Dirty Thirty - Janet Evanovich

Can you believe it? Janet Evanovich's latest book Dirty Thirty is the 30th book in her long running Stephanie Plum series!

The Plum books are my choice for some escapist, light hearted, comfort listening that doesn't take itself serious at all. Familiarity is another draw for me - I know who, and what, I'm going to find. 

Our lead character Stephanie works as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinny in Trenton, New Jersey. This time around, Stephanie is tracking down two possible jewelry thieves. 

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. Lula has taken a bigger role in later books and has a case of her own to settle. 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 or private security firm owner Ranger. There may be an answer this time - or maybe not. (I will definitely be picking up #31 to see what happens next!) 

I chose to listen to Dirty Thirty. I'm so happy that Lorelei King is again the reader. She's been the voice of this series for many years. The continuity is wonderful as it feels like jumping right back into life in the 'Burg'. King has a very versatile and expressive voice. She has created different voices for the characters and it's quite easy to know who is speaking. The voice for Stephanie is pretty calm, no matter what's going on. Lula however is always big and loud. Grandma Mazur's has a perpetually happy voice, always seeing the bright side. Each of the love interests have distinct voices as well. Babe. There's many more and they all fit the mental images I've created for all the players. King speaks clearly, she is easy to understand and her pace of delivery is just right. She brings the action, emotions and calamities of the plot to life with her voice, changing up the tenor and tone to match what's going on. A great performance. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Dirty Thirty.

(PS. The cases are usually pretty light hearted, but I do have to say I didn't find the 'dog house situation' funny at all.)

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin - Release week!

It's release week for Laura Griffin's new novel - The Last Close Call!

What's it about? From the publisher, Berkley:

"A talented genetic analyst and a detective who’s haunted by an elusive cold case team up in the new standalone romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

 

Forensic genealogist Rowan Healy has made a name for herself by helping investigators trace the family trees of violent criminals who have eluded justice for years. But the pressure of police cases left her burned out, and she’s shifted her focus to helping adoptees find their biological parents. 

 

Austin detective Jack Bruner has spent his career successfully tracking down vicious criminals—with the notable exception of the West Campus Rapist, a meticulous offender in Texas who has never been identified. When the latest two victims come to light, Jack sees his target is escalating his violent behavior—and only with Rowan’s help does he stand a chance of cracking this case.

 

Moved by Jack’s dedication and the brutal details of the attacks he lays out, Rowan agrees to help. When her ground-breaking DNA research sheds new light on the criminal’s background and helps them zero in on a search radius, Rowan and Jack must race against the clock to find a ruthless killer who’s growing bolder the longer he evades the law." (The Last Close Call contains sensitive subject matter including sexual assault.)

See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Last Close Call. 

Photo: © Kathy Whittaker Photography

"Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award."

You can connect with Laura on her webpage, find her on Facebook, as well as on X at https://twitter.com/Laura_Griff.

The Christmas Appeal - Janice Hallett

The Fairway Players theater group returns! I absolutely adored Janice Hallett's mystery, The Appeal. I was thrilled to discover that Hallett has written a Christmas novella, again starring the myriad members of the troupe. 

The Christmas Appeal is written in one of my favorite storytelling methods - epistolary. The entire novella is told only through emails, messages, police reports and more, just as The Appeal was. There's a large group of players, but it's easy to keep track of who's who. There's also a handy list at the beginning of the book. 

The group is constantly bickering amongst themselves. The battle for leadership has spanned many years. The level of 'snark' is off the charts and me laughing out loud more than once - and that's hard to do! Things go wrong more than once, but the 'can do' attitude is the group's motto. Each and every characters has a chance to 'speak'. And yes, I had my favorites (looking at you Sarah-Jane). It was easy to imagine being in the midst of the group.

Is there a crime? Of course there is, but I'll let you discover what it is. Clues are dropped all the way to opening night and are slowly revealed from differing viewpoints. Two law students and a retired lawyer are going through all of those missives, also looking for the final answer! I felt like I was in an Agatha Christie novel, trying to ferret out the damning piece of evidence, ready to point my finger with a satisfied ah ha! Well, point I did, but at almost every character along the way. 

Hallett is such a clever, clever writer! Her writing is addictive and so very entertaining. Perfect as a stocking stuffer for yourself  and/or a friend! 

AND Janice Hallett's new novel - The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels - releases on January 24, 2024. I can't wait!!

The Exchange - John Grisham

Have you ever wondered might happen to a character if there was a follow up tale? John Grisham's new novel, The Exchange, brings back lead character Mitch McDeere from 'The Firm.'

Nobody does legal thrillers like Grisham - I picked up this new title without even looking at the synopsis.&

Mitch has avoided Mississippi and all that happened there for fifteen years. He's now a partner in a large, wealthy firm in New York. They literally have thousands of offices across the world. And it is one of those far flung offices that desperately needs Mitch's skill set...

Now, you certainly don't have to read The Firm to enjoy The Exchange. Grisham provides lots of background in the first few chapters. I actually thought the plot was going to be similar to that first book. But it wasn't. Instead Grisham takes Mitch on a world wide search for answers. Without giving much away, this plotline seems ripped from newspaper headlines. 

I like Mitch as a lead character - and his wife Abby just as well. She has a significant role in this latest book. The novel is populated by a number of supporting characters - but it's hard to tell who is backing Mitch and who's have their own agenda.  

Grisham's background as both a lawyer and a politician add so much to his storytelling. There's a sense of urgency with every page turned and the tension is palpable with each situation and emotion. There is a lot of detail around some the agencies, legal machinations and more. I must admit, some of it was a bit too much for me.

Overall, another great read from Grisham. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Exchange. 

As I turned the last page, I wondered if there's perhaps a third book for Mitch???

The Christmas Guest - Peter Swanson

Is it too early to start reading Christmas tales? Umm- no! I happily picked up Peter Swanson's yuletide novella, The Christmas Guest. 

Ashley Smith is far from home and is thrilled to be asked to spend Christmas at her British classmate's family home - Starvewood Hall. And she's even more thrilled when she meets Emily's handsome brother Adam. But...it's not quite the perfect Christmas Ashley had imagined.

I loved the setting - an old, cold family manor that has seen better days. But that's the charm of it for Ashley. Other Gothic devices are present as well - spooky woods, a small village, a pub, secretive hosts and more.

Much of Ashely's storytelling for Ashley is done through her 'dear diary'. She's a faithful scribe. I was a little complacent as I started the novella and finished part one. Part two brings a completely unexpected (but quite appreciated) plotline to The Christmas Guest! I'll let you discover what I mean!

The Christmas Guest is the perfect stocking stuffer for a friend or relative who loves mysteries and murder. Or for yourself! Read an excerpt of The Christmas Guest. (112 pages) And be sure to read the author's note at the end of the novella - Why I Wrote the Christmas Guest. 

Murder by Degrees - Ritu Mukerji

 Murder By Degrees is Ritu Mukerji's debut novel.

I was immediately intrigued by the publisher's description."

For fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd, Murder by Degrees is a historical mystery set in 19th-century Philadelphia, following a pioneering woman doctor as she investigates the disappearance of a young patient who is presumed dead."

Dr. Lydia Weston is an ideal protagonist - intelligent, tenacious, determined and no stranger to the derision heaped on her by ignorant naysayers. Not surprisingly they're mostly men. I liked her from the get-go. She adroitly makes her way, teaching other women and practicing in a women's hospital. I admit I was somewhat surprised at the depth of knowledge of the human body and procedures at this time in history.

The supporting cast is a mixed bunch - those who are supporting and others who would like to see her fail. And....many who could be the answer to the whodunit. 

I quite enjoy period mysteries for the skills that must be employed in an investigation - using interviews, intuition, seeing the connections and evidence and more rather than immediate answers from computers etc. It makes for a more personal read. Mukerji has done that and given us a multi layered crime to solve.

Murder By Degrees benefits from Mukerji's love of mysteries and her knowledge as she is a practicing doctor.  

Gabra Zackman was the reader for Murder By Degrees. Her voice has movement to it - she brings emotions and action to her reading. She speaks clearly and is is easy to understand. Zackman creates different and identifiable voices for the many characters, males and females. I did end up turning the speed down a notch. I would rather savour the reading, rather than rush through it. She does a great job of presenting Mukerju's work. Hear for yourself - listen to  an excerpt of Murder By Degrees.

Murder By Degrees is a really good debut and I'm hoping that its the first in a series. 

Murder By Degrees - Ritu Mukerji

Murder By Degrees is Ritu Mukerji's debut novel.

I was immediately intrigued by the publisher's description."

For fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd, Murder by Degrees is a historical mystery set in 19th-century Philadelphia, following a pioneering woman doctor as she investigates the disappearance of a young patient who is presumed dead."

Dr. Lydia Weston is an ideal protagonist - intelligent, tenacious, determined and no stranger to the derision heaped on her by ignorant naysayers. Not surprisingly they're mostly men. I liked her from the get-go. She adroitly makes her way, teaching other women and practicing in a women's hospital. I admit I was somewhat surprised at the depth of knowledge of the human body and procedures at this time in history.

The supporting cast is a mixed bunch - those who are supporting and others who would like to see her fail. And....many who could be the answer to the whodunit. 

I quite enjoy period mysteries for the skills that must be employed in an investigation - using interviews, intuition, seeing the connections and evidence and more rather than immediate answers from computers etc. It makes for a more personal read. Mukerji has done that and given us a multi layered crime to solve.

Murder By Degrees benefits from Mukerji's love of mysteries and her knowledge, as she is a practicing doctor.

Murder By Degrees is a really good debut and I'm hoping that its the first in a series. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Murder By Degrees.

One Puzzling Afternoon - Emily Critchley

One Puzzling Afternoon is Emily Critchley's new novel. I quite liked the cover, it looks like a puzzle.

Edie Green is fifteen years old when we meet her in 1951. She's waiting for her friend Lucy at the train station. But Lucy never shows up - anywhere. Now, in 2018, Edie is 84, and she's certain she has seen Lucy. She needs to find her. But...

"It's there at the back of my mind, a persistent, anxious flutter, like a moth trapped under glass: there is something I should know, something I need to remember."

Critchley had given us an unreliable narrator in Edie. It's heartbreaking to watch and listen to Edie trying to hold on to her thoughts and memories before they are gone. Dementia has touched my family and I think Critchley has done a wonderful job portraying this insidious condition, from not just Edie's point of view, but from her family and friends as well. There's a good cast of supporting players. I quite liked her granddaughter Amy.

And then there's the mystery of whatever happened to Lucy. Can Edie hang on to her memories long enough to find the clues? I had an inkling about what the final pages might bring us, but I was only partially right - and surprised at the rest. 

One Puzzling Afternoon is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. A wonderful read on so many levels. See for yourself - read an excerpt of One Puzzling Afternoon.

Summers at the Saint - Mary Kay Andrews - Cover Reveal!

Yes, you read that right! Mary Kay Andrews does indeed have a new book coming out!

Drumroll, please! I'm thrilled to help @Mary Kay Andrews reveal the cover for next summer's book!

Behold SUMMERS AT THE SAINT! I'm so excited for this one, especially since she did not have a new summer book this year. 

The book will be out everywhere from @St. Martin's Press on May 7, 2024, but is officially available for pre-order now. Find more info about the book and pre-order links here:

https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/summers-at-the-saint/

#summersatthesaint #summerbeginswithmka

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan is hands down one of my favorite authors. I'm always waiting for her new titles. And....Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is here! 

Now, this sequel picks up where it let off in 'The Christmas Bookshop'. You can absolutely read this latest as a stand alonn - but you'd be missing a wonderful tale. I say buy them both for yourself for Christmas.

Why do I enjoy Colgan's books so much? Well, the characters are wonderfully drawn. I always feel like I'd love to meet them all and join in. In this sequel, I feel like I'm catching up with old friends. The players are not perfect, instead they feel like real people. There's always a romantic timeline that isn't quite a straight journey. I love the yes, no, maybe so trip to the final pages. Carmen is a wonderful lead, but the supporting cast is just as fun, full of quirky personalities.  I do have to say that her nieces steal the show on more than one occasion.

The settings are wonderful as well. I'd love to live in many of the places Colgan visits or imagines. This time we're again at McCredie’s little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. Oh, I want to visit, or heck, work there! The descriptions of the books in the shop are so detailed. Colgan adds to this location in this new book. There are more and more little alcoves, brim full of old books. Make that treasures. And some unexpected rooms upstairs. Carmen is doing everything she can to keep the shop running, but is it going to be enough? 

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop is a book you can easily escape into. And I know you'll love it. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop. More please!

Thieves' Gambit - Kayvion Lewis

I've said it before - YA fiction is my escapist reading. I've found a great new author with Kayvion Lewis and her just released Thieves' Gambit - the first book in a new series.  

I loved the cover - the maze, the running, the red color that turns up the heat and the title itself -  I was very curious as to what I'd find.

Seventeen years old Ross Quest is already a master thief. She should be - it's the family business. Their last job goes wrong, leaving Ross with only one option - to enter the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of world wide, dangerous heists. And there are seven other participants that want to win just as much as Ross.

We meet Ross in the first chapter. There's a lot of background in this initial chapter that I found a bit busy. With that out of the way, I started chapter two and didn't want to put it down. Ross is a great lead character - she's intelligent, dedicated and tenacious. The supporting cast is just as important to this book. They're a mixed bunch with just as many skills as Ross. Ross has history with one of the other players that's going to muddy the waters. And her attraction to one of the male players might be a problem too. The romance bits are done well and are 'clean'. They only add to the book instead of detracting.

The heists are wonderfully written, with lots of details and I could easily imagine them as they happened. Now, no heist goes the way it supposed to. Everyone lies, cheats, steals and the outcome is anyone's guest. I love the twists Lewis inserts in the plot. Especially that last chapter!

See for yourself - read an excerpt of Thieves' Gambit. 

The stage is set for book number two and this reader will be eagerly watching for it.

Judgment Prey - John Sandford

Judgment Prey is the 33rd entry in John Sanford's long running, much loved and still fresh, Lucas Davenport series. Virgil Flowers started as a supporting player, but evolved and now has his own series. I was so excited to see that Judgment Prey brings the two back together. I knew this would be a fantastic read - and it was!

Margaret Cooper comes home and finds her husband and sons dead. Her husband was a prominent judge, so there's a lot of pressure to find the killer, and multiple forces are brought in. Virgil and Lucas team up and start working the case 'their way.' Which isn't always appreciated.

I really enjoy the back and forth of  Virgil's and Lucas's interactions. The dialogue is short, snappy and often darkly humorous. The reader is with them as they chase leads, interview witnesses, annoy the other agencies and use their considerable skills to chase the case. But the reader is also privy to a number of other character's inner thoughts, actions and more. We know 'whodunit', but can Lucas and Virgil get there in time to stop more killings? The plotting is intricate and there's no way to predict how things are going to shake out. Which makes for some really addictive reading!

An easy five stars. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Judgment Day. (And keep a watch out for the next 'Prey' entry, due out in April of 2024.

Kill Show - Daniel Sweren-Becker

Daniel Sweren-Becker's new book is Kill Show: A True Crime Novel.

Now, here's the thing...Kill Show is a work of fiction. But, what do the title and cover remind you of? Crime podcasts, crime books? How about true crime shows on your favorite streaming service? Uh huh, me too.

Sweren-Becker has employed one of my favorite styles of storytelling in Kill Show - a modern epistolary form. Television episodes, diary entries, texts, message boards, conversations, interviews and more. 

"This is the testimony of twenty-six people who played a role in the events surrounding Sara's disappearance." 

I was absolutely hooked by this sentence and couldn't wait to see for myself! My only worry was if I could keep track of twenty six players. No worries, as the character speaking is identified every time. Having so many players opens up many avenues, views, actions, interactions, truths and lies. As readers, it's so much fun to try and ferret out the truth and find Sara. Sweren-Becker does not make it easy for us - there are some crazy twists and turns! Foreshadowing is dropped at the end of more than one chapter to great effect.

So - fantastic story telling, a wide panorama of characters, an addicting format, and a crime to be solved. But, Sweren-Beckers also asks the reader another question. What is our fascination with true crime? Are shows such as this helpful? Or hurtful? Can you believe what you see? "Is this entertainment or exploitation"?

Kill Show is an easy five star read for me. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Kill Show.

A Haunting on the Hill - Elizabeth Hand

You might be thinking - 'Is this the same house that Shirley Jackson wrote about? The answer is yes. Elizabeth Hand's new novel A Haunting on the Hill, has been sanctioned by Jackson's estate.

Hand puts her own spin on things. Scary things...

A playwright rents the run down mansion for two weeks. She's written a play called The Witching and decides that the house would be a good place to rehearse with the three actors involved. Uh huh. Before they even step a foot inside, there are warnings about the past of the house from the real estate agent - but to no avail. 

Hand gives us four very different characters in Holly, Nisa, Amanda and Stevie. Hand fleshes out their personalities, decisions, wants, needs and more. The listener is privy to each player's thoughts. Their personalities affect what happens next in many cases.

And you got it - what happens starts off quietly with small things. Innocuous things that can be easily  explained away. Doors, sounds, echoes, temperatures. But it's not long before there's more...and I shouted to the four to get out!

Okay, so I listen to audiobooks to fall asleep. Less learned. I couldn't get to sleep - I kept hearing things downstairs - creaks and bumps and an echo of something. I ended up finishing it off in the daytime. 

Hand does a fantastic job of drawing the listener into the world of Hill House, with a well written and frightening setting and fresh plot.  

The narrator was Carol Monda and she did a fabulous job of presenting Hand's book. She has the most interesting voice - with a whiskey and cigarette growl. She provides different voices for the other players, making it easy to know who was speaking. She speaks clearly and is easy to understand. That's the characters, but what about the house? The descriptions of the house and what transpires gave me a good case of the  heebie-jeebies. The fear and the unknown are captured in Monda's performance. A really good audio performance of a really good book. 

Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of A Haunting on the Hill.