Murder on the Cornish Cliffs (Eleanor Swift #16) by Verity Bright

 Another fun adventure!

It's nearly Christmas in 1923 when Lady Eleanor Swift and her butler, Clifford, are called immediately to Cornwall. It seems that an old friend of her uncle, Godfrey Cunliffe, is convinced that the man he hired to restore the gardens is trying to kill him. Although she hates to leave her fiance, Hugh Seldon, behind, they hurry off arriving in time to find the snow falling and the gardener, Jerome St Clair, lying dead at the bottom of a cliff near the manor house.

This was fast and fun, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Love the details about that time period including the vivid descriptions of Cornwall, the customs, food, dress, and culture. The characters are all great friends by now and I always like catching up with them on their latest mystery. This is a really good historical cozy mystery series, and any fan will not want to miss this latest installment.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I urge that you start at the beginning of this series for maximum entertainment.

This is the 16th book in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - cozy, historical mystery, 1920s

Red Queen (Antonia Scott #1) by Juan Gomez-Jurado

 Fast paced and suspenseful mystery thriller set in Spain.

First in a trilogy featuring the brainiac Antonia Scott, a young woman whose intelligence makes her able to solve some of the most difficult murder cases, who teams up with a disgraced police officer, Jon Gutierrez, from Bilbao. Together they are meant to work behind the scenes on an investigation involving the discovery of a savagely murdered teenaged boy from a very wealthy family. Then the daughter of a billionaire is nabbed. The cases appear to be linked. The clock is ticking and these two must figure out who and why. 

The action was rapid and the chapters were short. Lots of time hops and backstory. Interesting details that many nerds will love. Despite it being a bit choppy, the narrative came together leaving some unanswered questions. The partnership between the two main characters is interesting and definitely has a lot of potential for added depth especially in their personal lives. I’m interested to see where the story goes next and plan to read the second in the series shortly. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the first in a trilogy translated from Spanish. Soon to be a major television series.

Genre - crime thriller, mystery, suspense, Spanish fiction

The Spy Coast (Martini Club #1) by Tess Gerritsen

 Espionage, mystery, and action make this a fun thrill ride!

Maggie Bird, former CIA operative, has retired to the seaside Maine village of Purity. Along with some old colleagues from her past who've also made the small town their home, she's living there quietly on her farm, raising chickens and getting together occasionally for martinis and gossip. Still haunted from her last mission, Maggie hopes that she will finally settle in anonymity -- until the body is dumped in her driveway. 

This was such an enjoyable read as the ex-spooks come out of retirement, dusting off their old skills, to find out who is trying to kill Maggie. I loved the way the author shifted the narrative from past to present, slowly revealing the details of Maggie's final assignment. Maggie's travels take her on a trip through her past via Bangkok, Malta, Istanbul, and London. As she confronts the tragedy that ended her career, danger is at every turn, but she has her friends who aren't quite ready for rocking chairs yet. Very fast-paced and I could not put it down. 

Thank you to the publisher for an e-book ARC of this novel that I eventually purchased and highly recommend. I think this is the first in a proposed new series and I eagerly await the next installment.

Perhaps the first in a new series.

Genre - spy thriller, action, adventure

My Husband's Lies by Liz Lawler

 Typical British psychological domestic fiction.

Her husband, Mark, is about to be arrested for murder, but Dr. Kate Jordan absolutely refuses to believe that he could have done such a thing. The police have evidence and a witness. Then Mark is the victim of a hit and run and is hospitalized in intensive care in a medically induced coma. Kate is frantic and Mark's best friend at the airline and a cabin attendant, Olivia, come to her aid and help care for her little boy. As Kate tries to prove Mark's innocence, she's frustrated at every turn by her husband's refusal to answer her questions. 

This was so completely predictable. Much of it required way too much suspension of disbelief as events transpired that would have been total red flags to even the least observant person. The character of Kate really irritated me and there was the whole "everyone is in love with her" thing. I spent far more time in her head than I ever wanted and the things she did in response to situations often made no sense for someone who was supposed to be an intelligent doctor. It was quite easy to see what was going on and it seemed like it took a long time to get to the climax even though I read this book in a single setting. Ho hum. 

Appreciated the e-book ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture. 

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - domestic drama, psychological

Unnatural Death (Kay Scarpetta #27) by Patricia Cornwell

 Here we are at #27 in a series that started my addiction to the crime thriller genre. Opening a new installment is like visiting friends — you pick up right where you left off.

As the story opens, Dr. Kay Scarpetta and Pete Marino are on their way to a remote abandoned gold mine in Buckingham Run in the Doomsday Bird piloted by her niece, Lucy, to examine the scene involving the deaths of outdoor enthusiasts Huck and Brittany Manson. The couple was under federal investigation, suspected of consorting with terrorists. The crime scene is a mess and the bodies are mutilated to such an extent that the investigators are having a hard time figuring out exactly what happened. Not to mention that a strange footprint has been found inside a mine shaft. Who are what are they dealing with?

This was definitely slow moving and I really hated to see the return of an old nemesis and too much focus on the past. The details are always meticulous whether they be about postmortem examinations or high tech toys and computers. I’ve always liked this author’s writing style, but not always the plots or some of the characters. Kay is an interesting protagonist and the relationships she has always provide more insights into what makes her tick. Her work colleagues and family are always a huge part of every book so there is a lot more than just crime solving. Still some loose ends even with this conclusion so if the next book is also about this returning villain, I might be disinclined to read it. I am more interested in the medical and forensic aspects of Kay’s job than in the secret service or terrorist plots. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend because every fan has to keep up. And I do believe that this is a series that is best read, in order, from the beginning. 

This is the 27th book in a series.

Genre - crime thriller, forensic pathologist 

Murder at the Highland Castle (Miss Underhay #14) by Helena Dixon

 It's the season to settle in for another delightful cozy mystery in this series.

I love traveling with the Bryants. This time, it's off to Scotland in 1935 to visit Finnglach Castle for Hogmanay celebrations. It seems that Lord Barlas, their host, has invited them for their investigative skills as he has been receiving some death threats. Since a snow storm leaves the holiday group isolated on the edge of a forest loch, Kitty and Matt deduce that one of the other guests has murder on their mind. 

I have followed this series from the beginning and each time I open a new installment, it feels like meeting up with old friends again. I like Kitty and Matt as a couple and their investigative business though I also miss the activity and action at the Dolphin Hotel, along with the other characters there. This book focused mainly on Matt and Kitty and the events at the castle so some of the old, familiar faces were not along on the trip. I like the writing style and the way the author gives so many details about the time period. Love reading about the setting, the homes, the customs, the clothes, and the food! I always look forward to each new book. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. If you are looking for a really delightful cozy mystery series set in the 1930s, then this is the one for you. 

This is the 14th book in a series that I think should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre - cozy mystery, 1930s, historical fiction

One Last Secret by Adele Parks

 This was quite an entertaining domestic thriller with lots of twists and turns.

Dora is an escort and is quite pragmatic about her job and her life. Her exposure to luxury has always created a longing within her soul, but her hopes and dreams have been dashed by a series of bad choices and horrible luck. Earning a living the way she has done affected her outlook on the future but changing anything seems daunting. Until she’s beaten badly while servicing a client. Despite everything, it seems that someone does love her and it’s time to give it all up for wedded bliss. But first, she has accepted one last call to pose as the girlfriend of a long time client. No spoilers.

This was fast and fun and easy to read in a single setting as I had a hard time putting it down. I actually liked the narrator, Dora, with alol her inner musings. Sure, some of the crazy stuff that happens in France seemed to stretch my credulity but I just went with it. The climax was a bit surprising and yes, I did hope it would all turn out OK for Dora. 

I’ve not read any other books by this author, but I definitely liked the writing style and the careful plotting. I’ll look for additional titles in the future. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Mira for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. Keep in mind that this book is about escorts, AKA prostitutes, and that lifestyle.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - domestic thriller, psychological, 

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

 Fiction that reads like true crime.

Based on a notorious American serial killer whose name lives on in infamy but one I will not mention. This book was instead a focus on the women whose lives were ended far too soon, the bright young women who were murdered by the monster. 

The narrative is told from multiple points of view in shifting timelines. The characters are well-developed and easy to identify with as they share their struggles to bring the killer to justice. Meanwhile, they suffer even more at the hands of men who constantly underestimate and belittle them. Certainly the time period in which these events occurred, the 1970s, shows that the issues women endured then are not completely dissimilar from those they face in present day. 

I’m old enough to remember when this heinous villain was at large and when on trial. I’ve seen many documentaries and read a couple of books based on him and his crimes. I want to remember, not his name, but those of his victims who encountered this beast and did not survive. 

This was my first book by this author and will not be the last. I liked the story and the writing style. The subject was interesting and the heartbreaking details will linger in my head. Still. After all these years, it still appalls and shocks. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is. Not part of any series.

Genre - fiction that read like true crime, based on real events and people 

When I'm Dead (Black Harbor #3) by Hannah Morrissey

 Another excellent Black Harbor mystery.

Autumn brings cold weather to this depressing town on the banks of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. Most of the people who live there want to leave, but many are trapped by finances or other circumstances that keep them yearning for escape year after year. 

Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp and her husband, Investigator Axel Winthorp, are called to the scene of a grisly murder near Monroe Academy. The dead teen happens to be their daughter's schoolmate.  Later that evening the parents discover that their daughter, Chloe, is missing. As the police department deals with the homicide probe, some very disturbing information about Chloe comes to their attention. The marriage of Rowan and Axel is strained with their overwhelming anxiety as they desperately try to find Chloe alive. Is Chloe a victim or is she the killer?

This was another great installment in a series that features characters who live and work in Black Harbor but is not like most as each novel features different people with only minimal carryover. You could read this as a standalone if desired. The setting is portrayed as so bleak and demoralizing and that sets the mood for the story that follows. This narrative shifts in point of view, mainly between Rowan and Axel, giving both of their perspectives on the evolving events. I really like the author's writing style and her descriptions of the people and place. The plot was not overly complex and, despite the red herrings, it was easy to anticipate the conclusion though that did not bother me. I read all of the first 3 in this series back-to-back in order which helps keep the atmosphere and tone in mind and I enjoyed all of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the third in series that I read in order.

Genre - crime thriller, murder, mystery