Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) XVIII

Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) XVIII

by CarolNo Comments
Bonfires. Gourds. Sweaters and seasonal socks and candles. It’s time again for the Readers Imbibing Peril Challenge (RIP). The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books/movies that could be classified as: Mystery Suspense Thriller Dark Fantasy Gothic Horror Supernatural The emphasis is never on the word challenge, instead, it is about coming together as a community and embracing the autumnal mood, whether the weather is cooperative where you live or not. This year the hashtag is #ripxviii. The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge by Martin Edwards Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing by Kathleen Suzette Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong Murder at the Castle by M.B.Shaw The Cliff House by Chris Brookmyre Dead to Rights by Jasmine Webb Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds by Bobbi Holmes...
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Prophet by Sin Blaché and Helen Macdonald

Prophet by Sin Blaché and Helen Macdonald

by CarolNo Comments
I loved about 80% of Prophet. It's a slightly creepy sci-fi thriller with a slow-burn romance between the two leads. The end kind of went off the rails for me, but I liked Rao and Adam enough for it not to matter. Wonder if they could get a sequel? Prophet is set circa 2010, in more or less our world, but a sergeant has died in a mysterious fire on a US base in the UK. Around the base, dozens of objects appeared ranging from familiar, nostalgic childhood toys, to a full American-style diner in the middle of an empty field. Enter Adam, a surly American military officer, and Rao, a sort of ex-MI6 spy pulled out of rehab who can tell what's true, whether it be if something's real and not a forgery or if a statement is true - a power that conveniently doesn't work where Adam's concerned. It's up to them to figure out what's going on. Oh,...
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Death at the Deep Dive by Josh Lanyon

Death at the Deep Dive by Josh Lanyon

by CarolNo Comments
I thoroughly enjoy this series for the characters, mysteries, and setting. Ellery is such a nice guy and I've enjoyed his relationship with Police Chief, Jack. They make a good pair. Pirates Cove on Buck Island is a small town with quirky residents, as befits any good cozy, and Buck Island's pirate history adds a unique flavor. Ellery finds a back of Spanish coins tucked away in the bookstore. Apparently sixty years ago, Vernon Shandy did discover the famed Blood Red Rose treasure before he was killed. By now Ellery has built a bit of a reputation for his amateur detective work, and Vernon's sister Vera, matriarch of the Shandy clan, asks Ellery to solve the murder, offering a list of suspects that includes Ellery's great aunt Eudora. The mystery was put together well. We had several suspects, but the solution is actually a bit sad. The ending of the book was quite sweet, however, and I'm looking forward to the next in...
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Board to Death by CJ Connor

Board to Death by CJ Connor

by CarolNo Comments
I play board games - a lot, which is what drew to Board to Death. It's set in a game store/ cafe which I thought could be super fun. That's also the portion I was most disappointed in. The plot revolves in part around a collectible classic board game, which worked. However, the only "modern" board games that were mentioned were Gloomhaven, Pandemic, and maybe Catan - I'm not sure. I don't know if the author doesn't actually play board games or assumes the reader doesn't. The characters played battleship and had a Connect 4 box fall on them and sold Rummikub. No wonder the shop is having trouble. I did enjoy learning about Nertz, a card game the local business association played. The rules were explained in the back of the book and I may have to make people try it, assuming we have enough different decks for everyone, which I think we might. I did like Ben, though. He's...
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A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany

A Curious Incident by Vicki Delany

by Carol2 Comments
Gemma Doyle owns a Sherlock Holmes-themed bookshop, which I loved. As with most cozy mysteries, she often stumbles across the crimes in her small town, in this case West London on Cape Cod. She's also dating a police detective, Ryan Ashburn, which of cour leads to some tension. This time around, Gemma decides to help a young girl, Lauren, clear her mother of murder charges. The dead body of Anna, a well-known gardener, is found in the darkest part of the park. There were no witnesses and little evidence, but Anna and Sheila, Lauren's mom, had a major fight the morning of the murder. A Curious Incident is fun and the mystery is put together well. We have several suspects and Gemma does a good job putting the clues together. Gemma is a good character, observant, smart, and nice. Her friends add charm to the story and they all make me smile....
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