Tag Archives: Mystery

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The Man in the Leather Jacket

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This was one of those books that gave you some good and some bad. The good ended up outweighing any bad by a nice margin. The characters are definitely quirky and bigger than life while the surroundings are more of a blur. I kept forgetting what state this was supposed to be happening in unless they mentioned it specifically. The hunt for the killer was not really so much of a hunt as it was something that just happened almost. You get some misused words such as drooping when it should be drop.

Ryan Porter is an ex Marine who has a lot of issues since he got out of the service. He has recently gotten his license as a Private Detective after doing his internship. Mindy Miller is working as a waitress at the strip club that Porter frequents and uses for business. They make one good detective when they get together.

When Gary, a local bag boy, goes missing his sister wants to hire Porter to find him. She is afraid that he may have been one of the latest victims of a serial killer known as the Sandman. As Porter and Mindy investigate his disappearance they get closer to finding the killer than even the police have been able to do.

There is a nice twist near the end that comes as complete surprise. I will also mention that the story seems to be more about Porter and Mindy than it is about the killer. It is told from multiple points of view so that you get a chance to see how everyone is feeling without filtering through a central character. I would recommend this to those who like weird mysteries.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Hekate’s Chalice

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Hekate’s Chalice
(Adept Solutions #1)
by Teagan Kearney

I started this story totally not sure what to expect and found myself pulled in immediately. Truthfully I am not sure what made me like this so much but I really got into the characters from the moment they were introduced. Each one was very unique and even on short acquaintance made me like them. The world they inhabit is still a little vague and could use some more fleshing out to make it seem more real. I had a few instances of the names of characters changing within the same paragraph in some instances, which can be quite disconcerting. Other than that one thing it is written in a style that definitely grabs your attention if you like the subject matter.

Jean Baptiste also known as J.B. is running his fathers detective agency, though it is not for a good reason. Someone ran down Jean Baptiste Sr. and he is lying in the hospital in a coma while his son tries to save the family business. Working with J.B. are an interesting cast of characters, there is Zhanna who is a six inch faerie of the Irayisi race working off her probation there, Nikki a half elf/ half imp, and the twins Gemma and Jason.

Hekate sends her niece to enlist Jean Baptiste Sr. to locate her chalice which has come up missing at a very bad time. She needs it back soon and so takes a chance on J.B. and his crew. What they find out is more complicated than they expected. The search for the person who hit J.B. Sr is also not going well. They have to find the chalice to keep the agency going but there is danger involved that they do not see.

Definitely want to read more about these characters and see where they go from this point. Well worth the time of anyone who likes a little magic and mayhem.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Murder in Christmas River

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Murder in Christmas River
(Christmas River #1)
by Meg Muldoon 

I have never read Meg Muldoon before but am glad I gave this one a read. I found that I like Christmas River, it is a town that may not have a lot going for it but it does have a unique identity. The characters are a little vague this time around but I can see that they have the potential to become very well rounded and interesting. The murder mystery is good but because you do not have enough insight into the characters it makes any clues dropped not that effective. But once again I can see the effort and hope for it to get stronger as the series continues. I liked the way it starts with the dogs point of view, he makes things interesting.

The main judge of the Gingerbread Junction Competition is murdered and the body is found in the woods behind Cinnamon Peters shop. The dog that had been coming to her shop for a while was trying to get her attention. It seems that someone may have it in for Cinnamon since she seems the most likely to have killed the judge who never had anything good to say about entries in the competition.

Daniel Brightman returns to town just in time for a murder investigation. He had known Cinnamon when she was a 16 yr old and after kissing her and promising to call he disappeared from her life. Now he is back and brought to her back door by the dog she has been feeding. Can he help her when suspicion turns her way?

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My hometown has become a novelty. A place of forced smiles and customer satisfaction. Of little old ladies dressing up as Mrs. Claus and trying to sell you something. Of capitalizing and merchandising the magic of the season year round.

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Last Writes

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Last Writes
(Ghostwriter Mystery #3)
by C.A. Larmer

This was another good mystery but I had an idea of who the killer was before the end of the first chapter. It was still extremely well written and may not be so obvious to others.

Roxy’s manager has one of his old clients turn up dead and though it is originally thought to be a suicide it soon is being looked at as murder because of another of his clients. David Lone is a client of Oliver who has done very well for himself with both a best seller and movie deal. While Roxy is still angry with Max she starts to have feelings for David, mainly because of his fascination with death and success. Bad Roxy, being so shallow.

But the real problem is that after the first death more occur and it starts to look like poor Oliver is the prime suspect in all of the deaths. Roxy does not need to be asked, though she is, to help her old friend find a way out of his predicament. She does not believe he is guilty even though suspicion has fallen squarely on his shoulders.

Definitely worth reading!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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A Plot To Die For

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A Plot to Die For
(Ghostwriter Mystery #2)
by C.A. Larmer

I really like these mysteries because they make me work to figure out who the culprit is going to be in the end. I think because I read the fourth book in the series first I was expecting a lot more from this one when I decided to go back to the beginning and it is not bad at all. The writing is clear and gives me a complete sense of what is happening around the characters and therefore me. The language engages and pulls you in even though the slang a lot of the time is Aussie in nature. The characters are all fun with interesting quirks and idiosyncrasies that make them more or less endearing to the reader.

Roxy is invited to Dormay Island by Abigail Lilton, owner and operator of an exclusive resort who has shunned all publicity in the past. But now Abi has decided to write her biography and wants Roxy to ghost write it for her. It is the off-season and Roxy is a little surprised but pleased that she gets to do this book in such an exotic location. The only really bothering Roxy is the fact that she has not heard from Max, even though she is the one who blew him off.

Then the worst happens and Abigail is murdered with suspicion falling on all those in residence at the resort during this time. The local law officer comes to investigate but the daughter of the victim asks that Roxy help in the investigation because she believes the constable will favor the locals if they are involved and so wants an outsider to help. Roxy does her thing as usual and finds much more than a simple murder or murderer for her trouble.

Another great story with a great mystery and some good motives by all of the suspects involved. Definitely recommend.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

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The Thousand Dollar Tan Line

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The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line
(Veronica Mars #1)
by Rob Thomas,
Jennifer Graham
, Kristen Bell (Narrator)

I am a Marshmallow! That just has to be said, I watched the series and actually loved it because even though I was older than the title character I could still identify wit her. I loved her because she was strong and no matter what happened she was always ready to help someone.

This story takes place after the events in the movie which wrapped up the series. There are some new characters right along side those characters that have come to be so loved from the show. Veronica has moved back to Neptune because she cannot give up being who she truly is, a private detective, even though her father thinks she should. She is also back because of Logan who she is involved with again. The town has become more corrupt in the time she has been away and nothing seems to be able to be done about it.

The business association in Neptune come looking for Keith to handle a case they do think Sheriff Lamb can handle on his own. A girl has gone missing and instead of trying to find her the Sheriff has been caught in sound bites that make it sound like he cannot be bothered. Because Keith is not available they are willing to give Veronica a chance since they know her reputation for solving cases. During this case Veronica also runs into her mother who has a step daughter who has also gone missing and she wants Veronica to help find her.

This was a really great story that had a mystery that was excellent. If you liked the show you have to read this, but better yet listen because it is narrated by Kristen Bell and it is like have Veronica reading you one of her case files. She is phenomenal when it comes to characterizations of the other cast members, including the men. Enjoy this!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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Christmas Moon

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Christmas Moon
(Vampire for Hire #4.5)
by J.R. Rain

This is why I like these books, there are some of the strangest things happening to this woman who was so ordinary not so many years ago. This short gives you a quick look into the life that Sam has built for herself after her transformation into a vampire. She has her business, which is doing very well considering she can only really work at night. Her love life is definitely doing well since she finally decided to give Kingsley a real chance. Most important of all is that her children are happy and healthy and living with her.

Sam has an interesting Christmas going on. Her client needs her to find a safe that he has never opened. She has a man come to her stating that he was her guardian angel but because she is now immortal he can tell her he loves her. How many women get that said from an angel?

Another good entry!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I paused and flipped through a historical mystery novel, read a random paragraph, liked it, and dropped it into my own hand basket. For a buck, I’ll try anything. Hell, the Kindle app on my iPhone was filled with free ebooks and .99 cent ebooks that I had snagged in a buying frenzy a few days ago. Now, all I needed to do was to find the time to read them. I’m sure the one about the vampire mom—written, of all people, by a guy with a beard—should give me a good laugh.

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Moon Child

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Moon Child
(Vampire for Hire #4)
by J.R. Rain





Samantha Moon and her family and friends just continue to keep my attention no matter what they are doing. The story continues from the point it ended in the last book seamlessly.The characters are continuing to grow and become more well defined as to who they are and where they stand within this world. The locations are familiar and allow you to feel like you are truly a part of things as they happen.

Samantha has a hard decision to make and is not sure how she should move forward. Her seven year old son is dying and there is nothing the doctors can do, but she may be able to save him. If she does she is able to she may be giving up her own chance at becoming mortal again. What she finds out soon is that someone else wants her artifact in order to end their own immortality and he will do anything to get it.

Definitely recommend to fans of Samantha Moon series and anyone looking for something a little light with bite.



My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Danny was there, sleeping. He was sitting in one of the wooden chairs at the foot of the bed. His head had flopped back and he was snoring loudly up at the heavens. Probably irritating the hell out of God. One thing I didn’t miss from living with the man was all his damn snoring. Well, that and the cheating.


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Red Tide

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red tide

Red Tide

I love a good mystery and this is a very good one. I started reading and was unable to put it down because I was so caught up in who could be doing the killing and how it was going to effect everyone around them. This was able to keep me guessing even after I thought I knew who it was. The characters were very real and got me involved in their lives, they are very lively and full of life. The dialogue is easy to follow but does not talk down to you at all and even the technical terms are defined. The story maintains the tension throughout and draws you in as the time ticks away and things become more complicated.

Aspen Falls is a small town in Colorado which has the distinction of having had a serial killer bury his victims within its boundaries. When FBI agent Nicholas Grant finally finds the location of the dumping ground of a the serial he has been tracking for the past ten years,  he thinks that he will finally be able to bring closure to the families of his thirteen victims, what he actually finds is more bodies. Jamie Taylor is brought in with her dog to help pinpoint the graves, she is one of the best in the field, and she found them and a lot more.

What they uncover means that there is another serial killer operating in their small town and using the same area to dump bodies. Now they have to find the culprit before any more people go missing to a killer who leaves no marks on the body and no evidence that will lead back to him.

I think this was a great book and I enjoyed it a great deal. I would recommend it highly to any fan of the mystery/suspense genre.

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

Grief is a place, even in the most lush surroundings, that is solitary. There is nothing but the loss.
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Angry Lead Skies

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9723006

Angry Lead Skies (Garrett Files #10)

This is one of the really good ones as far as Garrett and his adventures are concerned. I always like that he has something different going on that takes place in his fictional land. The story moves pretty quickly and we get to see how he acts with women other than those he always has around. The characters are fairly well defined and fleshed out.

Garrett is awakened from a deep sleep by Playmate who comes to him and asks that he help protect an obnoxious kid named Kip Prose who is being threatened by creatures who are hard to describe. Kip is a teenager who was befriended by two strange guys who have been giving him ideas for inventions that could make someone a lot of money. Opening his door when a woman is not knocking does not ever work out for him, but neither does it when they do.

Enjoy this adventure and watch Garrett try to please everyone and still get paid.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
“The Dead Man once told me that monsters aren’t born, they’re made. That they are memorials which take years of cruelty to sculpt. And that while we should weep for the tortured child who served as raw material, we should permit no sentiment to impede us while we rid the world of the terror strewn by the finished work. It took me a while to figure out what he meant but I do understand him now.”
― Glen Cook, Angry Lead Skies