Book Review: All the Queen's Men by S. J. Bennett

All the Queen's Men
Author: S. J. Bennett
Series: Her Majesty the Queen Investigates (Book 2)
Publication: William Morrow (March 1, 2022)

Description: Amateur detective Queen Elizabeth II is back in this hugely entertaining follow-up to the bestseller The Windsor Knot, in which Her Majesty must determine how a missing painting is connected to the shocking death of a staff member inside Buckingham Palace.

At Buckingham Palace, the autumn of 2016 presages uncertain times. The Queen must deal with the fallout from the Brexit referendum, a new female prime minister, and a tumultuous election in the United States—yet these prove to be the least of her worries when a staff member is found dead beside the palace swimming pool. Is it truly the result of a tragic accident, as the police think, or is something more sinister going on?

Meanwhile, her assistant private secretary, Rozie Oshodi, is on the trail of a favorite painting that once hung outside the Queen’s bedroom and appears to have been misappropriated by the Royal Navy. And a series of disturbing anonymous letters have begun circulating in the palace. The Queen’s courtiers think they have it all ‘under control’, but Her Majesty is not so sure. After all, though the staff and public may not be aware, she is the keenest sleuth among them. Sometimes, it takes a Queen’s eye to see connections where no one else can.

My Thoughts: The second Queen Elizabeth II mystery starts when Her Majesty sees a painting that used to hang outside her bedroom on the wall at the Admiralty. She tasks her Assistant Private Secretary Rozie Oshodi to get it back and find out how it got there in the first place. 

The missing painting question leads to uncovering a scheme of fraud that began in the 1980s and has now led to two murders. The Queen's Private Secretary was going to use the palace pool one evening and discovers the body of one of the palace's housekeepers. At first it looks like a tragic accident, but when the women is shown to have ties to the fraud, the accident becomes a clever way to kill her. 

Her Majesty overhears a suspicious conversation while investigating an old wardrobe, but given she was inside the wardrobe when she heard it, she needs to find a less than direct method of passing on the information to the investigators. She does prefer not to seem directly involved in the investigation but finds subtle ways to take part.

This story takes place in the Fall of 2016 and lots of events are going on at the same time. Brexit, a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of Buckingham Palace, and the election of Donald Trump as the next United States president are all happening at the same time as this new investigation within the palace.

I enjoyed the insights into the workings of Buckingham Palace and into the mind of the Queen, but I don't think you have to be a fan of the British Royal Family to enjoy this story. The clues are slowly revealed and there was quite a bit of intrigue going on. 

Favorite Quote:

"Exactly. And I wonder how long we'll be playing the game of 'favorite murder methods of fellow staff.'"

Rozie eyed him reflectively. "You'd use a Walther PPK, obviously, in keeping with your Bond image."

"I wouldn't, actually. Barrel's too short; caliber's too low. You might as well just chuck it at your victim. Fleming was hopeless on guns. You'd do it with unarmed combat, no question."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: All the Queen's Men by S. J. Bennett

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

Sir Simon Holcroft was not a swimmer. As a trainee pilot in the Royal Navy, about a thousand years ago, the Queen's private secretary had endured being dunked in the water on various training exercises.

Friday 56: 

At a cottage in the grounds, Cynthia Harris prepared to return to the palace. It had been a difficult summer.

This week I am spotlighting a new arrival on my TBR mountain. All the Queen's Men by S. J. Bennett is the second book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series. Here's the description from Amazon:

Amateur detective Queen Elizabeth II is back in this hugely entertaining follow-up to the bestseller The Windsor Knot, in which Her Majesty must determine how a missing painting is connected to the shocking death of a staff member inside Buckingham Palace.

At Buckingham Palace, the autumn of 2016 presages uncertain times. The Queen must deal with the fallout from the Brexit referendum, a new female prime minister, and a tumultuous election in the United States—yet these prove to be the least of her worries when a staff member is found dead beside the palace swimming pool. Is it truly the result of a tragic accident, as the police think, or is something more sinister going on?

Meanwhile, her assistant private secretary, Rozie Oshodi, is on the trail of a favorite painting that once hung outside the Queen’s bedroom and appears to have been misappropriated by the Royal Navy. And a series of disturbing anonymous letters have begun circulating in the palace. The Queen’s courtiers think they have it all ‘under control’, but Her Majesty is not so sure. After all, though the staff and public may not be aware, she is the keenest sleuth among them. Sometimes, it takes a Queen’s eye to see connections where no one else can.

Audiobook Review: Gated Prey by Lee Goldberg

Gated Prey
Author: Lee Goldberg
Narrator: Nicol Zanzarella
Series: Eve Ronin (Book 3)
Publication: Brilliance Audio (October 26, 2021)
Length: 7 hours and 53 minutes

Description: A simple sting operation takes a violent and unexpected turn for Detective Eve Ronin in a gripping thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detective Eve Ronin and her soon-to-retire partner, Duncan Pavone, are running a 24-7 sting in a guard-gated enclave of palatial homes in Calabasas. Their luxury McMansion is a honey trap, set to lure in the violent home invaders terrorizing the community. The trap works, leaving three intruders dead, a body count that nearly includes Eve and Duncan.

Eve’s bosses are eager to declare the case closed, but there are too many unanswered questions for her to let go. Was the trap actually for her, bloody payback for Eve’s very public takedown of a clique of corrupt deputies? Or is there an even deadlier secret lurking behind those opulent gates? Eve’s refusal to back down and her relentless quest for the truth make her both the hunter…and the prey.

My Thoughts: Eve Ronin's third case begins when she and her partner Duncan are on in sting in a gated community. There have been a number of home invasion robberies. They are supposed to be under constant surveillance by the sheriff's department. But when the invaders show up, their backup doesn't.

Eve ends up in a car chase after the third suspect which ends in a trendy supermarket and with the suspect shot by a store security guard. Since Eve was driving, and wrecked, a very expensive car that had been impounded, and the chase caused a number of civilian injuries, it looks like Eve is in all sorts of trouble. 

She's heartily disliked by many of her fellow officers after many of them went to jail when Eve uncovered corruption in the department. It looks like the officer who should have sent backup was more interested in revenge. 

The Chief of Police is more interested in getting positive press for his department and is quick to declare the robbery ring as a completed case and a total win for the department. He even gives the store security guard the highest medal the sheriff's department has to answer in a very public ceremony.

Meanwhile, Eve and Duncan catch another case that looks like a stillbirth at home but soon turns into a much more complicated case of fetal abduction and murder. And Eve is dealing with her agent who wants to sell Eve's story for a television series and has a script for her to read. Then the family of one of the corrupt cops who committed suicide during one of her earlier cases sues for $10 million and the sheriff's department isn't supporting her.

This was an excellent and fast-paced thriller with lots of action and a pretty complex mystery. I enjoye Nicol Zanzarella's narration of the story. 

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

Warrior Girl Unearthed
Author: Angeline Boulley
Publication: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (May 2, 2023)

Description: #1 New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter Angeline Boulley takes us back to Sugar Island in this high-stakes thriller about the power of discovering your stolen history.

Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always known who she is - the laidback twin, the troublemaker, the best fisher on Sugar Island. Her aspirations won't ever take her far from home, and she wouldn't have it any other way. But as the rising number of missing Indigenous women starts circling closer to home, as her family becomes embroiled in a high-profile murder investigation, and as greedy grave robbers seek to profit off of what belongs to her Anishinaabe tribe, Perry begins to question everything.

In order to reclaim this inheritance for her people, Perry has no choice but to take matters into her own hands. She can only count on her friends and allies, including her overachieving twin and a charming new boy in town with unwavering morals. Old rivalries, sister secrets, and botched heists cannot - will not - stop her from uncovering the mystery before the ancestors and missing women are lost forever.

Sometimes, the truth shouldn't stay buried.

My Thoughts: Perry Firekeeper-Birch has a summer filled with growth in this second mystery steeped in Anishinaabe culture by Angeline Boulley.

Perry is the laidback twin and, while her sister Pauline is looking forward to a summer internship program, she's looking forward to hanging around and fishing. But a bear in the road and too much speed cause a car accident and her Aunt Daunis demands that Perry take part in the internship too as a cost for getting the car repaired.

Perry is assigned to intern with Cooper Turtle who runs the tribal museum and finds herself cleaning glass cases. She spends her lunch break trying to find a new job. But she soon becomes fascinated with the museum and with Cooper's efforts to bring Native bones and artifacts back to the tribe from the universities and museums that are holding them for study.

Perry's main complaint is that Cooper is working to slowly. She wants her ancestors back home immediately. But repatriation isn't the only thing on Perry's mind. Native women are disappearing, and it doesn't seem like law enforcement on or off the reservation is doing enough to try to find them.

Perry's overenthusiasm costs her job with Cooper and causes her internship to be switched to another department. In fact, she seems to move to a new department each week as her bosses keep moving her around. On Fridays, the interns are all gathered together for team building and other activities. Perry becomes part of the team that includes her school friend Shense Jackson, a 16-year-old single mother, her childhood friend Lucas, and new-boy-in town Erik. They name themselves Team Misfit Toys.

There's a lot going on in this mystery which includes a murder and a heist of bones gathered by a local non-Native landowner and an encounter with the man who is kidnapping native women in their area. I found the whole story fascinating and compelling. I couldn't put the story down and, when I did have to do other things, I was still thinking about the events of the story. I highly recommend this book. I've already ordered my Keeper copy.

Favorite Quote:

I stare at random tourists and wonder how they would react to their ancestors being stolen for research. I'm guessing they would see it as sacrilege. So why were my relatives fair game?

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick

The Bride Wore White
Author: Amanda Quick
Series: Burning Cove, California (Book 7)
Publication: Berkley (May 2, 2023)

Description: A psychic desperate to escape her destiny—and a killer—finds her future in the coastal town of Burning Cove in New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick’s latest novel.

Being Madame Ariadne, Psychic Dream Consultant, wasn’t Prudence Ryland’s ideal gig, but it paid well which was reason enough to do the work—until she realizes that her latest client intends to kill her. But Prudence, a master at reinvention, finds a new job and home as far away as possible and is finally able to relax—which turns out to be a big mistake. Letting her guard down means being kidnapped and drugged and waking up in a bloodstained wedding dress in the honeymoon suite next to a dead man. With the press outside the hotel, waiting with their cameras and police sirens in the distance, it’s obvious she’s being framed for the man’s murder. Prudence knows who is responsible, but will anyone believe her?

It doesn’t seem likely that rumored crime boss Luther Pell or his associate, Jack Wingate, believe her seemingly outrageous claims of being a target of a ruthless vendetta. In fact, Prudence is convinced that the mysterious Mr. Wingate believes her to be a fraud at best, and at worst: a murderer. And Jack Wingate does seem to be someone intimately familiar with violence, if going by his scarred face and grim expression. So no one is more shocked than Prudence when Jack says he’ll help her. Of course, his ideas for helping her involve using her as the bait for a killer, but Prudence feels oddly safe with Jack protecting her. But who will protect Prudence from her growing fascination with this enigma of a man?

My Thoughts: This latest in the Burning Cove series stars dream reader Prudence Ryland and consultant Jack Wingate. The story begins with Prudence facing down a murderer who has come for a reading. She uses her psychic talent to make him pass out. It confirms to her that she really needs to change careers. 

Her next job is in an academic library filled with male chauvinists. When she's kidnapped and wakes finding herself wearing a bloody wedding gown and next to a corpse, she's sure that someone is trying to frame her for murder. After all, one of her former clients tried to bully her into marrying the man who is now a corpse.

She flees to Burning Cove where Lucas Pell pairs her up with investigator Jack Wingate who is writing a book about criminal profiling. Although Prudence recognizes that Jack has the psychic gift of intuition, Jack is convinced that psychic gifts are not real and thinks Prudence is a fraud. However, he does agree to look into her case and try to find out who is trying to kill her or frame her for murder.

Sparks fly between Jack and Prudence as the danger to Prudence increases. And Jack is more than willing to use her as bait to bring the criminals out into the open.

The story was fast-paced and filled with 1930s historical detail. I loved the growing relationship between Prudence and Jack that began with a lot of verbal sparring. Fans of paranormal mysteries and great banter will enjoy this latest episode in the series.

Favorite Quote:

Luther had the grace to appear mildly apologetic. "Dealing with Wingate requires patience. The problem is that he tends to jump several steps ahead and land on a conclusion or, in this case, a plan, without taking the time to outline his logic."

"I see," she said. Looking at Jack. "I can't wait to hear this logic, Mr. Wingate."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas

A Conspiracy in Belgravia
Author: Sherry Thomas
Narrator: Kate Reading
Series: Lady Sherlock (Book 2)
Publication: Blackstone Audio (September 5, 2017)
Length: 10 hours and 28 minutes

Description: The game is afoot as Charlotte Holmes returns in USA Today best-selling author Sherry Thomas' Victorian-set Lady Sherlock series.

Being shunned by society gives Charlotte Holmes the time and freedom to put her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. As "Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective", aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, she has had great success helping with all manner of inquiries, but she is not prepared for the new client who arrives at her Upper Baker Street office.

Lady Ingram, wife of Charlotte's dear friend and benefactor, wants Sherlock Holmes to find her first love, who failed to show up at their annual rendezvous. Matters of loyalty and discretion aside, the case becomes even more personal for Charlotte as the missing man is none other than Myron Finch, her illegitimate half-brother.

In the meanwhile, Charlotte wrestles with a surprising proposal of marriage, a mysterious stranger woos her sister Livia, and an unidentified body surfaces where least expected. Charlotte's investigative prowess is challenged as never before: Can she find her brother in time - or will he, too, end up as a nameless corpse somewhere in the belly of London?

My Thoughts: This second Charlotte Holmes novel continues on from the first with Charlotte making her home with Mrs. Watson and continuing to solve problems as the assistant for the reclusive "Sherlock Holmes" whose existence is fabricated. Her next case seems simple enough: find a missing man. But it quickly becomes quite complex.

Lady Ingram, the estranged wife of Charlotte's good friend and mentor, comes to her to find a man that she loved before she married. She tells a story of how they meet once a year in a public place and then go on with their lives. He missed this year's meeting and she is convinced that something bad happened to him. The story becomes more complex when Charlotte learns that Lady Ingram's lost love is her illegitimate brother Myron Finch.

Charlotte begins her investigation which quickly raises more questions than it answers and involves her with old enemies. Meanwhile, Lord Ingram is still living with a wife he no longer loves or respects but can't divorce for a number of reasons. And Lord Bancroft has renewed his proposal to Charlotte and is offering her codes and ciphers as incentives to accept his proposal.

Meanwhile Inspector Treadles is trying to solve the murder of a man found in a seldom used house and grateful that it is a straight-forward case that needn't involve Sherlock Holmes. Treadles is also dealing with a wife of his own who isn't quite fitting into the box he has built for her in his mind.

On the domestic front, Charlotte's sister Livia is attempting to write a novel about Sherlock Holmes which is starting to sound a lot like Arthur Conan Doyle's version. Livia has also met a man in the park who shares her love of literature but who is completely unsuitable to know because they haven't been introduced.

This was an engaging story that managed to braid all of these varied plot threads into an engaging and twisty mystery set in Victorian times. Kate Reading did an excellent job with the different voices and the pacing of the story.

This was an Audible Plus title for me. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Viviana Velentine Goes Up the River by Emily J. Edwards

Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River
Author: Emily J. Edwards
Series: A Girl Friday Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (May 2, 2023)

Description: Author Emily J. Edwards takes Viviana Valentine to new heights—and new lows—in this “firecracker of a series” (Allison Epstein), perfect for fans of Ashley Weaver and Rhys Bowen.

1950, New York. Viviana Valentine–Girl Friday turned partner to New York’s top investigator, Tommy Fortuna–is drawn into a sordid new case when Buster Beacon, a wealthy man of science, beckons them to a party at his mansion north of the city. There, Buster entertains blue-blooded friends as well as investors keen to make a dollar on the many advancements made in his home laboratory, but he’s been hearing strange noises in the night coming from his expansive estate, and he doesn’t know who to trust.

Once Viviana and Tommy arrive, the party is snowed in. And suddenly, there is a dead body and nowhere to hide. Who killed the disguised federal agent in their midst? And how have details from the top-secret lab become public? Once chomping at the bit to be brought into this mysterious life, Viviana wonders if she’s ready for the risks that come with the territory—risks that rise treacherously high as the killer targets the next victim.

Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River packs all the elements mystery fans love: an irresistibly clever protagonist, a posh cast of heroes and villains, and a murder case that could defy even the most seasoned investigator.

My Thoughts: The second Viviana Valentine mystery was an engaging historical mystery. It is nearly Thanksgiving, 1950, when Viv and her boss Tommy Fortuna get a new case. One of their rich secretary's friends is hearing weird noises in his house and wants Viv and Tommy to find out what is making the noises.

Viv and Tommy find themselves at a house party in a mansion up the Hudson River from New York with an interesting assortment of fellow guests. Buster Beacon is the client. He's a rich guy determined to get richer by using his scientific talents to develop things for the government. Other guests include two other scientists, a husband and wife who are investors in Buster's work, an heiress who might also be an investor, a neighbor named Chester Courtland, and Monty Bonito who is a colleague of Tommy's. 

As Viv and Tommy try to figure out the relationships between the guests and try to track down a strange noise, the snow begins to fall and a bridge collapses, trapping all the guests in the house. Only Chester Courtland is in need of a doctor's care. He's broken his leg and been poisoned. He passes away and Viv and Tommy now have a murder to investigate too.

Someone among the people trapped in the mansion is a Soviet agent who wants to pass information back to the USSR. It turns out that Courtland was undercover from the FBI, and he's not the only suspicious character. 

This was a fun mystery steeped in 1950 from the slang to the fashion to the lifestyle. Viv was a great example of a woman with ambition and moxie. 

Favorite Quote:

"There's a dead federal agent in a house filled with state secrets," I said, deliberately controlling my voice so I wouldn't shriek, which is what I wanted to do at this absolute buffoon, "Of course everyone is a suspect."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are We Reading? (April 24, 2023)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

I liked this graphic but it is a little outdated. With additional snow on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, our new snow total is 139.1 inches or roughly the height of an African elephant. We are expecting a few clear days now but there is a potential for still more rain/snow mix this coming weekend. If we get the forecasted temperatures, the precipitation will come as rain. As I look out my windows on this sunny Sunday morning, I'm seeing snow covered lawns and a couple feet of snow where the plows have left it on the sides of the road. 

Since roads were a snow-covered sloppy mess on Friday, I rescheduled my afternoon of medical appointments. The first of the rescheduled will happen this Wednesday instead when the forecast is for sunny with a high near 47. The other two are for the first week in May when, hopefully, there will be no snow.

I have been working really hard these last couple of weeks to rebuild the cushion on my blog and currently have 19 scheduled posts. Another couple of weeks and I will feel better about resuming my In Death rereadathon. Next week I should be heavy into reading May review copies since I still have 5 to go after reading six already. I also have three June releases on my May calendar since they will all be published the first week in June. 

I have also been trying to fit in some of the oldest books and audiobooks on my TBR mountain. This week I lowered the stack by two print books and one audiobook and I have more scheduled for May reading and review. 

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas (Audiobook; Audible Plus) -- Reread via audiobook of the third book in the Lady Sherlock series. I enjoy the complicated plots and the complex characters in this historical mystery series. My review will be posted on May 2.
• Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver (Review; May 9) -- Third in this World War II historical mystery series. My review will be posted on May 3.
• A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong (Kindle and audiobook mine since November 2, 2020) -- This audiobook was a time travel romance with evil ghosts too. My review will be posted on May 4.

• Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco (Mine since May 8, 2007) -- Start of an urban fantasy series starring a Druid who has lost his powers. It was a mystery and had great worldbuilding. My review will be posted on May 4.
• The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (Mine) -- Second Ruth Galloway mystery. I'm really enjoying the combination of archaeology and mystery. My review will be posted on May 6.
• Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (Mine) -- I really enjoyed this historical fantasy told through Emily Wilde's journal entries. My review will be posted on May 9.

• First Truth by Dawn Cook (Paperback mine since July 5, 2009; Audiobook included in my subscription) -- Entertaining epic fantasy/coming of age story that is the first book in a quartet. My review will be posted on May 9.
• Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay (Review; May 16) -- Cute romance between a dyslexic chef and a book-loving man. My review will be posted on May 11.
• A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen (Review; May 16) -- Historical mystery where the main character is a woman who disguises herself as her deceased brother in order to preserve her home and livelihood. My review will be posted on May 10.

Currently

• Movieland by Lee Goldberg (Mine; Audiobook)
• Murder Mystery Book Club by Danielle Hollins (Mine; Kindle)

Next Week

• The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths (Mine)
• The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong (Review; May 23)
• Hard Dough Homicide by Olivia Matthews (Review; May 23)

• Identity by Nora Roberts (Review; May 23)
• Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler (Review; May 23)
• The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman (Review; May 30)

Reviews Posted

• Secret Star by Nora Roberts
• Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd
• The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

• Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson
• Deep Tide by Laura Griffin
• The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Play for Me by Libby Hubscher (June 20)
• Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh (July 25)
• A Cold Highland Wind by Tasha Alexander (October 3)

Bought:

These were each $5 off through a Kindle Promotion:

• The Queen's Price by Anne Bishop
• The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
• Body Double by Tess Gerritsen

• Fat Cat by Rachel Vincent (Kindle)
• Holmes Away from Home by David Marcum (BookBub, $.99)
• Blood and Feathers by Beth Revis (BookBub, Free)

What was your week like?

Book Review: The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

The Crossing Places
Author: Elly Griffiths
Series: Ruth Galloway (Book 1)
Publication: Mariner Books; First edition (January 5, 2010)

Description: The first entry in the acclaimed Ruth Galloway series follows the "captivating" archaeologist as she investigates a child's bones found on a nearby beach, thought to be the remains of a little girl who went missing ten years before.

Forensic archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway is in her late thirties. She lives happily alone with her two cats in a bleak, remote area near Norfolk, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants—not quite earth, not quite sea. But her routine days of digging up bones and other ancient objects are harshly upended when a child’s bones are found on a desolate beach. Detective Chief Inspector Nelson calls Galloway for help, believing they are the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing a decade ago and whose abductor continues to taunt him with bizarre letters containing references to ritual sacrifice, Shakespeare, and the Bible. Then a second girl goes missing and Nelson receives a new letter—exactly like the ones about Lucy.

Is it the same killer? Or a copycat murderer, linked in some way to the site near Ruth’s remote home?

My Thoughts: The first Ruth Galloway introduces the 39-year-old forensic archaeologist when she is called in by Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson to look at some bones found in a marsh. Nelson has been consumed by the kidnapping of young Lucy Downey for the long ten years since she disappeared and hopes to finally bring the case to a close.

Ruth is a lecturer at a local university who lives alone with her two cats in an isolated location. She likes the peace and quiet and the incredible scenery. It is near a dig where she worked ten years earlier. The bones are found near her home and near that dig site. Unfortunately for Harry, the bones are a couple thousand years old and not the ones he's hoping to find.

Harry asks Ruth to look at letters he'd been receiving since Lucy's disappearance, she discovers a mishmash of biblical, mythological, archaeological, and literary references that don't seem to provide any clear picture of what happened to Lucy. 

But then another little girl is kidnapped...

Ruth and Harry work together to try to find her. Meanwhile, people from Ruth's past - her former mentor and fellow archaeologist Erik and her ex-lover Peter - show up in her life again and are somehow connected to both disappearances. 

This was an entertaining story with an intriguing main character. I loved the very descriptive albeit fictional setting. I also loved the information about archaeology. Ruth's condition at the end of the story makes me really want to read on in this 15-book series. 

Favorite Quote:

'You must be wondering why I asked you to come in.'

'Yes,' says Ruth simply, taking a sip of coffee. It is even worse than it looks.

Nelson pushes a file towards her. 'There's been another child gone missing,' he says. 'You'll have read about it in the press.'

Ruth stays silent; she doesn't read the papers.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Crossing Place by Elly Griffiths

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

They wait for the tide and set out at first light.

Friday 56:

And why is he so arrogant that he can't leave a phone number? Irritated but intensely curious, Ruth rifles through the phone book ro find a number for the Norfolk police.

This week I'm spotlighting a new addition to TBR Mountain. The Crossing Place by Elly Griffiths is the first (of 15) in the Ruth Galloway series. Here is the description from Amazon:

The first entry in the acclaimed Ruth Galloway series follows the "captivating" archaeologist as she investigates a child's bones found on a nearby beach, thought to be the remains of a little girl who went missing ten years before.

Forensic archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway is in her late thirties. She lives happily alone with her two cats in a bleak, remote area near Norfolk, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants—not quite earth, not quite sea. But her routine days of digging up bones and other ancient objects are harshly upended when a child’s bones are found on a desolate beach. Detective Chief Inspector Nelson calls Galloway for help, believing they are the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing a decade ago and whose abductor continues to taunt him with bizarre letters containing references to ritual sacrifice, Shakespeare, and the Bible. Then a second girl goes missing and Nelson receives a new letter—exactly like the ones about Lucy.

Is it the same killer? Or a copycat murderer, linked in some way to the site near Ruth’s remote home?

ARC Review: Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

Deep Tide
Author: Laura Griffin
Series: The Texas Murder Files (Book 4)
Publication: Berkley (April 25, 2023)

Description: An undercover FBI agent and a coffee shop owner who values her independence must team up when a local barista is found dead in their coastal Texas town in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.

Sean Moran is on an undercover mission: The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it’s a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.

Leyla’s connections in the local community and Sean’s skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean’s carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.

My Thoughts: This romantic suspense title pairs coffee shop owner/caterer Leyla Breda with undercover FBI Agent Sean Moran. Leyla has just finished catering her police officer brother's wedding when she discovers the murdered body of one of her brewistas Amelia in the alley outside her beach shop. 

Leyla and Sean met at the wedding. He's one of her brother's friends. They are attracted but she's made it a rule not to get involved with tourists. She has no desire for a short-term romance. It doesn't help that lying to her because he's part of an undercover mission.   

While they are getting to know each other, Natalie Lswson, the youngest and only woman on the police force, is given charge of investigating the murder. She has to deal with some jealousy from other more experienced officers and her own self-doubts as she tries to figure out who murdered Amelia. It doesn't help that the murder may have ties to the undercover investigation and she keeps getting stone-walled by other agencies. 

This was an engaging and action-packed thriller and romance. It is part of a series but stands alone well. 

Favorite Quote:

Leyla trudged up the creaky wooden stairs to her apartment. She was utterly tapped and even her arms felt heavy as she fumbled with her keys and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, she closed her eyes and leaned against the wall.

Quiet. Finally. The sudden lack of sound and motion made her feel dizzy., the way she used to feel as a girl after spending all day playing in the waves.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson

Murder on Bedford Street
Author: Victoria Thompson
Series: Gaslight Mystery (Book 26)
Publication: Berkley (April 25, 2023)

Description: Midwife Sarah Malloy and her private investigator husband, Frank, must stop a killer lurking among a young family in the newest installment of the USA Today bestselling Gaslight Mysteries.

Hugh Breedlove is far from the most agreeable client private investigator Frank Malloy has ever had, but his case is impossible to refuse: his young niece, Julia, has been wrongfully committed to an insane asylum by her cruel and unfaithful husband, Chet Longly. Though Breedlove and his wife seem more interested in protecting the family reputation than their niece’s safety, Frank and Sarah agree to help for the sake of Julia and the young son she left behind.

Frank and Sarah’s investigation reveals a dark secret—a maid at the Longly home died suspiciously under Chet’s watch, and now it seems Julia’s son might also be in danger. The Malloys fear they are dealing with a man more dangerous than they had anticipated, one who will do anything to defame his wife. But all is not as it seems in the Longly family, and perhaps another monster is hiding in plain sight....

My Thoughts: The twenty-sixth in the Gaslight Mystery series has Malloy accepting a case to get the niece of his client out of an insane asylum. Hugh Breedlove isn't a very nice man. He's a real snob, but the case he brings does interest Malloy and his fellow detectives. 

After all, a young wife has been wrongfully accused of being insane. When Frank and Sarah visit the asylum, they find Julia Longly to be perfectly rational. Their suspicions grow even more when Chet Longly refuses to discuss why he had his wife committed.

Maeve goes undercover as a nursery maid in the Longly house and discovers that some secrets are being kept. What happened to the young maid who "fell" down the stairs? And what happened to the former nursery maid? And why are all the servants afraid of Julia Longly?

It takes a while for attitudes to shift and for the correct villain to be identified. I enjoyed this latest episode in a long-running series. I like the relationships between the characters. I liked the 1901 New York setting. 

Favorite Quote:

"Did we learn anything new?" Frank asked Sarah when her parents had left. 

"I'm not sure," she said, sitting down on the love seat beside him. "I suppose I should be surprised that my parents thought Julia and Chet were a love match."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

The Lake House
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publication: HarperTeen (April 25, 2023)

Description: Yellowjackets meets One of Us Is Lying in this masterful survival thriller from award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst.

Claire’s grown up triple-checking locks. Counting her steps. Second-guessing every decision. It’s just how she’s wired—her worst-case scenarios never actually come true.

Until she arrives at an off-the-grid summer camp to find a blackened, burned husk instead of a lodge—and no survivors, except her and two other late arrivals: Reyva and Mariana.

When the three girls find a dead body in the woods, they realize none of this is an accident. Someone, something, is hunting them. Something that hides in the shadows.

Something that refuses to let them leave.

My Thoughts: This was an entertaining story about girl friendships with more than a touch of horror.

Claire, Revya, and Mariana are late arrivals at the Lake House. All have been pressured by their parents to go to this summer camp for and "enrichment retreat." None expected to find themselves alone on an island in Maine with the camp burned to the ground and something chasing them. 

I liked the way each girl exposed herself to the others as they began to trust each other. Claire has a pessimistic viewpoint on life. She's the first to identify all the things that can go wrong in any situation. Sometimes these circular thoughts cause her be suffer panic attacks. Her parents don't know what to do with her and make her feel that these attacks can be overcome with a more positive attitude. This only makes Claire feel worse about them. 

Mariana and Revya are hiding secrets of their own.

But all three girls have to develop their own sorts of survival skills if they want to live through their summer camp experience. I loved watching the girls grow while learning to depend on and accept each other for what they are. 

The horror aspect was also a nice addition to the story in a very creepy way. 

Favorite Quote:

I'm a puzzle solver, she thought, turning the words over in her head. She liked that a lot better than "paranoid mess." I've hidden who I am and been ashamed of who I am for so long...

But I'm not week. Maybe I'm broken, maybe I can never be "fixed," at least not enough to please everyone, but I am not fragile. I am not powerless. I am strong, no "despite" or "except for" or any other conditionals. I am enough exactly as I am.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd

Scent of Darkness
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: Darkness Chosen (Book 1)
Publication: Berkley; 1st Printing edition (July 3, 2007)

Description: From New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd comes the seductive Darkness Chosen series about an ancient, dark evil that lives in the modern world...

A thousand years ago, a brutal warrior roamed the Russian steppes, and struck a menacing bargain. For the ability to change at will into a cold-hearted predator, Konstantine promised his soul-and the souls of his descendants-to the devil. One day a dangerous prophecy reveals the truth: one family has been chosen to battle the darkness -- or face damnation.

Ann Smith loves her dynamic boss, Jasha Wilder, but her daring plan to seduce him goes awry when she encounters a powerful wolf who -- before her horrified eyes -- changes into the man she adores. She soon discovers she can't escape her destiny ... for Jasha is Konstantine's descendant and Ann is the woman fated to break the curse that binds his soul...

My Thoughts: This urban fantasy has 1000-year curses and shapeshifters. Ann Smith is Jasha Wilder's office assistant. She has harbored a crush on him for all of the years that she's worked for him. The time has come for her to confront him and let him know. She thinks a trip to his mountain home to seduce him is a great idea.

However, the time isn't good. Jasha has just learned that the enemies who have been tracking his family for many years have gotten close. Also, his mother had a vision at the annual fourth of July picnic which indicates that they have a limited time to find a mysterious relic that was broken and scattered 1000 years ago if they want to save their father from damnation.

Jasha has gone to his retreat where he can turn to a wolf and think about what he can do to save his father. The last thing he wants to do is bring anyone into the danger with him. But Ann arrives and the enemies arrive shortly after. 

Ann is keeping secrets of her own. She was found abandoned in a dumpster as in infant with a strange tattoo on her lower back. Raised by a convent of nuns, she has been taught that evil follows her and that she has an unknown destiny.

When Ann finds the relic during a particularly strong storm, Jasha knows that he needs to protect it and her from the enemies who want to destroy his family. He also wants to convince her that he is her intended mate which might be harder to accomplish than defeating a number of shapeshifters sent to kill him. 

This was entertaining urban fantasy and is the first of four books in the story arc. I enjoyed the characters and the worldbuilding. 

Favorite Quote:

"Maybe you could consult our lawyers and void the contract?"

"Lawyers all work for Satan, you know that," Jasha said, deadpan.

She grinned. "If our legal counsel, Bob Rutherford, works for Satan, Satan should buy Bob a better toupee." She touched Jasha's arm. "Really, if you wanted out, what could the devil do?"

I bought this one July 10, 2007. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (April 17, 2023)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

After a week that saw temperatures near 60 degrees Fahrenheit and lots melting leading to mostly bare ground in my yard, I woke up to snow covered ground this morning. It is still snowing as noon approaches. We're expecting anywhere up to six inches today. I won't have the snow total until tomorrow but am pretty sure that we will have moved into second place and maybe even first place. The one positive about snow in April is that it melts quickly which isn't all that good this year since we are already dealing with rivers near or over flood stage. 

This past week's doctor's appointment only led to more doctor's appointments as we try to figure out why I have such a persistent cough. This week sees a breathing test and a CT scan of my lungs. Now that Spring has arrived, I'll be driving myself to my appointments and won't have to depend on my brother. Of course, the forecast is predicting snow and/or rain every day this coming week but not in quantities that are considered measurable. 

My plan to set the In Death Reread aside until I catch up on the books I actually put on my calendar is working. I now have reviews scheduled until May 2. I plan to keep up this plan for a couple of weeks more to rebuild my cushion. 

I have been planning my May calendar which I have filled with a lot of books I bought in 2009 and a few newer arrivals fitted in around the review books. I even pulled a couple of nonfiction books from my stack. 

Otherwise, I've been reading, listening to audiobooks, and watching baseball. 

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst (Review; April 25) -- YA horror story about three teenaged girls who find themselves marooned on an island in Maine with a murderer. My review will be posted on April 19.
• Brotherhood in Death by J. D. Robb (Book 42 in the In Death Reread)
• Deep Tide by Laura Griffin (Review; April 25) -- Romantic suspense title set in Texas. My review will be posted on April 20.

• Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson (Review; April 25) -- 26th in the Gaslight mysteries deals with a young wife confined to a asylum. My review will be posted on April 20.
• Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River by Emily J. Edwards (Review; May 2) -- 1950s mystery that includes Soviet spies, murder, and a feisty heroine. My review will be posted on April 25.
• The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (mine since February 28) -- The first in the Ruth Galloway mystery series. My review will be posted on April 22.

• Gated Prey (Eve Ronin, Book 3) by Lee Goldberg (Audiobook Since September 2, 2022) -- The third Eve Ronin concerns a home invasion and a fetal abduction. My review will be posted on April 27.
• The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick (Review; May 2) -- Latest in the Burning Cove 1930s mystery series stars Prudence Ryland and Jack Wingate. Nice combination of mystery, romance, and paranormal powers. My review will be posted on April 26.
• Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley (Review; May 2) -- YA mystery steeped in Anishnaabe culture. Lots of plot threads and great characters. I liked it so much I preordered a keeper copy for myself. My review will be posted on April 27.

• All the Queen's Men by S J Bennett (Mine since March) -- Second Queen Elizabeth II mystery was another entertaining story. My review will be posted on April 29.
• Undone by Rachel Caine (Mine since February 6, 2009) -- The first in an urban fantasy series set in the world of the Weather Wardens. The main character is a Djinn who angered her leader and was sentenced to life as a human on earth. My review will be published May 2.

Currently

• The Hollow of Fear (Lady Sherlock, Book 3) by Sherry Thomas (Audiobook included in membership) -- 4:56 left 
• Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver (Review; May 9) -- just starting

Next Week

• Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (Kindle Daily Deal earlier this month)
• The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (Kindle new this week)
• A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen (Review; May 16)

• A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong (Audiobook I've had since November 2, 2020)
• First Truth by Dawn Cook (Audiobook version of a paperback I've had since July 8, 2009)
• Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco (Kindle version of a paperback I've had since May 8, 2007)

Reviews Posted

• Skin Deep by Mark Del Franco
• A Different Dawn by Isabella Maldonado
• The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C. J. Archer

• A Wealth of Deception by Trish Esden
• Kris Longknife: Tenacious by Mike Shepherd
• Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Catch Her Death by Melinda Leigh (Review; September 12)

Bought:

• The House at Sea's End (Ruth Galloway, Book 3) by Elly Griffiths (Kindle)
• The Janus Stone (Ruth Galloway, Book 2) by Elly Griffiths (Kindle)

• Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Chirp Audiobook)
• Hindsight by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen (Kindle Daily Deal)

Replacements for Books on TBR Mountain:

• Unbroken (Outcast Season, Book 4) by Rachel Caine (Kindle)
• Undone (Outcast Season, Book 1) by Rachel Caine (Kindle)
• Unseen (Outcast Season, Book 3) by Rachel Caine (Kindle)

• First Truth by Dawn Cook (Kindle and Audiobook included in membership)
• Forgotten Truth by Dawn Cook (Audiobook included in membership)
• Hidden Truth by Dawn Cook (Audiobook included in membership)

• Lost Truth by Dawn Cook (Audible copy included in membership)
• The Cipher by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Kindle and Audiobook)
• Come the Night by Susan Krinard (Kindle)

What was your week like?