Review - Death of an Italian Chef

 I usually like to start with the first, maybe second book in a series.  But this time I am jumping into a well established series from Kensington Cozies.  In fact, I didn't realize how far into the series this book was and but I had no problem not having read the prior books.  Please check out my latest review.

Author: Lee Hollis

Copyright: June 2021 (Kensington Cozies) 222 pgs

Series: 14th in Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy mystery, amateur Sleuth

Main Character: Hayley Powell, food and cocktails columnist for the Island Times 

Setting: Contemporary - Bar Harbor, Maine

Obtained Through: Netgalley for honest review

Book Blurb: "As the food and cocktails columnist for the Island Times, it’s Hayley Powell’s job to stay on top of the latest eateries in town. Just in time for the summer tourist season, Chef Romeo, a successful restaurateur from New York City, has opened an establishment called—naturally—Romeo’s. But between his over-the-top temperament and his no-holds-barred diet, Chef Romeo may not live through the grand opening.

 When the chef actually does suffer a mild heart attack, he ends up sharing a hospital room with Hayley’s brother Randy, who’s there for gall bladder surgery. Chef Romeo has tasted Hayley’s cooking and asks her to take over his restaurant while he’s laid up. But this temporary gig may turn permanent, after the chef dies from complications. Only thing is, Randy tells a different story. He might have been sedated, but Hayley’s bro swears he saw someone come into their room and put Romeo out of his misery. Now it’s up to Hayley to find the person who had no reservations about killing the chef . . ."

My Thoughts:  Chef Romeo is quite the character and had a lot of potential, that sadly didn't get utilized.  He is rather a stereo-type of a big and loud Italian.  Hayley is a well developed character that was easy to relate to.  Hayley’s brother Randy came across spoiled and I'm sad to say, complaining. I found his flirting with a nurse when he is in a relationship not cool.  The mystery itself had plenty of suspects and the reader is along for the ride, piecing it together pretty much the same time as Hayley with the way motives and information are doled out.  The killer reveal was exciting, which I always love.  There was one feature in the book I didn't care for.  Interspersed throughout are little micro-stories, unrelated to the current mystery, that introduce a recipe.  I found that practice would distract me from the main story and it didn't work well for me. If you are looking for something light, this is a good bet.  Overall I would say it was enjoyable, enough so that I will probably go back to the first book in the series and catch up.

Rating:  Good - A fun enjoyable read. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

Review - An Eggnog to Die For

I'm just now getting into some holiday themed mysteries that I had planned on reviewing a few weeks ago.  I am just going to roll with it, which means even after the 25th I will probably still be reviewing some to stretch out the holiday season!  First up is a foodie themed holiday cozy mystery, check this out.

Author: Amy Pershing

Copyright: November 2021 (Berkley) 320 pgs

Series: 2nd in Cape Cod Foodie mystery series

Sensuality: mild, kissing

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy mystery, Amateur sleuth

Main Characters: Samantha Barnes, chef turned restaurant critic for Cape Cod Clarion

Setting: Contemporary, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Obtained Through: Netgalley for honest review

Book Blurb: "Professional foodie Samantha Barnes has a simple Christmas list: a quiet holiday at home with her dog and a certain handsome harbor master; no embarrassing viral videos; and no finding dead bodies. Unfortunately she’s got family visiting, she’s spending a lot of time in front of the camera, and she’s just stumbled over the lifeless body of the town’s Santa Claus.

 

Plus, Sam’s plans for Christmas Eve are getting complicated.  There’s the great eggnog debate among her very opinionated guests.  There’s the “all edible” Christmas tree to decorate.  And there’s her Feast of the Five Fishes prepare. Nonetheless, Sam finds herself once again in the role of sleuth. She needs to find out who slayed this Santa—but can she pull off a perfect feast and nab a killer?"

Samantha is 6-foot tall, extroverted, clever, sarcastic, and easily relatable with a relentless curiosity-but she does some risky things.  She has an overly large dog name Diogi, always a hit.  Friends include Helene Greenberg, her nextdoor neighbor and the town librarian, Jenny Snow Singleton is a friend since childhood,  Miles Tanner is an old high school friend and local organic farmer, and Krista Baker is the publisher of the Clarion and old friend.  Her parents, Robert and Veronica Barnes, were the prior Clarion editor in chief and senior journalist, burst into town for the holidays.  Dad is secretive about something he spends time on and Mom is asked to do an article on the murder who thinks there is promise in a mob angle--further complicating Sam's holiday.  Introverted Jason Captiva is her old and new boyfriend who is the town harbormaster.  Sam's extroverted ways are struggling with Jason's introverted tendencies.

The main plot is finding the killer who killed Santa.  There are several subplots including keeping her mother out of trouble as she writes an article on the murder for the local paper, hosting and cooking a multiple-course Christmas Eve dinner, and navigating her confusing relationship with Jason.  Bad Santa knew a lot of people's secrets and had plenty of victims lined up to stop with his sanctimonious "doing the right thing" ways.  So there were plenty of red herrings.  Sam takes risks with her suspected killer suspects, which is out of character for an otherwise smart woman.  She goes through a few people she is convinced is the killer before she hits on the real killer. 

 

The killer confrontation is an example of best laid plans going awry (Sam was going to confront the killer safely). This provided a few tense moments that I enjoyed.  The wrap up finished up with family and friends.  It left me feeling a bit empty without all the characters that filled the book

My thoughts: If you enjoy cozies with lots going on outside of the sleuthing, then this will be a good book for you.  There is the still developing relationship with the harbormaster and her visiting parents to juggle, holiday errands, baking cookies and decorating them for the tree with her friend and three boys.  Additionally, her working for the paper and trying to keep her mother from investigating the mob angle while planning the details for a big holiday feast with friends invited keeps her busy.  Then her parents are going through her house and attic cleaning and rearranging etc.  Foodie talk with cooking tips/hacks are interspersed throughout the book, which I suspect most readers will enjoy.  

The characters are well drawn and portrayed with a mystery that keeps you guessing who did it.  The only downsides are how I found I didn't like that Sam refers to her parents as her ‘rents which is very annoying to me.  Am I the only one who doesn't like "sich/sitch" short for situation and 'rents short for parents etc?  Sam does do some risky things with who she suspects as the killer, but I still enjoyed her character.  Overall, I am glad to have discovered this new series and I'm looking forward to the next installment.  

Rating:  Excellent - Fun and entertaining holiday mystery, give it a try.

Review - Prologue to Murder

This is the second novel in this series but my first one.  I had no trouble with understanding the back story and enjoying this one.  Sadly, this had been on my TBR pile for a little while plus taking time for me to finally review it.  

Author: Lauren Elliott

Copyright: April 2019 (Kensington) 336 pgs

Series: 2nd in Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy mystery, cozy amateur sleuth

Main Character: Addison Greyborne descendant to town founder and owner of bookstore

Setting: Modern day, Greyborne Harbor

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest opinion

From book cover: "Gossip columnists love a bold-faced name—but “Miss Newsy” at Greyborne Harbor’s local paper seems to specialize in bald-faced lies. She’s pointed a finger of suspicion at Addie after librarian June Winslow never makes it home from a book club meeting. And when June’s found at the bottom of a steep flight of stairs, Addie’s not only dealing with a busybody, but a dead body.

It’s a good thing the guy she’s dating is the police chief. But both the case and her love life get more complicated when a lanky blonde reporter from Los Angeles shows up. She’s trying her hardest to drive a wedge between the couple . . . as if Addie doesn’t have enough problems dealing with angry townspeople. Despite all the rumors, Addie doesn’t know a thing about the murder—but she plans to find out. And the key may lie in a book about pirate legends that June published. Now she just has to hunt down the clues before she becomes a buried treasure herself . . . "

Addison Greybourne is a mixed bag.  She could be viewed as strong with a side of funny, although I found her a bit over-the-top emotionally.  Chief of police Marc Chandler is kind-of her boyfriend and she sure gets jealous like there is more there between them.  Chief Chandler seems lacking in critical character detection for a cop when it comes to his ex-wife Lacey.  Addison's BFF and Marc's sister, Serena Chandler is naive and easily used by Lacey.  All of which makes for a tense ride for Addison as she tackles ongoing gossip in the paper and suspicion of her involvement in June Wilson's murder.  Lacey, the shallow and conniving complication in Addy's life, is a memorable part of the overall story as the character you love to hate.

Too often novels set at sea side don't feature the beach or ocean much.  The use of pirates and local pirate history really cemented the setting into the story.  The climactic scene also strongly features the location to great effects as well.

You can't have a pirate or treasure tale without an  exciting race to find the treasure.  In this case it all becomes part of the killer reveal.  It could have been cheesy, but it ends up exciting and well executed.

The pirate lore and lure of treasure was handled quite well and is probably my favorite aspect to this story and brought the entire novel to life.  I had a rough time with the personal drama going on and Addison's often juvenile reaction to it all. 

Rating:  Good - A fun read 

 

Review - Backcountry

I reviewed the first book in the series, Endangered (click here) and the second book, Bear Bait (click here), third book Undercurrents (click here) as well as interviewed the author (click here.)  I eagerly anticipate each new release and this is quickly becoming a favorite series.  For this addition to the series,  we will follow Sam Weston for twenty-one days on the wilderness outing. 

Author: Pamela Beason
Copyright: June 2017 (Wildwing Press) 302 pgs
Series: 4th in Sam Westin Mystery series
Sensuality: Mild
Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy, Amateur sleuth
Main Characters: Summer Westin, Wildlife Biologist 
Setting: Modern day, North Cascades National Park
Obtained Through: Personal purchase
From cover: "Sam Westin is rarely afraid in the wilderness, but maybe she should be now, in spite of her self-doubt. Her friends Kyla and Kim were murdered on a popular hiking trail only a few weeks ago and the murderer is still unidentified. When Sam steps in as a substitute for Kyla to shepherd six troubled teens through the backcountry, she can't help watching over her shoulder. Has grief at the violent deaths of her friends made her paranoid, or is she right to suspect her rag-tag band is sharing the mountain wilderness with the killer?"
Sam Westin is a powerhouse in her own right, even facing troubled teens in the middle of nowhere.  FBI agent Chase Perez  is present sporadically throughout the story, primarily in the struggle to maintain a long-distance relationship.  Maya Velasquez from the second book gets a starring role in this story as a team member for the wilderness trek.  The troubled teens are: Olivia Bari - frequent truancy and suicide risk, Gabriel Schmidt - computer gaming addict, Justin Orlov - bully and on probation for vandalism and assault, Taylor Durand - obsessed with appearance and potential drug user, Nick Lewis - cuts himself, and Ashley Brown - drop out and run away.
Wilderness Quest is a twenty-one day wilderness therapy program for troubled teens and provides the set up for this murder mystery. The grandeur of North Cascades National Park is on display as Sam imparts her love of nature to the troubled teens.  There is a sense of danger that shadows the group on its daily hikes and overnight camping throughout. The plot is deceptively simple and develops before your eyes in subtle ways that are easy to miss.  Without intentionally investigating the murder of her two friends, Sam is picking up clues as she leads these troubled teens.   A subplot is the investigating detective for the murder suspects Sam somehow being involved. Pacing is steady throughout between the daily rigors of dealing with six troubled teens, the investigation which Sam is a suspect, and Sam's personal life juggling time with Chase.
The various threads and tensions continue even after the trek  and Sam stumbles across the murderer who was closer to the Wilderness Quest than ever suspected.  The wrap-up is satisfying, ties up all the loose threads, and and ensures the next book will continue Sam's exciting adventures. To say it is a happy ending seems so trite, yet it does leave a smile on your face as the story ends.
I am particularly fond of Chase Perez and would like to see more of this character - perhaps Sam and Chase could work on the same mystery.   Of the many romantic interests in the cozy genre, I find Chase Perez the most fascinating and holds the most potential.  I was surprised at how vested in these troubled teens I had grown through the story. I have to admit that when the Wilderness Quest concluded and Sam watched these teens return to their families I shed a tear or two.
Rating: Near Perfect - Couldn't Put it. Buy two copies, one for you and one for a friend. 
Here is a short little video on the North Cascades National Park.

https://youtu.be/vmTvQeVZWo8

Review - Crime and Catnip

I reviewed the first book in this series, Meow if it's Murder (click here), the second book, Claws for Alarm (click here), and the author did two guest posts for us (click here), and second interview (click here). I was looking forward to this next installment in the series.  So let's see what else Nora and cat sidekick Nick investigate.  

Author: T.C. LoTempio

Copyright: December 2016 (Berkley) 304 pgs

Series: 3rd in Nick & Nora Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy

Main Character: Nora Charles former crime reporter, now a small business owner

Setting: modern day, Cruz, California

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

From the book cover: "While catering a gala for the Cruz Museum, Nora Charles agrees to look into the disappearance of director Violet Crenshaw’s niece, a case previously undertaken by her [cat] Nick’s former owner, a private eye whose whereabouts are also currently unknown.

As Nora and her curious cat Nick pull at the string of clues, they begin to unravel a twisted tale of coded messages, theft, false identities, murder, and international espionage. Nora dares to hope that the labyrinth of leads will not only help them locate the missing young woman, but also solve the disappearance of the detective. That’s if Nora can stay alive long enough to find him..."

Nora's stubborness is on full display and at times she was reckless. She is not trying to help, but flat out solve the murder herself. Detective Leroy Samms, the old college fling, is back working on the case with her FBI love-interest. He continues to repeatedly tell Nora to stop asking questions or generally being involved. This gets old tiresome quick. FBI Agent Daniel Corleone gets a few good moments in the story, but is mostly alongside Samms.  This is clearly a Samms vs Corleone sub-plot and I have already stated I'm team Corleone. Sister Lacey who was prevalent in the last book was absent this time around. Nick the cat is still the intuitive wonder, giving Nora clues via scrabble tiles and even helps rescue her. He adds a subtle touch of whimsy to the story.

The museum is an effective setting used to add another layer to the story.  The plot was rewarding and more involved than I anticipated - Kudos.  The pacing was maintained and I would read past my bedtime because I was enjoying the story.  

The killer reveal is a two-part puzzle and with some good twists that I thouroughly enjoyed.  The wrap up involves Nora's completion of her task for Violet Crenshaw.  

I have to say, this series keeps getting better. It incorporates some plotting that could easily be in a grittier sleuthing book, but maintains the lighter cozy air for a wonderful escape.

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

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Mystery & Crime Fiction Blog Carnival - May 2015

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

Carstairs Considers reviewed Grand Canyon by Sandy Dengler


Girl Lost in a Book reviewed A Woman Unknown by Frances Brody


Booking Mama reviewed Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye


Amateur Sleuth / Cozy book Review

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed Grave on Grand Avenue by Naomi Hirahara


Carstairs Considers reviewed The Icing on the Corpse by Liz Mugavero


Debbie's Book Bag reviewed Killer in the Kitchen (Murder She Wrote #43) by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain


Carstairs Considers reviewed The Icing on the Corpse by Liz Mugavero


Girl Lost in a Book reviewed For Whom the Bluebell Tolls by Beverly Allen


Carstairs Considers reviewed The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco by Laura DiSilverio


Debbie's Book Bag reviewed Dark Chocolate Demise (Cupcake Bakery Mystery - Book 7) by Jenn McKinlay


Girl Lost in a Book reviewed A Fright to the Death by Dawn Eastman


Carstairs Considers reviewed A Sticky Situation by Jessie Crockett



Thriller/Suspense /Intrigue Fiction Book Review

Mysteries and My Musings reviewed The Escape by David Baldacci


Booking Mama reviewed A Scourge of Vipers by Bruce DeSilva


Mysteries and My Musings reviewed The Archangel Project by C.S. Graham


Books n' Cooks reviewed Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass


Booking Mama Reviewed Now and In the Hour of Our Death by Patrick Taylor

Review - To Hell in a Handbasket

This week I review a fellow Colorado resident's work.  I don't know how I managed to miss the first novel in this series, but here is the second book in this Colorado based series by Beth Groundwater.  Join us in Colorado for some murder and mayhem.

Author: Beth Groundwater

Copyright:  November 2012 (Midnight Ink) 312 pgs

Series:  2nd in Claire Hanover Mystery

Sensuality:  mild foreplay mentions

Mystery Sub-genre:  Amateur Sleuth

Main Character:  Claire Hanover, part-time gift basket creator

Setting:  Modern Day, Breckenridge Colorado

Obtained Through:  from publisher for an honest review

Claire Hanover, her husband, and her daughter Judy are in Breckenridge skiing.  Judy has been away in France for college and this is an opportunity for the family to spend time together.  Except Judy's new boyfriend, Nick Contino, and his family are also staying in Breckenridge.  The book opens with Nick's sister, Stephanie, joining the Hanovers on the slope.  The skiing turns tragic when Stephanie dies from hitting a tree, but Claire notices a few things that causes her to believe somebody purposely ran Stepanie into that tree.  

Because Stephanie had skied ahead of the rest, they did not see what happened.  But there was a hot dog snowboarder who is either the prime suspect or a witness.  Claire begins to ask around while Judy is comforting Nick and his mother.  Nick's father, Anthony, seems increasingly despondent over Stephanie's death.  Judy and Claire have struggles as mother and daughter, which only gets worse when Claire feels that Judy is in danger and is in protective mode.  But none of the Hanovers could have imagined the truth behind Stephanie's death and just how dangerous it will get for all of them.

I loved having a realistic middle-aged woman who is assertive and wrestling with an empty-nest for the main character.  She was well balanced between the aches and pains that come with an active person getting older and a gutsy woman who will go to any length for her family.  Claire's husband, Roger, is a good guy with a level head who balances Claire.  They make a cute couple stealing some romantic time.  Judy was my least liked character.  Occasionally she would act more like a huffy teen than a blossoming woman who attends college in Europe.  The breakout character was Leon, the crime boss Claire met previously (book one) and turns to for information on what she suspects is going on.  Leon is dangerous, but seems to respect Claire on some level.  I also liked Detective Owen Silverstone who is leading the investigation into Stephanie's death.  Claire and the detective manage to understand each other with only a few tense moments, which is a refreshing alternative to the common cop boyfriend or the adversary cop.

The Colorado high country and ski slopes and portrayed intimately and faithfully.  Beauty, cold, snow, and wilderness all give a good backdrop for the action.  Their is plenty of action with close calls, hair's breadth escapes, and chases that moved this to "amateur sleuth" status in my mind.

The plot has international implications, which gives it more of a dose of heightened drama than a typical murder mystery without a cop as the central character.  The investigation process moved along smoothly and kept my interest fully engaged.  The reader is doled out pieces and information along with Claire, and that doesn't allow for getting ahead of Claire much in figuring out the overall puzzle.  The investigation and revelations were nicely done, fostering the maximum reader investment by the climax.

The climax had its edge-of-your-seat moments that were well thought out and executed.  The wrap-up had its touching aspects and felt complete.   

This was a great adventure murder mystery that will be hard to top.  I am already looking forward to the next book in the series to see where Ms. Groundwater will take Claire and what she will throw at her. 

Ratings:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

This video is from January 2011, but gives a good overview of the setting for the mystery.

Review - The American Cafe

I saw this book somehow somewhere and just had to read it. If you have followed this blog for very long you know I enjoy Native American mysteries so this series got my attention.  Let's go to Oklahoma to join Cherokee amateur sleuth Sadie Walela.

Author:  Sara Sue Hoklotubbe

Copyright: April 2011 (University of Arizona Press ) 208 pgs

Series: 2nd in Sadie Walela Mysteries

Sensuality:  n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth

Main Character:  Sadie Walela, new owner of a cafe

Setting: Modern day, small town Liberty Oklahoma (Cherokee Country)

Obtained Through: Library Find

Sadie follows a dream and purchases a cafe in Liberty from Goldie Ray.  Goldie wants to retire and enjoy life a little while she can since her health is failing.  Before Sadie has a chance to re-open the cafe, Goldie is murdered in her home.  The local crazy woman seems the easy candidate for the killer but Sadie has the eyes of a newcomer and several things don't add up.  Goldie's sister and niece show up to add to the confusion with their dysfunctional.

The previous book in the series Sadie had met policeman Lance Smith when she was in the banking industry.  Without knowing it they have both relocated to Liberty.  Lance is the new deputy for the incompetent police chief who is quick to pin the murder on the emotionally unbalanced local woman.  Lance, like Sadie, doesn't believe it is that easy.  It becomes obvious that Sadie has somebody out to scare her away which puts Sadie in some scary situations.

This book surpassed my expectations.  Sadie is one of those characters who is easy to love.  From the beginning of the book I immediately fell into step with Sadie.  Lance is a dedicated policeman who is smart and smitten with Sadie.  The population of Liberty filters through the cafe and some are fascinating and offer secondary story lines.  There is the Creek native gentleman, Red, who has a great part in the story.

The plot has some good twists.  I felt sure I had figured out a key piece to the plot only to be surprised.  The confrontation with the killer is good and tense and there are some bitter sweet nuances as well.  This is one of those rare books that meshes setting, people, plot and cultures into a seamless yet layered story.  The initial impression is deceptive in that it seems a cozy story but has several aspects that stay with you well after you have finished.  I have not been this won over by an author in a long time.  If you enjoyed Tony Hillerman, Craig Johnson, or Margaret Coel I would highly recommend this book.

One request of the author, please don't let us wait long before the next book. I am anxious to know what Sadie does next.

Walela means hummingbird in Cherokee.  The pop artist Rita Coolidge was in a Native American music group named Walela - which I own two of their CDs.  This is Walela singing the Cherokee Morning Song, one of my favorites.

Review - Divine Circle of Ladies Tipping the Scales

It is springtime and some areas are seeing some evidence of warmer temperatures.  Lawns are beginning to show some green, buds are showing on tree limbs and so on.  But it is also time to catch up on my favorite paranormal mystery series.  So please join me in a little trip to Massachusetts to visit with some extraordinary women who solve mysteries in their unique way.

Author:  Dolores Stewart Riccio

Copyright:  August 2010 (CreateSpace) 412 pgs

Series:  7th in Divine Circle/Cass Shipton Mystery

Sensuality:  mild

Mystery Sub-genre:  Cozy, amateur sleuth

Main Character:  Cassandra Shipton, Herbalist and Clairvoyant

Setting:  Modern day, Plymouth Massachusetts

Obtained Through:  Library


I must provide a disclaimer right up front - this is my favorite paranormal mystery series.  I think of it as the trailblazer for this series started long before a paranormal mystery was the "in" thing.

Let me introduce you to the five phenomenal women who are the Divine Circle:

Cassandra, the viewpoint character, is an herbalist and reluctant clairvoyant. 

Phillipa, a cookbook author and poet who reads the Tarot a little too accurately.

Heather, an heiress and animal lover.  She makes magical candles and runs the local pet rescue.

Deidre, recently widowed who crafts dolls and magical amulets for sale in her boutique besides being a mother of four young children who now communicates with the dead.

Fiona, the eccentric librarian who dowses with a crystal and is a fount of information - the wise woman of the group with a hippie side.  Don't let her "mature" age fool you!

I am including Freddie, Cassandra's daughter-in-law who has telekinetic abilities is back in this adventure with the CIA wanting to recruit her.


Cassandra gets called up for jury duty in the gruesome case of a home invasion that ended in a double murder of a mother and daughter.  The two men being tried for the case seem obvious killers, but Cass being clairvoyant knows the case isn't so cut and dry as everybody thinks.  Even the elderly mother of the murdered woman insists justice isn't being done and pleads with Cass to get involved.  The murdered daughter starts making appearances to Deidre too.  Cassandra digs into the case more.

 Heather enlists Cass's time and talents to help hunt down a dog fighting ring and shut it down.  Freddie even does some remote viewing to scope out the location. But during a night-time covert reconnaissance they inadvertently tip-off the operator of the dog-fight ring.  Trouble is brewing with each passing day, but will it be the murderer or the dog fight operator who decides to stop the Circle's intervention?

In each book the circle helps a person in need, this time it is a domestic abuse victim who has some psychic talents of her own.  Ashling levitates without thinking about it and is being haunted by her recently deceased husband.  Ashling is another delightful addition and it appears she maybe back in the next book which I am looking forward to. 

The characters in this series seem to get better and better with each book. I must say I really missed Tip in this one since he is away at college.  This is what I mean, all of the characters become your book buddies and you want to spend time with them.  So even Tip was missed as he is part of this family. It is heartwarming to see that widowed Deidre may have a chance at love again with an old high school friend who has returned to Plymouth.  

Each one of the women in the circle are so well developed that you feel you could sit and have tea (or a nip of something stronger) with them and love every minute.

The dual plot is played out well, keeping the reader drawn in with each new development.  Each plot has its related consequences and danger involved.  Each plot touches me.  for instance, what would you do and how would you feel if you thought a sadistic dog-fight ring were running in your neighborhood? You experience what a vet feels as they treat a trained fight dog and try to rehabilitate it.  But you get to be one of the people snooping and getting photos to give to the police in this story as well.  Even the trial of the double murder - what would you do if you were in the jury box but clairvoyantly saw what happened and nobody else knows what the truth is? Wouldn't you want justice done?  You can tell the style of writing puts you in their shoes from my descriptions. 

The climax is realistic and gets a cheer from the reader and the wrap up is a set up for the next adventure hinting at Cass getting involved in one of hubby's Greenpeace jobs.  Hmmmmm.  I can't wait.

The book is fantastic.  A bit of everything from a touch of romance, suspenseful danger, adventure, a wee bit of magic, pets, cooking, family, sisterhood and close friends, varied characters of different ages and backgrounds all against the backdrop of the Massachusetts changing seasons.  This isn't a book to read, it is a story to experience with these five phenomenal women.

Review - Arsenic and Old Paint

I love art. I even dabble in watercolors and drawing. I discovered this series a few years ago and have enjoyed every book. But it was a long wait since the prior book (Brush with Death - 2007) and this one. Oh how I have missed the reformed art forger Annie Kincaid.

Author: Hailey Lind

Copyright: Sept 2010 (Perseverance Press) 272 pgs

Series: 4th in Art Lover's Mysteries

Sensuality: Adult references and situations

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth

Main Character:  Former art forger Annie Kincaid, now owns a decorative "faux" painting business

Setting: Modern day, San Francisco California

Obtained Through: Library


Annie is on a faux finish job at the exclusive (meaning wealthy men only) Fleming Mansion when she and her workers follow a scream to find a dead man...in a tub...with a sword in his chest.  Is it just Annie's imagination or does the scene really look like a recreation of the famous  painting "The Death of Marat."  This reunited Annie with the local police detective Annette Crawford who knows Annie a little too well from the prior books.  Annie is convinced something shady is going on in the Fleming Mansion.

Annie had become business partners with a "former" art thief when the FBI Art Squad asked them to run an online art appraisal website in hopes of snagging some stolen art.  Through this Annie gets a job offer from an insurance adjuster asking for help in finding a supposedly stolen-but maybe insurance fraud surrounding a Gauguin painting.  Naturally the preconceived idea is that she maintains her connections to the art world's criminal element.  Then Annie's influential and attractive landlord Frank (a mutual attraction but seemingly oil-and-water relationship) asks for her help in finding a stolen life-size bronze statue of Hermes stolen from a lesser social club.  Just to make it interesting, the super hot "former" art thief Michael picks now to re-enter her life.

Annie is a fun and snarky sleuth who learned determination from a pit bull.  She ends up running down the three story lines and delivers some laughs too.  I will warn readers, her investigations take her into tunnels under San Francisco and even into a "Sex Club" running down clues and leads - there is never anything explicit though.  There are laughs even in the most unlikely scenes, so don't let this scare you away.  Her dilemma between wealthy Frank and unpredictable Michael comes across as plausible.  You end up cheering for Annie, the underdog who is remaking her life and doing her best to be on the lawful path and be respectable.

The surprise breakout stars of the book are a pair of homeless guys who try to help Annie with information on the stolen statue of Hermes and keep popping up in the book.  These guys were great and funny.  And a close second was the character of Wesley Fleming of the original Fleming Mansion.  He gets honorary membership to the club but is somewhat an outcast, probably because he is socially backwards and fascinated with bats.  He becomes part of Annie's merry band aiding her to solve these cases.

The multiple cases all have some relationship to one another and the plot is solid.  The mystery itself has a few twists and I didn't see the killer coming.  The tense confrontation with the killer is great and the short wrap answers the remaining questions and even a few surprises.  The ending seems to point to Annie being given a clear shot with one of her two beaus.  

It was a long wait for this fourth book, but well worth it.  I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.  If you have not yet tried this series, I certainly recommend it.



Here is a feline take on the classic painting Girl with a Pearl Earring - Vermeer goes furry as the artist says.

By ImmortalSilver

Mystery & Crime Fiction Blog Carnival July 2010

Welcome to the July 5, 2010 edition of mystery and crime fiction blog carnival.  I hope all the U.S. readers had a safe and enjoyable 4th.  

Police Procedural Book Review
 

KerrieS presents Review: THE SILENCE OF THE RAIN, Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza, saying, "Set in Rio de Janeiro, translated from Portuguese, the first novel in the Inspector Espinosa series."

KerrieS presents Review: THE WHITE GALLOWS, Rob Kitchin, saying, "reminds me a lot of Susan Hill, Pauline Rowson, and Charles Todd. If you like any of them, then I think you'll like this."

Private Investigator Book Review
 

  Ms. Smarty Pants presents The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler, saying Philip Marlowe gets it done.

Amateur Sleuth book Review

Musings of the Book Goddes gives us The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.
 
ArtSeblic give us Trojan Gold (aVicky Bliss mystery) by Elizabeth Peters.

Cozy Mystery Book Review

Lori's Reading Corner gives us Chapter and Hearse by Lorna Barrett.

Thriller/Suspense Fiction Book Review
 

KerrieS presents THURSDAY NIGHT WIDOWS, Claudio Pineiro. She shares "Every Thursday night Teresa Scaglia's husband and three friends got together at the Scaglia's house to have dinner, play cards, and drink. For a long time it had been traditional for the wives to go to the cinema. Teresa Scaglia arrives home to find her husband and two of his friends dead at the bottom of their pool. "

Sandra at Musings of a Book Addict gives us Unseen by Nancy Bush.

Author Interview
 

 No submissions

Writing Tips and Advice
 

Writer Sense gives us World-Builing, Creating a Caste/Hierarchy.   

Writer Sense gives us Elements of Fiction - Foreshadowing. 

     

Mystery & Crime Fiction Blog Carnival June 2010

Enrich your children's summer with this fun mystery reading program (ends August 1) http://www.childrensmysterybooks.org/hot-summer-reading.html.  Your child can also join the year long celebration at Year of the Children's Mystery Book at http://www.childrensmysterybooks.org/

The blog carnival relies on submissions from bloggers - so please pass this along to mystery and crime fiction bloggers to join us each month.  It is easy to submit an entry by going here http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_8796.html.

Police Procedural Book Review 

 KerrieS presents THE SILENCE OF THE RAIN by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza.  Set in Rio de Janeiro, translated from Portuguese, the first novel in the Inspector Espinosa series.

A Few More Pages presents A Dangerous Mourning by Anne Perry.   William Monk is an inspector for London's new Metropolitan Police Force set in Victorian England in the mid-1800s.

KerrieS presents THE SNOWMAN, Jo Nesbo.  Scandinavian crime fiction that you shouldn't miss.

Reactions to Reading gives us A Death in Tuscany by Michele Giuttari.

Mark presents Rolling Thunder by Chris Grabenstein. 

  Private Investigator Book Review 

 Mysteries in Paradise presents B-Very Flat by Margot Kinberg.  In true Agatha Christie style the reader is led to consider a range of evidence, to discount the red herrings, and work out who is not telling the truth.

Mysteries and My Musings presents the historical mystery Serpent in the Thorns by Jeri Westerson.

Amateur Sleuth book Review 

 S Krishna's Books presents Haunt Me Still by Jennifer Lee Carrell. The greatly anticipated second book after Carrell's Interred With Their Bones brings an original manuscript of Macbeth, one that Kate, our Shakespearean expert and sleuth, has to find.

Jules' Book Reviews gives us The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton.
The murder of a renowned expert in Mayan history lures Lara into the jungles surrounding Merida, Mexico. For in this lush paradise are the temples of the Mayan gods--and the camps of modern-day rebels fighting to save their Mayan heritage. As the body count escalates, Lara must uncover the secrets of the Mayan underworld known as Xibalba--and the journey into the very heart of darkness.

Mysteries and My Musings presents A Cast Off Coven by Juliett Blackwell.

Cozy Mystery Book Review 

Book girl's Nightstand presents Pretty in Ink by Karen Olson. Another madcap adventure awaits talented tattoo artists and business owner, Brett Kavanaugh in Pretty In Ink, the entertaining second installment of the Tattoo Mystery series.

Mason Canyon presents Half-Price Homicide by Elaine Viets.

Mysteries and My Musings presents Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett.

 Thriller/Suspense Fiction Book Review 

 Missy Frye presents The Ark by Boyd Morrison.  With a chilling premise and a blistering pace, Boyd Morrison combines all the best elements of a blockbuster thriller with an intelligent and fascinating exploration of one of the Old Testament’s great mysteries. 

Blogging Mama Andrea presents Deadline Man by Jon Talton. It is a wonderful first thriller for Jon Talton whose fast pace style and likeable but flawed characters keep the reader wondering what else is peeking around the corner.

Chick Lit Reviews presents Desire by Louise Bagshawe. Lisa Costello is leading a charmed life - until she wakes up the morning after her glamorous Thailand wedding to find her new husband Josh dead in their bed, the murder weapon in her hand.

Mark presents The 9th Judgment by James Patterson. 

Author Interview 

Mysterious Writers provides a great interview with Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Lawrence Block, bestseller and winner of four Edgar and Shamus awards.

Nigel Beale provides us with an audio interview with William Deverell on How To Write a Great Crime Novel.

 Mysterious Writers provides another great interview with Chris Grabenstien.

Nigel Beale provides another audio interview, this time with crime novelist Denise Mina.

Writing Tips and Advice

Writer Sense gives us Writing Scene Transitions.

Writer Sense gives us Setting Part 1 and Part 2

Heidi Thomas give us Bookkeeping for Writers.

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For more information on the specifics of the Carnival and how to submit your posts go here.

And please help spread the word about this Blog carnival, it is very easy to submit a post to be included.

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Now for a grin and giggle: