REVIEW: Death at the Door

 Death at the Door
Author: Olivia Blacke

I requested a review copy of this cozy mystery thinking it was the first book in a new series. Then I discovered it is actually the second book. Ooops! 

Despite not reading the first book yet, I was easily able to jump in and enjoy this book. 

Ruby relocated to Boston to start a new life. Soon after her arrival, she discovered her apartment is haunted by a ghost of a former tenant who doesn't want a room-mate. Over time, they became friends and even do a bit of amateur sleuthing together. 

This time, Ruby has started a new job and discovers a dead body at work. The two reluctant roomies have to work together again to solve the crime. 

I loved how Cordelia (the ghost) wants to protect Ruby, and how they work together to solve the case. It would be difficult enough to share an apartment with a ghost, but start adding dead bodies into the mix and it goes to a whole new level. :) I'm not sure I could interact as well as Ruby does. I think I would be too creeped out.  

The plot kept my attention from start to finish. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed getting to "know" both Ruby and Cordelia. There were plenty of suspects and a good amount of amateur sleuthing. I also really liked the idea of a living person and a ghost teaming up to solve a murder. 

I'm back tracking and reading book one from my local library.  

I can't wait to find out what will happen to Ruby and Cordelia next! I will definitely be reading more of this series! 

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

REVIEW: When We Talk to the Dead

 When We Talk to the Dead
Author: Ian Chorao

I just love horror novels that are set on creepy, abandoned islands. The minute I read the blurb for this book, I knew I had to read it. 

An abandoned island. A family tragedy. A woman searching for lost memories, truth and closure. 

Definitely the sort of horror / suspense story I enjoy! 

The story was not exactly what I expected, but I still enjoyed reading. I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen, and that's the perfect feeling for a creepy and suspenseful story. In places, I found the story development a bit too slow. But, before I lost interest, the plot would pick back up and something would happen. 

It's best to go in to this story with no knowledge of events. So, I'm not going to reveal any spoilers. Just be patient with the slow build, and let the plot suck you in. 

I can't imagine being in this situation. I'm not sure I would go to the island. I think I would be more apt to leave it alone. Not because of fear, but more out of an unwillingness to dredge all of those emotions up all over again. Not to mention, the creepy unexpected situation that occurs. 

I guess that means I really enjoy reading about creepy islands where bad things happened....but I don't actually have the guts to really GO to a creepy island were bad things happened. 

I'm ok with that. :) 

This is the first book I've read by this author. I will happily read more! The story wasn't what I thought it was going to be, but I still very much enjoyed it! 

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

REVIEW: Book 'em, Eddie

 Book 'Em, Eddie
Author: Laurie Cass

Book 'Em, Eddie is the 13th book in the Bookmobile Cat series. I still love Eddie just as much as I did when I first started reading this series! 

Mrrrrr! :) 

 This time, Librarian Minnie and her popular sidekick, Eddie are out in the Bookmobile. Minnie decides to take a quick detour to look at some homes. Eddie has plans of his own and escapes the Bookmobile, only to discover a woman in the woods with horrific injuries. Minnie and Eddie are once again on the case. Minnie firmly believes this was foul play and not a hunting accident. 

I enjoyed this book. I totally binge read the entire book in one day. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, so I always clear my schedule and just have an afternoon with Eddie. :) 

 I can't imagine walking into the woods and finding a badly injured person like that! Yikes! The plot kept my attention from start to finish. The story was well-paced, and there was plenty of suspects and amateur sleuthing. 

As usual, I thought I had the killer figured out and was completely wrong. I'm glad I'm not a detective! 

I can't wait for the next book in this series!  

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

 

REVIEW: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow

 The Haunting of Paynes Hollow
Author: Kelley Armstrong

When Samantha Paynes' wealthy grandfather dies, she expects to receive nothing. After all, she's been gone for 14 years after her father was accused of murder and then died. She is forced to attend the reading of the will and completely shocked when she inherits the property where the family cabins are located. But there are strings....she has to remain on the property 24/7 for 30 days. If she leaves for more than 30 minutes, she forfeits her inheritance. 

Samantha and her Aunt head to the property, where she will be basically a prisoner. It doesn't take long for weird things to start happening and soon dark family secrets come out. 

This story really surprised me! I did not expect the direction it went in -- and enjoyed every word! Not going to say a word or give any spoilers. Best to go into this one with no prior knowledge. 

I started reading read an ARC copy of this upcoming book from St Martins Press and then switched to the audio book from Macmillan Audio. Who doesn't like having a horror story read to them!! The audio is narrated by EJ Lavery and runs 9 hours 24 minutes. Lavery reads at a good speed and has a pleasant voice. Great job of narrating! 

I enjoy Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series and the spinoff series, so it was enjoyable to read a horror story by her! Loved it!  

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book from St Martins Press and the audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** 

REVIEW: Gemini

 Gemini
Author: Jeffrey Kluger

I was too young when astronauts first landed on the moon to really remember much about it. I do however remember meeting Buzz Aldrin when I was in grade school. He seemed like a super hero to me at the time. 

I know a bit about the early space program, but not a lot. I definitely enjoyed listening to this audio book and learning more about how mankind prepared to put the first humans into space...and eventually on the surface of the Moon. 

The author definitely did exhaustive research and presented the facts in a very interesting way. The book kept my attention from start to finish. The challenges of a space program in a era of conflict and change. All the science, training and experimenting that made the space program work. The people and technology involved. So interesting!! 

I started out reading an ARC copy of this book from St. Martin's Press, and then switched to a review copy of the audio book from Macmillan Audio (10 hrs, 27 minutes). The narrator, Robb Reider, read at a perfect pace and has a pleasant voice. I was easily able to maintain attention and enjoyed the narration.  

I definitely want to read more about the space program from the beginnings through the Space Shuttle era. And, I hope to read more by this author. It's not easy to keep non-fiction from becoming boring or bogged down, but this was a very interesting listen! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy from St. Martin's Press and listened to a review audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** 

REVIEW: The Zorg

 The Zorg
Author: Siddarth Kara

When I started reading this book, I was completely unfamiliar with the story of The Zorg and the killing of more than 120 Africans bound for Jamaica to be sold as slaves in 1780.  

As the story unfolded and the terrible truth of what a ship's crew did was revealed, I just became more and more horrified. In the later pages of the book, court records from a subsequent insurance case just gutted me even more. A man actually told the court that throwing live Africans off a ship in the middle of the ocean was no more than throwing horses over board. Even the main question in front of the court was mind-boggling. The main question: Was it a loss cover-able by insurance if a crew willfully threw the "cargo" overboard due to a perceived shortage of drinkable water?

The author definitely did a lot of detailed research to write this book. The narrative flows and kept my attention from start to finish, even though it was very, very hard to read due to the subject matter.  

I started out reading from a review copy of this book and then switched to listening to the audio book version, narrated by Dion Graham. Graham read at a steady pace and his voice is easily understandable. He did great job of narration! 

Definitely thinking very deep thoughts after finishing this book. We've come a long way since 1780, but human beings are still incredibly cruel and violent to each other. It's sad. May the victims who had no chance of survival rest in peace. There is no apology or acknowledgement that makes up for what was done to them. Evil -- that's the only word that describes it. 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press and listened to a review audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** 

 

 

REVIEW: Furever After

 Furever After
Author: Sofie Kelly 

Finishing a series causes such mixed feelings.....

On the one hand, when I finished this book, took my magnetic bookmark out, and closed the cover...I felt happy that I had finally read this series. But then I realized it's over....no more tales of Owen and Hercules, the magical cats. 

At least I think there won't be any more. This book ends on a perfect note to finish out this series, and I read online in a couple places that this is the final book in the series. So, I'm going to assume that's true and be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong. 

This time, Librarian Kathleen Paulson is preparing for her wedding to her local detective fiance, Marcus. So, of course, something has to happen to liven things up a bit. There is a break-in at the library. But not just any break-in....Kathleen finds the would-be thief dead on the floor. So, as usual, Kathleen, Marcus, the cats and assorted friends are all helping investigate what happened.....and planning the wedding. 

This book is a perfect wrap-up for a wonderful series. I enjoyed every word! And I feel better about reaching the end of this series. I realized I still have this author's (under her other pen name - Sofie Ryan) Second Chance Cat series on my bookshelf to be read! I will miss hearing about Owen and Hercules....but I can still enjoy this author's style! :) 

Moving on! And, I've added Second Chance Cat to my list of series I'm reading next. Have a couple other cozy series to read first, but eagerly waiting that series!