Set in the houses of Parliament in 1932, when it was also written, the Division Bell Mystery is the first mystery written by a female member of Parliament. Someone is murdered. However, the focus is on British politics. Not being British, I had a hard time following the story. ThoseContinue Reading
Deep War is a war where everything is at stake—think the Somme or Stalingrad. China has intervened in a skirmish between India and Pakistan. When the United States sent in a carrier battle group, China destroyed it with a nuclear bomb—killing all 10,000 people aboard. It’s now year two ofContinue Reading
Family secrets abound in Murder at the Mill. Painter Iris rents a cottage on the grounds of famous mystery writer Dom’s large Hampshire family estate. Iris is deciding what to do about her verbally abusive husband and failing marriage. When Ariadne, Dom’s wife, hires Iris to paint his portrait, IrisContinue Reading
It’s 1969. Bryant and May are tasked with keeping a witness safe at an English Country House weekend. Unfortunately, the Army has closed the only exit road due to war games. There are nine suspects and more than one potential victim in this Hall of Mirrors. Hall of Mirrors isContinue Reading
Senator Jim McVeagh is approached by President Mark Hollenbach at a journalists’ dinner and invited to a Night of Camp David the same evening. While there, the President states that using wiretaps on every phone in America is a good way to prevent crime. He then goes on a paranoidContinue Reading
Cuckoo is an atmospheric gothic mystery set in a rural English house, where even the heroine doubts her sanity. Is she hallucinating? Are ghosts present or is it her memories coming back of her horrible childhood? Caro is a starving artist in London when she is informed her stepmother hasContinue Reading
Lowdown, a romantic thriller set in the world of New York City’s mafia families, has the best first paragraph I’ve read in a long time: “The first seven years you’re in the can, all you can think about is revenge. The next seven years you crave freedom and things youContinue Reading
Like Columbo, Newcomer is a new approach to a police procedural. Eight stories each tell an investigative tale. By the last chapter, the detective has solved the crime. Precinct Detective Sergeant Kaga is a new transfer to Tokyo’s police department investigating a murder. He is a self-effacing bumbler on theContinue Reading
In My Sister, the Serial Killer, Korede is a good sister, who cleans up her younger sister Ayoola’s messes, literally. With bleach. Ayoola, though beautiful, has man problems—she keeps killing them. As the book begins, Ayoola has just killed her third boyfriend. After googling the definition of serial killer, KoredeContinue Reading
Fans of the Limetown podcast rejoice! Many of your lingering questions are answered within these pages. Plus there are no spoilers for future podcasts. Lia wants to be a reporter. Her first investigation is of the missing residents of nearby Limetown. She discovers that her Uncle Emile is somehow involved,Continue Reading
Another fun-filled romp from Vicki Delany! A Scandal in Scarlet is the fourth cozy in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series. Gemma is walking her dog late one night when she sees flames behind the window of the historic Scarlet Museum. A candle left burning is ruled the cause ofContinue Reading
Enter this book giveaway to grab a paperback copy of Only by Death by Kathy Herman. Only by Death is a Christian family mystery set in the Ozark mountains. It has 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Giveaway begins November 15, 2018 at 12:01 A.M. PDT and ends November 23, 2018,Continue Reading
When there is a Murder at Harbor Village, everyone is a suspect in this new cozy mystery series. Cleo Mack is offered a golden parachute to retire early from her Social Work professorship at an Atlanta university. She decides to move to Fairhope Alabama, recognized as one of the bestContinue Reading
Death and Daisies is the perfect blend of mystery, romance and paranormal with believable characters you wish you could befriend in real life. Fiona has lived in Scotland for two months after inheriting her godfather’s house and magic garden. Why didn’t her godfather explain how to help people using theContinue Reading
Think Yourself Lucky is not this famed author’s best work. Co-workers, Emily, Helen, Bill, Andrea and David work in a travel agency. David is a grouch who complains about everything—his job, his girlfriend and his life. Meanwhile, an unnamed narrator is committing horrendous murders. When David discovers a blog usingContinue Reading
A very British parody of post-WWII police procedurals. A Shot in the Dark will either tickle your funny bone or it won’t. It helps if you are a fan of slapstick. It’s 1951 in Brighton. Inspector Steine is famous for stopping all organized crime in the area by allowing theContinue Reading