Sharp Force - Patricia Cornwell

I love this long running series from Patricia Cornwell. I was thrilled to see a new entry called Sharp Force.

It's Christmas Day but there’s no rest for chief medical examiner, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, and her team. There is another group and they’re working just as hard to push their own agenda. I don't know how Kay says nothing! Well, she's got a great voice in her brain.

I absolutely am amazed at how the crimes are solved with a body left to tell the tale.

The fire is stoked up when three people are attacked by a ghost. Which is not probable - is it?

I like how Cornwell moves the lives of her characters forward. I’ll be interested to see how Al is used in the next few books. This one caught me off guard so much more than I thought. 

Well written, addictive and just a great read! Watch for this! SCARPETTA soon to be a streaming series starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis.   

A Very Bookish Murder -- Dee MacDonald Tour!

A Very Bookish Murder is the third entry in Dee MacDonald's series

I like to have a cozy book when I've had a long day and just want to 'escape' with some amateur sleuths. Maybe I can solve the whodunit before the last page is turned? (I didn't!)

MacDonald has a lead character in Ally McKinley that is clever, curious and likeable. There are a number of supporting folks from the village. Queenie from the village makes me laugh. And Ross is lovely. I feel like I am catching up with old friends. Ally is offering her B&B group of writers attending a retreat. (I also want to own Ally's historical building.) All is good until.....I'm sure you know what happens next.....make a cuppa and enjoy.

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of BOAC) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years. She has worked at the BOAC when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to BOAC, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70! Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

Death at a Highland Wedding - Kelley Armstrong

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth entry in Kelley Armstrong's Rip Through Time series.

I have enjoyed every book that Kelley has written. Her female leads are always intelligent women that don’t back down. That’s certainly the case with modern day detective Mallory Atkinson. I say modern day because she has slipped back in 150 years into the past in the Scottish Highlands. She now helps an undertaker and a detective with cases.

It’s a great premise!  Everything has to change if she’s going to stay….or go…. Speech, the attitudes, the roles and the rules of women, dressing, and so much more.

In this book Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie travel to a Highlands castle that’s surrounded by wilderness. A perfect setting for a murder, don't you think? It’s feels a bit like a Christie book. The answer for who dunit changes many times on the way to the final answer. I loved every page.

The mystery is excellent but that’s only half of it for this reader. The ‘yes, no, maybe so’ from some of the players will have you wondering. I’m always eager to see what’s going on with the players.

An easy five stars.

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.

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.

Identity Unknown - Patricia Cornwell

Identity Unknown is Patricia Cornwell's new book - and its the 28th entry in her long running series featuring chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

Kay is called out to a body found in an abandoned amusement park. She's stunned when she views the victim - they had a relationship years ago. The Feds are called as they have questions about this case as well. And Kay has another case that is hard to read about. 

The supporting cast returns with Investigator Pete Marino right by Kay's side. The two have had a fractious relationship over the years, but they're both dedicated to finding the truth. 

Niece Lucy also has mad skills and also works for the Feds. Much of  her job is classified. As is Kay's husband Benton's job. Kay's sister Dorothy just annoys me so much! She is a narcissist. 

I am always intrigued with the technology, reasoning, methods and more that are used in the books. I've gone online few times to read more. It's fascinating. They figure heavily in this latest.

The Scarpetta books are all told from Kay's point of view. Cornwell keeps the time line moving forward - the characters are aging. I enjoy Kay's inner dialogue very much. 

Cornwell gives the reader a page turner in this latest. The ending of Identity Unknown is satisfying - but I happily can say that there's a door that's been left open for the next entry... I'll be watching for it.

See for yourself - read an excerpt of Identity Unknown.

Dead Tired - Kat Ailes

Dead Tired is the second book in Kat Ailes' Expectant Detectives Series.

I read the first book and quite enjoyed it. Dead Tired revisits Alice and her mommy/amateur sleuth friends. The babes are growing up and are mobile now. And the moms are looking for a few hours of catch up sleep. Why not chain themselves to trees in an eco protest?! Yes, they got a few winks...but there's an extra body when they wake up - one that's quite dead.

Ailes is a fun writer. She has a small child and I imagine she draws on her own experiences for these books. Alice is a great lead character and I liked her. The supporting cast are a mixed bunch and it makes things much more interesting.

Dead Tired is a cosy murder mystery. All the pieces are there - a small village, quirky players, a dog named Helen, enthusiastic amateur detectives, and a police dept that Alice thinks needs some help. There are lots of red herrings along the path to the final aha moments. Another fun, light hearted read from Ailes. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Dead Tired.

Death in the Mayfair Hotel - Fliss Chester

A Bookworm's World is today's stop on the tour for Death in the Mayfair Hotel, the sixth entry in Fliss Chester's - The Cressida Fawcett Mystery series. 

It's Christmas Eve in 1925 London, Cressida Fawcett is at the Mayfair Hotel with her chums and acquaintances - including her wee dog Ruby. The festivities have just begun when Cressida discovers a body. And it's someone she knows...

This is the first book I've read in this series. I was easily able to suss out who was who and some background. 

I really liked the characters. Although she is part of the upper crust, Cressida is keen on helping the local constabulary find out who the culprit is before midnight and the doors are opened. This isn't the first time she's helped them. She's smart, curious, and determined. I liked puzzling over the clues with her. The supporting cast was just as good, especially her best friend Dotty.

This setting gives us a large locked room mystery. Chester describes the setting very well and I could imagine  the ballrooms and the down belows. The customs, mindsets, expectations and rules of the time period are part of the setting - and the plot. There were a number of choices for the 'whodunit'. Chester gives us that and some red herrings on the way.

Cosy mysteries are my 'get away from it all, escapist' reads. Death in the Mayfair Hotel has all the bits that make up a cosy tale. A spunky lead that's an amateur sleuth, a dog or cat that helps out, a possible love interest yes, there's one or two of these. And while it's not a small village, the upper crust are the stand ins for that component. A fun read and a lovely cosy. Thanks Fliss Chester!

"Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter."

You can find Fliss on Instagram as well as on X (Twitter)

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Fliss Chester here.

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What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust - Alan Bradley

I let out a squeal when I discovered that Alan Bradley had written a new Flavia de Luce book - What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust. The titles are always quite enigmatic and it's fun seeing how they fit the story.

Now, this is number eleven in this series. You could read it as a stand alone, but you'd be depriving yourself of an addicting series! And some context. 

Flavia is a 'young woman' now, but she is still the irrepressible ten year old we met in the first book in the series. I love her inner dialogue, her running feud with her sisters and now her young cousin, her joy in solving cases ahead of the constabulary, tinkering in her laboratory and working with her poisons. Still riding her beloved bicycle Gladys that was her mothers. I could go on and on about this absolutely wonderful lead character. As a ten year old myself I always wanted to be a certain character in a mystery. But I think being Flavia would a lot more interesting!

So, a great character, now how about the mystery found in every book? Just as good! They're always well written and are satisfying. Bradley brings forward happenings and clues from the last book and weaves them into the current book. Whoa! I did not see the plotting going where it did in this latest! The whodunit was surprising and satisfying but left the door open for more. Please Alan Bradley!

See for yourself - read an excerpt of What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust.

This is Why We Lied - Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter is hands down one of my favorite authors. I get so excited when a new book comes out. This is Why We Lied has just released and is the latest in the Will Trent series.

Will and Sara are taking some time off up at an off the grid mountain resort run by a family. There is a lot of friction within the family. And then there's a scream in the night. And Will and Sara have to switch to work mode...

Oh my gosh! I truly could not put the book down. Slaughter has come up with a truly gut wrenching plot. Everyone lies and Will has to figure who is behind the murders. I always appreciate a 'closed room' scenario. The trip to the final pages has surprises, red herring's and twists and turns. There's no way to figure out the whodunit before the last pages.

I really like the four main characters in this series. Slaughter keeps their personal lives moving forward. Will and Sara relation is well written. Amanda's hard as nailing personality that runs over anything in her way or telling her no. Faith is funny, I aways enjoyed her out look.

While I couldn't stop reading, sometimes had to wait to turn the page. Some of the characters had me talking out loud - telling what I thought of them. And it wasn't nice. 

Another excellent entry in this series. Can't wait for the next one! Gentle readers - there are a number of triggers. Read an excerpt of This is Why We Lied.

 

The Dark Wives - Ann Cleeves

The Dark Wives is Ann Cleeves' latest (11th), in her wonderful Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope series. And yes - the television series is based on this character.

The setting is northeastern England and plays a part in the mystery. The details paint vivid mental images of the setting. 

Josh works at a home for troubled teens. He is found dead outside the building - and one of the teens is gone. And then there's another death...

Vera is on the case and is joined by Joe and Rosie, who is new to 'the patch.' I adore Vera - she says what she things, she doesn't tolerate fools, marches to her own piper and never gives up. She is determined to bring the missing teenage home. Her methods are often not by the book. 

The premise and plot is imaginative and multi faceted. I didn't figure out the answers 'til the final pages. An excellent tale. 

And a wonderful listen. I find I am more immersed in a story when I listen to it. That was the case with The Dark Wives. The narrator was Janine Birkett and she was a great choice. I believe she was the lone reader. She has come up with believable and suitable voices for all of the players using accents, speed, tone, and more. She conveys the action, the mood and much more with her performance. Excellent! 

Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt. 

11 hours and 50 minutes

Fire and Bones - Kathy Reichs

Yay! A new novel Temperance Brennan from Kathy Reichs! Fire and Bones has just released - and it's a hot read!

I've read every Tempe book and I'm always eager to see what her next case will be about. This time Tempe is headed to Washington to help identify fire victims and add her expertise to the investigation. And Tempe can't walk away when she comes across clues pointing to a much bigger operation.

I really enjoy Tempe as a protagonist. She's got a rich personal life that has progressed over the course of all 23 books in the series. She's dogged in her search for the answers and justice as a forensic anthropologist. Kathy Reichs herself is a certified forensic anthropologist. Her cases and writing have the details that tell you it's the real deal. I quite enjoy Tempe's inner dialogue as well!

The cases are always interesting. There's lots of history is this latest - and no way to predict how or what will come next. (I like the twist in the final chapter!) 

Her counterpart in this latest is journalist Ivy Doyle. Can Ivy be trusted with what's going on behind doors. I wasn't a fan of this character in the beginning, but... 

An excellent entry in this long running series. See for your self - read an excerpt of Fire and Bones.

Murder in Mayfair - Verity Bright

Rainy days call for a cuddle up on the couch, with a quilt on your lap, a pot of tea and, a faithful dog. And .... a cosy mystery! 

I chose Murder in Mayfair by Verity Bright. Bright is a new to me author. This is Book 18 in the Lady Eleanor Swift series.

The books are set in the 1920's - a time that I quite enjoy. Lady Eleanor Swift is excited to be going on a hot air balloon ride, looking down at London. But instead, she witnesses a crime taking place below! And what she does next is unexpected, but I knew this was going to be a character I'd enjoy! Her beloved butler Clifford, tries to run interference for her. As does her fiancée - Detective Hugh Seldon. I quite like all three recurring characters. The banter between the three is fun to read. Back stories are alluded to, but I easily picked up on what has gone before.

The plot is also well written, and well presented, giving the reader time to count down to the final whodunit. Another crime runs parallel to the first. Could the two be connected?

I quite enjoyed this tale. I'll be adding Verity Bright and Lady Swift to my list of  cosy mysteries. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Murder in Mayfair. 

Storm Child - Michael Robotham

Storm Child is the fourth entry in Michael Robotham's Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac series. 

Quick catch up if you've not read the first three books. Cyrus is a  psychologist and is the person who found Evie as a child, hiding in a house of horrors. Evie doesn't remember much of her early years - until now...

Robotham has added clues about Evie over the course of the first three books. But fans of this series thrilled to know that this new book does give readers answers at last! But at what cost to Evie?

I really these two characters - Cyrus's slower pace and thinking before acting is the exact opposite to Evie's scattergun approach. They play off each other well. And the care is there between them. I've become invested in both of them.

Robotham's plotting has been wonderful in each entry. This latest could have been torn from newspaper headlines. The plot has a satisfying finish, but I thing there is still much in store for Evie and Cyrus. There are a few questions left...

An easy five star read. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Storm Child. 

Think Twice - Harlan Coben

I have read each and every book Harlan Coben has written. His standalones are great - but I have a soft spot for Myron Bolitar and his friend Windsor Horne Lockwood III aka Win. Think Twice partners up the two again.

Things start off with a curious prologue. A man who died three years ago has just left his fingerprints at a crime scene. How can that be? The FBI comes knocking on Myron's door to ask the same question...

The plotting is impeccable and there's no way you're going to suss out the answer to the question of whodunit. There are twists and revelations along the way that change the direction of the investigation many times. The ending is edge of your seat, nail biting good. I loved being along for the ride as Win and Myron stay one step ahead of the FBI - and others. The two of them have each other's back. The dialogue between Win and Myron is short, snappy and a heck of lot of fun to read. 

There are a lot of supporting players - some good, some of them not so much. I'm happy to say though, that Esperanza and Big Cyndi are back as well. We also hear from a mystery person in chapters that are chilling.

A satisfying read that I finished far too soon. More please! An easy five stars from this  reader. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Think Twice.

A Game of Lies - Clare Mackintosh

Clare Mackintosh brings her take on reality game shows in her latest book - A Game of Lies. This is the second book in a series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

Seven people are the chosen ones that will be vying for a prize of 100,000 pounds that will go to the last one standing. What they're expecting are physical challenges - but what they get is something completely different. The name of the game is 'Exposed' - and it's life changing...

Mackintosh takes us back to a small village in Wales - the setting of the first book. The village is on the dividing line between England and Wales and jurisdiction is sometimes murky. Two investigators are tasked with the case - local copper DC Ffion Morgan and English based DC Leo Brady. I was thrilled to see this pair of coppers again. There's a connection between the two, but neither feels like they can act on their personal feelings. I like the detailed lives Mackintosh has give the two lead characters. The supporting cast is just as interesting. And the contestants? An interesting bunch for sure. And who else is needed? Dave the dog of course. 

 

The setting is well described and I could easily imagine the hills, the water, the forest, the village and the game site.

Now - the crime. There are a lot of choices for the final whodunit. It wasn't easy to suss out the culprit or the method. Twists and turns in the narrative make it even more difficult. 

I quite this liked this latest! Hopefully Mackintosh has a third book in the works. See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Game of Lies. 

The Last Word - Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths is one of my favorite authors. And though I'll never stop missing the Ruth Galloway books, I have found some new favorites. You can meet some of them in Elly Griffiths' new book - The Last Word.

DS Harbinder Kaur from The Postscript Murders is back - but in a supporting role this time around. Instead we're with the two owners of the K and F Detective Agency - eight four year old Edwin and Natalka, who also runs a carer business. Oh, and her boyfriend Benedict steps in when needed as well. Amateur sleuths? Yes - but they're very clever and dogged in their search for answers and results. Griffiths has created a set of new players that I really, really like. I must admit to having a favorite already with Edwin. As readers, we are privy to their inner dialogue and that really rounds out the characters. 

The case itself is a murder. Or a possible murder. It's hard to say. So that's where the sleuthing starts. But Benedict sees a possible connection to something he's found. And the answers may be found at a creative writing weekend. There are many, many choices for the whodunit. I must admit to losing track as to who was who at times. But, there are updated clue lists as the investigation progresses that help.

Everything is tied up nicely be the end of the book. But the door is open for more of this crew - and I'll be watching for the next book. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Last Word.

The publisher's blurb "Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and the Thursday Murder Club is spot on."  

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice - Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan is back! Elle Cosimano has just released the fourth book in this series - Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice.  

This latest picks up exactly where number three left off - with our lead characters Finlay and Vero in the middle of another crazy situation. This time they're in a rundown hotel in Atlantic City. With Finlay's mother, her kids, her ex, her sister, four policemen, a mob boss, Vero's beau, a bookie, a teen computer wiz and...so much more. Whew! 

The two leads bounce off each other and complement each other with different outlooks, strengths and weaknesses. Their dialogue is short and snappy. And I really like Finlay's inner thoughts.

Is this a dark murder mystery series? Well, no, it's not dark, despite the trail of dead bodies that seem to follow the pair. Also woven into the novel is a romance for Finlay. Did I mention she's a romance author as well.

Yes, the plot is over the top and there's a wealth of characters, but that's the fun with a read like this. Just go with it and see where Cosimano takes you. Keep your eyes for Kevin Bacon!

Many loose threads are tied up in the final chapters ... except that one... I look forward to the next book!

It was easy for me to jump back into the ongoing plot as I've read the previous three entries. I do think that a new reader would enjoy the series more if they started with book number one.

Fans of Janet Evanovich would enjoy this series. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice.

Original Sins - Erin Young

Original Sins is the newest book from Erin Young.

This second book in a series brings back Riley Fisher, now a FBI rookie. She needs to hit the ground running as she's been assigned to protect the new governor, who has received death threats. And a historical serial killer named The Sin Eater, seems to be back...

Riley is an engaging lead character. She's smart, intuitive and driven. But she's being stymied by a co worker. He doesn't want to work with Riley, leaving her out and taking off on his own tangents. Riley wonders if it's her personally - or is it all women? This is a theme throughout the book in Riley's beliefs, actions and in her work. I also enjoyed the personal life Young has written for Riley. 

This book is set in Des Moines, Iowa. I'm familiar with this area and it was fun to say "I've been there". But also a little worrisome about such a dark crime being committed in this area!

The book is busy with two crimes, a raft of suspects and supporting players. Young gives the listener many paths and a choice of culprits to consider before the final ah ha moments. Gentle readers - there are some triggers in the book.

I chose to listen to Original Sins. The reader was Kate Handford. She did a great job of presenting Young's work. Handford speaks clearly, is easy on the ears and sets the perfect pace. She has lots of movement in her voice and she easily expresses the emotions of the characters and the action of the plot. She has created a voice that suits the mental image I had for Riley. Voices for male characters are believable. Hear for yourself - listen to an excerpt of Original Sins.

The Expectant Detectives - Kat Ailes

The Expectant Detectives is Kat Ailes' debut novel. Now, three guesses - what might these amateur detectives night have in common? If you said 'they're all pregnant' - you're a winner. 

Alice and her partner Joe have moved to Penton, a small village in the Cotswolds. Of course! Penton is home to a varied (and quirky) bunch of residents. The population is down one when a local shopkeeper is found dead downstairs in his shop - while Alice is upstairs at the same shop attending her prenatal class. 

As they're all suspects now - (bar one) four of the women decide to band together to help the local constabulary find the culprit. The group is made up of a wonderful group very different women.

Alice is our lead character and honestly, her actions and dialogue had me laughing out loud. Ailes is a funny woman and writer. Now I have to mention the four footed character Helen - Alice's dog. Again, very funny. She steals the show in a few places.

And what about the crime? Ailes gives us lots of possibilities for the whodunit. And has us questioning just about everyone's innocence. It wasn't easy to suss out the final ah ha!

Fans of Finlay Donovan will love this new series. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Expectant Detective.

Dead Tired is the follow up to The Expectant Detectives, coming out on June 4/24. It's most definitely on my 'want to read' list!