REVIEW: Daisy Darker

 Daisy Darker
Author: Alice Feeney

A family gathers to celebrate their matriarch's 80th birthday. As they gather at Nana's house, the atmosphere is strained at best. A lot stands between them -- Secrets. Lies. Cruelties. All those things that tear dysfunctional families apart. But they are all stuck there together for hours because access to the mainland is completely cut off once the tide comes in.

And then someone starts killing them off. One by one. Leaving macabre messages behind.

I listened to the audio book version of this story, and loved every minute of it! This tale is definitely inspired by And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. But, there is enough different and surprising aspects about Alice Feeney's take on the isolated who-dunnit style tale that I found myself completely lost in the story.

The audio book is just shy of 11 hours long and is narrated by Stephanie Racine. She does an excellent job of voice acting and brings the story to life!

This was an enjoyable and suspenseful story. I'm definitely going to read more by this author!

REVIEW: Dead and Breakfast

 Dead and Breakfast
Author: Kate Kingsbury

To recover from a bad divorce, Melanie enters a business partnership with her grandmother, Liza. They buy a fixer-upper mansion on the Oregon coast to renovate and open a B&B. The locals say the old house is haunted, so they go with the flow and name it The Merry Ghost Inn. Just as they start renovations on the house, a grisly discovery within one of the walls halts their project. Soon laughing ghosts and a skeleton in the wall is the least of their worries when a woman is murdered and someone seems keen on killing Melanie, too.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Tavia Gilbert, the audio is just shy of 7 1/2 hours long. Gilbert does a great job of narrating. She really brought the story to life!

I enjoyed the characters, the plot and setting of this book. My favorite character? It's a toss up between Liza, the spunky grandma or Max, the rescue dog. Or, maybe the ghost! It's hard to choose!

I'm definitely reading the rest of this 3-book series! Very entertaining!

REVIEW: Mountain Town Mischief With a Poodle

 Mountain Town Mischief With a Poodle
Author: Virginia Fox

I love cozy mysteries, especially if they are set near where I live. Since I moved to CO this past summer, I jumped right at the chance to read a cozy set here. But, while the book is entertaining, it is a bit too much like a romance novel for me. Just not my type of cozy.

The story is cute and I did finish reading, but too much romance and not enough mystery for my taste. The relationship between the main character, Jasmine, and her new boyfriend just moved too fast. Her new friendships formed after moving from Seattle to small-town CO were also insta-relationships. The plot felt like it glossed over any character building straight to MC-is-set-up-and-in-her-new-life. I felt the romance is more the focus of the plot than mystery/suspense.

Readers who really love romance mixed with a bit of mystery will enjoy this series.

I'm glad I tried Virginia Fox's writing. She is popular for a reason. But, this series is just not for me. Not every book or series is for every reader. And this one was just not for me. Doesn't mean it's a bad book....the story is just meant for others.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Dragonbooks Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: Dead and Gondola

 Dead and Gondola
Author: Ann Claire

Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old and bought a box set of Poirot mysteries at a garage sale. So, just about any mystery book that invokes her name pulls me right in immediately. The Christie Sisters and their cat, Agatha, running a bookshop in CO -- yep, reading it! Easy choice. How could I not? I live in CO...and if this bookshop were a real place, I would be there!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I like the setting, the characters, the plot....the story is just fun to read! I read my review copy of this book while watching the first snow of the season fall over the front range, sipping hot tea, and snuggled under fuzzy blankets. It was perfect!

My favorite character? Agatha, of course!

The basics: Ellie and Meg Christie run a bookshop, the Book Chalet. When a man is found dead in a gondola on the nearby ski lift, trouble starts. Rumors, secrets, a rock slide.....  Can the Christies sift through a mountain of clues and find the killer?

Loved this book! I am definitely eagerly awaiting the next book!! This was the perfect book for reading on a snowy night in CO!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Random House/Ballentine. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: A Sliver of Darkness

 A Sliver of Darkness
Author: CJ Tudor

CJ Tudor had me as a dedicated reader from her very first book -- The Chalk Man. If she wrote a Compendium of Stereo Instructions, I would buy it and read it. I'm sure she could give even stereo installation a cool, creepy vibe! So, of course, I jumped right on a short story collection.

This collection of 11 dark stories has a bit of everything. Old friends. Love. Revenge. Jealousy. Mistaken identity. Time. Hidden things. Secrets. Killers. Teenagers. Even butterflies and a cruise ship. The themes are varied, but all are creepy and well-written. My favorite? Dust. Excellent story! There wasn't a single story I didn't enjoy. Even the cover art is excellent!

The best part? Before each story she includes an introduction about where her head was at when she wrote the tale.

Loved this book!! Not really a surprise though. I've loved them all so far!

And, I already have a review copy of her next book, The Drift.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Random House/Ballentine. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: Deliberate Cruelty

 Deliberate Cruelty
Author: Roseanne Montillo

Wow .... for me, this book was a rough read, but one I couldn't stop reading. A high society scandal. A famous writer wanting to stay relevant. Choices. Consequences. Downfall.

Brutal. And....all true.

In 1955, a New York socialite shot and killed her husband. Anne Woodward said it was an accident and that she thought her banker husband was an intruder. Truman Capote, famous for his novel In Cold Blood, decided to make the story into a book. He said it would be his next bestseller, of course. Capote's need for attention and fame led him to make some bad decisions. He betrayed the trust of high society friends, publishing a magazine story revealing things he had been told in confidence. Before the magazine article even came out, Anne Woodward killed herself. And, Capote was ruined. He lost his high society contacts, and fell into drug and alcohol addiction. Eventually, his addictions killed him. 

Roseanne Montillo does such a great job of telling this story. I loved In the Garden of Good and Evil. But, I have to say, in my opinion, this book surpasses that one. Normally, I'm not phased by much. I can read non-fiction and true crime stories, and not get overwhelmed by the subject matter. But, this book hit me right in the feels. Truman Capote pretty much destroyed himself. One choice (or mistake, if that was the actual truth) destroyed Anne's life. And so many upper crust people with very damaging secrets. Just sad all the way around. Nobody involved came out of this unscathed. Choices have consequences. Secrets never stay secret. And, it's never wise to burn bridges and betray people for your own self interests.

This book had me thinking deep thoughts for days afterwards. What awesome stories could Capote have written, if he hadn't pretty much self-imploded? What would Anne's life have been like if she hadn't made a split second decision in 1955? What was the final fate of all those high society "swans' who fluttered all around Capote and left him in the cold when he betrayed them? Yikes - reality sometimes surpasses any soap opera. Some very wealthy women were floundering around in their own personal shit show, but trying to keep up appearances and hide their dirty secrets. Ick. What a waste -- all the way around. Nobody came out of this happy. Nobody.

Wonderfully written. This is a Hard-hitting and dark story of hatred, jealousy, the price of fame, and consequences. It's a brutal, but compelling, tale. And, it's even darker because it's all true.

I can't wait to read what this author writes next!!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Atria Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: A Trace of Poison

A Trace of  Poison
Author: Colleen Cambridge

This mystery series, in my opinion, has the most awesome basic premise ever. The main character, Phyllida Bright, is Agatha Christie's housekeeper. Not only does she keep Mallowan Hall running smoothly, but she also plays amateur detective when things go wrong. Investigating deaths tied to the Queen of Mystery Writers -- beautiful! Such an awesome idea for a book series!

I enjoyed this second book in the Phyllida Bright series just as much as the first. This time, members of the famous Detection Club have been invited to take part in a murder fete fundraiser to aid an orphanage. Things go horribly wrong when Father Tooley drops dead during the party on the first night. When a second attempt is made on another guest, Agatha of course calls in Phyllida to investigate. Can you even imagine a murder at an event involving so many famous mystery writers? Who would dare!?
Perfect idea for an awesome plot, in my opinion! The ending surprised me - I didn't see it coming. I love it when that happens!!

The story kept my attention from start to finish. I love the characters and the basic premise of this series. And I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: A Trip with Trouble

 A Trip with Trouble
Author: Diane Kelly

The Mountain Lodge Mysteries series continues with book 2, A Trip With Trouble. This time a women's biker club is staying at the lodge for their annual autumn get-together. Lodge owner, Misty Murphy, is happy because every room is full and her guests are having a great time. Until.....

There's always an "until,'' right?

When one of the bikers is killed, Misty finds herself doing a bit of sleuthing once again. Can she and her friends discover the truth behind the killing?

I really enjoy this series! I like the setting, the characters and the plots. Favorite character? Yeti -- the cat, of course! In this newest book, there is plenty of investigating, suspects and surprises. The story kept me engaged from start to finish. Nice mix of mystery and humor.

I love the cover art! The picture makes me wish I could actually stay at the lodge!

I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are completely my own.**

REVIEW: Empty Smiles

 Empty Smiles
Author: Katherine Arden

Empty Smiles is the fourth and final book in the middle-grade horror series, Small Spaces. I love creepy stories written for kids -- no heavy, traumatizing adult themes....just entertaining with a spooky edge. I have enjoyed this series from the start, and this final book is just as good as the first three!

This time, the kids work frantically to get one of their friends back from The Smiling Man, while facing a demented, evil carnival. Yep -- clowns are involved. They are scary enough when they aren't evil horror clowns with sharp teeth!! And, there are dolls, too. Doubly spooky!  The story is very entertaining and creepy. It kept my attention from start to finish.  I'm sorry to see this series end, but I was quite satisfied by the ending.

I'm eagerly awaiting what Katherine Arden publishes next! I have enjoyed all her books!

REVIEW: Marple - Twelve New Mysteries

 Marple: Twelve New Mysteries
Authors: Various

Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I purchased a set of 5 Hercule Poirot paperbacks at a garage sale when I was 9. I spent all summer reading those books - the first adult paperbacks with small print I ever read. And I have loved her mysteries ever since.

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries isn't Agatha Christie. But, almost 50 years after her death, this anthology from 12 very talented authors is as close as we can get to new stories. Jane Marple. The quiet elderly small village dweller, sitting in a corner quietly knitting or sipping tea.....all the while overserving and putting 2 and 2 together to catch the evildoers. A classic character for almost 100 years now. These authors did a wonderful job of bringing the character back to life in 12 new short stories. Lovely!

The stories:

Evil in Small Places - Lucy Foley: Miss Marple believes that bad things can happen in small villages because everybody is in everyone else's business -- then goes about solving a case that proves her right. Lucy Foley writes mystery/thriller/suspense novels. Her story is spot on when it comes to Jane Marple and the Christie short story vibe. I enjoyed this story, and added two novels by Foley that I haven't read yet to my wait list at my local library. I've previously read her book The Hunting Party and enjoyed it. Now I'm going to read The Guest List, followed by The Paris Apartment.

The Second Murder in the Vicarage  - Val McDermid: A second murder occurs at the vicarage in St. Mary Mead. Luckily, Jane Marple lives right next door. Great story -- and lovely to hear about characters from Murder at the Vicarage again! Val McDermid writes crime/suspense fiction. The television series Wire in the Blood is adapted from her Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series (I've added book 1 in this series to my list at the library). I haven't read any of her novels yet, but I did watch a season of the television show and enjoyed it.

Miss Marple Takes Manhattan - Alyssa Cole: Miss Marple visits Manhattan and gets caught up in sleuthing. I have to admit that I didn't finish this story. Although Miss Marple did travel at times in Christie's stories, I just couldn't picture the character doing these things or being in this situation. So, I DNFd this one. Great writing.....just not Marple-ish enough for me. One great thing about anthologies, even themed ones, is the fact that there is something for every reader. This one was just not for me. Alyssa Cole is an award-winning romance writer.

The Unravelling - Natalie Haynes: Knitting helps Miss Marple solve a murder.I loved the small village feel of this story. The story definitely highlights Miss Marple's talent for sitting in the background knitting and observing, coming up with the solution to a mystery through quiet contempation. Natalie Haynes is an award winning women's fiction author. I'm intrigued by her book Pandora's Jar, a re-telling of Greek mythology with the female characters taking  the lead. I definitely added Pandora's Jar to my TBR!

Miss Marple's Christmas - Ruth Ware. A traditional Christmas with Miss Marple will, of course, include a crime to solve. This story is what first drew my attention to this collection of Marple tales. I enjoy Ruth Ware's books and just had a feeling she would completely knock it out of the park with her story. And she did! This is, by far, my favorite story in the anthology! Ruth Ware writes suspense/thrillers.

The Open Mind - Naomi Alderman. Bad behavior at a stuffy academic dinner turns into something much more sinister. I absolutely love how Miss Marple's character shines out in this story. She's surrounded by people she doesn't really know or particularly like, but spends the entire evening noticing things and listening to conversations (which comes in handy later, of course). In Christie's early Marple stories the character was very much like this, and it made me love this story! Naomi Alderman is an award winning fiction writer and game writer (Run, Zombies!). I added her newest novel The Power to my TBR -- I can't wait to read it! I loved the style of Alderman's story in this anthology and look forward to more of the same!

The Jade Empress - Jean Kwok. Jane Marple travels by ship to visit her nephew in Hong Kong. Of course, a murder occurs on-board during the voyage. Although this story does push the character to the limits a bit, I could absolutely see the independent, shrewd and feisty Miss Marple doing all the things she does in this lovely story. I really enjoyed this one! Jean Kwok writes fiction with Chinese cultural themes.

A Deadly Wedding Day - Dreda Say Mitchell. A wedding reception turns deadly. Although this was a great murder mystery story, it just didn't have that Christie/Marple feel to me. Definitely not one of my favorites from this collection. Dreda Say Mitchell is an award winning British crime novelist. I'd love to read some of her crime novels!

Murder at the Villa Rosa - Elly Griffiths. A villa in Italy. A perfect get-away for a tired author....or is it? This story was enjoyable, but not really a Miss Marple sort of tale. Elly Griffiths writes mystery thrillers. I added several to my TBR. Although I didn't really care for her Marple tale, I like her writing style and enjoy suspense stories. So I'm definitely going to try a couple of her books!

The Murdering Sort - Karen McManus. While vacationing, Miss Marple is called in to investigate a murder....before it happens. Ahhh, family intrigue. Very Christie-esque. I liked the fact this story was told from the perspective of Jane's niece. Karen McManus writes YA novels. I enjoyed her Marple story with a YA flavor. Nicely done!

The Mystery of the Acid Soil  - Kate Mosse. A chance meeting on a train involves Miss Marple in an investigation. I enjoyed this story. The characters, plot and setting all had a nice Marple-y feel to them. Kate Mosse is an award winning fiction writer. Years ago I read her novel Labyrinth and loved it, but I never finished the series. I have added it to my TBR and will right this wrong! Great story in this collection. I could see Miss Marple in my head, knitting on the train, and being her usual inquisitive self. :) Lovely!

The Disappearance - Leigh Bardugo. Miss Marple is called in to investigate a disappearance in St. Mary Mead. This one didn't work for me. The ending is not, in my opinion, what Jane Marple would have done in the circumstances. But, others may feel differently. Leigh Bardugo is a bestselling YA author. I added her Six of Crows series to my TBR. I've been wanting to read it -- time to get it done!

I love how this anthology includes stories from authors that are all so different. Everything from YA fantasy to romance writers. Some of the stories were completely in line with the Christie character for me...and others were off a bit. But there's something for every reader in this lovely book.

So happy that they brought Jane back for a few more investigations! Poirot next? Please?