Mysteries and My Musings: Thriller suspense reviews

Showing posts with label Thriller suspense reviews. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Mystery & Crime Fiction Blog Carnival - October 2015

It is the first Monday of the month and time for another highly anticipated Blog Carnival. If you know of a blog that reviews mystery/suspense/thrillers (even occasionally) then I would like to feature those reviews. Multiple entries from a blog are welcome, so spread the word.

Now on to this month's blog carnival. Click on the title or author's name to go to that link.

Police Procedural / PI Book Review / Legal

Booking Mama reviewed All Day and a Night by Alafair Burke

Girl Lost in a Book reviewed No Comfort for the Lost By Nancy Herriman

Amateur Sleuth / Cozy book Review

Carstairs Considers reviewed Cinderella Six Feet Under by Maia Chance

Lisa K's Book Reviews reviewed Gone But Knot Forgotten by Mary Marks

Dru's Book Musing reviewed Second To Nun by Alice Loweecey

Carstairs Considers reviewed Trick or Deceit by Shelley Freydont

Debbie's Book Bag reviewed The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O'Clock Lady by Susan Wittig Albert

Girl Lost in a Book reviewed Lethal Letters by Ellery Adams

Lisa K's Book Reviews reviewed Basket Case by Nancy Haddock

Debbie's Book Bag reviewed The Man Who Fell From the Sky by Margaret Coel.

Shelly's Bookcase reviewed Bless Her Dead Little Heart by Miranda James

Dru's Book Musings reviewed Say Yes To The Death by Susan McBride

Debbie's Book Bag reviewed Black Cat Crossing by Kay Finch

Thriller/Suspense /Intrigue Fiction Book Review

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed The Heist by Daniel Silva

Curling Up by the Fire reviewed The Fixer by Joseph Finder

Booking Mama reviewed Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Escape with Dollycas reviewed The Brooklyn Drop by Susan Russo Anderson

Author Interview

Shelley's Book Case features a guest post by author nancy Silverman

Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book featured a guest post from Kathy Aarons

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"THANK YOU"

to all the wonderful bloggers who contributed to the carnival. Keep them coming and let's keep this carnival going.

Let's make next month's Carnival even better. For more information on the specifics of the Carnival and how to submit your posts go here.

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Thursday, September 17, 2015

Review - The Heist

I have reviewed a few previous books in the series,The English Girl (click here) and also The Fallen Angel (click here). I also did a special Soundtrack Saturday for the book (click here).

Lead character Gabriel Allon has been praised as having joined the pantheon of great fictional secret agents, including George Smiley (le Carré), Jack Ryan (Clancy), Jason Bourne (Ludlum), and Simon Templar (Charteris). Since I am a fan of all these superstars of the espionage genre (I read the Simon Templar books long before Val Kilmer starred in the movie!) I think Gabriel Allon reightly deserves the kudos.

Now, let's take a peak at the newest in paperback from Daniel Silva with the superstar spy, Gabriel Allon.

Author: Daniel Silva

Copyright: February 2015 (Harper) 512 pgs

Series: 14th in Gabriel Allon Spy series

Sensuality: some violence referenced, occasional cursing

Mystery Sub-genre: Thriller

Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, art restorer, assassin, and Israeli spy legend

Setting: Modern day: Corsica, Germany, London, Geneva

Obtained Through: Personal purchase

We join Gabriel in Venice restoring/repairing an altarpiece in a church when he is visited be the Italian police. His art dealer friend, Julian Isherwood, who has assisted Gabriel on several espionage operations, bumbled onto a murder scene and is a suspect. The Italian policeman sees this as leverage to secure Gabriel's legendary talents to recover a famous Caravaggio painting stolen in 1969 since the murdered man, Jack Bradshaw, had ties to the black market world of trafficking stolen masterpieces and was rumored to have sold the infamous Caravaggio. Gabriel devises a sting operation that requires stealing a famous painting to lure the Caravaggio's owner out. But in following the trail of who murdered Bradshaw, he discovers that not only was Bradshaw a fallen spy trafficking stolen artwork but he had discovered one of the world’s most brutal dictators' private banker hiding billions in assets on behalf of the vicious ruler.

Ultimately the Heist Gabriel orchestrates will blow up into a full operation to strip a dictator of his ill-gotten fortune to prevent untold further violence being funded with the money. It is a dangerous gambit that pulls even the current Israeli Secret Service Director's wife into the operation. Subplots revolve around 1) Gabriel and Chiara expecting twins and 2) Gabriel shortly becoming the next head of Israeli Intelligence and the internal politics / hurt egos that has created.

This fact was presented in the book and I wanted to share it with you because it is under reported, but true.
"Each year thousands of paintings and other objets d'art went missing from museums, galleries, public institutions, and private homes. Estimates of their value ranged as high as $6 billion, making art crime the fourth most lucrative illicit activity in the world, behind only drug trafficking, money laundering, and arms dealing."

Gabriel (who I think of as the assassin with an artist's soul) is facing being a father again and finally resolving his emotions over the bomb that killed his son and left his first wife Leah in a mental hospital. He isn't happy about his upcoming job promotion, as he would rather retire from the "Office" and devote himself to art. Chiara, the refreshing second wife, only has a few scenes because she is focusing on a safe pregnancy and helping Gabriel emotionally. I love her character and she deserves the rest :-) Ari Shamron, the first Israeli Intelligence Director, who also recruited and shaped Gabriel, has a few cameo appearances, bringing to the forefront how he views Gabriel as the son he never had. This may be the last book he is alive in. Uzi Navot, the outgoing Israeli Intelligence Director that Gabriel will be replacing in about a year, steps from behind the desk and becomes more involved with this epic operation.

Eli Lavon and the old team (Bella Navot, Mikhail Abramov, Dina Sarid, Rimona Stern, Yossi Gavish, Yaakov Rossman, Mordecai, and Oded) are reunited. Dina stands out in this story as she takes the lead to recruit a key person in the field. Christopher Keller, former British Special Air Service agent who is now an assassin for a Corsican mobster joins forces with Gabriel again. He gains a touch of humanity the more Gabriel works with him. Viktor Orlov, a prior Russian Oligarch from past books (The Defector, and The English Girl) is even enlisted for the elaborate operation. His character is just slightly over-the-top but adds a great touch. Jihan Nawaz, the account manager at the dictator's private bank, is recruited by Dina. Jihan is a haunting character deftly crafted that sticks in the mind. Gabriel risks much to keep her alive as she caries out dangerous intelligence gathering.

The setting is in several international locations throughout the book, but the opening scenes at Lake Como of Jack Bradford's estate and scene of his torture and murder to the town of Linz Austria and the lakeside Villa on Attersee, and all points between are woven into the story completely. The descriptions effective evoke each place and become inseparable from the plot.

The plot grabbed my interest and seemed plausible, perhaps a bit too believable if possible. There are essentially two plots that are tied together: the art heist to get the long lost Caravaggio painting that leads to the elaborate operation to strip an extremely brutal dictator's safely guarded fortune that is hidden to protect against retaliation from his own nation or the world community. I know that many think of a thriller as non-stop action, and some are like that. Silva's thrillers aren't just action, they contain insightful characters and moving scenes as well, providing a full package deal. Thus the pacing balances the tense clandestine scenes with more introspective moments that work well and are Mr. Silva's signature style.

The climax was perhaps the only story element that I wasn't completely happy about. Although it did accomplish showing the man Gabriel is and the kind of Israeli Intelligence Director he will be, and it was likely more true-to-life than most endings, I still wanted the more expected resolution. It was tense and nail biting, just not the end I was routing for. I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so that is vague by necessity. The wrap-up delivered a quite touching scene that I wasn't expecting. Another hallmark of Silva's work, delivering understated but emotionally powerful moments.

Mr. Silva has honed his craft and this work contains a few layers to the plot and more so to the characters. Perhaps without the intention, he has set the bar for a tightly woven espionage plot balanced with nuanced characters and thought-provoking themes. Kudos and hats off.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it, it had a good grip on me! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Here is a short interview with the author discussing the book https://www.youtube.com/embed/HWeOedJhbRw

Here is a short piece on Caravaggio as the painter. The first couple of minutes are the crux of who he was (the scandalous painter.) https://www.youtube.com/embed/6d8-fXWoL7k

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Thursday, April 23, 2015

Review - The Archangel Project

James Rollins called Graham’s debut thriller, The Archangel Project, “As current as today’s headlines and as disturbing as your darkest nightmare….Riveting, provocative, and enthralling.” But what really had me buy this book was I found out C.S. Harris had written a few thriller books, so I was all over it.

C.S. Graham is the pseudonym of writing team Steven Harris and Candice Proctor. Steven Harris spent twenty-one years as an Army Intelligence officer. He also spent ten years in Washington, D.C., working at the national intelligence level. Candice Proctor is the author of more than a dozen previous novels, including the critically acclaimed Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series published under the name C.S. Harris.

See what you think.

Author: C.S. Graham

Copyright: September 2008 (Harper) 384 pgs

Series: 1st in Jax and Tobie Thriller series

Sensuality: Some action-thriller violence and occasion swearing

Mystery Sub-genre: Thriller

Main Characters: CIA agent Jax Alexander and
remote viewer October (Tobie) Guinness

Setting: Modern day, New Orleans-post Katrina and D.C.

Obtained Through: Personal purchase

Tulane professor Henry Youngblood seeks funding for his remote viewing research project with test subjects from the wrong person. When he has October (Tobie) Guinness do an example of her remote viewing abilities, she sees documents that have just put the professor and herself in mortal danger. Professor Youngblood is burned in a fire and Tobie is running for her life. The CIA Director assigns Jax Alexander to investigate the professor's death, intending the assignment to be a punishment. Jax looks past the local police's assumption that Tobie killed the professor because she was discharged from the military due to PTSD. Rather, he realizes she is the key to what happened to the professor, but finding her while murderers are on her trail is a challenge. When they partner and recall the information from her remote viewing session, it takes them on a whirlwind race to stop a devastating large scale domestic terrorist attack.

October (Tobie) Guinness is former military suffering from PTSD who got introduced to the remote viewing program and finds she is a natural. She is smart, stronger than she thinks, and distrustful. Agent Jax Alexander comes from money, so he isn't impressed by titles or concerned about his career. This makes him look at his job differently and that shows in this investigation. Tobie has some friends who try to help her out. Two in particular stand out, Gunner who is a conspiracy guy and Colonel McClintock. Character development grew as the story progressed but took a backseat to the fast tempo of a thriller. If I could have asked for anything, it would have been just a bit more character development, but this is a common challenge in thrillers.

The setting is a battered and recovering New Orleans which evoked the aftermath of Katrina well. One scene occurs in a deserted part of town and gives the sense of a suburban ghost town. That left an impression.

The plot was interesting and Tobie barely eluding the relentless mercenaries sent after her kept the pace going. The climax definitely had some good tense moments, but it was resolved a touch too quickly. The wrap up lays the foundation for more books (which there have been two more with Tobie and Jax).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I liked the concept, the overall plot, the remote viewing aspects, and the characters mentioned. I have already purchased the next in the series, The Solomon Effect.

Rating: Near Perfect - Couldn't Put it down. Buy two copies, one for you and one for a friend.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Review - Angel Killer

I did an author spotlight a few days ago for this blog tour and book (click here.) Here is my overdue review, plus I will have another review on Thursday as I catch-up on my reading schedule. This is the first book in a new thriller series featuring a talented magician turned FBI agent. Think the Mentalist with a touch of Criminal Minds mixed with The Magician TV series starring Bill Bixby from the 70s...but how does that mixture work? I'll tell you.

Author: Andrew Mayne

Copyright: September 2014 (Berkley) 368 pgs

Series: 1st in Jessica Blackwood Thriller series

Sensuality: Serial Killer deaths

Mystery Sub-genre: Thriller / Suspense / Police Procedural

Main Characters: Jessica Blackwood, FBI agent and former Magician star

Setting: Modern day, sites across the United States

Obtained Through: TLC Blog Tours

The FBI computers have been redirected to a site with a series of numbers and the name "Warlock". The techy people figure out it is encoded GPS coordinates leading to a body. Dr. Jeffrey Ailes recruits Jessica suddenly for her unique magician skills from her past and effectively pushes her upon the lead agent on the case. This isn't any typical murder.

Chloe McDonald was buried two years ago, but thanks to the coordinates, they find Chloe only a few hours dead appearing to have been brought back to life and climbing out of her grave only to die again. Jessica and the D.C. team race to the Michigan site and only Jessica has the background to really understand the level of slight-of-hand involved. It quickly becomes clear that more will die in the Warlock's staged illusions that quickly has the public believing he is really supernatural. Besides solving the murders and unveiling who this murderer is, she must debunk his staged kills to dispel his growing following.

Jessica is a child magician prodigy from a magic royalty family that is beyond dysfunctional. She makes a complex and layered main character to sustain the action. I am an instant fan of her! Damian is Jessica's self-appointed guardian angel, former lover, and a psychopath who is a little too convenient to save her from danger of all kinds or clear road blocks for her investigation. He knows too much about the Warlock, his methods, even Jessica's movements, and is the only glaring weak link in the plot. Conversely, he is the ultimate anti-hero on many levels and this character, if not careful, can easily become the "Dexter-esque" star of the novels rather than Jessica. I do like that even in her relationship with Damian everything is as complicated as her family ties, nothing is easy for her.

Dr. Jeffrey Ailes is the mathematician genius who takes Jessica from financial crimes in the FBI to this high profile case. I love this character and want more of him. The Warlock is an enigma, is he just a serial killer with delusions of grandeur or a deadly genius with a god-complex? You will have to read it to decide for yourself. This novel presents a villain who is scary and yet exposes the sad condition of the media and gullibility of the masses. The breakout unexpected star that I hope to have more page-time in the next books is red-headed FBI Field Forensic Technician Danielle (no last name I could find). She is smart, observant, not easily threatened by Jessica, and has such a presence she leaps off the pages in the few scenes where she appears.

The settings are critical to the staged deaths and are vivid, whether rural or the middle of Times Square in New York. The concept of a gifted magician turned FBI agent is one of those where execution is the key. It could turn out gimmicky and a worn-out trope or brilliant, either way. In this case, it breathes and takes on a life of its own. The pace is standard for a thriller...breakneck. Yet we get a layered main character and just enough explanation of magic theory and delivery to understand the complexities without slowing the story. The climax is tense with plenty of nail-biting action and I ate it up.

This debut of a new thriller series delivers a fresh take on this premise, taught suspense, an intense main character, and a rush of a story. Pure entertainment that swept this reader off her feet. When is the next book? **Gush, gush.**

Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

Here is a short video of Andrew in action.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Mystery & Crime Fiction Blog Carnival - September 2014

It is the first Monday of the month and time for another highly anticipated Blog Carnival.

Please help the newsletter for the blog carnival to get more subscribers. If a blog reviews mystery/suspense/thrillers (even occasionally) then I would like to feature those reviews. I send the newsletter out once a month announcing the deadline for submitting to this blog carnival. Multiple entries from a blog are welcome.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Review - The Target

My introduction to this series was with book two, The Hit (click here) and I was very happy that the series continues. This book delves into North Korea and its prison camps as well as the volatile political atmosphere which provide plenty of fuel for the story.

Author: David Baldacci

Copyright: April 2014 (Grand Central Publishing) 432 pgs

Series: 3rd in Will Robbie - Assassin Thriller series

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Thriller

Main Characters: Wiliam Robie and Jessica Reel, U.S. sanctioned elite assassins

Setting: Modern day, Washington DC and North Korea

Obtained Through: Personal purchase

This book had a lot going on. The main plot line involves North Korea and a possible opportunity to stop a cruel dictator...but if the plan goes wrong there could be many repercussions. Agent Jessica Reel has made an enemy in Evan Tucker, the head of the CIA. Jessica had stopped his close friends, who were ultimately traitors, by killing them. Tucker is out for revenge against Reel, so under the guise of preparing her and agent Robie for the North Korean mission he puts them into the burner box (extreme training environment) with the intent they never leave alive. If they live they are on this sketchy mission that may kill them and potentially start world war III, or see the president impeached. Additionally, Reel's father, a neo-nazi on death row, is plotting to find her and have her killed. To add yet more danger to the mix, a North Korean assassin woman, Chung Cha, is on Robie and Reel's trail. She may be deadlier than both of them combined.

This book was more about Reel than the last one. She has to face a demon from her past, her father. Robie takes more of a support role for Reel. Chung - Cha (Comrade Yie) is a break-out character with complexity and depths that slowly come to the surface. She was raised as a child in Yodok, a prison work camp where families turn on each other to survive. Evan Tucker, director of CIA has made it his mission to make Reel pay for taking his friends down...but how far will he go is the question. Earl Fontaine, Reel's father, demonstrates the depths of depravity that some sink to as he manipulates and sets his own daughter up.

The Burner Box training facility is effectively portrayed as an ultimate training exercise, and potentially deadly. N.Korean prison camps of Yodok and Bukchang are so well detailed that you feel the oppression and despair. The plot is of an elaborate design which I enjoyed, but some might find the story beyond just suspension of disbelief status. The pacing, for me, was a good mix of action and character development. The climax was a rush and had a stunning twist. The wrap-up sealed the deal and has me waiting for the next Robie and Reel adventure.

For me, this was another great thriller from Baldacci and character insights resonated with me.

Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

Here is an interview with Mr. Baldacci about this book.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Review - ZOO

The hype for this week's book proclaims: "Once in a lifetime, a writer puts it all together. This is James Patterson's best book ever" and "ZOO is the thriller he was born to write." The book even has a graphic novel edition. Find out if I felt it was his best, his pinnacle achievement.

Author: James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Copyright: May 2013 (Grand Central Publishing) 416 pgs

Series: Standalone

Sensuality: Graphic violence

Mystery Sub-genre: Thriller

Main Characters: Jackson Oz, a young biologist

Setting: Modern day, New York/Washington D.C. primarily

Obtained Through: Library

Jackson Oz was in college pursuing a Biology doctoral degree when he developed his hypothesis that something was going wrong with the entire animal kingdom. He became obsessed with his hypothesis and ended up dropping out of college with only a few classes needed to complete his degree. Thus, he has no degree and the scientific community considers Oz loony and his theory as wild conjecture. Oz has refined his theory, now called HAC: Human-Animal Conflict--animal behavior is changing, displaying hyperaggresive behavior towards humans. Now animal agression has begun to pop up globally and garnering some splashy headlines. Oz is contacted by a friend in Botswana Africa with a tip that there is proof of his theory there in Africa when an entire village is anihalated by lions. Oz, unemployed, immediately flies to Africa.

He gets his proof in a close encounter with a large lion pride made up of all males working as a team to kill humans. During Oz's struggle to get away alive with video, he meets Chloe who barely survived a lion attack of a team of scientists. Naturally Chloe, from France, follows Oz to the U.S. and becomes his girlfriend, but not before finding his chimp has killed somebody in his apartment (the worn out woman-in-a-refrigerator trope used here.) Then there is a five year jump, Oz and several other scientists are working on the HAC crisis which sees world economies crashing from the fallout. Can Oz and the other scientists find out what is causing global animal murder of humans while there are some shreds of civilization remaining?

Jackson Oz lives with a chimpanzee when he is the voice of Human-Animal Conflict theory. He wants to be taken seriously as a legitimate scientist and help figure out what is happening, but he comes across as whinny and short sighted (living with a chimp). Chloe Tousignant, a French Ecologist, is a cardboard character existing mostly for Oz's benefit and only gets a smattering of speaking lines sprinkled throughout the book. She is initially the Damsel in Distress cliché and never really progresses past that. This was a waste of a character, she could have been a layered interesting part of the plot, but no. Attila is Oz's chimpanzee that murders and runs rampant to kill again with a chilling intelligence. President Marlena Hardinson was an opportunity to have a strong female character, but here again the female character fell notably short. President Hardinson is so swept away with grief from her daughter's death at the hands of the family dog that she essentially succumbs to her male advisers telling her how to handle the crisis. Her character is practically non-existent, mowed over, and pathetic. There are many other characters, but in general they all were rather stiff.

The setting jumps around to various locals to give examples of animal violence against humans around the planet. The many settings are portrayed well enough. The plot had potential but never seemed to engage me. I believe that was due largely to the writing style that was elementary, lacking in emotion, stiff, and impersonal with an excess of "telling" rather than "showing." Yes, I really had problems with this novel. Even the cause of the HAC phenomenon has some logic holes. The climax was subtle, so subtle I went back to find it. The wrap-up is a warning to our culture that our immediate gratification mentality and inability to sacrifice for our own survival will be our downfall - a good or even great theme if it had been executed better.

I have read early Patterson books such as "When the Wind Blows" and "Lake House" that I enjoyed. When I read the claims that this was Patterson's best book ever, the one he was born to write, I gave it a try. I was sorely disappointed in this book. Really. If the writing style had used more showing than telling the characters might have blossomed, and if female clichés hadn't been used for every female character of note, it might have reached okay or medium well status.

Rating: Poor - I had to force myself to finish it. Fatally flawed on multiple levels.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Mystery & Crime Fiction Blog Carnival - February 2014

Police Procedural / PI Book Review / Legal

Carstairs Considers reviewed Mr. Monk Gets on Board by Hy Conrad

The Crime Scene reviewed The Golden Scales by Parker Bilal

Booking Mama reviewed Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Amateur Sleuth / Cozy book Review

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed Stone Cold Dead by Catherine Dilts

Carstairs Considers reviewed You Cannoli Die Once by Shelley Costa

Debbie's Book Bag reviewed Merry Market Murder by Paige Shelton

A Date with a Book reviewed Murder Strikes A Pose by Tracy Weber

Carstairs Considers reviewed Murder with Ganache by Lucy Burdette

Debbie's Book Bag reviewed Paws for Murder by Annie Knox

A Date with a Book reviewed Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks

Carstairs Considers reviewed Cloche and Dagger by Jenn McKinlay

Debbie's Book Bag reviewed Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston

A Date with a Book reviewed Stone Cold Dead by Catherine Dilts

Carstairs Considers reviewed NYPD Puzzle by Parnell Hall

A Date with a Book reviewed Down Dog Diary by Sherry Roberts

Carstairs Considers reviewed Lost and Fondue by Avery Aames

Thriller/Suspense Fiction Book Review

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed The King's Deception by Steve Berry

A Date with a Book reviewed The Tenth Circle by Jon Land

Tea Time with Marce reviewed The Last Dead Girl by Harry Dolan

Tea Time with Marce reviewed My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier

Author Interview

Mysteries and My Musings interviewed Catherine Dilts

The Crime Scene interviewed Adrian Magson

A Date with a Book interviewed Jon Land

Debbie's Book Bag interviewed M.L. Rowland

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A huge "Thank You" to all the wonderful bloggers out there who contributed to the carnival. Keep them coming.

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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Mystery & Crime Fiction Blog Carnival - January 2014

It is the first Monday of the month...or a smidgen late - time for another highly anticipated Blog Carnival.

Please help the newsletter for the blog carnival to get more subscribers. If a blog reviews mystery/suspense/thrillers (even occasionally) then I would like to feature those reviews. I send the newsletter out once a month announcing the deadline for submitting to this blog carnival. Multiple entries from a blog are welcome.

Subscribe to our carnival reminder mailing list

Back to Books reviewed Police (Harry Hole # 10) by Jo Nesbo

Buried Under Books reviewed Not Dead Yet by Peter James

Tea Time with Marce reviewed Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

Back to Books reviewed The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom

Booking Mama reviewed One We Were Brothers by by Ronald H. Balson and shares "This novel had a little bit of everything -- elements of a love story, a courtroom thriller and a mystery.

Amateur Sleuth / Cozy book Review

A Date with a Book reviewed One Dog Too Many by Lia Farrell

Carstairs Considers reviewed Secondhand Stiff (Odelia Grey #8) by Sue Ann Jaffarian and shared "When Odelia accompanies her husband's cousin to a storage auction, the last thing they expect is a dead body in one of the units."

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed Charms and Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates

A Date with a Book reviewed Freezer I'll Shoot by Victoria Hamilton

Debbie's Book Bag reviewed The Sayers Swindle (Book Collector Mystery - Book 2) by Victoria Abbott

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed The Pumpkin Muffin Murder by Livia Washburn

Carstairs Considers reviewed Brush with Death (Gray Whale Inn Mysteries #5) by Karen MacInerney

A Date with a Book reviewed Murder She Barked by Krista Davis

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed A Cookbook Conspiracy by Kate Carlisle

Back to Books reviewed Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock and shares "An intense YA mystery"

Carstairs Considers reviewed End Me a Tenor (Glee Club Mysteries #2) by Joelle Charbonneau

A Date with a Book reviewed A Basket of Trouble by Beth Groundwater

Buried Under Books reviewed A Secondhand Murder by Lesley A. Diehl

Carstairs Considers reviewed Duck the Halls (Meg Langslow #16) by Donna Andrews

A Date with a Book reviewed A Fine Fix by Gale Deitch

Booking Mama reviewed The Round House by Louise Erdrich and shares "The book is just a treat to read, but it also provides lots of content for further discussion."

A Date with a Book reviewed Murder of a Barbie and Ken by Denise Swanson

Carstairs Considers reviewed Stone Cold Dead by Catherine Dilts and shares "Morgan Iverson is struggling with taking over her family's rock shop, but that nothing when she finds a body on a trails behind the store. Only when she comes back with help, the body is gone."

A Date with a Book reviewed Murder on the Orient Espresso by Sandra Balzo

Thriller/Suspense Fiction Book Review

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed The Vanishing Thief by Kate Parker

Back to Books reviewed The Cleaner by Paul Cleave

Buried Under Books reviewed The Trial of Fallen Angels by James Kimmel, Jr.

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed Cry in the Night by Carolyn Hart

Carstairs Considers reviewed Tell No Lies by Gregg Hurwitz

Booking Mama reviewed Trouble in Paradise (Rachel Knight short story) by Marcia Clark

Crime Fiction Collective reviewed The Accused (Rosato & Associates #12) by Lisa Scottoline and shares "This is a little lighter and more romantic than Scottoline's earlier novels in the series"

Back to Books reviewed The Maid's Version by Daniel Woodrell and shares "This is more of a crime noir, as an old lady tells the story of a fire that killed many people back in the '30s which no one was ever arrested for setting - but in the end, the mystery is solved."

Buried Under Books reviewed In the Blood by Sara Hantz

Crime Fiction Collective reviewed Evil in All Its Disguises (Lily Moore #3) by Hilary Davidson

Lucy Chen reviewed The Shocking Truth About Fame and Art by B.A. Shapiro and shares "fictional story based on a real event – the biggest art theft in history, where two men dressed as police officer went into the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum and stole over $500 million worth of art works. More than 20 years later, the case remains unsolved."

Author Interview
A Date with a Book interviewed Author LynDee Walker