Category Archives: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

I always look forward to a new Davis Way crime caper. I’ve been following the series for a while (have to go back and find the time to read the first couple of books that I missed.) It is one of my favorite series as the plots are hilarious and the characters sometimes bring tears to my eyes from laughing so hard.

Davis Way Cole is responsible (part time now that she has the kids) for security at the Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. She lives there with her husband (manager of the Casino) and their young twin daughters, taking up half of the 29th floor of the hotel. A continuing theme in the books is that Davis is a dead ringer for the casino owners wife, a pampered lady who prefers to have Davis double for her at local events and has, for some reason, decided that Davis’ name is actually David.

In this story, Davis’ past in Pine Apple, Alabama, has made its way into the casino (once again.) Davis is asked to pay a ransom of a million dollars (just go take it from the casino, right?) In her search for the kidnappers, she runs into a cast of characters from Pine Apple – Bootsy Howard (a known witch – just ask any child in Pine Apple), Leverette Urleen, MD – a doctor that I would just say no to, and my favorite, Vreeland Howard (Davis’ sister’s best friend.)

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This is another fun entry in the A Birds of a Feather Mystery series. I’ve enjoyed all of the books in this series though I thought the last entry (prior to this one) was a little off course. With “Farewell My Cuckoo”, Marty Wingate has brought out, what I feel, is the best of the series thus far.

Julia Lanchester is the manager of the TIC, Tourist Information Center, at Fotheringham Estate. She and her boyfriend Michael have just attended a dear friend’s wedding. Julia has the distinct feeling that marriage (or at least a proposal) may be in her immediate future, too. However, when she and Michael return home from the wedding, Michael’s sister Pammy has shown up to stay overnight (camped out on the sofa.) When overnight turns to two days and then a week and then Pammy starts buying groceries and doing chores around the house, Julia is concerned that Pammy has moved in for good.

Then Willow, one of Julia’s dear friends, stumbles (literally) over a corpse. Julia is determined to stay out of the investigation of the murder of That Poor Man (what she calls him as no one knows who he is) but she is pulled in almost against her will.

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I am fairly new to the mysteries by Anne Perry. This is only the second book I have read in the Pitt series (though the first was really a one-off Christmas book.) I’m intrigued and well-pleased with Ms. Perry’s writing style. She has intellectual characters who use their wits and knowledge to solve the whodunnit.

In this book, Daniel Pitt (the son of Charlotte and Thomas Pitt), is a grown man working as a new lawyer in a prestigious firm. Daniel is called on to assist one of the bright stars of the firm in defending a man against the charge of murdering his own wife.

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Delaney Nicohols is an American (from Kansas), who is currently living and working in Scotland. She works at an unusual bookstore which is filled with interesting items, most of which are hidden away in the “warehouse” for the use of the owner, Edwin MacAlister.

In this story, Delaney is just making friends with some women who are in medical school. When one of them turns up murdered the morning after they all had a get-together and the murder occurs in the alleyway just behind the bookstore, Delaney finds herself involved in solving the murder.

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In this, the third book of the Gethsemane Brown mystery series, Gethsemane confronts the paranormal in an attempt to save lives. She is aided by Eamon McCarthy, the ghost conductor whose reputation Gethsemane salvaged in Book 1 of this series.

This time, a malevolent spirit has taken over the local opera house. It’s wreaking a horrible curse on many of Gethsemane’s boys (she teaches music at the local academy) and two of her best friends. Added to that, she has to deal with a ghost-busting crew who are out to debunk the story of Eamon’s haunting of the cottage where she lives.

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While this is the third book in the “If I Run” series by Terri Blackstock, it is the first book that I have read both in the series and by Ms. Blackstock. I found it very easy to pick up mid-series and to be able to keep up with the action. I consider it an easy book to read stand-alone; however, I personally want to go back and read the prior two books so I can see how the characters grew to the point they are in this story.

Casey is on the run, accused of a crime that she didn’t commit. Dylan has become a friend instead of an individual looking for her (he was hired by the murder victim’s family to find her.) By working together (though they are apart), they start to uncover the individuals responsible for not only this crime but many others.

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This is the fifth in a series about Madison Night, an interior decorator with a passion for mid-century design. She also loves Doris Day and has more than a glancing resemblance to Ms. Day which is made more evident by the vintage 60’s style clothing that she wears.

In this story, Madison and her boyfriend, Hudson, are still miles apart and that makes life difficult on a personal level. Madison receives a surprise inheritance when one of her friends passes away. Along with the inheritance comes a quest to find out the truth about something that occurred many years before.

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I’ve read all of the books in this series and am pleased with the newest entry. In this book, Penelope (who owns a catering business which works with film and television shoots) is off to Vermont with her crew.

Before she leaves, she and her best friend and actress, Arlena are meeting with another friend of Penelope’s from the past. Nadia is a professional tennis player and is going to be providing tennis advice for Arlena’s next film (which Penelope is also doing food service for.) An unexpected and traumatic event occurs involving all three as well as others.

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I have read and enjoyed all of the Ivy Meadows Mysteries and each one builds upon the ones before. While the book may be able to be read stand-along, I recommend reading the earlier books as so much in this one relies upon the relationships and characters that have come before.

Ivy Meadows (aka Olive Zeigwart in real life) becomes concerned about her best friend Candy Moonpie when Candy returns back to Phoenix in a fairly emaciated condition.

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I’ve read a number of the Flavia de Luce Novels and this most recent one is right in keeping with the rest. Lots of sleuthing with chemistry and poison being a big part of the story.

Flavia de Luce is a young girl with a penchant for chemistry. She and her sisters are away from home, taking a break, after the heartbreaking loss of their father. Their dedicated servant, Digger, is along to take care of them and to provide Flavia assistance with her investigation.

Investigation of what? Well, it seems that everywhere Flavia goes, a death is sure to happen. In this case, she not only takes on the current death but starts looking into the deaths of others a few years before.

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