Tangled Up in Brew by Joyce Tremel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Max is back – so are Jake and Candy…and it’s all good yinz guys. Continue reading “Book Review: Tangled Up in Brew”
Book Review: Trail of Echoes
Trail of Echoes by Rachel Howzell Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m not sure I can add anything to what’s been said about Rachel Howzell Hall. But I can confirm it.
If your aren’t reading Rachel, you should be. Continue reading “Book Review: Trail of Echoes”
Book Review: Whispers in the Mist
Whispers in the Mist by Lisa Alber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read Kilmoon, the first in the County Clare mysteries, shortly after it came out and was intrigued by the characters and setting. It was a good debut.
On the second book, Alber has a new publisher (I think – Midnight Ink) and she knocks it out of the park. Continue reading “Book Review: Whispers in the Mist”
Book Review: Blonde Ice
Blonde Ice by R.G. Belsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked up this book on the advice of a friend. “You’ll love it.”
I did.
I confess that I sometimes saw where the plot was going. I didn’t care. The writing “voice” and the main character were so compelling that I just had to keep reading. The start and end dates on this Goodreads review indicate it took five days but that’s really a little misleading, as I read most of it yesterday.
If you like grittier thriller-type books, you’re going to like Blonde Ice. But fair warning: you have to be okay with serial killers.
Bouchercon Memories
In some ways it doesn’t seem that long. In some ways it feels longer. But it was a mere week ago that I was sitting on my hotel bed with my husband, exhausted after touring the French Quarter, watching the latest Star Trek movie and eating potato chips for dinner. Yes, potato chips. Continue reading “Bouchercon Memories”
Book Review: A Disguise to Die For
A Disguise to Die For by Diane Vallere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a cute first book in a cozy series. It has all the traditional cozy elements – small town (this time in Nevada, which I haven’t seen before), amateur sleuth, an eclectic cast of characters and, of course, a cat.
Margo Tamblyn is smart and observant. There’s an interesting twist with the potential romantic interest being Japanese (Tak) – that could lead to some interesting cultural differences. It mostly avoids my pet peeve of the police being totally inept as the reason the amateur gets involved in the mystery.
Overall, if you’re a cozy fan, you won’t be disappointed with this book.
Bouchercon 2016: I Am Ready for Launch
Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
It all started with a short story.
Well, that’s not exactly accurate. But to get to the beginning, we have to jump in the Way Back machine and rewind to October 2015. Continue reading “Bouchercon 2016: I Am Ready for Launch”
Book Review: The Ninja’s Daughter
The Ninja’s Daughter: A Hiro Hattori Novel by Susan Spann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I must be honest. Were I passing a table full of books, I’m not sure this would be my first choice. 1500s Japan? A samurai/shinobi and Jesuit priest duo? I’m not sure that my “thing.”
I would be wrong. Maybe I don’t know what my “thing” is any longer. Continue reading “Book Review: The Ninja’s Daughter”
Blood on the Bayou: Pre-order Links
Just in time for the weekend, you can order Blood on the Bayou in print and ebook form using any of these links.
Trade paperback:
Down & Out Books – $17.95 ($4.95 shipping or free pickup at Bouchercon)
Ebook:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo – special advanced price of $5.99
Of course, if you’re going to be at Bouchercon in New Orleans, the signing with all the anthology authors is at 2pm on Saturday. Stop by, say hello, and pick up an autographed copy!
Book Review: Only Ever You
Only Ever You by Rebecca Drake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The industry is buzzing with the term “domestic thriller.” And I’m not really sure what that is. But I do know I enjoyed this book.
Drake has created a good story that will resonate especially well with parents, but should strike a chord with anyone (unless you have a heart of rock). The characters were realistic and, being from Pittsburgh myself, I enjoyed the local setting, which was spot on.
The plot was well-paced and twisty (full disclosure: I did guess most of the ending, although I had the wrong letter-subject; I put that down to all the studying of thrillers I’ve done, but this did not diminish my enjoyment of the book).