Carol – Page 67 – Carol's Notebook

The Snowman Killer by Wendy Meadows

October 24, 2022October 24, 2022 by Carol4 Comments

I have to admit I was less than impressed by the beginning of The Snowman Killer. It was a bit confusing at first. Sarah, a former homicide detective, has moved to a small town in Alaska for a fresh start. She now owns a coffee shop and writes mystery stories under a pseudonym. But someone is using the plot of her own book to threaten her. And there's a new detective in town who knows more about her than she's comfortable with. Once I settled into the story though it was enjoyable enough. The plot moves along quickly and takes some twists and turns or jumps depending on how you look at it. There are several characters to keep straight and we don't really get to know them well because it is so short. It was free, which was nice too. As a series, it has potential. I'll probably at least give the next one a read....

24 Hour Readathon

October 22, 2022October 23, 2022 by CarolNo Comments

Happy Readathon Day! I love readathon days. I don't have much going on today, so I'll have plenty of time to read. I’ll be trying to update this post throughout the day/night. I’m also on Twitter and Instagram. Opening Survey: What fine part of the world are you reading from today? And what time is it where you are? I am in eastern Ohio. The Readathon started at 8:00 a.m., but I’m starting at 10:00. I slept in a bit.Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Marple: Twelve New Mysteries. I've been saving it for today. Which snack are you most looking forward to? I've got cinnamon rolls and ice cream. And we'll order out for dinner - probably Italian.Tell us something about yourself. I love mysteries and cozy blankets and hot chocolate. Mid-Event Survey: What are you reading right now? Marple: Twelve New Mysteries and The Enigma of Room 622How many books have you read so far? I've finished one and read...

Spruced Up for Murder by Helen Golden

October 22, 2022November 16, 2022 by CarolNo Comments

I really enjoyed Spruced Up for Murder. Lady Beatrice is a widow and now that her son has gone to boarding school, it's time for her to come out of her self-imposed isolation. Her sister, Lady Sarah, has talked her into heading up an interior decorating project at Francis Court. Sarah also gives her an assistant, Perry Juke, who has worked on the estate for years. Perry knows Lady Beatrice has a reputation for being cold and snobby, but he agrees to take on the task anyway. And then they find a dead body in the room they're working in. Lady Beatrice and Perry start investigating. They make a fun team, with their own styles and own ways of finding out information. It also helps that Perry's partner, Simon, is a crime writer with his own CID connections. He's also a fabulous chef. Honestly, this has all the ingredients I need in a cozy - likable characters, a cute dog, and...

Always the First to Die by R.J. Jacobs

October 21, 2022October 21, 2022 by CarolNo Comments

Always the First to Die has a lot of good components - a category 4 hurricane, an island with no power, and a dilapidated estate. It makes for a very atmospheric novel. As a teen, Lexi was cast in the now-iconic horror movie Breathless filmed in the Florida Keys at Pinecrest Estate. It’s a summer she’ll never forget: falling in love with the son of the legendary movie director and learning the “curse” of Pinecrest is real when someone dies on set. Years later, Lexi finds herself racing back to the Keys in the wake of a hurricane to find her daughter who is visiting her grandfather at Pinecrest, the place where her husband died in mysterious circumstances just a year ago. Now Lexi’s life will turn into a real-life horror movie as she reckons with her past and avoids ending up dead. The story alternates to the present and back to 1998 when Breathless was being filmed. The horror movie theme is...

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

October 18, 2022October 17, 2022 by Carol3 Comments

The setting of Daisy Darker is amazing. The family is gathered at Seaglass, a lovely (spooky) old Victorian on a tidal island, to celebrate Nana's birthday. The house is isolated at high tide and there is no cell phone service. It's a dark, stormy night, of course, and when the 80 clocks in the hall strike midnight, Nana is found dead in the kitchen, with a creepy poem written in chalk on the wall. The reader is sure it's murder, even if the family isn't. The setting was the high point though. The family, while definitely eccentric, is not likeable. The story is narrated by granddaughter, Daisy Darker, Nana’s favorite, who was born with a heart condition. The narrator does a great job of telling us the story through Daisy's voice. Events unfold hour by hour, in the wee hours of Halloween morning, with chapters from Daisy’s childhood interspersed throughout. The Darker family is hiding secrets and they are all...

A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 by Carol1 Comment

The very private, bookish Earl of Unsworth hosts his first party in over a decade, but it goes awry when an unknown young woman is found murdered in the garden. When the police arrive, they quickly start asking questions of Lord Unsworth and his aristocratic family, which of course they don't appreciate. Mr. Quayle, Lord Unsworth's secretary, is asked to keep an eye on the investigation while also conducting an investigation of his own. Mr. Quayle's primary goal is to keep any scandal away from the family. Secondly, he does want to discover who the murderer is, regardless of his or her social position. He also knows the lead detective on the case - they served together in the war - which helps a little. I have to admit to a fondness for mysteries set on old English estates and a cast of interesting characters. The Unsworth family is an interesting set of characters. They are each well aware of their...