Killing in C Sharp by Alexia Gordon

Killing in C Sharp by Alexia Gordon

by CarolNo Comments
I read the first Gethsemane Brown mystery back in 2016 when it came out, but never got back to the series. Last year I watched the show on Hallmark mysteries, which was fun. Killing in C Sharp has been sitting on my to-read list for probably years now, but the audio was available from the library and I was in the mood for something light. (I'm always in the mood for something light.) There is a lot going on in this one. Ghost hunters have come to Gethsemane's cottage to prove her friend and resident ghost, Eamon, exists. A true crime writer is in town working on an updated version of the book she wrote on Eamon and his wife. Aed, a once-famous composer, is premiering his new opera at the opera house and giving a couple guest lectures at the school. He is followed by the reviewer who nearly killed his career with a bad review. And the opera manages...
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Autumn Harvest Murder by R.M. Murphy

Autumn Harvest Murder by R.M. Murphy

by CarolNo Comments
I'm not a fan of how these mysteries are framed, but I guess it makes them a little unusual. Denny is in a nursing home, telling one of the workers about the murders he helped solve. This time around, Denny is serving up pizza at the annual Harvest Festival and his Autumn Harvest Pie, with roasted organic butternut squash, carrots, garlic and kale, along with a three cheese blend is quite the hit. Unfortunately, when he goes back to the farm to pick up more veggies, he finds the owner, Flora, dead. By now, Denny is developing a bit of a reputation, so people assume he'll look into it. It's a short mystery so we obviously have limited suspects. The clues were decent, although once Denny makes a certain connection, it becomes very clear. Is he eventually just going to move back to town? Is he going to keep staying in a mediocre hotel? Does he take his food truck to other...
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I Kill Always Love You by Helen Golden

I Kill Always Love You by Helen Golden

by CarolNo Comments
Bea, Perry and their families are taking a much needed holiday on the beach in Portugal. There are three villas in the complex and the security is good, but the neighbors are famous Hollywood people, which is a little concerning. Bea certainly doesn't want the press showing up. But then the director ends up dead in the pool at a party Perry and Simon are attending and the press becomes the least of Bea's worries. The man was not universally liked, but the police are focusing on the maid who Bea and her team are sure is innocent. To prove she's innocent, Bea, Perry, Rich, and Simon need to figure out who the real killer is. They definitely have their work cut out for them - turns out almost everyone is lying though and the clues point in different directions. The characters are fun and I love how well our main group get along and work together. Even the kids...
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The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

by CarolNo Comments
I've read most if not all of Christie's book before, but The Seven Dials Mystery is not one I remember well. Maybe Battle just doesn't grab my attention like the rest of Christie's detectives. It starts out promising. We've got a weekend house party at Chimneys. One of the young men, Gerry Wade, always sleeps late and the others decide to play a prank on him, setting eight alarm clocks in his room to ring one after another. But then he still doesn't wake up - turns out he died overnight. Of course, since this is a Christie, we know it wasn't just coincidence. Then another man is killed and Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent decides they need to investigate. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention to the audio or maybe all the young people just blended into each other, but I got a little confused. And then it veers off into international intrigue, and it turns out I just wanted a traditional...
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The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan

The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan

by CarolNo Comments
I wasn't a fan of The Treasure Hunters Club, but the twist was surprising - even if it was more annoying than clever. I listened to the audiobook and while the narrator was competent, I may have been a little spoiled by some of the fabulous readers I listened to lately. Or maybe it's tough to do three main characters make them all convincing. We forty year old Peter who is new to town, hoping to make a connection with the grandmother he never knew. Cass is house sitting and trying to write a new book. And finally, there's self-proclaimed teenage detective Dandy, who is grieving after the death of her grandfather. We got a couple murder, a lost treasure, and families keeping secrets. The concept is great, but the story itself fell flat for me. Each of the characters, and half the town, had good backstories, but weren't fully developed as characters. I didn't really care about them. And the...
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This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead

by Carol1 Comment
This Book Will Bury Me is told from Jane Sharpe's point of view. She's 24, has recently lost her father by way of a heart attack, and has become obsessed with true crime, or maybe more accurate, with a true crime online forum where amateur sleuths discuss clues and theories about the murders in the headlines. I listened to the audio and the narrator does a fabulous job. Her tone and pace match the story well. Each character has a distinctive voice, and she brings out Jane's emotions well. Take the time to read the author note on this one. She was inspired by several real life murder cases, including the killings in Idaho in 2022, and the loss of her own father. How you feel about that may influence whether you want to pick this one up or not. The plot is engrossing. Jane has found acceptance and support in her online community, even a bit of fame. Then...
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