Review: Blotto, Twinks and the Intimate Review by Simon Brett

Blotto and his friend go see  Light and Frothy;  a new popular show and his friend falls for the star of the show.  After his friend is kidnapped, Blotto and his brilliant sister Twinks start investigating and Twinks goes undercover.  Multiple twists and a lot of laughs, this is a very satisfying read.

One of the things I struggled with at first was the crazy slang of Blotto and his friends.  That said, it was like a delicious romp through a bygone era and Aristocracy that no longer exists in the same way.  
As for the crimes - funny schemes and ways to make easy money - until the master plan goes forward.  A crazy plan to be sure, but one very amusing and leading to a satisfying take down.

Very fun!

Review: Invisible Victims: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women by Katherine McCarthy

Though I think I was vaguely aware of the higher murder rate of indigenous women in Canada (mostly from the Robert Pickton case), the true extent is incredibly saddening.  What is worse, is the national policies and reporting strategies that hide the problem as well as the lack of the media's attention.  So many policies mirror the US's policies re. the treatment of Native Americans.

The book deals with the systemic failures as well as reporting on specific victims and serial killers who target Indigenous women and explores many of the reasons why. 

It also introduced me to the concept of epigenetics (genetically inherited memories of extreme trauma that can affect cultures such as holocaust survivors and indigenous peoples).  It is something I found fascinating and something I will explore more in the future.

The tone of the book is frustrated and angry and after reading, you can certainly see why.  Definitely recommend

Review: South of Hell by PJ Parrish

Retired cop and now PI, Louis Kincaid is asked to go back to Michigan by a local cop to check into the missing person's case of Jean Brandt.  He teams up with his lover, Joe who is also a cop.  When looking into the case, they discover a young girl, Amy.  Amy is the daughter of Jean and believes she saw her father kill her mother.  Only under hypnosis, the details she describes do not match the evidence and when bones are found on the family property, they are determined to be quite old. 

While trying to sort out the truth, they have to fight to avoid her abusive father from getting access or custody of Amy.  Only her father is a violent man, and he certainly does not want the truth uncovered.

A very suspenseful story with flashes to the past they made be reincarnation of epigenetics, it is a lot of tragedy and very dark happenings.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit, but truthfully, my favorite character was Amy.  I would love to see a spin off of just her story - she is fascinating!

Review: Mushing is Murder by Patti Benning

Angie heads back to her childhood home in Alaska after troubles in her life as well as to help with her mother who has Parkinson's.  Her father raises, trains and runs dogs in sled races as well as running the family diner.  Soon after her arrival, a neighbor shows up in the Diner looking for her father because a sled team has shown up on his property without a driver.  She and the neighbor head out to find out where he is only to find his body.  After thinking it was an accident, the Sheriff comes around to question her dad as a possible killer since the victim was his best friend.  She starts asking questions to find the real killer.

I enjoyed the book a lot because of the setting, characters and yes - the dogs. LOL  the thing is the mystery part was really weak, but that's okay because I did enjoy it.  Maybe book two in the series will make up for it with a better mystery.  I think part of the problem was the length - a bit longer, more clues or suspects and motives could have been provided. 

Review: Teggie: Lucy's Story by Roger David Francis

I was really intrigued by this book.  I had never heard of the legend of Teggie in Lake Bala.  I have to say that this version of Teggie is truly horrifying and evil.  That part of the book was excellent, as was Ben's descent under Teggie's control.  Where the author lost me was Lucy.  It is her story - as she watches the man she loves obsessing over a monster and behaving in worse and worse manners.  A great story.  BUT.... She turned out to be a protagonist I truly despised.  She repeatedly made excuses for Ben, thinking he will "get over it", even as things progressed to more and more hideous violence.  Making excuses.  HOPING he would be able to fight Teggie's influence.  Passive and pathetic.  Even as Ben was nastier and nastier to her and others.  After crimes were being committed.  It was a visceral feeling. Grrr...  I was glad when it was over so I wouldn't have to deal with her any more. 

That said,  Ben's descent and Teggie were great.  Additionally, the book has many other Teggie/Lake Bala tales which were quite interesting as well.

Review: 13 Stolen Girls by Gil Reavill

After an earthquake in LA, Detective Layla Remington finds a large broken barrel with a body inside.  It turns out to be a missing actress and a HUGE missing persons case.  Only she sees connections to other missing girls' cases that none of the powers that be see.  As she investigates, she treads on some powerful toes in the Motion Picture Industry and gets in deeper than she expects.  

The story contains some really vile men based on a deep BDSM subculture where slaves asked to be killed.  Not for those who don't like their books DARK.

The interesting thing about the "Cor" series in this book is that it clearly is a nod to the old Gor books.  Nothing I ever liked, but I had a friend WAY back when (30ish years ago) who LOVED them and she started writing one of her own.  Early fan fiction I guess.I had forgotten all about that until reading this book.

Very suspenseful and interesting.  I really enjoyed it

Review: Die Again by Tess Gerritsen

Rizzoli and Isles are investigating the brutal death of a big game hunter/taxidermist and the stolen snow leopard pelt taken from him.  In their investigation, they find a very unusual killer who may have been active for years throughout the country, preying on hikers and isolated people.  Then they find that it may be connected to a 6 year old Interpol case where an entire tourist party was massacred  except for one lone survivor.

Millie is the survivor from Botswana, and she has been brought to Boston to help them catch the killer.

I really enjoyed this book.  It shifts from first person POV (Millie's account of the Botswana expedition) and 3rd person POV - the current investigation.  I know some people don't like that sort of thing, but I don't mind it.  In this case particularly, I like the story told from Millie's POV, because it feels more real.

Additionally, I liked the narrator as well

Review: The Christmas Shop Murder by Linnea West

Tessa is excited when Sue opens a all-year round Christmas shop in their small town and is caught up in the excitement of its opening, until a woman who threatened to shut it down to make a dog grooming shop is murdered.  When her brother is suspected, she decides she needs to find the truth.

It was a fun setting with likable characters.  A little light on the mystery aspect - few suspects or motives.  A setup of a love triangle (which I know upsets some cozy readers).  A light, enjoyable read.

Review: Fear by Bob Woodward

In this day and age of horrible journalism, it is refreshing to see Bob Woodward's reporting.  About of a third of the book is actually source referenced.  He reports on the chaos of the administration and the games people in it are playing, to try and work around the President's behavior.  It seems a sad state of the world that any of this is happening, but Woodward's reporting is making sense of the chaos reported by various news sources.

Whether a Trump supporter or not, it is important to have the facts as opposed to all the #FakeNews out there.  Well worth the read.

Review: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (ed) Maxim Jakubowski

Everyone has their favorite Jack the Ripper theory or suspect.  The odds are, we will NEVER know definitively who was responsible.  That said, This book is full of fictional stories based on various old and new theories as well as just plain imagination.  It will get us no closer to solving the crimes, but it does give us enjoyable reads of various possibilities.  

Some of my favorites from the book were:  "His Last Victim" by KG Anderson, "It's All in the Genes" by Cara Cooper, "Bluebeard's Wife" by Catherine Lundoff and "Autumn of Terror" by CL Raven.

Terri

Review: Adrift: A Mer Cavallo Mystery by Micki Browning

Mer is a marine biologist who is currently working as a safety diver on a charter boat, The LunaSea (I love that name). The boat is chartered by a group wanting to do paranormal studies on a sunken boat. During the dive, things go wrong and the crew's leader, Ishamel, disappears, presumed dead.

Mer is a scientist and she needs to protect her reputation after the accident. So she starts looking into things, where she discovers many inconsistencies.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. She is determined and smart, but I thought she was a bit harsh in her criticisms of the "ghost hunters". I am also not sure at all about her relationship with her neighbor. This is a great start to a series.

Review: Sniffing Out Murder by Maria Grazia Swan

Mina runs a animal rescue and when one of her rescues is found that had been adopted, she tries to find out what happened.

The owner is dead -- a strange accident where she was run over by her own car.  (Which I would have once thought absurd for the cops to believe - but after Anton Yeltin's terrible, death.. not now).

The dead woman left two sons behind, and as Mina and her coworkers and friends help the boys to go on with their lives, AND keep their beloved pet, they find that it really wasn't an accident.

I did really enjoy the story.  As a mystery though, there really were not suspects or clues per se.  More of a - she knew who it was and how would she prove it?

That said, one of the things I loved about the book was how the amateur sleuth actually questioned her involvement and WHY she felt compelled to be so involved.  I thought that was a nice change from just having a sleuth follow an absurd reason to get involved which happens in too many cozies IMHO.

Anyway, really enjoyed.

Terri

Review: Chickenfeed - Minette Walters

A fictionalized account of the 1924 murder of Elsie Cameron who was cut up and hidden in her fiance's chicken run in Sussex. Interesting and a very quick reed as indicated on the cover.

The victim was very unlikable and the fiance's story is that she hung herself and he panicked and hid the body. I would have liked to see a bit more details about the investigation etc..

From my perspective, the victim seemed like a Borderline Personality who caused tons of drama and manipulation and the fiance was a rather weak man.  Neither her family, him , nor his friends or family knew how to deal with her and in those days there certainly was no psychological help for them.  He passively kept hoping she would get the hint.

That said, she definitely did not get the hint.  Whether it was suicide (as he claims) or murder, he did cut up and dispose of the body and lie to police about her whereabouts.

We'll never know the truth, but Ms. Walters made an interesting read of it.

Terri

Review: Chesapeake Crimes: Fur, Feathers and Felonies by Donna Andrews and Shari Randall

Each story in this collection features an animal as an important part of the story. Some of my favorite stories were "As the Crow Flies" by Carla Coupe, "Rasputin" by KM Rockwood (which is told by the POV of a dog), "Hunter's Moon" by Robin Templeton, and "Til Murder Do Us Part by Barb Goffman. My absolute favorites were: "The Octopus Game" by Linda Lombardi, with great visual descriptions of an octopus who unscrews jars and plays with Mr. Potato Head, and "The Supreme Art of War" by Josh Pachter Terri

Review: A Play of Isaac by Margaret Frazer

A band of traveling players make an arrangement to play for a local landowner in exchange for board until their upcoming Celebration they are playing.  When a man is murdered and dumped outside the barn they are staying in, Joliffe investigates.  

I love the historical detail of Margaret Frazer's works and this is no different.  I like Joliffe and the players and enjoyed the  dynamics.  It is also interesting to see "The Crowner" and how death was investigated in the 15th century.

This was the first in a new series and the mystery part was pretty weak (the murder was wayyyy in for those who that bothers) but I will give it another shot.  So, basically - it was just ok overall.

Terri

Review: Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly

Before her grandmother dies, Maura promises her that she will go to Ireland where she was from. She goes to see a woman that was friends with her Grandmother with no set plan or idea of what she wants. Soon after she arrives, a body is found in a bog near the small town of Leap where she is staying. Then things start happening and she is threatened. I enjoyed the mystery, but what I enjoyed even more was the descriptions of that area of Ireland and the people there. I have been to Cork and it gave me that nice cozy feeling that a cozy should. Terri

Review: The Dinosaur Battle of New Orleans by Dane HAtchell

A scientist creates an experiment to cure him of his cancer. Only, there were side effects... Besides spending a few months in prehistoric times before returning to the present, he brings dinosaurs back with him. All unintentional but creating chaos and death in New Orleans. From an airplane downed by pteradactyls to a dinosaur battle in Jackson Square where Left and Right protesters have to battle for their lives, the insanity that already is NOLA explodes with violence, fear and heroism. I bought this book because the premise intrigued me and I stayed with it because it was just plain fun! Terri

Review: Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes

Mae West's (not THAT Mae West) goes to jail for running a Ponzi scheme.  All she has to her name is a campground in Normal KY.  She goes there hoping to find a buyer - only it is run down and in pretty bad shape.  

After the body of her dead husband (escaped from jail) is found, there is also a murder to solve.

She befriends some of the town members and hosts a fundraiser to restore the park to its former glory.  Finding a new home in the process

I did like the book a lot, but things with the campground moved way too fast to be believable.  From a dump to full up for a season in one event?  The townspeople going from hating her to loving her quickly - also - nope.  But it was a still a fun ride.  I read it in one day.

Additionally - the title doesn't fit the story.  

Terri

Review: Ice Blonde by Elaine Viets

Angela gets a desperate plea from worried parents to help find their missing daughter: a teen that vanished after a party during frigid temperatures and snow.  

Secrets come to light, the rich vs. working class turn on each other and when Angela gets to the bottom of it, a twist comes that I didn't foresee which I LOVED!

Another excellent addition to this series!

Terri

Review: Robin by David Itzkoff

Robin Williams was both both loved and panned throughout his career.  He had a comedic gift that was off the charts and admired by other comedians and actors.  From Mork and Mindy (started out great, got awful later), to Comic Relief (years of amazing fun) to remarkable movies like Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poet's Society, Jumanji, to Good Morning Vietnam.  he frequently did the unexpected and he was never predictable.

Itzkoff did what I had hoped, tried to show the man behind the jokes (not an easy job because Robin clearly was a very private man) through stories from his friends and coworkers.  The book is respectful and admiring and while reading, it brought back incredible memories I have of Robin over the years that had slipped away.  

Also, it dealt respectfully about his suicide and the Dementia he was facing leaving me feeling a lot more understanding of what happened.

Well worth the read -- and make sure you go through the pictures - some of them are absolutely wonderful.

Robin Williams will be missed, but we can treasure the wonderful entertainment he left behind and this was a very well thought out read.

Terri