THE GHOSTWRITER (2025) - Review

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On Sale: June 3, 2025

What first caught my eye was the book title. Then I wondered if ghostwriter was one word or two words, ghost writer. One word is the correct answer. A while later, I started thinking I had read something by Julie Clark before. I had and it was a book I really loved called "The Lies I Tell". You can read that review by clicking on the title.

FIRST LINE: "I know what your Dad did."

THE STORY: What would you do if your brother and sister were killed in your own home? It's June 1975 and surviving brother Vincent, always suspected of the crime, has become a famous author writing best-selling horror stories. 

On the other hand, Olivia Dumont has spent her life hiding the fact that she is the only child of the infamous Vincent Taylor. When she is suddenly offered the chance to ghost write her father's last book, she reluctantly accepts, needing the money. But it's not a horror novel he wants her to write. After 50 years of silence, Vincent Taylor is ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975. 

WHAT I THOUGHT: "The Ghostwriter" was just the psychological puzzle with aspects of genealogy and family history that make me a happy reader. The story is told from Olivia's point of view in present day while interspersed with historical chapters from Vincent and his sister, Poppy. I occasionally found it confusing trying to keep the parents and the children separate, but the writing is smooth and the plotting good enough to keep a reader up past their bedtime. Even though there's violence in this family  that's a bit unsettling, I'll still be watching for New York Times bestselling author Julie Clark's next book. 

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED for mystery/thriller readers. Also available on Audible, Inc.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of "The Ghostwriter" was provided to me by SOURCEBOOKS Landmark/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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THE BONES OF THE STORY (2023) - Review

The Bones of the Story by Carol Goodman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Buried under books and not interested in reading? What to do? Read an author who has always been a comfort. I picked up Carol Goodman's new mystery/thriller "The Bones of the Story" and was swept away!

FIRST LINE: "I'm just having trouble getting back on track."

THE STORY: Briarwood College has not forgotten the disappearance of a female student twenty-five years ago and the distinguished Creative Writing professor who died while searching for her. Now, the college President is bringing together faculty, donors, and alumni to honor the victims from all those years ago. When the snow starts, people head home leaving the returning classmates at the college. Old rivalries are raised when they discuss the stories they had written about their greatest fears. And then there are more murders.

WHAT I THOUGHT: All Ms. Goodman's books are what I would call Romantic Gothic Mysteries with similar motifs and designs. She sets her stories in the Hudson River Valley in small college towns. Past college friendships, youthful indiscretions, secret histories and suggestions of ghosts combine to cause suspense and a sense of dread. In "The Bones of the Story" alternate chapters are marked either NOW or THEN and the author makes it even clearer as you start each section.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by mystery readers who are interested in the puzzle of a story and interesting characters.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by William Morrow / Net Galley for an honest review.

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VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS (2023) - Review

  Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jesse Q. Sutanto's "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" was a recent book group choice. I'll read a cozy once in a while but was quite surprised by this charming mystery of death and friendship. Everyone loved the book!

FIRST SENTENCE: Vera Wong Zhuzhu, age sixty, is a pig, but she really should have been born a rooster."

THE STORY: Vera Wong, who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco's Chinatown, enjoys sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some detective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to. One morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a dead man on the floor of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera takes the flash drive sure she would do a better job than the police. Vera knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do is watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which one among them is the killer. What Vera doesn't expect is to form friendships with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them.

WHAT I THOUGHT: One of the novel's standout features is its unique narrative voice. Vera Wong's character is a delightful blend of sass and vulnerability, making her not just a crime-solving force to be reckoned with, but also a relatable and endearing protagonist. All the characters add layers to the story, each contributing their quirks and secrets to the unfolding drama. From the grumpy police detective to the suspects, Sutanto weaves a web of personalities that adds depth to the story.

While the novel primarily falls into the cozy mystery genre, Sutanto seamlessly incorporates social commentary into the narrative. Vera Wong's journey becomes a reflection of societal norms and expectations, challenging stereotypes about age, gender, and race. The author cleverly addresses serious issues with a light touch, ensuring that readers both enjoy the mystery and contemplate the underlying themes.

BOTTOM LINE: Highly Recommended. "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" is a standout addition to the mystery genre, offering readers a refreshing take on the classic whodunit. Jesse Q. Sutanto's masterful storytelling, coupled with Vera Wong's irresistible charm, creates a novel that is both a lovely read and a laugh-out-loud experience. Fans of cozy mysteries will find themselves eagerly awaiting Vera Wong's next unsolicited adventure. This is the second title, after "Dial A For Aunties", in the series.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" was provided to me by Berkley/Net Galley for an honest review. 

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REHEARSED TO DEATH- Review 2023

Rehearsed to Death by Frank Anthony Polito
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
On Sale: May 23, 2023

Over the years my reading choices have often been books that surprise me, that teach me something new. I picked up "Rehearsed to Death", because it was about theatre, an HGTV hit reality show, and Detroit. It was a fun quozy mystery mixed with romance, rescued dogs, and Mini Coopers.

FIRST LINE: "As cohost of a popular home renovation show, I had a few principles to which I prescribed:
If you're going to do something, do it right.
Don't pay someone to do a project you can do yourself.
Every project ultimately takes longer than you estimate it will."

THE STORY: Partners JP and Peter created 'Domestic Partners' (think 'Bargain Block'). During a break between seasons, playwright Peter has an opportunity to see his play produced locally with JP starring and directed by a first rate (and terribly unpleasant) director, Xander Sherwood Deva. Shortly before the show is to open, Deva is found strangled by his own elaborate neck scarf. Was it an accident or murder?

WHAT I THOUGHT: Frank Anthony Pollito has created a series that will be a favorite of many readers. Peter is the narrator and scattered throughout are mentions of special things (from Michigan and beyond) like Sanders Bumpy Cake, Creamora, and Carnegie Mellon University. It made the book lots of fun even though the plot construction was uneven. Some characters are more fully developed than others but the description of clothing especially on the well-dressed is great.

BOTTOM LINE: This is the second title, after "Renovated to Death", in the Domestic Partners in Crime Mystery and has gathered a lot of interest from cozy/quozy readers. The author reads the audiobook version which has gotten some nice comments too.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of "Rehearsed to Death" was provided to me by Kensington Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

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HOW I'LL KILL YOU (2023) - Review

How I'll Kill You by Ren DeStefano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: March 21, 2023

The idea of triplets choosing and killing men they have made love them was fascinating. This is the author's debut and early readers seem to like it. For me, it was disturbing, although I have to admit that I read it in just a couple of days curious to find out what would happen.

FIRST SENTENCE: "What about that one?"

THE STORY: Raised in mostly unpleasant foster homes, identical sisters Iris, Moody, and Sissy now stay together to protect each other. They have rules. They choose vulnerable men, make their lives wonderful, kill them, and move on undetected.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Tension is high throughout the story but new information keeps the action moving forward. Sentences are short and sometimes repetitive. Hoping for a good thriller, it was surprising how much of a love story it was.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED with reservations.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "How I'll Kill You" by Ren DeStefano from NetGalley/Berkley Publishing Group for an honest review.

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THE DEVIL YOU KNOW (2023) - Review

The Devil You Know by P.J. Tracy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On Sale: January 17, 2023

P. J.Tracy's "The Devil You Know" introduces Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Margaret Nolan to a death that threatens the foundation of Hollywood and its upper echelon. The book is #3 in The Detective Margaret Nolan Series ("Desolation Canyon" #1 and "Deep into the Dark" #2) It is recommended that you read the books in order.

FIRST SENTENCE: "The ocean was singing in the hushed, undulating tones of low tide on this still, damp night."

THE STORY: Well-known actor Evan Hobbes is found dead in the rubble of a Malibu rock slide a day after a fake video ruins his career. 'Is it an accident, a suicide; or a murder?' With more deaths, Detective Nolan has a difficult case to solve.

WHAT I THOUGHT: P. J. Tracy is a good mystery writer with lots of readers, but don't start with "The Devil You Know" without reading the first two books. There are lots of characters to try to keep straight and bits and pieces of past stories revealed but not explained.

Descriptive words accentuate every thought and every event, seeming too pretty for a police procedural. If you are more interested in a story than in the fancy writing and if you aren't comfortable with wordy writing, this might not be a book for you.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED If you are a fan of the Monkeewrench Series, you need to read copies of the first two books in The Detective Margaret Nolan Series and then read "The Devil You Know". P. J. Tracy is a pseudonym for the American mother-daughter writing team Patricia and Traci Lambrecht. They became New York Times bestselling authors in the process. Patricia died in 2016.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "The Devil You Know" by P. J. Tracy from NetGalley/St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for my honest review.

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THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY (2022) - Review

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: June 7, 2022

And now for something completely different. Author Sulari Gentill has concocted an unexpected format for her mystery. It's a story within a story within a story. Similar to locked room puzzles, there seem to be only four possibilities for the murderer, but are there?

FIRST SENTENCE: "Dear Hannah, What are you writing?"

QUOTE: "And so we go to the Map Room to found a friendship, and I have my first coffee with a killer."

THE STORY: Hannah Tigone, an Australian author had planned to visit Boston to write her next book. When the pandemic puts a halt to her traveling, Leo, a colleague who lives there becomes her beta reader. Every chapter ends with a letter from Leo offering advice and details about Boston and American life.

Then there's the story of the book itself. Winifred better known as "Freddie" is writing "The Woman in the Library". She has won a Marriot Scholarship to enable her to write her mystery set in Boston. Working in the Boston Public Library, she is attempting to decide the plot for her mystery when a woman screams. Four other people seated nearby begin to talk about what might have just happened and they quickly become friends. When they discover the woman has been killed, they become sleuths.

WHAT I THOUGHT: The author has written a carefully written and plotted mystery adding humor as the story unfolds with its many twists and turns. Besides the puzzle the friends seek to solve, the story is about friendship and writing (every character is writing a book). It's always fun to recognize the current references to things we know that are scattered throughout.

More than once, especially in the beginning, I found myself wondering what story I was reading, but it's worth the struggle. Although you can listen to the audio book, I would expect it could add another level of confusion.

The book also includes A Reading Group Guide and ‘A Conversation with the Author’ about how she stumbled on her plot.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "The Woman in the Library" by Sulari Gentill from NetGalley/Europa for my honest review.


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THE DISINVITED GUEST (2022) - Review

The Disinvited Guest by Carol Goodman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: July 12, 2022

A number of years back, I read "The Lake of Dead Languages" (2002), "The Seduction of Water" (2003), and "The Drowning Tree" (2004) all by the same author. When I got the chance to read "The Disinvited Guest", I was delighted. Remember the advice about writing the book you want to read? For me that would be a Carol Goodman story. Great escapist gothic, ghostly storytelling.

FIRST SENTENCE: "We're here."*

QUOTE: "But what if those of us who survived really were haunted by those who didn't?"

THE STORY: Ten years after the first pandemic, with a second one expected, six friends plan to retreat to an island three miles off the coast of Maine. Fever Island was used as a way station for the sick arriving from Ireland in the 1800s before they could enter the mainland. Later the island became the property of the wealthy Harper family. The story is told by Lucy who plans to spend her time writing about its Celtic rituals, ghosts, and lives lost. Even though everything has been carefully accounted for, things quickly go astray or missing.

WHAT I THOUGHT: There is so much tension and unpleasantness among the group that the reader knows there will be problems. Lucy is highly susceptible to suggestion. As she reads a journal left behind by a young doctor recounting his experiences on the island years ago, she becomes obsessed and begins imagining things.

While one might not want to read about a pandemic while living through one, here it is merely used as a conceit to isolate the deftly drawn characters. Although some suspension of disbelief may be necessary, the roller coaster ride is worth it.

Goodman's descriptions of the island and it's mysteries are alluring. It's a nice touch having a map of the island included.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED Past college friendships, youthful indiscretions, secret histories and suggestions of ghosts combine to cause suspense and a sense of dread.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "The Disinvited Guest" by Carol Goodman from NetGalley/William Morrow Paperbacks for my honest review.

*This is the shortest first sentence I can remember. Two books ago, "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus, was the longest, a whole paragraph!

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WHITE NIGHTS (2022) - Review

White Nights by Deb Davies
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Author Deb Davies' debut mystery "Northern Lights" was published in 2020, the first book of a trilogy called A Coast to Coast Michigan Mystery. Make sure to read the first book before you pick up "White Nights". It is definitely not a standalone.

FIRST SENTENCE: "To Old friends", Charles proposed, raising his glass toward Claire, Arnie, and Laurel.

THE STORY: While on vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, friends Laurel and Arnie and Claire and Charles become involved with a suspicious death and an abandoned dog. Arnie, a policeman on leave, is asked to help the local constable who suspects the death is not a suicide. Unfortunately someone is not happy with the investigation and the four friends end up in grave danger.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is an adult novel and like "Northern Lights", it reads like a literate mystery combined with a violent thriller. In some ways the story is less of a mystery and more of a picture of the people and places in Michigan. The author is "passionate about rescued animals and nature", so those topics find their way into the story as well as kidnapping, violence, sexual innuendoes, and cruelty. Michiganders will recognize places, products, and traditions the author weaves throughout the book. Some readers will enjoy the fact that the narrative veers off into subjects unrelated to the mystery. Some may not.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED but start with "Northern Nights".

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "White Nights" by Deb Davies from NetGalley/BHC Press for my honest review.

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THE HIDDEN ONE: A KATE BURKHOLDER NOVEL (2022) - Review

The Hidden One by Linda Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: July 5, 2022

Linda Castillo has her formula down pat. The storytelling is engaging, the writing is clear, and the author's inclusion of Amish language and customs is delightful. This time the story line moves to the Kishacoquillas Valley of Central Pennsylvania, which will send the curious reader researching the location.

FIRST LINE: "He'd always known this moment would come."

THE STORY: After a stunning prologue describing the murder of an Amish Bishop 18 years earlier, the story returns to the present life of Kate Burkholder. Kate left her Amish family when she was young becoming a police officer before returning to the resort town of Painters Mill, Ohio as Police Chief.

Amish elders from Pennsylvania visit Kate to ask her help in defending Jonas Bowman, jailed for the murder when the gun used shows up and he admits it is his. Although Kate has no official standing, she reluctantly agrees. She and Jonas spent a youthful and memorable summer together before being separated. She can't believe he is guilty.

WHAT I THOUGHT: The first Kate Burkholder story I discovered was Her Last Breath #5. I quickly devoured Sworn to Silence #1 and Pray for Silence #2. Then I stopped. I found the crimes against the Amish, especially the young women, too overwhelming. But because the series is so popular, I decided to try again. Although violence and death occur in The Outsider #12 there was more than enough life and happiness to balance the story. Fallen #13, on the other hand reverts to the ugly violence and lives destroyed. Although violence and death occur in The Hidden One #14, it is mostly in the past, a cold case.

All the characters are well-established so that you care what happens to them with, of course, the exception of the villains. Castillo does a nice job of catching the reader up if this is their first time reading the series. And it looks like Kate and John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, will finally get married.

Written in the first person, the narrative sometimes shifts to third person when filling in the past, but it is done seamlessly. There were red herrings along the way that added to the tension.

Kate gets hurt more than once in this story and always loses to the attacker. It would be nice to see her win a fight.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDThis entry filled in some very personal details about Kate and how she left her Amish family. It's a quick read and an entertaining story.

Disclaimer: A copy of The Hidden One was provided to me by Minotaur Books/Net Galley for an honest review.


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THE DEPARTMENT OF RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (2022) - Review

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
January 25, 2022

How could a retired librarian choose not to read a mystery called "The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections"?

FIRST SENTENCE: "From the first spin of the lock, she knew she wouldn't be able to open the safe."

THE STORY: When the revered head of the university library suffered a stroke, Liesel Weiss, barely days into her sabbatical year, was called back to be Interim Director. Uncomfortable in this new role, her first shock is that a set of extremely valuable books has disappeared. Are they misplaced or stolen?

Dealing with higher ups, colleagues, detectives, her family, and solving mysteries, Liesel pursues doing what she thinks is right and ultimately learns who she is, what she wants, and who dunnit.

WHAT I THOUGHT: A very literate mystery, the engaging writing style drew me in to this slower paced story. There's more depth to it though touching on a myriad of issues including mental illness, feminism,and alcoholism. The author has created clever, interesting characters for Liesel to deal with and I loved the fact that the rare books mentioned actually exist!

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Especially for librarians. Others might not be as enthralled.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley / Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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THE ACCOMPLICE (2022) - Review

The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: January 25, 2022

This is the book that got me reading again after a long period when nothing caught my attention. I had previously read two other books by Lisa Lutz (The Passenger and The Swallows) and the plots were distinctive and different. The same can be said about The Accomplice.

FIRST SENTENCE: "Owen Mann first noticed Luna Grey in an Intro to Ethics seminar."

THE STORY: Owen and Luna were inseparable in college and years later remain best friends, closer to each other than to their spouses. But there are secrets that could destroy them and their friends. Two deaths cloud the friendship and the story alternates between Owen and Luna's earlier lives and the present, revealing secrets that have caused misunderstandings and pain.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Well plotted, written, with interesting, if not likeable, characters, this a unique read. It has a lot to say about relationships and whether we can be sure of those we think we know best. The ending is most satisfactory.

BOTTOM LINE:  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley / Ballentine Books and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES (2021) - Review

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
My rating 4 of 5 stars
On sale: September 21, 2021

FIRST SENTENCE: "They bind our feet and ankles, tear off our clothes, and douse us with alcohol."

THE STORY: Liv Stay, a widow, has impulsively accepted a commission to paint a mural on the interior of an old lighthouse called The Longing on an isolated island off the coast of Scotland. Dragging her three daughters with her she arrives earlier than expected and begins noticing the quirks of the island and it's residents.

The story jumps from what's going on with Liv and her daughters in 1998 to Luna in 2021, the only one to escape the disappearance.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Clear your schedule once your start reading because the tale is addictive and the reader just has to know what happened. The information on witchcraft and the cruel deaths of those accused is engrossing as is the fact that witches were hunted in Scotland. Actually witches were pursued all throughout Europe.

BOTTOM LINE: A perfect read for the Halloween season. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
 
DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley /Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Killing Kind (2021)

The Killing Kind by Jane Casey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: September 21, 2021

Back in 2014 I read Jane Casey's first psychological thriller "The Burning", which kicked off a series featuring Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan. It was such a great ride that I went on to read several more in the series. I'm a big fan of UK based mysteries (think Tara French, Paula Hawkins, Erin Kelly).

FIRST SENTENCE: "I think about death a lot; it's my job."

THE STORY: As a successful barrister, Ingrid Lewis had a comfortable life. That is, until a man named John Webster refused to stop following her. The strange part is that she had defended him against an unpleasant stalking case a few years back even though she wasn't convinced of his innocence. He was acquitted.

Now it appears he may be behind all sorts of random acts that have become more and more destructive and seemingly targeting Ingrid and everything that's important to her.

WHAT I THOUGHT: The first thing I notice when I start reading a new book is the style. Jane Casey's writing is intelligent and sharp. I was immediately drawn in and finished the book in two days.

Ingrid is a likeable character although she occasionally makes decisions in her personal life that are questionable and put her in harms way. Telling the story from her point of view allows the reader to get a sense of what a barrister is and does (the author's husband IS a barrister) compared to a lawyer. A few literary tricks flesh out the story.

I don't feel the ending quite lived up to the rest of the book although it was satisfactory. "The Killing Kind" would make a marvelous first entry in a new series. And the fantastic news is that the book is set for TV Adaptation by Sony's Eleventh Hour Films!

BOTTOM LINE: Don't hesitate to pick up "The Killing Kind" or any book with Jane Casey's name on it! Highly recommended. (And it has a great cover!)

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley / Harper 360, Harper Collins for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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MURDER MOST FOWL (2021)

Murder Most Fowl by Donna Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On sale: August 3, 2021

In an amazing Shakespearean synchronicity, I read two books, back to back, featuring MacBeth. How often does that happen? And in case you were concerned, it's only bad luck to say the name of the Scottish Play in a theater.

"Murder Most Fowl", the 29th in the series, was actually my first Meg Lanslow. A friend, who is a true cozy aficionado, reviewed a couple other titles for my blog Book Keeping a while back.

THE FIRST LINE: "Mom?" I kept my eyes firmly closed and focused on breathing in and out in the slow, deliberate way that was supposed to make you feel better when you were stressed. One. . .two. . .

THE STORY: Meg's husband is directing a summer production of Macbeth. Rather than deal with the political nonsense at the local college, he brings the cast and crew to Caerphilly to rehearse lodging them in guest rooms and tents on their property complicating Meg's life. Random incidents and vandalism begin and ultimately a death. Could these acts have been caught on film? Caerphilly’s chief of police, with Meg's help, must uncover the same secrets the filmmaker did if they want to catch a killer.

WHAT I THOUGHT: With titles like "No Nest for the Wicked", "Owl Be Home for Christmas", "Toucan Keep a Secret", and "Gone Gull", you know what to expect in this series. Lots of quirky characters surrounding an amateur sleuth in a small town with lots of suspicious things going on. There will be a crime but nothing too disturbing. You can mostly tell the bad guys from the good guys who will ultimately win in the end. All this will be delivered with interesting information about the world and gentle humor. Donna Andrews has the cozy formula down cold and still delivers a fun puzzle for the reader to try to solve time after time.

BOTTOM LINE: Highly recommended for all cozy readers!

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Minotaur Books for the advance copy for an honest review.

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DEADLY EVER AFTER (2021)

Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

FIRST LINE: "Is there anything more perfect than a day at the beach?" 

THE STORY: How could anything go wrong with an opening line like that? Plenty as it turns out. Librarian Lucy Richardson is finally getting engaged to Conner McNeil, dentist and mayor of a small community on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Family and friends are gathering on the beach to celebrate when Richard Eric Lewiston the Third and his overbearing mother crash the party for the sole purpose of convincing Lucy to marry 'Ricky' instead!

From there it isn't long until a body appears and the happenings in this quiet little town again force Lucy into the role of amateur detective (for the 8th time in the series). The suspects pile on and with twists, turns, and a little humor, eventually good triumphs over evil.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I always say I'm not a cozy mystery reader but this is my second by this author in the past year! I love the idea that Lucy's library and home is in a lighthouse. Eva Gates knows what her readers want and gives it to us in a well-written way that doesn't talk down to readers but includes us in the fun. Along the way she works in the names of books and bits of information the reader will recognize. It's not a unique approach but it's well-done here. The book club is reading "The Hound of the Baskervilles", by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and there are shout-outs to fellow cozy writers Ellen Bryon and Essie Lang as well. P.S. In this 8th entry in the series, there is still Charles Dickens (the cat) and now a dog (Fluffy) just to cause added confusion!

BOTTOM LINE: There is nothing more delightful than an enjoyable cozy series. I'm guessing that starting at the beginning with #1 and getting to know the characters would be even more fun. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for cozy mystery readers!

DISCLAIMER: A copy of "Deadly Ever After" was provided to me by Crooked Lane Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (May 11, 2021)
ISBN-10: 1643855883
ISBN-13: 978-1643855882

THE AUTHOR: Eva Gates is also known as Canadian crime writer Vicki Delany, "one of Canada's most prolific and varied crime writers." You might want to check out some of her other series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop; Year Round Christmas Mysteries; Klondike Gold Rush; and novels of Gothic suspense. "Having taken early retirement from her job as a systems analyst, Vicki enjoys the rural life in Prince Edward County, Ontario." 

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THE PLOT (2021)

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been a while since I've stayed up late to finish a book, but I had to know how Jean Hanff Korelitz's "The Plot" ended before I closed my eyes last night!

FIRST LINE: "Jacob Finch Bonner, the once promising author of the "New & Noteworthy" (New York Times Book Review) novel The Invention of Wonder, let himself into the office he'd been assigned on the second floor of Richard Peng Hall, set his beat-up leather satchel on the barren desk, and looked around in something akin to despair."

THE STORY: Not having published anything worthy since his successful first novel, Jake Finch Bonner has been reduced to teaching a low-residency MFA program at a rural Vermont college teaching creative writing. His first year he encounters Evan Parker, an arrogant young man, who claims to have conceived a plot that can't help but to be the best selling book of all time and shares the plot with his instructor. Several years later, Jake unexpectedly finds an obituary for Evan and decides to write the book himself.

"Crib" becomes an enormous success and Jake is busy touring the country enjoying his new found celebrity when anonymous messages begin to arrive. Someone knows.

Our disingenuous hero thinks he can keep his guilty secret which only undermines everything he has achieved. When he finally decides to track down the person who is threatening him with exposure, the twists and turns tighten.

WHAT I THOUGHT: "The Plot" is devilishly clever. Inserted sections from "Crib" add to the overall arc of the story. Interesting characters, sophisticated writing, a glimpse into world of publishing and writers, plus a fascinating plot makes for a must-read book in 2021.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by Celadon Books /Net Galley for an honest review. 

Publisher : Celadon Books (May 11, 2021)
Hardcover : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 125079076X
ISBN-13 : 978-1250790767 

THE AUTHOR: Jean Hanff Korelitz is the author of the novels YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN (adapted for HBO as "The Undoing" by David E. Kelley, and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland), ADMISSION (adapted as the 2013 film starring Tina Fey), THE DEVIL AND WEBSTER, THE WHITE ROSE, THE SABBATHDAY RIVER and A JURY OF HER PEERS. A new novel, THE PLOT, will be published on May 11th 2021. Her company BOOKTHEWRITER hosts "Pop-Up Book Groups" in NYC, where small groups of readers can discuss new books with their authors. www.bookthewriter.com 

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IN HER TRACKS (2021)

In Her Tracks by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How is it some books draw you in immediately? I wish I knew the answer, but I do know that's how I felt reading Robert Dugoni's newest entry in the Tracy Crosswhite series. And no, I haven't read any of his work before.

FIRST LINE: "Seattle police officer Bobby Chin was late, and about to pay a heavy price."

THE STORY: After a leave of absence, Seattle Detective Tracy Crosswhite has been unexpectedly and unfairly assigned to Cold Cases. Reluctantly she accepts the challenge. Two disappearances attract her attention: one is a little girl who disappeared without a trace five years earlier; and one is a young woman who has just been abducted while jogging in a park. The second is not her case to solve but Tracy suspects it may have ties to another cold case in the files.

Discovering Robert Dugoni was a delightful surprise! Even though this is the eighth book in the series, there was never a moment where I felt I was missing anything. The author's taut control of the story through careful plotting, well-drawn characters, and an interesting intersection of two 'crimes', keeps the reader turning pages. 

WHAT I THOUGHT: Tracy Crosswhite is succeeding in a difficult and demanding line of work, but she also has to deal with personal issues including having an infant at home. I liked that Tracy had a therapist to help her deal with her feelings and past traumas. I also thought it was important that the reader got to see the lives of the perpetrators of the crime. Sometimes I have trouble keeping characters straight, but not here. Through descriptions of unique characteristics, speech patterns, and other details, these characters come to life.

Getting a look at the issues that affect detectives procedurally, as they try to solve cases, is fascinating as well. Bit by bit they find the pieces that together will solve the puzzle.

BOTTOM LINE: Definitely can be read as a standalone, but if you find you love Tracy, start at the beginning! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by Thomas & Mercer/Net Galley for an honest review.

Publisher : Thomas & Mercer (April 20, 2021)
Paperback : 383 pages
ISBN-10 : 1542008379
ISBN-13 : 978-1542008372

THE AUTHOR: Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series, which has sold more than six million books worldwide. Visit his website at www.robertdugonibooks.com. 

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ONE OF OUR OWN (2020)

 One of Our Own by Jane Haddam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Recently I have found myself reading and reviewing the latest title in a couple of long running mystery series. In each case, the author was someone I had always meant to read but hadn't. That's what happened when I requested and received the 30th and, as it turns out, final Gregor Demarkian mystery, published posthumously by the author's two sons, Matthew and Gregory DeAndrea. (Readers will be moved by their tribute to their mother at the end of the book.)

FIRST LINE: "Tommy Moradanyan was late."

THE STORY: Suddenly the Armenian neighborhood is shaken by a random murder and another attempt. With the safety of the community threatened, the Philadelphia police once again ask ex-FBI agent Gregor Demarkian to consult. Reluctantly, he agrees. He is still recovering from a gun shot wound that affected him both physically and mentally. Complicating things further, he and his wife have just agreed to foster Javier, an 'unaccompanied' minor.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Philadelphia is my hometown and I am always drawn to books that are set there. A mystery? Even better! And the reward was I enjoyed spending time with these (mostly) kind and thoughtful people. (Even the villains were interesting characters.) Their lives are difficult but that's not what defines them. The author does not ignore the effects of current societal issues such as ICE raids, trafficking, fraud, and unaccompanied child illegal immigration.

Some series benefit from reading in order and I am sure the Demarkian books fall in that category. But I didn't have any trouble following the story. If something wasn't clear, I just kept reading and my question would be answered. From other's comments, the author managed to produce a fitting ending for her character.

BOTTOM LINE: RECOMMENDED, but consider reading the series in order.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of One of Our Own was provided to me by Minotaur Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (November 17, 2020)

ISBN-10: 1250770491

ISBN-13: 978-1250770493

THE AUTHOR: Jane Haddam (1951 - 2019) is an American author of mysteries. Born Orania Papazoglou, she worked as a college professor and magazine editor before publishing her Edgar Award–nominated first novel, Sweet, Savage Death, in 1984. Not a Creature Was Stirring (1990) introduced Haddam’s best-known character, former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian. The series concludes with the 30th entry. 

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THE SURVIVORS (2021)

THE SURVIVORS: A Novel
by Jane Harper
Narrated by Stephen Shanahan
My Rating: 4 out of 5

I was apprehensive when I started listening to The Survivors. Audio books are as much about the narrator as they are about the author but as it turns out Stephen Shanahan is one of the best and with his Australian accent has been the perfect choice for all of Jane Harper's books. He understands the cadence of Harper's writing style.

THE STORY: Having left home for Sydney, Australia after a tragic event, Kiernan Elliott now feels compelled to help care for his father who suffers from dementia. After twelve years he finds himself back in Tasmania with a wife and infant daughter facing the emotional fallout and the friends he left behind.

When the body of a young girl is found washed up on the beach, it brings back memories of the terrible storm in which two young men were lost at sea. Back then another young girl was found dead on the beach as well.

Author Jane Harper's writing is so descriptive the reader can picture the coastal town of Evelyn Bay and the ocean, which is both friend and foe. The rocky caves created by waves are as much characters as are the monuments to the tragic event facing out to sea.

Be aware that the narrative goes back and forth in time. It's a little less obvious then it would be reading. I did find it hard to keep the many characters straight until I got further into the book when their individual stories come into sharper view.

It's highly likely you'll want to search out other books by Jane Harper.

BOTTOM LINE: How to travel when you can't travel! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

DISCLAIMER: A copy of The Survvivors was provided to me by Macmillan Audio/Net Galley for an honest review.

Published: February 2, 2021 by Macmillan Audio

Unabridged Audiobook: 11 hrs.  56 min.

Author: Jane Harper

Narrator: Stephen Shanahan

ASIN: B0888TMYGZ

Jane Harper is an Award-winning Australian author. Her books include The Survivors, The Lost Man, The Dry and Force of Nature.