The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson, which is well narrated by Rachel Capell.

Jill Johnson is a new to me author. I'm always on the look out for new to me authors. I was drawn to the plot summary for The Woman in the Garden as this novel contains "a Professor of Botanical Toxicology with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company" and also a mystery is involved.

First off, I found the protagonist, Eustacia Rose, annoying!! She's very smart, but very odd, quirky and eccentric... These can be good things, but I found her to be simply annoying for the most part throughout much of this novel... However, by the end of the novel, Eustacia Rose had grown on me.

Overall, I liked this mystery novel featuring a woman sleuth. There was a lot of twists and turns throughout The Woman in the Garden. By the end of the novel, I was glad it was over with though. The Woman in the Garden is the first novel in Eustacia Rose mystery series. I think I'll be passing on reading the rest of the series.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson, which I found on Goodreads:

Every garden has its secrets…

Eustacia Rose is a Professor of Botanical Toxicology with only her extensive collection of poisonous plants for company. Her life is quiet, her schedule is unchanging, and her closest friends are the specimens she tends to. But she does have one other watching her neighbors through her telescope, taking extensive notes on their lives for research.

When Eustacia hears a scream one evening, the temptation to investigate proves irresistible. Through her telescope, she catches a glimpse of her extraordinarily beautiful new neighbor, Simone, and soon becomes obsessed with her and her life. But who are these four men that orbit Simone? And why does Eustacia get the feeling she needs to protect her from them?

One day, Eustacia comes home to find her precious garden destroyed and learns that someone close to Simone has been murdered with a rare poisonous plant. As she is drawn deep into the crime, Eustacia's closed-off life begins to crumble, forcing her to break free from the walls of her secret garden and take matters into her own hands. Soon, she's forced to realize that the world is filled with people who are just as toxic as her plants....

I am giving The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is my second read of 2026! I listened to the unabridged audio version of this novel through Hoopla for a book club pick later on this month. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is a long listen at 16 hours, 15 minutes, which is very nicely narrated by Moira Quick.

Normally, I don't gravitate towards reading science fiction or fantasy reads. They're usually not my thing. However, this year, I decided to join a book club, which meets monthly and Gideon the Ninth was this month's pick to read and discuss.

There are pros and cons for for me in terms of Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. 

I loved the world building and the mystery involved in this novel. The writing is good overall. The narration for the audio edition is excellent. I also enjoyed the snarkiness of the leading character, Gideon. 

I disliked the fact that it was initially difficult for me to get onto this novel for two reasons. Reason one is that there were so many characters with odd names to keep track of and they had nicknames or were called by different names throughout the novel, that trying to keep track of who was who was a chore. At the start of the audiobook edition, there is a list of characters and who they are, but this is not easy to refer like it would be in a physical book or ebook. Additionally, I found it difficult initially to figure out the storyline for this science fiction/fantasy read, which was kind of a turn off for me. It wasn't until several chapters in when the storyline FINALLY became interesting to me.

Below is the publisher's summary for Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir from Chirp's website:

The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense. Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy. Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die. Of course, some things are better left dead.

I am giving Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is the first novel in the 'Locked Tomb' series. I will be skipping the rest of the novels in the series. It's a great read if you like great world building, mystery, fantasy or science fiction books. There just is not strong desire for me to finish this series.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput, which was nicely narrated by Allyson Ryan. In fact, Savannah Sleuth was my last read for the month of October.

I was able to download Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput for FREE from Chirp's website. Each week, Chirp Audiobooks offers a few free audiobooks for a limited time. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review for Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput.

Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput is the first novel in the 'Vigilantes For Justice' series. Based on the publisher's summary, I felt like Savannah Sleuth would be a good fit for me. It's a cozy mystery novel (I love cozy mysteries) set in Savannah, Georgia and the plot sounded intriguing enough for my taste.

However, Savannah Sleuth was a huge disappointment to me. I felt like there were way too many topics/bylines in this novel that received more attention than they should've. These side topics/bylines were too distracting. 

Additionally, the main character, Patricia Falcon, was too wimpy for someone who works with other women to help rescue badly abused women in Savannah, Georgia. Patricia seemed too emotionally fragile for this type of work. 

Speaking of rescuing abused women, Patricia Falcon and her crew only did one rescue of an abused woman at the start of the novel. After that, the rest of the novel was focused on other topics. If part of the novel's focus is to highlight the fact that Patricia and her crew rescue abused women, then I'd have liked to see more of that focused on in Savannah Sleuth rather then focusing on other nonessential bylines.

Savannah Sleuth also seems to fall into the Christian fiction genre as well. I don't have any specific beef with the Christian fiction genre. But Christian fiction isn't something I gravitate towards. There was too much talk about the church for me in this novel.

Below is the publisher's summary for Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput from Chirp's website:

Though born to heirloom pearls, designer dresses and lush garden parties, Savannah social icon Patricia Falcon and three of her closest friends spend their days in Savannah’s dark side rescuing abused women. Patricia’s darling mother, a prominent philanthropist, drops dead, and the police are baffled by her untimely death. Patricia recruits her three friends to help her investigate what she believes is murder. “Savannah Sleuth” is a page-turning journey from Savannah’s Southern wealth and grace into the hidden corners of Savannah and across two continents in a deadly pursuit of justice.

I am giving Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars. Needless to say, I won't continue reading the remaining novels in the 'Vigilantes For Justice' series.

Listening time for Savannah Sleuth by Alan Chaput is 8 hours, 14 minutes.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue

 

In 2023, I listened to and reviewed Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue, which is the first cozy mystery novel in the 'Witches Brew' Mysteries Series. I really enjoyed Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue, which has now prompted me to listen to Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue, which is the 2nd novel in the 'Witches Brew' Mysteries Series.

I absolutely loved listening to Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue!! It's another winner in the 'Witches Brew' Mysteries Series and it is well narrated by Kristin Price. I now look forward to listening to the 3rd novel in this cozy mystery series sometime in the future.

The storyline, plot, characters, and writing are excellent for this novel. The pacing was great for this novel too... Not a dull moment to be had. 

I also enjoyed the recipe section at the end. Maybe I'll make a sourdough starter myself?

Below is the publisher's summary for Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue from the Goodreads website:

Phoebe Winchester is back on the case in Raven Creek when a body is discovered at an estate sale in Gretchen Rue’s second book in the Witches’ Brew mystery series, perfect for fans of Laura Childs and Cleo Coyle.

Ever since she moved to Raven Creek, Washington, Phoebe Winchester knew she would have to grow accustomed to having a lot on her plate. She’s beginning to make the Victorian manor she inherited from her dear and adventurous Aunt Eudora feel more like home, successfully running the bookstore and tea shop, The Earl’s Study, and learning to harness her recently discovered magical powers. But when she discovers a dead body at an estate sale—even Phoebe wonders if this is simply too much.

Rumors of Phoebe’s involvement force her to take action; she needs to find the killer and clear her own name, once again. She enlists Rich Lofting, the handsome private detective and her childhood friend, in her investigation, all while she sorts out her unresolved feelings for him. Is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows of this small tight-knit town? And does Phoebe really want to find out?

With a dash of magic, a pinch of sleuthing skills, and a spoonful of friendly assistance, Phoebe needs to uncover the killer to keep Raven Creek safe once again. But if she doesn’t—will she find herself in even more hot water?

I am giving Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones, which is narrated by Kirsty Rider. 

The Earthquake Bird is a novel that had been sitting on my reading wishlist for quite a long time and I finally made the time to read it this month. The Earthquake Bird also happens to be the author's debut novel. 

The Earthquake Bird is billed as a psychological thriller. I enjoy reading psychological thrillers, which is one of the features that attracted me to this novel. Another factor that drew me to this novel is that the story takes place in Japan and also features an unreliable narrator named, Lucy Fly, as the leading character. If done correctly, unreliable narrators are a fantastic feature in a novel.

So, what did I think of The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones? The pacing of this novel is kind of slow. 

Yes, I like unreliable narrators, but I've seen better unreliable narrators in other novels I've read over the years. 

There was too much switching back and forth between the first person perspective and third person perspective in the The Earthquake Bird, which I found disconcerting. I guess you can say this only added to the main character's unreliability. However, I still don't like the lack of clarity when an author switches perspective on a reader as it is does cause some minor confusion.

The ending for The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones was dull. For me, it's clear who the killer is to me. But it felt like the author was trying too hard to be creepy in a psychological way that didn't hit the mark. 

The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones is a good, debut novel, but I think it could have been so much better. 

Below is the publisher's summary for The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones from Chirp's website:

Now a major Netflix film starring Alicia Vikander and Riley Keough, a haunting psychological thriller set in Tokyo probing deep into the mind of a murder suspect

The grisly headline leaves nothing to the imagination: “Woman’s torso recovered from Tokyo Bay. Believed to be missing British bartender Lily Bridges.” The only suspect is Lucy Fly. Her friend is dead, her lover has disappeared, and as far as anyone is concerned, she’s as good as guilty.

Trapped in the interrogation room, Lucy begins to unravel two stories. One, for the police, is a spare outline, offering more questions than answers. The other–the real one, if you believe her–is a gripping dive into an obsessive mind, revealing the checkered past that brought her to Japan, her complicated friendship with Lily, and a tempestuous affair with a missing Japanese photographer named Teiji. As she excavates the dangerous secrets–both past and present–that haunt her waking mind, Lucy relates an unsettling life story that spans bustling Tokyo, the British countryside, and remote Japanese islands, each step taking us closer to the chilling truth about Lily’s death. An all-consuming crime story like no other, Susanna Jones’s mesmerizing debut novel is a neo-noir thriller as shocking as it is exquisitely composed.

While listening this novel, I learned that Netflix made a movie, 'Earthquake Bird', based on the novel in 2019. I might watch the movie version.

I am giving The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next, post happy reading!!

The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw

I listened the unabridged audio version of The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw and narrated by Jordan Gibbs. This is the first book in the 'Motel at the End of the World' series.

The Coffee Killer by A. R. Shaw is a short listen at 3 hours, 26 minutes.

The Coffee Killer is a dystopian novel and it also falls into the mystery/suspense genre as well. Essentially, you have a group of people living at a motel in the middle of nowhere during the end times. A murder takes place at the motel and the motel owner along with the motel's housekeeper try to find out whodunit. A mysterious duo shows up at the motel looking for someone, which adds another layer to the storyline/plot details.

I found this novella to be bland, boring, and not at all captivating enough for my taste. I only finished it because it is short. I will not be reading the rest of the 'Motel at the End of the World' series.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw from Chirp's website:

☕ A small-town motel. A post-apocalyptic world. A murder mystery fueled by the rarest commodity: coffee.

Darrell Riley didn’t ask to inherit a run-down motel at the end of the world. With society crumbling, every transaction is bartered, and coffee is the ultimate currency. When a mysterious guest checks in during a storm and turns up dead, Darrell and his quirky housekeeper, Nance, must solve the crime before the killer strikes again.

As rumors swirl and suspicions rise, each guest becomes a suspect in this cozy post-apocalyptic mystery. Can Darrell keep the peace while surviving a world where coffee is worth more than gold?

Perfect for fans of The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, The Coffee Killer blends humor, suspense, and dystopian charm in an unforgettable whodunit.

I am giving The Coffee Killer by A. J. Shaw a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner

 

The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner is the first novel in the Perry Mason series. There are 57 novels in the Perry mason series, which is an impressive number of novels for a series!

I recently wanted to read a book by Erle Stanley Gardner, so I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Case of the Velvet Claws, which is excellently narrated by Alexander Cendese.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at how much I truly enjoyed listening to The Case of the Velvet Claws. It contains wonderful characters, a tight storyline, excellent writing, and a few plot twists too. The Case of the Velvet Claws is definitely a hard-boiled novel... so, if this is appealing to you, then check out The Case of the Velvet Claws! I will definitely be listening to more novels in the Perry Mason series.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner:

Thanks to a bungled robbery at a fancy hotel, the already-married Eva Griffin has been caught in the company of a prominent congressman. To protect the politico, Eva's ready to pay the editor of a sleazy tabloid his hush money. But Perry Mason has other plans. He tracks down the phantom fat cat who secretly runs the blackmailing tabloid -- only to discover a shocking scoop.

By the time Mason's comely client finally comes clean, her husband has taken a bullet in the heart. Now Perry Mason has two choices: represent the cunning widow in her wrangle for the dead man's money -- or take the rap for murder.

I am giving The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Horoscope Writer by Ash Bishop

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Horoscope Writer by Ash Bishop, which is decently narrated by a collected group of narrators. 

Ash Bishop is a new to me author and the plot summary for his novel, The Horoscope Writer, was intriguing enough for me to purchase it. The Horoscope Writer is a contemporary, mystery novel set in San Diego, California.  I liked the horoscope angle for this novel. The premise for the storyline was a good one, but the writing wasn't very captivating. The writing needed more depth and suspense to keep the reader interested in the storyline. I wasn't a fan of any of the characters either. Towards the end of the novel, I didn't care what happened and just wanted The Horoscope Writer to end.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Horoscope Writer by Ash Bishop from Amazon's website:

From Audie Award-winning author Ash Bishop

“Readers will be eager to see what Bishop does next.” —Publishers Weekly

“. . . filled with realistic scenarios and satisfying twists.” —Midwest Book Review

Leo: You’ll step out the door, prepared for a normal day. But you’ll never reach your workplace. You will vanish, without a trace.

Who is The Horoscope Writer? It’s not Bobby Frindley. He’s an ex-Olympic athlete who has fast-talked his way into an entry-level position at a dying newspaper. He’s supposed to be writing horoscopes, but someone has been doing it for him . . .

On his first night on the job, Bobby receives an email with twelve gruesome, highly-detailed horoscopes, along with a chilling ultimatum: print them and one will come true, or ignore them and they all will.

Working with a skeptical co-worker, Bobby investigates the horoscope writer’s true identity, but the closer he gets to the truth, the more the predictions begin to be about him. Has he attracted the attention of a cruel puppeteer? Or is it possible that, like any good horoscope, it’s all in his head?

For readers who enjoy The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, Deal Breaker by Harlan Corben, or Therapy by Jonathan Kellerman.

I am giving The Horoscope Writer by Ash Bishop a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

After Oz by Gordon McAlpine

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of After Oz by Gordon McAlpine, which is well narrated by Maria Ru-Djen. Gordon McAlpine is a new to me author.

I was initially attracted to After Oz by Gordon McAlpine because of it's association with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. After Oz isn't so much a retelling of L. Frank Baum's classic novel, but a novel that comes up with what actually might have happened to Dorothy and her dog, Toto, after she returns to Kansas from the land of Oz... And what a creative storyline Gordon McAlpine writes in After Oz!

After Oz is a combination mystery/thriller/suspense novel and historical fiction novel set in the late 1890s than it is a fantasy novel. Although, the events of After Oz are centered on Dorothy Gale's life after the tornado and her 'subsequent' visit to Oz occurred,  Dorothy herself isn't really the main character of After Oz. In fact, I would have liked to see Dorothy's character play a larger role in After Oz, but I am getting ahead of myself.

After Oz begins with the tornado and its aftermath. The setting is in Kansas, of course, during the late 1890s in a rural farming community. Dorothy had gone missing just prior to the tornado and is found with her dog, Toto, a few days later disoriented in a neighbor's pumpkin patch.

Physically, Dorothy is unhurt, but her fantastical tale of Oz with its flying monkeys, talking beasts, the scarecrow, the tin man, and both a good witch and a bad witch have the very conservative and religious townsfolk up in arms over Dorothy's mental frame of mind. The fact that Dorothy states she accidentally killed the 'bad witch' while in Oz with water that melts the 'bad witch' only further solidified that her mental health is off.

A few days later, a local woman within the community is found dead in her home. No one in the community liked the dead woman and many people often called her a witch. To make matters worse, the woman's face was melted a way through the use of lye. Due to Dorothy's statement that she killed a bad witch while visiting Oz and the way in which the 'bad witch' was supposedly killed, the locals feel that Dorothy killed the local woman. Long story short, Dorothy is committed to an insane asylum for the crime of murder and she's only eleven years old girl.

It isn't until 28 year old psychologist, Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, discovers Dorothy's case and comes to the asylum where Dorothy has been committed and evaluates Dorothy for herself. Dr. Wilford determines that Dorothy is innocent of murder and is set out to prove it by finding the guilty party. This leads Dr. Wilford back to Dorothy's hometown where she interviews the important townsfolk pertinent to Dorothy's case. After Oz becomes more of a mystery/thriller/suspense novel at this time and is primarily told through the point of view of Dr. Wilford and also an unknown narrator from the community. Lots of twists and turn happen within After Oz and an unexpected ending as well.

The storyline for After Oz is intriguing and captivating. The writing was good and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed After Oz quite a but, but the overly abundant religious overtones, some of the narrow minded townsfolk, and what seemed liked some implausibilities here and there with regards to what life might be like during the late 1890s made After Oz a tad less appealing.

Below is the publisher's summary for After Oz by Gordon McAlpine from the Goodread's website:

Gripping and emotionally riveting, this whimsical tale is an empowering and timely retelling of The Wizard of Oz where one little girl is forced to face head-on the prejudices of the Midwest in the late 19th century.

Kansas, 1896. After a tornado destroys the Gale family farm, 11-year-old Dorothy goes missing. As the days pass by, the Gales are increasingly terrified the worst has happened. But when the girl turns up unharmed four days later, the townsfolk breathe in a sigh of relief. That is, until Dorothy herself relates her account of the events that took place after her disappearance.

In vivid detail, Dorothy describes a fantastical land and its magical inhabitants, from the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion to the wizard and the witch. Her recollections are not only regarded as delusional, but also as pagan and diabolical in nature, especially when the body of a local spinster is found.

Making connections between the evil witch Dorothy claims to have defeated and the ill-tempered old crone, authorities find what they believe to be incriminating evidence, sentencing Dorothy to the Topeka Insane Asylum.

When 28-year-old psychologist Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford arrives at the asylum to interview Dorothy, she begins to wonder if Dorothy truly committed the crime or if something unfathomable has really occurred.

In a small town full of insidious secrets, will Evelyn be able to save Dorothy from her terrible circumstances? Or is something menacing lurking just out of sight?

I am giving After Oz by Gordon McAlpine a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Death In The Bush by Wendy M. Wilson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Death In The Bush by Wendy M. Wilson, which is well narrated by Sam Devereaux. Death In The Bush is the first novel in the 'Mr. Hardy Investigates' series and is a historical mystery set in New Zealand.

I listened to Death In The Bush in October of 2024. I initially found it difficult to get into this novel and wasn't quite sure I liked the main characters (James and Beatrice Hardy, a husband and wife that's recently moved to New Zealand) at first either. Over time, I grew to enjoy the main characters, supporting characters, and the storyline. The plot twists for this novel were pretty good and made for good reading. There is nothing better than reading a historical mystery novel, as it combines a couple of my favorite genres, mystery and historical fiction!

Below is the publishers summary for Death In The Bush by Wendy M. Wilson from Amazon's website:

Step into a different time and place with James and Beatrice Hardy, Inspector Scully and Patrick Foster in the first book of a small-town cozy historical mystery series from New Zealand in 1882.

Ride back in time to Napier on the east coast of New Zealand, when buggies raced along the beach, it took two days to reach the capital by steamer -- if the steamer didn't sink -- and a telephone exchange was a high tech invention for early adopters.

Retired English coachman James Hardy needs to find a new life in this strange country. Investigating crimes might be just the ticket.

New Zealand 1881: After a reclusive Māori on the run from the police leaps onto the back of his spring buggy, retired coachman JAMES HARDY discovers he has stumbled into a murder scene. While tracking a gang of lumber thieves, police have found the body of a young housemaid lying beside a log. The local hermit is hunched over the corpse clutching a knife with ties to the past, but did he do it? And why does he claim he took the knife for the major?

When the inspector in charge of the case asks Hardy for assistance, in the mistaken belief that he is a retired Scotland Yard detective, he agrees. He's a great listener, he's kept up with crime in the English broadsheets, he's an expert cryptic crossword solver, and he can drive a coach better than anyone he's met; he can catch the person who used the famous knife to kill Rosie. But he'll need help from his intrepid American wife, Beatrice, and a young constable recently arrived from Ireland.

I am giving Death In The Bush by Wendy M. Wilson a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell and narrated by Matthew Wolf. I had Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell on my reading wishlist for a long time. I finally listened to it last month in October 2024.

Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell is a work of historical fiction and the first novel in the Thomas De Quincy series. Wow, this novel was so much better than I expected it to be!! If you L-O-V-E historical fiction and mystery/thriller novels, then this is definitely for you! The writing is detailed and simply superb. I feel like David Morrell did a ton of research for Murder As Fine Art in terms of what life was like in London during the 1800s, along with researching the historical events in which the author writes about for this novel. I found the characters, the storyline and plot twists were engaging and at times felt like I was witnessing the details firsthand as the writing was so vivid.

Below is the publisher's summary for Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell from Amazon's website:

Gaslit London is brought to its knees in David Morriell's brilliant historical thriller.

Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his memoir Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, is the major suspect in a series of ferocious mass murders identical to ones that terrorized London 43 years earlier.

The blueprint for the killings seems to be De Quincey's essay "On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts". Desperate to clear his name but crippled by opium addiction, De Quincey is aided by his devoted daughter, Emily, and a pair of determined Scotland Yard detectives.

In Murder as a Fine Art, David Morrell plucks De Quincey, Victorian London, and the Ratcliffe Highway murders from history. Fogbound streets become a battleground between a literary star and a brilliant murderer, whose lives are linked by secrets long buried but never forgotten.

I am giving Murder As Fine Art by David Morrell a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson and narrated by Scott Brick. 

Listening time for A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson is 6 hours, 44 minutes.

A Stir of Echoes is the 3rd book I've read written by Richard Matheson. I can officially say I am now a HUGE fan of Matheson's writing and look forward to reading more of his books in the future. A Stir of Echoes is very well narrated by Scott Brick.

What did I love about A Stir of Echoes? Just about everything! There were only a couple of minor issues, which didn't deter from my overall rating. 

Richard Matheson is a masterful writer. He really knows how to pace his novels and build intrigue and suspense. With each passing chapter, I found myself wanting to keep listening to see what transpire with the characters, the plot, and storyline. 

A Stir of Echoes was published in 1958 and is set in the 1950s in Hawthorne, California. The main characters are Tom and Ann Wallace. They are a young couple with a young son and Ann is pregnant with their second child. 

At the start of A Stir of Echoes, Ann's brother, Philip, is visiting Tom and Ann. Tom, Ann, and Philip go to a neighbor's dinner party early on in the novel. After dinner, Philip hypnotizes Tom as a party trick as a way to entertain the dinner guests. 

After everyone goes home for the night, Tom begins to experiences strange things throughout the rest of the novel... Like reoccurring ghost sightings of the same woman in their home, premonitions, nightmares, the ability to sense what other people are thinking and feeling, automatic writing, and so on.

Initially, both Tom and Ann don't understand what's going on with Tom since the hypnosis session. Ann is concerned and scared that Tom's losing his mind, which causes stress and tension in their marriage. 

As Tom and Ann both try and figure out what's going on with Tom and why he's experiencing what he is, there's also the mystery of the ghostly apparition that keeps reaching out to Tom and who she is. Come to find, the ghost is a woman who was murdered in the very home in which they live. Tom and Ann eventually figure out who the murdered woman was and who murdered her.

There's so much more to A Stir of Echoes. I simply gave broad brushstrokes to the storyline to prevent giving away too much of the plot twists and finer details for those that may want to read this novel for themselves.

Below is the plot summary for A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson discovered on Amazon's website:

This eerie ghost story, from Richard Matheson, the award-winning author of Hell House and I Am Legend, inspired the acclaimed 1999 film starring Kevin Bacon.

Tom Wallace lived an ordinary life, until a chance event awakened psychic abilities he never knew he possessed. Now he's hearing the private thoughts of the people around him-and learning shocking secrets he never wanted to know. But as Tom's existence becomes a waking nightmare, even greater jolts are in store as he becomes the unwilling recipient of a compelling message from beyond the grave!

I am giving A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton

 

I love a good mystery! I came across the unabridged audio version of  A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton and narrated by Rafe Beckley on the Chirp's audiobooks website and decided to give it go after reading the novel's description.  

A Most Efficient Murder is the first novel in 'The Mr. Quayle Mysteries' series and is a historical mystery novel set in England during the 1920s. I enjoyed the writing, the storyline, most of the characters, and the pacing of this novel and am looking forward to reading future novels in the series. 

The only major complaints for me were the overuse of some phrases that lost their impact over the course of the novel... Plus, a couple of minor characters that became annoying due to their behavior. Otherwise, I felt that A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton was a really good read.

Below is the publishers plot summary for A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton from Amazon's website:

When a party thrown by the reclusive Lord Unsworth is marred by murder, his loyal secretary, Mr. Quayle, must unravel a web of red-herrings and old family secrets in this English country house mystery.

"I do not wish to disturb you, your grace, but there is a body in the garden...."

England, 1925. When a strange young woman is found murdered on the grounds of Unsworth Castle, the duke and his family are astounded at first, but quickly become enraged when the police begin asking all sorts of impertinent questions.

And when suspicions dare to fall on one of their own, it is up to Mr. Quayle, Lord Unsworth's exceedingly efficient secretary, to find the true culprit and save the House of Unsworth from scandal and ruin.

A Most Efficient Murder is the first in the The Mr. Quayle Mysteries.

I'm giving A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Echoes In Death by J. D. Robb

 

Echos In Death by J. D. Robb is the third novel in the 'In Death' series I've listened to this year. Echos In Death by J. D. Robb is narrated once again by Susan Ericksen and she does a lovely job with the narration. Listening time for this novel is 13 hours, 43 minutes.

Of the three 'In Death' novels I've listened to this year, Echos In Death by J. D. Robb is the best. I enjoyed the storyline, characters, and writing.

The following is the publisher's summary for Echos In Death by J. D. Robb found on Chirp's website:

After a party in New York, Lieutenant Eve Dallas rides home with her billionaire husband, Roarke, happy to be done with cocktails and small talk.

After another party, not far away, a woman retires to her bedroom with her husband-and walks into a brutal nightmare.

Their paths are about to collide…

When the young woman-dazed, naked, and bloody-wanders in front of their car, Roarke slams on the brakes just in time, and Eve, still in glittering gown and heels, springs into action. It’s been a long night for the tired homicide cop, and it’s far from over.

Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil” …

While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling, and widely disliked-and that he treated Daphne like a trophy wife-this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse as the first suspect. So Eve and her team must get started on the legwork, interviewing everyone from dinner-party guests to professional colleagues to caterers, in a desperate race to answer some crucial questions:

What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next?

I am giving Echos In Death by J. D. Robb a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

 

The Guest List by Lucy Foley has been a book in my to be read pile for quite a while. I was initially attracted to this novel because of its setting on a remote island and that it was a mystery with an intriguing storyline. In some ways, the setting for The Guest List and how the guests came together reminded of Agatha Christie's novel, And Then there Were None... But that's where the similarities between both novels end.

I feel that Lucy Foley does a fantastic job of creating suspense. The Guest List is a very atmospheric read and you can feel the tension building as you continue reading this novel. The best part of The Guest List for me is how the story is told through the eyes of several of the main characters in alternating chapters throughout the novel. 

The wedding night is not told in one continuous chapter, but is broken up into sections and scattered throughout the novel with the various main characters sharing their perspective of the wedding  events, how they know the bride or groom and tidbits about their personal lives. It becomes apparent who will be murdered, but by whom, when, and how the murder will happen is quite a different matter as quite a few people had an issue with the murder victim.

I did not like most of the characters in The Guest List. Most of them seemed shallow, immature, or rowdy frat boys as in the case of the best man and groomsmen. The best man and groomsmen were so over the top immature and the groom himself so slick... I couldn't stand them. The bride was no angel herself either and was callous/stuck up. Essentially, I was turned off by many of the characters/bad actors in this novel that it overshadowed the good parts of The Guest List for me.

Below is the plot summary for The Guest List by Lucy Foley from Chirp's website:

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

I'm giving The Guest List by Lucy Foley a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

 

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill is the first novel in the 'A Dr. Siri Paiboun Mystery' series. I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill, which was narrated by Clive Chafer.

I enjoy reading mystery novels. I also enjoy discovering new to me authors and new to me mystery series. So, I am pleased to have discovered The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill for these reasons. 

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill!! The novel itself is set in 1975 in communist Laos. The main character, Dr. Siri Paiboun, is a 72 year old doctor who has been appointed the national coroner. Dr. Siri Paiboun does not want this job as he hasn't been trained as a pathologist and also because he wants to retire after living a long life. However, the Laos government has no other trained candidates besides Dr. Siri Paiboun as most of the educated class has fled the country. So Dr. Siri Paiboun is stuck with working as national coroner.

Dr. Siri Paiboun is a wonderful character! He's smart (brilliant actually), witty, compassionate, and interesting to say the least. Dr. Siri Paiboun also dreams/receives communications from the spirit world, which makes for interesting reading and plot development. I would definitely say that Dr. Siri Paiboun is my favorite character from this novel. I also enjoyed most of the other characters as well.

The writing for The Coroner's Lunch is solid and so is the storyline. I may just continue on with this mystery series as I liked the characters and the writing so much!

Below is the publisher's summary for The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill from Chirp's website:

Laos, 1975. The Communist Pathet Lao has taken over this former French colony. Dr. Siri Paiboun, a seventy-two-year-old Paris-trained doctor, is appointed national coroner. Although he has no training for the job, there is no one else: the rest of the educated class have fled.

He is expected to come up with the answers the party wants, but crafty and charming Dr. Siri is immune to bureaucratic pressure. At his age, he reasons, what can they do to him? And he knows he cannot fail the dead who come into his care without risk of incurring their boundless displeasure. Eternity could be a long time to have the spirits mad at you.

I am giving The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Dark Reservations by John Fortunato

Dark Reservations by John Fortunato is the first book I read/listened to for the month of November 2023. John Fortunato is a new to me author and the plot summary for Dark Reservations sounded really good, so I decided to give this mystery/thriller novel a go. I wasn't disappointed!

Dark Reservations by John Fortunato is a good read. It has an interesting storyline with appropriate plot twists. I liked the main character as well as the supporting cast of characters. The writing is solid. The novel itself is well paced and has a satisfying ending to round things out.

Below is the publisher's plot summary for Dark Reservations by John Fortunato I discovered on Chirp's website:

“An insightful take on life in the Southwest.” —Gene Hackman. Bureau of Indian Affairs special agent Joe Evers still mourns the death of his wife and, after a bungled investigation, faces a forced early retirement. What he needs is a new career, not another case. But when Congressman Arlen Edgerton’s bullet-riddled Lincoln turns up on the Navajo reservation—twenty years after he disappeared during a corruption probe—Joe must resurrect his failing career to solve the mysterious cold case.Joe partners with Navajo tribal officer Randall Bluehorse, his investigation antagonizes potential suspects, including a wealthy art collector, a former president of the Navajo Nation, a powerful U.S. senator, and Edgerton’s widow, who is now the front-runner in the New Mexico governor’s race. An unexpected romance further complicates both the investigation and Joe’s troubled relationship with his daughter, forcing him to confront his emotional demons while on the trail of a ruthless killer.Joe uncovers a murderous conspiracy that leads him from ancient Anasazi burial grounds on the Navajo Nation to backroom deals in Washington, D.C. Along the way, he delves into the dangerous world of black market trade in Native American artifacts. Can he unravel the mystery and bring the true criminal to justice, or will he become another silenced victim?

I am giving Dark Reservations by John Fortunato a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

What's the Secret Formula to Agatha Christie's Novels?

 

I've read countless Agatha Christie novels over the years and fell in love with many of Ms. Christie's novels. 

When I stumbled upon a Ted-Ed video on YouTube about the secret formula to Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, I couldn't resist watching this short animated film. I wasn't disappointed as I learned a lot from watching this video.

If you are an Agatha Christie lover, you may enjoy watching this informative video as well.

Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue

 

I am a cozy mystery novel fan! I was delighted to discover the unabridged audio version of Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue via Chirp for a deeply discounted price. Gretchen Rue is a new to me author and Steeped to Death is the first novel in the Witches' Brew Mysteries series. 

The storyline for Steeped to Death sounded like a fun read, so I figured why not give it a try. I wasn't disappointed with Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue as it had all the elements I like in reading cozy mysteries... A fun amateur sleuth, an orange tabby cat (or any other furbaby would work), a witch, and a used bookstore with tea and pastry shop enclosed! Not to mention delicious sounding recipes I look forward to trying in the future. I look forward to reading the next book in this series titled, Death by a Thousand Sips.

P. S. I do love the cover artwork for this novel!

Below is the publisher's summary for Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue I discovered via Chirp's website:

Phoebe Winchester’s beloved Aunt Eudora has a taste for adventure—and a knack for making magical tea. It’s even rumored that she just might be a witch. So when Eudora passes away and leaves everything to her niece—her Victorian mansion, her bookshop/tea store The Earl’s Study, and one very chubby orange cat named Bob—Phoebe gets more than she bargained for. And she knows she’s in deep when a dead man is found on the shop’s back step, apparently killed while trying to break in. Two suspects immediately emerge among the townspeople of Raven Creek, Washington. There’s village busybody Dierdre Miller, who seems desperate to buy Eudora’s house, and handsome PI Rich, one of Phoebe’s childhood friends—but how well does she really know him after all these years apart? Phoebe knows she should leave it to the professionals, but as she starts to dig into the underbelly of Raven Creek, she begins to uncover the truth about Eudora. What’s more, her aunt might not have been the only witch in the family: Phoebe soon discovers she has unique and unexpected gifts of her own. Now it’s just a matter of putting her newfound power to the test and casting a spell that could catch a killer.

I am giving Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

 

Yes to FINALLY reading City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson and narrated by Pascale Armand!!! This young adult novel has been in my 'to be read' pile for a number of years now before getting around to reading it by the end of August this year.

I love the narration for the City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson. A good narrator always makes for a pleasurable listening experience. I liked the storyline for this young adult, mystery/thriller novel as well. 

City of Saints & Thieves is set in Africa, primarily in Kenya and also in the Congo as well. The exotic setting/locale made for interesting reading as one sees a different way of life being portrayed in this novel. 

I liked the main character, Tina, aka Tiny Girl, for City of Saints & Thieves quite a bit. Tina is a strong, resourceful, female character in her teens. Tina is living on the streets as a thief for the Goondas in Sangui City, Kenya to support herself. Tina (and her younger sister's) mother has been murdered. Tina strongly suspects that her mother's murderer is Roland Greyhill, the man her mother worked for as a maid. Her mother was also having an affair with Roland Greyhill. Tina had overheard Mr. Greyhill telling her mother that he was going to kill her. Tina is set on revenge to kill Roland Greyhill for killing her mother with the help of the her Goondas' cohorts. But, of course, things don't work out as expected, which is half the fun of the novel!

The action and pacing for City of Saints & Thieves is pretty steady throughout. I found myself wanting to keep listening to this novel to find out what was going to happen next to the characters as well as to whether Roland Greyhill was the murderer of Tina's mother or not. There are many twists and turns throughout this novel, which kept things captivating.

Below is the plot summary for City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson from Goodreads:

In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.

With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.

I am giving City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!