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General Recommendations
SAPL Adults - Joanne's Mystery Picks
St. Albert Public Library
Staff-created list
The Library's Mistress of Mysteries provides clues to great crime and mystery reads! Here are Joanne's best-reviewed (4 or 5 daggers out of 5) mystery titles. Find the full reviews, and more, here: https://readers.sapl.ca/category/joannes-mystery-picks/
St. Albert Public Library
Web Resource
Check out all of Joanne's reviews, as well as our Weekend Picks and book club reads, on the SAPL Reader's Blog!
Check out all of Joanne's reviews, as well as our Weekend Picks and book club reads, on the SAPL Reader's Blog!
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A Novel
Book - 2021
*5 daggers out of 5!* Art most definitely imitates life in this taut political thriller co-authored by two exceptional women. It’s an America that is slo...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Art most definitely imitates life in this taut political thriller co-authored by two exceptional women. It’s an America that is slowly trying to recover from the previous four years of an administration that had been run by a total nincompoop. But there are still forces wishing to do harm to the country and the new administration. Clinton has provided the guts to the machinations of the evil doers who hope to bring down the government while Penny wields the pen that puts the words onto paper.
This plot-driven novel is clever and ambitious, full of intrigue and enough red herrings to keep the reader on his or her toes. Friendship and female solidarity are strong themes as portrayed by the characters of Ellen Adams, Secretary of State, and her counselor and best friend Betsy Jameson. With their humour and honesty, they are a refreshing change to the way that such characters are usually portrayed.
This fast-paced and exciting story does not disappoint. Right up until the end we are kept guessing: who do you trust? The book leaves us wondering and asking for more and certainly has the feel that a sequel could be a distinct possibility.
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*5 daggers out of 5!* Art most definitely imitates life in this taut political thriller co-authored by two exceptional women. It’s an America that is slo...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Art most definitely imitates life in this taut political thriller co-authored by two exceptional women. It’s an America that is slowly trying to recover from the previous four years of an administration that had been run by a total nincompoop. But there are still forces wishing to do harm to the country and the new administration. Clinton has provided the guts to the machinations of the evil doers who hope to bring down the government while Penny wields the pen that puts the words onto paper.
This plot-driven novel is clever and ambitious, full of intrigue and enough red herrings to keep the reader on his or her toes. Friendship and female solidarity are strong themes as portrayed by the characters of Ellen Adams, Secretary of State, and her counselor and best friend Betsy Jameson. With their humour and honesty, they are a refreshing change to the way that such characters are usually portrayed.
This fast-paced and exciting story does not disappoint. Right up until the end we are kept guessing: who do you trust? The book leaves us wondering and asking for more and certainly has the feel that a sequel could be a distinct possibility.
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Place hold
A Novel
Book - 2021
*4 daggers out of 5!* Hadfield seems to excel at anything he sets his mind to be whether it’s an astronaut, a test pilot, or a guitar player! Now add fic...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Hadfield seems to excel at anything he sets his mind to be whether it’s an astronaut, a test pilot, or a guitar player! Now add fiction author to that list. It’s 1973 and the United States is about to launch Apollo 18, its last lunar mission. And so begins a game of cat and mouse with the Soviets.
At times the technical information gets overwhelming as Hadfield gets us seated in the spaceship and the count-down begins. But soon it’s as if we are there when he describes the impact of the G-forces on the crew and eventually we’re floating with them as weightlessness kicks in.
The story is fast-paced with well-drawn, believable characters, some of which are based on real people. Like any good mystery, it’s up to the reader to try and discern who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are. It’s well-worth the trip as Hadfield takes us to the moon and back.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* Hadfield seems to excel at anything he sets his mind to be whether it’s an astronaut, a test pilot, or a guitar player! Now add fic...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Hadfield seems to excel at anything he sets his mind to be whether it’s an astronaut, a test pilot, or a guitar player! Now add fiction author to that list. It’s 1973 and the United States is about to launch Apollo 18, its last lunar mission. And so begins a game of cat and mouse with the Soviets.
At times the technical information gets overwhelming as Hadfield gets us seated in the spaceship and the count-down begins. But soon it’s as if we are there when he describes the impact of the G-forces on the crew and eventually we’re floating with them as weightlessness kicks in.
The story is fast-paced with well-drawn, believable characters, some of which are based on real people. Like any good mystery, it’s up to the reader to try and discern who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are. It’s well-worth the trip as Hadfield takes us to the moon and back.
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Available
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Place hold
A Novel
Book - 2021
*4 daggers out of 5!* Jilly Truitt is in a good place. Her career is solid and she’s able to take on any case and just as easily able to say no to any ot...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Jilly Truitt is in a good place. Her career is solid and she’s able to take on any case and just as easily able to say no to any other. So what is it about Vera Quentin’s case that makes her so determined to take it, against her better judgment? After all, Quentin’s husband Joseph, an esteemed lawyer in his own right, has begged her to do so. Vera Quentin has been accused of the mercy killing of her mother, Olivia Stanton, who was dying of cancer. But Vera is adamant that she did not kill her mother and is willing to go to trial to prove her innocence over accepting a plea bargain which would result in a two year prison sentence. Is she in denial about killing her mother or is she really innocent?
With those two questions at the back of her mind, Jilly begins by reconstructing the months, weeks, and days leading up to Olivia’s death and discovers that every one of the family is hiding a secret. Ultimately it is one secret that breaks the case wide-open.
McLachlin has written a tight, controlled novel which examines the balance and shift of power in relationships and their inevitable result on the parties concerned.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* Jilly Truitt is in a good place. Her career is solid and she’s able to take on any case and just as easily able to say no to any ot...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Jilly Truitt is in a good place. Her career is solid and she’s able to take on any case and just as easily able to say no to any other. So what is it about Vera Quentin’s case that makes her so determined to take it, against her better judgment? After all, Quentin’s husband Joseph, an esteemed lawyer in his own right, has begged her to do so. Vera Quentin has been accused of the mercy killing of her mother, Olivia Stanton, who was dying of cancer. But Vera is adamant that she did not kill her mother and is willing to go to trial to prove her innocence over accepting a plea bargain which would result in a two year prison sentence. Is she in denial about killing her mother or is she really innocent?
With those two questions at the back of her mind, Jilly begins by reconstructing the months, weeks, and days leading up to Olivia’s death and discovers that every one of the family is hiding a secret. Ultimately it is one secret that breaks the case wide-open.
McLachlin has written a tight, controlled novel which examines the balance and shift of power in relationships and their inevitable result on the parties concerned.
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Available
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Place hold
by Cleeves, Ann
Book - 2020
*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s not unusual to take a wrong turn on the road at the best of times. It’s usually just a matter of turning around and going back...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s not unusual to take a wrong turn on the road at the best of times. It’s usually just a matter of turning around and going back the way you came to set yourself on the right road – with no repercussions. But when Vera Stanhope takes a wrong turn in a snowstorm the repercussions are enormous. She finds a car which has skidded off the road, the driver door wide-open, seat empty and the only occupant a crying baby in the back seat. As she gets her bearings, she realizes that she’s in familiar territory at Brockburn – the very seat of her late father, Hector’s, upbringing.
Soon the murdered body of a woman is found in a snowbank nearby and Vera and her team begin the long and laborious task of unravelling the secrets of this tight-knit community. With each strand of new information that is brought forward Vera is able to weave a picture of the events that led up to this young mother’s death. Her insight into the family dynamic is particularly amazing when you consider that Vera’s upbringing at the hands of Hector was hardly conventional, with him involving her in his illegal activities.
We learn more about Vera’s personal backstory as she examines the relationships between the people closest to the murder victim, in turn giving us a clearer insight into what makes Vera “tick”.
Cleeves has written an intriguing story about family and how some people will do anything for love. Reading this book is time well-spent.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s not unusual to take a wrong turn on the road at the best of times. It’s usually just a matter of turning around and going back...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s not unusual to take a wrong turn on the road at the best of times. It’s usually just a matter of turning around and going back the way you came to set yourself on the right road – with no repercussions. But when Vera Stanhope takes a wrong turn in a snowstorm the repercussions are enormous. She finds a car which has skidded off the road, the driver door wide-open, seat empty and the only occupant a crying baby in the back seat. As she gets her bearings, she realizes that she’s in familiar territory at Brockburn – the very seat of her late father, Hector’s, upbringing.
Soon the murdered body of a woman is found in a snowbank nearby and Vera and her team begin the long and laborious task of unravelling the secrets of this tight-knit community. With each strand of new information that is brought forward Vera is able to weave a picture of the events that led up to this young mother’s death. Her insight into the family dynamic is particularly amazing when you consider that Vera’s upbringing at the hands of Hector was hardly conventional, with him involving her in his illegal activities.
We learn more about Vera’s personal backstory as she examines the relationships between the people closest to the murder victim, in turn giving us a clearer insight into what makes Vera “tick”.
Cleeves has written an intriguing story about family and how some people will do anything for love. Reading this book is time well-spent.
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Available
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A Novel
Book - 2021
*4 daggers out of 5!* During a “dine and sleep” weekend at Windsor Castle, a body is found in one of the guest bedrooms. Enter the new “Queen of Crime”! ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* During a “dine and sleep” weekend at Windsor Castle, a body is found in one of the guest bedrooms. Enter the new “Queen of Crime”! She’s a permanent resident of the Castle, albeit dividing her time between it and Buckingham Palace.
Bennett has brought her to life on the page – her every nuance majestically set in type as she goes about her duties, steering the investigation along the way.
A cleverly crafted mystery with a delightful new character who we feel we already know!
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*4 daggers out of 5!* During a “dine and sleep” weekend at Windsor Castle, a body is found in one of the guest bedrooms. Enter the new “Queen of Crime”! ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* During a “dine and sleep” weekend at Windsor Castle, a body is found in one of the guest bedrooms. Enter the new “Queen of Crime”! She’s a permanent resident of the Castle, albeit dividing her time between it and Buckingham Palace.
Bennett has brought her to life on the page – her every nuance majestically set in type as she goes about her duties, steering the investigation along the way.
A cleverly crafted mystery with a delightful new character who we feel we already know!
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Available
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Book - 2021
*4 daggers out of 5!* Ruth is back at the University of North Norfolk, as head of archaeology, replacing Phil, the now retired previous head. Replacing R...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Ruth is back at the University of North Norfolk, as head of archaeology, replacing Phil, the now retired previous head. Replacing Ruth in her former position is David Brown, who quickly gets on her nerves as he insinuates himself into her routines, car, and life! When a group of metal detectorists, known as the Night Hawks, uncovers a Bronze Age hoard where a recent dead body has just turned up, and then comes across a murder-suicide at a local farmhouse, DCI Nelson’s job becomes more complicated than ever. The ups and downs of the case along with the ups and downs of the relationship between Ruth and Nelson ends in a nail-biting cliff-hanger.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* Ruth is back at the University of North Norfolk, as head of archaeology, replacing Phil, the now retired previous head. Replacing R...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Ruth is back at the University of North Norfolk, as head of archaeology, replacing Phil, the now retired previous head. Replacing Ruth in her former position is David Brown, who quickly gets on her nerves as he insinuates himself into her routines, car, and life! When a group of metal detectorists, known as the Night Hawks, uncovers a Bronze Age hoard where a recent dead body has just turned up, and then comes across a murder-suicide at a local farmhouse, DCI Nelson’s job becomes more complicated than ever. The ups and downs of the case along with the ups and downs of the relationship between Ruth and Nelson ends in a nail-biting cliff-hanger.
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A Novel
Book - 2012
*5 stars out of 5!* Detective Constable Fiona Griffiths will never get the picture of the little girl, crushed by a utility sink, out of her head. Her mo...Show more
*5 stars out of 5!* Detective Constable Fiona Griffiths will never get the picture of the little girl, crushed by a utility sink, out of her head. Her mother, a known prostitute who was getting her life back together, lies dead in the same room. Par for the course for someone living a high-risk lifestyle? Maybe at first look – until the platinum credit card of a wealthy tycoon, months dead, is found at the scene.
Fiona has a reputation of being an excellent investigator, while being a bit odd and not one to care about the social niceties of working with a team. So it’s not surprising when she strikes out on her own, against all protocols, to get justice for the mother and daughter.
Little by little, like a slow-leaking tap we begin to learn about Fiona’s history, the years that she dropped off the map and how it ultimately influenced her behaviour and personality and the effort that it takes her to prevent falling back into an all-consuming abyss.
A truly fascinating book that deserves 5 daggers.
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*5 stars out of 5!* Detective Constable Fiona Griffiths will never get the picture of the little girl, crushed by a utility sink, out of her head. Her mo...Show more
*5 stars out of 5!* Detective Constable Fiona Griffiths will never get the picture of the little girl, crushed by a utility sink, out of her head. Her mother, a known prostitute who was getting her life back together, lies dead in the same room. Par for the course for someone living a high-risk lifestyle? Maybe at first look – until the platinum credit card of a wealthy tycoon, months dead, is found at the scene.
Fiona has a reputation of being an excellent investigator, while being a bit odd and not one to care about the social niceties of working with a team. So it’s not surprising when she strikes out on her own, against all protocols, to get justice for the mother and daughter.
Little by little, like a slow-leaking tap we begin to learn about Fiona’s history, the years that she dropped off the map and how it ultimately influenced her behaviour and personality and the effort that it takes her to prevent falling back into an all-consuming abyss.
A truly fascinating book that deserves 5 daggers.
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Available
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Book - 2021
*5 daggers out of 5!* You know you’re onto a good thing when you’ve chosen a book written by an author who was long-listed for the Booker Prize. Belinda ...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* You know you’re onto a good thing when you’ve chosen a book written by an author who was long-listed for the Booker Prize. Belinda Bauer is definitely on my list of favorites after reading this crime story!
Felix Pink is a kind and gentle man, retired, widowed, and a volunteer with the Exiteers. An Exiteer sits with terminally ill people as they die by suicide. Their job is to dispense moral support and then remove the evidence of the act so that family members do not have to deal with it. It’s usually pretty straight-forward. That is until it isn’t!
When something goes awry during one of his visits, Felix is suddenly a suspect and on the run from the police. What Felix needs to work out is whether or not what happened was a mistake. Or was it murder?
Filled with suspense, great characters, and lots of humour, this novel is hard to put down until the very last, satisfying page!
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*5 daggers out of 5!* You know you’re onto a good thing when you’ve chosen a book written by an author who was long-listed for the Booker Prize. Belinda ...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* You know you’re onto a good thing when you’ve chosen a book written by an author who was long-listed for the Booker Prize. Belinda Bauer is definitely on my list of favorites after reading this crime story!
Felix Pink is a kind and gentle man, retired, widowed, and a volunteer with the Exiteers. An Exiteer sits with terminally ill people as they die by suicide. Their job is to dispense moral support and then remove the evidence of the act so that family members do not have to deal with it. It’s usually pretty straight-forward. That is until it isn’t!
When something goes awry during one of his visits, Felix is suddenly a suspect and on the run from the police. What Felix needs to work out is whether or not what happened was a mistake. Or was it murder?
Filled with suspense, great characters, and lots of humour, this novel is hard to put down until the very last, satisfying page!
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in some locations
Place hold
by Leon, Donna
Book - 2021
*4 daggers out of 5!* Commissario Guido Brunetti is in an uncharacteristically sullen mood as we encounter him in the opening pages of the thirtieth insta...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Commissario Guido Brunetti is in an uncharacteristically sullen mood as we encounter him in the opening pages of the thirtieth installment of Donna Leon’s award-winning series. Is it because he laments the trajectory of his life, based on last night’s meeting with old friends? Perhaps he’s reached the tipping point with his children who take him so much for granted? Or is it the endless line of tourists who seek to swallow up everything good about the city he loves? Whatever the cause it foreshadows the horrendous events that are about to consume most of his time and energy.
Two women, with multiple injuries, are found unconscious on the dock outside the emergency room of the Ospedale Civile early in the morning. It’s determined that their injuries are the result of a boating accident while they were joy riding with two young Italian men. But why abandon them when it was just an accident?
As Brunetti and his colleague, Claudia Griffoni, continue their investigation they encounter the very darkest side of criminal behaviour and the most heinous of crimes.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* Commissario Guido Brunetti is in an uncharacteristically sullen mood as we encounter him in the opening pages of the thirtieth insta...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Commissario Guido Brunetti is in an uncharacteristically sullen mood as we encounter him in the opening pages of the thirtieth installment of Donna Leon’s award-winning series. Is it because he laments the trajectory of his life, based on last night’s meeting with old friends? Perhaps he’s reached the tipping point with his children who take him so much for granted? Or is it the endless line of tourists who seek to swallow up everything good about the city he loves? Whatever the cause it foreshadows the horrendous events that are about to consume most of his time and energy.
Two women, with multiple injuries, are found unconscious on the dock outside the emergency room of the Ospedale Civile early in the morning. It’s determined that their injuries are the result of a boating accident while they were joy riding with two young Italian men. But why abandon them when it was just an accident?
As Brunetti and his colleague, Claudia Griffoni, continue their investigation they encounter the very darkest side of criminal behaviour and the most heinous of crimes.
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Oranges and Lemons
Book - 2020
*5 daggers out of 5!* Fowler’s Bryant & May series is a trivia lovers’ dream. Filled with arcane and esoteric facts they’re a treasure-trove of the w...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Fowler’s Bryant & May series is a trivia lovers’ dream. Filled with arcane and esoteric facts they’re a treasure-trove of the weird and wonderful, the fantastic and fabulous.
When the Speaker of the House of Commons is nearly killed in an absurd “accident” involving a van unloading oranges and lemons, the investigation is turned over to the Peculiar Crimes Unit. However, they’d been disbanded and had all gone their own way. Scrabbling to get them back together and finding a new center of operations is no mean feat! They are joined by a new recruit – Sydney – a young woman who seems to “ring a bell” with some of the team.
Meanwhile the perpetrator of the incident involving the Speaker has upped his game and now has a murder to answer for. But he is not finished yet as he continues his barrage on churches following the lines of the old nursery rhyme: “Oranges and Lemons”, and adding to his list of the murdered and injured. Bryant pulls out all the stops as he consults the magicians, white witches and sundry others of his followers to complete the picture of the murderer and bring him to justice.
Clever twists and turns and surprises around every corner make this episode in the annals of the PCU as entertaining as those that have gone before. The quirkiness and eccentricity of the characters provides a laugh on every page.
It’s a great read from the very first page.
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*5 daggers out of 5!* Fowler’s Bryant & May series is a trivia lovers’ dream. Filled with arcane and esoteric facts they’re a treasure-trove of the w...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Fowler’s Bryant & May series is a trivia lovers’ dream. Filled with arcane and esoteric facts they’re a treasure-trove of the weird and wonderful, the fantastic and fabulous.
When the Speaker of the House of Commons is nearly killed in an absurd “accident” involving a van unloading oranges and lemons, the investigation is turned over to the Peculiar Crimes Unit. However, they’d been disbanded and had all gone their own way. Scrabbling to get them back together and finding a new center of operations is no mean feat! They are joined by a new recruit – Sydney – a young woman who seems to “ring a bell” with some of the team.
Meanwhile the perpetrator of the incident involving the Speaker has upped his game and now has a murder to answer for. But he is not finished yet as he continues his barrage on churches following the lines of the old nursery rhyme: “Oranges and Lemons”, and adding to his list of the murdered and injured. Bryant pulls out all the stops as he consults the magicians, white witches and sundry others of his followers to complete the picture of the murderer and bring him to justice.
Clever twists and turns and surprises around every corner make this episode in the annals of the PCU as entertaining as those that have gone before. The quirkiness and eccentricity of the characters provides a laugh on every page.
It’s a great read from the very first page.
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Available
in some locations
Place hold
A Novel
Book - 2020
*5 daggers out of 5!* Horowitz is a master at whatever he sets his hand to doing. Whether it be creating the TV series Foyles’ War and Midsomer Murders o...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Horowitz is a master at whatever he sets his hand to doing. Whether it be creating the TV series Foyles’ War and Midsomer Murders or writing the Alex Rider series for young adults, or creating the intricate and challenging puzzles such as are found in Moonflower Murders.
Moonflower Murders is a book within a book and both present intricately detailed murder scenarios. Linking the two books is retired publisher Susan Ryeland who once represented the late Alan Conway, author of the fictional Magpie Murders and Atticus Pund Takes the Case.
When Susan, now living in Greece and working at a hotel, meets the Trehernes, they ask her to help find their daughter, Cecily who has gone missing. On the Suffolk coast and on the same day and in the same hotel as their daughter’s wedding some years previously, a horrific murder had taken place. Alan Conway subsequently wrote a book about the murder (Atticus Pund Takes the Case) and her parents believe that Cecily found something in the book that exonerated the man convicted of the murder, and has now put her life in jeopardy. Susan knows that she needs to return to England to help find Cecily.
Moonflower Murders is clever, brilliant, and a wickedly good puzzle. It most definitely is a 5 bloody dagger read!
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*5 daggers out of 5!* Horowitz is a master at whatever he sets his hand to doing. Whether it be creating the TV series Foyles’ War and Midsomer Murders o...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Horowitz is a master at whatever he sets his hand to doing. Whether it be creating the TV series Foyles’ War and Midsomer Murders or writing the Alex Rider series for young adults, or creating the intricate and challenging puzzles such as are found in Moonflower Murders.
Moonflower Murders is a book within a book and both present intricately detailed murder scenarios. Linking the two books is retired publisher Susan Ryeland who once represented the late Alan Conway, author of the fictional Magpie Murders and Atticus Pund Takes the Case.
When Susan, now living in Greece and working at a hotel, meets the Trehernes, they ask her to help find their daughter, Cecily who has gone missing. On the Suffolk coast and on the same day and in the same hotel as their daughter’s wedding some years previously, a horrific murder had taken place. Alan Conway subsequently wrote a book about the murder (Atticus Pund Takes the Case) and her parents believe that Cecily found something in the book that exonerated the man convicted of the murder, and has now put her life in jeopardy. Susan knows that she needs to return to England to help find Cecily.
Moonflower Murders is clever, brilliant, and a wickedly good puzzle. It most definitely is a 5 bloody dagger read!
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Available
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Place hold
A Novel
Book - 2020
*5 daggers out of 5!* This is the third book in the Manon Bradshaw trilogy. I’m saddened by this fact because I’ve grown to love the characters that have...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* This is the third book in the Manon Bradshaw trilogy. I’m saddened by this fact because I’ve grown to love the characters that have been brought to life on the pages of these books.
Manon is trying to juggle her family life with her husband and two kids while working part-time on cold cases. While on a walk with her two year old son, Teddy, she comes across a young migrant found hanging from a tree. She quickly heads home to report it, knowing somehow that she’ll be the one to investigate the case. What she doesn’t know is that she’ll soon be dealing with the issues of illegal immigrants, racism, and xenophobia. As SIO on this case now, Manon has even less time to deal with issues at home until her husband, Mark becomes seriously ill.
At times dark and disturbing, this novel reflects what is happening in so many countries today, showing to what ends people will go to in order to try for a better life.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this book is that while Steiner was writing it, unbeknownst to her, a tumor was growing in her brain. How interesting that part of this story-line reflects what was happening to Steiner, personally.
A highly recommended series: 5 Bloody Daggers for each: Missing, Presumed; Persons Unknown; Remain Silent.
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*5 daggers out of 5!* This is the third book in the Manon Bradshaw trilogy. I’m saddened by this fact because I’ve grown to love the characters that have...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* This is the third book in the Manon Bradshaw trilogy. I’m saddened by this fact because I’ve grown to love the characters that have been brought to life on the pages of these books.
Manon is trying to juggle her family life with her husband and two kids while working part-time on cold cases. While on a walk with her two year old son, Teddy, she comes across a young migrant found hanging from a tree. She quickly heads home to report it, knowing somehow that she’ll be the one to investigate the case. What she doesn’t know is that she’ll soon be dealing with the issues of illegal immigrants, racism, and xenophobia. As SIO on this case now, Manon has even less time to deal with issues at home until her husband, Mark becomes seriously ill.
At times dark and disturbing, this novel reflects what is happening in so many countries today, showing to what ends people will go to in order to try for a better life.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this book is that while Steiner was writing it, unbeknownst to her, a tumor was growing in her brain. How interesting that part of this story-line reflects what was happening to Steiner, personally.
A highly recommended series: 5 Bloody Daggers for each: Missing, Presumed; Persons Unknown; Remain Silent.
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Place hold
A Thriller
by Cleeves, Ann
Book - 2010
*4 daggers out of 5!* Blue Lightning falls midway in the series of Shetland mysteries featuring Jimmy Perez. It really shows Cleeves at her best in both ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Blue Lightning falls midway in the series of Shetland mysteries featuring Jimmy Perez. It really shows Cleeves at her best in both storytelling and creating atmosphere. Fair Isle becomes as strong a character as do Jimmy and the people who inhabit the island. Jimmy accompanied by his new fiancé Fran, returns to his home with much trepidation, knowing that strangers are not readily accepted. With the weather turning cold and stormy the feeling of isolation for many of the residents reaches a fever pitch. And then a body is discovered. A woman has been murdered.
Cut off from the mainland, Jimmy is forced to use what resources he can to conduct an investigation. As he begins interviewing the people who were part of the victim’s circle of friends, family, and acquaintances, he realizes that everyone is hiding something. Whether it’s pertinent to the murder or not – they all have secrets.
But no one, least of all Jimmy, could ever know that the tragic circumstances of this case would determine the direction of Perez’s future for some years to come.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* Blue Lightning falls midway in the series of Shetland mysteries featuring Jimmy Perez. It really shows Cleeves at her best in both ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Blue Lightning falls midway in the series of Shetland mysteries featuring Jimmy Perez. It really shows Cleeves at her best in both storytelling and creating atmosphere. Fair Isle becomes as strong a character as do Jimmy and the people who inhabit the island. Jimmy accompanied by his new fiancé Fran, returns to his home with much trepidation, knowing that strangers are not readily accepted. With the weather turning cold and stormy the feeling of isolation for many of the residents reaches a fever pitch. And then a body is discovered. A woman has been murdered.
Cut off from the mainland, Jimmy is forced to use what resources he can to conduct an investigation. As he begins interviewing the people who were part of the victim’s circle of friends, family, and acquaintances, he realizes that everyone is hiding something. Whether it’s pertinent to the murder or not – they all have secrets.
But no one, least of all Jimmy, could ever know that the tragic circumstances of this case would determine the direction of Perez’s future for some years to come.
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The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics
Book - 2020
*5 daggers out of 5!* In reviewing this book I’m deviating from the usual mysteries/crime/thriller books that I normally blog about. But I think this is s...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* In reviewing this book I’m deviating from the usual mysteries/crime/thriller books that I normally blog about. But I think this is such an important book that I wanted to make it known to the many lovers of the mystery genre for it gives background to the rules that govern the investigation of crimes and crime scenes, which is certainly something every good sleuth should know.
I’m a miniaturist – I make dollhouses, scale roomboxes, miniature furniture and accessories. I learned about the subject of this book – Frances Glessner Lee – through the 1/12” scale (where 1” represents 1 ft. in real life) dioramas depicting real crime scenes that she created (see The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death: Essay and Photography by Corinne May Botz). However, I was totally unaware of the journey that Glessner Lee had to take to get to this point. Here was a woman who had no scientific or medical background but who began to question how unexplained and unexpected deaths were investigated. Up to this point the field of “legal medicine” (forensic science) was steeped in politics, corruption and fear.
Frances worked to have medical examiners replacecoroners (who needed no knowledge of law or medicine, were appointed to their positions and were often corrupt). In 1943 she became a consultant to the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard Medical School where she created an intensive week-long seminar for police officers. The seminars provided the participants with the tools necessary to investigate unexpected and unexplained deaths including: how to estimate time of death, decomposition and other post mortem changes, blunt and sharp force injuries and related areas of death investigation. Harvard Medical School was the only place in the U.S. to offer this seminar. In 1944 Glessner Lee created the dioramas to provide a 3D view of a crime scene, critical to any investigation. They became an important component to the seminars then and continue to do so today. “Today, the Frances Glessner Lee Seminar in Homicide Investigation is held at the Forensic Medical Center for the State of Maryland in Baltimore. The seminars are conducted in accordance with the traditions set by Lee,…”
This is a compact version of Francis Glessner Lee’s contribution to forensic science as outlined in this book. She did so much more. She was the first person to push to have forensic odontology (teeth) be used to identify victims, though no one at the time felt that this was a valuable tool. Of course, today, it is used when necessary. She was always fighting an uphill battle: against sexism, ageism, and ignorance, but she never waivered in her pursuit of what she felt was needed and necessary.
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*5 daggers out of 5!* In reviewing this book I’m deviating from the usual mysteries/crime/thriller books that I normally blog about. But I think this is s...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* In reviewing this book I’m deviating from the usual mysteries/crime/thriller books that I normally blog about. But I think this is such an important book that I wanted to make it known to the many lovers of the mystery genre for it gives background to the rules that govern the investigation of crimes and crime scenes, which is certainly something every good sleuth should know.
I’m a miniaturist – I make dollhouses, scale roomboxes, miniature furniture and accessories. I learned about the subject of this book – Frances Glessner Lee – through the 1/12” scale (where 1” represents 1 ft. in real life) dioramas depicting real crime scenes that she created (see The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death: Essay and Photography by Corinne May Botz). However, I was totally unaware of the journey that Glessner Lee had to take to get to this point. Here was a woman who had no scientific or medical background but who began to question how unexplained and unexpected deaths were investigated. Up to this point the field of “legal medicine” (forensic science) was steeped in politics, corruption and fear.
Frances worked to have medical examiners replacecoroners (who needed no knowledge of law or medicine, were appointed to their positions and were often corrupt). In 1943 she became a consultant to the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard Medical School where she created an intensive week-long seminar for police officers. The seminars provided the participants with the tools necessary to investigate unexpected and unexplained deaths including: how to estimate time of death, decomposition and other post mortem changes, blunt and sharp force injuries and related areas of death investigation. Harvard Medical School was the only place in the U.S. to offer this seminar. In 1944 Glessner Lee created the dioramas to provide a 3D view of a crime scene, critical to any investigation. They became an important component to the seminars then and continue to do so today. “Today, the Frances Glessner Lee Seminar in Homicide Investigation is held at the Forensic Medical Center for the State of Maryland in Baltimore. The seminars are conducted in accordance with the traditions set by Lee,…”
This is a compact version of Francis Glessner Lee’s contribution to forensic science as outlined in this book. She did so much more. She was the first person to push to have forensic odontology (teeth) be used to identify victims, though no one at the time felt that this was a valuable tool. Of course, today, it is used when necessary. She was always fighting an uphill battle: against sexism, ageism, and ignorance, but she never waivered in her pursuit of what she felt was needed and necessary.
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Book - 2020
*4 daggers out of 5!* There’s no doubt that much has changed during the last nine months and the way we do things, from grocery shopping to visiting the l...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* There’s no doubt that much has changed during the last nine months and the way we do things, from grocery shopping to visiting the library, can be stressful and not the most enjoyable experience that we’ve been used to having (assuming that one finds grocery shopping an enjoyable experience). In talking to friends and family, and from reading blogs and forums, I’ve come across many who have experienced a profound restlessness that has interfered with one of their greatest pleasures – that of reading. They’re ok to read the gas bill or catch the headlines in the newspaper, but when it comes to sitting down to read a “book” – well they just cannot concentrate for more than a few pages at a time. And I was one of these people, during the first few months of Covid-19. Not being able to read is akin to not being able to breathe for me. So I took to reading short stories – and they filled the need as I waited for my long-term concentration to return. Now I feel like I’ve come out of my cocoon, ready to read almost any book that’s put into my hands.
Robinson’s collection of thirty-one short stories (4 of which are Inspector Banks’ stories) and two novellas (both being Inspector Banks’ stories) might just be the ticket for you if you’re still struggling with problems of concentration. Here you’ll find psychological suspense, police procedurals, family tension, love (lost and found) and an ongoing examination of human nature. Robinson’s characters are colorful, fully-fleshed, and bring these well-told stories to life. There’s something here for every reader and every level of concentration.
Show less
*4 daggers out of 5!* There’s no doubt that much has changed during the last nine months and the way we do things, from grocery shopping to visiting the l...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* There’s no doubt that much has changed during the last nine months and the way we do things, from grocery shopping to visiting the library, can be stressful and not the most enjoyable experience that we’ve been used to having (assuming that one finds grocery shopping an enjoyable experience). In talking to friends and family, and from reading blogs and forums, I’ve come across many who have experienced a profound restlessness that has interfered with one of their greatest pleasures – that of reading. They’re ok to read the gas bill or catch the headlines in the newspaper, but when it comes to sitting down to read a “book” – well they just cannot concentrate for more than a few pages at a time. And I was one of these people, during the first few months of Covid-19. Not being able to read is akin to not being able to breathe for me. So I took to reading short stories – and they filled the need as I waited for my long-term concentration to return. Now I feel like I’ve come out of my cocoon, ready to read almost any book that’s put into my hands.
Robinson’s collection of thirty-one short stories (4 of which are Inspector Banks’ stories) and two novellas (both being Inspector Banks’ stories) might just be the ticket for you if you’re still struggling with problems of concentration. Here you’ll find psychological suspense, police procedurals, family tension, love (lost and found) and an ongoing examination of human nature. Robinson’s characters are colorful, fully-fleshed, and bring these well-told stories to life. There’s something here for every reader and every level of concentration.
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Available
in some locations
Place hold
Book - 2020
*5 daggers out of 5!* When Emma Djan, 26, meets #MeToo and has her career in the Accra, Ghana police force cut short a former colleague suggests that she ...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* When Emma Djan, 26, meets #MeToo and has her career in the Accra, Ghana police force cut short a former colleague suggests that she apply to a private detective agency. When she gets the job, she is thrust into the murky and dangerous world of internet and sakawa scams.
Meanwhile across the world in Washington, D.C., Gordon Tilson, a widower, is about to enter that same dangerous world, unbeknownst to him. Through an internet support group he has become fond of a Ghanaian widow. When she tells him of her sister who has been in a serious car crash, he reaches out to her by sending her thousands of dollars towards the hospital bills, much to the horror of his son, Derek. When, on the spur of the moment, Gordon decides to go to Ghana to visit this woman, and then goes missing, Derek quickly follows, fearful for his father’s life. Derek and Emma’s paths soon cross as she becomes involved in the investigation of internet scams like the one perpetrated on his father.
I loved the rhythm and cadence of the writing in Quartey’s First Emma Djan Investigation. It’s reminiscent of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Series. The characters are colorful and full-fleshed and the plot is rich with twists and turns. It was a great read.
The subject matter is similar to Will Ferguson’s 2012 novel 419, which I highly recommend.
Bring on book 2 in this series!
Show less
*5 daggers out of 5!* When Emma Djan, 26, meets #MeToo and has her career in the Accra, Ghana police force cut short a former colleague suggests that she ...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* When Emma Djan, 26, meets #MeToo and has her career in the Accra, Ghana police force cut short a former colleague suggests that she apply to a private detective agency. When she gets the job, she is thrust into the murky and dangerous world of internet and sakawa scams.
Meanwhile across the world in Washington, D.C., Gordon Tilson, a widower, is about to enter that same dangerous world, unbeknownst to him. Through an internet support group he has become fond of a Ghanaian widow. When she tells him of her sister who has been in a serious car crash, he reaches out to her by sending her thousands of dollars towards the hospital bills, much to the horror of his son, Derek. When, on the spur of the moment, Gordon decides to go to Ghana to visit this woman, and then goes missing, Derek quickly follows, fearful for his father’s life. Derek and Emma’s paths soon cross as she becomes involved in the investigation of internet scams like the one perpetrated on his father.
I loved the rhythm and cadence of the writing in Quartey’s First Emma Djan Investigation. It’s reminiscent of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Series. The characters are colorful and full-fleshed and the plot is rich with twists and turns. It was a great read.
The subject matter is similar to Will Ferguson’s 2012 novel 419, which I highly recommend.
Bring on book 2 in this series!
Show less
Available
in some locations
Place hold
Book - 2020
*5 daggers out of 5!* Marsons’ debut novel, Silent Scream, is a riveting story of past horrors taking revenge on the present. When D.I. Kim Stone is call...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Marsons’ debut novel, Silent Scream, is a riveting story of past horrors taking revenge on the present. When D.I. Kim Stone is called to the scene of a brutal murder – a headmistress is found strangled in her bath – she knows that she’s on the hunt for someone devoid of conscience or caring, something that she’s been dealing with all her life. Although her past does not define her, it does give her insight into how to deal with such people. Kim Stone is smart, confident, and driven. She expects her team to give their all and does not suffer fools gladly. But she has “heart” and is a secret champion for the underdog.
When another murder occurs, the investigation begins to look at the relationship between the two victims, taking the team to the site of a former children’s home where human remains are subsequently discovered. The clock is ticking for the potential remaining victims as Stone’s team tries to put the pieces of this complicated puzzle together. And that final piece brings with it a delightful twist to the story.
Marsons’ contract with her publisher is for 16 books in this series. First Blood, published in 2019, is a prequel to the series and is her latest book, with eleven titles published prior to that. Looks like I’ve got my reading cut out for me for the next 11 books. This is a must-read series.
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*5 daggers out of 5!* Marsons’ debut novel, Silent Scream, is a riveting story of past horrors taking revenge on the present. When D.I. Kim Stone is call...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Marsons’ debut novel, Silent Scream, is a riveting story of past horrors taking revenge on the present. When D.I. Kim Stone is called to the scene of a brutal murder – a headmistress is found strangled in her bath – she knows that she’s on the hunt for someone devoid of conscience or caring, something that she’s been dealing with all her life. Although her past does not define her, it does give her insight into how to deal with such people. Kim Stone is smart, confident, and driven. She expects her team to give their all and does not suffer fools gladly. But she has “heart” and is a secret champion for the underdog.
When another murder occurs, the investigation begins to look at the relationship between the two victims, taking the team to the site of a former children’s home where human remains are subsequently discovered. The clock is ticking for the potential remaining victims as Stone’s team tries to put the pieces of this complicated puzzle together. And that final piece brings with it a delightful twist to the story.
Marsons’ contract with her publisher is for 16 books in this series. First Blood, published in 2019, is a prequel to the series and is her latest book, with eleven titles published prior to that. Looks like I’ve got my reading cut out for me for the next 11 books. This is a must-read series.
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A Novel
Book - 2019
*4 daggers out of 5!* Crombie takes her characters out of London and into the country as Duncan, Gemma, and family are guests at the family estate of Melo...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Crombie takes her characters out of London and into the country as Duncan, Gemma, and family are guests at the family estate of Melody Talbot, Gemma’s detective sergeant. But the quiet weekend that they’d all hoped for is not to be when a tragic car accident, followed by a series of mysterious deaths, draws Kincaid and Gemma into the investigation. The complex relationships between the characters are fully explored, giving the reader a true picture of each participant in the story. I felt that I really knew these people and understood their motivations.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* Crombie takes her characters out of London and into the country as Duncan, Gemma, and family are guests at the family estate of Melo...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Crombie takes her characters out of London and into the country as Duncan, Gemma, and family are guests at the family estate of Melody Talbot, Gemma’s detective sergeant. But the quiet weekend that they’d all hoped for is not to be when a tragic car accident, followed by a series of mysterious deaths, draws Kincaid and Gemma into the investigation. The complex relationships between the characters are fully explored, giving the reader a true picture of each participant in the story. I felt that I really knew these people and understood their motivations.
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Book - 2019
*4 daggers out of 5!* Burrows creates fantastic momentum in this 6th novel in his Birder Murder Series by having a death occur at the beginning of each of...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Burrows creates fantastic momentum in this 6th novel in his Birder Murder Series by having a death occur at the beginning of each of chapters 1 and 2. They are each profoundly disturbing in their own way. We are treated to three different story lines in two different countries (Canada and the U.K.) and we are hard-pressed to keep up with the pace that Burrows has created.
Jejeune is back in Canada, estranged from his girlfriend Lindy who remains in the U.K. When he is informed that his brother Damien has gone missing in Wood Buffalo National Park while conducting research on Whooping Cranes he sets out to search for him. Back in the U.K., Lindy has gone missing, and Danny Maik fears that she’s been kidnapped. The sense of place that Burrows has created in this novel is so real and atmospheric that we’re right there whether it’s in the Canadian wilderness or in Jejeune’s former home in Saltmarsh.
As the story lines converge and the whys and hows are answered the peril faced by Jejeune and Lindy is palpable. Their fate lies in the hands of so many.
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*4 daggers out of 5!* Burrows creates fantastic momentum in this 6th novel in his Birder Murder Series by having a death occur at the beginning of each of...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* Burrows creates fantastic momentum in this 6th novel in his Birder Murder Series by having a death occur at the beginning of each of chapters 1 and 2. They are each profoundly disturbing in their own way. We are treated to three different story lines in two different countries (Canada and the U.K.) and we are hard-pressed to keep up with the pace that Burrows has created.
Jejeune is back in Canada, estranged from his girlfriend Lindy who remains in the U.K. When he is informed that his brother Damien has gone missing in Wood Buffalo National Park while conducting research on Whooping Cranes he sets out to search for him. Back in the U.K., Lindy has gone missing, and Danny Maik fears that she’s been kidnapped. The sense of place that Burrows has created in this novel is so real and atmospheric that we’re right there whether it’s in the Canadian wilderness or in Jejeune’s former home in Saltmarsh.
As the story lines converge and the whys and hows are answered the peril faced by Jejeune and Lindy is palpable. Their fate lies in the hands of so many.
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in some locations
Place hold
The Lonely Hour
Book - 2019
*5 daggers out of 5!*
When a baffling set of murders takes place across London, the Peculiar Crimes Unit works the late shift to try and find the culpri...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!*
When a baffling set of murders takes place across London, the Peculiar Crimes Unit works the late shift to try and find the culprit. For the murders take place during the lonely hour – 4 a.m. Headed up by the always pragmatic John May and the oh-so-eccentric Arthur Bryant, the unit struggles to find the common denominator between the murders in the hopes that they can put a stop to the bloodshed.
The often-times irreverent Bryant is at the top of his game again now that he’s recovered from what was ailing him and quickly recruits his usual odd personages and misfits to help him. May, on the other hand seems distant and pre-occupied with something other than the case at hand, causing friction between him and Bryant.
Like all of the books in this series, Fowler’s latest is character-driven with setting following a close second. And oh, what fun these characters are. In fact, in the Acknowledgements page at the end of this book, Fowler says that this was the most fun he’s had with a Bryant & May novel. And it shows. Be prepared to laugh out loud and chuckle under your breath. Reading this book was an absolute delight from the first page to the very last.
Show less
*5 daggers out of 5!*
When a baffling set of murders takes place across London, the Peculiar Crimes Unit works the late shift to try and find the culpri...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!*
When a baffling set of murders takes place across London, the Peculiar Crimes Unit works the late shift to try and find the culprit. For the murders take place during the lonely hour – 4 a.m. Headed up by the always pragmatic John May and the oh-so-eccentric Arthur Bryant, the unit struggles to find the common denominator between the murders in the hopes that they can put a stop to the bloodshed.
The often-times irreverent Bryant is at the top of his game again now that he’s recovered from what was ailing him and quickly recruits his usual odd personages and misfits to help him. May, on the other hand seems distant and pre-occupied with something other than the case at hand, causing friction between him and Bryant.
Like all of the books in this series, Fowler’s latest is character-driven with setting following a close second. And oh, what fun these characters are. In fact, in the Acknowledgements page at the end of this book, Fowler says that this was the most fun he’s had with a Bryant & May novel. And it shows. Be prepared to laugh out loud and chuckle under your breath. Reading this book was an absolute delight from the first page to the very last.
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by King, Thomas
Book - 2020
*5 daggers out of 5!* Thumps Dreadfulwater is at a cross-roads in his life: he cannot move forward until he reconciles himself with his past. And this me...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Thumps Dreadfulwater is at a cross-roads in his life: he cannot move forward until he reconciles himself with his past. And this means solving the case known as the Obsidian Murders. He’s just returned to Chinook from a month in Eureka, CA, where the murders took place, hoping to find the answers to this crime that left ten people, including his partner and her daughter, brutally murdered.
When he gets home he finds that someone has been leaving reminders of the murders everywhere he frequents, as if taunting him to solve the case. Has the murderer followed him to Chinook and is his life now in danger? As Thumps goes over everything he knows and remembers about the case, he realizes that the answers have to be in the past, in fact, right at the very start of the whole case.
Again we are entertained by King’s wit and wordplay, with his quirky and colorful characters and his subtle commentary on social issues. You can’t help laughing out loud as you follow Thumps’ investigation, often hampered by one or more of Chinook’s residents, however good their intentions are at the beginning. But Thumps perseveres and everyone is better off because he does.
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*5 daggers out of 5!* Thumps Dreadfulwater is at a cross-roads in his life: he cannot move forward until he reconciles himself with his past. And this me...Show more
*5 daggers out of 5!* Thumps Dreadfulwater is at a cross-roads in his life: he cannot move forward until he reconciles himself with his past. And this means solving the case known as the Obsidian Murders. He’s just returned to Chinook from a month in Eureka, CA, where the murders took place, hoping to find the answers to this crime that left ten people, including his partner and her daughter, brutally murdered.
When he gets home he finds that someone has been leaving reminders of the murders everywhere he frequents, as if taunting him to solve the case. Has the murderer followed him to Chinook and is his life now in danger? As Thumps goes over everything he knows and remembers about the case, he realizes that the answers have to be in the past, in fact, right at the very start of the whole case.
Again we are entertained by King’s wit and wordplay, with his quirky and colorful characters and his subtle commentary on social issues. You can’t help laughing out loud as you follow Thumps’ investigation, often hampered by one or more of Chinook’s residents, however good their intentions are at the beginning. But Thumps perseveres and everyone is better off because he does.
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Available
in some locations
Place hold
Book - 2020
*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s off to merry old England for Gemma Doyle, co-workers and friends, for a Sherlock Holmes convention. It gives Gemma a chance to...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s off to merry old England for Gemma Doyle, co-workers and friends, for a Sherlock Holmes convention. It gives Gemma a chance to visit with her parents, Anne and Henry, who live in London, as well as to pick up some new stock for the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. However, it’s not all tea, scones and Holmes.
While at the convention, Henry and Gemma encounter Randolph Manning, Anne’s estranged brother and the black sheep of the family. Thirty years previously he’d disappeared after taking an expensive painting that belonged to his parents. To say that the meeting was awkward and fraught with tension would be an understatement. When Henry is later found bending over Randolph’s lifeless body, he is quickly taken into custody. Gemma is determined to clear her father’s name.
Delany provides us with an interesting plot and enough twists and turns to keep the reader anxious to turn the next page. Her characters are believable and realistic and the setting is accurately depicted. I enjoyed the storyline concerning Gemma’s sister, Pippa, and the “hush hush” nature of her job (not unlike Holmes’ brother Mycroft). A perfect cozy for any kind of day!
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*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s off to merry old England for Gemma Doyle, co-workers and friends, for a Sherlock Holmes convention. It gives Gemma a chance to...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* It’s off to merry old England for Gemma Doyle, co-workers and friends, for a Sherlock Holmes convention. It gives Gemma a chance to visit with her parents, Anne and Henry, who live in London, as well as to pick up some new stock for the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. However, it’s not all tea, scones and Holmes.
While at the convention, Henry and Gemma encounter Randolph Manning, Anne’s estranged brother and the black sheep of the family. Thirty years previously he’d disappeared after taking an expensive painting that belonged to his parents. To say that the meeting was awkward and fraught with tension would be an understatement. When Henry is later found bending over Randolph’s lifeless body, he is quickly taken into custody. Gemma is determined to clear her father’s name.
Delany provides us with an interesting plot and enough twists and turns to keep the reader anxious to turn the next page. Her characters are believable and realistic and the setting is accurately depicted. I enjoyed the storyline concerning Gemma’s sister, Pippa, and the “hush hush” nature of her job (not unlike Holmes’ brother Mycroft). A perfect cozy for any kind of day!
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A Novel
by Ware, Ruth
Book - 2016
*4 daggers out of 5!* If you liked The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl then chances are you’ll like Ruth Ware’s latest. Lo Blacklock is a journalist who ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* If you liked The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl then chances are you’ll like Ruth Ware’s latest. Lo Blacklock is a journalist who writes for a travel magazine and has just been given the best assignment imaginable: a week on board a luxury cruise. Feeling a bit fragile after being recently burgled, Lo is hoping that both the assignment and the atmosphere will help her regain her equilibrium.
When Lo witnesses a woman being thrown overboard, yet all passengers and crew are accounted for when she reports the incident, her credibility is quickly questioned. She’s determined to prove that she’s not mistaken and embarks on a dangerous path to find the truth of the matter.
Be prepared to share the tension, anxiety, paranoia and claustrophobia that Lo experiences as she searches for the answers to the questions: who was thrown overboard? And why?
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*4 daggers out of 5!* If you liked The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl then chances are you’ll like Ruth Ware’s latest. Lo Blacklock is a journalist who ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!* If you liked The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl then chances are you’ll like Ruth Ware’s latest. Lo Blacklock is a journalist who writes for a travel magazine and has just been given the best assignment imaginable: a week on board a luxury cruise. Feeling a bit fragile after being recently burgled, Lo is hoping that both the assignment and the atmosphere will help her regain her equilibrium.
When Lo witnesses a woman being thrown overboard, yet all passengers and crew are accounted for when she reports the incident, her credibility is quickly questioned. She’s determined to prove that she’s not mistaken and embarks on a dangerous path to find the truth of the matter.
Be prepared to share the tension, anxiety, paranoia and claustrophobia that Lo experiences as she searches for the answers to the questions: who was thrown overboard? And why?
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Book - 2019
*4 daggers out of 5!*
Though not a mystery in itself, this volume is a prequel to the Grantchester mystery series (books) and gives us a picture of what ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!*
Though not a mystery in itself, this volume is a prequel to the Grantchester mystery series (books) and gives us a picture of what led Sydney Chambers to his calling as a vicar. It is 1938 and war is on the horizon. Sydney Chambers spends the next seven years serving his country, gaining a Military Cross, and suffers the loss of friends and companions. Everything that’s happened to him during this time shapes his future as a private citizen and a member of the clergy. It gives us an understanding of why he thinks the way he does and helps explain the reasons for the actions that he takes in his day to day life.
This is a must-read for everyone who has enjoyed reading the Grantchester Mysteries.
Show less
*4 daggers out of 5!*
Though not a mystery in itself, this volume is a prequel to the Grantchester mystery series (books) and gives us a picture of what ...Show more
*4 daggers out of 5!*
Though not a mystery in itself, this volume is a prequel to the Grantchester mystery series (books) and gives us a picture of what led Sydney Chambers to his calling as a vicar. It is 1938 and war is on the horizon. Sydney Chambers spends the next seven years serving his country, gaining a Military Cross, and suffers the loss of friends and companions. Everything that’s happened to him during this time shapes his future as a private citizen and a member of the clergy. It gives us an understanding of why he thinks the way he does and helps explain the reasons for the actions that he takes in his day to day life.
This is a must-read for everyone who has enjoyed reading the Grantchester Mysteries.
Show less
Available
in some locations
Place hold
