book review

Detective team grapple with killing spree

Published by admin on Fri, 07/26/2024 - 2:00pm

“Five Cold Bodies” by K.J. Kalis was the third in the Detective Max Grady series but was OK as a stand-alone.

Buckhead County sits just outside of Pittsburgh. The mostly rural county has its share of crimes, but when murder occurs Sheriff Kyler Holt reaches out to the Pittsburgh PD for help.

Cozy mystery full of suspects and prospects

Published by admin on Mon, 07/22/2024 - 1:36pm

I confess that the hot weather found me sitting near a fan with a book. “The Corpse in the Cabana” by Shéa MacLeod is the first in her Viola Roberts series of cozy mysteries.

It opens with Viola and her friend, Cheryl Delaney, arriving in St. Petersburg, Florida, for the annual Novel Writers of America conference. Viola’s genre is cowboy/romance. She knows her books are more entertaining than literary fare but is thrilled to make a living doing what she loves.

Dragons, magic and an ancient duty

Published by admin on Mon, 07/15/2024 - 8:59am

 

I decided to read “Wormwood Abbey” by Christina Baehr. It is the first in her Secrets of Ormdale series.

George Worms has a good life as pastor in St. Giles, England. He almost never speaks of the family who disowned him when he married his first wife. George struggled as a single father when she died shortly after giving birth to Edith until he met and married Emily. She turned out to be just what he needed.

Another visit with Eve Dallas, Roarke

Published by admin on Tue, 07/09/2024 - 9:24am

Decided to read J.D. Robb’s “Payback in Death” during our drive to Sioux Narrows. As expected, it held my interest all the way.

Lt. Eve Dallas and her super-rich husband Roarke have been on a much-needed vacation. A lazy two weeks in Greece, followed by a chaotic week with Roarke’s family in Ireland, did the trick. Both Eve and Roarke were loners until they rediscovered Roarke’s family.

As much as they enjoy country life, they are happy to return to the hustle and bustle of New York. Almost immediately, Eve gets a call from a detective in Internal Affairs.

Mystery has many twists and turns

Published by admin on Sun, 06/30/2024 - 3:00pm

When I selected “Earth to Emily,” I didn’t notice that it was the second in Pamela Fagan Hutchins’ Emily Bernal series.

Emily Bernal grew up very close to her rodeo riding father and devoted mother. Things were near perfect until her father simply disappeared. Due to her riding skills, Emily secured a college scholarship. She married, but that imploded when her now ex-husband announced that he was leaving her for another man.

Town has a problem with poisoned coffee

Published by admin on Mon, 06/24/2024 - 9:26am

This week I decided it was time to read something less gory and selected “Murder Behind the Coffeehouse” by Brenda Kennedy and Kayden Keaton. It is the first in their Pineapple Grove Cozy Murder Mystery series.

A few years ago, divorcee Piper Armstrong moved to Pineapple Grove, Georgia, and opened “Bean There, Dunk That” coffeehouse. It’s the middle of the night and Piper’s son needs to be bailed out for DUI again. He’s grown man and needs to get his life together, but she also needs his help at the coffee shop.

Horrific story is first in a series

Published by admin on Mon, 06/17/2024 - 12:09pm

No one would describe “Whiskey Sour” by J.A. Konrath as a pleasant read, but it was hard to put down. As the first book in Konrath’s Jack Daniels series, it creates a true picture of the life of a Chicago violent crimes cop.

Police Lt. Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels has worked hard to achieve her rank but acknowledges that every step has taken a toll on her personal life. At this point, she lives in a small, sparsely furnished apartment, drives an aging Chevy Nova, battles chronic insomnia and deals with the loss of her most recent boyfriend.

‘Puki’ presents chaotic tale on space station

Published by admin on Mon, 06/10/2024 - 10:36am

I chose “Puki Horpocket presents Roy, the Most Chaotic Mid-Life Crisis in Cosmic History” – Earth edition translated by Zachry Wheeler, out of sheer curiosity. It is a sci-fi fantasy beyond anything I’ve encountered.

The sometimes-funny work is an account of Roy’s life and involvement in what is referred to as “The Incident.” That won’t be explained until we learn much about Roy and the millions of the invisible workers who keep Space Station Durangoni running.

Bear hunt leads to murder victim

Published by admin on Mon, 05/27/2024 - 12:49pm

As soon as I saw the title, I knew I had to read “Black Bear Alibi” by J.C. Fuller.

Philip Russell enjoys his job as head ranger for Rockfish Island State Park near Olympia, Washington. It’s late winter and Phil is making rounds checking Rockfish Park when he is surprised to see a sow bear and three tiny cubs.

Lt. Eve Dallas takes on child trafficker

Published by admin on Mon, 05/13/2024 - 12:28pm

When I saw J.D. Robb’s “Desperation in Death” in InfoSoup, I had to check it out. This ongoing story features New York City Police Lt. Eve Dallas and her team of dedicated officers. It is 2061 but age-old heinous crimes continue. The worst is human trafficking.