Death in the Dark - Dublin Drag Mysteries #2

Death in the Dark is the second Dublin Drag mystery featuring part time till worker and full time friend and amateur sleuth Fi, written by Kitty Murphy. Released 11th April 2023 by Thomas & Mercer, it's 299 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series, Death in Heels, is also available on KU.

This is such a well written and genuinely engaging mystery. The main protagonist, Fi McKinnery, is earnestly appealing, brave, loyal, and rendered believably. In fact, the author has a real gift with characterisation; even the minor secondary characters are handled well and skillfully. Given the premise (murder, skullduggery, and drama in and around a Dublin drag club), the pitfalls could have been legion. A lot of authors would have been tempted to caricature and ridicule and Ms. Murphy skillfully navigates the traps, resulting in a solidly entertaining and very well written read.

The mystery is well plotted and paced, and I never found my interest wandering at all. The climax, denouement, and resolution were satisfying (if not shocking or unexpected). It's rather sad that it needs to be said in today's world, but a high point for me was that there was no cruelty or ridicule aimed at the characters on the author's part. It would've been easy (maybe expected!) to lampoon drag and LGBTQIA+ culture for cheap laughs and the author has refrained throughout, for which I applaud. There is *camp* aplenty; bad puns, and occasionally catty dialogue (it's a murder mystery in a drag club), but it's not *mean* and I'm so very glad. There's a fun, almost Scooby Do mystery feel, with ridiculous situations, ghosts in the walls, do-lally geriatric aunties and a final middle finger scene to homophibia that is *very* satisfying to read (no spoilers).

Quite looking forward to the next books in this delightful series. 

Four and a half stars. With two books extant, and included in KU, this would make a superlative choice for a weekend binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Omen: The Stained Sea

Omen: The Stained Sea is the first volume in a well written epic fantasy series aimed at YA/NA readers written by Paul Williams. Released 31st March 2023, it's 266 pages and is available in most formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a sprawling and audacious series starter with intriguing worldbuilding and gratifyingly diverse characters. There are tantalizing glimpses of an intricate underlying mythos and it's clear from the work that the author has used a prodigious amount of time on creating a world that is more than just a backdrop. 

It's a three voice alternating PoV and their stories gradually entwine into a cohesive story. The early parts of the book, to about 30% aren't always easy to follow or understand from context, and the author doesn't do any spoon feeding. Although it's not at all derivative, at points the prose and the freefall feeling out of context read, remind me in some ways of R.F. Kuang's Babel (also a thunderously good read). 

Four stars. Definitely worth a look, especially for fans of good v. evil epic fantasy. Not a long "doorstop" read, and there's absolutely no "book bloat". 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Solomon's Crown

 

Solomon's Crown is an exceptionally well written and lyrical queer historical romance by Natasha Siegel. Released 14th March 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Dell imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. 

This is a "what if" romance set in the 12th century between Richard of Aquitaine (aka the Lionheart) and Philip II of France. Both of them, viewed through the lens of modern society were more or less absolute rulers who made some dubious decisions about harming the people living within their huge spheres of influence: the crusades, driving the Jews out of France, unprovoked crushing and looting folks who just wanted to be left alone, etc. 

The author says openly at the beginning that neither of them were paragons of virtue and that the two main characters aren't the *historically* accurate real figures, and license was taken. For readers who love historical accuracy and the sort of "what if" that weaves fiction around a solid framework of actual history, there are freedoms taken here which will likely annoy. On the other hand, for readers who love a well written queer romance, the author can certainly write.

It's full of frustrated longing and lingering touches and not much historical accuracy.

Three and a half stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Generation of Vipers - Nell Ward Mystery #4

A Generation of Vipers is the fourth book featuring Dr. Nell Ward written by Dr. Sarah Yarwood-Lovett. Released 15th Aug 2023 by Bonnier on their Embla Books imprint, it's available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, as are the other books in the series.

This is a consistently well written series with an experienced female ecologist who finds herself in a position to solve crimes with an element of biology/ecology/conservation in the mix Although it has the bones of a cozy mystery, there are elements of procedural and some slightly more graphic violence and descriptions than are usually present in cozies.

The main protagonist is a conservation ecologist and it's a profession which she shares with the author. It's an oft-said proverb that authors should write what they know, and Dr. Yarwood-Lovett has done just that; describing the realities of crawling through brambles and schlorping through mud to observe and record field study data.

The book is full of science tidbits and trivia and for me, that was the highlight. Without being pedantic or lecturing, the author pulls back the curtain on tantalizing bits of nature most never see. There are technical terms bandied about, and there are some places which require a little more attention on the part of the reader - but they're relatively few and far between and I think most readers will have no problem understanding the necessary jargon from context. 

There is a fair bit of romance included in the mix and readers who enjoy that with their mysteries will be in raptures.

Four stars. It does move slowly in places, but the author does a thorough job of building up the characters' back-stories and settings. With four well plotted books extant, it would be a great choice for a binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Indian Culture and Cooking -

 

Indian Culture and Cooking is a well written, colorful, and inviting booklet for middle grade readers by Lindsey Lowe. It's part of the Exploring Cultures in the Kitchen series. Released 1st Aug 2023, it's 48 pages and is available in paperback and library binding editions.

The first part of the book focuses on the various cultures and traditions of different areas of India. The second section, containing the recipes, is arranged thematically: classic recipes, national celebrations, family celebrations, and life in India. The author/publisher have also included some handy appendices: a glossary, links and resources lists, and an index. 

Recipes are written in clear, basic language. All the ingredients are listed in a bullet sidebar. They're provided with imperial (American) measurements only. Most will be readily available at any well stocked grocery store. Some of the spices will require a trip to an international/Asian grocery store. 

All the recipes have easy to follow step-by-step prep and cooking directions, and all are accompanied by one or more tutorial photos. Special points of interest are written into highlighted text boxes throughout. 

Four stars. Well written and age-appropriate; these dishes could be prepared by an 8-11 year old (the target audience) with minimal adult supervision. It is a very short booklet, but would make a nice choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, and home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Deliver Them From Evil - Camille Delaney #2

Deliver Them From Evil is the second medico-legal thriller featuring Camille Delaney written by Amanda DuBois. Released 7th March 2023, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a gritty, fast paced, and well written courtroom drama/thriller. The main protagonist, Camille, is sympathetically rendered and deeply principled. She agrees to take on the wrongful death suit of a mother whose baby died as a result of a horrific labor and delivery. Much of the case feels like taking on "city hall" since the obstetrician and her father have ties to most of the power structure in their area. 

The language is occasionally rough and the book includes several graphic on-page descriptions which sensitive readers will likely find moderately horrifying. The subject matter also includes the death of an infant directly related to labor and delivery. 

The writing is consistently high quality, but the descriptions, denouement, solution, and resolution are *not* for the faint hearted. Readers should also bring a hefty suspension of disbelief to the read.

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Marvelous

Marvelous is a historical retelling of the life of a 16th century man with hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) which might (or might not) have been the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast, written and reimagined by Molly Greeley. Released 28th Feb 2023 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format out in 1st quarter 2024 from the same publisher.

This is a compelling idea; how the real life of a person with a genetic condition could play out during a time period where the "best and brightest" simply didn't have the scientific knowledge to understand why people varied from the norm. As such, MC Pedro was kidnapped from his birthplace and sold as a curiosity to Catherine de’ Medici, and lived his life as a favored pet, more or less. She arranged a marriage for him and gifted some of his children to friends (this really happened). 

The author has taken a great deal of artistic license with the historical framework (she partially credits the pandemic with limited research opportunities). The book is written in a dispassionate third person present tense which feels artificial in places. It's also ornate and bombastic throughout. Overall, it's quite readable and tragic, and a worthwhile story, based on actual historical events. The execution was wanting. 

There is no deep character development, almost no dialogue, and a stuttery "highlight reel" type narrative describing the high points of Pedro's life along with his wife. 

Three stars. Worth a look for die-hard Beauty and the Beast fans. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Awesome Human Body Science Experiments for Kids

Awesome Human Body Science Experiments for Kids is a fun, informative, and age appropriate STE(A)M book with 40 projects by Dr. Orlena Kerek. It's part of a wider series of multi-subject STE(A)M books for primary and middle grade readers. Released 1st Nov 2022 by Callisto Media, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

This is a very well arranged book full of colorful illustrations and interesting tutorials which can be done with common household items which most readers will have access to without any problems. They're varied and safe and each is well explained with relevant physiological takeaways. Chapters include the body (definitions and concepts), and instructions for readers and facilitators/teachers/parents on how to use the book and tutorials.

The experiments include taste, sight, circulatory system, muscles/skeleton, hair, lungs, and much more. They are written very accessibly with understandable and clear language. Each experiment includes a difficulty and time assessment, a sidebar bullet list of tools and supplies, and a step-by-step instruction series. Important info is highlighted in text boxes, and relevant takeaways and questions are also highlighted. 

The line-drawn illustrations are simple, but they're clear and easy to understand. This would make a good choice for classroom or public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving for the primary/early middle school student.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Hard Dough Homicide - Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries #2

 

 

Hard Dough Homicide is the second book in the Spice Island shopfront cozy mystery series by Olivia Matthews. Released 23rd May 2023 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 304 pages and available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. Ebooks with interactive formats are so handy. 

This is a fun and really readable series. It's a breezy fun shopfront cozy with an appealing and intelligent protagonist, a baker, working with her family (and solving the occasional murder/mystery).

As with most cozies, the emphasis is on the characters and the puzzle. It's a well constructed and easy to read cozy, with clean language and no over the top violence. The addition of a likable protagonist and her family with roots in the West Indies gives the whole a Caribbean flair. It's nice to find a new series with well written PoC in central roles with positive representations. Lyndsay's family are adorable and fun to read and their relationship with one another is sweet and fun.

The mystery and resolution are self-contained in this volume, so it works fine as a standalone. It's not at all derivative, but fans of Sue Minix, Wendy Meadows, and Ellie Alexander will likely enjoy this series also.

Four stars. Book 3 is due out from the same publisher late fourth quarter 2023. It would be a good choice for a mini-binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Ultimate Cottagecore Coloring Book for Adults

The Ultimate Cottagecore Coloring Book for Adults is a highly detailed collection of greyscale pages collated by Duncan Woodhouse. Released 28th July 2023, it's 110 pages and is available in paperback format. 

The pages themselves are detailed and attractive. They're arranged thematically: frogs & toads, magic mushrooms, beautiful butterflies, interesting insects, boot planters, yarn balls, fruit bowls, hammock times, country picnic, tea time, country houses & gardens, potting sheds, farmer's market, English countryside, English churches, gone fishing, country wildlife, cozy nooks, fantasy cottages, wild flowers, fantastical fairies, enchanted forests, and herbology hedgehogs.

There is no text, only the greyscale pages. They seem to be clipart images. There are no attributions contained in the text or credits. Due to the nature of the electronic files provided for review, it's not possible to evaluate the quality of the paper or printing on the final book product.

All of the drawings are attractive and will make nice coloring pages. 

Four stars. Retailers' pages have a further sample of contents for evaluation of the drawings themselves. The style is similar throughout. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Murder in Florence - Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #3

 

Murder in Florence is the third Armstrong and Oscar cozy destination mystery by T.A. Williams. Released 7th April 2023 by Boldwood books, it's 267 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

This is a beautifully descriptive and well written destination mystery set in Tuscany. Expat former policeman Dan Armstrong and his trusty canine sidekick Oscar are asked to help investigate a spate of attacks and accidents on the set of a movie in production in the area. Dan's ostensibly along to facilitate translations in English for the police and witnesses, but his insights are valuable and he and the lead detective have a good rapport and friendship. 

The plotting is solid and the dialogue and characterizations are wonderfully rendered and believable. The mystery, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, so it works well enough as a standalone, but the writing and mystery are so well planned and executed, that it would make an excellent weekend binge or buddy read. There are currently 4 books available. The scenery, characterizations, and mystery are consistently high quality and complex enough that it would also make a fine selection for a mystery book club discussion.

It's not derivative at all, but it reminded me in a lot of good ways of Leon's exceptional Brunetti books as well as Walker's lovely Bruno, chief of police books. Fans of those authors will find a lot to enjoy here.

Four and a half stars. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells - Lighthouse Library Mystery #10

 

Death Knells and Wedding Bells is the 10th Lighthouse library mystery by Eva Gates. Released 6th June 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out second quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a clean cozy mystery featuring real-life book recommendations scattered throughout the story, a cat (a Himalayan called Charles Dickens), a newlywed librarian main character, a library in a lighthouse (which doesn't really feature centrally in this installment). Although it's part of a series, there's enough backstory woven into the plot that it works fine as a standalone. The ensemble cast is full of eccentric small town characters, but the author is skillful enough and the writing technically adept enough that the whole works well enough. It's evenly plotted, if -quite- tropey: an absent minded Latin professor who shouldn't ever be allowed off leash and a smattering of less-than-reputable small-time actors and thoroughly unpleasant in-laws and hangers-on.

The language is squeaky clean, no cursing whatsoever. The denouement and resolution were satisfying and there were some last minute twists which added a nice coda to the ending. Since there are 10 books extant in the series (and no signs of slowing down), it would make a good candidate for a long binge or buddy read. 

This is simply a well written, readable, and enjoyable library cozy (with cat). There are also a number of fun bonus reading prompts referenced in the book which will lead the reader to other books and series. I also liked that the author highlights the fun and social aspects of book clubs. Talking about books with other book lovers adds another whole level of enjoyment. It's well worth a look for fans of the genre.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours and 37 minutes and is well read by series narrator  Elise Arsenault. She has a husky alto voice and does a good job of keeping a considerable cast of characters distinct and easy to follow. This is a dialogue heavy book and I didn't get mixed up or have to go back and re-listen to keep up. Sound and production quality are high throughout.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Last Drop of Hemlock - Nightingale Mysteries #2

The Last Drop of Hemlock is the second historical mystery featuring the prohibition era jazz club The Nightingale written by Katharine Schellman. Released 6th June 2023 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is a well written historical cozy(ish) mystery with an ensemble returning cast of characters and based on a fictitious New York City speakeasy during prohibition. There are a number of gender-fluid, bi-, and otherwise non-traditional presenting characters which was nice to see. The cast is also racially diverse and the story is blissfully without "token" representations. It might not be, strictly speaking, historically accurate, but it was refreshing to read. Other than the kindly wishful anachronistic diverse cast, the book seems to do a good, relatively accurate job with the official/police and political corruption of the time. 

The central murder mystery revolves around the poisoning death of the uncle of the club's chanteuse, Bea. A series of threatening letters and thefts in the neighborhood sees the Nightingale's employees turn amateur sleuth. There's a significant romance subplot, so readers who enjoy romance and mystery will find a lot to love here. There's also an ancillary overarching multi-book mystery concerning the parentage and family history of two of the main characters, sisters Viv and Flo. 

Despite being the second book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone, and the main mystery is resolved in this volume. The language is mostly accurate to the period and adds a lot to the read. 

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 10 hours, 12 minutes and is well narrated by series narrator Sara Young. She has a warm and rich clear alto voice and does a good job delineating the widely varied accents of a range of characters of all ages and both sexes including elderly and young voices. Sound and production quality are high throughout the recording. 

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Foreign Exchange - Mambo Reina #2

The Foreign Exchange is the second Mambo Reina urban fantasy mystery by Veronica G. Henry. Released 28th Feb 2023, it's 287 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The first book is also currently available on KU. 

This is a modern paranormal fantasy mystery featuring a strong and intelligent (if occasionally foolhardy) female protagonist. It's set in New Orleans and the setting is absolutely indelible. The author does a wonderful job of place and description, the entire book is redolent with the sights and sounds of NOLA. The verisimilitude from the author's descriptions of the area and culture, especially in the aftermath and rebuilding after hurricane Katrina add a lot to the story.

The plotting and background are well paced and the mystery is constructed believably within the constraints of the genre, but a slightly less than satisfying denouement and resolution. It's the second book in the series, but works well enough as a standalone. The author is adept enough to provide enough backstory that readers coming into the series with this book won't have any trouble keeping up. 

There are some graphic descriptions, including body horror, and rough language. It's not at all derivative, but fans of Tanya Huff and Jim Butcher will find a lot to love here.

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

An Evil Heart - Kate Burkholder #15

 

An Evil Heart is the 15th Kate Burkholder procedural thriller by Linda Castillo. Released 11th July 2023 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is a very well written murder mystery and although it's number 15 in the series, it works well as a standalone. All the background character and setting information is provided in the book itself. There is an ongoing, multi-book, partnership between formerly-Amish small-town police chief Kate and her significant other, a retired cop as well as an ensemble cast of colleagues. I do recommend reading the previous books, they're all solid; but it's not necessary to understand what's going on here. The series is well plotted and full of believable characters and inter-agency police stories. Refreshingly, in this case, the interagency interactions are generally cooperative and professional.

The sense of place is palpable. There are a number of Amish characters (the small town where Chief of Police Kate Burkholder works is a rural agricultural area whose population is roughly 1/3 Amish). The author's descriptions are nuanced and believable. I found some of the dialogue jarring because it's liberally sprinkled with Pennsylvania Dutch, but the author is adept at translating, and most of it is understandable from context.

The characters are impressively nuanced. It takes a quite a lot of technical expertise to write characters who do bad things but aren't necessarily bad people and subtlety to allow readers to arrive at their own conclusions as well as the converse (bad people who are charming and well regarded). The denouement and resolution were well written and satisfying and although I had guessed the overall theme of the crimes and motivations underlying, there were some surprising twists at the end.

For sensitive readers, this book contains quite graphic descriptions of violence, body horror (a crossbow murder at the beginning), sexual assault (including non-consensual assault of a minor), trauma, and oppressive religious fundamentalism and closed societies. Language is "R" rated.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours and 25 minutes and is narrated capably and well by series narrator Kathleen McInerney. She has a warm and rich clear alto voice and does a good job delineating the widely varied accents of a range of characters of all ages and both sexes including elderly and young voices. Sound and production quality are high throughout the recording.

Four and a half stars. This series/author will likely already be on public library acquisitions lists and available from local libraries. It's a consistently high quality procedural series and would make a great choice for a long binge/buddy read. It would also be a good choice as a mystery book club selection; lots of content for good and enthusiastic discussion (modern sexism, religion, sexual assault in rural areas, women in positions of respect in those areas, etc).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

The Bone Hacker - Temperance Brennan #22

 

 

The Bone Hacker is the 22nd (!!!) Dr. Temperance Brennan novel by Dr. Kathy Reichs. Released 1st Aug 2023 by Simon & Schuster on their Scribner imprint, it's 336 pages and available in all formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This has been, and continues to be, one of my favorite modern series. Despite the 'Hollywood-ization' of many other series, Dr. Brennan remains scrappy, dispassionate, wonderfully intelligent, non-glamorous, and ethical. The author is prolific and more than capable, delivering a tightly wrought and technically masterful book. As always, there's some interdepartmental strife, office politics, background information and interesting tidbits about forensic anthropology and science, and a compellingly complex and well constructed multi-thread plot with lots of twists. The returning/ensemble cast are so well fleshed out at this point that they really live and breathe on the page. The dialogue is never clunky, and the editing is seamless.

Although there's a lot of history and backstory covered in the previous 21 books, the author is adept enough that this one could be read as a standalone for readers who are not already fans. The entire series is well worth a read, and I recommend them highly, especially to fans of modern police/medical procedurals. With such a long running series, it would make a great choice for a long binge/buddy read project, or selection for a book club study.

Four and a half stars. Consistently top notch books.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Cryptic Clue - Hunter and Clewe #1

A Cryptic Clue is the first book in an amateur sleuth cozy series by Victoria Gilbert. Released 11th July 2023 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in late 1st quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is a light character driven cozy with several entwined plot threads, some of which remain unresolved at the end of this installment and which tease the next book(s) in the series. The main protagonists are a 60something semi-retired reference librarian and her 30something millionaire employer who has engaged her services to help catalogue his extensive library and ephemera collections. A murder after a charity gala at his mansion draws them into examining the clues as well as several other mysteries from the past. 

The mysteries are fairly well constructed and engaging, albeit -very- contrived (and not very realistic). The book's written in 1st person PoV, and does drag a bit from "telling" instead of "showing", but overall, the characters are well rendered and distinct. The dialogue is often a bit clunky and unpolished. The author's representation of Cam Clewe (the millionaire) will likely be problematic for some readers. He's never been diagnosed or been in therapy, but he's socially inept, overly direct, awkward, and has symptoms of OCD (tapping, counting, etc) and agoraphobia, and the author uses these behaviors to move the plot along and as a humorous counterpoint for commentary from the secondary characters. NONE of the characters have *any* concept of confidentiality or personal responsibility.

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 8 hours, 31 minutes and is well narrated by Carrington MacDuffie. She has a husky contralto voice, and does a good job of keeping the very large cast of characters distinct and distinguishable from one another. 

Three stars. Readable, but flawed. The high point was the audio narration. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Field of Screams

Field of Screams is an spooky and engaging paranormal middle grade thriller by Wendy Parris. Released 1st Aug 2023 by Random House Children's, it's 256 pages and is available in paperback, library binding, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

The author does a great job of making the book spooky and a little scary with great dramatic tension, and managing to do so in an age appropriate manner. The main character, Rebecca, is a scary movie and paranormal fan who loves ghosts. She's not looking forward to spending the summer with her extended family, looking after her little cousin and missing out on camp and fun activities with her best friend. 

Then she meets a ghost. 

The author does a great job with the premise and story. It's entertaining, and somewhat scary, and entwined in the story, the author manages to convey thoughts about responsibility, family, grief, growth, and trauma. 

Four stars. Definitely a worthwhile tween/middle grade selection. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Best Served Cold - Rick Montoya Italian mystery #8

 

Best Served Cold is the 8th mystery featuring translator and amateur sleuth Rick Montoya written by David P. Wagner. Released 1st Aug 2023 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, it's 244 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. 

This is a destination mystery, and the settings and culture are wonderfully integral to the story. The protagonist is an unusual one, he's a translator and consultant and is drawn into working with the police when an acquaintance (also a translator and guide) disappears and turns up dead.

It's an intricate and very well crafted plot and the characters are finely rendered and believable. Although not *at all* derivative, it reminds me in a lot of positive ways of Leon's wonderful Brunetti mysteries, and the Bruno mysteries by Martin Walker.

The intertwined mysteries and denouement and resolution are well done and satisfying. It's a self-contained novel, so it's not necessary to have read the other books in the series. With 8 books extant already, it would make a great choice for a binge or buddy read. The quality is high enough and it's well written enough to also be a good candidate for a mystery bookclub selection. 

Four and a half stars. Really well done.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Deadly Dedication - The Open Book Mysteries #4

 

A Deadly Dedication is the 4th Open Book cozy mystery by Margaret Loudon. Released 1st Aug 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. t's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. 

This is a nice bookstore cozy series with well written dialogue and a fun/quirky cast of characters including expat American writer-in-residence Penelope.  All the things readers love in shopfront cozies are present and accounted for, including the requisite feline, Mrs. Danvers. The violence is off-page and the language is clean and unobjectionable; nothing worse than "bloody" in the text. Spelling and vernacular are British standard English (torch, flat, crisps), but shouldn't pose any trouble for American readers in context.

The plot is self contained in this volume so it works well as a standalone. With four books extant in the series at this point, it would make a good candidate for a binge or buddy read. All the books are entertaining and engaging. The denouement and resolution were satisfying (if expected).

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.