Review: Peril in Paperback

Peril in Paperback by Kate Carlisle is the sixth book in the “Bibliophile” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, August 2012

Rare books and antiquities expert Brooklyn Wainwright is thrilled to be invited to the fiftieth birthday party of her neighbor Suzie’s aunt Grace. A retired founder of a major video game corporation, Grace is a larger-than-life character who’s turned her Lake Tahoe mansion into a fun house, full of everything from pinball machines and giant props to secret passageways and trap doors. Brooklyn is most excited to catalog Grace’s extensive collection of rare paperback pulp fiction.  Part of the fun involves a séance, but after the lights flicker, one guest is dead, poisoned by a cocktail intended for Grace. It seems someone is determined to turn Grace’s playful palatial estate into a house of horrors. Brooklyn suspects the key to the killer’s identity may lie in the roman á clef Grace has written about her life. With Grace in great peril, “must-read” takes on a whole new meaning, as Brooklyn tries to stop a murderer who’s through playing around.

This was a good read. The setup was interesting and it was fun to watch everything unravel as guests entered the Victorian home. The mystery happens fast as you want to know what are they hiding and when the murders occur, it’s going to be a fun ride as Brooklyn does what she does best and that is amateur sleuthing. This is a good series, but I miss seeing Brooklyn in her natural element, that is, San Francisco.

 

 

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

 

Review: Supernatural Born Killers

Supernatural Born Killers by Casey Daniels is the 9th book in the “Pepper Martin” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, September 2012

As Garden View Cemetery’s new community relations manager, Pepper is feeling overwhelmed with planning the annual party to attract new sponsors. Luckily, some of the cemetery’s permanent residents have volunteered to give Pepper a ghostly hand, and she’s not about to turn away the help. But when a murdered ghost starts leaving puddles everywhere, Pepper quickly finds her newly acquired free time occupied.  The dead man is her ex-boyfriend Quinn’s former partner Jack Haggarty—and he isn’t going away until Pepper figures out the real reason behind his murder. And while Quinn recently had a brush with the afterlife, he still isn’t ready to accept Pepper’s abilities—or offer his skills as a detective. Now, Pepper has to convince Quinn she’s the real deal and investigate Jack’s death—before someone else meets their end in a watery grave.

What a fun book. Casey has delivered a great story that I could not put down. This fast-pace and action-fill drama had me quickly turning the pages as I had to know what happens next. Pepper was at the top of her game, especially when she was building a staff that was out of this world. Teaming up with Quinn for both their respective cases was a fun ride that I enjoyed especially their witty repartee. It was great having her parents play a role in this story while adding some comedic outtakes. The mystery was good especially the big reveal over the person who should be dead, that, I didn’t see coming. Boasting a great cast of characters, a perfect setting with some history thrown in, this is the best book ever in this fabulously wonderful series and I look forward to the next exciting adventures with Pepper and her friends.

 

 

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

 

Review: Murder of the Cat's Meow

Murder of the Cat’s Meow by Denise Swanson is the 15th book in the “Scumble River” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, October 2012

When ex–Vegas showgirl and local business owner Bunny Reid starts an online dating service called Cupid’s Cat’s Meow, out-of-town visitors flock to her bowling alley for the speed dating and cat show events that she hosts to bring in extra cash. Bunny’s scheme sounds harmless enough, but school psychologist Skye Denison knows all too well that an influx of strangers in Scumble River always spells trouble.  Meanwhile, Skye is convinced that her house is haunted and is afraid her fiancé, police chief Wally Boyd, won’t move in until the ghost moves out. But ghost-hunting takes a back seat when Skye is called to the bowling alley, where a riled up contestant is choking a cat show judge for insulting his feline. Skye breaks up the scuffle, but the next morning the judge’s dead body is found, strangled with a cat toy. Now Skye must solve this purrplexing mystery—and show a devious killer that her sleuthing skills are the cat’s meow.

This was a fun book. Skye and her friends are back and I couldn’t be any happier. First Skye has to deal with a murder, then plans for her upcoming wedding and finally a way to de-haunt her house of Mrs. Griggs. I enjoyed the way the mystery played out keeping me in suspense especially when the killer was revealed. I especially love how Skye and Wally continue to work together to tackle police investigations. Boasting a great cast of characters, great dialogue and friendly interaction, this was the best book yet in the pleasantly appealing series and I can’t wait for the next chapters in the lives of Skye and her friends.

 

 

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

 

Self Doubt

Self Doubt:

 

I think one of the hardest things about being an author is the self doubt that can destroy you. I have been plauged with self doubt for a while now. Of course I have had a lot of self adjusting in my real life that has kept me away from my fictional life.

 

Today I have decided that maybe the way you look at it is simple. "Life is not a dress rehearsal" we don't know how many chances we have to write our stories. I think once this week is over and done maybe I should put me and my career first for a change. My writing career seems to go to the back burner as life has its speed bumps.

 

Each time I walk away from my fictional world it is harder to return to it. Plus for me I feel so removed from my author friends and their works of fiction. It's been quite a while since I have felt connected to another author. I live in the midwest and where I live can be hard to connect with other authors. So today I am going to try and reconnect with a life and people that have made me happy.

 

Life is too short to sit and second guess what might've happened, what could have been or will become of us in the future. I won't return two my two books that I am writing until Tuesday but making the choice to return is giving me the freedom to quit sitting this one out. Today I will do something I haven't done in months. I am going to visit other author blogs. I am always inspired and awed by the savvy authors who have blogs.

 

Meanwhile what is everyone reading and are you enjoying the book?

 

Hugs,

Pamela

Review: Death in Four Courses

Death In Four Courses by Lucy Burdette is the second book in the “Key West Food Critic” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, September 2012

The annual Key West literary conference is drawing the biggest names in food writing from all over the country, and Haley is there to catch a few fresh morsels of insider gossip. Superstar restaurant critic Jonah Barrows has already ruffled a few foodie feathers with his recent tell-all memoir, and as keynote speaker, he promises more of the same jaw-dropping honesty.  But when Hayley discovers Jonah’s body in a nearby dipping pool, the cocktail-hour buzz takes a sour turn, and Hayley finds herself at the center of attention—especially with the police. Now it’s up to her to catch the killer before she comes to her own bitter finish.

What a great time I had reading this delightful whodunit with a mystery that had me turning the pages quickly as the story moved forward in this well-written drama. Hayley is a fun character and I love her joyous spirit as she goes about her day critiquing food and seeing justice served on a platter. The appearance of her mother hunting down clues with her is a welcome bonus that I also enjoyed. I can’t wait for the next book in this wonderful series.

 

 

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

 

Review: Wall to Wall Dead by Jennie Bentley

Wall to Wall Dead by Jennie Bentley is the sixth book in the “Do-It-Yourself” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, September 2012

Avery and her partner, Derek, are fixing up a cute little condo in homey Waterfield, Maine, hoping for a quick turnaround and some extra money. It seems like a simple project—and Avery is looking forward to using her big-city experience with small spaces.  But they didn’t expect to have their every move watched by the resident busybody in the condo, Hilda Shaw, who loves snooping on everyone’s comings and goings. When the busybody becomes a dead body, Avery suspects foul play. Soon she’s doing some snooping of her own—and it seems everyone in the complex has a secret. Could one of them be worth killing for? Avery needs to work fast, before someone decides to fix her…for good.

This was a great read that I enjoyed immensely. This fast-paced, non-stop action whodunit kept me on my toes as I followed the moves that Avery made in unraveling a crime in her neighborhood. The author did a good job with the mystery that had me closely paying attention to the directions the clues were leading in exposing the killer. Avery is a great character and I love how she inserts herself in a case. With Derek by her side, they make an awesome crime-fighting duo. This was the best story yet in this fantastically appealing series and I can’t wait to see what’s next for our happy couple.

 

 

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

 

Terri's Portion of Eryn's Round Robin

I combined parts of two images in Blue Ribbon Designs pattern - Halloween Wishes

Review: Cloaked in Malcie by Annette Blair

Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair is the 5th book in the “Vintage Magic” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, July 2012

There’s nothing Maddie loves more than fabulous vintage clothes, but the visions she gets while touching them are starting to wear her down. Even so, when a beautifully dressed girl comes to Vintage Magic in search of her past, Maddie isn’t about to turn her away, especially since she bears a striking resemblance to her good friend Dolly Sweet. When Maddie touches Paisley Skye’s exquisitely crafted child’s cloak, the vision she receives is of the ugliest sort: a decades-old case of kidnapping and murder. To give herself more time to investigate, Maddie enlists the help of her FBI Agent boyfriend Nick and takes Paisley into her home. But when Dolly suddenly skips town, Maddie realizes that uncovering the folds of Paisley’s past will reveal more than one vintage crime…

This was a great story that captured my attention immediately and the fast-paced action didn’t stop until the revealing conclusion. A young woman’s past is a puzzle to her future and with a touch of her clothing Maddie is taken on a ride that is filled with intrigued and doesn’t stop until the young woman’s identity is exposed with ties to one of the people in Maddie’s circle of friends. The mystery surroundinh her life was fun to see come apart and I also enjoyed watching both Maddie and Nick work this case. Aunt Fee, Dolly, Dante and Eve lent a hand in the recovery of a young woman’s past. An exciting and fun read and I can’t wait for the next adventures with Maddie and her friends.

 

 

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com