The Weekend Guests - Liza North

The Weekend Guests is new from author Liza North.

The subtitle reads "Five old friends. A reunion to die for". The cover image also promises a dark read.

We meet the five friends in the past when they shared an apartment at university. Their relationships are explored. And a rather odd neighbor is also examined. North tells her tale in a now and then style. More than one character has a voice.

I appreciated the detail, but things started to drag for me after a while. The same character kept repeating her behavior over and over. She's definitely the one driving for the bus, both now and then. Sadly I didn't like any of the five. I did like the kids and one of the partners.

Things picked up in the last chapters. There was some action in the last few chapters that was good. A few plot devices didn't work for me. But, the creepy bit at the end was good. 

The Weekend Guests was marketed as a thriller, but I don't think it quite met that description for me. 

Head Cases - John McMahon

I do like crime fiction - a lot! So, I'm always on the lookout for a new series. I found that in Head Cases - the first in John McMahon's new series. 

Did you see the tape on the cover? "Attention Sealed FBI". I was intrigued....

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is our lead character. He's described as a an "analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles."  He's not so good with people though. The supporting cast each have a talent. They make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR), brought in for cases that no one else can solve. But what drives them all, is catching their quarry - a serial killer who is back after many year

The plotting is wonderful! The case is very different and I appreciated the fresh take on solving such a case. McMahon gives Camden a great back story, building the character(s) for the next time the unit is needed. I will be waiting for the next entry in this new series.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sometimes I often feel more immersed in a story when I listen to it. That was absolutely the case with Head Games. The narrator was Will Damron and he did a fantastic job. His voice has a perfect gravelly tone that matched the images and characters I had created in my head. He speaks clearly and is easy to understand. He easily captures the tone, emotions and danger of McMahon's tale with his voice. He created different voices for all of the players that were easily identified. 

An easy five star listen! 9 hours and 36 minutes 

The Business Trip - Jessie Garcia

The Business Trip is Jessie Garcia's debut fiction novel.

Garcia introduces us to the lead character - Jasmine. She's in a really bad domestic situation and has been planning for a year to get away. When her moment appears, she doesn't look back. And then she meets Stephanie. And an opportunity presents itself...

Garcia has penned a great suspense tale. There's no lack of twists and turns to be had. Those twists will take you right down to the last pages. Garcia has crafted a 'can't put it down" tale. You might have to suspend belief with some bits, especially the ending, but just go with it. The book is very entertaining.

  

I liked how the book was presented from many viewpoints and supporting characters. And - a full cast of narrators! I always feel more immersed in a book when I listen it. That was definitely the case with The Business Trip. Each reader was easy to understand and their 'voices' matched the characters they were presenting. A great listen!

The Business Trip - Jessie Garcia

The Business Trip is Jessie Garcia's fiction debut.

Garcia introduces us to the lead character - Jasmine. She's in a really bad domestic situation and has been planning for a year to get away. When her moment appears, she doesn't look back. And then she meets Stephanie. And an opportunity presents itself...

Garcia has penned a great suspense tale. There's no lack of twists and turns to be had. Those twists will take you right down to the last pages. Garcia has crafted a 'can't put it down" tale. You might have to suspend belief with some bits, especially the ending, but just go with it. The book is very entertaining.

  

I liked how the book was presented from many viewpoints and supporting characters. Who to tell? Who to believe?

See for  yourself - read an excerpt of the Business Trip.

A Death in Diamonds - S. J. Bennett

I was thrilled to see that S. J. Bennett had added a new mystery to her series, Her Majesty the Queen Investigates. The fourth entry is A Death in Diamonds.

Now, the first three books in this series were set in current time. This latest takes us back to 1957 and the Queen, as she settles into her new role. Therefore, if you’re new to this series, you can count this book as number one. I hope that makes sense!

The young queen is sure that someone within her offices is trying to sabotage her decisions, her appearances and her political interactions. And when a double murder has tendrils that may include the Queen, she knows she needs someone she can count on....

Bennett has done a fabulous job of drawing the Queen in the early years of her reign. She is kind, gracious, wise, highly intelligent, well-spoken and observant. Her inner dialogue is a treat to read and her sense of humor is dry, as are her observations about her Royal family.  The relationship between the Queen And  Prince Phillip is lovely and loving. Bennett is respectful in her depictions.

I really enjoy the settings, both the castles and out on events etc. And yes, there are corgis!

The case is wonderfully drawn and is much more convoluted that new readers might have expected.  Parts of actual events and cases have been woven into Bennett's book. I think she's done an excellent job. I appreciate not being able to figure out things easily. Makes reading much more fun.

I chose to listen to A Death in Diamonds. The reader was Samantha Bond and she did a great job  presenting Bennett's work. She has a lovely gravely tone to her voice that suited the Queen character. Others were just as perfect for the supporting players. The English accents rang true. Bond's voice is clear and is easy on the ears. She captures the emotions and action in the plot with reading. An excellent performance.

12 hours and 19 minutes

A Death in Diamonds - S. J. Bennett

A Death in Diamonds is the fourth entry in S. J. Bennett's wonderful "Her Majesty The Queen Investigates".

I was thrilled to see that S. J. Bennett had added a new mystery to her series, Her Majesty the Queen Investigates. The fourth entry is A Death in Diamonds.

Now, the first three books in this series were set in current time. This latest takes us back to 1957 and the Queen, as she settles into her new role. Therefore, if you’re new to this series, you can count this book as number one. I hope that makes sense!

The young queen is sure that someone within her offices is trying to sabotage her decisions, her appearances and her political interactions. And when a double murder has tendrils that may include the Queen, she knows she needs someone she can count on....

Bennett has done a fabulous job of drawing the Queen in the early years of her reign. She is kind, gracious, wise, highly intelligent, well-spoken and observant. Her inner dialogue is a treat to read and her sense of humor is dry, as are her observations about her Royal family.  The relationship between the Queen And  Prince Phillip is lovely and loving. Bennett is respectful in her depictions.

I really enjoy the settings, both the castles and out on events etc. And yes, there are corgis!

The case is wonderfully drawn and is much more convoluted that new readers might have expected.  Parts of actual events and cases have been woven into Bennett's book. I think she's done an excellent job. I appreciate not being able to figure out things easily. Makes reading much more fun.

The Perfect Home - Daniel Kenitz

The Perfect Home is Daniel Kenitz's newly released novel.

Okay, hands up if you've ever got lost in the 'house' channels. You know, flipping, restoring, decorating and so much more. (I have!)

The Perfect Home is one of those shows. Married couple Wyatt and  Dawn Decker are the perfect hosts. Their show is doing well, but how can they make it better? Wyatt has some suggestions....

And I'm going to leave things there for you to discover what's next. I have to admit it's a darker plot I had imagined. And, that was a good thing.

Kitzen allows each lead to tell their take on what is happening. The narrative switches back and forth between husband and wife. This style of story telling always keeps me reading 'just one more chapter'. There were some really tense sections that I hadn't imagined when I started the book. The author did a great job of keeping the tension and action rising to the final pages. I wonder about the behind the scenes - I'm sure they're not too far from reality. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Perfect Home.

Beautiful Ugly - Alice Feeney

A  new book from Alice Feeney! I've read or listened to all of her books. There's no way to predict what's going to happen in a Feeney plot and that's definitely the case in Beautiful Ugly.

Grady Green is author who has hit the brick wall - he simply can't write anything, His editor has a great idea and Grady calls his wife to let her know what his editor has suggested. She picks up her mobile and then....nothing....until...

I was hooked! I needed to know what happened in the past and what is happening now. Grady isn't sure what is going on at all. I don't want to spoil this book for you, so I'm going to let you discover alongside Grady.

Now, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I often feel more immersed in a book when I listen to it. Beautiful Ugly is one of those books. The readers were actor Richard Armitage and actress Tuppence Middleton. They both did an excellent job. They spoke clearly and were easy to understand. They captured Feeney's work and used their voices to capture and present the emotions and action of the plot. I liked the presentation - the chapters change with sound effects such as water/waves and the sound of a metronome ticking the time away.

I loved this from the publisher's page...

"Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.

Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do."

9 Hours, 20 Minutes. A five star listen for me.

Shell Games - Bonnie Kistler

I was excited to hear that Bonnie Kistler had a new book out. I really enjoyed her previous book - The Cage. But I have to say that this new novel - Shell Games - is even better!

Have you heard the phrase "Shell games" before? "A shell game is a swindle, a fraud, especially one in which items or information are shifted around in a secret manner to avoid detection." Meet Kate, her daughter Julia and her extended family. Oh, did I mention that Kate is very, very rich? Huh uh.....she is.

And how about the word gaslighting? "To manipulate someone using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning."  

Well, I was totally caught up from the first few pages. We meet all of the characters and I started to slot each of the into their 'place' in the plot. And....they changed their narrative, their standing, their loyalty and more. Just when I thought I had the answer to the whodunit, someone changed their story. I loved being unable to find the answer all the ways to the last pages. (Truly, the last two pages)

Kudos to Bonnie Kistler - a clever writer! See for yourself - read an excerpt of Shell Games. 

April Storm - Leila Meacham

April Storm is a posthumous novel from Leila Meacham. 

Kathryn Walker gave up her dreams to look after her children and her husband - a specialist doctor. An overheard conversation decimates her fragile state even more.

April Storm was a really good domestic and mystery tale. Kathryn is a wonderful lead character. You can't help but be behind her. There are a number of supporting characters that will have wondering if they are truly the persona they purport to be. Some are....and some aren't.

The mystery of the book gives the reader an unexpected who and why. I didn't see it coming. Very different. The ending is fitting, but I still would have preferred the other option. 

If you enjoy domestic mysteries and women's fiction, you'll enjoy April Storm for yourself - read an excerpt of April Storm. 

Booked for Murder - P.J. Nelson

Booked for Murder is P.J. Nelson's (a pseudonym) new book. It's the first in the planned series called The Old Juniper Bookshop Mysteries. (And the title was quite clever.) This a cosy read.

Madeline Brimley goes home to her small town in Georgia as her Aunt Rose has  passed away. And Maddy is startled to find that she has inherited Aunt Roses' bookshop. But someone is not happy with that news...

I liked the premise - who wouldn't want to own a bookstore!  This being a cosy tale I expected an animal in the story as well. Check - a dog. Coffee replaces tea. Also a small town where everyone knows everyone's business. Check - Enigma, Georgia. A cute carpenter. A small police force - who are drawn as bumbling. 

Instead, Maddy sees as herself much more capable to to find who is determined to drive her out of town. It was at this point, I started to not like Maddy. Her background as an actor seems to qualify her (in her mind) as a sleuth. There are many supporting players and each one seems to feature in a twist or turn. 

All the elements are there, but it just feels forced and somewhat clumsy for me. And lastly - this was just a peeve for me - the use of the word 'snapped' to describe the character's tone and delivery. I started to count the use. If this was changed, my apologies. As I have not found out who P.J. Nelson is, I will assume that this a first try at a cozy. Sadly, I don't think I'll be looking for the second entry.