Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency - Josie Lloyd

Josie Lloyd's newest book is Miss Beeton's Murder Agency. It was wonderfully fun to read!

In the author's notes, Josie reveals that this is her first 'cosy' book. Well, she's done a great job in gathering and creating all the requisite pieces needed for a cosy. 

The biggest need is for a lead character. Ours is Alice. She's the owner of The Good Household Management Agency - it provides a myriad of fully vetted staff for just about anything you could think of. She's very easy to like. And she has a dog named Agatha - after Agatha Christie of course. The core supporting cast is just as well drawn. The friendship between Jinx and Alice is well written. 

It's easy to find the "baddies", but are we sure we've got the right person? The ah-ha took me right down to the final pages and explanations. 

What else? Ahh yes there is! A possible romance with a member of the local constabulary? The same copper who warned her away from sticking her nose into the case.

And lastly a lovely cosy set of vintage recipes handed down to Alice. "...her Victorian ancestor the very famous Isabella Beeton - she of the Book of Household Management." Those recipes are included!

I really enjoyed this cosy! See for yourself - read an excerpt of Miss Beeton's Murder Agency. I'll be watching for book two in this series. 

Silent Evidence - Clea Koff

Clea Koff’s new book is Silent Evidence, the first book in a planned series. There are two leads - Jayne and Steelie. The two women both have a set of unique forensic skills based on their time in Rwanda. They’re ready to share their knowledge with law enforcement.

A bundle of human parts falls out of the back of a van on a Los Angeles highway. Agent Scott Houston knows that Jayne and Steelie are who he needs to help crack this awful case.

Koff rapidly introduces us to the two leads, as well as a number of supporting characters. There’s a lot of banter back-and-forth between the various characters. Much of it is case based but some it is personal as well. I was concerned that the book would be too romantic based  for me. I was happily wrong. Instead it added to plot.  Although, I admit I'm not a fan of the name Steelie.   

The plot is excellent and really well written, and after looking the author up I can see why. She is taking pieces from her own life and giving it to her characters. The authenticity of the book benefits greatly with this knowledge.

I chose to listen to Silent Evidence. The reader was  Rachel Handshaw and she did a fantastic job. She has an interesting, gravelly tone to her voice that is perfect for this book. She portrays the characters with distinct voices, including males. The emotions and actions are captured. She enunciates well and is easy to understand. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt. 8 hours 49 minutes I would happily listen to the second book in this series.

I Died on a Tuesday - Jane Corry

I Died on a Tuesday by Jane Corry has just released.

I was hooked by the time I finished the first chapter in Jane Corry’s new book. That first chapter takes place 20 years ago and we witness a horrific crime. We are then whisked to present day and the characters we will come to know. But, are we really going to get to know them? It seems that every character is hiding something ~ a lie, not the truth. Even the characters that I thought were 'good', are up to something.

Everything seems to stem from an eighteen year-old cyclist who was hit by a vehicle, 20 years ago.  I wondered how Corry was going to connect the two time frames, and what would come with that.

I really enjoy not knowing how a book is going to play out. Corry lays clues in front of us, but that changed many times, as well. She takes us right to the last pages tying up ends. A fitting finish.

I chose to listen to 'I Died on a Tuesday'. There was a cast of four readers - Anna Burnett, Joshua Riley,  Sophie Alfred and Roy McMillan. They all did a wonderful job of bringing Corry’s book to life. I often find that I am more immersed in a story when I listen to it - and that was the case with I Died on a Tuesday. Everyone spoke clearly and was easy to understand. Each of them has dived into their roles and provided us with a voice that matched the characters. They also capture the emotion and danger of the plot. A wonderful presentation of a very good read. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt.

11 hours and 59 minutes

I Died on a Tuesday - Jane Corry

I was hooked by the time I finished the first chapter in Jane Corry’s new book - I Died on a Tuesday

That first chapter takes place 20 years ago and we witness a horrific crime. We are then whisked to present day and the characters we will come to know. But, are we really going to get to know them? It seems that every character is hiding something ~ a lie, not the truth. Even the characters that I thought were 'good', are up to something.

Everything seems to stem from an eighteen year-old cyclist who was hit by a vehicle 20 years ago. I wondered how Corry was going to connect the two time frames, and what would come with that.

I really enjoy not knowing how a book is going to play out. Corry lays clues in front of us, but that changed many times as well. She takes us right up to the last pages tying up ends. A fitting finale. I quite enjoyed this book and would pick up another title by this author. See for yourself - read an excerpt from I Died on a Tuesday.

Now or Never - Janet Evanovich

I've read every book in Janet Evanovich's long running Stephanie Plum series - and enjoyed them all, The latest is Now or Never and it's number 31!

The Plum books are my choice for some light hearted, escapist reading, that doesn't take itself too seriously. Familiarity is another draw for me - I know who, and what I'm going to find in the recurring characters. But there are surprises found in the visiting players in each story. You see, our lead character Stephanie works as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinny in Trenton, New Jersey. This time around, Stephanie is tracking down three separate bail jumpers. I'll let you discover who and why.

Stephanie is easy to like, with a good sense of humor. The supporting cast includes sidekick Lula, a big hearted former hooker. The banter between Stephanie and Lula is always fun. Stephanie's Grandma Mazur (my fave) is often involved in whatever is going on.

The real question though, is who Stephanie will settle down with! For thirty books she has vacillated between Trenton police detective Morelli or private security firm owner Ranger. Is there an answer to be found in Now or Never?  

Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Now or Never.

Know Your Newlywed - Elena Armas and Hillary Nussbaum and Heather Taylor

I love audio books and I often pair one up with - cleaning the house, doing laundry, or maybe just a quick rest on the couch with my eyes closed.

Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylor and Elena Armas made it very hard to get back up off the couch with their audio book  - Know Your Newlywed!

 

Do you remember watching game shows that had newlyweds for contestants? And the prizes might have been a kettle or a fridge? This new version boasts a prize much larger than that! And that's what prompts Javi and Cleo to apply. Javi and Cleo are characters that you can't help but like. I had my fingers crossed for them! A wonderful rom-com plot ensues. 

I've often said that I get more immerged in a tale when I listen to it. The was definitely the case with Know Your Newlywed. I loved the two leads, Tyler Posey and Mary Mouser. Their voices were perfect for the characters. Posey has a little gravel in his voice that really works for the character and his nature. He doesn't rush. Mouser easily captures her character with a faster pace of speaking. Her voice matches the character. The supporting cast is one of the largest I've ever listened to. I really liked that - I never had to guess who was speaking. A large cast presents a richer listen for me. Everyone spoke clearly and was easy on the ears. And another nice detail was the background noises - telephones, clapping, horns, and more.

An excellent presentation of a excellent and fun rom-com!  An easy 5 stars,

4 hours and 54 minutes

Murder of a Suffragette - Marty Wingate

Marty Wingate's new book - Murder of a Suffragette. This is the 4th in the London Ladies' Murder Club series. (But you don't need to have read the previous books to enjoy this latest.)

I was not aware of the difference between Suffragette and Suffragist until I read this book. The first were 'deeds not words' and would use violence, but the latter eschewed violence. In 1918 women thirty and over gained the vote, but both groups are trying to get the vote for women 21 and up. This is an interesting time and setting to use for the book.

Mabel is the lead character and I really enjoy her curiosity, her tenacity, and determination. She works for the Useful Women  Agency. She is booked to be the secretary of this large meeting of women, but finds herself back in an investigation when a body is found on the grounds of the large manor. There is a plethora of suspects to choose from. 

The supporting cast is just as engaging as Mabel. They've been in the first books and Wingate keeps their lives moving forward. And what every cosy read needs a dog or cat. Gladys the dog figures into the plot. And a cosy needs some romance as well! I really enjoyed this latest and am looking forward what Wingate has in store for characters. See what you think - read an excerpt.

"Marty Wingate is a USA Today best-selling author of both mysteries and historical fiction. Marty enjoys weaving humor into her books and creating characters—from quirky and loveable to sinister and duplicitous—that leap off the page. Before embarking on her series about the London Ladies Murder Club with Bookouture, Marty published three contemporary cozy mystery series (the Potting Shed, Birds of a Feather, and First Edition Library books). She has also published two standalone books of historical fiction and found stories of the past to be compelling. She’s delighted to combine her penchant for both mysteries histories to bring her readers more satisfying stories. Marty currently resides near Seattle, Washington." You can find Marty at her web page, on Facebook as well as on X.

The Third Wife of Faraday House - B.R. Myers

The Third Wife of Faraday House is new from B.R. Myers.

If you enjoy Gothic fiction like me, you're going want to add this tale to your 'must read' list.

What makes a book a Gothic story? Well, let's start off with an isolated setting - an island that is home to a dark and dreary manor. The help are downright rude. They're not welcoming at all to our lead character. It's 1816 and Emeline Fitzpatrick has been shipped to the manor by her guardian - she has made some bad choices. There are tales of ghosts, haints and more in the history of the manor. Are are they really in the past? And take a hint from the title of the book......

I liked Emeline quite a lot, but I worried about her naiveté. She does grow as the book progresses. The plotting was excellent. I had no idea who was telling the truth. What was real? What was imagination?

Kudos to Myers on bringing in the details from the time. Manners, expectations, mores, food, clothing and more. And let's bring in one last thing - romance....

I chose to listen to the book as it has one of my favourite narrators reading - Imogen Church. She captures the emotions and actions with her voice. She’s truly an excellent reader. Hear for yourself - check out an audio excerpt. Five stars for me on this wonderful read!