Droll rather than humorous, Hopjoy was Here is definitely different from the standard English village cozy. Inspector Purbright receives an anonymous letter from a neighbor of the male roommates Hopjoy and Periam about a fight in their bathroom. Hopjoy is working for a mysterious (CIAesque) agency. Was Hopjoy or PeriamContinue Reading
Dark sci-fi noir set only two years in the future. Magnus: Between Two Worlds pairs fantastic artwork with a unique storyline. In 2020, Artificial Intelligences (A.I.s) work as butlers, maids, pets and toys. In return, they receive a federally mandated four hours of time off each day. The A.I.s haveContinue Reading
Double Dog Dare is a comedy caper with all female leads. Set in a high-rise casino in Biloxi Mississippi, the complications keep coming throughout. First, Davis’ sister Meredith and her best friend’s dog are kidnapped by her hometown preacher. Then the best friend’s mother-in-law comes to make sure that theContinue Reading
Skip Midnight Line and save $15 and a wasted six hours. Instead paint a room in your home and then literally watch the paint dry. It would be a better use of your resources and equally entertaining. The plot of this 22nd book in the Jack Reacher series moves slowerContinue Reading
Amusing quick cozy mystery read! The Purloined Puzzle is the 19th book in the Puzzle Lady series but still feels fresh. Cora Felton has a problem. Her least favorite ex-husband Melvin is in town doing another shady real estate deal. Also, there is a pesky teenager first losing, then finding,Continue Reading
#FrugalFridays short review for March 9, 2018. Alex is accused of shooting unarmed people and blondes are being abducted for a dark web snuff film. Interesting technology, dramatic courtroom scenes and great sound effects in the audiobook enliven the 25th entry in the series. The only Patterson series I stillContinue Reading
Complex and completely different from other thrillers, the Last Equation of Isaac Severy is highly recommended. Isaac Severy is a famous mathematician. Now retired, he is still working on his last equation: how to use chaos theory to predict Los Angeles traffic. As the book opens, Isaac is preparing aContinue Reading
The famous Sherlock Holmes story is adapted into a graphic novel. Holmes is asked to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. Sir Charles appears to have died of fright while walking on the foggy moors near his estate. Mysterious footprints of a hound are found nearby. The locals suspectContinue Reading
Characters that feel like family and a deliciously different setting make Lethal Licorice a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. The small, mostly Amish, town of Harvest, Ohio is finally hosting the annual Amish Confectionery Competition (ACC). Bailey is competing for her grandparent’s Amish Candy Shop, Swissmen Sweets, along withContinue Reading
A quick cozy mystery read with a male point of view that is not recommended for readers that struggle with weight loss. James Henry’s ex-wife is marrying a rich lawyer. His mother has just died. He decides to quit his dream job as an English professor and move back homeContinue Reading
Where is Ross, Hannah’s husband? As the Raspberry Danish Murder opens, Hannah’s new husband, Ross, has left town with no explanation. Has he left Hannah or has he been a victim of foul play? Ross’ assistant, P.K., is drugged with candy addressed to Ross. Was Ross or P.K. the intendedContinue Reading
Milo and Alex are back in a twisty and compelling tale. The body was found in a quiet suburban Pacific Palisades neighborhood with its head disfigured by a shotgun blast and its hands removed. The residents, a family of four, claim to not know the victim. When Milo feels aContinue Reading
Good cozy mystery with Holmes setting. Gemma Doyle is co-owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room next door. Located in the small touristy town of West London Massachusetts, the bookshop sells all manner of Holmes books and miscellany. The Tea Room is run andContinue Reading
Boston Sergeant D.D. Warren and her partner Phil are back at work in this excellent addition to the series. A family of four are shot in their home while their teenage daughter is walking their dogs. D.D. and Phil are called in to investigate. Sixteen-year-old Roxanna never returns to theContinue Reading
Seven Dead has a great premise that is not followed by a good story. A burglar finds a supposedly empty house filled with seven emaciated dead bodies. The room the bodies were in was locked from the outside with the window shutters nailed shut. An old cricket ball is foundContinue Reading
The underlying family dynamics of missing children wrapped within a compelling police procedural. Pretty Girls Dancing tells the stories of two families that share the tragedy of a missing teenaged daughter. When Kelsey disappeared seven years ago her family was distraught. Now Kelsey’s father has moved on but her mother,Continue Reading