Kalikimaka Killer by Jasmine Webb

Kalikimaka Killer by Jasmine Webb

by CarolNo Comments
It's Christmas in Hawaii and Charlie has two cases going on. The first is tracking down a bail-jumper - and of course she manages to get tasered again. Zoe brings her the murder case. Zoe believes one of her patients in the emergency room was poisoned, but the cops aren't taking her concerns seriously, so she asks Charlie to investigate. The mystery was decent. The dead woman's friends are basically the only suspects, since they are the only ones who would have had the chance to poison her. Charlie discovers the woman had a few secrets, but none seem to give anyone a reason to kill her. The clues are tucked in well and the whodunnit made sense. It's as fun and madcap as always. And it is Christmassy - we have several Santa gone bad moments and a kiss under the mistletoe....
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Hibiscus Homicide by Jasmine Webb

Hibiscus Homicide by Jasmine Webb

by Carol2 Comments
Rosie recognizes a tourist who was killed and needs Charlie's help getting to the bottom of what happened. The characters are always fun and even though this one involves the FBI and CIA, it doesn't get too deep in the spy mire. And really how can you take a spy seriously with a name like Rex Thunder? And the FBI agents seem on the verge of incompetent. So the story is still fun and light and just over the top. Charlie figures out who the (unlikely, I thought) killer is and we get a nice show down. We also get a scene with Charlie and Jake making out, so hopefully their relationship will start moving in the right direction....
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Pina Colada Poison by Jasmine Webb

Pina Colada Poison by Jasmine Webb

by CarolNo Comments
Pina Colada Poison, like the other Charlie Gibson mysteries, is fun and over the top. This time around an actress staying on the island is afraid that someone is trying to kill her, that the drink that killed her yoga teacher was meant for her. She's also trying to track down another client's missing husband. The mysteries were fine, if predictable. We had several suspects and red herrings, but the twist wasn't much of a surprise. I really enjoy Charlie - she's stubborn and snarky and her plans tend to go awry in amusing ways. Her friends, Dot and Rosie, are fabulous older women with plenty of skills. The three together are a hoot....
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A Difficult Position by Helena Marchmont

A Difficult Position by Helena Marchmont

by CarolNo Comments
I really enjoy these short mysteries. This time around, Dorothy and the former Sargent Wilson are getting married. I have to say I like what the Sarge's recent health scare and relationship with Dorothy have done for his character. Everyone in town is at the reception, but that same evening, someone tries to set the Choudhury house on fire. Thankfully little damage is done, but the police, and Bunburry Triangle, are anxious to find the culprit. This is a fun, quick read. I love the characters, each of whom is just quirky enough without going over the edge into annoying. There are several suspects and it's good to see how many people care about the Choudhury family. I liked the yoga center and how it brings together people you wouldn't expect. I was happy Oscar had a part to play this time around too....
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Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

by Carol3 Comments
If you've read the first two in this series, you know that Susan should stay far away from Atticus Pünd novels, they only lead to trouble. If you've read the blurb above, you know that this time is no exception, even though there's a new author since Alan Conway was killed in book #1. I would suggest at least reading Magpie Murders first, since a.) there are spoilers in this one, and b.) there are a couple of returning characters who have major pieces in this one. As usual in this series we have a book within the book. In Pünd's Last Case written by Elliott Crace, Lady Margaret Chalfont has been poisoned. Elliott believes his own grandmother, renowned author Marian Crace, was murdered 15 years ago and has worked clues to who the killer was into his novel. Then Elliott is killed in a hit and run before finishing the book - with Susan being the main suspect in...
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No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack

by Carol4 Comments
Eleanor’s first novel, When in Rome, is being made into a movie and she is spending a lot of time on set. To make it even better, her best friend, Emma, is playing the lead role. After filming wraps, the cast and crew head to Catalina Island for Emma's wedding to her co-star. And then we find out that Emma's been receiving threats and that someone is going to be killed at the wedding. My problem is I don't like Eleanor and she's the one telling us the story - in the first-person with tons of her internal thoughts, asides, and footnotes. Maybe it was too much? Funny and clever are good, but not when they become the whole point. Maybe it was just trying too hard. She's self-centered and doesn't seem to register the feelings of the people around her, even her sister. We have lots of characters, all of whom are suspects, but there's more theorizing about motives than...
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