oath. It’s why I like reading about your cases. And I watched the vid about you and
Roarke and the clones.”
He looked around at his family with those green Brody eyes.
“Tulla’s a quiet place, but still people need protection, don’t they then? I saw the dead
girl last year, and she didn’t get protection in time. Things can happen here as well. So I think I’ll
be a cop who loves to farm.”
“A good way to have it all.”
He gave her a quick nod as if that settled it. “That’s my thinking on it.”
When she mulled it over, she’d been his age, even younger, when she’d decided to be a
cop. Different reasons, and thank Christ for that, but the same goal.
“Maybe when you come to New York for Thanksgiving, you can come into Central.”
His face didn’t light up. His whole being illuminated. “Do you mean it?”
“It’ll depend on if I have an active case, and—”
“I won’t be any trouble at all. I talked to the Captain Feeney when he was here, and
maybe I can see the EDD as well? It all seemed so grand in the vid.”
Too much wine, too much relaxation, she thought, and she’d backed herself right into a
corner. “We’ll try to work it out.”
“I have to tell Da!”
When he barreled off, Roarke took his place.
“And what was all that? It looked like you brought his Christmas early.”
“I somehow sort of offered to bring him into Central when they come for Thanksgiving.”
When Roarke laughed, kissed her cheek, she shook her head.
“He’s slippery. They’re all slippery when you come down to it.” She picked up her wine,
again thought what the hell, and took another sip. “He reminded me of me—without the
baggage. Anyway.” This time she shrugged. “He’s following my cases on the Internet.”
“Ah, well of course. You’re a hero to him.”
“If he wants to be a cop, he’ll have to learn the difference between a cop and a hero.”
“From where I sit, they’re one and the same.” He took her hand. “The painting, Eve.”
She smiled, smugly. “Nailed that one.”
“You undid me. How did you think of such a thing?”
“You have to ask yourself what do you get for the man who if he doesn’t have it already,
it’s because it hasn’t been invented. Then he’ll figure out how to invent it and have it anyway.
Has to be personal. So, chronologically, Summerset found you, we found each other, you found
all of them.”
She tipped her head to his shoulder. “When you gave me my gift back at Central, magic
vests for my bullpen? You undid me. We get each other. We get what’s important to each
other.”
“You’ve time for mooning over each other later.” Robbie strode up to pluck Eve off the
wall. “I’m for another dance with my niece.”
For a third time, Eve thought what the hell, and danced.
* * *
She woke alone, and in a stream of pearly sunlight. A memo cube sat on the stand by the bed.
Once activated, Roarke’s voice streamed out.
It seems I’m off to the fields. There’ll be coffee and breakfast down in the kitchen
whenever you’re up and ready.
If coffee was involved, she could be up, and she could get ready.
The shower didn’t come close to the multi-jets and steam at home, or the luxury of the
villa in Greece, but it did the job.
She dragged on pants, a shirt, and, with her mind still blurry, automatically reached for
her weapon harness. It took her a second to remember she’d locked it away in her bag.
She walked out in the quiet—unless you counted the occasional mooing cow or baaing
sheep (which she did, absolutely).
Down the creaky stairs and toward the kitchen. Already the air smelled like glory—with
coffee a happy top note.
“Good morning to you, Eve. I heard you stirring, so there’s coffee fresh and ready for
you.”
“Thanks.” Eve grabbed a mug while Sinead, an apron over her own shirt and pants, her
red-gold hair bundled up, heated a skillet on the stove.
“Roarke’s own blend it is, so not to worry. He told me coffee was his first gift to you.”
“Yeah. A sneaky way to get past my defenses.”
“A cagey man is Roarke. And now, can you handle a full Irish for breakfast?”
“After last night I figured I was good for a week. But maybe.”
“Danced it all off, as did I. Why don’t you start with a bit of the soda bread—it’s full of
currants and baked just this morning.”
“That’s what I smelled. I remember it from when we were here last year.”
Now the smell of frying meat joined the chorus.
Eve sat at the kitchen table. It seemed odd to just sit there while somebody cooked. No
AutoChef for Sinead. But it seemed the right thing.
“Roarke’s in the field?”
“Aye, didn’t they drag him off—and his own fault for being an early riser. A Brody trait.”
“Is it? He’s up before dawn pretty much every day. ’Link meetings, holo-meetings with
somebody on the other side of the world.”
“It is, yes. The farmer in us, I suppose.”
“It’s hard to see farmer in Roarke.”
Sinead sent a smile over her shoulder. “But he plows and plants and tends and harvests
right enough.”
“You could say that.” Eve drank more coffee. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“And you, you guard the fields and those who work them, and keep the predators at
bay. It’s a fine match you’ve made.”
In short order, she put a plate in front of Eve.
“I see his face still, the first time he knocked on my door. The grief in his eyes—my
sister’s eyes. Sure Siobhan’s were as green as mine, but the look in them, the shape of them.
My sister’s child. And I see his face as so much lifted from him when he saw you land in the
near field. And I knew, as he looked at you, he’d found the love she never did.”
She set aside a dish towel. “I wonder if I could speak to you about things on my mind.”
“Sure. Is there a problem?”
“It’s not the now, but the before. I’ll have some tea and sit while you eat.”
Sinead took her time about it, and Eve realized she sensed nerves.
“Sure I thought this a good time, with just the two of us, to say what so troubles me.”
She sat, sighed. “We didn’t fight for him, you see, for our Roarke. Just a babe, and with that
bastard Patrick Roarke. My sister’s child, and we didn’t fight for him.”
Because she thought it helped those nerves, Eve ate. “That’s not what I heard. Patrick
Roarke nearly killed your brother when he went to Dublin to try to find out what happened to
your sister.”
“He did, oh sweet Jesus, he did, and would see us all in the ground, he warned, if any of
us came back. In those times, those hard times, Patrick Roarke had cops and more in both his
hands and his back pocket. Still, we knew of the baby and let him go. We let Siobhan’s son go.
And as time went on, we thought—on my life, we believed—Roarke himself knew of us, of his
mother. And more time went on, and we heard—some time after it happened—that Patrick
Roarke was dead. I thought of my children, not much younger than my sister’s child.”
“You thought he knew,” Eve said as Sinead stared into her tea. “And if he’d wanted
contact, he’d reach out to his mother’s family, since Patrick Roarke couldn’t stop him. You
thought—why wouldn’t you?—Maybe he’s his father’s child, and I have my own to protect.”
Tears swirled, but Sinead didn’t shed them when she nodded. She sipped some tea as
she gathered herself to say more.
“And that became a kind of comfort as more time passed. You’d hear of Roarke—the
young man who made fortunes—you’d hear of deeds done in shadows—rumors of them. His
life in New York City. A kind of empire, isn’t it?”
“And not really ‘kind of.’”
“I’d wonder, when I let myself wonder, what kind of man he was. Like his father?
Ruthless, murderous, heartless? I might see a picture of him at some fancy place with some
beautiful woman on his arm. I’d think: Where is Siobhan, where is my sister in this man? I
couldn’t find her in him, you see. I couldn’t see her in him a’tall, so easier still to turn away, to
let go.”
She sighed again. “Then I saw a picture of him with you, this policewoman with serious
eyes. Not so glamorous as others, but more memorable to my thinking. And when I looked at
him standing with you, I thought: Ah, well now, oh aye, there she is, there’s a bit of my sister
after all. Who is this woman who brought Siobhan out in him?”
“She was always there, Sinead.”
Those tears shimmered over the Brody green. “I know that now. I think I knew that the
moment I opened the door to him. But—”
“You opened the door to him,” Eve interrupted. “You let him in. You gave him family.
Regrets aren’t just useless in this case, they’re just wrong.”
“We let him go.”
“You took him in,” Eve corrected, “when he needed you, and opened a door he hadn’t
known existed. One he thought you’d shut in his face. His years in Dublin, with that fucker
Patrick Roarke, and beyond that made him what he is. Who he is. Regret what you did or
didn’t? You regret who he made himself.”
Blinking at the tears, Sinead sat back. “That’s very Irish of you.”
“Is it?” With a shrug, Eve polished off her breakfast. “Just strikes me as logic.”
“You love him, very much.”
“He’s a complicated, irritating, arrogant, fascinating, generous man. I love him, very
much, even when he pisses me off. Which is fairly regularly. And yet. Do you know what he
gave me for our anniversary?”
Now Sinead smiled, dashed away a tear that got through. “I was hoping you’d tell me, or
show me. I imagine it’s blindingly gorgeous.”
“To me it is. He researched, developed, and is manufacturing what’s called Thin Shield.
It’s a lightweight, flexible body armor that can be worn as a lining in a coat, jacket, vest,
uniform. He gave them to my entire bullpen. He’s giving the next round of them to the NYPSD.”
For a moment, Sinead said nothing. “He loves you, very much.”
“Yeah, how about that? I’ll never figure out why, so I’ve learned to take it. You’ll never
figure out the what-ifs, the if-only, Sinead, so regrets are useless. And they disrespect the man
he is. That’s Siobhan’s son.”
“You’ve lifted a weight off my heart. That’s pure truth.”
“Good, because it didn’t belong there.”
“Hearing you say so makes a difference. You trusted us with him.”
After a beat, Sinead’s eyes widened. She grinned as she ticked a finger in the air. “Ah. I
see. You looked into us.”
“I’m a cop,” Eve said simply. “And watch out, because Sean’s heading in that direction.”
“So it seems. You . . . investigated us?”
“You better believe I checked you out. Every one of you. And there are a hell of a lot of
you.” Eve nudged her plate aside. “You’re an exceptional family.”
“More exceptional now. I’ll say again.” Reaching out, she gripped one of Eve’s hands.
“I’m grateful to you, and for you, Eve.”
“Roarke’s out in some field, probably stepping in cow shit in his five-thousand-dollar
boots.”
“Oh Jaysus, not so dear as all that, surely.”
“Conservative estimate.” Rising, she helped herself to another mug of coffee. “And the
idea of it really brightens up my day. So gratitude right back.”
“I’ve a mind to go out, cut some flowers. I feel light and happy thanks to our talk here.
Will you walk with me?”
“Are you going near any cows?”
“Ah, we’ll keep a good distance there.”
“Then I’m game.”
* * *
Maybe it surprised her how much she enjoyed several days on a farm in the Irish countryside,
not far from the wild Irish coast. But the people brought the pleasure. She considered the many
dogs and cats normal, even acceptable.
Cows and sheep within a stone’s throw of the house? Not so much. But she learned to
sleep through the insistent call of the rooster, and kept her distance from the rest of the stock.
On the other hand, Roarke dived right in, tromping through fields in those fivethousand-dollar boots—they’d never be the same—riding on weird-looking machines.
She wondered, seriously, if he’d gone over the top when he milked a cow.
Machines did the real work, but you still had to get up close and personal. And because
he wanted to see how it was done the old-fashioned way, his uncle obliged him.
So she stood, well back, in the doorway of the milking parlor, watching possibly the
richest man in the known universe sit on a three-legged stool at the enormous back end of a
cow who munched on a bunch of hay.
With his hair tied back in work mode, he used those clever and elegant hands to yank on
a cow tit. A huge cow tit, the sort of tit she firmly believed had no place in a civilized world.
When milk squirted out of it and into a pail, she had to hold back a shudder. In contrast,
Roarke grinned and kept on going.
“Will you have a go at it then, Eve? Our Gertie here’s gentle as a lamb.”
“Absolutely not. No. Never.” Plus, she’d heard the sounds lambs could make, and didn’t
consider them gentle.
“It’s satisfying,” Roarke told her.
“Yeah, I bet. What man wouldn’t want to get his hands on a tit that big?”
When Robbie roared with laughter, she stepped back. “I’ll just leave the two of you to
it.”
And when the three weeks away ended, she figured they’d done it all—and more. From
the quiet of sun-soaked Greece to the quiet of green-soaked Ireland.
And cows aside, she’d enjoyed every second of it

 

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The House on Prytania by Karen White – a Review

The House on Prytania by Karen White – a Review

 

 

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Description:

Nola Trenholm may not be psychic herself, but she’s spent enough time around people who are to know when ghosts are present, and there are definitely a few lingering spirits in her recently purchased Creole cottage in New Orleans. Something, or someone, is keeping them tethered to this world. And not all of them are benign.

But with the sudden return of Sunny Ryan, Beau Ryan’s long-lost sister, Nola has plenty to distract her from her ghostly housemates. Especially when the tempting–yet firmly unavailable–Beau, wanting to mete out justice to those he blames for Sunny’s kidnapping, asks Nola for a favor that threatens to derail her hard-won recovery and send her hurtling backward. He asks her to welcome Michael Hebert back into her life, even though Michael is the reason for Nola’s bruised heart. Beau is convinced that Michael’s powerful family was behind Sunny’s disappearance and that Michael is the key to getting information the police won’t be able to ignore–if Nola is willing to risk everything for which she’s worked so hard.

Torn between helping Beau and protecting herself, Nola doesn’t realize until it’s almost too late why the ghosts are haunting her house–a startling revelation that will throw her and Beau together to fight a common enemy. Assuming Nola can get Beau to listen to what the spirits are trying to tell him, because ignoring them could prove to be a fatal mistake…

 

 

Review:

The House on Prytania by Karen White is the 2nd book in her Royal Street series. The story continues with Nola Trenholm (heroine) still working on her new Creole cottage in New Orleans, which is haunted with ghosts (some good and some evil). Nola learned a lot of historic preservation, especially being the step daughter of Melanie, who has the ability to talk to ghosts (Tradd series).  We follow Nola, as she tries to get Beau (who does see ghosts, but refuses to talk to them); and with Beau’s sister (taken as a young girl) returning home, he is bent to find those who kidnapped her. Though Nola loves working on the house, she does fear the evil entity that seems to cause problems.

Beau is convinced that Michael’s (Nola’s ex-boyfriend) family was behind Sunny’s disappearance and that Michael is the key to getting information the police won’t be able to ignore.  Nola has second thoughts, but agrees to meet with Michael and his family to discover the truths, but first she welcomes her family who are visiting.  

It was great to see Mellie, Jack and the twins (Sarah and JJ), as well as an old flame, Cooper.   Sarah is only 13 years old, but she had the ability of seeing and hearing ghosts, which she gained from her mother, Melanie (Mellie).  Sarah was such a great addition, always giving Nola information she gained from reading certain books, as well as revealing what the ghosts are telling her.  Jolene, who has become Nola’s best friend, is such a fun and awesome character, always making sure Nola dressed properly, and cooking/baking for everyone. Thibeau and Jorge continues to help Nola with renovating the house, despite the ghosts. 

What follows is the mystery as to who kidnapped Sunny all those years ago, as well why the ghosts who haunt her house. As we reach closer to the end, some surprising secrets are revealed, and lives are threatened, with Nola and Beau working together to fight the evil entity.

The House on Prytania was so very well written by Karen White, which was an excellent story, with a fabulous heroine in Nola, in a town that has so much history, with ghosts, mystery, suspense and historical homes. I loved the wonderful secondary characters, especially Jolene. Karen White once again gives us a fabulous addition to this series and I look forward to the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

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Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto

 

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Description:
Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady–ah, lady of a certain age–who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, oh no. She likes nothing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy detective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to.

Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing–a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn’t know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like any good citizen would, she sort of . . . swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she would do a better job than the police possibly could, because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands. Vera knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do is watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which one among them is the killer.

What Vera does not expect is to form friendships with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them. As a protective mother hen, will she end up having to give one of her newfound chicks to the police?

 

 

Review:

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto is a fun crazy captivating mystery.  We meet our heroine, Vera Wong, who is a lonely Asian elder woman (60’s), who lives above her tea shop in Chinatown.  Her shop is always empty, other than a local man who visits daily to have many different kinds of special teas with Vera.  Her life is about to change when one morning she finds a dead man in her in her tea shop.  The police don not pay attention to the case, as they decide the dead man died due to a bird allergy.

Vera decides to take it upon herself to investigate who murdered this man (even if the police do not feel he was murdered). When she gets strange visitors to look in her tea shop, Vera begins to make a list of suspects, and pushes herself into these new people’s lives; as she is determined to find the murderer, and in a short time she becomes close to all her new friends. We meet Riki, San, Oliver and Julia with her little girl, Emma.  Is one of them the murderer?

What follows is Vera’s constant putting herself into her so called suspects lives, navigating the many secrets and lies; learning everything about each of them. Vera constantly makes food/dinner for them, as well as pushing her wonderful tea; with all of them becoming close to her.  We get to see the POV’s on all of the five main characters.  At first, I did find Vera a bit bossy and annoying, but that didn’t last long as she was a quirky grandma sleuth, who for the most part was hysterical.  I loved all five characters, as they were so great together, especially with Vera also being such a good matchmaker.  As she learns the truths of their lives, she manages to cut the suspect list, until she finally realizes who is the culprit.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers was a fun, delightful, heartwarming, captivating cozy mystery, with fantastic characters.  Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers was so very well written by Jesse Q. Sutanto.  If you enjoy cozy mysteries that are pure fun, you need to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publishers

 

 

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A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn – a Review

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn – a Review

 

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Description:
Veronica’s natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very special dinner party.
 
Tiberius has received a cryptic message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why, he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.
 
As the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for.

 

 

 

Review:

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn is the 8th book in her Veronica Speedwell Mystery series.  I have not read this series, though it does read well as a standalone; but would have probably been better to have read some of the more previous books.

Veronica Speedwell, our heroine, is a very good amateur sleuth, in historian times.  In the last book, she and her lover, Stoker broke up, and she has been helping his brother, Tiberius on an assignment.  Now, Tiberius wants her help, and also Stoker’s; seems someone is sending threatening cryptic messages regarding a death from twenty years ago.   On that day, twenty years ago, Tiberious hosted friends at his family estate, they called themselves the Seven Sinners; and one member of their party died due to an accident. In present time, Tiberius decides to bring back members of their group to his estate for a reunion party; especially after reading the obituaries of two members of the Seven Sinners.  Tiberius knows someone is out to kill him, and together with Veronica, Stoker, and a younger brother, they welcome the group, with their wives.

What follows is a slow burn story, with Veronica and Stoker still at odds, but together they are determined to discover who in this group is behind the threats, at the same time keeping a protective eye on Tiberius.  Three of the Sinners arrive; Count Pietro Salviati & his wife, Beatrice; James Maciver & his wife Augusta, and Doctor Timothy Gresham & his sister, Elspeth.  The story picks up half way through, when it gets very exciting.  There are a few twists and surprises, with one death that throws things for a loop.  Veronica begins to find clues, and just when she suspects one person, everything changes, as she comes face to face with the real killer; and Veronica’s life is in danger.  Will she survive?

A Sinister Revenge was a very good mystery, though it was a bit slow early on.  I really liked Veronica and how brave she was, as well as her independence.   As noted, the last half of the book was very exciting, with some twists and surprises along the way. A Sinister Revenge was very well written by Deanna Raybourn.

Reviewed by Barb

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Whiskers and Lies by Sofie Kelly – a Review

Whiskers and Lies by Sofie Kelly – a Review

 

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Description:
Baker Georgia Tepper has been hired to provide delicious and spooky cupcakes for the Reading Buddies Halloween Party at the library, and she and Kathleen are meeting to finalize the menu of festive confections. Unfortunately, once Georgia’s former mother-in-law ambushes her at the library and threatens Georgia with legal action, the afternoon of fun is soured.

When Georgia’s litigious in-law is later found dead and the friendly baker is implicated, Kathleen is eager to help prove her innocence. Luckily, Kathleen and her intrepid magical cats, Hercules and Owen, have solved their fair share of mysteries. As a result, she knows that in life as well as crime solving, it is all relative, but with hard work, she can make sure the right criminal is booked.

 

Review:

Whisker and Lies by Sofie Kelly is the 14th book in her wonderful Magical Cats Mystery series.  Our heroine in this series is Kathleen Paulson, the librarian of Mayville Heights, as well as her adorable two cats, Hercules and Owen, who have some strange magical abilities like walking through a door, or just disappearing.  It’s fun to see Hercules and Owen find ways to give Kathleen little hints to help solve crimes. 

Kathleen’s friend, Georgia, is a baker, and helps with the Halloween party.  Georgia went on the run, when her husband died, and his parents wanted to take full control of her young daughter, Emmy. Years later, they find her and threaten to take her daughter away. When the mother-in-law is found dead off a cliff, Georgia becomes the suspect. Kathleen is determined to find the real killer and prove Georgia’s innocence. 

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 (her detective boyfriend) together, as they made a great couple.    

Whisker and Lies 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

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The Shadow of Memory by Connie Berry – a Review

The Shadow of Memory by Connie Berry – a Review

 

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Description:
As Kate Hamilton plans her upcoming wedding to Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, she is also assisting her colleague Ivor Tweedy with a project at the Netherfield Sanatorium, which is being converted into luxury townhouses. Kate and Ivor must appraise a fifteenth-century painting and verify that its provenance is the Dutch master Jan Van Eyck. But when retired criminal inspector Will Parker is found dead, Kate learns that the halls of the sanatorium housed much more than priceless art.

Kate is surprised to learn that Will had been the first boyfriend of her friend Vivian Bunn, who hasn’t seen him in fifty-eight years. At a seaside holiday camp over sixty years ago, Will, Vivian, and three other teens broke into an abandoned house where a doctor and his wife had died under bizarre circumstances two years earlier. Now, when a second member of the childhood gang dies unexpectedly—and then a third—it becomes clear that the teens had discovered more in the house than they had realized.

Had Will returned to warn his old love? When Kate makes a shocking connection between a sixty-year-old murder and the long-buried secrets of the sanatorium, she suddenly understands that time is running out for Vivian—and anyone connected to her.

 

 

Review:

The Shadow of Memory by Connie Berry is the 4th book in her Kate Hamilton Mysteries series.  This is the first book I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed it very much. The cozy mystery read very well as a standalone, with details of the main characters giving us a wonderful background.  I plan to read more about Kate Hamilton and adding Connie Berry to my list of authors I want to read.

Kate Hamilton, our heroine, is a visiting American antiques dealer currently living in Suffolk in the small village of Long Barston. She is a widow with two grown up children, and is now engaged to Englishman DI Tom Mallory; they are still in the process of planning where they want to live. Kate is currently working with antiques dealer Ivor Tweedy, arranging an auction for valuable antiques belonging to the Netherfield Sanatorium, which is being converted to deluxe apartments.  One of the main items is a painting that is valued to be in the millions; with Kate and Ivor appraising the originality of the item.

Kate and two friends, out for the evening and taking a short cut home, come across a body of an elderly man, who is dead.  The dead man was identified to be Will Parker, and old friend of Vivian (one of Kate’s local friends), she has not seen this man in more than sixty years.  Kate will learn from Vivian about what happened all those years ago, when a group of them spent a week at Hopley’s Holiday camp, with five of them going to a local house belonging to the Beaufoy family, where the parents died suddenly, and they decided to be sleuths playing the game ‘clue’. After Ivor (with Kate’s help) hypnotizes Vivian to remember all she could back to the past, detailing that they put all their clues in a metal box. Now it appears someone in the present is wanting to find that box, and why was Will Parker trying to visit Vivian?

Kate works with Tom, trying to investigate what turns out to be Will’s murder; and as time goes on, the other 4 people seem to be targeted.  While Tom does his police investigation, Kate and Vivian travel to meet family members of the other possible targets; learning several of the former teen group have recently died.

What follows is an excellent mystery tying in the poisoned deaths of the Beaufoy parents years ago; what is in the missing box, and how the current painting was part of the past.   I really thought Kate was a fabulous heroine, and loved her relationship with Tom; hoping in the next book Kate and Tom do marry.  I also enjoyed many of the local secondary characters, as well as the wonderful village.  The Shadow of Memory was a cozy, fun and entertaining story line, with a number of surprising twists.  The Shadow of Memory was very well written by Connie Berry, and read very well as a standalone.  I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

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Totally Pawstruck by Sofie Ryan – a Review

Totally Pawstruck by Sofie Ryan – a Review

 

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Description:
Although Sarah Grayson is often tending to the contained chaos of her delightful secondhand store in North Harbor, Maine, plus dealing with the quirky personality of her rescue cat, Elvis, she still takes an occasional night off. But her evening out comes to an abrupt end when Sarah discovers Stella Hall, a member of the library board, standing over a body in the street.

Although Stella admits that she and the victim had fought about several things including library funding, she is adamant that she is innocent and the real killer is on the loose. Sarah is eager to help, but even with the assistance of Charlotte’s Angels, the senior citizen detectives who rent out part of her shop, there is still a vast amount of circumstantial evidence linking Stella to the crime. The odds may be stacked against them, but Sarah and Elvis, along with the Angels, will work hard to check out the suspects and catch a killer.

 

 

Review:

Totally Pawstruck by Sofie Ryan is the 9th book in her fun, cute Second Chance Cat Mystery series.  Sarah Grayson, our heroine, runs a resale/repurpose store called Second Chance, and she has a smart adorable black cat named Elvis; who also helps Sarah solve mysteries.  Also, Sarah rents an office space in her store, to a detective agency called Charlotte’s Angels, which are a wonderful group of senior citizens (Rose, Liz, Charlotte and the one man, Mr. P).

Enjoying a night out, Sarah and her friend Jess, leave a restaurant and while walking home, they see a friend standing over a body. When they run to check on their friend Stella, who is in shock, Sarah bends down to check on the man; who turns out to be a member of the library board, who most people hate, including Stella.  The police question Stella, since the man died, and Sarah with her help from Charlotte’s Angels are determined to prove their friend’s innocence.

What follows is an exciting, fun, mystery whodunit, with wonderful recurring characters, which kept my attention from start to finish.  Though Elvis was a bit quieter in this book, the rest of the wonderful group were lots of fun to watch them separate the clues to find the killer.  There were a number of twists and surprises that kept changing the game, and Sarah will begin to narrow down the suspects; especially since the victim was evil. 

I do not want to give spoilers, so not to ruin it for you. I continually loved the friendly banter and relationship with Sarah, Elvis, and The Angels, as they were all smart and savvy, with no fear among them.  The romance between Sarah and Mac picks up more, as I really like them together; as well as the secondary characters not part of the Angels (Nick, Jess, Michelle, etc)  

Totally Pawstruck was a delightful, fun, mysterious and charming story, with a fantastic group of recurring characters, as well as our wonderful Elvis, all of whom have a wonderful bond together.  If you enjoy a lighthearted mystery, a smart cute cat, and wonderful heroine, then I suggest you read this series, so very well written by Sofie Ryan.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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