Book Review - Murder by Ghostlight by J. C. Briggs

 

Murder by Ghostlight 

By: J. C. Briggs 

Publisher: Sapere Books

5 Stars

 

As a lover of mystery books about books and authors, this series immediately caught my attention, especially since it features Charles Dickens as the protagonist. In Murder by Ghostlight, the third installment in J.C. Briggs' series, Dickens teams up with his friend Superintendent Sam Jones to solve yet another intricate mystery. While the stories are fictional, Briggs does an excellent job of infusing Dickens’ character with traits and values true to the real-life Dickens. Known for his strong ideals about society and justice, these values are subtly woven into the fictional Dickens without feeling preachy—though perhaps Dickens himself wouldn’t have minded a bit of preaching!

 

In this particular novel, Dickens finds himself in Manchester, participating in a play. After an evening out with the theater company, he returns to the stage house alone, only to discover a murder. When the police arrive, Dickens becomes the prime suspect. This twist adds an intriguing layer to the story, as Dickens now experiences the fear and uncertainty of being on the other side of a murder investigation. It’s a humbling experience for a man already known for his deep empathy, giving him an even greater understanding of the plights of those he seeks to help.

 

The mystery itself is masterfully written, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The ending is far from predictable, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. I highly recommend this entire series, but Murder by Ghostlight stands out with its strong characters, thoughtful character development, compelling plot, and well-crafted mystery. A must-read for any mystery enthusiast!

 

Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an ARC of this book.

#NetGalley #MurderByGhostlight

Book Review - What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust

 

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust (11th Book in the Flavia de Luce Series)

Author:  Alan Bradley 

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine / Bantam 

Publication Date: September 03, 2024 

Rating: 5 Stars

 

Flavia is back! After "The Golden Tresses of the Dead," I thought we had seen the last of her. It's always hard to say goodbye to a beloved character, so this unexpected return is a delightful surprise. Flavia remains the central character, but her cousin Undine is increasingly becoming a significant part of the story. Undine, like Flavia, is a delightful character. Flavia sees them as complete opposites, while Undine aspires to be just like her cousin. In truth, both have a knack for getting into trouble, though their personalities differ.

 

This time, the beloved Mrs. Mullett is in trouble, accused of killing a former hangman. Flavia, along with her familiar friends and her young cousin Undine, sets out to prove Mrs. Mullett's innocence. Themes of innocence and duty, and what they entail, play a significant role in this book.

 

Though still a young lady, Flavia shows more maturity in this installment. This doesn't mean she is prim and proper, but she has gained wisdom beyond her years. For me, the most significant change is Flavia's realization of her mortality. Meanwhile, Undine's innocence and lack of understanding of life's finitude remind me of the younger Flavia. This newfound awareness influences Flavia's reactions, adding depth and realism to her character development.

 

The mystery itself is as compelling as ever. In some mystery novels, the solutions can feel either too convoluted or too predictable. Not so with this series. Clues are laid out methodically, building upon each other in a satisfying way.

 

I also appreciated how the author revisited old story threads, continuing them seamlessly. It's refreshing not to be left with loose ends.

 

I highly recommend this book! It's a mystery without gore or explicit violence, features excellent character development, and boasts a well-thought-out, well-written plot. Five stars from this reader.

 

Additionally, this book doesn't feel like the end of the series. I anticipate more fun and adventure ahead.

 

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #WhatTimeTheSextonsSpadeDothRust

 

 

Book Review - The Body in the Apartment

The Body in the Apartment (A Jazzi Zanders Mystery #4)

Author:  Judi Lynn

Publisher:  Kensington Books

Publication Date:  March 17, 2020

4 Stars

Jazzi and Ansel are happily married now, and still in the house flipping business with Jerod, Jazzi’s cousin.  Ansel’s brother, Radley, has been living with them since they got married, but now he is moving into his own apartment.  He is excited to be moving into the same apartment complex as his boss, Donovan.  When Ansel and Radley’s oldest brother, Bain, finds out that Radley is staying in River Bluffs, he is furious and drives over to Radley’s apartment with the goal of dragging him back home to the farm.  Donovan tried to step in to help defend Radley and his decision to stay, but he backs off when Bain becomes defensive.  Donovan leaves, but not long after that, the foursome hear a gunshot.  When they look out, they see Donovan covered in blood and stumbling to the ground outside his apartment.  Although they all rush to help Donovan and call 911, Donovan doesn’t make it.  Because of her close relationship with him, Jazzi calls Gaff in the hopes that he will help with the case.

In the confusion of everything, Bain disappears.  When Jazzi and Ansel go in search of him, they find him looking in his truck’s glove compartment in bewilderment.  It seems Bain had brought a gun with him, but now it is gone.  Gaff would come to learn that it was Bain’s gun that had been used to shoot Donovan.  Although not a likely suspect, he is the only suspect for the moment, and Gaff tells him not to leave town.  Once again, Gaff enlists Jazzi’s help to talk with the people involved in the case.  Jazzi has her hands full with the fixer-upper, the case, and the fact that Bain is living with her and Ansel until he is cleared as a suspect.  Jazzi is anxious to see this case solved to find justice for Donovan, provide closure for her friends, and to see Bain head back home.

This is the fourth Jazzi Zanders mystery and I’ve loved every single one.  Each book is filled to the brim with mystery, suspense, construction, good food, and great family.  All of which come together to create a winning combination.  This installment focuses on Ansel’s family and Jazzi and Ansel’s growing extended “family.”  Ansel is joined by both his brothers in this book.  Radley has been living with them until he can get on his own two feet, and Jazzi loves him.  When Bain is forced to stay with them, Jazzi is miserable.  She hates Bain’s bad attitude, and how he treats Ansel, Radley, and their mother.  We learn in this story though that an unlikable character can have redeeming qualities.  During his involuntary stay in River Bluffs, Bain decides to help with work on the fixer-upper, and in the process he learns a lot more than just about construction.

The murder in this story is more elaborate and has a lot more players than in the other books.  The reader must carefully follow the clues and twists and turns to successfully find their way to the solution.  The mystery is clever, suspenseful, and never loses a step.  The characters are great, and you can’t help but wish you were one of the crew.  You won’t want to put this book down until you reach the end.

I’m excited there will be a fifth book in the series, The Body from the Past.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley   #TheBodyInTheApartment

Book Review - Murder Makes Scents

Murder Makes Scents

Author:  Christin Brecher

Publisher:  Kensington Books

Publication Date:  February 25, 2020

4 stars

Stella Wright, owner of the Wick & Flame, and her mom, Millie, go on a trip together to Paris.  They are going to a perfume conference, but even more special to Stella is the time with her mom.  Things go horribly wrong though when a man is stabbed to death right in front of them.  With the conference ruined, Stella and her mother head back to Nantucket.  Stella is glad to be back, but she just can’t shake the murder from her mind.  Stella becomes alarmed after she believes someone was in her store, and she sees a mysterious figure outside her shop at night.  She becomes terrified when she receives a note demanding that she hand over a formula her mother has supposedly smuggled out of Paris, or Millie would end up dead.  Stella is unsure what the note is referring to, but she isn’t going to take it laying down.  Before Stella even realizes what is happening, she finds herself involved in an international mystery.  Stella comes up with many suspects, but which of them makes the most scents.

Murder Makes Sense is a great follow up to Murder’s No Votive of Confidence, and I think I enjoyed this one even more.  The action in this book is amazing and fast paced (even if a few places seem a little unbelievable).  I was solidly hooked from beginning to end, and the tension grew steadily as the novel progressed.  It’s a race against time for Stella, and the stakes are high.

The characters in this story are very eclectic.  We have our heroine and her fun loving mother, Millie.  They are joined by:  former classmates of Millie’s; a couple from Canada; Olive, the check out lady from the conference who follows Stella and Millie to Nantucket; a secretive American spy; and a mysterious man with evil eyes, and from this group Stella believes is the proverbial bad guy.  You grow to like almost all of them, making it hard to guess whodunit.

This is a roller coaster of a tale that I believe cozy mystery readers will love.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book.     #NetGalley   #MurderMakesScents

Book Review - The Corpse Played Dead

The Corpse Played Dead (Lizzie Hardwicke #2)

Author: Georgina Clarke

Publisher:  Canelo 

Publication Date:  August 19, 2019

4 Stars

Lizzie Hardwicke is a prostitute at a high end brothel.  In exchange for some extra money, she has agreed to work on occasion for Mr. Fielding, the chief of the Bow Street Runners.  He had found her useful on a recent case, and thought she might also be helpful in the future.  Her main contact is inspector Davenport.  Davenport is impressed with Lizzie’s attention to detail and her logical thinking.  He calls her in to help with a case at the theater on Drury Lane.  Many unexplained accidents have happened there, and he inserts Lizzie as a seamstress so she can find out the truth.  Lizzie is in for much more than she bargained for though when the next “accident” involved the brutal death of Lord Hawbridge.  

Lizzie is an engaging heroine.  Her duel backgrounds provide some unique characteristics.  Her upper class upbringing brings book smarts and logic to the table.  Her second life, after her father banished her, brings her street smarts and most likely the attention to detail she processes.  As much as Lizzie is a likable character, Lord Hawbridge is as equally a repulsive character.  It was hard to feel sorry that he was killed.  He was a truly disdainful character.  The man had a terrible temper that flared anytime he did not get his way.  Lizzie, however, is still determined to figure out who killed him.  It speaks a lot about her admirable qualities.  The author did a great job on further developing both Lizzie and Davenport’s characters and creating some new and interesting players.

Georgina Clarke has written a great follow up to Death and the Harlot.  I thought I would have trouble with Lucy’s career, but it brings a unique multifaceted platform to the plot.  The mystery is great and Lizzie does a great job of digging to get to the truth.  Her actions seem believable and help the reader navigate to the truth.  The story kept me guessing all the way until the end when Lizzie puts all the clues together.  

The setting is fascinating, and the author does a tremendous job bringing the reader back in time.

I’m looking forward to the third book in the series which, I believe, the author mentioned will feature the other girls of the house more prominently again.

Thanks to Net Galley And Canelo for an ARC of this book.   #NetGalley    #TheCorpsePlayedDead

Book Review - A Crafter Knits a Clue

A Crafter Knits a Clue (A Handcrafted Mystery #1)

Author:  Holly Quinn

Publisher:  Crooked Lane Books

Publication Date:  October 9, 2018
3 Stars

After returning home for her best friend’s funeral, Sammy Kane decides to stay in her hometown, Heartsford, Wisconsin.  She stays to operate Kate’s craft store so it doesn’t have to close.  Kate’s brother Conner work with Sammy at the craft store.  One day, the owner of the Yarn Barn, Ingrid Wilson, calls and asks for Conner to come over to help her with something.  This is not the first time she has called for Conner’s help, and Sammy is a little fed up with it.  She tells Conner to stay at the store, and she decides to go over instead.  What she finds shocks her!  Ingrid is lying on the ground with a knitting needle sticking out of her throat.  Sammy’s curious nature motivates her to insert herself in the case, much to the chagrin of detective Liam Nash.  The killer, however, wants her to keep her nose out of it.  Will Sammy heed the warnings and everyone’s advice to stay out of it before it is too late?

I appreciated the relationships established in this book.  The friendship between Heidi, Ellie, and Sammy seems strong and genuine.  While Heidi and Ellie try to talk Sammy out of her snooping, they eventually help her out because of their strong bond.  I also found Sammy’s relationship with Conner very sweet.  She has taken Conner under her wing, and he very much becomes like a little brother to her.  Then, what’s a cozy mystery without a little romance brewing?  You can definitely feel there is some attraction between detective Liam Nash and Sammy.  The case undeniably causes friction between the two of them though and keeps them at odds.

What I didn’t appreciate about Sammy’s character was that she seemed to think of the mystery like a game.  It felt like she sometimes was still playing S.H.E., a detective agency that Sammy, Heidi, and Ellie had created as children.  She seems to blindly ignore the dangers and carries on worry free.  While she is sure to get involved in future mysteries, I hope her character matures a little.

The mystery was really good, and unraveled at a good pace.  Even though Irene is dead through the whole book, her character brings depth to the mystery.  It seems like at every turn another secret is revealed about Irene.  I really enjoy a mystery that is not just cut and dry with the motive relatively obvious from the beginning.

I think the attributes of this book, make it well worth reading the second book in the series.  I hope the next mystery is just as unique.

For all the crafters out there, there are suggestions at the end of the book for the best type of yarn to use for different projects.  There are also instructions for two sock patterns.

Book Review - The Last Passenger

The Last Passenger (Charles Lenox Mysteries 0.3)

Author:  Charles Finch

Publisher:  St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date:  February 18, 2020

Late one night, in early October 1855, the last passenger on the 449 to Paddington would not be leaving on his own accord.  After everyone had left, the conductor found this man in the third class carriage stabbed to death.  Perhaps more mysterious than his death, was the condition in which they found him.  His pockets were empty, the labels were cut out of every piece of his clothing, and his socks, boots, hat, and watch are all missing.  It appeared that someone had gone to a great deal of trouble to try to hide the identity of the man.  Lenox feels deeply compelled to not only find the murderer, but also to discover who the man was, and why he was killed.

In addition to trying to solve a perplexing case, Lenox must also juggle the devoirs of his personal life.

Charles Finch has done it again!  He has written another sensational book in the Charles Lenox mystery series.  This book is the third and last prequel to the series.  As always, the writing was magnificent.  The plot was intriguing, unique and full of surprises.  Just when you think the case is about wrapped up, the story takes a clever twist.

Favorite characters such as Graham and Lady Jane, and Lady Jane’s husband Deere, feature prominently in this story.  One of Charles’s closest friends in later books, Dr. Thomas McConnell makes a brief appearance in this prequel.  It’s been really enjoyable learning about Charles’s background and what makes him the detective he is in later books.  It’s been equally as enjoyable learning about the background of his friends as well.  In this installment, Lady Jane and Charles’s mother are trying to marry him off.  Both women would like to see him fall in love and settle down before he becomes lonely.  Charles does not believe that he is lonely, but as the story progresses, he begins to wonder if something (someone?) is missing from his life.

Fans of historical mysteries will adore The Last Passenger.  One of the themes in this book is slavery.  We get a good peek at the differences in the state of slavery in the US and England.  We also see the similarities and differences in status and opinions of the white population in both the US and England of the African race.  Then of course another prominent issue at this time was class disparities in England.  Charles really struggles with this problem, and the role he should play.

I have loved every Charles Lenox book I have read, and this one is no exception.  It was a hard book to put down.  Everything works well in this book, and it ties in nicely to the original series.  

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book.   #NetGalley   #TheLastPassenger