The Body in the Village Hall (Kate Palmer #1) by Dee MacDonald

The first in a new cozy mystery series featuring nurse and amateur sleuth Kate Palmer.

Kate Palmer, divorced for 25 years, and her widowed sister, Angie, have moved to Cornwall and bought Lavender Cottage in the little village of Lower Tinworthy. While attending a lecture at the Women's Institute, the talk is interrupted by a murder. Kate finds Fenella Barker-Jones, wife of one of the richest men in town, with a kitchen knife in her chest. Attending the scene is Detective Inspector Woody Forrest, and soon he and Kate are sharing more than a mutual interest in the investigation. When one of the suspects for the killing also turns up dead, Kate decides that she has a pressing need to figure out what happened. NO SPOILERS

There are plenty of red herrings and Kate is quite busy nosing around in the way of the amateur as she tries to identify the killer. This was a fast read with lots of detail about Cornwall and the countryside along with many interesting characters. As Kate is 57 years old, this series might have a large appeal to persons of a certain age. I was drawn to select it to review because Kate was a nurse and indeed, there are some details about her job, but it isn't at all related to the murder mystery. I may have the inclination to read the next in the series.

Thank you to Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the first in a new series that I would read in order.
Genre - cozy murder mystery

The Perfect Father by John Glatt

I recently watched a series of videos on the Facebook page, Law & Crime -- the "Watts Family Murders." This book provides much of the detail not included in the docudrama but it's still true that no one will ever know what really happened that night and why this man did what he did. I do think it's apt, however, to describe Chris Watts as a monster. Family annihilation is the ultimate betrayal.

True crime fascinates me, and I've recently rediscovered my love for this genre. It was heartbreaking to read the story of how all of this unfolded while also noting that the Facebook page for Shan'ann Watts is still active and can be viewed. The background information included made me feel as if I actually knew the couple and their families and could sense that trouble was brewing. The main catalyst, however, was definitely the illicit romance between Chris and Nikki Kessinger and I don't believe that she was completely innocent of culpability -- she knew he was still married and living with his wife and daughters when they started dating. She had even searched both Chris and Shan'ann on Google long before their own relationship began. I hope she doesn't profit or gain any positive notoriety because of this. She's a liar and manipulated the situation to try to make herself look better with her actions after the fact.

The book was well-written and I read it in a single sitting as I was unable to tear myself away. It's just a tragedy all around and no one who knew them personally will ever recover -- all those lives destroyed because of the actions of two selfish people (Chris and Nikki). Yes, Chris is the one who killed Shan.ann, Bella and Celeste (and Nico), but it was because he wanted a new life with Nikki. What made him snap at that precise period in time? Maybe one day, Chris will be more forthcoming and be able to tell the whole truth after reflecting during these very long years as he lives out his life in prison. I'm glad he spared everyone the circus that would have been the trial. I hope he remembers and suffers.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. If you enjoy true crime, don't miss this one.

PS It bothers me greatly that the author does not use the apostrophe in writing Shan'ann's name throughout the book. It is not Shanann according to everything else I've seen and read.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series though there are other books written about this murder and Chris Watts.
Genre - true crime "The true story of Chris Watts, his all-American family, and a shocking murder."

Lies to Tell (DI Clare Mackay #3) by Marion Todd

This is the third book in the DI Clare Mackay series. She and her team work out of St. Andrews under the direction of her boss, DCI Alastair Gibson. This police procedural is quite complicated with 3 separate situations that Clare is juggling. The first has Clare hauled off to a super secret bunker where she's informed that an ethical hacker has been engaged to identify leaks coming from her station. The second involves Clare monitoring the safety of a critical witness in a trial concerning a gangster connected to gun running. The third is the investigation into the murder of a student and the disappearance of his friend. She's extremely busy but not so much that she hasn't time to be concerned about her love life. NO SPOILERS.

This was a quick read that follows the typical crime thriller detective formula. Although not particularly suspenseful or grisly, I have followed this series from the beginning and didn't want to miss this one. I didn't find this to be as compelling as the 2 previous installments, but certainly the descriptions of the Scottish setting are interesting. There's the requisite scene where Clare's life is in danger and soon enough the conclusion comes with Clare having a dilemma, not in her professional life, but in her personal one. Im sure I'll want to continue the series but hope for a more exciting set of cases next time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the third in the series and I suggest reading in order.
Genre - police procedural/crime thriller

The Fallen Girls (Clara Jefferies #1) by Kathryn Casey

Detective Clara Jefferies has worked for the Dallas PD for 3 years and is assigned to the Crimes Against Persons division. She's 34 and a total workaholic with no social life. After a particularly grueling day, she gets an unexpected call from her past. Chief Deputy Max Anderson in Smith County, Utah -- where Clara grew up -- is calling her home to Alber. It seems that a 12-year-old girl has gone missing and it happens to be Delilah, Clara's younger half-sister. Estranged from her family after leaving behind the polygamous religious sect in which she grew up, Clara is not welcome there; she's an outsider. Max is calling because Delilah's family won't talk to the police and he hopes that Clara might have more luck. She heads off immediately. NO SPOILERS.

It must be difficult to write a new series featuring a unique female detective with the glut of them on the market. I must admit that the sister wives thing and learning about Clara's childhood appealed to me when I read a few blurbs about the book. Unfortunately, we really don't learn too much about Clara's tortured past as she gets quite busy hunting a serial killer as soon as she gets to Alber. Of course the local constabulary is not very helpful and they're not thrilled she's there. The characters were quite stereotypical and the outcome of the case was predictable. The last part of the story seemed to take forever, but overall it was a quick read. I'm hoping for more development in Clara's character in future books and I'd read the second one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the first in a new series.
Genre - crime thriller, polygamy, religious sect, Utah, Detectives

Troubles in Paradise (Paradise #3) by Elin Hilderbrand

"The island...[has] taught Irene some things about resilience, about patience, and, most of all, about hope."

The conclusion of a much-loved trilogy is always bittersweet. It's hard to say goodbye to characters you've grown to "know" and care about after all they've been through. After experiencing their tragedies, joys, and dreams, it always comes to the moment when you have to let go and can close the book with the confidence that everything will be alright in that world. I really had fun reading these 3 books set in a place that I definitely found to be a little bit of paradise. St. John is a unique island and i really enjoyed reading the references to familiar spots that I've visited there. Although sometimes the novel reads like a tourist travel guide advertisement, it was fun to be able to identify with so many of them. Just keep in mind that you really need to start at the beginning as this one is definitely not a standalone despite the author giving some of the relevant details from the previous two books as needed -- especially if you're like me and need specific reminders having waited for this release.

I won't rehash the plot so as not to give any spoilers. I liked the writing style and also the way that Hilderbrand gave us the point of view of so many different characters. It contains a lot of drama but it is, after all, a love story. You can tell that she loves St. John and that she's spent a lot of time on the island.

I've not previously read any books by this author and I hope that she chooses St. John for future work as that was the main reason I wanted to check these out. I was not disappointed though this is not the genre I usually prefer! If you have ever visited the USVI, or want to, this is a great way to highlight the memories or give a preview of its beauty. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is the 3rd in a trilogy and should be read after completing the first two in the series.
Genre - drama, family, romance

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

Claire Cook, married to Rory, is an abused wife. Controlled in the extreme, things are about to get worse when her husband announces his Senate campaign. She's making secret plans to get away from him and the marriage but it all goes awry with a schedule change. Instead of flying to Detroit (and a new life) as previously arranged, her new assignment is to head to Puerto Rico. As fate would have it, Claire meets an unlikely savior at JFK Airport on the morning of the flight. Eva James has her own reasons for agreeing to switch tickets with Claire. The solution seems ideal for both women until the flight that Eva was on to Puerto Rico crashes into the ocean killing everyone on board. NO SPOILERS.

Although fast-paced and easy to read in a couple of hours, I ended up being disappointed in this novel. The alternating chapters from each woman's point of view made the narrative clunky and disrupted the flow of the story. After awhile, I found myself completely uninterested in their issues, problems and backgrounds. I never really related to either Claire or Eva and so much of it seemed far-fetched and stretched credulity. One connection extremely so. I've seen many other glowing reviews, but I just couldn't really buy into it after all. It was definitely not any kind of thriller and the conclusion was rather anticlimactic. Oh well, better luck next time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks/Landmark for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama

Death Wears a Mask (Amory mes #2) by Ashley Weaver

It's been two months since the events at the Brightwell Hotel and Amory and Milo are settling back into their social obligations after their sojourn in the country at Thornecrest. Against her better judgment, Amory has agreed to help a friend, Serena Barrington, catch a jewel thief but ends up involved with yet another murder while she and Milo are in London.

This second installment continues in the same vein and is just as delightful as the first book. Stolen jewelry, secret dalliances, scandalous dealings, and an unexpected death at a masked ball keep Amory and Milo busy with their amateur sleuthing activity -- this time with the full support of Detective Inspector Jones. Of course there are many possible suspects and motives for the murder and some outrageous schemes to try to elicit information and find the killer. It's all just in good fun, and quite entertaining. I enjoy the time period, the details and descriptions of the clothing and setting, and I like the main characters of Amory and Milo -- though I am getting a little bit weary of Milo's shenanigans and untoward behavior. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

If you enjoy a cozy mystery set in the early 1930s in London, then this is one for you!

This is the second in a series that should be read in order.
Genre - cozy historical mystery

Murder at the Brightwell (Amory Ames #1) by Ashley Weaver

Sometimes all you need is to discover a new cozy historical mystery series! This really hit the spot during these current dreadful times. I fell in love with the time period, the setting, and with the protagonist, Amory Ames. Shhh, I also really liked her playboy rogue of a husband, Milo, and can't wait to read more of the installments -- which I intend to do directly.

The synopsis provided here on the book page describes the premise and plot quite succinctly and I'll give no spoilers. This was entertaining and well-written even as it was fairly predictable. I enjoyed all of the period detail and description and had fun guessing which of the many suspects would prove to be the killer. I'll probably begin the second book later today as this was a very quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and At. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I also have the 8th book in this series from NetGalley and will work my way there.

This is the first in a series that I plan to read forward in order.
Genre - cozy historical mystery

The Accusation by Victoria Jenkins

On her way home after an evening out with friends, Jenna Morgan takes a shortcut through the park. She hears a scream and sees a struggle between a man and woman. The woman calls out for help and Jenna rushes over to find the woman wounded and bleeding. As she comforts the woman while waiting for the ambulance, Jenna finds out that her name is Charlotte. After hanging around long enough to see Charlotte off to hospital, Jenna heads home to her husband, Damien, and her two children, Lily and Amelia. She's a bit undone by the events, but decides to check up on Charlotte at the hospital the next day. Jenna is stunned when Charlotte accuses her of being the one to have stabbed her. NO SPOILERS.

This was OK but I had a hard time mustering up the ability to care about Jenna or her situation. The whole scenario was so implausible and the characters mostly annoying. I have decided that I don't really care much anymore about domestic drama. The relationships between the characters are usually so full of secrets and lies, they never talk honestly with each other, they hide all sorts of things about their past, and I just don't like them. There were no surprises here if you, like me, read a lot of books in this genre. Most of the book is centered on the angst in Jenna's head and it takes forever to get to the point. It was a very quick read over a couple of hours but I had to stop myself from skipping large sections of inane details and Jenna's ruminations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - domestic drama

Final Flight by Eric C. Anderson

"Death becomes the ignorant and insolent."

This thriller is quite different from most of my usual fare. The unique characters and the writing style combine to make this one nearly impossible to put down. Events occur at a rapid-fire pace and, although it's hard to keep everyone straight at first, the narrative builds to a climax that is quite shocking with an ending that really wasn't where I wanted to see this go! From America, to Asia, to Russia, the different tools in the game of high level intellectual property theft focus on electronics that are meant to be retrofitted into aging airframes owned by China Air. This appropriate of hardware and software is reverse engineered and has deadly consequences for the passengers on two of the Boeing 777s and for many of those involved in the complex scheme. NO SPOILERS.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the technical detail and the incredible minutiae that the author relates through the actions and thoughts of his characters. Although we get to know them only superficially, some of these are really some awful people! The Russian Mafia, the Yakusa, executives from supply companies and the management of the airlines are definitely forces to be reckoned with as they single-mindedly pursue profit at the expense of everything else. Not only does the book scare you enough to worry about boarding your next flight, it also describes the worst lack of care for human endeavor and life. It's both depressing and unsurprising that this story does not have a happy ending.

I believe this will find a niche readership who will like it as much as I did. The author information demonstrates that he definitely had the credentials and experience to write this cautionary tale. Thank you to NetGalley and Dunn Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - thriller, espionage, intellectual property, airplanes

The Golden Girl (Jessie Tucker #2) by Dana Perry

It's a hot night during summer in New York City. Maura Walsh, a young policewoman visits a strip club, accepts cash from the bartender and leaves. Then she heads off to a house of prostitution where she meets the woman who runs that business and collects additional money. After that, she goes to a trendy restaurant, sits at a table and is visited by the manager who talks with her a moment before giving her money. "An hour after that, Maura Walk was found shot to death...news accounts described her as a hero cop..but there was no mention of any of those payoffs she took. That would all come later."

Jessie Tucker is a crime reporter for the NEW YORK TRIBUNE and is well known as the survivor of a vicious attack in Central Park 12 years ago. As a popular media superstar, Jessie wants the biggest story around and insists that she work on the Maura Walsh murder. The police are investigating, but no one could figure out who killed her or why. Jessie wants to dive deep and get personal by talking to other cops, friends and family. She definitely wants to chat with Maura's father, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner -- a true New York legend on the police force. Of course the editors are down with her idea as they envision the headlines for the exclusive report. So she's off to get her answers but never imagined what she would discover. NO SPOILERS.

This is the second in the series featuring Jessie Tucker and it's best if you read THE SILENT VICTIM, otherwise you'll have no idea about her whole ordeal in Central Park and the story she breaks that answers questions about her personal experience. There are hints in this book, but not enough background detail so you will be at a disadvantage not knowing her motivation for this story. She's a survivor and an interesting character, but I admit to having to suspend a bit of disbelief about her involvement in basically doing detective work. Although some have said there were twists and turns and surprises, you might be able to anticipate them if you read a lot of novels in this genre. The narrative is fast-paced and this was a quick read that held my interest. I'd be interested in seeing what happens in the next book as there are some dangling ends in her personal life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second in the series and I'd suggest you read the first one.

Genre - crime thriller, female reporter

The Choice by Gillian McAllister

How could a fun Friday night out with a best friend turn out so wrong?

"What do you do, [Joanna] finds herself thinking, when you think somebody is following you down a deserted strip of canal? When you could become a statistic, a news piece, a tragedy?" Joanna is not known for doing the right thing; she often ends up in messes and is a terrible procrastinator. Unfortunately, in only moments a decision has to be made. And she makes it.

In this novel, however, the narrative is unusual in that it is a parallel story line. In one of them, Joanna chooses to REVEAL (to call 999) and in the alternate reality, she decides to CONCEAL (to run away like nothing happened). Of course there are consequences in both and her life changes in that very instant in ways she could never have predicted. NO SPOILERS.

The less you know about this going in, the better. It reminded me of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books that were popular with kids when I was a grade school librarian. In this novel, however, the author has chosen both paths for Joanna and the reader follows along as Joanna deals with the aftermath of each choice. I would have probably liked this more if I had liked Joanna. I simply could not stand her from even the beginning. She's the antithesis of me and nothing she did made any sense nor could I wrap my head around her life. I don't know if it's my age or what, but Joanna, her husband, her friends, etc. all seemed so immature and utterly ridiculous. Vapid. Banal. I was quite disappointed the further into it I got and found it very disconcerting to be flipping back and forth between the two pathways as I feel the whole story would have flowed better in a linear manner with a Part I and and Part II. But that's me, and others whose opinions I respect have rated this much higher, so the style must have worked for them. It was really annoying to get to the end and not actually find out which decision or choice she made on the steps.

I've read other books by this author and will definitely be up for her next outing despite my feelings about this one. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological fiction

Deadly Science (Shane Hadley #1) by Ken Brigham

"Rules are arbitrary. They are not boundaries, but just the place where you begin negotiations."

This is the first in a new series featuring Shane Hadley, "the Sherlock Shane of departmental myth reincarnated as a wheelchair-bound ex-detective holed up in his Printers Alley flat" in Nashville. Shane has an unusual partnership with  Detective Hardy Seltzer of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department as they work together to solve the murder of Bonz Bagley. The old man and his dog were gunned down in front of his club in the disintegrating area that used to be a popular country music nightspot. The death of Bonz is complicated by the fact that he happened to be a patient in a drug study that Shane's wife, Dr. Katya Karpov, was working on in her role as a neurologist with a new drug that is meant to treat Alzheimer's Disease. Is there a connection between the clinical trial and the hit on Bonz or is his death the result of a decades old feud between has-been Nashville music personalities? "The game is afoot." NO SPOILERS.

This was entertaining even though it seemed quite repetitive and was full of stereotypical characters. The descriptions of the city of Nashville were interesting along with the tidbits of history. The relationship between Shane and Hardy is a developing one and they seem an unlikely duo but I feel that I might warm to them with future installments. Unfortunately, I was too late to grab a copy of the second book in the series that seems to have been published at the same time. I would have liked to see if I grew to appreciate their interaction and partnership because I don't feel that I really learned too much about them as individuals in this introduction. I found the depiction of Katya to be a little over-the-top with her seeming brilliance and perfection, but hopefully she has some flaws! There was a little surprise toward the end that some may see coming, but overall it was a straight forward mystery that combined police work with science and medicine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Secant Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review. Perhaps I'll be lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of Deadly Arts.

This is the first in a new series.

Genre - Mystery, medical and police thriller

Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat by Leighann Dobbs

Looking for a pleasant interlude with a cozy mystery -- this is it!

The "Miss Delta Belle" is making its way down the Mississippi on its inaugural voyage in 1926. The steamship is appointed with all the luxury necessary to provide its 195 guests with fabulous accommodations, food, musical entertainment and dancing. Aboard are Nora Marsh and her great-aunt Julia. Aunt Julia is a famous murder mystery novelist writing under the male pseudonym Ridley Howes and Nora has a doctorate degree in psychology. The pair fancy themselves a team of amateur detectives and are always looking for a murder case to solve. As they enjoy meeting the other guests and settling in, they finding exactly that -- a woman is found dangling in the huge red paddle of the boat. This was no accident! With plenty of suspects to watch and interview, the duo is on the hunt for a killer. NO SPOILERS.

This was a fast, fun read with interesting characters and a unique setting. I enjoyed the historical aspects related to the time period and the pace of the narrative. Easy to read in a single sitting, this was a nice change to my usual more serious crime thrillers. I'd definitely like to read another installment featuring these two unlikely detectives. I love the 1920s era historical fiction novels and this just hit the spot.

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

This is a standalone or first in a series.
Genre - cozy mystery, historical