A Cute Little Murder

Ms. Harper weaves quite mystery. 

There's more than one murder to solve on this solitary island in a fading hotel, and all for the sake of money. 

I felt quite a bit of sympathy for our heroine and the way she's chosen to live her life. 

All of the characters are complex, excpet maybe the game designers...

It's always a fun game to see if the reader can figure out "whodunnit" before the reveal. 

This story took lots of expected and unexpected turns. 

You'll cheer for Lainey the whole time and hope for Harley's comeuppance. 

Excellent narration. 

When did you figure out who the real culprit was and how?

AMAZON

She used to be the sidekick. Now she might be the only one who can survive.

As teens, Harlow Drake and Lainey Piper built an online fandom solving small-town crimes. Harlow was the star, Lainey the behind-the-scenes genius (and often, Harlow’s scapegoat). Years later, Harlow’s hosting a hit true crime tv show. Lainey? She’s working in forensics. Well, forensic accounting . . . from home. In pajamas. With her cat.

But when Harlow faces significant backlash over fumbling a case, she needs a quick win—like a special investigation into the decades-old disappearance of a starlet from a once-glamorous, now decrepit island hotel. The catch? It’s bankrolled by Deke and Bryce of DBag Games, who are looking to shed their “frat bro” reputations. As long-time fans, they have one requirement for their funding: Lainey has to play the sidekick again.

Lainey is wary, but the offer is a lifeline in a sea of unpaid student loans. After reaching the Crossings Hotel, she realizes she’s not content to be Harlow’s helper anymore. As the cold case heats up, a crew member falls over dead, presenting Harlow and Lainey with a more modern mystery: what secrets does this hotel hide within its walls?

With sabotage, hidden staircases, and a killer in their midst, Lainey steps into the spotlight and takes charge of the investigation. It’s up to her to crack the case—as long as she can stay alive.

Southern Souls

This is my first read by the author, and it was well done from start to finish. 

This book spans centuries and takes place in one location, the plantation. The author did a clear job of getting the historical facts and culture correct to build a tragic tale over time. 

You'll be rooting for Jamie from page one. And by the end, you may have some questions about who the real villain is in the story. As events unfold, each character gains sympathy for their situation. 

Enjoyed the romantic thread, though this is a little spicier than my normal read, but it wasn't graphic and intimate scenese were carefully handled. 

Excellent narration by Ms. McCauley, shifting through accents and characters while maintaining emotional grip on the story without being intrusice. Brilliant. 

An excellent read for the Halloween season. 

Do you believe places can by haunted?

AMAZON

Seeking a fresh start, Jamie, a newly widowed mother of two, moves her family from a busy metropolis to a small Southern town. Their temporary accommodation is a colonial mansion in the heart of the Lowcountry. Formerly a rice plantation, this home is now a den of suspended souls, the darkest of which resides in the attic.

Through her work in a medical office, Jamie meets Derek, a handsome, hard-bodied local farmer. As their attraction grows, the paranormal activity in the house unfolds. She hears voices and sees figures in the shadows. Worst of all, her innocent, young son has become fast friends with the damned soul in the attic.

With the aid of a local psychic-and with Derek at her side-Jamie is determined to eradicate the evil from the property as the spectral grasp on her son tightens. This malevolent spirit has crossed time and space, causing the disappearance of children from the plantation for over two hundred years, and now has its claws in her family. Will she be able to defeat the sinister pull of this poltergeist?

Derek may be Jamie's second chance at love ... if they can make it out alive.

The Unselected Journals of Emma. M. Lion Vol 2.

Thus continue the ins and outs of Emma's life. This time with a tennant in the accompanying garrett through whom she forms a correspondence of the Pyramus and Thisbee type. 

It's fun to watch Emma's associations grow, and how she continues to outmaneuver Cousin Archibald. More of the Roman makes an appearance, and Emma acquires a pseudo tennant who wanders where he wills. 

Wonderful narration of the first person letters. 

On to the next installment. 

Do you prefer first person or third person for novels?

AMAZON 

“I was sitting at my desk reading, with a cup of tea, my windows flung open, when I heard The Tenant enter his garret, just on the other side of the wall from myself.”

THE YEAR IS 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Manslaughter Park

This is the third installment in the murder driven Jane Austen retellings, and it's got a twist the first two didn't. 

We assemble the cast of usual characters, and then kill off Fanny's uncle. Now Fanny must solve the crime, which no one wants to believe is a crime and all have motives for offing him. 

Ms. Price does a wonderful job of keeping us guessing and giving Fanny red herrings to chase after. 

I did love the cameo of Lizzie and Darcy. 

Wonderful narration. 

I hope there will be a fourth book. Maybe Emma? Northanger Abbey?

What twisted Jane Austen tellings do you recommend?

AMAZON

Aspiring artist Fanny Price is an unwelcome guest at her uncle Sir Thomas Bertram’s estate. It’s his affection for Fanny that’s keeping her from being forced out by her cousins Tom and Maria and nasty Aunt Norris, back to a home to which she never wants to return. But then Sir Thomas dies in a tragic accident inside his art emporium, and Fanny finds evidence of foul play that, if revealed, could further jeopardize her already precarious position.

Edmund, her best friend and secret crush, urges Fanny to keep quiet about her discovery, but Fanny can’t ignore the truth: a murderer is among them.

Determined to find the killer, Fanny’s pursuit for justice has her wading into the Bertram family business, uncovering blackmail, and brushing with London’s high society when Henry and Mary Crawford arrive at Mansfield Park with an audacious business proposal. But a surprising twist of fate—and the help of local legends Lizzie Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy—brings Fanny more complications than she ever expected and a life-altering realization about herself she never saw coming.

When Breath Becomes Air

This was a book club pick. 

The text is short and poignant as the age old question in posed: what makes a valuable life? 

There's plenty of medical jargon in the book and it's explained well for a lay person to understand. 

This book will make you ponder on your own mortality and how you would repsond if you were suddenly slipped into his shoes. 

Well written and well narrated. 

Note: if you've lost a loved one to cancer, this book may be triggering. 

What non-fiction/memoir books have made you think? 

AMAZON

At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live. And just like that, the future he and his wife had imagined evaporated. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life” into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality.

What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir.

Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while working on this book, yet his words live on as a guide and a gift to us all. “I began to realize that coming face to face with my own mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything,” he wrote. “Seven words from Samuel Beckett began to repeat in my head: ‘I can’t go on. I’ll go on.’” When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both.

Love on Lexington Avenue

This is my first read by Ms. Layne. I didn't realize it was the second in the series. That said, there was plenty of context for me to understand the characters relationships to each other. 

It's a redemption story, but the one being redeemed or reclaimed is the MC - Claire. After learning ugly truths about her late husband, Claire must find a path forward, one that's all her own. She needs to rediscover herself. 

So naturally she decides to overhaul her home. Fresh start. 

Enter grumpy, hunky Scott. 

They turn each other's lives and perceptions upside down, and find that life and love are better that way. 

Note: this book isn't a completely clean and wholesome romance. There are fade to black scenes, and one very short on page sex scene, as well as discussions about sex from multiple characters. 

How would you forge a new path after a life change? 

AMAZON

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes the second delightfully charming installment in the Central Park Pact series, following a young widow whose newfound cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges contractor.

There are no good men left in New York City. At least that’s Claire Hayes’s conviction after finding out her late husband was not the man she thought he was. Determined to rid her home of anything that reminds her of her cheating husband, Claire sets out to redesign her boring, beige Upper East Side brownstone and make it something all her own. But what starts out as a simple renovation becomes a lot more complicated when she meets her bad-tempered contractor Scott Turner.

Scott bluntly makes it known to Claire that he only took on her house for a change of pace from the corporate offices and swanky hotels he’s been building lately, and he doesn’t hesitate to add that he has no patience for a pampered, damaged princess with a penchant for pink. But when long workdays turn into even longer nights, their mutual wariness morphs into something more complicated—a grudging respect, and maybe even attraction...

Sense & Second-Degree Murder

This series is so much fun. I love the fresh take on Jane Austen's beloved characters as sleuths. 

The characters maintain their trademake characteristics, but with the fresh plot, they seem like an updated version of themselves. 

The villians remain the same, though the circumstances vary. 

If you're an Austen fan who also likes a cozy mystery, then this is the book series for you. 

Do you like a little Nancy Drew in your Jane Austen tales? What would you recommend in this genre for my next read?

AMAZON

When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate—including Norland & Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé—to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street.

But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery: a suspicious substance in their father’s teacup—one that can only be described as poison. And poison, as Marianne’s father taught her, always points to murder.

It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort—and it might even lead to love.

Pride & Premeditation

Long time Jane Austen fan. Love a good mystery and an amateur sleuth. This book fit all my favorites. 

I want to particularly want to point out the Author's Note at the end when she explains the historical changes she made that weren't true to the early 1800's in England. I had no issues with the changes for the purposes of the story. 

The narrator is absolutely fabulous. Every character is distinct and identifiable regardless of dialogue or tags. I would listen to her again.  

Story is solid. Pacing is on point. Character development is fantastic. 

Start listenting. I hope there's another book to read after this by Ms. Price. 

Do you combined genres to do with Jane Austen? Which ones?

AMAZON

One of BuzzFeed's best YA books of 2021!

Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries trilogy is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit.

When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates.

Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed.

Three of Jane Austen’s classic novels receive a murder mystery makeover in this romantic and thrilling three-book series that’s perfect for fans of The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy.

Pride and Premeditation is followed by Sense and Second-Degree Murder, in which aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder.

Hieroglyphs & Homicide

Not sure how I came across this book, but I'm certainly happy I did. 

This was my first read by Ms. Higley. It won't be my last. 

I like a good murder mystery, and I like it clean. No steamy love scenes, no swearing, no graphic violence. And that's precisely what Ms. Higley writes. 

Dr. Clarissa Bell is brilliantly written. Her system of cataloging the world, her inner dialogue, and her interaction with Quinn are intelligent, humorous, and refreshing. 

Love the setting, the pace, the style. 

Which is why I'll be grabbing book two NOW. 

If you can, save yourself time and money and buy the whole series. You'll want to keep turning the pages.

What clean murder mystery do you recommend I read next? 

AMAZON

Step into the sultry heat of 1920s Egypt, where ancient secrets hide beneath the shadow of the Great Pyramid.

Dr. Clarissa Bell came to Giza to prove herself a serious archaeologist, not to sort pottery while her male colleagues claim the glory.

But when she discovers a mysterious scribe's palette stained with rare blue pigment, she uncovers more than just an artifact—she stumbles into a deadly conspiracy.

Armed with nothing but her Cambridge education, an alarming tendency toward sarcasm, and a talent for finding trouble in supposedly empty tombs, Clarissa navigates a world where British imperial power meets ancient Egyptian mysteries, taking her from the bustling streets of Cairo to the steaming bathhouses and glittering auction houses of the colonial elite.

And what about the enigmatic Benedict Quinn? Charming, mysterious, and far too handsome for her peace of mind. Her carefully ordered world is beginning to crumble like ancient limestone.

But when professors pack pistols and black market dealers have government connections, the only thing Clarissa can trust is her own sharp wit—and her ability to sort pottery under pressure.

Summertime Guests

I picked up this book by Ms. Francis to take on vacation as I was in the mood for a mystery, which is only one aspect of this book. The rest I would say is part romance, part slice of life fiction. 

The story follows four couples in various stages of love/relationship. They are all at the Seafarer Hotel when someone falls to their death. 

The book does a lot of going back and forth between the present and the past, so be prepared to time jump often before the reveal of who died and how. Most of the time I didn't mind the skipping around, but other times I was annoyed. There's also quite a bit of telling instead of showing. 

That said, it was a solid read. 

Fair warning there are closed door intimate scenes, but nothing graphic on the page. Not squeaky clean, but you won't have to skip pages/parts while reading. A couple of swear words. 

Have you read any books by this author? If so, which one would you recommend?

AMAZON

THE SEAFARER IS THE PLACE TO SEE AND BE SEEN IN THE SUMMER...

With its rich history and famous guests, the glamorous Boston hotel is no stranger to drama. But the bustle at the iconic property reaches new heights one weekend in mid-June when someone falls tragically to her death, the event rippling through the lives of four very different people.

Bride-to-be Riley is at the hotel to plan her wedding. She would have preferred a smaller, more intimate celebration, but her bossy mother-in-law has taken charge and her fiancé hasn’t seemed to notice. Jean-Paul, the hotel’s manager, is struggling to keep his marriage and new family afloat, but now he must devote all his energy to this latest scandal at work. Claire, recently widowed, comes to town to connect with a long-lost love, but has too much changed in the last thirty years? And then there’s Jason, whose romantic getaway with his girlfriend has not exactly gone the way he'd hoped and instead has him facing questions he can't bring himself to answer.

Over three sun-drenched days, as the truth about the woman who died—and the secret she was hiding—is uncovered, these four strangers become linked in the most unexpected of ways. Together, they just might find the strength they need to turn their own lives around.

Beasts of Carnaval

I read this for book club. 

I give Ms. Rodrigo full marks for a highly developed story world. 

Let's start with the positives. 

I have no problem with magical realism or the premise of the book. A young woman goes in search of her twin brother and her former mistress/friend goes in search of her lost father. Both men were last known to be at Carnaval. No issues with the delicate treatment of hard subjects like the overthrow and colonization of an indigenous people handled with tremendous respect. The world building is detailed. The use of indigenous language and customs adds authenticity to the story. Characters are well developed and imperfect. 

The negative for me was the pacing. The story dragged for me. I wanted to get to the action much sooner. Cutting the book by about a third would've helped, in my opinion. 

While I'm not inclined to read more by the author or magical realism novels, this one is very well told. 

I give five gold stars to the narrator. She did a marvelous job bringing the characters and world to full emotional life. 

Do you like to read magical realism? Why or why not? 

AMAZON

When night descends, el Carnaval de Bestias rises.

Within the shores of Isla Bestia, guests from around the world discover a utopia of ever-changing performances, sumptuous feasts and beautiful monsters. Many enter, but few ever leave—the wine is simply too sweet, the music too fine and the revelry endless.

Sofía, a freedwoman from a nearby colonized island, cares little for this revelry. Born an enslaved mestiza on a tobacco plantation, she has neither wealth nor title, only a scholarly pragmatism and a hunger for answers. She travels to el Carnaval de Bestias in search of her twin brother, who disappeared five years ago.

There’s a world of wonder waiting for her on the shores of this legendary island, one wherein conquerors profit from Sofia’s ancestral lands and her people’s labor. But surrounded by her former enslavers, she finds something familiar in the performances—whispers of the island’s native tongue, music and stories from her Taike’ri ancestors…a culture long hidden in the shadows, thrust into the light.

As the nights pass, her mind begins unraveling, drowning in the unnatural, almost sentient thrall of Carnaval. And the sense that someone is watching her grows. To find her brother and break free, Sofia must peel back the glamorous curtain and face those behind Carnaval, before she too loses herself to the island…

The Book Club for Troublesome Women

I'm not sure where I ran across the recommendation to read this book, but it was a solid recommend. 

The narrative follows four different women whose lives intertwine as they live in the same neighborhood and what starts as a book club quickly becomes women who rely on each other to navigate the hurdles of life in the 1960s. 

They explore themes of motherhood, infertility, feminism, heartache, and so much more. Pacing, voice, and structure are all on point. 

The audiobook is fantastic. Thank you to the narrator for bringing each of these women to life with distinction and heart. 

What historical slice of life books do you recommend?

AMAZON

By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place--a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough?

Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique, they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives.

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries

This was a fun collection of stories to read. 

I always enjoy trying to figure out the guilty party while reading a mystery and this one has twelve to enjoy. This is also a nice introduction to authors I haven't come across before. 

Each author has a distinct writing style. Some stories and styles I enjoyed more than others. All were solid and well told. 

An enjoyable jaunt into the world of Ms. Marple for fans and not-yet-fans alike. 

What cozy mystery writer do you recommend?

AMAZON

Agatha Christie’s legendary sleuth, Jane Marple, returns to solve twelve baffling cases in this brand-new collection, penned by a host of acclaimed authors skilled in the fine art of mystery and murder

One doesn't stop at one murder...

Jane Marple is an elderly lady from St Mary Mead who possesses an uncanny knack for solving even the most perplexing puzzles. Now, for the first time in 45 years, Agatha Christie’s beloved character returns to the page for a globe-trotting tour of crime and detection.

Join Marple as she travels through her sleepy English village and around the world. In St Mary Mead, a Christmas dinner is interrupted by unexpected guests; the Broadway stage in New York City is set for a dangerous improvisation; bad omens surround an untimely death aboard a cruise ship to Hong Kong; and a bestselling writer on holiday in Italy is caught in a nefarious plot. These and other crimes committed in the name of love, jealousy, blackmail, and revenge are ones that only the indomitable Jane Marple can solve.

Bringing a fresh twist to the hallmarks of a classic Agatha Christie mystery, these twelve esteemed writers have captured the sharp wit, unique voice, and droll ingenuity of the deceptively demure detective. A triumphant celebration of Christie’s legacy and essential reading for crime lovers, Marple is a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains one of the most famous detectives of all time.

Alchemy of Secrets

My first read by Ms. Garber. Stunning.

I love a good mystery/scavenger hunt type book, particularly to try and figure out who the villain is. This one kept me guessing all the way to the end. 

The addition of magic is brilliant to sending the story twisting and turning. 

Unpredictable. Well paced. Fantastic characters. 

Excellent narrator as I expected. 

Do you like mysteries with a magical element? Which one would you recommend?

AMAZON

It starts with a class in an old movie theater.

Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, taught by a woman called the Professor. Most students believe the Professor’s stories are just fiction, but Holland St. James has always been convinced that magic is real. When she tracks down a local legend named the Watch Man, who can supposedly tell you when you’ll die, the world finally makes sense. Except that the Watch Man tells her she will die at midnight tomorrow unless she finds an ancient object called the Alchemical Heart.

With the clock ticking, Holland is pulled deeper into this magical world in the heart of Los Angeles—and into the path of a magnetic stranger. Everything about him feels like a bad idea, but he promises Holland that her sister sent him to protect her. As they chase clues and stories that take them closer to the Alchemical Heart, Holland realizes everyone in this intoxicating new world is lying to her, even this stranger. And if she can’t figure out whom to trust, not even the Alchemical Heart will save her.

Raising Hare

I wouldn't have picked up this book on my own. I read it for book club. 

It's interesting. The pace is slow and methodical, and the subject matter is revelatory. Where I previously had no knowledge of British hares, I now know quite a lot after listening to this book. 

Is it life changing for the author, yes? For the reader, debatable. 

But, if you're looking for something outside your usual preferred genre, that's like taking a nice walk through the English countryside, then this will fit the bill and enable to you to have a educated discussion about hares should the topic ever come up.

What memoirs do you recommend?

AMAZON

A moving and fascinating meditation on freedom, trust, loss, and our relationship with the natural world, explored through the story of one woman’s unlikely friendship with a wild hare.

Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived under your roof and lolloped around your bedroom at night, drumming on the duvet cover when it wanted your attention. Imagine that, over two years later, it still ran in from the fields when you called it and slept in your house for hours on end and gave birth to leverets in your study. For political advisor and speechwriter Chloe Dalton, who spent lockdown deep in the English countryside, far away from her usual busy London life, this became her unexpected reality.

In February 2021, Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. Fearing for its life, she brings it home, only to discover how impossible it is to rear a wild hare, most of whom perish in captivity from either shock or starvation. Through trial and error, she learns to feed and care for the leveret with every intention of returning it to the wilderness. Instead, it becomes her constant companion, wandering the fields and woods at night and returning to Dalton’s house by day. Though Dalton feared that the hare would be preyed upon by foxes, stoats, feral cats, raptors, and even people, she never tried to restrict it to the house. Each time the hare leaves, Chloe knows she may never see it again. Yet she also understands that to confine it would be its own kind of death.

Raising Hare chronicles their journey together, while also taking a deep dive into the lives and nature of hares, and the way they have been viewed historically in art, literature, and folklore. We witness first-hand the joy at this extraordinary relationship between human and animal, which serves as a reminder that the best things, and most beautiful experiences, arise when we least expect them.

*This audiobook includes a bonus conversation between the author and narrator, available in audio only.

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

Ms. Sutanto strikes again, and it's another grand slam. 

Vera is up to her old antics again of meddling in people's lives, solving murders, and this time becoming a social media influencer to add to her growing life resume. 

This book takes a darker turn in subject matter than the last - human trafficking. This time, it's not only Vera's life that's in peril. 

Once again narrated by the charming and incomparable Eunice Wong, the book comes to life in the endearing technicolor we've come to love and associate with Vera. 

What cozy mysteries starring a mature detective do you recommend?

AMAZON

Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.

Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure trove: Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.

Online, Xander had it all: a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.

The Tainted Cup

This is my first read by Mr. Bennett, and while it stands well on its own, I'm delighted to find that it's a first in a series. 

Get plunged into a world of secrets, lies, and murder all while the sky is about to fall in the form of a leviathan. 

Meet the perfectly captivating versions of Sherlock Holmes and Watson in the form of Dolabra and Kol. The cast is replete with eccentrics and distinctive people. Good luck keeping up with each twist and turn and Dolabra's shocking conclusions. If you can see them coming, send a note to the author about your brilliance. 

High praise to the audiobook narrator for a superb job bringing the book to life, which made the story experience delightful. 

AMAZON

In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.

Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

The Man Who Died Twice

Another round of fun for the murder club. 

This time one of their own is attacked and down for the count, and Elizabeth is calling in favors like she's won the lottery. 

We gain more insight to the characters' past, and we should all get to vote on whether Joyce should adopt Allen. 

Lots of charm, humor, and dead bodies to satisfy lovers of the first book. 

What mystery books do you like that feature seniors as the main characters?

AMAZON

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim—the Thursday Murder Club—are still riding high off their recent real-life murder case and are looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet at Cooper’s Chase, their posh retirement village.

But they are out of luck.

An unexpected visitor—an old pal of Elizabeth’s (or perhaps more than just a pal?)—arrives, desperate for her help. He has been accused of stealing diamonds worth millions from the wrong men and he’s seriously on the lam.

Then, as night follows day, the first body is found. But not the last. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are up against a ruthless murderer who wouldn’t bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can our four friends catch the killer before the killer catches them? And if they find the diamonds, too? Well, wouldn’t that be a bonus? You should never put anything beyond the Thursday Murder Club.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Everyone needs a Chinese grandma in their life, they just don't know it yet. 

A cozy mystery of the best kind. Ms. Sutanto does an extraordinary job of bringing together a collection of people who shouldn't fit together but do in the end. 

Call it fate, but really, call it Vera who during her investigation helps strangers form bonds that will last long after she solves the murder. 

This book was laugh out loud funny, with never a dull moment. 

Gold stars to the audiobook narrator for doing such a masterful job bringing Vera and the cast to life. I'll be hearing Vera in my head for months now. I only wish there recipes for the tea and dishes Vera makes. 

What recent book has made you laugh out loud? 

AMAZON

A lonely shopkeeper takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way in this captivating mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.

Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady—ah, lady of a certain age—who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, oh no. She likes nothing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy detective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to.

Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing—a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn’t know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like any good citizen would, she sort of . . . swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she would do a better job than the police possibly could, because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands. 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 does not expect is to form friendships with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them. As a protective mother hen, will she end up having to give one of her newfound chicks to the police?

Romano Family Romance Vol 1 Box Set

Ms. Whitney delivers all the feels in this novella. 

While we follow Knox and Jacinta through Portugal, we also get to meet the Romano family and kick off the series of clean and wholesome romances with some strong kisses in the mix. 

A satisfying read. 

Do you like travel romances or big family romances better? 

AMAZON

He's stranded without his passport. She's surrounded my meddling relatives. Love might have a chance… if her family stays out of it.

When Knox Campbell goes to Portugal for a short business trip, he never planned on losing his documents. Now he’s stranded in Porto, his passport lost, and his credit cards canceled. Unable to return to the US and without a place to stay, Knox turns to the travel agent who suggested the local day attractions for assistance.

Jacinta Romano loves helping her clients set up their dream trips, although she doesn’t usually meet the ones visiting from abroad. But all that changes when a client shows up at the agency while her meddling family are still there. They latch on to him immediately, insisting Jacinta bring him home while he’s stranded. Thankfully, he’s only staying until his new passport arrives and after two weeks of playing hostess, she’ll be glad to send him on his way. Or will she?

The Romano Family series follows the stories of the Romano cousins of northern Portugal as they find love and their Happily-Ever-Afters. Hold Me at Twilight is a stand-alone romance with a satisfying conclusion.