Tag: #mystery

Feature Post and Book Review: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Book Description

In every person’s story, there is something to hide…

The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman’s terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who’d happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56803179-the-woman-in-the-library?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=SrC0Nbe9xM&rank=1

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RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY by Sulari Gentill is an intricately plotted and intriguing murder mystery story within a suspense story. This standalone is by a new to me author and I am very happy I took a chance on reading it.

The mystery has four strangers sitting at the same table in the Boston Public Library when there is suddenly a blood curdling scream from another room. Winifred “Freddie” Kincaid is an Australian aspiring writer in the U.S. on a scholarship, Cain McLeod (Handsome Man) is a published author, Marigold Anastas (Freud Girl) is studying psychology at Harvard, and Whit Metters (Heroic Chin) is a failing law student who wants to be a journalist. Winifred is the narrator in this murder mystery.

At the end of each chapter of the mystery, a letter is written to Hannah, who is the published author writing the murder mystery in Australia from her fellow aspiring writer, fan, beta reader, Leo who lives in Boston and is giving her information on sites for her book and other suggested corrections. What could go wrong?

Layer upon layer in both the murder mystery and the suspense story are very well written and pulled me into each and it was difficult to put this book down. I feel both stories are clever with plenty of twists and surprises, especially the mystery, but I did anticipate where the suspense plot was heading. The characters are interesting and kept me guessing.

I recommend this mystery in a suspense for a unique and entertaining read.

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About the Author

Once upon a time, Sulari Gentill was a corporate lawyer serving as a director on public boards, with only a vague disquiet that there was something else she was meant to do. That feeling did not go away until she began to write. And so Sulari became the author of the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries: thus far, ten historical crime novels chronicling the life and adventures of her 1930s Australian gentleman artist, the Hero Trilogy, based on the myths and epics of the ancient world, and the Ned Kelly Award winning Crossing the Lines (published in the US as After She Wrote Hime). In 2014 she collaborated with National Gallery of Victoria to write a short story which was produced in audio to feature in the Fashion Detective Exhibition, and thereafter published by the NGV. IN 2019 Sulari was part of a 4-member delegation of Australian crime writers sponsored by the Australia Council to tour the US as ambassadors of Australian Crime Writing.

Sulari lives with her husband, Michael, and their boys, Edmund and Atticus, on a small farm in Batlow where she grows French Black Truffles and refers to her writing as “work” so that no one will suggest she get a real job.

Social Media Links

Website: http://sularigentill.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SulariG

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SulariGentill

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sulari-gentill

Feature Post and Book Review: Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

Book Description

Set in the City of Light and starring Julia Child’s (fictional) best friend, confidant, and fellow American, this Magnifique new historical mystery series from the acclaimed author of Murder at Mallowan Hall combines a fresh perspective on the iconic chef’s years in post-WWII Paris with a delicious mystery and a unique culinary twist. Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Marie Benedict, and of course, Julia Child alike!

As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, who recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn’t just the City of Light; it’s the city of history, romance, stunning architecture . . . and food. Thanks to her neighbour and friend Julia Child, another ex-pat who’s fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and Oncle Rafe.

Between tutoring Americans in French, visiting the market, and eagerly sampling the results of Julia’s studies at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, Tabitha’s sojourn is proving thoroughly delightful. That is, until the cold December day they return to Julia’s building and learn that a body has been found in the cellar. Tabitha recognizes the victim as a woman she’d met only the night before, at a party given by Julia’s sister, Dort. The murder weapon found nearby is recognizable too—a knife from Julia’s kitchen.

Tabitha is eager to help the investigation but is shocked when Inspector Merveille reveals that a note, in Tabitha’s handwriting, was found in the dead woman’s pocket. Is this murder a case of international intrigue, or something far more personal? From the shadows of the Tour Eiffel at midnight to the tiny third-floor Child kitchen to the grungy streets of Montmartre, Tabitha navigates through the city hoping to find the real killer before she or one of her friends ends up in prison . . . or worse.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61678536-mastering-the-art-of-french-murder?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_34

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RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER (An American in Paris Book #1) by Colleen Cambridge is the entertaining first book in this new historical mystery series set in Paris post WWII featuring a young American transplant in Paris who is the best friend of Julia Child. After reading and loving Ms. Cambridge’s historical mystery series set at Mallowan Hall with Agatha Christie as the best friend of the protagonist, I was excited to try this new protagonist and series.

Tabitha Knight grew up in Detroit, but her Grandmere was French and Tabitha grew up bilingual. With the passing of her Grandmere, she travels to post WWII Paris to stay with her Grandpere and Oncle Rafe. She is tutoring French to Americans in Paris after the war and has become friends with Julia Child. When returning from the market, Tabitha and Julia learn of a murdered girl in the cellar of Julia’s apartment building. Tabitha recognizes the victim from a party the night before and the murder weapon discovered by Inspector Merveille is one of Julia’s expensive chef knives from her kitchen.

The suspects are all from the English-speaking theater troupe Julia’s sister, Dort works for that were at the late-night party, Tabitha is determined to clear her friend’s names even with the Inspector telling her to stay out of the investigation. With some aide from her Grandpere and Oncle, Tabitha hopes to find the real killer before any of her friends are jailed or even worse.

This is an exciting amateur sleuth mystery set in an interesting time and location. Tabitha is a resourceful and brave protagonist, who also gets herself into a few dangerous situations due to her excessive curiosity. The friendship with Julia Child is a perfect setup for fun dialogue as Julia tries to teach Tabitha how to cook and shop at the local market so she can prepare dinners for her Grandpere and Oncle. I look forward to discovering more about these gentlemen, because there is definitely more than what has been yet revealed about their lives prior to Tabitha coming to live with them. The plot has plenty of red herrings and twists that kept me reading through all of Tabitha’s adventures and discoveries, but it does start out a bit slow. All plot threads come together and are satisfactorily revealed at the conclusion. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and learning more about all these characters.

I recommend this historical mystery with memorable characters and 1950’s Paris.

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About the Author

Colleen Cambridge is the pen name for an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. From a young age, Colleen has loved reading mysteries and now she couldn’t be happier that she is able to write them.

Under several pseudonyms, she has written more than 36 books in a variety of genres and is always plotting her next murder—er, book.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.colleengleason.com/colleen-cambridge/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColleenGleason.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colleengleason

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-gleason

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower

Book Description

Set in the fan favorite Amish village of Harvest, Ohio, the latest novel in USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s Amish Matchmaker series brings back the unlikely sleuthing duo of an Amish widow and her zany, thrice divorced best friend. Will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries, small-town mysteries, wholesome romance, and inspirational fiction.

Millie’s decidedly not Amish best friend, Lois Henry, is outspoken, colorful, and so hopelessly romantic, she’s had four husbands. Millie doesn’t judge, and she also doesn’t expect to run into Lois’s most recent ex, gambler Gerome Moorhead, in small-town Harvest, Ohio. With him is the very young, new Mrs. Moorhead, aka “Honeybee.” Lois is outraged, but Millie is completely shocked to learn the next day that Gerome is already a widower .
 
When a large wood carving at the cozy Munich Chalet falls on “Honeybee,” all eyes turn toward Lois. Who else would want a tourist—a complete stranger—dead? And half of Harvest witnessed Lois’s enmity toward the young woman. Suddenly Millie must put aside her sewing needle and flex her sleuthing skills. She’s no stranger to a murder investigation, after all, and if she doesn’t learn who killed Honeybee, Lois could go from Millie’s boisterous best friend to her horrified prison penpal . . .

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Elise’s Thoughts

Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower is a fabulous cozy mystery that takes place in Harvest Ohio. The duo of Millie Fisher and Lois Henry are back.  They are the Odd Couple since Millie is Amish and Lois is English and very flamboyant. Beyond this, readers also learn a bit about the Amish culture, beliefs, and problems.  In this story Flower delves into the drug problem among the Amish.

As in all the books in the series Millie and Lois make a formidable sleuthing team. They must investigate the killing of Paige Moorhead, the wife of Lois’ latest ex-husband, gambler Gerome Moorhead. She gets hit on the head by an oversized cuckoo clock that fell. Unfortunately, Lois become one of the main suspects.  Millie aka the Amish Marple is determined to find the real killer, and Lois makes sure she is included in the sleuthing.

Readers learn a little more about Lois’s backstory.  They will laugh as she carries around a huge purse a la Mary Poppins’ satchel.  It seems she has everything in it but the kitchen sink. The purse matches Lois’s personality, colorful, full of spirit, and very outspoken. 

People will find themselves quickly drawn into the story and mystery.  They will eagerly flip through the pages to find out what happens next.  The characters are fun and quirky, and the story has many laughs.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?

Amanda Flower: I wanted to write about Lois and her relationships, since she was married three times.  I introduced her last husband.  I also wrote about the world’s largest cuckoo clock that is in Ohio Amish country. I did not use it specifically because it is so beautiful, has been restored, and is beloved by the Amish.  I made up another cuckoo clock that fell and crashed on someone.

EC:  Lois and her purse reminded me of “Let’s Make a Deal” TV show?

AF:  I did know that people brought things in their bags, trying to have what was asked for. My mom had a purse like Lois’s.  It was large and vibrantly colored and pulled a lot of crazy stuff out of it.  This is where the inspiration for that came from.

EC:  The drugs and alcohol in the Amish community?

AF:  There is a real problem.  In rural Ohio there is an opium crisis because it is so inexpensive and easily accessible. In the last decade it has come to the Amish community.  I wanted to make people aware. Per capita drug use is higher in the rural counties.  The more Liberal Amish districts will go to hospitals for medical conditions, although I never heard someone going for drug therapy. Drug use is more whispered about than out in the open. In the book, I had a crisis center being created.

EC:  Lois’ backstory?

AF:  In future books I want to have Lois find a partner because she is a hopeless romantic.  In this book she realized she has not made the best decisions when it comes to men. This is setting up the next book.

EC:  Next books?

AF:  The next book in this series comes out this time next year titled Dating Can Be Deadly. Lois is dating a couple of guys. I am going to Pinecraft, the Amish retirement community in Florida to research about it. Millie and Lois will have a girl’s trip there. 

The next Candy Shop Amish book is called Blueberry Blunder and comes out in April. Bailey is in the process of building her candy factory. Unfortunately, a general contractor was corrupt. He gets murdered inside the job site.  At the same time, blueberries are a popular crop in Ohio and Harvest has a Blueberry festival. Both series are continuing. I told my editor I will write them as long as they will contract me. 

THANK YOU!!

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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Book Review: A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

A TRACE OF POISON (A Phyllida Bright Mystery Book #2) by Colleen Cambridge is the second entertaining cozy mystery featuring Phyllida Bright, housekeeper and best friend to Agatha Christie at Mallowan Hall. While Agatha may write clever mysteries, Phyllida solves real life murders.

For the benefit of a local orphanage, the Village of Listleigh is sponsoring Murder Fete. Agatha invites the Detection Club which consists of other famous mystery authors to give lectures, sign and sell their books, meet with their fans, and judge an amateur mystery writing contest over a weekend. The Fete is giving a grand prize of not just a local, but an international writing contract.

The first evening’s cocktail party is going well until Father Tooley, the parish priest set to tabulate the scores for the contest, falls dead. Phyllida immediately begins to collect clues, but every person at the party is an expert in murder and how to get away with it.

I enjoyed this second book even more than the first. I felt a stronger connection to the characters in this mystery as they are becoming more fully fleshed and I have become more invested. I really liked the back and forth between Phyllida and Bradford. Bradford still has a mysterious past, but you get the impression there is much more to him than has yet been revealed and I am looking forward to discovering it in future books. The plot was well paced, had many red herrings, surprises, and a climactic twist that led to Phyllida being able to give an old-fashioned denouement.

I love Phyllida and cannot wait for more cozy mysteries with the cast of characters at Mallowan Hall.

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Author Bio

Colleen Cambridge is the pen name of an award-winning USA Today and New York Times bestselling author.

Under several pseudonyms, she has written more than 36 books in a variety of genres and is always plotting her next murder—er, book.

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: The Whispering Tongues by Beth Andrews

Hi, everyone!

Today is my turn to share my Feature Post and Book Review for THE WHISPERING TONGUES by Beth Andrews for this Books ‘n’ All Promotions. This series is promoted as a Regency romance series, but to me they are more Regency cozy mysteries featuring a young married couple who love to solve murders.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

Anthea Halliwell’s life was ruined by scandal. Her once-bright future was cruelly taken from her the moment she was accused of theft. For seven long years she has been shunned by society, her reputation in tatters.

To make matters worse, her father loses their fortune to gambling, and Anthea is forced to ask the handsome Gideon Rodrigo for help.

But instead of giving her money, he asks for her hand. What may be a marriage of convenience for Anthea is a life-long dream for Gideon. He’s admired and loved her for years.

Now he will do anything to clear his beloved wife’s name. Gideon enlists the help of John and Lydia Savage, a couple known for their sleuthing skills, to clear Anthea’s name.

While tongues wag and suspicions mount, John and Lydia suspect more than theft and slander are at play. Someone is killing to keep their secrets hidden.

If Anthea is to have any chance at happiness, she must catch a killer, clear her name and restore her reputation.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63281081-the-whispering-tongues?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=KPQXIubHQj&rank=1

ALSO BY BETH ANDREWS
SUSSEX REGENCY ROMANCE SERIES
Book 1: HIDDEN IN THE HEART
Book 2: THE UNFORGIVING EYE
Book 3: THE WHISPERING TONGUES

STANDALONES
LOVE AND FREINDSHIP (SIC) AND OTHER DELUSIONS

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

THE WHISPERING TONGUES (Sussex Regency Romance Book #3) by Beth Andrews is another entertaining addition to this series featuring a young Regency couple who love to solve murder mysteries. This series is promoted as Regency romance books, but I feel the entire series are cozy Regency mysteries. This book is easily read as a standalone, but the couple’s personal lives evolve throughout the series.

For seven years, Anthea Halliwell has been shunned and in hiding due to accusations of theft. When her father has lost all his money to gambling, Anthea sees no other solution than asking Gideon Rodrigo for help setting up a small business, but Gideon has other plans. He has loved Anthea in secret for years and offers her marriage and safety instead.

Gideon and Anthea elope and then he sets his mind to clearing his wife’s name once and for all. He enlists the help of John and Lydia Savage, a couple known for their sleuthing skills. John and Lydia suspect more is involved than a simple theft and solving murder after all seems to be their specialty. John and Lydia are not in Bath for the waters, but to clear the new Mrs. Rodrigo’s name and reputation, which may be more dangerous than they believed.

I enjoyed this book as well as the entire series. They are solidly written cozy mysteries with an engaging young couple, the Savages, that we follow throughout the series. The plot moves at a steady pace and is filled with red herrings. While lighter reads, the author did illustrate the prejudice against the Jewish population in this time period. This is another intriguing investigation with the Savages and I hope there are more to come.

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About the Author

Beth Andrews (a.k.a. Paul Bethel) was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas. At the age of about seven, ‘Beth’ was reading lurid and completely inappropriate tales of murder in True Detective magazine — which may explain her somewhat twisted sense of humour. Writing soon followed. Graduating to Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, Regency romance and mystery was a natural progression — though Paul still indulges in scribbling occasional contemporary stories and song lyrics just for fun, as well as non-fiction articles and essays for Jane Austen’s Regency World. Paul also enjoys music, gardening, travel (pre-pandemic, of course) and the beach.

Social Media Link

GOODREADS

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Murder in the Gallowgate by Daniel Sellers

Hi, everyone!

Today is my turn to share my Feature Post and Book Review for MURDER IN THE GALLOWCATE (Detective Lola Harris Mysteries Book #1) by Daniel Sellers on this Books ‘n’ All Promotions Blog Tour.

Below you will find a book summary, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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MEET THE DETECTIVE

Lola, a former hairdresser, has an uncanny ability to get people to trust her at their most vulnerable. She can read people just from their appearance, and to ask questions that get to the heart of the matter. If only she could avoid obnoxious Detective Sergeant Pierce, who seems hell-bent on sabotaging the case — and her career with it.

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Book Summary

MEET LOLA HARRIS, GLASGOW’S HOTTEST NEW DETECTIVE.

Detective Lola Harris returns from a miserable singleton’s holiday — an effort to get over an ex — only to find herself in charge of a high-stakes investigation.

One of Glasgow’s most influential movers and shakers has vanished without trace. Police have found a blood-soaked crime scene, but no body . . .

The body count is rising. A merciless serial killer is on the loose.

Lola uncovers a trail that leads back into the past, to a mysterious death on a remote island. It is on the island that she will find the key to an obsessive plan for revenge — one with murder at its heart.

Can she catch the killer before they strike again?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63284702-murder-in-the-gallowgate?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=d2eE6bDGLS&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MURDER IN THE GALLOWGATE (Detective Lola Harris Mysteries Book #1) by Daniel Sellers is the start of a new British DI mystery series featuring a complex female Detective Inspector protagonist dealing with a conniving junior coworker and an ex-boyfriend who won’t go away all while trying to solve a high-profile case.

DI Lola Harris has returned from a singles holiday trying to get over her now ex-boyfriend only to be thrown immediately into a high-profile murder case. Lola is not happy to find DS Aiden Pierce will be working with her either, but the case is intriguing and as Lola investigates all the suspects the body count continues to grow.

I really like Lola and her character is very believable. All the secondary characters were well drawn, also. The plot took awhile to come together for me and was slow to pull me in, but once the pieces started to fall into place, I could not put the book down. There are plenty of twists and red herrings that had me guessing who was guilty incorrectly several times. The descriptions of Scotland and especially the islands added to my enjoyment of the story.

I enjoyed this mystery and I will be looking for the next book featuring Lola and her team.

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About the Author

Daniel Sellers grew up in Yorkshire. He has lived and worked in Liverpool, Glasgow, Dublin, and Vaasa in Finland. He now lives in Argyll with his partner and a wheaten terrier called Rasmus.

Daniel loves crime fiction, old and new, particularly the work of Margaret Murphy, Mo Hayder, Ruth Rendell, P D James and Josephine Tey. He is a huge (if not obsessive!) fan of Agatha Christie, collecting first editions and managing the “For the Love of Agatha” Twitter fan account (@FortheLoveofAg1).

Daniel’s detective thrillers are pacy and dark, with as much interest in why dunnit as who.

Social Media Links

TWITTER
INSTAGRAM