Dungeons and Danger

Dungeons and Danger

by CarolNo Comments
Dungeons and Danger is the second in the Ravensea Castle mystery series, but I think it could be read as a standalone. The mystery is self-contained, and although we have several characters returning from the first, the author does a good job of introducing everyone.The Asquith family has turned their centuries old castle into a B&B, complete with resident ghosts. Their current guests include a professor specializing in Viking history who believes there's a treasure hidden on the grounds and a group of ghost hunters filming a show. And the castle is hosting a huge Viking festival. "Accidents" start piling up and it's no surprise when someone ends up murdered.The returning characters are all well-developed and interesting, without going over the line into quirky. I like Nora Asquith and her family. Their interactions feel genuine and they work together well. Nora is dating the local detective inspector, Finlay Cole, but they both act like adults and their relationship is...
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The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart

The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart

by Carol2 Comments
A couple of weekends ago we went to the Pittsburgh Book Fest, which was so much fun! One of the events I signed us up for was a presentation about Mary Roberts Rinehart, who was born and raised in Allegheny City, which eventually was annexed by Pittsburgh, and then built a house in Sewickley following the success of The Circular Staircase. She led a fascinating life, if you ever get the chance to read about her. Pitt actually holds the archives of her papers. So, I listened to The Circular Staircase in preparation. I've read it before but didn't actually remember any of it.Rachel Innes is a wealthy woman who has been the guardian of her niece and nephew for a long time. They are both young adults now and the three of them have decided to rent a place for the summer, and taken Rachel's maid with them. The mansion, belonging to a banker and his family who...
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The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

The Clock House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

by CarolNo Comments
A group of paranormal investigators, mostly college students along with a medium and two magazine employees, have gone to a remote mansion called the Clock House that is supposedly haunted by a teenage girl who died 8 years ago. They're locked into the old part of the mansion and, of course, there's a murder. Note: Don't get locked in at remote mansions. At the same time, the series amateur sleuth/mystery writer, Shimada Kiyoshi, is visiting the house with another college student who wasn't able to make the trip originally. So, inside the house, people are being killed in locked rooms surrounded by hundreds of ticking clocks with no way to escape - and yes they do try, while on the outside, Kiyoshi is trying to solve the riddle of the house and what happened 10 years ago.This is the first I've read in the series and it worked fine as a stand alone. There were some references to previous cases,...
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Beach Reads Challenge

Beach Reads Challenge

by Carol2 Comments
The 52 Book Club's summer reading challenge is out - Beach Reads. And while this was released in June, it doesn't have to be finished over the summer, you can take your time with it. You can find the rules at https://www.the52book.club/beach-reads-challenge/, but they involve the board game below and rolling dice for what space you land on and which genre you're reading.Prompt 1 — Sand in your shoes! A gritty read.Prompt 2 — A _ word title.Prompt 3 — ChancePrompt 4 — Author from somewhere you’ve vacationedPrompt 5 — Item on cover: A thing you’d find at the beachPrompt 6 — Beachcomb for hidden gems: A non-popular readPrompt 7 — Final page number: even or odd?Prompt 8 — Features an island countryPrompt 9 – ChancePrompt 10 – Character with a unique careerPrompt 11 – Flip flop! Pick two books.Prompt 12 – More than _ hundred pages.Prompt 13 – Published within _ years of previous author’s birthPrompt 14...
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Murder on the Rocks by T.E. Kinsey

Murder on the Rocks by T.E. Kinsey

by Carol1 Comment
I have to say I enjoyed Murder on the Rocks tons more than the other one in this series I've read. Lady Hardcastle and Florence are at a friend's island fort in Devonshire. JB McIntyre has recently converted the building into a hotel and has invited a group of people a kind of a pre-opening weekend. Of course, it turns into a less than relaxing weekend. First, some jewelry goes missing, then a guest is murdered with a narwhal tusk, and finally a storm rolls in, effectively cutting them off from the mainland.Lady Hardcastle and Flo are joined by an interesting group of JB's business associates and friends, all of whom are now suspects. Each of them, of course, has a secret that may or may not be known by the others and a reason for wanting the dead man gone. And they all seem to have alibis, no matter how often Emily and Flo review the timeline....
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