#ripxviii – Carol's Notebook

The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds by Bobbi Holmes

October 25, 2023October 25, 2023 by Carol1 Comment

The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds is the second in the Haunting Danielle series. I did not read the first, but I felt the author did a fine job getting me up to speed. Danielle Boatman inherited Marlow House from her aunt and is planning on opening it as a B&B. The house is haunted by Walt Marlow, who is charming. I think his murder was solved in the first book. Danielle's annying cousin, Cheryl, has showed up and wants her half of the inheritance, especially the Thorndike necklace. This was a fun book. I liked Danielle and her friends, at least the ones who believe in her. Cheryl is a bit over the top, but it works for the story. The cops were less than competent, as in most cozies. The mystery moved along at a good pace, with several suspects and enough clues and red herrings. I was surpised by who the killer turned out to be....

Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing by Kathleen Suzette

October 23, 2023October 23, 2023 by CarolNo Comments

Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing picks up six years after the Pumpkin Hollow Mysteries left off. I haven't read any of the Pumpkin Hollow books, but this sounded like a perfect Halloween-ish read, so I picked it up. The author does a good job of introducing the characters, although there are a lot of them. The town itself is fun and quirky, embracing Halloween all year round. Mia and Christy are candy makers and have a cute shop in town. When a local woman is killed in the abandoned mansion, Mia's husband, Detective Ethan Banks, is put in charge of the case, but Mia and Christy decide to do some snooping, and trespassing, on their own. I didn't love the characters, maybe because I didn't know them well. The mystery was okay, with several suspects and a good mix of clues and red herrings. It was fun enough as a seasonal read, but probably not a series I'd pick up outside of...

Dead to Rights by Jasmine Webb

October 18, 2023 by CarolNo Comments

Who wouldn't love to find out they've inherited a house and bookshop near the sea in Cornwall? And from a relative they didn't even know? Sign me up. It's not going so great for Mack, though. First, someone else is living in her house - a grandmother she never knew. Then, there's a dead body in her bookstore, and somehow the police have settled on her as a main suspect. I liked a lot of things about Dead to Rights. Mack is a good character - funny, tenacious, a bit snarky. Her grandmother is a hoot. The two make a good team and even their bickering is funny. I like the town with the bookstore, Ugly Mug coffeeshop, and amazing hiking trails. I even like the cat. I didn't like how stupid the cops seem to be. Yes, the detectives in cozy mysteries tend to be a bit bumbling, but this was over the top. I didn't like how Mack trusted a...

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

October 12, 2023October 12, 2023 by CarolNo Comments

Moon Over Soho is funny and dark and full of magic. This time around we've got a jazz vampire on the loose in London. And a potentially very dangerous unethical wizard. This is the second in the series. Peter Grant is a cop/ apprentice wizard in London. He's called to the morgue where Dr. Walid wants him to note the definite vestigia about a dead man. Peter gets a clear sound of jazz sax, the kind of clue that only comes with strong magic. As Peter traces the steps of the jazz musician's life, he ends up meeting his former girlfriend, Simone, as well as his band-mates. I don't acutally have a lot to say about this one although I thoroughly enjoyed it. Peter's a great character, although he maybe lets his heart lead him a bit too much. I loved the jazz references and the bits of London history that were thrown in. There were a few rather creepy scenes....

The Cliff House by Chris Brookmyre

October 7, 2023September 8, 2023 by CarolNo Comments

Six women travel to Clachan Geal, a remote Scottish island, for a bachelorette party. The women, some old friends, some new acquaintances, are renting out the luxurious mansion on the private island, where it will be just them, a personal chef, and the property manager. The whole thing goes awry quickly. Before dinner but after drinking several cocktails, the chef is discovered dead in the kitchen, clearly murdered, and one of the women is taken, threatened with death by The Reaper. The Reaper claims one of the woman is not who she appears to be, and if she doesn't tell her secret and unless she tells her secret, the hostage will die. The beginning is a bit slow as we get to know all the women and see the situation from each perspective. I'm not sure if listening to the audio helped keep everything straight or hindered it. It took me a while to really figure out who was who and...

Murder at the Castle by M.B.Shaw

October 6, 2023October 6, 2023 by CarolNo Comments

Murder at the Castle is the second in the Iris Grey series, and while it can certainly be read as a stand-alone, events from the previous book are referenced. The author gives enough information that a new reader wouldn't be lost, but since that case is why Iris is in Scotland and does affect how she views things, I think it's worth reading. Iris is commissioned to paint a portrait of Kathy Miller, a beautiful American due to marry a wealthy elderly Baron, Jock MacKinnon. MacKinnon's adult children dislike Kathy intensely - she displaced their own mother in the castle and she's much younger than the Baron. The townsfolk don't like her because she has some new ideas about how things around the castle should be run - and she's American. Kathy's been receiving threatening letters, which she wants Iris's help putting a stop to. There's already plenty of tension before the two women's bodies are found buried on the castle...