REVIEW: The Zoo at the Edge of the World

The Zoo at the Edge of the World
Author: Eric Kahn Gale

Marlin Rackham stutters. And he is completely fed up with people assuming because he stumbles over his words that he must also be stupid. But Marlin is a Rackham....and Rackhams power through even the most difficult of experiences. Marlin's father is famous. Roland Rackham is an adventurer, famous for his exploration of dangerous places and his capture of many dangerous animals. He now runs the Zoo at the Edge of the World, a resort for the wealthy to come and see exotic animals. This story tells of a strange and scary week at the zoo. Marlin's father captures a Jaguar. Not only is the Jaguar fierce, but it also gives Marlin a gift. A gift that will change everything. Marlin's life will never be the same.

This is such a magical and interesting story! It was not what I expected. Much, much more going on in this tale than just a children's story. This book might be just a bit too intense for younger readers. It delves into some very dark subjects. It's not graphic....just a bit dark and has some moments of violence that might be too much for kids under 10.

I listened to the audio book version of this story (Recorded Books). Narrated by Julian Elfer, the audio is almost 5 hours long. Elfer gives a great performance. He reads at a nice pace and gives the characters/animals personality. Very entertaining listening experience. I have hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand the entire book.

This is the first book by Eric Kahn Gale that I have read. He has written three other books for middle grade students, The Bully Book, The Wizard's Dog and The Wizard's Dog Fetches the Grail. I enjoyed The Zoo at the Edge of the World, so I have added these other 3 books to my TBR. Always up for a great children's story!

REVIEW: The Murder on the Links

The Murder on the Links
Author: Agatha Christie

The Murder on the Links is the second Hercule Poirot mystery written by Agatha Christie and published in 1923. I'm reading my way through all of Christie's books in publication order. Ever since the summer I turned 9 and found a box set of Poirot novels at a garage sale, Agatha Christie has been my favorite author. I spent that entire summer reading about Poirot's little gray cells and fabulous mustache. :) Been hooked ever since! As I read each Poirot book, I'm hunting up the television version of the story. David Suchet is magnificent!

In The Murder on the Links, Poirot and his sidekick Hastings are on the case again. This time, Poirot receives a letter requesting his help....but his client is already dead by the time he arrives on the scene. Mystery women on trains, bodies buried at a golf course, strange secrets, local police who underestimate Poirot's skills.....this is definitely classic Christie.

I listened to the audio book version (Dreamscape Media, LLC) of this novel. Narrated by Charles Armstrong, the unabridged audio is just short of six hours long. I like Armstrong's voice. He reads at a nice pace, giving proper suspense and adding the proper personality and accents to each character. I have significant hearing loss, but was easily able to hear and understand this entire audio book.

I did have one problem while listening to this book on audio as I did housework and worked outside. Over the span of almost 100 years, some words lose meanings or fall out of common usage. My husband and son fell into giggle fits or smirks each time the book said something like "I know who the killer is, Poirot ejaculated.''  Sigh. One line that was something like "They stood by and listened as Poirot strongly ejaculated'' ... caused snorts and hoots at my expense. That one word was used frequently by Christie in this novel....and I had to listen to 50 Shades of Poirot jokes for several days. There were frequent comments about my listening to "cozy porn'' and a whole host of bad jokes. The more I tried to explain that the word also means to exclaim quickly or excitedly, the worse it got. Hopefully, in the next book she chose exclaim, blurt, blab, gush or reveal. :)

Moving on! The Man in the Brown Suit is up next ..... Colonel Race, 1924!

REVIEW: The Black Cat Knocks on Wood

The Black Cat Knocks on Wood
Author: Kay Finch

This story had me chuckling out loud several times while reading. In this second book in the Bad Luck Cat Mystery series, Hitchcock (the lovely black cat) is seen at the scene of yet another murder, senior citizens are trying their hands at rodeo roping, and Sabrina Tate finds herself doing a bit of amateur sleuthing to clear her cat's name....again. This series is always entertaining!

I love all the quirky side characters in this series. Aunt Rowe is always up to something....this time it's roping goats. Does she know how to ride rodeo and rope goats? Nope. Is she willing to admit she doesn't know how to rope a goat? Nope. Does she admit someone her age has no business riding in a rodeo? Nope. Just made me smile. I hope in 10 years or so that I'm feisty enough to go out and rope goats if I want to...  I wouldn't want to...as I don't like rodeo (or circus performances for that matter) due to animal abuse. But....I COULD venture out and try it if I wanted to. :) My dog would probably let me rope her...carefully. :) Aunt Rowe is always up to something. :) If it isn't Hitchcock riling up the townsfolk by finding bodies or being seen at murder scenes, then it's Aunt Rowe doing something strange. I also enjoy how many of the local residents give Hitchcock side eye and call him a reincarnation of the legendary devil cat. While he is a black cat....and seems to appear at the scene of gruesome killings....he's really just a sweet, sleek, mini-panther. :)

The mystery is entertaining in The Black Cat Knocks on Wood. As usual, it moved along at a good pace with a fun side plot (senior rodeo). There were plenty of suspects and twists. Hitchcock freaked out the town again. And Sabrina once again had to prove her cat is not evil. Poor Hitchcock....so misunderstood. :)

I listened to the audio book version of this story (Tantor Audio). Narrated by Amy Rubinate, the audio is just a bit over 8 hours long. I have hearing loss, but could hear and understand this entire book. It did take me a bit to get used to the southern accent....but once I was accustomed to Rubinate's voice, this was an entertaining listen. Only took a chapter or two.

Fun read! There are four books in this series so far. I'm finally down to the last one I haven't read...book 3....The Black Cat Sees His Shadow.  I will definitely keep reading this series. I enjoy cozy mysteries that make me laugh. :)

REVIEW: Killing the SS

Killing the SS
Author: Bill O'Reilly

I'm not a fan of Bill O'Reilly. I never liked his political commentary shows. He just isn't someone I enjoy. But to be fair -- I don't like any of the main stream political commentators from left or right, or even the middle. I prefer to form my own opinions based on neutral factual information.....not listen to rants from journalists about their personal opinion. This isn't a personal judgment on Bill O'Reilly....I'm just not someone who watches rants from either side (I equally dislike Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity....whatever person is ranting on CNN, FOX, etc (I don't know all their names because I don't watch)....I avoid this sort of program in general.) I was trolling about on my local library's digital site when this series came up in my "suggested reading''  Hmmm.....a series about famous deaths and assassinations. Intriguing. I listen to a lot of non-fiction audio books about history, so I clicked and started reading book blurbs on this series. Imagine my surprise when the author's name caught my attention. Bill O'Reilly. Really?? Instead of turning me off, it just made me want to read the series even more. I wanted to know what other info Bill has to share besides politics.....

I'm glad I took the time to listen to this book. Although it really offers nothing new about the pursuit, capture and convictions of Nazi SS members following World War II (and the many that escaped any sort of trial or conviction), I found the narrative interesting. There is some updated information on some of the Nazi hunters that I didn't know about....the Mossad was more involved in the process than was first known as they kept their actions secret for decades. I would NEVER want to be on the wrong side of the Mossad. It makes me realize that those who lived in hiding and technically escaped justice lived in fear and paranoia for the rest of their lives. That is somehow a worse punishment than being caught. (I chuckled darkly a few times and had that momentary thought.....the one that goes....you killed my family members and had a public trial & execution or hid like a dog for decades in some out of the way country....debt paid, murderers.)

My one problem with this audio book is Bill O'Reilly's narration. There are frequent mistakes, strange pauses, and times where it's obvious that he had lost his place in the script and stumbled over a sentence, mispronunciation of German names and places, etc.  He also has a strange cadence to his reading.  Strange pauses....weird inflection.....out of place emphasis on some words or portions of sentences.  It made it difficult to listen at first until I got used to his strange narration and could willingly block it out.  I don't understand why some of the mistakes were not edited out -- he stumbles over words, hangs on the end of words because he's lost his place in the script, leaves weird pauses at the wrong places. It's just a bad performance. I was surprised at this. Bill O'Reilly has been on television and radio for years. But he just didn't do justice to reading his own book. There are several other titles in this series I would like to listen to on audio....but I'm hoping he doesn't narrate them all. He is difficult to listen to.....just a strange performance and poor editing.

Interesting facts. Poor narration. I am going to try other titles in this series. The series includes books on the crucifixion of Jesus, the assassination of Lincoln, John Kennedy's death, the Revolutionary war, and several other interesting topics. I will switch to the print books if the audio performances are all as bad as this one. I'm giving it a middle of the road rating....3 stars. I'd give the information a solid 4, but the weird narration dings it down a notch. Just a hard listen....strange performance.

REVIEW: Left Fur Dead

Left Fur Dead
Author: J.M. Griffin

I talk to my pets. While they listen in their own way, they don't really answer back except in meows and barks. Juliette Bridge talks to her pet as well. The difference is that her pet bunny can answer back....telepathically.

Left Fur Dead is the first book in a new cozy series, the Jules & Bun Mysteries. The title alone was enough to make me want to read the book. The fact her bunny can "talk'' (even if Juliette only hears Bun in her head) made me smile before I even read the first chapter. This book is a cute, fun, totally entertaining light mystery. There are many, many pet/small animal themed cozies....but usually the pets are cats and dogs. This is the first cozy I've read where the pet is a bunny. Not just any old lop eared, nose-twitching bunny....but a telepathic, sleuthing sidekick bunny!

The basics: Juliette and Bun are on their morning walk, just a short hop from Fur Bridge Farm. Bun spots something in the lake, so they investigate. Unfortunately, it's a body. A local performer...a mime...is floating dead in the lake. But who would want to kill Arty the Mime? Bun and Jules are on the case!

The mystery progresses at a nice pace. There are plenty of suspects and twists. Juliette and Bun are an entertaining pair of amateur sleuths. I enjoyed the background theme of a bunny rescue. The side characters are all quirky and fun. The story is a nice mix of mystery, humor and cute bunnies. All in all, a very entertaining cozy mystery. I will definitely be reading more! Can't wait for the next book!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Dance Hall of the Dead

Dance Hall of the Dead
Author: Tony Hillerman

I first read this book as a teenager back in the 1980s. I loved this series! I read a few books before life intervened and I no longer had a lot of time to read. College ...relationships ....marriage ...work....kids. Those things tend to suck up so much time that books take a back seat. Now that the kids are grown and I'm older, I have time for books again.....and I'm re-visiting favorites. Tony Hillerman definitely made my list of required reading!

Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is with the Navajo police. When a 12-year old Zuni boy and a 14-year old Navajo disappear, Leaphorn knows he has to work fast to find the boys. One boy is found dead...gruesomely murdered. Did the other boy kill him? If not, where is the other boy? Leaphorn soon discovers there is much more to this case than a missing child.

I listened to the audio version of this book (Recorded Books). Narrated by George Guidall, the unabridged audio is just over six hours long -- easy listening length. Guidall reads at a nice even pace and has a pleasant voice. I enjoyed his performance. Listening to the audio really brought the story to life. Excellent listening experience!

This book features Joe Leaphorn by himself. His usual partner, Jim Chee, is not in this story. I remembered immediately why I love this series. The story is well-written and deeply rich in Navajo life and culture. The mystery is intriguing and has great action and suspense. I read this book so many years ago that I didn't remember much about the plot....I was still surprised by the ending. I'm so glad I'm re-visiting this series.

There are 18 books in this series by Tony Hillerman, and 5 more added by his daughter, Anne. I'm going to enjoy reading my way through this series! I'm glad his daughter is continuing the stories!

On to the next book -- Listening Woman.

REVIEW: Shamed

Shamed
Author: Linda Castillo

This series is one of my favorites! I am never disappointed by Linda Castillo!

Shamed is the 11th book in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate grew up Amish, but left the faith as a teenager. She returned to Painters Mill, OH as an adult to become the local police chief. She is skilled at her job. Her knowledge of the Amish and ability to speak Pennsylvania Dutch are often vital because 1/3 of the local population is Amish. In this newest book, an Amish grandmother is brutally murdered and a 7-year old girl is taken by her killer. As they attempt to track the killer to find the missing girl, the case slowly pieces together. Much more is involved than just the kidnapping of an Amish child. Decisions and mistakes from the past are revealed.

As usual, I loved this book! Total binge read! I read the entire story in one sitting....I couldn't stop reading.The story sucked me in immediately and kept my attention until the very end. Suspenseful and exciting! Loved it!

I'm glad that this book was more about the case and investigation than Kate Burkholder's relationship with John Tomasetti. I like the characters....and character development is important in a series. But I want more investigation and less rehashing events from the past. This book was the perfect mix.....mostly investigation with just a little sprinkling of love interest/relationship. Very enjoyable read!

I planned to read the entire series before reading this upcoming book. But.....I couldn't wait! After finishing book six, I skipped ahead to enjoy this newest story. Backtracking now to read the rest of the series. These books never disappoint me! I will definitely be reading any new short stories or books in this series! :)

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Chernobyl 01:23:40

Chernobyl 01:23:40
Author: Andrew Leatherbarrow

On April 26, 1986 the fourth reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (officially named the Vladmir Ilyich Lenin Nuclear Power Plant) exploded during a test, releasing huge amounts of radiation and contamination into a large section of Ukraine. The USSR fought to control the contamination while striving to prevent the accident becoming an embarrassment to the communist nation.  I was a senior in high school at the time. I remember the initial news stories stated that an unknown nuclear event of some type had been traced to the soviet union by European nuclear scientists based on increased radiation picked up by monitoring equipment. It took days for the USSR to admit there had been an accident. As more details slowly came out, it became a frightening tale of emergency workers dying of radiation and thousands of people permanently evacuated from their homes. I have always been curious to know more about the causes and aftermath of the accident. I've seen many, many photos of the abandoned city of Pripyat and watched documentaries about the accident and clean-up efforts, effects on wildlife in the exclusion zone around the accident site, and the long-term effects on the estimated 2.1 million people who still live in areas contaminated by the accident. I enjoyed the recent 4-part HBO miniseries on Chernobyl and wanted to read more. That's how I came across this book by Andrew Leatherbarrow.

Leatherbarrow was also interested in the accident, its causes and effects, but found most books and information to be too technical for those outside the nuclear field to fully understand. He spent years researching and wrote about what he learned, publishing it online for free download. He carefully edited his work based on reader input....and later published his findings in book form. He presents an interesting and factual account not only of the Chernobyl accident, but also gives facts about the history of nuclear energy, other accidents that have occurred and the safety of nuclear power versus other forms of energy production. He talks in depth about a tour he took to the site in 2011.

I listened to this book on audio. Narrated by Michael Page, the audio is about 6.5 hours long. Page reads at a nice pace and brings the narrative to life. I enjoyed this entire book! I found the author's research and presentation of the facts to be sound and very interesting. I also enjoyed his personal account about his trip to Ukraine to tour the exclusion zone. After listening to this account, I want to watch the miniseries again because I think I have a greater understanding of the events now.

I learned a lot from this book, not only about the accident but about nuclear power in general. Very informative and enjoyable! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in knowing more about Chernobyl.

REVIEW: Glow: Book 1 Potency

Glow: Book 1, Potency
Author: Audrey Hadley

The Syndrome -- a strange sleeping sickness -- has been killing people. A lot of people. It kills....then disappears....only to pop up somewhere else. The signs are always the same...strange behavior followed by a compulsion to sleep. Those afflicted are dead within 24 hours. This time, The Syndrome has hit New York. An entire homeless shelter filled with people....gone. Dead. At the same time far away in Nevada, a young girl named Harper sees a strange glowing being. She begins to think the glowing human-like creature has something to do with The Syndrome....but she isn't sure how. Or Why. Harper is determined to find the answers....no matter what the cost.

I normally enjoy YA science fiction....but I never really connected with this story or the characters. The plot is a bit disjointed and never really gelled for me. At one point, things totally change for Harper (I'm trying to be careful and not spoil the plot so I'm not going to go into detail about what this change entails) and it's a shocking change/revelation....but instead of being exciting, suspenseful and compelling at that point, the writing and plot just fell flat. The character was too accepting of the new circumstances. Other side characters and events were never fully developed. I think this book is a wonderful premise.....it just needs some more tweaking and strengthening prior to publication. With some editing, I think this could be a much stronger story. I will add that the cover art is phenomenal!

This review is written based on the advanced readers copy I received from the publisher. I'm going to limit this review to my blog and Goodreads for that reason. If further edits are made, I will gladly re-read, amend this review, and share the review more widely. The premise and bones of the story have great potential. It just needs a bit more work. And, as always, this is just my opinion. Other readers may feel differently. Not every story is for every reader.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Ruby & Topaz Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The VanApfel Girls are Gone

The VanApfel Girls are Gone
Author: Felicity McLean

The VanApfel Girls disappeared in 1992. All 3 of them. Hannah, Ruth and Cordelia. Gone. No Trace. Never found. Tikka remembers when the girls disappeared. The mystery pulled the small Australian community together....but over time dark secrets are revealed.

This story develops slowly. It's richly atmospheric and subtle....sad, disturbing and mesmerizing. I couldn't put the book down once I got into the story. At first, I was a bit confused....but as I read more, I found myself totally sucked in by the tale. If you start reading and aren't sure if you like it or not....keep reading. It sneaks up on you! One second I was like...what?....but after another chapter, I was completely hooked. Let it build.....

That is all I'm going to say about the plot.....no spoilers from me. Just be aware this isn't an in your face, blood dripping, pulse pounding thriller.....it's a slow build, suspenseful mystery...a look into the past. The narrator was 11 when the girls disappeared, but she's looking back at the events in 1992 as an adult returning to the area. It makes for an awesome read!

This is the first book by Felicity McLean that I've read. This story is well-written and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

**I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book from Algonquin Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Great Unexpected

The Great Unexpected
Author: Dan Mooney

Joel Monroe has been living in Hilltop Nursing Home for five years. At first his wife Lucey was with him and things were ok. But then Lucey died....and the sunshine just faded from Joel's life. He dislikes the nurses, hates his life, often wants to kill himself.....he's just sad, alone and lost. But then a new roommate is moved into his room....a former soap opera actor....and Joel forms a fast, strong friendship. Perspectives can change.....life can improve.....adventures explored....even for an old curmudgeon.

Although the thought of old age, nursing homes and failing health is a bit depressing....this story brought out the sunshine that can beam into the final stages of life. Sometimes we are gifted friendships that have lasting, joyful effects on life. Joel is lucky enough to experience this very gift. It makes for a bittersweet tale. A bit of redemption, a splash of humor and a lot of joy and emotion. Great read!

This is the first book by Joel Monroe that I've read. I'm impressed. This book is well-written and heartfelt. He has two other books that I've added to my TBR list -- Me, Myself and Them, and A Rock and a High Place.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold
Author: Lisa Schmid

Another new town. A new school. No friends. It's all happening again. Ollie Oxley and his family have just moved to Granite City, CA. Ollie hopes this move will be better than the last...but it's doubtful. They live in a pink house. He manages to offend the local bully on the first day. And, his new best friend is a ghost. Poor Ollie.

I enjoy reading middle grade books. I read a lot of horror, mystery, thriller type stories...and sometimes I just need a palate cleanser. I always head to children's books to clear my head. This story is fun to read, and a great adventure story. Middle school is enough of an adventure for anyone (Glad I am wayyy past those years!)...add in a ghost, a mean bully, and hunting for treasure and you've got a great story!

I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author. I love the mix of humor and mystery in this book. It made for a nice afternoon of reading. The story is completely middle grade appropriate. Nothing too scary....just lots of middle school antics, humor and adventure!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from North Star Editions via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Black Cat Steps on a Crack

Black Cat Steps on a Crack
Author: Kay Finch

The Black Cat Steps on a Crack is the 4th book in the Bad Luck Cat cozy mystery series. Some of the residents of Lavender, TX still think the sleek black cat owned by Sabrina Tate is bad luck. Hitchcock always seems to be in the thick of things when there are dark goings on in town. Sabrina vehemently swears that her cat is not an incarnation of legendary El Diablo Gato, a devil cat said to bring bad luck and curses. Hitchcock just happens to find trouble where it's brewing. He can't help it! This time, a new library is under construction in town. The new librarian, Jane Alcott, can be a bit annoying. She pesters the construction workers and just seems to always stick her nose in to other people's projects and business. When Jane is found dead at the construction site, Sabrina finds herself pulled into the investigation to clear a friend's husband. Jane might have been annoying....but she didn't deserve to die! And the wrong person is being framed for the crime!

This series is fun to read. Hitchcock manages to sneak out and go all sorts of places. It seems every time Sabrina is absolutely sure her cat is at home.....he isn't. I like all the quirky characters and the local superstitions and legends. The mystery moved along at a nice pace with plenty of suspects and surprises. I wasn't all that shocked at the end....but there were elements to the final solution that I didn't expect. Sabrina is a funny, intelligent and feisty main character. And Hitchcock brings an awesome mini-panther fabucat feel to the plot.

This is definitely a cozy mystery. No graphic descriptions of the murder or violence, no cussing, no sex, etc. Age appropriate for middle grade and up.

There are three yummy dessert recipes at the end of the book as well!

I will definitely be reading more of this series! Very entertaining story!

**I voluntarily read this book from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. **

REVIEw: Pawsitively Poisonous

Pawsitively Poisonous
Author: Melissa Erin Jackson

Amber Blackwood loves running her shop, Quirky Whisker, in Edgehill, OR. She sells an eclectic mix of things -- healing teas, herbal remedies, even toys -- each with a bit of a magical touch. Nobody in town realizes she's a witch....and Amber wants to keep it that way. One of her friends has been ill for quite awhile and never seems to get better. Melanie drops into the shop for a vial of headache remedy....and is later found dead clutching the empty vial. Amber finds herself drawn into a murder investigation. She knows it wasn't her herbal remedy that killed her friend.....so what did? And why?

Pawsitively Poisonous is the first book in the new Witch of Edgehill series. I loved the quirky characters and the concept of a shop that sells magical toys and remedies. The mystery is cozy (no graphic descriptions of blood, sex, etc...no cursing, etc) with a light supernatural touch. I would love to own one of Amber's magical animated toys! :) The mystery developed at a nice pace, creating suspense with plenty of suspects and twists. The magical/supernatural elements didn't overpower the mystery plot, but just added depth to the characters.

I will definitely read more of this series. It was an enjoyable, light, entertaining read. I liked the mix of humor, magic and mystery.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Ringtail Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer

The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer
Author: Krista Davis

It's Halloween in Wagtail, VA and the Sugar Maple Inn is hosting a group of ghost hunters. Holly Miller doesn't believe in ghosts, but she knows the Apparition Apprehenders and their proposed television series will bring tourists and money to Wagtail. Just as the spooky festivities for humans and pets alike are ramping up, one of the inn's guests is found dead in the bathhouse of a reportedly haunted old hotel in town. How did someone drown in two feet of water? And is there a murderer lurking in Wagtail?

The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer is the second book in this series. There are currently five books in the Paws & Claws series, with a new book, The Dog Who Knew Too Much, coming out in November 2019.

Holly is putting her life back together after breaking off a relationship, leaving her job, and moving back to Wagtail to help her grandmother run the Sugar Maple Inn. She hasn't even unpacked her stuff...boxes are everywhere in her apartment at the inn. I had to sympathize with her....I hate moving. I hate unpacking. I would be sitting there amidst a huge stack of boxes too. Holly is an intelligent and interesting main character....but I really, really wish The Ben would just go away. Some former boyfriends just don't know when to disappear and not come back. The Ben makes an appearance in The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer, and I kept wanting desperately to magically hop into the book just long enough to tell Holly to boot his butt out of the inn and move on. And she's pining over her long-time friend who is engaged to someone else. That causes just as many eye-rolls for me as The Ben. The romance part of this series just annoys me. Please, please, please just let Holly figure out what she wants.....and don't form any love triangles. Too many cozy series try that bit.....   No, Holly....please no. Please, please No. :)

Fun, entertaining read. I love Halloween so I enjoyed the background theme of fall festivities in Wagtail. The murder mystery interwoven in with ghost hunters really made this a fun book to read. There were plenty of suspects.....an interesting side plot.....and some nice character development.

I listened to the audio version (Tantor Audio) of this book. Narrated by Jeanie Kanaley, the audio is just a bit over 10 hours long. Kanaley reads at a nice even pace, although it took me awhile to get used to her reading style and voice. At times she seemed to be over-enunciating her words just a bit with a constant high pitch to her voice....like she was reading a cutesie children's book to elementary kids rather than reading an adult cozy mystery, if that makes sense. After I got an hour or so into the story, it stopped annoying me....but I really had problems getting into the book at first because of the narrator's reading.

Great story! I have a review copy of the new book coming out this fall waiting for me....so on to book 3, Murder Most Howl!

REVIEW: We Were Killers Once

We Were Killers Once
Author: Becky Masterman

Holcomb, KS. 1959. An entire family murdered. The Clutter Family killings were immortalized by Truman Capote. Two killers were put to death for the crime. But just imagine if a third killer was there that night....and was never caught. In fact, what if another family was murdered, but the second crime was never solved. Flash forward several decades and a freshly released long-time convict is afraid that a death bed confession by one of the executed killers might reveal that he is that third killer. He's willing to do just about anything to remain a secret....

In Cold Blood is a rough read for me. I read it for the first time in college. It was just an incredibly creepy read for me (since I grew up in Kansas in a small town pretty much like Holcomb where rural families didn't lock their doors or worry about crime) and made me paranoid about walking around campus for several weeks. In Cold Blood was the first book I ever read about a crime that really happened. It made it a bit too real for me. I don't care for the book even now....just because the crime was so gruesome and unnecessarily cruel. This fictional story adds another layer on top....a what if that just chilled me to the bone. What if there was another murderer there that night....someone who was never caught? *Shiver*

We Were Killers Once is the fourth book in the Brigid Quinn series. Brigid is a retired FBI agent who is trying to get used to her retirement. It's a losing battle, as a series of coincidences line up to pull Brigid and her husband into the cold case of a family killed in Florida in 1959, just after the Clutters. I love how the author weaved this fictional story in with the true crime details described in Capote's book. But, the string of coincidences necessary to get there were just a bit much for me. I think part of the problem is that I jumped into this series on the fourth book....these characters obviously had a lot of background and detail that built up through the first three books. There was a bit of a disconnect for me because I didn't start this series from the beginning.

The story starts off a bit slow....but once the case revs up, there is great suspense and story-telling. The plot is interesting, engaging and very creative. I just didn't connect with the characters very well. Brigid's husband is a former priest...that seems a bit weird from the start. And Brigid is jealous of her husband's deceased first wife. Just a strange mix....then all the coincidences to tie them in with this unsolved murder and the Clutter murders.....it just didn't really gel for me. But.....I might have liked it better if I had read the first three books first. Or it might have been that the Clutter killings are a crime that just really bothers me. Not sure.

Solid 3.5 stars for the interesting plot. I'll round up to 4. I don't think I will be reading more of this series....it doesn't seem to really be one for me. Not every story is for every reader. It's a good story and very well-written....just not my cup of tea.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Fire in the Sky

Fire in the Sky
Author: Gordon L. Dillow

Stories about an asteroid striking the earth and causing complete destruction have been popular for decades now. Not to mention documentaries, podcast episodes, youtube videos.....  It's ingrained in pop culture that someday the Earth will be struck by a gigantic rock from space, and life as we know it will end. BOOM!

Fire in the Sky examines this pop culture phenomenon....adding in a lot of scientific fact about past asteroid strikes, what would really happen in case of a large asteroid hitting the planet, and how (or if) we can protect ourselves. Some of the facts surprised me. For instance, at least once a year an asteroid enters Earth's atmosphere causing a blast comparable to the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Smaller blasts occur at least once a month. I had no clue that asteroids enter the atmosphere that often and basically explode. I guess I just always assumed they blazed to earth as shooting stars. I never guessed some asteroids/meteors explode with apparent gusto. Yikes!

I will admit that I've watched all of the movies based on the apocalypse coming in the form of a large rock from space. It makes for a very suspenseful and enjoyable disaster action flick. I'm glad I took the time to read this book and learn actual facts about asteroids and what might happen if The Big One is coming our way. Dillow presents the facts in an interesting way, without any unnecessary melodrama. I read this book slowly....one chapter at a time....and gave my brain time to soak in the information. I enjoyed learning about what makes up an asteroid and where they come from, asteroid detection technology, what happens when an asteroid enters the atmosphere, the history of asteroid strikes on the Earth, and how many asteroids might be floating around out there that are big enough to take out the planet. Very interesting!!

I found this book interesting and informative, not alarming. I'm not going to look up at the night sky in fear...waiting for the end. But, the chance is there that someday a big lump of space rock might come close enough to cause concern. I'm glad that the science is there to at least try to avert an impact. The dinosaurs didn't fare so well....but at least we will get to attempt to stop the destruction this time.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Scribner via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: A Hidden Secret

A Hidden Secret
Author: Linda Castillo

In this Kate Burkholder short story, a newborn infant is left on the doorstep of the local Amish Bishop. As police chief, Kate finds herself searching for the mother of the baby. It isn't really a criminal case as the mother waited at the bishop's home until he and his wife were awake, knocked, and then carefully snuck away. She didn't leave the infant in any danger. But it's important to discover who the parents are, make sure the mother receives medical care, and determine what legally needs to be done with the baby. It turns out to be a very emotional case.

I really enjoy this series. Kate is an intelligent woman and a very skilled police officer. She was Amish but left the faith as a teenager after a traumatic event. This particular story is more about love, family, and loss than police investigation. It adds some character development for Kate, and her love interest John Tomasetti. I like it when authors release short stories in between novels in a series. It's nice to have a "visit'' with favorite characters while waiting for a new book...or just a short easy read before jumping into the next book.

I listened to the audio version of this story. As usual, it's narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Her voice is pleasant and she reads at a nice, even pace. She always gives a top notch performance. At just under 2 hours long, the audio is an easy, quick listen. Very enjoyable!

It's best to read the Kate Burkholder series in order. Some of the books and short stories have spoilers for prior plots if read out of order. This story works in between books 6 and 7. There are currently 10 books in the series with a new book, Shamed, coming out in July 2019.

REVIEW: The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists

The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists
Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Ok....Alexander McCall Smith is now firmly ensconced as one of my favorite authors. His No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is charming. I'm sorry I didn't start reading it long before now! And the first Detective Varg book, The Department of Sensitive Crimes, is witty and humorous. I jumped at the chance to read this Varg short story as well. It was as perfect a start to my day as my cup of mocha coffee.

Detective Ulf Varg is the senior officer in the Department of Sensitive Crimes. They investigate....well....sensitive crimes. Unusual cases that just don't fit into regular police investigation. The strange. The weird. The seemingly mundane, yet perplexing. Things like a show cat introduced to a ratty ginger tom cat by a nefarious person or persons unknown resulting in a litter of questionable kittens.....a chef who adds high doses of laxatives to the meals of politicians he doesn't like....a traitorous mole in a fringe political party that is sharing party platform and agenda secrets with another equally ridiculous fringe party. Unusual cases....sometimes silly cases....but ones that must be looked into.  There is also lots of lovely side banter between the officers in the department. They talk about the chances of being hit by a meteorite, overfishing of tuna, the beauty of vintage Saab cars, the psychology of depressed dogs, and Bergman films. The end result is a humorous, witty, and entertaining story.

Don't expect the usual investigative suspense novel when it comes to Detective Varg. This series is really literary fiction with a sprinkling of investigation and lots of light-hearted wit. Read this series for the wit and humor....just go with the flow. Varg and his department are a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the ever popular Scandinavian crime novel. I got an even bigger kick out of this story because I'm currently listening to a very serious Harry Hole (Jo Nesbo) audio book and kept thinking about what Harry Hole would think about the Moderate Extremist party and a litter of kittens with questionable genetics. :) I think he would have a very large drink, smoke a couple cigarettes, and just go home to watch television.

Great story! Very enjoyable! I can't wait for the next book in the new Varg series. :)

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this short story from Knopf Doubleday via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Dead Will Tell

The Dead Will Tell
Author: Linda Castillo

The Dead Will Tell is the sixth book in the Kate Burkholder series. Kate is the police chief in Painters Mill, Ohio. She grew up Amish, but left the faith as a teenager. Now she's back, running the local police department. In The Dead Will Tell, Kate is investigating a string of bizarre murders. The victims were stalked first. All received notes accusing them of being complicit in a crime. The case somehow ties in with a break-in at an Amish farm 35 years before that resulted in several deaths. Kate races to track down a killer before anyone else dies.

This story is solid....a horrific crime that turns into a 35 year cold case, revenge, danger and uncovering long-time secrets. I loved the investigation portion of this story, but I have to admit the Kate/John Tomasetti love interest portion of the plot got a bit old. Both of them are cops....so they should understand the hours, risks and importance of each other's jobs. But, now that they are semi-living together Tomasetti seems jealous and petulant about Kate doing her job, whining about not spending enough time together and pretty much being a jerk. This change in the character surprises me a bit. It seems....off. And, it really is exactly the situation that Kate worried about when Tomasetti was pressuring her to live with him. She's investigating several homicides and her man is complaining about her not being home to drink wine and go fishing with him??? What a load of poo. I think in this story, the romance angle jumped into the forefront a little bit too much. The background theme of Tomasetti going after the men responsible for the death of his wife and children several years before just gets a bit old....as does the Daniel Lapp side theme for Kate's character. Just my opinion.....I wish both would just get resolved so those themes don't have to be constantly dredged up again and again. BUT....that being said, this is still a solid book. I'm just getting a bit tired of the brooding, troubled boyfriend angle. That sort of theme is exactly why I avoid the romance genre....too melodramatic. I want murder investigation, not domestic upheaval scenes. Kate is a strong, intelligent woman who runs a police department with skill.....why wouldn't she put Tomasetti nicely, but firmly, into his place? Instead she goes into romantic commentary about how much she loves him....  I just want to jump into the story and tell her: Love him....but stand up for yourself, woman!

Ok....my bit of a rant about strong women getting bogged down in relationships is over.....I love this series. Kate is an intelligent and driven character. She has a lot of baggage from her childhood, but she uses her experience in her job. She works with one foot in the modern world and the other in the Amish culture.....makes for a great book series!

The Dead Will Tell is the sixth book in the series. There are currently 10 books, with a new book, Shamed, coming out in July 2019. I have an eGalley waiting for me...so decided to read through the series from the start as a refresher before reading the new book. I'm glad I did. I had previously read the first three books and then lost track of the series while waiting for book 4 to be published several years ago. Glad I picked it back up and revisited this series. The stories are well-written, suspenseful and interesting. Very entertaining! Just wish Kate would get her love life under control!  lol

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Kathleen McInerney narrates. Her voice is pleasant and she reads at an even pace. She gives a great performance as usual! The audio is just over 8.5 hours long. I have partial hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand the entire book. Very entertaining! I love listening to these books while working out in the yard. There are some sexual scenes, but they aren't graphic so I don't have to hurridly turn down the volume on my phone to not traumatize the neighbors. ha ha.

On to book 7, After the Storm!

REVIEW: Her Last Breath

Her Last Breath
Author: Linda Castillo

An Amish father and two of his children are killed in a hit and run accident. The driver hit their buggy and then drove away, leaving them to die in the roadway. One child survives. Police Chief Kate Burkholder is horrified, but the case is even more painful for her because the mother of the children is her childhood best friend. Kate swears to her friend Mattie that she will find out who killed her family.

I listened to the audio book version of this story in one day. I couldn't stop listening....the plot was so engrossing and suspenseful that I just had to know who killed an innocent Amish family on their way home from a trip to town. The ending caught me totally by surprise. Excellent! This is by far my favorite book in the series so far. Solid plot. Lots of investigation. And some excellent twists and turns along the way. Loved it!

Her Last Breath is the 5th book in the Kate Burkholder series. The series has 10 books, with the 11th, Shamed, coming out in July. I'm reading my way through the whole series before I tackle my digital ARC of the new book. This series is one of my favorites. Kate Burkholder is intelligent, skilled at her job and driven to protect the people of Painter's Mill. She grew up Amish and left the faith, so she has to deal with that rift quite often. There is a splash of romance in the series as well, but it doesn't over power the main plot.

The audio book, narrated by Kathleen McInerney, is just under 10 hours long. McInerney has a pleasant voice and reads at a nice pace. She gives a great performance! I have hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand this entire audio book. Nice listening experience!

On to book 6 -- The Dead Will Tell.

REVIEW: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Author: Alexander McCall Smith

This story is absolutely charming! Mma Precious Ramotswe spends several years caring for her elderly father in his home in Botswana. Her father suffers from lung disease after years working in the mines. When he passes away, Mma Ramotswe inherits his money and uses it to open a business....a detective agency. She is the only female detective in Botswana and isn't really trained in investigation, but she has wits, intelligence, and intuition. At first, cases are few and she worries her business will not take off. But then cases start trickling in.....cheating husbands, a disappearance, a stolen car, a boy who may have been killed by witch doctors, a rich man's daughter who sneaks out to be with boys.....  As the list of cases grows, so does Mma Ramotswe's confidence and reputation. She is not just the only female detective in Botswana....she is the BEST female detective in Botswana. The Number One. :)

I have to say that this book surprised me. I have had this first book on my TBR shelf for YEARS....and it just seemed to always get pushed aside for other things. I'm sorry I waited so long! Mma Ramotswe is such an intelligent, witty and capable main character. She greets her every day tasks with love, understanding and diligence. Within this first story her background and history are recounted along with the stories of how she became a detective and her first few cases. Sprinkled in among the cases and anecdotes about Mma Ramotswe's life, there is also the story of the history and people of Botswana. It's just a beautiful, humorous and incredibly entertaining story. I'm sorry I took so long to read it!

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Lisette LeCat, the audio is just over 8 hours long. LeCat has a beautiful voice and she brings the characters in the story to life. Totally entertaining performance! I will definitely be listening to more books in this series. I love reading....but having this series read to me will be awesome!  I already have the second book, Tears of the Giraffe, checked out from my library's digital site!

There are 19 books in this series so far, with a 20th (To the Land of Long Lost Friends) coming out in September 2019.

REVIEW: Watch House

Watch House
Author: Robert Westall

This book has been on my TBR pile for some time and got a bit lost in the list. I finally decided it was time to read this ghost story, and I'm so glad I did! So enjoyable!

The basics: Anne's parents are at odds again. This time, they are headed for divorce. Anne's mother forces her to leave London and travel to Garmouth, a seaside village. She's plonked down in the cottage of her former nanny, Prudie, and her husband, Arthur. A whole summer in a village where she knows nobody -- it's a bit of a nightmare for any teenager. Anne decides to take it in stride. She explores the village and begins asking Arthur questions about the nearby watch house. Inside is a treasure trove of history...pieces of boats that sank on the rocks, things that washed up on the shore after wrecks, bits of sail, ropes....even a skull and several jaw bones. It's a bit creepy.....and it only gets worse when strange writing starts showing up on all the glass display cases in the watch house. AnHelpAnHelpAnHelp. Anne is a bit terrified when she figures out what the writing means:  Anne Help.  Does the spirit that reportedly haunts the old watch house need her help?

The front cover art for this particular edition is just awesome!! The picture on the front is what made me want to read this book in the first place! The skull superimposed over the watch house is just awesome!

This is such an interesting and suspenseful story! It definitely kept my attention from start to finish. I did have to look up a few things so I could visualize the story. I'd never heard of a watch house before....lots of interesting facts and photographs on the internet about watch brigades who worked to save people after shipwrecks. I looked at a lot of photos of old watch houses to get a feel for what Anne saw. Only after looking at all those photos did I learn that back in the 80s, the BBC made a movie version of this story! Now that I've read the book, I'm going to watch the movie and get an even better feel for the watch house, the seaside cliffs and the suspense of this great ghost story! I hope the movie sticks close to the source material. For anyone else that would like to watch it, the movie is on youtube: 

This story is a very enjoyable teenage adventure tale with some supernatural spookiness. It's totally age appropriate for ages 13 and up. There are a couple minor curse words, but nothing too graphic or scary. As an adult, I enjoyed this story immensely. It made for a great afternoon of enjoyable reading. 

This is the first book by Robert Westall that I've read. I'm definitely going to read more by this author. This was a great story! And he has many more books that look like stories I would really enjoy! Check out his website here: www.robertwestall.com

Now I get to watch the movie version! Yay!! 

REVIEW: Long Lost

Long Lost
Author: Linda Castillo

I didn't realize that Linda Castillo had written some short stories in between books in the Kate Burkholder series! My library has a couple of them....the rest I will buy...as I read my way through this series. It is one of my favorites!

It's fall and Kate decides to escape the stress of her job as police chief in Painter's Gap for a nice weekend away with her lover, John Tomasetti. They arrive at the quaint, picturesque Bed and Breakfast more than an hour away, looking forward to some down time. But it seems the B&B has a reputation for being haunted. They get the full story from the owners....about 22 years ago, a guest, Angela Blaine, disappeared. Only a pile of bloody clothing was found. No trace of the woman since, except some sightings of her ghost. Kate and John both get sucked into the story and do some investigation, seeking justice for Angela. Turns out some secrets are best left alone.

Great short story! I love how both of them got sucked into the investigation despite them going away together to leave all that "cop stuff'' behind for a couple days. Interesting story, and some nice character development for Kate and John. This story is meant to be read after book 4, Gone Missing. If you read out of order, the story has some spoilers for Gone Missing. The B&B trip takes place just after they closed the missing persons cases in book 4.

I listened to the audio version of this story. At 1.5 hours, it's an easy quick listen, narrated by Kathleen McInerney. McInerney reads at a nice pace and has a pleasant, easy to understand, voice. A nice listening experience! I enjoyed the story while working out in the yard.

The Kate Burkholder series has 10 books, with a new book, Shamed, coming out in July. There are about six short stories sprinkled in among the books. Best to read the series in order as some of the later stories/books do have at least minor spoilers for past plots.

Moving on to book 5, Her Last Breath.

REVIEW: Gone Missing

Gone Missing
Author: Linda Castillo

Kate Burkholder is called in to investigate the disappearance of an Amish teenager. The girl was enjoying Rumspringa, a period of freedom for teens where they can experience the modern world before being fully baptized into the Amish faith. As Kate investigates the disappearance, she and Agent John Tomasetti discover similar cold cases going back several years. Amish teens in the region who were a bit rebellious, wanting to leave the faith or misbehaving have been disappearing for years. When a teen Kate knows and loves disappears, the case hits closer to home and Kate knows she has to solve the case fast.

Gone Missing is another great story in the Kate Burkholder series! Fast paced and action packed, this story definitely kept my attention from start to finish! And multiple twists and turns kept me guessing right up to the end. Awesome!

I enjoy this series. Each case involves the Amish, but it isn't just slight variations on one theme...each story is different and well-written. Kate is intelligent, driven and skilled at her job. Born Amish, she has an insight into that culture that others just don't have. Tomasetti is her best friend and lover. There is a bit of a romance angle there, but it doesn't overpower the main plot. It's just a bit of seasoning for character development.

There are 10 books in the Kate Burkholder series with a new book, Shamed, coming out in July 2019. I started reading this series several years ago and lost track of it while waiting for book 4 to come out. Glad I finally read this story! I'm reading my way through the whole series so that I can read the new book! Moving on to a short story, Long Lost....Kate Burkholder 4.5! 

REVIEW: Ghost Town

Ghost Town
Author: Joan Lowery Nixon

Ghost Town tells seven stories about historic and now abandoned (or turned into tourist attraction sites) towns in the United States. Tombstone, AZ. Shakespeare, NM. Maiden, MT. Virginia City, NV. Grafton, UT. Bodie, CA. Fort Griffin, TX. What I enjoyed most about this book is the fact Joan Lowery Nixon first tells a fictional story about a supernatural or strange encounter in each place....then follows up with a chapter filled with factual information on each town, including contact information for tourist info, simple driving directions to get there, and a listing of websites and publications for more information. This book was published about 20 years ago, so some of the information might be outdated, but it's easy to find updated sites online.

I've been a bit obsessed with the Old West era ever since I read Laura Ingalls Wilder's books as a child. The resilience and strength of those who headed west just amaze me. Plus, all the tales and legends of heroes and villains or those who were a mix of both. So much history! It makes ghost towns incredibly interesting for me! This book was a fun and interesting read! Joan Lowery Nixon's books are always well-written and enjoyable. Geared toward middle grade age students, the chapters in this book are short and concise, but full of information. The legends about the particular town are told in the fictional story and information about the actual physical town and its history are further explored in the non-fiction follow up chapter on each site.

This book could be used to entice a reluctant reader or as supplemental reading in a classroom setting. As an adult, I love US history so this book was an interesting, quick read for me.

Joan Lowery-Nixon wrote more than 100 books for kids and won four Edgar Allen Poe awards for mysteries. Geared to middle grade through YA readers, Nixon's stories are enjoyable for adults as well. Sometimes I just want to enjoy a mystery or interesting story without having any heavy adult themes. Nixon's books are perfect for a mystery fix with no spurting blood or graphic horror moments. Kid's lit can be a great palate cleanser for the mind! Just an enjoyable reading experience!

REVIEW: Skin Game

Skin Game
Author: Jim Butcher

Skin Game is the 15th book in the Dresden Files series. I have a real hatred of cliffhanger endings when the next book in the series isn't published yet. Jim Butcher is still working on book 16 (Peace Talks) in the Dresden series. It's a few years over-due and I've just been slowly reading my way through the series hoping for that book to at least get a publication date before I caught up. A recent update that Butcher is currently at Chapter 65 in his manuscript made me feel it was time to read Skin Game. I took a chance on hitting a cliffhanger that would just leave me hanging for awhile.....

I'm glad I finally read this book! There is some awesome character development in it and the story is totally engaging! I needed a Dresden fix! Mab loans Harry out to an old nemesis, Nicodemus. As her Winter Knight, Dresden can't refuse and he has to abide by certain rules or risk angering Mab. They are going to break into a very high security vault in the NeverNever. It's a dangerous task to begin with as the vault belongs to Hades, the Lord of the Underworld. Dresden is sure that Nicodemus is hiding his true intentions.....but he has no choice but to help him.

This is an enjoyable, action-packed story. I loved the character development that happens as the story unfolds. One of my favorite characters comes into his own in the perfect way....not saying more than that to avoid spoilers. I will say I smiled for the rest of the day after one scene in this book. :) I can't wait to read Peace Talks and see where Jim Butcher goes with some of the things this book sets up. So interesting! I didn't finish this story with a negative GRRM "will you just finish the darn book'' feeling....but rather on a much more positive note. I like where the story is going....and I'm perfectly fine with waiting a bit longer while Butcher finishes up the next story. For me, Skin Game interjected a bit of new energy into this series.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. James Marsters does such a great job! The audio is just under 16 hours long. Marsters reads at a steady pace and does a great acting job (as usual). Enjoyable listen while I worked outside in the garden. :)

Great read! I will have to move on to another urban fantasy series while waiting for Peace Talks. I think I might re-read the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne now that it's complete while I'm waiting. And there are a few Dresden short stories I haven't read yet. And I can always re-visit Simon R. Green's Nightside series (another favorite). That's more than enough to fill my urban fantasy needs until Peace Talks comes out. Instant Preorder as soon as it actually has a publication date!

REVIEW: The Girl in Red

The Girl in Red
Author: Christina Henry

Little Red Riding Hood takes on a new dystopian flavor in this awesome re-telling! Cordelia -- who prefers to be called Red -- lives with her parents and brother. Her life is relatively happy and more than a bit nerdy because both of her parents are college professors. Then....The Cough comes. Many, many people start to get sick....people start to panic....society begins to fall apart. It happens slowly, so Red prepares the best she can. She learns. She studies. She trains. And then the time comes to leave the city....the whole family begins a trek to Grandmother's House, a remote cabin in the woods 300 miles away. Red believes they can make it...if they avoid roads, bad people and accidents along the way. It's not safe to stay put. And it's not safe to leave. There are more than Big, Bad Wolves waiting to waylay Red on her trip to Grandmother's House.

This story is fast-paced and suspenseful. Red is a strong, intelligent and incredibly resilient main character. I loved seeing the character develop over the course of the story. She sees what the future is going to bring and plans ahead for it, while everyone else just seems to discount her opinions. In the end, she learns to rely on her judgment and does the best she can in a very bad situation.

I'm hoping there will be another book. The ending worked but it was a bit abrupt, in my opinion. If it's a cliffhanger...I'm ok with that. If not....I'd really like to know what happens next! But even if there is never another book, I loved this story! Red Riding Hood got a great update.

I previously read The Mermaid by this author. I enjoyed this book just as much or maybe even more than that one. I'm definitely going to read more by this author, especially her stories about Alice and Captain Hook. I'm a sucker for re-tellings!

This book was a binge read for me...I stayed up half the night reading because I couldn't put it down. Any story that keeps me reading until 3 am deserves full stars from me. Loved the story! Great main character and interesting plot.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Mausoleum

The Mausoleum
Author: David Marks

I have to admit...this book surprised me. I expected a flash-back style crime\murder mystery novel...but got something richer and much more interesting. This is a mystery novel with a touch of espionage, hidden war-time secrets, cover-ups, Nazis, POWs, traitors....and two old women still determined to learn The Truth. Great story!

It all starts when a storm damages a mausoleum in a cemetery in 1967 and Cordelia Hemlock sees a body that shouldn't be there -- the corpse of a man clad in a brown suit still clutching a satchel. The local Scottish police don't believe her story. They think she is just distraught over the recent death of her young son. Her new friend, Felicity Goose, believes her. And the two spend decades trying to find out the truth.

This is the first book by David Marks that I have read. The story caught my attention from the start and kept my attention clear to the end. Well-written and with a nice depth, The Mausoleum was a very enjoyable read. I will definitely be reading more by this author. The story progresses a bit slowly at first, but once the stage is set, the plot builds suspense and moves a bit more quickly. I wasn't quite sure what the women would find out in the end, but I just let the tale carry me along revealing facts in its own time.

The use of Nazis and World War II hidden secrets can be a bit tropey, but David Marks pulls it off with style. Enjoyable, well-written story!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Severn House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**