Unnatural Death - Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell's last few books have been excellent. Her newest book, Unnatural Death, is no exception. This is the 27th entry in the long running Scarpetta series. While the book picks up from the last entry, this book can certainly be read as a stand alone.

Kay Scarpetta is the Chief Medical Examiner for Virginia. This time around, Kay is sent to the woods and to a deserted mine in North Virginia. Two bodies have been found, as well as something very curious in a mine shaft. Kay is not sure why the Feds have taken over the case and the autopsy, but she has no choice but to follow orders.

The recurring characters all return in Unnatural Death. Sidekick Pete Marino is always by Kay's side. He hasn't changed much over the years and is one of my favorites. Niece Lucy grows more and more enigmatic with every new book. Kay's husband Benson has his own secrets. Lesser characters are just as well drawn - and are very easy to be separated into 'good and bad'. I applaud Kay's ability to hold her tongue - but her inner dialogue lets it all out.

I was truly blown away by some of the technology being used by the Secret Service and other agencies.  Kay's methods and tools in the autopsy suite are just as technologic. In the 'about the author' notes, Cornwell mentions that her interests include space-age technologies, threats to contemporary life, artificial intelligence and more. Those interests are woven into the plot of Unnatural Death. 

There's no way to predict where the plot is going to go. There's lots of action, suspense and unexpected turns. Cornwell held my attention right down the last pages. 

A great entry that I quite enjoyed. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Unnatural Death.

 I received a free copy of a book from the publisher. This in no way affects my opinion of the book. 

The Mystery Guest - Nita Prose

Oh, I was so excited to hear that Nita Prose had written a second book featuring Molly - her absolutely wonderful protagonist. The Mystery Guest has just released.  

We met Molly in the first book - The Maid. Molly works at the upscale Regency Grand Hotel as a maid. "Every day of work is a joy to me. I was born to do this job. I love cleaning. I love my maid's trolley, and I love my uniform." She is now the Head Maid. 

You're going to absolutely love Molly - her innocence, her upbeat attitude, her manner of speaking and those rules and sayings that guide her life. And then there's Gran. Even though she is gone, her presence is felt throughout the book. (It made me miss my Gran too!) The supporting cast of players is just as wonderful. Molly has made friends who very much care for her. But there's always a rotten apple in the barrel.

And of course, there's a mystery to be solved.  History seems to be repeating itself when a guest lecturer dies in front of the audience at the hotel. Molly might have the inside track with this latest murder - and I'll let you discover how. In addition to her own curious mind, Molly and her Gran were faithful fans of Columbo - and read every Christie novel. Tools that she'll put to good use. That's if Detective Stark will listen to what Molly knows.

Prose tells The Mystery Guest in a past and present timeline - one of my favourite storytelling styles. Readers will get to learn more about Molly's past and her Gran. Yes, I needed a tissue more than once.

What more could you want - characters you'll be rooting for, a murder mystery, and some insightful thoughts about love, loss and life. Prose's writing will keep you turning page after page late into the night. Heartily recommended! See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Mystery Guest. I really, really hope there will be a third book!

Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy. This in no way afflicts my thoughts. All opinions are mine. 

The Mystery Guest - Nita Prose

Oh, I was so excited to hear that Nita Prose had written a second book featuring Molly - her absolutely wonderful protagonist. The Mystery Guest has just released.  

We met Molly in the first book - The Maid. Molly works at the upscale Regency Grand Hotel as a maid. "Every day of work is a joy to me. I was born to do this job. I love cleaning. I love my maid's trolley, and I love my uniform." She is now the Head Maid. 

You're going to absolutely love Molly - her innocence, her upbeat attitude, her manner of speaking and those rules and sayings that guide her life. And then there's Gran. Even though she is gone, her presence is felt throughout the book. (It made me miss my Gran too!) The supporting cast of players is just as wonderful. Molly has made friends who very much care for her. But there's always a rotten apple in the barrel.

And of course, there's a mystery to be solved.  History seems to be repeating itself when a guest lecturer dies in front of the audience at the hotel. Molly might have the inside track with this latest murder - and I'll let you discover how. In addition to her own curious mind, Molly and her Gran were faithful fans of Columbo - and read every Christie novel. Tools that she'll put to good use. That's if Detective Stark will listen to what Molly knows.

Prose tells The Mystery Guest in a past and present timeline - one of my favourite storytelling styles. Readers will get to learn more about Molly's past and her Gran. And yes, I needed a tissue more than once.

What more could you want - characters you'll be rooting for, a murder mystery, and some insightful thoughts about love, loss and life. Prose's writing will keep you listening to chapter to chapter late into the night. Heartily recommended! I really, really hope there will be a third book!

The narrator was Lauren Ambrose and she did a fabulous job of giving Molly a voice. I was worried that the narrator's voice wouldn't 'be right' for Molly. I was very happy to be proven wrong. Ambrose captures Molly's character perfectly. Ambrose's voice is easy on the ears. She speaks clearly and enunciates well. She does a wonderful job of presenting Prose's work. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of the Mystery Guest.

There Should Have Been Eight - Nalini Singh

I adore 'locked room' mysteries. I think that author Nalini Singh does as well! Her new novel - There Should Have Been Eight - starts out with a get together of old friends - minus one.

What else does a locked room tale need? A 'been in the family for decades' old pile. Complete with hidden rooms. Oh, and it has a burned out wing. And....it's also way out on it's own, far from the village. Mobile signal? Good luck with that. A perfect setting. Loved it.

Our lead character is Luna. She her own issues, but isn't ready to share with the others just yet. She's also a photographer which works well for this character. I really liked her personally, her way of looking at things, her thoughts, and her decisions. The others are a mixed bag with many of them now coupled up. Lots of personalities. 

Singh tells her book in a now and then timeline fashion. Again, a style I like and appreciate. Readers  glean bits and bobs from the both time frames. Do they match? Do they remember it? Has someone got their own agenda? Who can we trust as readers? For me, they're all suspects. I started to narrow down my choice for 'whodunit' as the end drew near. I was (happily) surprised by a great gotcha. 

Suspense is the name of the game in this book. It kept me interested and and invested from first page to last! I would happily pick up another book from Nalini Singh. See for yourself - read an excerpt of There Should Have Been Eight.

The Other Half - Charlotte Vassell

The Other Half is Charlotte Vassell's debut novel. 

The publisher uses 'cozy' in their description of the book. And the cover image seems to bear that out. Well, yes, but not quite the way I had expected. There are no older sleuths and their cats on the way to the village fete when they discover a body under a hedge. But that's where all of my expectations went out the window. Instead it is Detective Caius Beauchamp who finds the corpse on his morning jog. 

Caius and his sidekicks DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes are on the job. Where their inquiries takes them is to the the homes and lives of the upper echelons of society. And as much Caius hates to admit it, he is drawn to how the half lives.

And that's where Vassell takes out her sharpest pen and starts skewering the upper classes. I do have to say the dark humor was quite amusing. 

But I found the case itself is darker and well, more than a little sad. Money, power and more define the upper level. It was quite easy to dislike them.

I chose to listen to The Other Half. The narrators were Imogen Wilde, whom I've listen to in the past. She has a very versatile voice and easily captures the characters. Her posh tones were perfect for this plot. She speaks clearly and is easy to understand. I thought she did a great job of presenting Vassell's work. The other narrator was Michael Muyunda, who is a new to me performer. He has a wonderfully rich tone to his voice. The tone is lower and calls on the listener to pay attention so as not to miss anything. I think he has the perfect voice for Detective Caius Beauchamp. The speed of his reading varies and I ended up turning the speed down to .09, which worked well for me. I think I enjoyed the audio performance more than I would have enjoyed a printed copy. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of The Other Half. 

Murder in a Country Village - F.L. Everett

Murder in a Country Village is the second book in F.L. Everett's wonderful Edie York Mystery series.

What makes it such a wonderful series? Well, all the elements that I quite enjoy are there. Set in the years of WWII, the keep calm and carry on attitude, a plucky female protagonist, a mystery, a crime, an excellent crew of supporting characters - and a dog.

Manchester, London England. Edie is the local newspaper's obituarist. Which is good, but what she'd love to be is a crime reporter. On a ramble with her friend Ethel, they come across a body - and it's someone Ethel knows. Accident or deliberate?

Edie just can't help herself - she starts asking questions. And soon enough, DCI Louis Brennan is called upon. 

I really enjoy this type of investigation. Answers, clues, secrets and more are found by interviews, conversations, hunches and instinct. So much more interesting than DNA matches etc. 

Edie is such a great lead character and the reader can't help but behind her. Urging her on and sometimes shaking your head at some of her choices. But, it's her curious nature, her kindness and zest for life that makes her such a great protagonist. The supporting cast from the first book return - Lou, Annie her roommate, Lou's friend Arnold and Marple the dog. Everett gives her players personal lives that move forward. Yes, there's some romance afoot for some. 

Everett has done a really good job of bringing her setting to life. She gives us detailed locales, food, businesses, the war and much more.

The first book, set the place and introduced the characters. With this second entry there's much more to the crime, the investigation and the characters. See for yourself - read an excerpt. I will be watching for the third book! 

It Ends at Midnight - Harriet Tyce

Harriet Tyce's novel - It Ends at Midnight - actually opens with the ending.

'It's New Year's Eve and the stage is set for a lavish party in one of Edinburgh's best postcodes. It's a moment for old friends to set the past to rights - and move on. The night sky is alive with fireworks and the champagne is flowing. But the celebration fails to materialise. Because someone at this party is going to die tonight. Midnight approaches and the countdown begins - but it seems one of the guests doesn't want a resolution. They want revenge."

It Ends at Midnight opens with a good hook, guaranteed to catch and keep your attention. While we know there will be a murder, we don't know who, where or why. Tyce uses a now and then timeframe to tell her tale.

Sylvia is the lead character. She is a solicitor and aspires be more in her professional life and and have more in her personal life. But there's something in her past that she has hidden for years. If it is exposed, she could lose everything she has or wants. I admit, I didn't like Sylvia at all. Although, she makes for a good unreliable protagonist. She has selective memories from her past and she drinks until she blacks out. She's got a desperate air about her. One that leads her into some iffy situations. She does not see things the way the reader can. Someone is neatly walking her down the garden path. And I still couldn't like her. Her naivety seems to be at odds, given her profession life. She makes some serious choices that you just know are going to turn out badly - both then and now.

Also along for the walk are a number of red herrings for the reader to take note of. Tyce gives us a number of 'suspects' to choose from. My first guess was proved right  in the end. 

What was not mentioned in the synopsis of the book is the sexual content of the plot. Gentle readers, take note that there are many triggers in this novel. Read an excerpt of excerpt of It Ends at Midnight 

Class - Stephanie Land

Star studded tell-alls are of no interest to me. Instead I find myself invariably drawn to memoirs of everyday people. The struggles and the triumphs - and real life.

Stephanie Land's first book, Maid, was a runaway bestseller. I thought it was a fantastic read. I was eager to turn the first page of Land's new book - Class.

Land's desire to be a writer and the love she has for her daughter were the driving forces in pursuing that goal.  Class brings us the next chapter - life while raising a young child, working as a cleaner, attending a four year college, homework, hunger, childcare and more. All from the under the poverty line.

Land's determination is so inspiring. She gets knocked down but keeps getting up. Trying to find her way through the byzantine agencies that seem to contradict each other. Facing judgment at school, at work and in society. Being judged as a mother and a woman by those who have no idea what she's struggling with. Now, that's not everyone, but there are enough.

I like the honesty of Land's work and not making it all 'pretty'. I don't think memoirs can be rated or judged. Each of us has their own way of doing things, achieving goals and living. I appreciate Stephanie Land's sharing of her journey. So far. I wonder if there will be another chapter? See for yourself - read an excerpt of Class. Definitely recommended. 

Class - Stephanie Land

Star studded tell-alls are of no interest to me. Instead I find myself invariably drawn to memoirs of everyday people. The struggles and the triumphs - and real life.

Stephanie Land's first book, Maid, was a runaway bestseller. I thought it was a fabulous read. I was eager to listen to Land's new book - Class.

Land's desire to be a writer and the love she has for her daughter were the driving forces in pursuing that goal. Class brings us the next chapter - life while raising a young child, working as a cleaner, attending a four year college, homework, hunger, childcare and more. All from the under the poverty line.

Land's determination is so inspiring. She gets knocked down but keeps getting up. Trying to find her way through the byzantine agencies that seem to contradict each other. Facing judgment at school, at work and in society. Being judged as a mother and a woman by those who have no idea what she's struggling with. Now, that's not everyone, but there are enough.

I like the honesty of Land's work and not making it all 'pretty'. I don't think memoirs can be rated or judged. Each of us has their own way of doing things, achieving goals and living. I appreciate Stephanie Land's sharing of her journey. So far. I wonder if there will be another chapter? I hope so! Definitely recommended. 

I listened to Class. What a treat it is to listen to an author read their work. Even more so when the book is a memoir. All the emotions, reactions, thoughts, situations etc. were lived by Land. The listener can feel and appreciate that intimacy as she reads. She speaks clearly and odd as it sounds - for me, her voice matched her image.  I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I often find I often feel much more immersed in a book when I listen. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Class. 

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont - Laura Pearson

What a wonderful find Laura Pearson's novel was! The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is a heartwarming - and heartbreaking tale. 

Mabel and Arthur were married for sixty two years. I say were, as Arthur has passed away. Arthur loved list and when Mabel comes across a cryptic note, she knows it is for her. All is says is 'Find D."

Dot was Mabel's best friend for years, until.....

The answer to that - and other revelations are found in Mabel's memories. She is determined to finally bring her life, good and bad, to light.

A group of other women are with her on the journey to find Dot. They're of all ages and stages of life and are given rich personal lives as well. With every step, the years fall away and the past is finally addressed for Mabel. The other women are also on journey of their own. Pearson tackles a number of issues with this group.  

There's so much to enjoy about this novel. Friendships, hard times, being true to yourself, love, loss, grief and more. I had an inkling of what might be ahead and was proven right in the end. No matter, it's the journey that makes this such a great listen.

I choose to listen to The Last List of Mabel Beaumont. The reader was Penelope Freeman and she did a wonderful job presenting Pearson's work. The voice for Mabel was perfect - somewhat querulous at times. But she still has a bite when needed. She provides distinct and different voices for all of the other characters, making it very easy to know who is talking. She speaks clearly and enunciates well. The speed is just right. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt. 

A wonderful listen!   11 hours

The Manor House - Gilly Macmillan

I've really enjoyed Gilly Macmillan's previous books and knew I was settling in for another great read with her latest - The Manor House.

When Tom and Nicole win the lottery, they give up their starter home, and instead they build Nicole's dream house - in a very wealthy neighborhood. 

What's that saying? Money is at the root of all evil? Match that avarice with a nod to one of Hitchcock's best movies and you've got an idea about what you'll find inside Macmillan's novel.

But Macmillan has made this idea her own. More than once, she completely caught me off guard with a twist, an unexpected development, red herrings,  reveals I couldn't have imagined. 

The characters are so well drawn! You'll have your favorites and your ones to loath. But are they each telling the truth? Are they really what they present to the world?

The Manor House was a great, page turning read for me. Really well done! See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Manor House.

The Woman With A Purple Heart by Diane Hanks - Release week!

If you enjoy historical fiction, especially WWII, you're going to want to pick up a copy of Diane Hanks' just released debut novel - The Woman With A Purple Heart. 

And if you're wondering - the answer is yes' The book is "Based on the breathtaking true story of Lieutenant Annie Fox, the first woman to be awarded the Purple Heart for combat as a result of her heroism at Pearl Harbor"

Here's more from Source Landmarks: 

"In November 1941, Annie Fox, an Army nurse, is transferred to Hickam Field, an air force base in Honolulu. The others on her transport plane are thrilled to work in paradise, but Annie sees her new duty station as the Army's way of holding the door open to her retirement. But serving her country is her calling and she will go wherever she is told.

On December 7, Annie's on her way to work when the first Japanese Zero fighter plane flies low over Hickam's Parade Ground. The death and destruction that follow leave her no time to process what's happening. She rallies her nurses, and they work to save as many lives as they can. But soon their small hospital is overwhelmed. Annie drives into Honolulu to gather supplies, nurses, and several women who will donate blood. However, the nurses are Japanese Americans, and the blood donors are prostitutes. 

Under Annie's leadership and working together in unexpected ways, they make it through that horrific day, when one of the Japanese American nurses and Annie's friend, Kay, is arrested as a suspected subversive. As Hickam tries to recover, Annie works to find her friend and return Kay to her family. But Annie's love for her country is put to the test. How can she reconcile the American bravery and resilience she saw on December 7 with the prejudice and injustice she witnesses just a few months later?" Sounds like a great read! See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Woman With A Purple Heart.

"Diane Hanks was inspired to write The Woman With A Purple Heart because she first saw the name Annie Fox when she was a medical writer working on a project about VA’s Annie App, which is used to send text messages to veterans about self-care. Hanks discovered the app was named after Lt. Annie Fox, and she considered it a shame that the first female recipient of the Purple Heart was not widely known. Thus, The Woman With A Purple Heart was born."

"Diane Hicks has a BFA and MA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston, MA. She was first published in an anthology of short stories titled How the Weather Was when she was in graduate school; then she took a detour in

screenwriting. The detour lasted a few decades and resulted in several honors that

included winning the PAGE International Screenwriting Award Grand Prize with a drama pilot, in addition to one of her screenplays being featured on the prestigious Black List and making the inaugural GLAAD List. The Woman With A Purple Heart is based on Diane’s screenplay titled Hickam." You can find Diane on Facebook.

Resurrection Walk - Michael Connelly

I eagerly await each new book from Michael Connelly. He's hands down one of my favorite authors. And then...I finish it far too quickly. I couldn't put down Resurrection Walk. It's one heck of a page turner.

While the cover is labelled as a Lincoln Lawyer book, it also features Harry Bosch. Harry is now working for his half brother, Mickey Haller, as a part time investigator. Haller is coming off of a big win and has Harry vetting requests for another 'Resurrection Walk' case. 

This is not a jury case, instead Mickey is presenting his case to only one person - a Federal judge. The stakes are high, as is the tension. And the other is are just as determined. Connelly's courtroom legalese is detailed and is presented and written so readers understand what's going on. The courtroom machinations, the ups and downs of rulings and Mickey's plans are fascinating to read. 

Connelly's characters' personal lives are always moving forward. Familiar supporting players, Cisco, Lorna, Maggie Fierce, Maddy and more, make cameo appearances. It's been hard to see Harry age and take a lesser role. I think of him as an old war horse. It was different to see him on the defense side of the table instead of the prosecution. Mickey may be making some changes as well. Only the next book will tell. 

An absolute addicting, can't put it down book! More please. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Resurrection Walk. 

The Beautiful and the Wild - Peggy Townsend

The Beautiful and the Wild is Peggy Townsend's newly released novel. 

This descriptor caught my eye - "The dangers of Alaska aren't limited to storms, starvation, and grizzly bears. Sometimes the most dangerous thing is the person you love." 

My preconceived idea of what path Townsend's plotting would take was oh so wrong. Which I was quite happy with! It's refreshing to come across a narrative I hadn't expected.

Our lead character is Liv. She's likeable and readers will immediately be behind her. That first chapter is a doozy! There's a supporting cast in the 'now' chapters that will have you shaking your head. But the premise is not so far from reality. 

Liv's tale is told from a now and then narrative. And again, my perspective on Liv changed with each 'then' revelation. There's more to Liv than you'd think. What impact will that past have on the present? Townsend does a great job of ramping up the tension and danger with every chapter in the present. 

It was easy to imagine the setting with Townsend's detailed descriptions. 

Bottom line? I really enjoyed The Beautiful and the Wild. The past and present storytelling style is one of my favorites and Townsend did a great job of keeping my curiosity piqued in both narratives. I couldn't put the book down! And I thought the ending was perfect. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Beautiful and the Wild. 

Christmas Presents - Lisa Unger

I love the time of the year when seasonal titles start popping up. And especially when it's a favorite author.  Christmas Presents is Lisa Unger's gift to readers this season!

Madeline was the only survivor of a serial killer that terrorized her town years ago. A man was convicted. But, now an author turned podcaster wants to reopen the case. He stops into Madeline's bookstore asking for her participation, as other women have gone missing.

As always, I was immediately caught up in Unger's premise. A past and present timeline is used, which I always enjoy as well. We're with a teenage Madeline as she gets close to what the reader knows is danger - in many ways. And with her in the presents as she tries to remember what she has forgotten. She's a likeable character that's easy to get behind. Unger does a great job presenting the two ages of Madeline. 

There's a good cast of supporting players that gives the reader a wide variety of choice for 'whodunit.' Some red herrings kept me guessing until the final pages. 

The bookshop is a wonderfully drawn setting - and I'd been quite happy to browse the shelves and displays! This book might be a great gift for yourself!

And what makes this a Christmas novella? Well, the timeframe is the days building up to Christmas. An unknown person has left Madeline a gift on her porch every Christmas for many years. And what about the person dressing up as Santa ahead of time?

While marketed as a seasonal read, those who enjoy murder mysteries will enjoy this book anytime. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Christmas Presents.

224 pages.

When I'm Dead - Hannah Morrissey

Hannah Morrissey's third book, When I'm Dead, takes us back to the town of Black Harbor. But, this latest book can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

Black Harbor is the setting of Morrissey's books, dark, grim, foreboding, dusty and dirty from the coal mine backdrop. A place that everyone wants to leave. As much as Black Harbor is the setting it seems to also be a character - with its own agenda. Here's one example - but there are many more.

"He knows the haunting air belongs to Forge Bridge which isn't far from here, its rusted rungs and railroad ties groaning and whispering, beckoning people to its edge." Shivers! I love how Morrissey has blended this into the entire narrative.

Return readers like myself will be happy to see that Investigator Nikolai Kole returns in this third entry. He's an excellent lead - determined to do the best he can, knowing that his window of leaving is getting smaller and smaller. Other characters from the first two books take larger roles. They too are well drawn. The reader is privy to their thoughts on the crime, the why, the self rumination. This plays a key part of Morrissey's intricate plotting. I also liked how tendrils from the first two books have insinuated themselves into this book. 

Morrissey's writing is unsettling and so addicting. There's no way to predict where the plot is going to go. There are many many choices for the final whodunit. I thought I had solved the case, only to be proven wrong. I love being proved wrong.

A gritty, dark tale that's another five star read for me from Morrissey. See for yourself - read an excerpt of When I'm Dead. I'm hoping there are more stories to be told from Dark Harbor. #WHENIMDEAD