Cozy Mysteries discussion

Started rereading before donating The Border Hostage by Virginia Henley

Here is my 4.31 rounded to 4 stars review of An Unforgiving Place by Claire Kells:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery
National Park setting
This novel has an incredible setting, wonderful characters, and the narrative is well-plotted.

Finished The October Country, a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury. I liked some of these more than others and some were downright creepy. My favorites were “The Lake” and “Uncle Einar.”

My review for Talk to the Heart by Rachael Johns

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've finished number 4 in a medieval mystery series :

Troubled Bones by Jeri Westerson

Here you can read my 5 stars review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The Herbalist's Secret by Annabelle Marx

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.09 rounded to 4 stars review of Hanging the Devil by Tim Maleeny:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery

Suspenseful, Action-Packed, Diverse Characters, Humor, Heart, Some gritty scenes

Currently reading the second book of the trilogy The Ghost Beside Us byPete Nunweiler

I am enjoying Edinburgh Midnight by Carole Lawrence. It is book 3 in the series set in 1880 Scotland. I have enjoyed the previous two books. Love her description of Edinburgh and life at that time. I recommend you read them in order.

Alice wrote: "I am enjoying Edinburgh Midnight by Carole Lawrence. It is book 3 in the series set in 1880 Scotland. I have enjoyed the previous two books. ..."

I have this one on the tbr for next month. Keep hoping more will be coming but sadly it appears not.

Here is my 3.86 rounded to 4 stars review of Tatum Comes Home by Tatum Talks and Mica Stone:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Animal Fiction
Feel-good, light, and entertaining story about a dog and his journey home and the people and animals he meets along the way.

My review for Outback by Patricia Wolf

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Have finished two non-cozies this week.

* The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman. I stayed up until midnight Tuesday night reading this. Finished in one day and definitely worth it, though I could not read it in one sitting. I’d read a chapter, then do something else or switch to another book for a half or an hour.

* Pretend You Don't See Her by Mary Higgins Clark. This was a recent Kindle read and a bit of a page turner. I finished it on my lunch break today.

I read A Place for Us, but I can't recommend it. There was no plot. Only a very long rambling story about a family's interpersonal relationships. The POV and timeline changes without warning or any indication. It ended with no resolution - the family never addressed their problems. Two stars.

My review for Voices in the Dark by Fleur McDonald

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Started reading book 3 of this fabulous trilogy The Ghost Within Us byPete Nunweiler

Here is my 4.2 rounded to 4 stars review of Cold Curses by Chloe Neill: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Urban Fantasy
Fifth and Final book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series
Great characterization and world building
Plenty of action, exciting scenes, a larger-than-life protagonist, evil antagonists

Here is my 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review of Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Compelling and heartbreaking mystery
Well-written and well-researched
Suspenseful, gritty, touching, heartbreaking, and atmospheric
While fictional, it is based on real events that occurred in and near Picher, OK

My review for Broken by Karin Slaughter

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The Talented Mrs Greenway by Tea Cooper

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Rereading Buckingham Palace Gardens by Anne Perry a Victorian era mystery.

My review for The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet by Jaclyn Moriarty

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 3.88 rounded to 4 stars review of The Enemy at Home by Kevin O'Brien: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Historical Fiction / Mystery
1943 Seattle, Washington
The plot is twisty and changing throughout with several potential killers. It gradually builds momentum and the period details felt authentic. However, I didn’t feel that I learned anything new from the novel and the killer was somewhat easy to discern. Despite this, the world-building was well-done, and story gave excellent insight into the main and secondary characters’ behaviors and actions towards others.

I am about to start Clown in a Cornfield. I've heard a lot of good things, so I am very excited!

Here is my 3.12 rounded to 3 stars review of The Beautiful and the Wild by Peggy Townsend:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

More of a survival story than a mystery or thriller ----
Difficult living conditions, fearful for her life and that of her son, and some unexpected resilience make for an interesting story, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations from the synopsis. However, it is gripping and compelling at times and I wanted to know how it would end.

My review for Mim and the Woeful Wedding by Katrina Nannestad

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for Code Name Butterfly by Embassie Susberry

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Currently rereading Long Spoon Lane byAnne Perry a Victorian era mystery

I am reading Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose. Ms. Penrose has done a great job with growing the characters in this series. It keeps the series fresh and makes you want to read more. She does a great job mixing the historical/scientific facts of the era into each book start with book one though. You will miss too much of the background if you just jump in with this book.

Here is my 4.6 rounded to 5 stars review of Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thriller
Overall, this tense and exciting thriller keeps the reader on an emotional rollercoaster, quickly turning pages with the hope that the world will be safe. This was an excellent start to what I hope will be a long high-octane and dynamic series.

My Review of Clown in a Cornfield.

Next up, The Thin Man.

Alice wrote: "I am reading Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose. Ms. Penrose has done a great job with growing the characters in this s..."

I love this series. I have a hold on this book at my library and am waiting for it to become available.

Teresa wrote: "Alice wrote: "I am reading Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose. Ms. Penrose has done a great job with growing the charac..."

I have this on hold, as well. This is one of the few series that I'm caught up with.

Starting out the week with Calico by Lee Goldberg https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The Tuscan Orphan by Siobhan Daiko

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished reading A Vintage Vacation! Highly recommend!

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for Sam Bloom: Heartache & Birdsong by Bradley Trevor Greive

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for Celebrations in Bellbird Bay by Maggie Christensen

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for Her Buried Bones by Fiona Tarr

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.07 rounded to 4 stars review of Nice Guys Finish Dead by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Western
Entertaining
Good character development

Here is my 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review of Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery/Crime Thriller
The plot has plenty of twists and turns, but is unbelievable at times. However, they kept my interest despite Shaw making some mistakes that I would not have expected him to make. Although the book never specifies which state the story is set in, the novel has great world-building.

Here is my 3.63 rounded to 4 stars review of Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thriller / Horror
The world-building was fantastic in all four parts of the story. With a combination of mystery and horror, it is suspenseful, gritty, heartbreaking, and atmospheric with plenty of chills.

I finished Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros I gave it 5 stars. I recommend reading book one first fourth wing.

Started rereading before donating A Roman Ransom by Rosemary Rowe

My review for The Paris Affair by Victoria Cornwall

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished the first one in a mystery-romance series ( but you can read it as a standalone ) :
The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper D. Basham

Here is my 4 stars review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for Vendetta by Sarah Barrie

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For anyone looking for a psychological thriller author, I highly recommend Alex Kava. Her Maggie O'Dell series is definitely worth checking out, and later Maggie morphed into the Ryder Creed Series which is phenomenal. Fans of Patricia Cornwell and Karin Slaughter will enjoy. It is graphic and violent, but if that doesn't bother you, the characters are fantastic. Start from the beginning of the Maggie series, Before Evil