Tag Archives: Currently Reading

Currently Reading – a good beach read

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Murder in the Bistro; a Maggie Newberry mystery, by Susan Kieran-Lewis, is number 9 in the series. I bought it after seeing an ad on Bookbub.

There is a lot going on in this mystery. It really gives the reader of the stresses of a young mother with young children, married, and in the French countryside.

Maggie’s husband Laurent is busy with the grape harvest and is having trouble with some of the gypsy pickers. At the same time, her friend Grace, and Grace’s two children, are staying at the house. The youngest, Zouzou is fine but Taylor is a difficult thirteen. Grace is trying to get her business off the ground – but the photographer is more interested in shooting photos of Maggie’s youngest, Mila.

Then another American in the village, a chef trying to open a bistro, is murdered and Laurent’s partner is accused. The victim is so poisonous the reader is unsurprised when she is murdered, but there are other unpleasant characters in the village. The reactions of the locals to Maggie sure don’t encourage moving to a village in France.

But – I loved the book. I plan to go back to number one and read them in order. Recommended.

Currently Reading

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Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King is number fifteen in her long running and popular Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mystery series. In this outing, Mary is asked by a school friend to find her aunt Vivian. Vivian has spent many years in Bedlam. When Mary and her friend pay a visit to Bedlam and visit Vivian, she seems happy and sane. She says, to Mary’s surprise, that she’s ‘safe’ in Bedlam.

But on a visit to her family, she disappears.

Mary, after visiting the family home and meeting the Lord of the Manor, that there is something else going on. Mary writes to her husband, Sherlock. He joins her in her search for Vivian.

To glean what information she can. Mary disguises herself and allows herself to be confined to Bedlam.

Another captivating and complicated mystery. Highly Recommended.

Currently Reading

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Lost Birds, the newest mystery by Anne Hillerman, has a lot going on.

Joe Leaphorn, working as a private detective, is searching for the history of a woman who was adopted by a white couple., before the law forbidding such adoptions was passed. Her only clue to her past is a photograph with a Navaho child’s blanket. The Lost Birds of the title refer to those children adopted out and who are now missing from their culture.

At the same time, Leaphorn receives a call from a man who met him as a child. Bowlegs’ wife is missing but before he can give too many details, the call is interrupted by an explosion. Leaphorn is not even sure if Bowlegs survived. Bernie Manuelito becomes involved in this case when she is called to the scene; a school with a newly built addition. A school, moreover, where Bowlegs’ wife worked.

Bernie is distracted by other cases and her mother’s increasing frailty. She cannot live on her own and Bernie’s sister is unable to fulfill that responsibility.

Complicated as the cases collide. The underlying theme is these missing children who lose their heritage. Hillerman continues her father’s legacy of showing this exotic and amazing culture. Captivating.

Currently Reading

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This week I read two cozies. The first is the third in a series I really enjoy by Mindy Quigley.

Delilah and crew are on their way to a mansion, and a very high-end fundraiser for the Library. Delilah is already stressed out from creating a pizza with no tomato sauce, no gluten, and no cheese.

Then a body rolls down the steps and lands at the bottom. Who would want to kill this annoying, but harmless, member of the Library Board?

Calvin Capone, and his mother, are on scene and begin the investigation as a storm rages outside, trapping everyone, including the killer, in the mansion.

All the usual characters are here, including Butterball the cat.

Lots of fun. The recipes aren’t bad either. I have already ordered the next one.

The second cozy is a book I purchased after seeing a Bookbub deal. My first time ever buying one. Foul Play at Seal Bay by Judy Leigh takes place in Cornwall, England. Morwenna is an older woman, divorced, and working in the small local library and her family’s teashop.

At a party to celebrate Morwenna’s daughter’s engagement, a wealthy transplant from London is murdered. The local detective is completely out of his depth. Morwenna can’t help but begin asking questions. A letter, and a sign painted on the Library wall telling her to back off, fail to discourage her.

I did not see the final twist coming. Light and charming.

Currently Reading

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Forty Acres and a Soggy Grave by Frankie Bailey is the fifth of her Lizzie Stuart Mysteries. In this, the last so far, Lizzie accompanies her fiancé, John Quinn to a weekend with some of his old friends. Lizzie is quite nervous about meeting them – will they like her? But she quickly senses undercurrents swirling around the group, from Mitch and his extra young girlfriend, to the rumors that Bree is involved in smuggling undocumented migrants.

When one of the migrants if found hiding in the horse barn, and then Mitch’s girlfriend is shot right in front of Lizzie, she knows she is deep into something she doesn’t fully grasp.

Another wonderful mystery delving into the intersection of race and gender, now complicated by feelings about immigration. Highly recommended.

Forget me Never by Susan Witting Albert is the 29th China Bayles mystery. In this outing, China investigates the death of her friend Olivia Andrews. She hosts a true crime podcast and now she claims she has a bombshell story about an upstanding citizen of Pecan Springs. One morning, while out running, she is hit by a car. At first the death is ruled accidental but as China digs, she quickly realizes it was murder.

Another murder follows and all signs point to the second husband of a wealthy widow who died, it was thought murdered, twenty years previously. Is he the citizen of Pecan Springs? And who is he?

The usual gang appear and as usual the herbs and information about them is front and center.

Currently Reading

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Murder comes home is the third in the Hometown mysteries by Rosalie Spielman.

A television crew has descended on Aunt Edna’s home. Ricks and Picks is scouting for more antiques and collectibles (Think Antiques Roadshow.) The discovery of a box of letters sparks an investigation into the history of the house and the family that owned it before. And the mysterious death of a so-called orphan girl.

At the same time, undercurrents in the television crew begin to cause problems in modern times. The ’67 Mustang Tess and her aunt – the Shecanics – are restoring for sale is taken from the garage. When it’s found, the Ricks and Picks cameraman is found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning, zip tied to the steering wheel. Tessa and Aunt Edna are on the case.

I love these books. Tessa and Aunt Edna are fully realized. I wish I knew Aunt Edna. The other characters are real individuals. And the mysteries aren’t bad either. I hope Spielman continues this series.

Highly Recommended.

Currently Reading

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This past week I read Murder in the Fourth Position by Lori Robbins.

This is the fourth in this very interesting series. The protagonist/detective is a ballerina.

In this outing, Leah Siderova leaves the world of ballet for a musical on Broadway. The truth, though, is more complicated. There are rumors of problems on the set and the star of the show, Amber, is being targeted by online threats.

Then the online threats escalate into real world violence, resulting in the hospitalization, not only of Amber, but also of a costumer.

Then Leah herself is targeted. I love this unusual protagonist and setting and the mysteries aren’t bad either.

The second book for the week is Old Murders, the third in Frankie Bailey’s Lizzie Stuart mysteries.

I love this series. Lizzie Stuart is an engaging character with flaws as well as strengths.

Against the backdrop of a fight over the development of downtown Gallagher, a talented local artist goes missing. At the same time a fifty year old murder raises its ugly head. Someone wants to keep bury both mysteries and Lizzie is in the way.

At the same time, she is dealing with her fragile relationship with detective John Quinn.

As usual, Bailey does a great job of setting her mystery against the intersection of race, gender, and the imbalance of power. Highly recommended.

Currently Reading

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I’ve known Frankie for several years but never read her first mystery series. Last week I read the first one, Death’s Favorite Child, and now I’m hooked. 

In Death’s Favorite Child, Lizzie Stuart is in Cornwall, England, on a much needed vacation with her friend Tessa. But Tessa’s ex shows up, and shortly after one of the people staying in the B&B is murdered. Although Lizzie doesn’t intend to investigate, she is sucked in.

Meeting John Quinn, a cop also on vacation, provides some heat and the possibility of a relationship.

In A Dead Man’s Honor, Lizzie has taken a position as visiting professor at Piemont College in Gallager, Virginia. Her grandmother, Hester Rose, had always told Lizzie to stay away from Gallagher but she can’t. She wants to solve the mystery of her grandmother’s past.

She gets more than she bargained for. Another murder – and John Quinn who is now head of University security.

The characters especially shine.

Currently Reading

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Now that Malice Domestic is over, I can review the books from the panel I moderated: the importance of setting.

Heather Weidner almost needs no introduction. The author of several series, Twinkle, Twinkle au Revoir is the latest in her Mermaid Bay series. And a funny book it is too. The Love channel (a thinly disguised Hallmark Channel) comes to town to film a new movie. Ruby, the owner of the B&B, is being driven crazy by all the quirks of the actors. But business is booming is the Christmas Shop run by Jade Hicks.

Then the body of an annoying reporter is found and someone tries to murder the male star, Raphael Allard. Laugh out loud funny.

Peril at the Pool House is also written against the setting of a beach community. Helen Morrisey, a realtor/detective, has sold a Victorian beauty to Elliot Davies and wife Allison. Elliot is running for office and holds his kick-off in the house.

But rumors that the house is haunted appear true when strange events begin happening at the house. Then the body of his assistant is discovered in the pool house, bludgeoned to death.

The case takes a turn when Helen discovers a connection to a cold case.

A twisty mystery and good characters make this one shine.

Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles takes place in a hardware store – a pretty unusual setting. Dawna is struggling to keep her hardware store going after the death of her husband. The job gets much harder when she discovers the body of a murdered man in the store bathroom. Warren Hardcastle was not popular in town but now Dawna is one of the suspects. Dawna and her daughter April jump on the case.

A touch of the supernatural makes this one a little different. Funny and fun.

Finally, Cathi Stoler’s book is a little different. She wanted to become a spy as a child and that shows. Nick Donahue’s significant other Marina are drawn into a complicated mystery that starts out simply enough with the death of a horse. The location moves from New York City to Dubai to Kentucky as Marina and Nick, a professional gambler – now there is a profession you don’t see very often – investigate.

This series has a real Robert Ludlum – Bourne vibe. Enjoyable.

Currently Reading

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I read two books this past week, but will save the one for Heather Weidner. She is on the panel at Malice Domestic that I am moderating. I will blog about all four of those books at the same time.

Speaking of conferences, I read the first in a series of my table mate at the Suffolk Mystery Festival.

Home is where the murder is

is the first in the Hometown Mysteries series.

Tessa Tresswell returns to Idaho after a twenty year career in the armed forces. Although Tessa is struggling to adapt to civilian life, she enjoys working on fixing cars with her Aunt Edna. Her family hopes she will stay, but Tessa isn’t sure.

Then Tessa finds a dead body in the park. She doesn’t know Augie That but her family does; he claimed that their property, including the garage and the store, was half his.

To make matters worse, the sheriff just happens to be Tessa’s high school love.

When Aunt Edna is arrested, Tessa knows she will have to investigate and make sure justice is done.

Lots of fun at the same time it deals with a serious subject: returning vets. Highly Recommended.