Friday Memes: The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now 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:

December 15, 1932

The snow had been falling for hours, drifting past the windows, settling on the sill, forming little landscapes that mimicked the mountains in the distance.

Friday 56:

"Ellie was a friend of mine, and I think she came here..."

The guy said nothing.

"I was wondering if...I...I just wanted to find out..."

He stepped back and held open the door for her to come inside.

This week I am spotlighting The Hand of the Wall by Maureen Johnson. This is the much-anticipated finale of the Truly Devious trilogy. Here is the description from Amazon:

New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson delivers the witty and pulse-pounding conclusion to the Truly Devious series as Stevie Bell solves the mystery that has haunted Ellingham Academy for over 75 years.

Ellingham Academy must be cursed. Three people are now dead. One, a victim of either a prank gone wrong or a murder. Another, dead by misadventure. And now, an accident in Burlington has claimed another life. All three in the wrong place at the wrong time. All at the exact moment of Stevie’s greatest triumph . . .

She knows who Truly Devious is. She’s solved it. The greatest case of the century.

At least, she thinks she has. With this latest tragedy, it’s hard to concentrate on the past. Not only has someone died in town, but David disappeared of his own free will and is up to something. Stevie is sure that somehow—somehow—all these things connect. The three deaths in the present. The deaths in the past. The missing Alice Ellingham and the missing David Eastman. Somewhere in this place of riddles and puzzles there must be answers.

Then another accident occurs as a massive storm heads toward Vermont. This is too much for the parents and administrators. Ellingham Academy is evacuated. Obviously, it’s time for Stevie to do something stupid. It’s time to stay on the mountain and face the storm—and a murderer.

In the tantalizing finale to the Truly Devious trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson expertly tangles her dual narrative threads and ignites an explosive end for all who’ve walked through Ellingham Academy.

ARC Review: Breaking Silence by Mercedes Lackey & Cody Martin

Breaking Silence
Author: Mercedes Lackey & Cody Martin
Series: Serrated Edge (Book 10)
Publication: Baen (February 4, 2020)

Description: FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF SILENCE

When Staci was first shunted off to the back-water town of Silence, Maine, to live with her alcoholic mother, she thought her life was over. Silence had none of the amenities a typical teen in the twenty-first century considered essential: no cell service and barely any internet connectivity. But Staci soon learned that Silence was more than a town left behind by progress. The first family of Silence, the Blackthorns, liked the town that way. The Blackthorns were dark elves who fed off the misery of the residents of Silence.

But now, all that’s changing for the better. With the help of Staci and her friends, the Blackthorns have been all but defeated. Industry is returning to Silence, and Staci’s mom is improving with each passing day. There’s even a cute new busboy at the diner.

But evil dies hard. And Staci, now a mage-in-training, senses that the Blackthorns have not yet given up the fight. The soul of Silence is on the line, and it is up to Staci and her friends to strike back against the encroaching darkness.

My Thoughts: This story is a direct sequel to 2016's SILENCE which should likely be read first. Those who have read it will enjoy finding out what has happened to Staci and her fellow nerds now that the Blackthornes have been defeated.

Things are looking up for Silence, Maine. New industries are opening and the sense of gloom has lifted from the town. Of course, that doesn't mean things are perfect. The industries are being opened by elves which immediately raises the suspicions of Staci's mentor Tim who is a mage who runs the local bookstore. And Staci still notices some sort of evil when she is training in the local woods.

Between her training, the growing evil, and the encroachment of the new group of elves, Staci should be kept busy enough. When her friend Wanda's parents become enthralled with a new fundamentalist church in town and keep trying to drag her to services, Staci and Wanda look into the church's activities and discover a magical connection the reverend isn't aware of. It is just one more sign that evil is creeping close again.

The story is full of action and adventure. I like that the fantasy in this one coexists with everyday normal 21st Century life. I like that Staci is a pretty normal teenager who has typical teenage parent problems. I also like the way that magic is woven into the story.

I recommend this one for readers who want to read about magic but who don't want a completely new fantasy world to keep track of. The characters are realistic and engaging and the magical creatures pulled from myths.

Favorite Quote:

Someone else is running off to go take care of the danger...and instead of being relieved, I feel anxious. Disappointed? Like, I don't want to miss out. Not that long ago, she'd have been grateful that someone else was stepping into the front lines. Her last thought before she slipped into unconsciousness was about how strange her life had become, and how much she had changed in such a short time.

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

ARC Review: Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong

Alone in the Wild
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Casey Duncan (Book 5)
Publication: Minotaur Books (February 4, 2020)

Description: In #1 New York Times bestseller Kelley Armstrong's latest thriller, the hidden town of Rockton is about to face a challenge none of them saw coming: a baby.

Every season in Rockton seems to bring a new challenge. At least that's what Detective Casey Duncan has felt since she decided to call this place home. Between all the secretive residents, the sometimes-hostile settlers outside, and the surrounding wilderness, there's always something to worry about.

While on a much needed camping vacation with her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, Casey hears a baby crying in the woods. The sound leads them to a tragic scene: a woman buried under the snow, murdered, a baby still alive in her arms.

A town that doesn’t let anyone in under the age of eighteen, Rockton must take care of its youngest resident yet while solving another murder and finding out where the baby came from - and whether she's better off where she is.

My Thoughts: Casey Duncan and her boyfriend Sheriff Eric Dalton are on a camping vacation when Casey hears a baby crying. This leads to a dead body of a woman who had apparently once been a hostile. She's cradling a tiny baby. Casey and Eric become busy, first, trying to take care of the baby when the youngest person in Rockton is eighteen, second, trying to find out who killed the woman who was sheltering the baby, and, third, trying to find the baby's parents and decide is she should be returned to them.

This whole baby issue brings up issues Casey and Eric both have been burying. Casey had never considered the possibility of having a child both because of her job and because of injuries she suffered when she was younger. Eric had also never thought of a child but he's as concerned with taking a child from parents because they can probably give it a better life. After all, the Dalton's did take him from his settler parents which has caused all sorts of conflicts in his life.

As Casey and Eric investigate the crime, we get a chance to see into two of the settler encampments and also see the traders who are still another group. Casey has long wanted to know more about the hostiles who threaten the town of Rockton and she also gains some information about them during this investigation.

The story was filled with action and well-developed characters. I love the setting of these stories since it is a landscape that is completely foreign to me and one I know I couldn't survive. I love that we are getting to know Casey and Eric better in each new entry in this series.

Favorite Quote:

"Pretty sure my baggage is as heavy as yours."

"Yeah, but what's in your baggage has been sorted and arranged, and you open it up for a look now and then. Mine's stuffed in a suitcase full to bursting, held by triple locks, and I don't even peek inside. You shouldn't feel like I'd go ballistic if you even jangle the lock. Especially when I'm throwing yours open, riffling through it, tossing shit everywhere so I can see what you've got in there."

I laugh softly. "That is an awesome analogy."

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

ARC Review: Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace by Patricia Marcantonio

Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace
Author: Patricia Marcantonio
Series: Felicity Carrol (Book 2)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (February 11, 2020)

Description:  Heiress and amateur detective Felicity Carrol makes a perilous journey to apprehend a notorious murderer who has terrorized England--and now continues his vicious killing spree across the pond.

Felicity Carrol would rather be doing just about anything other than attending balls or seeking a husband. What she really wants to do is continue her work using the latest forensic methods and her photographic memory to help London police bring murderers to justice, so when her friend, Scotland Yard Inspector Jackson Davies, weak from injury, discovers a murder in a wild mining town in Montana that echoes the terrible crimes in England, Felicity decides to go herself.

In Placer, Montana, her first obstacle is handsome lawman Thomas Pike, who uses his intuition as much as his Colt in keeping law and order in this unruly town. When the murderer strikes again, Felicity begins to suspect Davies is correct: Jack the Ripper has come to America. Felicity sets out to find the killer in a town chock full of secrets, shadows, and suspects, but as the body count rises, this intrepid sleuth faces her most dangerous adversary yet--and discovers that not all killers are as they seem.

My Thoughts: Felicity Carrol has been busy since her father died and she inherited his vast estate. She has plans to modernize, raise workers wages, and educate those who want an education. She hasn't seen her friend Inspector Jackson Davies for a while. When his mother asks her to visit, she is surprised to find him very ill. He made himself sick pursuing every possible lead in the Jack the Ripper case which terrified London until it abruptly ended.

Now Jackson has received a newspaper article from a small mining town in Montana which leads him to believe that Jack the Ripper has found a new home. Too ill to travel, Felicity volunteers to go to Placer, Montana to see if she can find the illusive Jack the Ripper.

In Montana she meets Sheriff Tom Pike who has his own ideas about the person who is murdering prostitutes in such a brutal way. However, after consulting with Scotland Yard, he is happy to have Felicity's assistance with her knowledge of medicine and forensics.

I thought the setting was very well done and the characters interesting in this historical mystery. Felicity might be a little bit too good to be realistic but her weakness (her prejudice against men she sees as images of her father) does help to humanize her.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this one.

Favorite Quote:

He gave a nod of agreement. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"You ever play with dolls when you were a little girl?"

"Yes, but I took them apart."

He laughed. "That figures."

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? (Feb. 3, 2020)

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.

Other Than Reading...

Another quiet week that was mostly gray and gloomy. I think I stayed home all but one day when my brother took my out to exercise. I've been reading, playing on the computer, and watching TV. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's Super Bowl because I want Kansas City to win. I also want to see the clever commercials.

I made spaghetti sauce for a spaghetti supper yesterday. There's enough sauce left that I'm planning on making a pan of lasagna tomorrow. Today is my brother's day to cook and he's trying out a new recipe for baked chicken strips to go along with baked potatoes and squash. We haven't been as good as we were at writing down our menus. I think we'll try harder in February. It was useful to be able to look back and be reminded of recipes and meals we wanted to have again and also those recipes that we definitely didn't want to try again.

I baked bread twice last week. I used a couple of slices of the Italian bread I made to make garlic toast to go along with our spaghetti last night. Since that almost finished the loaf, I baked a honey whole wheat last evening for today's sandwiches. Bill will also need a lunch one day this week to take with him to work. His other shifts are shorter and don't have lunch breaks. He will be working over the dinner hour three times this coming week which means I'm hoping for leftovers to carry me through. I don't like making a whole dinner if I'm the only one home to eat it.

January Reading

I read 21 books this month with a total of 7847 pages. These books included 7 rereads and 7 review books. All of them were ebooks.

I added 29 books to my book collection including 5 review books and two finished copies of books I either reviewed or read in a different format. Twenty-six of my new books are still unread but three are on my calendar to read in February.

I'm trying to add some of my own books to my reading plan since I have 97 books I received in 2019 still to read which is about 1/3 of all the books I added in 2019. Of course I still have books I added to my collection earlier including 76 from 2008 to read. I'm thinking that it would be a good idea to take at look at those and decide if I still want to read them or have already read them but not reviewed them. I'm sure some could go in the bags of books I have ready to donate.

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.)

• Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop (Mine) - 4th in the Others series.
• Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop (Mine) - 5th in the Others series 

• The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James (Review; Feb. 18) - I really enjoyed this mystery complete with ghosts and a dual timeline. My review will be posted on Feb. 11.
• Belladonna by Anne Bishop (Mine) - I enjoyed this second in her Ephemera fantasy series. It had a good romance and great world building. My review will be posted on Feb. 12.
• Bridge of Dreams by Anne Bishop (Mine) - Finishes the Ephemera trilogy with Lee's story. Also a great romance with terrific worldbuilding. My review will be posted on Feb. 13.

Currently

• An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green (Mine) - I'm at 23% and enjoying this story.

Next Week

• Pretty As A Picture by Elizabeth Little (Review; Feb. 25)
• Firewatching by Russ Thomas (Review; Feb. 25) 

• The Pillars of the World by Anne Bishop (Mine) - First in a new-to-me trilogy. I'm catching up on a favorite author's backlist.
• Still Life by Louse Penny (Mine) - I hope to finish this first in a series mystery that I set aside a couple of weeks ago.

Reviews Posted

• Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey
• An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham 

• Golden in Death by J. D. Robb
• A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

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

Bought:

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
• One Hex of a Wedding by Yasmine Galenorn
• A Drop of Magic by L. R. Braden 

• Cast in Wisdom by Michelle Sagara
• Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost 
• Sword Dance by Richelle Mead 

• Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead 
• Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead
• Storm Born by Richelle Mead

Review:

• The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan (May 5)
• A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair (June 9)
• Once You Go This Far by Kristen Lepionka (July 7)

What was your week like?

State of the Stack #92 (Feb. 2, 2020)

This is my monthly State of the Stack post. It is my way to keep track of my review books and to hopefully reduce the stack that I have waiting for me. I take a look at my review commitments on or near the first of the month. Link with Avalinah's Books (description below) to check out other people's progress.

Here is my Review Books Spreadsheet I list them in publication order and sort them by month. I can quickly see how many books I have for each date. Ideally, this keeps me from over-committing to review books. Check my spreadsheet to find out where I got each book.

I also do this post because sometimes (frequently) review books sit on my stack for a while before I read and review them. I try to read and review books within two weeks of publication date. Sometimes I can't, though, if too many books are releasing on the same date or if the book arrives too near its publication date and my calendar is already full.

I am very grateful to the authors and publishers who support my reading habit.

I Read This Month

These are listed in the order I read them. Links go to my reviews for all that have been posted already. Otherwise, the date the review is scheduled for is listed.

1. Cast in Wisdom by Michelle Sagara (Jan. 23)
2. An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham (Jan. 28)
3. Golden in Death by J. D. Robb (Feb. 1)
4. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (Jan. 29)
5. Felicity Carrol and the Murderous Menace by Patricia Marcantonio (Feb. 4)
6. Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong (Feb. 5)
7. Breaking Silence by Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin (Feb. 6)
8. The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James (Feb. 11)

Read Previously, Reviews Posted This Month

1. The Woman in the Veil by Laura Joh Rowland (Dec. 31)
2. The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz (Jan. 1)
3. There's a Murder Afoot by Vicki Delany (Jan. 2)
4. A Perfect Eye by Stephanie Kane (Jan. 4)
5. Spitfire by M. L. Huie (Jan. 7)
6. A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris (Jan. 8)
7. The Last Sister by Kendra Elliot (Jan. 11)

I Added These Books

These are listed in the order I received them. Links go to Amazon. Date published is listed in parentheses.

1. False Value by Ben Aaronovitch (Feb. 25)
2. The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson (August 4)
3. Once You Go This Far by Kristen Lepionka (July 7)
4. A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair (June 9)
5. The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan (May 5)

My Review Pile

February

• False Value by Ben Aaronovitch (Feb. 25)
• Pretty As a Picture by Elizabeth Little (Feb. 25)
• Firewatching by Russ Thomas (Feb. 25)

March

• A Death in Chelsea by Lynn Brittney (March 10)
• Revolver Road by Christi Daugherty (March 10) 
• A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn (March 10)

• Frozen Beauty by Lexa Hillyer (March 17)
• Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh (March 17)

April

• A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber (April 7)
• A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones (April 7)
• The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schellman (April 7) 

• Hid from Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming (April 7)
• The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer (April 7)
• Redemption Prep by Samuel Miller (April 14)

May

• The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan (May 5)
• A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton (May 12)
• Hideaway by Nora Roberts (May 26)

June

• A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair (June 9)
• The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor (June 23)
• The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton (June 30)

July

• Once You Go This Far by Kristen Lepionka (July 7)

August

• The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson (August 4)
• Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison (August 18)
• Shadows of the Dead by Spencer Kope (August 25)

Next Month's Plan

I think I like this plan of actually keeping the number of ARCs I read each month under 6. It works well with my slower reading pace because it gives me time to actually read some of the books I purchase. I also have time to do some rereading which I really enjoy.

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I am also linking up with the State of the ARC meme. Here is the explanation and rules.

State of the ARC is a monthly meme at Avalinah’s Books meant to motivate you to finish up all your long overdue ARCs (Advanced or Early Reader Copies). You can track your reading progress and link up with your own post. Most commonly it comes out on the 30th of every month.

Rules of State of the ARC:

• Mention that you’re linking up with State of the ARC @ AvalinahsBooks, which is a fun way to share our ARC progress, challenges, wins, woes and mishaps.
• Include the link to this post, or the current State of the ARC post. You can use my State of the ARC image too.
• Don’t forget to visit all the other people in the link-up and comment.
• And most importantly – have fun!

ARC Review: Golden in Death by J. D. Robb

Golden in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 50)
Publication: St. Martin's Press (February 4, 2020)

Description: In the latest thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, homicide detective Eve Dallas investigates a murder with a mysterious motive―and a terrifying weapon.

Pediatrician Kent Abner received the package on a beautiful April morning. Inside was a cheap trinket, a golden egg that could be opened into two halves. When he pried it apart, highly toxic airborne fumes entered his body―and killed him.

After Eve Dallas calls the hazmat team―and undergoes testing to reassure both her and her husband that she hasn’t been exposed―it’s time to look into Dr. Abner’s past and relationships. Not every victim Eve encounters is an angel, but it seems that Abner came pretty close―though he did ruffle some feathers over the years by taking stands for the weak and defenseless. While the lab tries to identify the deadly toxin, Eve hunts for the sender. But when someone else dies in the same grisly manner, it becomes clear that she’s dealing with either a madman―or someone who has a hidden and elusive connection to both victims.

My Thoughts: The 50th In Death mystery has Eve hunting for a killer who used a terrifying chemical weapon to kill a pediatrician. Dr. Kent Abner was a beloved doctor. He was also a beloved husband to Martin Rufty who is the Headmaster of an elite private school, two grown children and grandchildren too. No one can understand who would have done something so terrible to a man like Dr. Abner.

But then there is a second murder using the same chemical weapon. This time the victim is the wife of a Professor at Columbia. She works in her family bookstore but spends most of her time raising the couple's two teenage sons. Again, there doesn't seem to be any reason that she would have angered anyone enough to be the target of such a brutal attack.

Eve and her partner Peabody find a connection when they begin digging deeply to see what the two victims have in common. They discover that both of the husbands were or are associated with the same private school at a time when the school was going through turmoil - bullying, cheating, inflated grades for students who parents were substantial donors. Duran was a whistle blower and Rufty was brought in to right the ship.

The investigation digs deep into that time of turmoil to look for people who could be holding a grudge that only murder will satisfy. I enjoyed the police procedural aspects of this mystery. I also enjoy the relationship between Eve and Roarke who prove that even horrible childhoods can lead to successful adults and that the past doesn't determine future possibilities.

Favorite Quote:

It's never just the dead, Eve thought as they got back in the car. Death--but most especially murder--ripped so many lives to shreds. And no matter how they were put back together, they were never, never the same.

For some killers, she thought, that miserable truth was a kind of bonus point. 

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