Audiobook Review: A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

A Monstrous Regiment of Women
Author: Laurie R. King
Narrator: Jenny Sterlin
Series: Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes (Book 2)
Publication: Macmillan Audio (February 11, 2014)
Length: 11 hours and 43 minutes

Description: It is 1921 and Mary Russell—Sherlock Holmes's brilliant apprentice, now an Oxford graduate with a degree in theology—is on the verge of acquiring a sizable inheritance. Independent at last, with a passion for divinity and detective work, her most baffling mystery may now involve Holmes and the burgeoning of a deeper affection between herself and the retired detective. Russell's attentions turn to the New Temple of God and its leader, Margery Childe, a charismatic suffragette and a mystic, whose draw on the young theology scholar is irresistible. But when four bluestockings from the Temple turn up dead shortly after changing their wills, could sins of a capital nature be afoot? Holmes and Russell investigate, as their partnership takes a surprising turn in A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King.

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series. It is 1921. Mary has graduated from Oxford with theology and chemistry degrees. She has also attained her majority and gained control of her fortune. She has kicked out her aunt and is remodeling her farmhouse. She is also in a quandary about her relationship with Holmes.

While wandering about London, she encounters Lady Veronica Beaconsfield who was a lodging mate at Oxford. They lost touch when Mary had to disappear as a result of a previous case. Ronnie is working at Good Works in London. She introduces Mary to Margery Childe and her New Temple of God. Mary is intrigued by Margery's theology.

But questions arise when she learns that three well-to-do young women has died in suspicious circumstances after leaving substantial sums of money to the New Temple of God. Mary investigates with a bit of assistance from Holmes who is busy helping Mary with another problem. Ronnie's fiancé has come back from World War I greatly changed and addicted to heroin. Mary asks Sherlock for help.

Then Ronnie is almost killed in what looks at first like an accident and Mary is also almost killed when she's walking with Margery. Mary manages to take down the villain and save herself and Margery. But then Mary is kidnapped. She's held for a number of days by criminals who attempt to addict her to heroin before Sherlock manages to find and rescue her. 

This was excellent historical fiction filled with all sorts of period details. I love the relationship between Mary and Holmes.

I bought this one April 11, 2021. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Death on Dickens Island by Allison Brook

Death on Dickens Island
Author: Allison Brook
Series: A Books on the Beach Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Crooked Lane (October 21, 2025)

Description: A divorced sleuth in her thirties must bring peace back to her small town after a murder tears neighbors and family members apart in this series debut from Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook, perfect for fans of Cynthia Riggs and Eva Gates.

Delia Dickens has come home to Dickens Island, a small island in the Long Island Sound, after a twelve-year stint in Manhattan. She’s looking forward to helping her father revitalize the general store that the family owns as well as curating a small book nook. Most importantly, she wants to reunite with her fifteen-year-old son. But Dickens Island isn’t the peaceful town Delia remembers–and she might be in more danger here than she ever was in the big city.

Delia’s Aunt Reenie and Uncle Brad, both prominent community leaders, are at odds over the sale of a farm and its future use. This has created friction, not only in their marriage, but amongst the citizens of the town. When a young woman, new to the town council and friendly with Brad, is found murdered, everything escalates and reaches a new boiling point.

With Reenie and Brad both suspects in the case and at each other’s throats, the townspeople start to take sides. When the ghost of her grandmother visits her, Delia learns how past events have impacted the present, and it is up to her to expose the farm’s sordid secrets in order to catch a murderer and restore peace to her beloved island.

My Thoughts: This first in a new series stars Delia Dickens who has come home to Dickens Island after some years away in Manhattan. She is helping her father in his general store and writing some articles for her brother's newspaper. She is also trying to rebuild her relationship with her fifteen-year-old son who has spent most of his life living with her parents. 

When a young woman is murdered and Delia's uncle is one of the prime suspects, Delia becomes an amateur sleuth. She has the unexpected help of the ghost of her grandmother who knows the ins and out and who's who of the island past and present. 

The island is in turmoil because of the issue of purchasing a local farm and determining its future use. Delia's aunt and uncle who are both on the council have vastly different views of the future of the farm and the island. Their views are coming close to polarizing the rest of the island's residents.

Meanwhile, Delia's relationship with her son is going through its own ups and downs. When Connor skips school to hunt for treasure from a map purported to be left by Captain Kidd, it leads to a break-in at their house and the discovery of a long-buried body.

This was an engaging cozy mystery. I'm eager to read more about Dickens Island and its residents. 

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

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 13, 2025)

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.

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

Other Than Reading...

This was another week that went by in a flash. I was busy with watching baseball and The Voice and reading. I don't even remember if I left the house for any reason but maybe I went to the grocery store. I'm lucky that my brother enjoys grocery shopping and does the vast majority of it for us. 

I did something I haven't done for quite a while. I read Turns of Fate and literally couldn't put it down. I finished it at 5:30 AM. Needless to say, I spent the rest of the week trying to get back onto a normal sleep schedule. 

I'm making good progress on my Slow and Steady reads. I just have two chapters left in The Mother Tongue since I don't intend to read the notes, bibliography and index which make up the last 16% of the book. A Night in the Lonesome October has dated chapters through October 31 which means I'll be reading it for the rest of the month. 

This week I have a whole bunch of November 11 review books on my stack. I'll be throwing in some audiobooks too but don't know which ones yet. Most likely they will be rereads since I don't have open spaces to review any audiobooks until December. 

I will be leaving the house this week because I have a haircut - long delayed - scheduled on Monday. 

Read Last Week

• The Nameless Land by Kate Elliott (Review, November 4) -- Second in an epic fantasy series with great characters and worldbuilding. My review will be posted on October 30.
• Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop (Review, November 11) -- Great start to a new urban fantasy series. My review will be posted on November 4.

• Shattered by Dick Francis (Mine since October 3) -- A Dick Francis mystery. This time the character who gets drawn into danger and mystery is a glassblower. My review will be posted on October 28.
• Charmed by Nora Roberts (Mine since May 12) -- Third in the Donovan Legacy paranormal romances. My review will be posted on November 18
• Ribbon Dance by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Mine since October 7) -- Middle book in the story arc set on Colemeno. I previously reviewed the ARC. 

• Her Second Death by Melinda Leigh (Mine since October 6) -- Prequel short story to the Bree Taggert series. 
• Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Mine since November 21, 2024) -- Novellas and short stories set in the Inheritance Games world. My review will be posted on November 1.

Currently

• Wild Instinct by T. Jefferson Parker (Review, November 11)
• Diviner's Bow by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook reread)

Slow and Steady Reads:

• A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny - a chapter a day
• The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson - a chapter a day - only two chapters to go

Next Week

• Innocence Road by Laura Griffin (Review, November 11)
• Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally (Review, November 11)
• Haze by Katharine Kerr (Review, November 11)

• Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree (Review, November 11)
• The Queen Who Came in from the Cold by S. J. Bennett (Review, November 11)
• Blood Oath by Steve Urszenyi (Review, November 18)

Reviews Posted

• Dying Cry by Margaret Mizushima (Review copy)
• Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly (Review copy)
• And Then There Was The One by Martha Waters (Review copy)

• Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg (Review copy)
• The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong (Review copy)
• And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt (Review copy)

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

Review:

• The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura (Review, January 13)
• Half City by Kate Golden (Review, February 17)
• The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C. M. Waggoner (Review, March 17)

Bought:

Audiobooks for reread (I read the series many years ago):

• Major Operation by James White (Chirp Audiobook, $2.99)
• Star Surgeon by James White (Chirp Audiobook, $2.99)
• Hospital Station by James White (Chirp Audiobook, $2.99)

Audiobooks by favorite authors:

• Gold Dust by Catherine Asaro (Audible Credit)
• Ribbon Dance by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audible Credit)

New-to-me Kindle books:

• The Baby Dragon Bakery by A. T. Qureshi (BookBub. $.99)
• The Baby Dragon Cafe by A. T. Qureshi (Kindle, $.99)
• Her Second Death by Melinda Leigh (Kindle, $.99)

Kindle keeper copies of books I read and reviewed earlier:

• Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman (Kindle)
• Gold Dust by Catherine Asaro (Kindle)
• Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose (BookBub, $1.99)

What was your week like?

ARC Review: And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt

And to All a Good Bite
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter Mysteries (Book 32)
Publication: Minotaur Books (October 14, 2025)

Description: Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter investigates a murder that left a dog stranded in And to All a Good Bite, the latest Christmas mystery in David Rosenfelt's bestselling series.

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter can't wait for Christmas. He doesn't care much about the season, unless it's football season. Andy's excited to finally relax and watch the games. But when there's a murder related to an old case in Paterson, New Jersey, Andy puts the games on pause.

Two years ago, a gas leak in an office building led to a tragic explosion that killed seven people. Jeff Wheeler was there to pick up his girlfriend and ran into the building to help. All he heard was the barking of a dog, Rufus, and was able to save him. The pup was the sole survivor and Jeff was named a hero. Initially, Rufus went to the Tara Foundation since his owner had died in the accident. But Andy met Jeff and liked him, respecting his courage and allowed him to adopt Rufus. Since then, Jeff and Rufus have formed an unbreakable bond.

The accident never sat right with Jeff. He believed that one of the building owners was responsible for the tragedy. Now that owner has been murdered and Jeff is arrested for the crime, Rufus is left with Jeff's sister, who begs Andy to take the case. Andy remembered Jeff's tremendous bravery and with the lingering Christmas spirit, decides to help reunite the two.

With David Rosenfelt's signature humor and hijinks, it's time to close this case for good and bid it a good night.

My Thoughts: Andy is dragged into another case when a man who adopted a dog from his foundation is accused of murder. Jeff Wheeler rescued the dog when an office building exploded killing the woman he hoped to marry and six others. He ended up adopting the dog he named Rufus.

Jeff always blamed Stanley Franklin for the explosion. While he didn't know why, he knew his girlfriend was concerned about something at work and was planning to meet with Franklin on the night the building exploded. However, the explosion was ruled caused by a gas leak.

Now, a year or so later, Jeff is arrested for the death of Stanley Franklin who was shot in the front entry of his home. A bag of Jeff's belongings and the murder weapon were found near Jeff's home. This screams of set up to Andy. To get Jeff off, he'll have to discover who really killed Stanley Franklin.

Franklin was a noted art collector and had recently discovered a cache of art that the Nazis had hidden. The art will be auctioned off as a collection with a minimum bid of $150 million. This leads Andy to believe that the auction and possible art forgery might have actually led to Franklin's death. Proving it is going to be the hard part.

Filled with Andy's usual snark and set at the Christmas season, AND TO ALL A GOOD BITE has all the strong parts of the rest of the series. I enjoyed the twists and turns and loved catching up with the characters again. 

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

Friday Memes: And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

Beginning:

Jeff Wheeler had never been much of a fan of the holiday season.

Friday 56:

During the break I check my phone and there's a message from Laurie. "Andy, we got a break. We may have found Tony Bradley. Everyone will be at the house tonight to talk about it."

This week I am spotlighting And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt. This is the 32nd Andy Carpenter mystery. It is from my review stack. Here's the description from Amazon:

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter investigates a murder that left a dog stranded in And to All a Good Bite, the latest Christmas mystery in David Rosenfelt's bestselling series.

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter can't wait for Christmas. He doesn't care much about the season, unless it's football season. Andy's excited to finally relax and watch the games. But when there's a murder related to an old case in Paterson, New Jersey, Andy puts the games on pause.

Two years ago, a gas leak in an office building led to a tragic explosion that killed seven people. Jeff Wheeler was there to pick up his girlfriend and ran into the building to help. All he heard was the barking of a dog, Rufus, and was able to save him. The pup was the sole survivor and Jeff was named a hero. Initially, Rufus went to the Tara Foundation since his owner had died in the accident. But Andy met Jeff and liked him, respecting his courage and allowed him to adopt Rufus. Since then, Jeff and Rufus have formed an unbreakable bond.

The accident never sat right with Jeff. He believed that one of the building owners was responsible for the tragedy. Now that owner has been murdered and Jeff is arrested for the crime, Rufus is left with Jeff's sister, who begs Andy to take the case. Andy remembered Jeff's tremendous bravery and with the lingering Christmas spirit, decides to help reunite the two.

With David Rosenfelt's signature humor and hijinks, it's time to close this case for good and bid it a good night.

ARC Review: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publication: St. Martin's Press (October 14, 2025)

Description: From New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a nail-biting supernatural horror about a haunted lakeside property and twisted family secrets.

When Samantha Payne’s grandfather dies, she figures she won’t even get a mention in the will. After all, she hasn’t seen him in fourteen years, not since her father took his own life after being accused of murdering a child at their lakefront cottage. Her grandfather always insisted her father was innocent, despite Sam having caught him burying the child’s body, his clothing streaked with blood.

But when she does attend the reading of the will at the behest of her aunt, she discovers that her grandfather left her the very valuable lakefront property where the family cottage sits. There’s one catch: Sam needs to stay in the cottage for a month. To finally face the fact she was wrong and her father was innocent, in her grandfather's words.

Traveling to Paynes Hollow, Sam is faced with the realities of her childhood and the secrets kept hidden in the shadows of her memories. When her aunt goes missing a couple days into their stay, Sam begins to question everything again. Plagued by nightmares and paranoia, she begins hearing sounds in the forest and seeing shapes crawling from the water as the rippling waves of the lake promise something unspeakably dark lurking just below their surface.

My Thoughts: For more than a touch of spooky, THE HAUNTING OF PAYNES HOLLOW really fits the bill. 

Sam Payne hasn't seen her grandfather for fourteen years. She attends his funeral with her aunt as her last obligation to him. She is pressured into attending the reading of the will certain that there is nothing in it for her. However, she is surprised to learn that she will inherit a 300 acre property worth $10 million if she only spends one month living on the property.

The summer camp is the source of many good childhood memories and the most horrible memories of her entire life. She sees her beloved father burying a child and learns that he committed suicide afterwards. She is the one who turns him in. Her grandfather refuses to believe that his son was a murderer and cuts Sam and her mother off from any support.

When Sam's mother comes down with an inherited early dementia, Sam has to change her life plans to support her. Instead of attending medical school, she has a low-paying lab assistant job and a crappy apartment so that she can afford her mother's care. 

As soon as she arrives at the property the dreams and visions start. Everything has preserved to be exactly like it was when she left fourteen years earlier. And the caretaker - the older brother of the boy her father murdered - is to be her keeper and make sure she follows all the terms of the will including the ankle bracelet that proves she hasn't left the property. 

Then her aunt disappears after an argument about Sam staying on the land and the local sheriff is less than helpful in trying to find her. As events get even more creepy, Sam has to decided what is real and what might be only in her mind. 

This was a terrifying - read only in the daytime - sort of story for me. I liked the way the horror kept building. I enjoyed Sam's determination to fulfill the terms of the will both as a proof to herself of her own strength and to get the better of her cruel grandfather. 

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

ARC Review: Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg

Fallen Star
Author: Lee Goldberg
Series: Eve Ronin (Book 6)
Publication: Thomas & Mercer (October 14, 2025)

Description: A spiraling case of betrayal, corruption, and murder could destroy Eve Ronin if she exposes it in a gripping thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.

A fifty-five-gallon drum washes up in the Malibu Lagoon stuffed with the corpse of Gene Dent, the key player in a bribery scandal that ensnared several local politicians. LASD detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone know the case―and all the likely suspects―well. Just as they begin their investigation, the sheriff publicly reveals evidence linking the crime to LA’s mayor.

But Eve and Duncan realize the bombshell allegation, true or not, arises from corruption within the sheriff’s own office…because they helped cover it up years ago. If the sheriff goes down, so will they.

Eve is agonizing over her moral dilemma when a helicopter crashes in the hillside below her Calabasas home. It’s not a coincidence. Eve soon discovers among the twisted wreckage and dead passengers shocking connections to her own past…and they lead straight to a fight for her life.

My Thoughts: The sixth Eve Ronin mystery begins with the discovery of a body in a barrel on the beach. Gene Dent is well-known to Eve and a player into a current corruption investigation. Eve and her partner Duncan know just where to start investigating. 

The investigation is complicated when a helicopter crashes into the hillside just below Eve's house killing all six people aboard. Besides some of her suspects, the pilot is the has-been actor who launched Eve's career as a homicide detective in the Sheriff's Department. 

Chasing down the cause of the crash and the reason for it has Eve reconnecting with Walker and Sharpe, arson investigators, and expanding her investigation into Las Vegas where she runs into a not-so-grieving sister.

The story was action packed and had Eve facing a number of ethical dilemmas. It was engaging and exciting and seems to be a turning point in Eve's career. 

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

ARC Review: Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly

Death on a Scottish Train
Author: Lucy Connelly
Series: A Scottish Isle Mystery (Book 4)
Publication: Crooked Lane (October 14, 2025)

Description: Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American in Scotland, has a killer in sight in the fourth installment of the Scottish Isle mystery series, perfect for fans of Paige Shelton and Connie Berry.

Summer is coming to a close on beautiful Sea Isle in Scotland, and Dr. Emilia McRoy is celebrating one year since her big move. With a weeklong festival to end the season, the town gathers for a magical ride on the newly refurbished Storyteller’s Train, but the launch’s success is dampened by an unexpected death.

What appears to be a case of deadly allergies is soon revealed as murder. As Emilia, her assistant Abigail, and the local constable Ewan McGregor unravel the mystery, the killer sets their murderous intentions on them.

If they want to survive, they will need the help of all of their friends—before they become the latest victims.

My Thoughts: The fourth Dr. Emilia McRoy mystery takes place at the end of summer and marks her one-year anniversary in Scotland. Her anniversary coincides with a weeklong festival. One of the highlights is the debut of the Storyteller's Train. However, the festivities are marred by the death of one of the storytellers.

Emilia finds Donald Jacks stuffed into a closet in the train depot's office. It looks like he died of an allergic reaction but that doesn't explain how he got into the closet. As Emilia investigates in company with Ewan McGregor and her other friends, she learns that Jacks had a number of people unhappy with him. His business partner and clients were unhappy that his investment advice had caused many of them to lose money. His fellow workers on the train project resented his perfectionist tendencies. 

It is up to Emilia and her friends to find out who wanted Jacks dead before one of them becomes a victim of the killer. 

This was an entertaining story marred by too much repetition. It was often repeated that Emilia loved her new life as a doctor in rural Scotland and loved the wonderful collection of friends that she had gathered in her year's sojourn. I did enjoy her budding romance with Ewan though as they have been fencing with each other through the first three books in this series. 

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

ARC Review: And Then There Was The One by Martha Waters

And Then There Was The One
Author: Martha Waters
Publication: Atria Books (October 14, 2025)

Description: From Martha Waters, the author of the “enchanting” (Entertainment Weekly) Regency Vows series, a new historical romance set in 1930s England with a murder mystery twist.

In a quaint village in the Cotswolds, Georgiana Radcliffe has accidentally become an amateur detective after helping solve four murders in a single year. When the chairman of the village council turns up dead, everyone agrees with the official ruling of a heart attack, but Georgie can’t help but suspect that the council chairman is a fifth victim. Now, murder tourists are flocking from around the country, in hopes of becoming sleuths themselves.

Along with her reporter friend, she reaches out to a famous London detective for assistance in ascertaining why they have become a magnet for murder. But the fancy detective is simply too busy—or can’t be bothered—to help, and instead dispatches his secretary, Sebastian Fletcher-Ford—a posh womanizer who, truthfully, is just trying to get out of his hair, much to practical, no-nonsense Georgie’s dismay. But as they investigate in the charming Buncombe-upon-Woolly—with plentiful scones, sheep on the village green, and murder tourists at every turn—Georgie finds that her previous assessment of Sebastian may have been wrong, and rather than solving a murder, she may be solving for love instead.

My Thoughts: Buncombe-Upon-Wooly has become a mecca for murder and Georgie Radcliffe is tired of it. Georgie has solved the first four mysteries but would prefer working in her garden and running the lives of her father and sister. 

When the chairman of the village council dies of an apparent heart attack, Georgie doesn't believe it and writes to a famous London detective for help. 

Instead of coming himself, he sends his secretary Sebastian Fletcher-Ford as his replacement. In Georgie's opinion, Sebastian is a handsome, womanizing fribble. To say Georgie was disappointed is a vast understatement. But she soon learns that Sebastian has hidden depths and finds herself falling in love with him as they unravel the mysteries.

A quaint village complete with murder tourists is the setting for this mystery/romance. It starts off silly but gradually gains depth as the story moves on. I liked the setting and the banter between Georgie and Sebastian. 

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

ARC Review: Dying Cry by Margaret Mizushima

Dying Cry
Author: Margaret Mizushima
Series: Timber Creek K-9 Mystery (Book 10)
Publication: Crooked Lane (October 10, 2025)

Description: A killer lurks in Colorado’s snowy high country in Dying Cry, the tenth thrilling installment of award-winning author Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mystery series.

Newlyweds Mattie and Cole Walker are teaching Cole’s daughters how to snowshoe in a remote canyon when a shattering scream pierces the air. They know that somewhere ahead, someone has been injured or worse. Cole takes the girls while Mattie and Robo go deeper into the canyon to search for the source of the scream.

From a distance, Mattie and Robo see a shadowy figure at the base of a cliff, but a rockslide buries the person under layers of stone and shale before they can provide help. Desperate to uncover the individual in case they’re still alive under the rock, their efforts are in vain. The victim is already dead. When they investigate the canyon rim from which the person fell, they discover evidence that indicates the fall was no accident. To make matters worse, the victim was one of Cole’s friends.

The Timber Creek County investigative team springs into action, uncovering a trail of greed that leads to a killer who threatens Mattie’s cherished new family and tests her with the most difficult task she’s faced in her duty as a K-9 handler.

My Thoughts: Mattie and Cole Walker on a brief vacation with his daughters. They are snowshoeing when they hear a cry. Cole takes the girls back to the resort while Mattie and her K-9 Robo go to investigate. 

Robo finds a trail and Mattie can see a body at the base of a cliff, but a landslide covers it before Mattie can get there. She's called in reinforcements from the sheriff's department but she Cole and the resort owner manage to uncover the body before they arrive. Cole is surprised to recognize Tom Murphy, a local banker and the husband of his vetinary assistant Tess. 

Events quickly prove to be murder. The Timber Creek Sheriff's Department is on the case. Tom was at the resort with some of his colleagues from the bank planning future projects. Tess had come along for a mini-vacation. Mattie's first task is to clear Tess of involvement. But Detective Stella LoSasso isn't convinced that Tess didn't kill her husband. 

When it comes out that Tom had contacted the Ethics hotline at work before his death, it looks like his death was work related. No one knows why he contacted them though. Maybe it had to do with the affair between the bank president and Tom's assistant manager who were both along on the retreat but the affair was supposedly over. And what do screenshots on his phone of various bank accounts have to do with the murder?

Tom was killed with a combination of fentanyl and xylazine - a horse tranquilizer - which puts Tess back on the list of suspects but also includes a couple of guys at the resort who manage the horses and had been turned down for a loan. 

This was an excellent twisty episode in this long-running series. I like the way Mattie is integrating into her new family. I also love her relationship with her K-9 Robo. 

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

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (October 6, 2025)

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.

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

Other Than Reading...

This was a lovely return-to-summer week. The last three days have hit high temperatures of 81, 78, and 84 degrees. The lowest high temperature of the week was 65. There have been lots of sunny days with no rain. I'm up early this morning watching the Minnesota Vikings play football in London. It's already 71 at 9AM but the high is only supposed to get to 73.

I found myself watching a lot more baseball than I thought I would. I watched most of each of the games and there were four games a day some days. Baseball really cut down on my audiobook reading since I can read Kindle books while watching but not listen to audiobooks. 

I find myself with four books on my currently reading stack. Two of them are chapter-a-day books. A Night in the Lonesome October has short chapters for every day from September 30 through October 31. The Mother Tongue has fewer but longer chapters. The others are an audiobook and a review copy. 

This coming week should be better for reading since there are fewer baseball games each day. However, The Voice is going to overlap some baseball on Monday and Tuesday. I'll be flipping back and forth between the two channels. 

Otherwise, this coming week is appointment free. My brother works until 11PM Sunday through Thursday but his starting times vary from 2:30 to 6PM. We are planning to eat a number of meals together including trying a new casserole which uses leftover rotisserie chicken which will feed us for at least two meals.

September Report

I read 37 books in September including thirteen review copies. I also listened to 19 audiobooks for a total of 261 hours. Twelve of the books I read or listened to were rereads. I have written reviews for most of them. 

I added 37 books to my LibraryThing collection this month too. I added 7 audiobooks. I got three of the audiobooks from Chirp, used an Audible Credit for one, and added-on the other three audiobooks since I also got the Kindle copy. I added 12 review books. I took advantage of 9 BookBub Deals and 3 Kindle Daily Deals too. Twenty-one of the new additions are still on the TBR stack. 

Here is my monthly State of the Stack post which helps me keep track of Review copies. 

Read Last Week

• The Hidden City by Charles Finch (Review, November 4) -- 15th in the Charles Lenox historical mysteries series. I enjoyed this one. My review will be posted on October 28.
• The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie (Review, October 28) -- Second Syd Walker mystery. Interesting mystery which is concerned with Native American themes. My review will be posted on October 21.
• The Devil in Oxford by Jess Armstrong (Review, November 4) -- Third Ruby Vaughn mystery set in Oxford during the 1922 Christmas season. I like the combination of romance, history, and the paranormal in this series. My review will be posted on October 29. 

• The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews (Kindle, mine since August 12) -- First in a new contemporary fantasy series. My review will be posted on October 25.
• Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Audiobook, mine since 29) -- 8th in the Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series. My review will be posted on October 23.

• Black Tie and Tails by Wen Spencer (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since September 12) -- This is the second book in a contemporary fantasy series. My review will be posted on November 20.
• Hid from Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Audiobook, Mine since August 30) -- Ninth in the Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series. My review will be posted on October 30.

DNF

• These Violet Delights by Madeleine Roux (Review, November 4) -- I DNFd this one because, while I could define every word, the sentences didn't make sense to me. 

Currently

• Shattered by Dick Francis (Chirp Audiobook, Reread)
• The Nameless Land by Kate Elliott (Review, November 4)

• A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny (Mine) -- Each short chapter is dated from October 1 to October 31. I'm reading the matching chapter of this fantasy every day. 
• The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson (Mine) -- I'm reading one chapter of this nonfiction book every day. 

Next Week

• Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Mine since November 21, 2024)
• Turns of Fate by Anne Bishop (Review, November 11)
• Wild Instinct by T. Jefferson Parker (Review, November 11)

• Innocence Road by Laura Griffin (Review, November 11)
• Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally (Review, November 11)
• Haze by Katharine Kerr (Review, November 11)

Reviews Posted

• Gold Dust by Catherine Asaro (Review copy)
• All Mortal Flesh by Julis Spencer-Fleming (Audiobook)
• I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Audiobook)

• The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths (Mine)
• Mirage City by Lev AC Rosen (Review copy)
• The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (Mine)

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

Review:

• The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie (Review, October 28)
• Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day (Review, January 6)
• Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell (Review, February 3)

• Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer (Review, February 11)
• The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly (Review, 24)

Bought:

• Shattered by Dick Francis (Chirp Audiobook, $4.99)
• The River Knows by Amanda Quick (Chirp Audiobook, $4.99)
• Dead of Winter by Rebecca Zanetti (Audiobook Add-on)

• The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton (BookBub. $1.99)
• Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner (Kindle, Kindle Rewards)
• A Thin Dark Line by Tami Hoag (Kindle, Kindle Rewards)

• A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny (Kindle)
• Dead of Winter by Rebecca Zanetti (BookBub, $1.99)

• Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen (BookBub, $2.99)
• Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz (BookBub, $1.99)

What was your week like?