Blue Moon Mystery Saloon

The Cat, The Devil, The Last Escape

A Novel by Shirley Rousseau Murphy and Pat J.J. Murphy, HarperCollins/William Morrow, Feb 2015.

* An ARC was provided by HarperCollins/William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review.

THE CAT, THE DEVIL, THE LAST ESCAPE is not a light-hearted read, nor is it a hard thriller. It is a good, somewhat serious mystery set after WWII involving small-time crook & former train robber, Lee Fontana, and a young father falsely accused of murder and bank robbery, Morgan Blake. The 60-ish Lee helps Morgan adapt to life in prison. They eventually hatch a plan to find the man who set up Morgan and bring him to justice. Though something dark and twisted follows both of the men, their morality and strength of soul fortify them against the devil and his minions.

Morgan's nine-year-old daughter Sammie is another major character in the book. She sees the future in her dreams and is targeted by the devil for this gift. She and Lee have a strong link through the ghost cat, Misto. Although the two humans live across the country from one another, Misto appears and comforts Lee and Sammie whenever they are sad or worried. They share another crucial link which is revealed as the story progresses.

Scattered throughout the book are wonderful tidbits about life in the mid-1900s: how people traveled the country, what the penal system was like, aspects of the early years of flight, how people coped during and after the war. The authors' use of these historical facts help ground the story in its time and place.

However, there are a few things keeping me from giving the book five stars. The various points of view (sometimes within the same chapter) might be hard for some readers to follow. Usually it is fairly easy to understand whose side of the story is being told, but there are a couple of scenes where I had to reread a passage to determine the correct point of view. Another issue is how the first chapter is written. It's a long narrative where Misto relates his backstory with Lee and brings the reader up to date on Lee's criminal history. It seems like a dump of information that could have served better sprinkled throughout the book.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Columbo mystery, where it isn't about discovering who did the crime, but about how the real criminal is known, eventually reveals his part in the crime, and is finally brought to justice. It also might appeal to readers who enjoy stories set in the mid-1900s and who like a bit of paranormal mixed in with their mysteries.

If You Like This, You May Also Like: JOE GREY MYSTERIES by Shirley Rousseau Murphy,MIDNIGHT LOUIE MYSTERIESby Carole Nelson Douglas,MRS. MURPHY MYSTERIESby Rita Mae Brown,MAGICAL CATS MYSTERIES by Sofie Kelly,WHALES AND TAILS MYSTERIESby Kathi Daley,CATS IN TROUBLE MYSTERIESby Leann Sweeney,BLACK CAT BOOKSHOP MYSTERIESby Ali Brandon,CATS IN THE STACKS MYSTERIES by Miranda James, CATS AND CURIOS MYSTERIES by Rebecca M. Hale

The Clockwork Scarab

A Stoker and Holmes Novel  (Book One) by Colleen Gleason, Chronicle Books, September 2013

*  An ARC was provided by Chronicle Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB: A STOKER AND HOLMES NOVEL by Colleen Gleason is a terrific start to a new and unique mystery series set in 1889 London. It's an amalgamation of several popular subgenres, including steampunk, time travel, romance and young adult mystery, and stars Evaline Stoker (Bram's half-sister) and Mina Holmes (Sherlock's niece and Mycroft's daughter) as courageous, self-reliant, 17-year-old sleuths under the tutelage of Irene Adler (Sherlock's admired female opponent).

Told in alternating points of views, the story follows Mina and Evaline as they use their unique skills to identify the person(s) responsible for kidnapping and murdering upper class teenage girls and dumping their bodies around London. The palm-sized mechanical scarabs found beside each body link the murders and are crucial to the investigation. These and other clues lead to a secret Egyptian society to which all the dead girls belonged.

As in all good mysteries, the two young sleuths face a number of obstacles to their investigation. The main one here, though, is the girls mistrust of each other. The ever observant and analytical Mina Holmes thinks Evaline is flighty, weak, not terribly bright, and uncooperative. The incredibly fast and strong Evaline Stoker believes Mina is a haughty know-it-all who is dull and has no sense of adventure. But as the story evolves and they save each other with their set of special skills, they grudgingly begin to admire one another as worthy partners.

Though Mina and Evaline are the main sleuths in the story, they have plenty of help in solving the murders. The girls are glad to have Irene Adler as their mentor and supervisor, but their other assistants aren't as welcomed. Mina has to share her quest with the maddening but intriguing Inspector Ambrose Grayling of Scotland Yard and the handsome time traveler Dylan Eckhart, while Evaline needs help from Pix, a young man of questionable character who knows more about the case than he lets on. The men are just a bit older than the girls and provide the light romantic elements in the story.

Steampunk is a large part of THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB . The variety of steam-powered mechanical devices, such as Night-Illuminators, Steam-Stream guns, and the Deluxe Tome-Selector, adds a bit of humor to the story, and a few are even used to help solve the murders.

Overall, THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB is an intriguing and well-plotted murder mystery that readers from 12 years of age and up will enjoy. If you like adventurous stories with unique characters and strong, confident heroines, then this book is for you. I only hate that I have to wait a whole year for the release of the next book in the series.

If You Like This, You Might Like – THE GARDELLA VAMPIRE CHRONICLES by Colleen Gleason, F.R.E.A.K. SQUAD INVESTIGATION MYSTERIES by Jennifer Harlow, THE STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES by Kady Cross, THE INFERNAL DEVICES SERIES and THE MORTAL INSTRUMENT SERIES by Cassandra Clare

Esprit de Corpse

A Reluctant Reaper story (Book Three) by Gina X. Grant, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books, August 2013. 

 * An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

ESPRIT DE CORPSE , the third book in the RELUCTANT REAPER SERIES by Gina X. Grant continues where SCYTHE DOES MATTER leaves off. It's the next day in the Underworld, and Dante's mad (again) at Kirsty for using his scythe to reap Conrad Iver, Kirsty's evil former boss. Upon awakening, Kirsty and Dante are faced with a huge problem in Hell's Cells. It seems there's finally an answer to what happens when one reaper uses another reaper's scythe to zap someone to the Underworld.

The two reapers rush to Conrad's jail cell just in time to see him turn into a demon and escape from jail. Of course, the first place they need to look is back on the Mortal Coil. Dante wants Kirsty to follow him to the hospital where they reaped Conrad, but Kirsty goes to her former boss's office instead, figuring Conrad will want to show up there sooner or later. There she discovers that her best friend, Shannon Iver (Conrad's daughter), is the prime suspect in Conrad's and Kirsty's deaths. Kirsty wants to make a true difference in someone's life, and she and Dante do all they can to help Shannon prove her innocence. Conrad's evil attempt to use his own daughter's blood to extend his life another 25 years is jeopardized when a female convicted killer tries to murder Shannon.

ESPRIT DE CORPSE is a wonderful, fun-filled, and action-packed addition to the RELUCTANT REAPER SERIES . I like the new, strong, and confident Kirsty and how she jumps in to save Shannon. Kirsty wants to exonerate Shannon even as she struggles with Dante's and Shannon's burgeoning friendship.

The RELUCTANT REAPER SERIES is such a unique and funny interpretation of the Underworld, and I can't wait for the next book's release. You can probably read each book in the series as a stand-alone, but I believe it would enhance your reading enjoyment to read the three stories in order. Whatever order you choose, be sure to read them all if you're looking for a lighthearted, funny, paranormal story with a plethora of quirky characters!

If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- THE RELUCTANT REAPER and SCYTHE DOES MATTER by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES by Jennifer Harlow

View all my reviews

Scythe Does Matter

A Reluctant Reaper story (Book 2) by Gina X. Grant, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books, July 2013.  

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

SCYTHE DOES MATTER  is the second book in Gina X. Grant's RELUCTANT REAPER paranormal series. In this story, twenty-five-year-old Kirsty d'Arc tries to make something of her afterlife while waiting to appeal her denied Wrongful Reaping Appeal. She decides to attend the Reaper Academy, so she can return to the Mortal Coil and bring back the bewitched stapler that started her fall to the Underworld and proves Conrad Iver, her unscrupulous boss, tricked her into literally signing her life away.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series. Kirsty achieves tremendous growth and discovers an afterlife in which she can provide a useful service that makes her happy. She gains new, quirky friends in reaper school and saves the day when a time sync catastrophe strikes the Underworld.

Kirsty and Dante continue their supporting and sometimes rocky relationship, and Kirsty finds her calling as a reaper. The puns don't overwhelm the story in SCYTHE DOES MATTER  as they did in the first book, and I laughed out loud at the witty banter between Kirsty and her classmates.

Will Kirsty graduate from reaper school? Will she ever get back to her Earthly body and come out of her coma? And will she ever find that elusive, tricky stapler? You'll just have to read SCYTHE DOES MATTER  to find out. It's great for the beach, perfect for a study break, and just lots of fun to read.

* The third book in the series, ESPRIT DE CORPSE, was released in August 2013. 

If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- THE RELUCTANT REAPER  and ESPRIT DE CORPSE  by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE  by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES  by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES  by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES  by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES  by Jennifer Harlow

The Reluctant Reaper

A RELUCTANT REAPER story (Book One) by Gina X. Grant, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books, June 2013.

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review. 

THE RELUCTANT REAPER, the first book in Gina X Grant's series of the same name, introduces single, orphaned, Kirsty d'Arc a PR marketing specialist at Iver PR. The story begins on the momentous morning of her twenty-fifth birthday, when strange things start happening. First she's attacked by a stapler in her office,  and her boss, Conrad Iver, rushes in to use her dripping blood as a signature on a soul-selling contract. Next, at a celebration with her friends and coworkers that evening, her soul is accidentally reaped by Reaper First Class, Dante Alighieri, when she steps in front of the original target, lying, despicable Conrad, whose own contract of death is now due. The rest of the book follows Kirsty's time adapting to the Underworld while awaiting her accidental reaping appeal. During her Hell-ish adventures, she falls in love, learns the layout and culture of the Underworld, and is introduced to several interesting, and a few pretty wacky, entities who will be featured through the rest of the series.

THE RELUNCTANT REAPER is a lighthearted, humorous paranormal, and I give it a solid 3.5 stars for an unusual storyline and unique characters.  Though it's a good book and a fun read, the overuse of puns keep me from setting a higher rating. The puns are cute at first, but after a while they lose their punch and just become tedious.

On the plus side, a good number of the puns are amusing and their sources easily identified. The downside, besides overuse, is that some might only be understood by a science major or mythology-obsessed reader.

THE RELUNCTANT REAPER is definitely worth reading and sets the scene for the next book, SCYTHE DOES MATTER, which I'll review separately. It's good entertainment, funny, and definitely beachworthy.

If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- SCYTHE DOES MATTER and ESPRIT DE CORPSE  by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES by Jennifer Harlow

* The next book in the series, Scythe Does Matter, was released in July 2013.

 

 

 

Spirit

An Elemental Series novel (Book Three), by Brigid Kemmerer, Kensington & KTeen, May 2013. 

* I received a copy from the author for an honest review.

Hunter is having a really bad day...night...week. He doesn't know what to do or who his friends are, so he only has himself to rely on. And that's not going too well, either. For awhile he and Gabriel Merrick were sort of friends, but Gabriel and the rest of his brothers are ticked off at Hunter and consider him an enemy, again. Then there's Calla, weird crazy Calla. She's creating a lot of havoc in his life and refuses to leave him alone.

The only person he may have a chance of befriending is the new girl at school, Kate Sullivan. She doesn't know anything about him or his history, so they can start with a clean slate. He likes her, but can he trust her?

And more sinister things are happening around town, things that threaten his community and his way of life. Hunter feels pulled in several directions. How can he do what's expected of him if he isn't sure it's right?

This third book in Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental Series is a powerful story of personal conflict, trusting others, and finding the courage to follow your conscience. Hunter struggles to understand his family, his past and the responsibilities expected of him as a Guide. The few times he's trusted anyone, he's been let down. And he hates that innocent people have to die just because they're born with special abilities. Hunter knows he's barely holding it together. But how can he expect any help or guidance when he doesn't know who to trust?

I'll admit I cried a lot while reading this story. I wanted to take Hunter in my arms, hug him tight, and reassure him that everything would be okay. That though he's well-trained in hand-to-hand combat and his ability with a knife is amazing, he's still a 16-year-old struggling with the same hormonal imbalances and maturity issues that other teenage boys experience. I wanted to assure him that he has the strength to overcome his insecurities and the courage to stand up for what he believes is right.

It's a testament to the author's storytelling ability that readers can become so invested in her characters. Hunter, Kate, and the Merrick brothers are so multidimensional that you can't help but care for them and to feel what they feel. Thus the reason for my tears.

But don't get me wrong. SPIRIT is not a depressing book, at all. Just poignant. It has happy and funny parts too. And it's a great book for the beach or to enjoy during a relaxing evening at home. So get out there and buy this book. Now, if not sooner. It's a great addition to the Elemental Series and to your library.

* The next book in the series is SECRET.

PROTAGONIST/HERO: A 16-year-old, blond, tattooed & pierced bad boy

ACTION: Fights, fire, fake accusations

LOVE INTERESTS: Bright, conflicted, new girl at school

ROMANCE: Kisses, hugs, much more implied

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Other books in the Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer, Mephisto Series by Trinity Faegen, Lux Series by Jennifer Armentrout, Paranormal Public Series by Maddy Edwards, Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, Darklight Trilogy by Darynda Jones, Starcrossed Series by Josephine Angelini, Shadow Falls Series by C C Hunter, The Reaper Diaries by Michele Vail

Immortal City

An Immortal City Novel (Book One), by Scott Speer, Penguin Group, April 2012.

Angels not only live among us, but they are treated like rock stars. They marry other angels, have children born immortal, and the most talented among them become guardian angels. You can have their protection whenever you need it. Just pay a hefty monthly fee, plus a $100,000 bonus when you're saved, and you can escape from certain death. If you're extremely wealthy or win a protection lottery, you're golden. If you're poor and can't pay for protection, you die.

Welcome to Los Angeles, the City of Angels, where glamorous angels live in luxurious hilltop villas and are treated like royalty. It's commissioning week for a new round of guardian angels, and all TVs in the city are tuned to Angel News Network or the A! television channel for the most up-to-date info on our favorite angels. This year all eyes are on Jackson Godspeed, the youngest, brightest and hottest angel being feted. Mortal girls and women swoon at the sight of him, and even high school girls across town can't stop reading the latest gossip about Jacks.

Despite all the angel accolades and celebrity status, someone or something is killing guardian angels and hacking off their wings. Only angels can kill other angels, but the dead angels are first made mortal and killed after their wings are removed. Jacks leaves a commissioning party early on the night the first bloody wings are discovered and becomes a person of interest. His stepfather, Archangel Mark Godspeed, orders him off the street until he can come to pick Jacks up. So Jacks pulls into a small diner across town, walks into the place to hide awhile, and meets Maddy Montgomery. It's her Uncle Nick's diner and she's the only waitress on duty. Jacks tries to be incognito, but ironically, Maddy may be the only girl in the whole LA area who doesn't know who he is anyway.

Maddy works hard, keeps to herself and helps her uncle when she's not in school. Her parents died when she was a baby, and she's lived with her uncle ever since. Her best and only friend is Gwen, a fellow senior at Angel City High, who tries to get Maddy out of her shell and boring day-to-day existence. In fact Maddy's whole life has been unspectacular, that is, until the night she meets Jackson Godspeed.

Jacks has gotten anything he's wanted his whole life, except for Maddy. She doesn't stroke his ego or fall at his feet like other women. She's unlike anyone else he knows, which intriques him. He has always been pursued, but to win over Maddy, he has to become the pursuer.

I love this book, and here's why. With it's unique plot and far from stereotypical characters, Immortal City offers a fresh take on what has become a stale angel-focused sub-genre. Jacks and Maddy grow up in significantly different social and economic classes, yet they each struggle with their own family issues and personal expectations. Both of them have family secrets that, once discovered, connects Jacks and Maddy and significantly affects their future. And Speer does a great job hiding the identity of the murderer. I had no idea who was killing the guardian angels until the final reveal.

If you're looking for a cool mystery with interesting characters, a unique paranormal plot, and a story you can't put down, then I highly recommend you buy and read Immortal City. (Although it's a series, this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger!)   

** The next book in the series, Natural Born Angel, was released in April 2013.

 

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Gilded Wings Novels by Aimee Agresti, The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, The Beautiful Dark Trilogy by Jocelyn Davies, Premonition Series by Amy A Bartol, Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick, The Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

Infatuate

A Gilded Wings Novel (Book 2), by Aimee Agresti, Houghton Mufflin Harcourt, March 2013.   

Fall semester of their senior year is over, and Haven Terra, her boyfriend Lance, and her best friend Dante are now early high school graduates. The prior spring, the angels-in-training successfully passed their first of three angel tests by battling evil at the Lexington Hotel. This spring promises to be a little different. The three friends have been recruited to participate in a volunteer assistance program in New Orleans, a community still struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

They live in a group house in the French Quarter with other teenagers recruited from throughout the country. The volunteers are given projects all over New Orleans, including the haunted house next door and a spooky cemetery needing upkeep (both of which are important to the story), and the three friends continue to be on the lookout for any evil in the area. As a soul illuminator, Haven makes sure to take pictures of all the people in her house and anyone else deemed suspicious, so she, Dante and Lance can identify any evil characters around them. The strong ties of the three friends are strained as Lance is pursued by Haven's roommate and Dante spends his time in alchemy training with a voodoo practitioner or with his new friend Max. Even Haven has a separate love interest.

New Orleans turns out to have a powerful group of Satan's helpers waiting to tag the angels-in-training and bring them into the underworld. Another battle between good and evil looms, but the stakes are much, much higher. The physical training is more strenuous and pretty unusual, and this time, all three friends receive messages from the unknown entity who they have to trust to survive.

I really enjoyed the New Orleans setting for Infatuate. Agresti does a great job of invoking the character and feel of the city and its culture and weaving it throughout the story. She uses local legends and beliefs to heighten suspense and even uses a Mardi Gras parade for a pivotal scene in the story.

And boy is there conflict! It's raising it's ugly head between Haven and Lance, Haven and her roommate Sabine, Haven and Satan, and more. The volunteers who share the same house don't always get along among themselves or with their leader. Haven and her friends have strange and worrying interactions with the local evil group known as the Krewe. And through all that, Haven is struggling with lots of internal conflict.

Agresti described the scenic landscape and historic details necessary to imagine yourself in New Orleans so well, that I felt I was part of the story.  I think she's a wiz at writing emotions too. I felt Haven's happy confusion during the tagging side effects, her resulting fear and sickness when it was over, and her feelings of loneliness and worry over her relationship with Lance. 

Infatuate does end on a cliffhanger, but it isn't the Oh-My-God-What-Happened type of ending. I have an inkling of where the story's heading in Book 3, and I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy to come out so I can learn what happened. As I finished this book in one day, I know I'll have to block out the date of the third book's release so I can devour and savor it without stopping.

Once again, Agresti has written an enjoyable, engrossing fantasy story full of multidimensional characters, amazing imagery, and lessons of inner strength and the importance of friendship. Infatuate is a perfect book for a long Summer's day or a relaxing weekend whatever season of the year.  

PROTAGONIST/HEROINE: A good, high-achieving, 17-year-old high school grad

ACTION: Battle for good and evil

LOVE INTERESTS: Clark Kentish, fellow high school grad - and - an underworld resident

ROMANCE: Yummy heavy snogs

QUIRKINESS: Dante's character

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Immortal City Series by Scott Speer, The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, The Beautiful Dark Trilogy by Jocelyn Davies, Premonition Series by Amy A Bartol, Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick, The Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

 

Illuminate

A Gilded Wings Novel by Aimee Agresti, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, March 2012. 

Haven Terra, a 16-year-old high school student, is awarded a prestigious, well-paying, semester-long internship at the newest, coolest hotel in Chicago, the Lexington Hotel. Along with the two other interns from her school (Dante, her long-time best friend, and Lance, a fellow 11th grader), Haven discovers that something is off about the owner and staff of the hotel. From the beginning of her stay, Haven is guided to prepare for an upcoming battle with evil, to become mentally and physically fit, and to be on her guard at all times.

Never having had a boyfriend, Haven is surprised when the very handsome Lucian shows a definite interest in her. He charms her with his obvious sophistication, intelligence and confidence, and she falls for him fairly quickly. But Haven discovers all isn't as it seems and that Lucian is not pursuing her with romance in mind. The real reason for his interest is much darker.

Haven's mentor is the very young and beautiful owner of the hotel, Aurelia Brown. She assigns Haven the job of photographing all of the staff and interns so that their pictures can be placed in the hotel's Gallery. On the Lexington's opening day,  Haven notices something wrong with the portraits. The scars she's tried to hide on Lance's and her pictures show up again, and she sees something off with Aurelia's photo. This sparks Haven's wariness of what's happening to her and her friends. Eventually, Aurelia assigns Haven and Lance the responsibility of overseeing their own high school's prom dance at the hotel. The three interns prepare for the event, knowing it will be a significant turning point for themselves and for the "it" people staffing the hotel.

The heroine grows from a timid and always-wanting-to-please teenager into a strong female who works to overcome and face her fears. Haven starts trusting her instincts, begins to trust in her friends, and prepares her body and mind for the upcoming battle between good and evil.

I really enjoy Young Adult paranormal stories and this novel doesn't disappoint. The book is long but never boring, and the glimpse of Haven's life before her internship provides a great contrast to her time spent at the Lexington Hotel. The author excels at descriptions and makes it feel as if you're a part of the story. Though the book isn't constantly gory like many horror movies, there are several incidents of bodily harm and descriptive gross endings to disreputable characters.

Illuminate has a strong heroine, a good message and a little romance thrown in, all of which I consider a perfect trifecta for a Young Adult novel. So don't let the over 500 pages put you off reading this entertaining story. Just take a good chunk of time and savor the book like I did. You'll be glad you did. 

** The second book in the series, Infatuate, was released in March 2013.  

PROTAGONIST/HEROINE: A good, high-achieving, 16-year-old student

ACTION: Battle for good and evil

LOVE INTERESTS: Clark Kentish, fellow 11th grader - and - suave manager of a hotel

ROMANCE: Pecks on cheeks, light lip kisses and yummy heavy snogs

QUIRKINESS: Dante's character

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Immortal City Series by Scott Speer, The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, The Beautiful Dark Trilogy by Jocelyn Davies, Premonition Series by Amy A Bartol, Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick

 

Death, Doom and Detention

The Darklight Trilogy (Book 2), by Darynda Jones, St. Martin's Press, March 2013. 

The thing I like most about the Darynda Jones books is the unexpected humor lighting up her stories. She stays away from stale cliches and hits the reader with fresh, snappy dialogue and interesting, unusual characters. And Death Doom and Detention doesn't disappoint.

Although a slightly darker book than the first in the series (Death and the Girl Next Door), it continues the entertaining story of Lorelei McAlister, prophet extraordinaire. After finding out in the first book that she is the last prophet in a long line of female prophets, has Satan's second in command residing inside her, and, oh yeah, she's supposed to save the world, Lorelei just tries to survive everyday life at home and at school. She's aided by her best friends, Brooke Prather and Glitch (a.k.a. Casey and a.k.a. Blue-Spider); her part-angel/part-human protector, Cameron; and, her huge crush, the hunky Angel of Death, Jared Kovach.

In Death, Doom and Detention, unknown entities want to get rid of Lorelei. But first, they need to make her vulnerable. Jared is MIA, Cameron is weakened as the sole protector, and the kids at school are acting strange. Even Lorelei's nemesis, Tabitha Sind, is being nice. Weird. Lorelei is bombarded with visions and images that she can't control and worries that her group of misfits are supposed to be mankind's saviors "when we can barely make it to school on time". On top of all this, she discovers her grandparents want to send her away.

Why are her grandparents trying to get rid of her? Who's trying to stop Lorelei from her world-saving mission? What's happened to Jared? Why can't Lorelei control her hair? Read Death, Doom and Detention, another awesome Darynda Jones book, without delay and find out!

Themes of trust, friendship and self-confidence are woven throughout the story. It's a great read for the young adult target audience (and older readers too). 

* The final book in The Darklight Trilogy - Death and the Girl He Loves - will be released in October 2013. 

PROTAGONIST: Auburn-haired, orphaned high school student; prophet; good friend

ACTION: School fight between Cameron and Jared, sanctuary fight between Cameron and Jared

LOVE INTERESTS: Hunky, mysterious Angel of Death

ROMANCE: Hugging and kissing

QUIRKINESS: Lorelei discovers a new supernatural skill, Lorelei's sense of humor

FUN FACTOR: Snappy dialogue, funny comparisons, silly asides

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: The Charlie Davidson Mysteries by Darynda Jones (for mature readers), Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

 

On the Web Again

As you can tell, I've been on hiatus for the past several months. Starting next week, I'll be posting reviews again, with an extended repertoire. In addition to cozy and paranormal mysteries, I'll share my opinion on romantic suspense, Young Adult stories and anything else I fancy. So please tune in next week for my new and improved book review website.

The Taken

A Celestial Blues Mystery, by Vicki Pettersson, Harper/Voyager, June 2012.   

* Note: I received this book from the publisher for an honest and independent review.

The story's premise is pretty unique. Grif Shaw is an Centurian angel who assists souls of the recently and violently deceased cross to the other side known as Everlast. He was a 33-year-old PI in Las Vegas in 1960,when he and his wife were violently killed. The story opens as he's preparing to "take" Nicole Rockwell, a photojournalist murdered while investigating a possible underage prostitution ring involving prominent businessmen, judges, lawyers and police. Nicole had on a cheap hooker-style outfit when she died and refuses to be in the outfit for eternity, so Grif gives in and gives Nic a few more moments to change clothes. During this extra time, she does something that will cause the death of her friend, journalist Kit Craig. For punishment, higher heavenly creatures decide to take Grif's wings and make him alive again. Grif becomes infatuated with Kit and wants to prevent her death, so they join together to find Nic's murderer, keep Kit alive and uncover who's behind the prostitution ring.

The first part of this urban fantasy, paranormal mystery seemed slow, and I took frequent breaks from reading. Thankfully the pace picked up about a third of the way through, and once I reached the last third of the story, I couldn't put the book down. The lead characters are interesting and multidimensional. Kit Craig and her friends are rockabillies, people who live like they're in the 1950's. They drive cars, wear clothes and own furniture that were popular during that decade. Grif is actually from that decade, so he fits right in. The fact that he's an angel that's been demoted adds a depth to his character that a normal noir PI wouldn't have. 

I thought the story could be told effectively without the details of the prostitution activities and without the use of underage prostitutes being culled for the sexual delights of much older men. Other readers may disagree.

If you're looking for a different type of paranormal mystery for an interesting summer read, this would be a good choice. However, I suggest that you keep it on the high shelf to discourage younger, less mature readers from selecting this book for a light bedtime story. 

* The next book in the series, The Lost, comes out in March 2013.

PROTAGONISTS: Griffin  "Grif" Shaw, 33-year-old PI angel, killed in 1960; Katherine "Kit" Craig, 29-year-old journalist

ACTION: Killings, attempted rape & murder, driving around Las Vegas

LOVE INTERESTS: Between Grif & Kit

ROMANCE: Kissing, sex scenes

QUIRKINESS: Kit's rockabilly lifestyle; Grif's boss, Sarge, inserting himself on the faces of a bum, an old man and a child to talk to Grif

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Vignettes of old Las Vegas, people living like in a different era, discussion of free will

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted moments when discussing rockabilly lifestyle

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Sign of the Zodiac Series by Vicki Pettersson, Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, The Hollows Series by Vicki Pettersson, Alex Craft Series by Kalayna Price

My New Obsession

I've been under the weather lately and have spent a lot of time reading a subgenre new to me...teen paranormal romance. Why so late to the party, you may ask? Where was I when the Twilight books and movies rocked the world of teenage girls everywhere? Well, I was reading lighthearted cozy and paranormal mysteries primarily written for slightly older readers. 

My Barnes & Noble needed to free up some more space for a new, much larger NOOK display, and staff had to rearrange the floor's layout. In the new set up, to get to the mystery section, I first had to pass by the general teen section on one aisle and the teen paranormal romance and teen science fiction on the adjacent aisle.  I tried to resist the haunting covers with pictures of lonely, lovely teenage girls pining for their one true love. But I caved. For fallen angels and mythological heroes (and only a smattering of vampires, shapeshifters and werewolves). The 50% off special at B&N two weeks ago solidified my new obsession.

Now I'm the proud owner of the amazing books in Lauren Kate's Fallen and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series. I flew through Meg Cabot's Abandon and am impatiently waiting for the sequel. I loved The Mephisto Covenant and am frustrated that I have to wait until fall for the next book in the series. I enjoyed reading the first two books in the C.C. Hunter's Shadow Falls series and Leigh Fallon's Carrier of the Mark and am looking forward to the first book in the Yvonne Wood's Dead Beautiful series.

I can't help it. I'm in love. With teen paranormal romances. Sigh...

Mysteries of Winter

I don't know about you, but when I'm sitting all cozy in my sweater and jeans and sipping luscious Earl Gray tea, I don't want to read a story set in the humid, hot months of summer. Likewise, if in July I'm relaxing in a beach chair and enjoying breezes off the ocean, I'm not interested in stories set in the snow-friendly months of winter. 

Today it's December 16th and the temperature's dropping. YAY! Time to get lost in books where the characters shiver in the 45 degree weather and drink hot chocolate or mulled cider in front of a warm fire (hopefully not a destructive one). Can't you just feel the heightened tension when the protaganist drives her Ford Focus down icy roads, sliding around tight curves and flying through red lights trying to outrun the big, black SUV following her every movement? I can imagine the scene a whole lot better if the temperature outside matches the one in the book.

So for those who are in the cold right now, here are some stories set in the frigid depths of winter. The forecast? A dusting of snow mixed with cold, cruel hearts and frosty relationships...

 

Killer Sweet Tooth (A Daphne Martin Cake Mystery) by Gayle Trent

Dead Bolt (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery) by Juliet Blackwell

Let's Play Dead (A Museum Mystery) by Sheila Connelly

Bitter Harvest (An Orchard Mystery) by Sheila Connelly

Winter Study (An Anna Pigeon Mystery) by Nevada Barr

The Wicked Winter (A Roger the Chapman Medieval Mystery) by Kate Sedley

Stork Raving Mad (A Meg Langslow Mystery) by Donna Andrews

Shot Through Velvet (A Crime of Fashion Mystery) by Ellen Byerrum

Armed and Glamorous (A Crime of Fashion Mystery) by Ellen Byerrum

The Fashion Hound Murders (A Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper Mystery) by Elaine Viets

Make, Take, Murder (A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery) by Joanna Campbell Slan

 

I'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg for stories set in the cold months of winter. Did I miss your favorite book? Please comment and let us know...and stay warm!! 

 

Next Friday: MYSTERIES WITH MESSAGES

The Supernatural and Beyond...

Have you ever wondered how to read tea leaves or heard disembodied voices? Do you have a strange fascination with all things eerie or just plain weird? Then here are plenty of mysteries that cater to your interest in the supernatural and beyond...

(* Books reviewed on this website)

 

Psychic Sleuths:

*Little Black Dress by Susan McBride

*Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend

*Psychic Eye Mysteries by Victoria Laurie

Harper Connelly Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

*Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene

 Jeff Resnick Mysteries by L.L. Bartlett

Raven's Nest Bookstore Mysteries by Allison Kingsley

 Psychic Socialite Mysteries by Jane Sevier (E-book)

 

Not Your Usual Suspects: (werewolves, vampires, zombies, latent supernatural powers, etc.)

The Smokey Corridor:A Haunted Mystery by Chris Grabenstein (Children's)

*Charley Davidson Stories by Darynda Jones

 Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow

Beaufort & Company Mysteries by Mary Stanton

Down These Strange Streets edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois (Anthology)

Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Home Improvement: Undead Edition edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy edited by Carole Nelson Douglas (Anthology)

 

Animal Antics:

* Magical Cats Mysteries by Sofie Kelly 

 Dog Walker Mysteries by Judi McCoy

Telltale Turtle by Joyce and Jim Lavene

 

Have I missed your favorite supernatural story? Leave a comment and share what paranormal mysteries you like. 

Halloween is just around the corner, and all kinds of little ghosts and goblins will be knocking on your door. But be careful of the tricksters...they may not be of this world!

***HAPPY HALLOWEEN***

Bewitching Books & Witchly Tomes

Need an enchanting book to read around the cauldron? Like a little witchcraft mixed in with your mysteries? Then look no further than these bewitching books and series:

 

Hex Hall (Book One) by Rachel Hawkins (YA)

Waking the Witch (Women of the Underworld, Book 11) by Kelley Armstrong

Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt

Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair

Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

Ophelia & Abby Mysteries by Shirley Damsgaard

Southern Witch Novels by Kimberley Frost

Alex Craft Novels by Kalayna Price (YA)

 

Did I miss a charming book from the witchcraft mysteries above? Please comment and add your favorites to the mix.

Join us for next Friday's topic: The Supernatural

Vampires, Blood and a Hint of Mystery

Savor a long, sharp tooth or two with your Bloody Mary? Appreciate a nicely turned and succulent neck? Prefer  "blood red" accessories and fabrics? Then you should enjoy these bloody good mysteries:

 

A Taste of the Nightlife: A Vampire Chef Mystery by Sarah Zettel (reviewed on this blog)

How to Party with a Killer Vampire: A Party-Planning Mystery with Tips by Penny Warner

Bite Me: A Love Story by Christopher Moore

Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders: A Mystery by Gyles Daubeney Brandreth

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe, James Howe and Alan Daniel (Children)

Madison Rose Vampire Mysteries by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine (YA)

Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Home Improvement: Undead Edition edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy edited by Carole Nelson Douglas (Anthology)

 

 

Have I missed your favorite vampire-themed mystery?  If so, don't be shy. Please comment and tell us why!   ;- >

And join me next Friday when the topic will be:  WITCHES

 

Ghostly Mysteries

Days are shorter, leaves are falling, a chill is in the air...and Halloween is just around the corner.  Is that auspicious day approaching too quickly? Not in the mood to host goblins and ghosties?  Get your fix of funny ghouls and deader boys from these haunting mystery series. But beware, you'll not find a single Casper in any of these spirited books:

 

Ghost Dusters Mysteries by Wendy Roberts

Ghost Hunters Mysteries by Victoria Laurie

Ghost of Granny Apples Mysteries by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Haunted Bookshop Mysteries by Cleo Coyle

Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries by E.J. Copperman

Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

Magical Dressmaking Mysteries by Melissa Bourbon

Pepper Martin Mysteries by Casey Daniels

Port Chatham Mysteries by P.J. Alderman

Portrait of Crime Mysteries by Sharon Pape

Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair

 

I know I missed some other great series and stand-alone stories starring curious, comforting and/or courtly ghosts. So readers, what other fun spirit-starring books can you suggest?

 

Check back next Friday for bloody good books starring:  VAMPIRES

Happy 25th Birthday, Sisters in Crime!

"In 1986 we were trying to help women get in print, stay in print, and come to the attention of booksellers and libraries. At that time, books by men mystery writers were reviewed seven times as often as books by women." - Sara Paretsky

 

Sisters in Crime (SinC), an international organization, was established to promote the professional development and advancement of women writing crime fiction. Since its inception in October 1986, the organization has grown to almost 3000 members and has 48 city, regional and one online chapters. Members include women and men, writers and readers, authors and fans, and publishers, editors, librarians, and booksellers. What they all have in common is a love of mysteries.

 

In the last 25 years, SinC members have worked hard to achieve equality for women crime writers in the industry. The discrepancies between book reviews and recognition of men writers and women writers in the mystery field have narrowed, but women still haven't received true equality. Hopefully SinC members won't have to wait another 25 years for true gender equality and recognition in the crime writing industry.

 

Halloween-themed Mysteries

Tomorrow is the first day of October (YAY!), and for me it means cooler weather, colorful leaves, and Halloween-themed mysteries. Besides the always excellent Edgar Allan Poe stories (my favorite being The Tell-Tale Heart), I recommend these cozy and paranormal mysteries:

The Diva Haunts the House (A Domestic Diva Mystery) by Krista Davis (NEW, Sep 2011)

Scared Stiff (A Mattie Winston Mystery) by Annelise Ryan

Fiber & Brimstone (A Scrapbooking Mystery) by Laura Childs

Wicked Witch Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery) by Leslie Meier

A Catered Halloween (A Mystery with Recipes) by Isis Crawford

Please join me each Friday in October for more "haunting" mystery suggestions. Next time: GHOSTS

 

Little Black Dress

A Novel, by Susan McBride, William Morrow, September 2011

* This book was provided by the publisher.

After ensuring everything's running smoothly at the Dimpleman's 25th anniversary party, event planner Toni Ashton hands the reins over to her assistant and hurries to meet her boyfriend at the most romantic restaurant in St. Louis. After dating two years, she thinks he's finally going to pop the question, and of course she'll say yes. She's 46 years old, has never married and doesn't plan to remain single one more day. Her excitement quickly fades when the small item in the palm of his hand turns out to be the key to his apartment. Before Toni can process a response, her cellphone rings and a nurse from Blue Hills Hospital says her mom is in a medically-induced coma after suffering a stroke that morning. Now the only thing Toni can focus on is getting to Blues Hills as fast as she can.

Evie Ashton looks back at her life and remembers the night that changed everything. Her younger sister, free-spirited, beautiful Anna, was getting married to Davis Cummings, the best looking boy in the county. Evie's mother and father were thrilled about the match, particularly since some of the acreage sold to the Cummings during the Great Depression would be brought back into Evie's family. The day of the rehearsal and dinner arrives, and Evie accompanies Anna to Ste. Genevieve to get away for a while. They step into a strange little shop where the mysterious owner entices Anna to buy a shimmering dress made from spider silk. What they think is a plain black dress turns out to be one that shares a vision of the future to whomever wears it. Anna decides to wear it that night...the night she runs away, leaving her family devastated.

Little Black Dress, by Susan McBride, the award-winning author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries and The Cougar Club, is a powerful story of love, loss, lessons learned and a magical little black dress. Though not really a paranormal or cozy mystery, I had to recommend it, as the book is definitely a page-turner and one I couldn't put it down until I read the last word.

Ms. McBride creates a strong cast of characters and gives Evie, Anna and Toni their own achievements, failures, warring emotions and questionable decisions. Though different in appearance and outlook, each of the three needs the strength and love of family to feel whole. Together they realize that to survive and thrive in the present, you have to forgive the past.

The chapters alternate between Evie's story and Toni's, and the reader gets a glimpse of how mother and daughter reach that point in their lives. I'm not the most patient person and could only get through one-third of the book before I started reading just Evie's tale, and then Toni's, up to the point where they merged. From there, I finished the book as presented and closed it with a big smile on my face.

One suggestion, though. Be sure to have a full box of Kleenex or Puffs nearby. It's definitely a multi-tissue story.

 IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Debutante Dropout Mysteries by Susan McBride, The Cougar Club by Susan McBride

 

Pleating for Mercy

A Magical Dressmaking Mystery, by Melissa Bourbon, Signet, August 2011

For five generations, the Cassidy women have each had a special gift which they've used to help themselves and others. Harlow Cassidy still hasn't discovered hers, but through the years she's developed her love of sewing and design to become a gifted clothing designer. After honing her talents in New York City, she's back in Bliss, TX and her great-grandmother's house to open her own dressmaking business. She longs to transform silky fabrics and edgy accessories into beautiful clothes of her own creation and despairs that she'll never do more than alter or repair boring polyester pantsuits and slacks for her Bliss customers.

Josie Sandoval yearns to have the beautiful and perfect wedding of her dreams, but the store holding her bridal dresses closes just weeks before her big day. Frantic and without a wedding dress, she asks Harlow to do the impossible...make her wedding gown and all of her bridesmaids' dresses within two short weeks. Josie's relief when Harlow takes the commission turns to horror when, later that evening, she returns to Harlow's shop and finds her maid-of-honor's body sprawled near the gate to Harlow's front yard.

Harlow, Josie and Nate, Josie's fiance, quickly become persons of interest in the murder investigation. When the sheriff singles out Nate as the prime suspect, Josie begs Harlow to help prove her fiance wasn't the killer. Harlow can't say no to her childhood friend, and with a little help from her great-grandmother's spirit, Harlow's about to discover she has more than just dressmaking skills. She's a gifted sleuth too.

This first book in the new Magical Dressmaking Mystery series by Melissa Bourbon is far from formulaic. The story's protagonist is of Hispanic heritage and has a supportive, though unusual, family.  Her love interests, especially the ex-boyfriend, veer away from the typical amateur sleuth and police detective or police chief romance found in most cozies and keeps the story fresh and entertaining. Harlow's mom and grandmother are fun characters with unique supernatural gifts, and their banter lightens each scene in which they appear.

This is a fun, charming and magical story and a wonderful addition to the paranormal mystery subgenre. The story zips along at a good pace, and the parallel storylines are sewn up quite nicely at the end. I hope you'll enjoy the time you spend with Harlow and her friends in Pleating for Mercy and that you'll look forward to visiting them again in the series' second book, A Fitting End, which comes out in February.

* The next book in the series, A Fitting End, will be released in February 2012.

PROTAGONIST: Single, Hispanic, 33-year-old, gifted dress designer supposedly descended from Butch Cassidy

CRITTERS: Thelma Louise, one of her grandmother's favorite goats

ACTION: Shooing a goat away from the crime scene, tailing suspected murderer, fight with actual murderer in a bathroom

LOVE INTERESTS: A reliable and handsome architect/handyman

ROMANCE: Budding relationship, not much romantic interaction

QUIRKINESS: Town photographer and Harlow's new friend-British-born Madelyn Brighton who's interested in all things supernatural, plants showing significant growth in a very short time, and a goat whisperer

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Tips on dressmaking, what styles look best on different body types, the best ways to use particular fabrics, small town preservation planning

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted situations, witty dialogue, fun characters

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Fortune Teller Mysteries by Kari Lee Townsend, Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries by E.J. Copperman, Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

 

Tempest in the Tea Leaves

A Fortune Teller Mystery, by Kari Lee Townsend, Berkley Prime Crime, August 2011

Sunny Meadows has always been a little different. The only child of a high-powered Manhattan attorney and a world-renowned cardiologist, she shies away from their high society lifestyle where appearance is everything. Sunny likes shopping at secondhand stores, drives a used, slightly-rusted VW Bug and prefers hot chocolate to espresso. Her desire to move away from the Big Apple and support herself as a psychic in upstate New York is just one more failing in her parents' eyes. But Sunny wants to do things her own way and be accepted for who she is. She buys a house with her trust fund money in the little town of Divinity, and despite her parents' protests, she packs up and happily says goodbye to her childhood home.

The minute Sunny steps into her new house, she finally feels welcome and at peace. Rumored to be haunted, the neglected Victorian has been vacant for years and shunned by the community. Sunny senses the house knows how it feels to be unwanted and misunderstood and that they'll be a perfect fit.

Sunny's only spent one week in her house and is whittling down her to-do list, when her first customer barges through the front door. Amanda Robbins is frantic and begs Sunny to read her future. While her client drinks tea and prepares her cup for a reading, a strong feeling of doom overwhelms Sunny. The position of the residual tea leaves  and her accompanying vision indicate Amanda only has a short time to live. Interpreting the tea leaves isn't always easy for Sunny, but her visions and the psychic signs are never wrong. So after Amanda leaves, Sunny calls the police to warn them about the upcoming murder. Her report comes too late to help Amanda, and the police are suspicious about her knowledge of the crime. And if that's not a big enough problem, someone's trying to set her up as Amanda's killer. Now it's up to Sunny to prove her innocence and find the real murderer before she ends up convicted of the crime.

This is the first of what promises to be a delightful new paranormal mystery series by Ms. Townsend. With a cozy attitude and lighthearted dialogue, the author has created a likable protagonist with a lot of spunk. A few sleuthing situations may seem a little far-fetched, but they're fun to read and blend well with the overall tone of the story. The main characters, including the haunted Victorian house and its resident feline, have their own complex histories, and Sunny's potential romantic leads are both good looking and total opposites.

Whether you like paranormal or cozy mysteries, you're sure to love Tempest in the Tea Leaves. Include this book in your future readings, and you'll see why.

 * The next book in the series, Corpse in the Crystal Ball, comes out in June 2012.

 PROTAGONIST: Single, 29-year-old, Tinkerbell-ish psychic

CRITTERS: Morty - a large, almost-glowing white cat with black eyes and unusual abilities

ACTION: Car crashes on snowy roads, karaoke sleuthing, tackling a bad guy

LOVE INTERESTS: Possible future with a grumpy, good-looking detective or a lively, Irish-accented bartender

ROMANCE: Heavy-duty kissing frenzy, vision of heavy-duty kissing frenzy

QUIRKINESS: Non-eating, non-sleeping, big, white, hissing cat; tempermental house; forgetful ex-librarian

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Digoxin details, how dementia affects families, how to position cups to read tea leaves

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, fun situations, witty dialogue, some slapstick moments

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries by E.J. Copperman, Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

Skirting the Grave

A Vintage Magic Mystery, by Annette Blair, Berkley Prime Crime, July 2011

Murder, mistaken identity, and the need for a political family to succeed at all costs combine to make this story another winner in the Vintage Magic Mystery series. The fourth entry to the series, Skirting the Grave finds psychometry-gifted, Vintage Magic-owner Maddie Cutler handling far too many family responsibilities while trying to ensure the success of her new vintage clothing store. Not only is she planning her sister Sherry's baby shower, but her other sister Brandy left all the preparations for her foundation's fundraiser with Maddie.

Mad's also having a tough time choosing between her two beaus, Nick Jaconetti, her on-and-off boyfriend since junior high, and Lytton Werner, hot detective and her frenemy since third grade. To top it off, she's to pick up her new design intern, Isobel York, whom she's never met and regrets hiring, and her sister Brandy at the train station and make sure they're settled at Maddie's dad's house.

The problems start when Brandy makes a last minute call to say she's missed the train and that Maddie needs to pick up Isobel. Maddie and her dad arrive late and discover Isobel York has died on a bench at the station.

But if the dead girl was Isobel York, then who's the stranger knocking on Maddie's door at 3 am the next morning, looking like the doppelganger of, and claiming to be, the real Isobel York? Maddie's determined to find the answer and overcome the obstacles popping up everywhere. The list of suspects grows as Werner, Maddie, Eve (Mad's BFF), Nick and Isobel unravel the web of lies concealing the political rise of the Kingston and York families and the death of the girl at the train station.

Blair excels at infusing a story with loads of tension (Mad vs Nick and Werner, Nick vs Werner, Mad vs Brandy, Isobel vs her Grand-mere, Brandy vs Everybody) and adds visions of car hopping in the 1950's, intelligent humor, ghost sightings and pompous family matriarchs and patriarchs to heighten the fun and suspense. The author continuously moves the action forward and expertly weaves the various subplots together for a satisfying ending.

Who is the real Isobel York? Why was the first Isobel murdered? Will Brandy finally arrive in Mystic? Will her fundraiser be a success? Which guy will Maddie choose to be her one and only? Hurry to pick up Skirting the Grave at your local bookstore and discover the answers to these questions for yourself. 

* The next book in the series, Cloaked in Malice, will be released in April 2012. 

PROTAGONIST: Wild child, vintage store owner, psychometry-gifted Maddie Cutler

CRITTERS: Chakra, a special kitty who knows just how to soothe Maddie

ACTION: Foot chases, cliff-climbing, roller skating, fist fights

LOVE INTERESTS: Nick Jaconetti-on and off boyfriend and FBI agent, Lytton Werner-hot detective and frenemy since third grade

ROMANCE: Close dancing, deep kisses, lots of chemistry

QUIRKINESS: 104-year-young Dolly Sweet and her ghostly sweetheart Dante Underhill, Maddie and Isobel roller skating in Vintage Magic, the getaway tree

INTERESTING TIDBITS: How to tell Lucite from Bakelite, how to identify a real vintage Ralph Lauren purse, eras of specific clothing styles

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, some slapstick moments, intelligent banter, fun situations

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt

 

An Uninvited Ghost

A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery, by E.J. Copperman, Berkley Prime Crime, April 2011

Alison Kerby is a single mom to 10-year-old Melissa and proprietor of a seven-bedroom guesthouse on the Jersey Shore. Besides keeping the rooms clean and the welcome warm, she tries to maintain some semblence of sanity in her very haunted house, at least until Seniors Plus Tours takes an interest in her unconventional residence. Alison has to provide at least two hauntings per day to satisfy the curiosity of her guests, and the tour providers promise to keep her five available guestrooms filled from April through October. Once she convinces Paul and Maxie, her two house-bound ghosts, to help her entertain the senior guests, the twice-a-day spirit spectacles begin.

On Show Day 3, Paul refuses to continue his part in the performances until Alison uses her brand new private investigator license to help his friend Scott McFarlane. She resists Paul's pleas until she discovers Scott's not only a spirit but also blind. Now if she says no, she'll feel like a heel.

In addition to handling Scott's investigation and orchestrating the spooky show for her senior guests, Alison tangles with a excellent-paying reality TV crew that's descended on her property. Down the Shore features four twenty-something big-star wannabees who diss each other, posture for the camera and vie to be the most outrageous cast member. Their language is crude, and their behavoir is borish, leading Alison to regret allowing them on her property.

But those are the least of her worries. Before the week is out, a local senior dies during a seance and a reality TV cast member is missing. It's up to gumshoe Alison to solve the crime, find the girl, save the day and appease everyone.

This is the second book in E.J. Copperman's Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries and an excellent follow-up to Night of the Living Deed. The story is filled with wry quips and humorous situations, and the characters are so engaging that even the ghosts seem real.  Copperman excels at keeping various plot lines interesting and on track, all while moving the story forward. No sagging or lagging action here. So check into An Uninvited Ghost for a fun, refreshing mystery. It's like a vacation for your spirit and a spa for your funny bone.

* The next book in the series, Old Haunts, will be released in February 2012.

PROTAGONIST: Divorced, guesthouse proprietor and single mom to a 10 year old

ACTION: Ghostly chases for an audience, verbal fights among reality TV cast, deadly seance

LOVE INTERESTS: Passing notice of the reality TV producer

QUIRKINESS: Whole tattoed and pierced cast of reality TV show; Dolores, the ghost medium; house-bound ghostly duo, Paul and Maxie

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Behind-the-scenes glimpse into taping a reality TV show

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Double Feature Mysteries by Jeff Cohen, Aaron Tucker Mysteries by Jeff Cohen, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Ghost Hunter Mysteries by Victoria Laurie

 

Vision Impossible

A Psychic Eye Mystery, by Victoria Laurie, Obsidian, July 2011

Vision Impossible is the ninth book in Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye Mystery series. It's fun, it's smart, it's full of adventure, and FBI civilian profiler, Abby Cooper, is way outside her comfort zone. Normally she has a psychic head's up on which choices to make, but this time a smattering of creativity and a lot of courage are required to protect herself and the man she loves.

A software program designed to capture a person's aura is missing, and the military and CIA need Abby's psychic skills to track it down. She must find the stolen drone aircraft in which it's located before it can be sold to the highest bidder, since whomever owns the software also has the ability to identify and target the world's leaders by their individual auras. 

Being the good citizen that she is, Abby answers Uncle Sam's call to help, and she and her fiance FBI Agent Dutch Rivers go undercover in an international espionage mission. Dutch impersonates an unscrupulous, small time weapons dealer (who is conveniently out of the way in an Israeli prison), and Abby portrays his new personal assistant and business partner. 

As they spy for the CIA, deal with the Chechen mafia and search for the drone and digital photo software, they play a dangerous game with international arm dealers and cold-blooded murderers. The challenge is daunting, but Abby knows if she fails to retrieve the software, then she fails her country too.  And this time, failure is not an option.

Thanks to the author's clever plot twists and engaging characters, the Abby Cooper stories never get boring. Each tale is fresh, enjoyable and infused with intelligent banter. If you like your paranormal mysteries with a dash of suspense, then you're sure to love Vision Impossible and the rest of the Psychic Eye Mysteries!  

* The next book in the series will be released in July 2012. 

PROTAGONIST: Gutsy, psychic, FBI profiling consultant

ACTION: Struggles, guns, chases, descending a fire escape in tight skirt, fleeing danger in a little black dress

LOVE INTERESTS: Engaged to a good-looking FBI agent but strangely attracted to a sexy Chechen criminal

ROMANCE: Sexy, smooth, unexpected

QUIRKINESS: D-chested blond bimbo, sleezy Chechen mobster

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Ways in which psychic impressions can appear, stun gun reactions

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, funny scenes

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Ghost Hunter Mysteries by Victoria Laurie, Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Charley Davidson Mysteries by Darynda Jones, Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair

 

Larceny and Lace

A Vintage Magic Mystery, by Annette Blair, Berkley Prime Crime, August 2009

Vintage Magic's grand opening is just days away, and Maddie Cutler fears her new vintage clothing and designer store is far from ready. Heading back to Mystick Falls, CT after working her two-week notice in New York City, she detours into downtown Mystic to check out her shop's recent renovations. Maddie's thrilled at how her father, academic Harry Cutler, and his crew adapted the building's interior, turning an empty morgue and funeral home into a cheerful upscale boutique.

Excitement quickly morphs into fear when Maddie hears footsteps on the second floor. She and her cat, Chakra, sneak up the dark stairway to investigate and are startled when the intruder flies down the stairs and out the front door. Though the building's resident ghost, charming and handsome Dante Underhill, commisserates with Maddie, she's relieved when her friends and family arrive to help her open a secret room upstairs.

Maddie's scary night is far from over. The playhouse across the street is torched, possibly to conceal the owner's dead body and some unidentified bones, Vintage Magic is revisited by an intruder, and a vision involving a well and a woman named Isobel leaves Maddie upset, exhausted and in the protective arms of Detective Werner.

With her friends and store in danger, Maddie falls headlong into trouble while trying to solve an almost thirty-year-old cold case and keep the town's butcher, Mr. Tunney, from being charged with the murder of the burned theater's owner. Dealing with the murdered man's family, with their obvious greed, in-fighting and old family secrets, may just be the death of Maddie...literally.

Larceny and Lace is the second book in a cozy paranormal mystery series by Annette Blair. The author is an excellent storyteller and uses lively dialogue, colorful descriptions and an amazing array of vintage clothing knowledge to draw the reader into the story. She creates fully-developed major characters with unique personalities and mannerisms. Fashion-conscious Maddie is very loyal to the people she loves, independent, curious and still coming to terms with her ability to see visions when she touches fabric. Eve is daring, intelligent and sexy, and her favorite color is black. Vintage Magic's ghost, Dante Underhill, is dashing, debonair and dead, to the disappointment of feisty 103-year-old Dolly Sweet, his once lovely sweetheart. Detective Werner and Maddie are arch-enemies, ever since she called him Wiener in the third grade, but his stern demeanor occasionally weakens when Maddie least expects it.

If you're looking for a fun series to dive into, you can't go wrong with the Vintage Magic books. I suggest you start with the series' first book, A Veiled Deception, but you can read any of the four books as a standalone. They are all entertaining, guaranteed to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face.

* The current books in the series are A Veiled Deception (January 2009), Larceny and Lace (August 2009), Death by Diamonds (July 2010), and Skirting the Grave (July 2011).  The next book, Cloaked in Malice, will be released in April 2012.

 PROTAGONIST: Wild child, vintage store owner, psychometry-gifted Maddie Cutler

CRITTERS: Chakra, a cute and comforting yellow kitten

ACTION: Fire, dancing, hiding in the woods

LOVE INTERESTS: Never-home FBI agent, always-around detective

ROMANCE: Deep kisses, hugs, comfortable shoulders

QUIRKINESS: Charming and handsome ghost, 103-year-old feisty friend, loving godmother who's both a lawyer and a witch

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Lots of vintage and designer clothes info, Mystic CT scenes

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, cheeky comments, some slapstick moments

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt

First Grave on the Right

A Charley Davidson Mystery, by Darynda Jones, Macmillan, July 2011

Charley Davidson is just your normal, everyday PI...able to rebound quickly from serious injuries, confer with dead victims to track down their murderers, and provide the portal through which those victims get to heaven. But what's unusual, to Charley, are the month-long dreamland visits of a sexually charged male and what he represents. He seems familiar to her, but she can't quite put her finger on it. Add to that confusion, the urgency to find the person who murdered her current clients and her frantic attempts to keep the state from pulling life-support from a brain-dead prisoner, and Charley's need for hi-test coffee grows exponentially every day. As her cases may be connected to a high-profile and very dangerous police investigation, Charley must rely on both her spiritual and physical colleagues to help her, for this time her bravado and sixth-sense advantage might not be enough to keep her alive.

This is a fast-paced, humorous, paranormal mystery spiked full of wit and constant twists and turns. Charley is a complex character who is not afraid of the unknown and hides her emotions behind smart-ass quips and a cocky attitude. Cookie, her best friend, reliable neighbor and administrative aide, is the only person Charley feels she can trust.  Though Charley is afraid if she opens up any more to Cookie that her BFF will bolt.  So the PI keeps her darkest secrets, particularly one about the mysterious Reyes, to herself.

If you don't read but one book a season, this is your must-buy for summer (or any other time of year). It is a funny and crafty whodunnit for which you'll happily neglect your family and friends to finish in one sitting and sadly read the last page. But cheer up, because the next book in the series comes out next month.

* The next book in the series, Second Grave on the Left, comes out in August 2011.

PROTAGONIST: The grim reaper, a 27-year-old, smart-assed, female PI

ACTION: A foot chase in a bad neighborhood, fights, protective paranormal happenings

LOVE INTERESTS: A doubting police detective, a hot guardian entity

ROMANCE: Few, but steamy, sex scenes

QUIRKINESS: Protagonist as grim reaper, ghost of Mr. Wong, and a young mean-spiritied ghost

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Truth about stakeouts, a way to vanish from the grid

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, some slapstick moments, lots of great quips

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Grim Reaper Mysteries by Judy Clemens, Ghost Hunter Mysteries by Victoria Laurie, Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

 

A Taste of the Nightlife

A Vampire Chef Mystery, by Sarah Zettel, Obsidian, July 2011

Chef Charlotte Caine and her vampire brother, Chet, own Nightlife, a restaurant that caters to vampires, paranormals and their guests. They've worked long hours and gone without a full salary to overcome anti-vampire sentiment and build their business into a must-go-to place to see and be seen in New York City. So they are thrilled when NYC's best undead dining critic, Anatole Sevarin, shows up one evening to sample their menu. One good review from Sevarin, and Nightlife could be catapulted into the top-tier of Big Apple restaurants.

Their excitement is quickly extinquished when a spurned warlock threatens one of the diners with a handball of fire and sets off the sprinklers, drenching tables, chairs and guests with fire retardant. But that is just a warm-up to what they face the next morning when Charlotte returns from a successful early morning trip to the farmers market. Juggling grocery bags and keys, she enters the restaurant and discovers the warlock's body sprawled on the floor near the host station with two bite marks in his neck and Chet nowhere to be found. Now she must rely on both the charismatic vampire dining critic and the warlock's gorgeous cousin Brendan to help find her brother, solve the murder and save her restaurant's reputation.

This is a delightful story with lots of fun dialogue and surprising twists and turns. The protagonist, Charlotte Caine, is smart, witty and dedicated to protecting her brother. She blames herself for Chet's transition to vampire life and has looked out for him since their parents fled to the Southwest. She is a creative chef and cooks to relieve stress, to the enjoyment and benefit of her roommates, Trish, a midtown attorney, and Jesse, a makeup sales consultant.

This is the first book in a new series that I hope will continue for several years. The book's characters are not your typical, every day vampires and warlocks, and the story is fresh and fast-paced. Kudos to the author for this quirky and entertaining book. I'm already saving up my pennies to purchase the next book in the series, Let Them Eat Stake.

 * The next book in the series, Let Them Eat Stake, will be released in April 2012.

PROTAGONIST: A 30-year-old, intelligent and witty, female chef and owner of Nightlife, a restaurant catering to vampires, paranormals and their guests

ACTION: Struggles in a dark alley, fight for life in a bright kitchen

LOVE INTERESTS: A charismatic and handsome vampire, a gorgeous and caring warlock

ROMANCE: Great kisses and lots of electricity

QUIRKINESS: Vampire dining critic, transitioned brother, vamp tramp

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Inner workings of an upscale restaurant's kitchen, big city restaurant staffing issues, who visits NYC early morning farmers markets

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, witty dialogue, cute jokes, funny situations

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Wishcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt, Ophelia & Abby Mysteries by Shirley Damsgaard

 

A Touch of Gold

A Missing Pieces Mystery, by Joyce and Jim Lavene, Berkley Prime Crime, March 2011

Dae O'Donnell, mayor of Duck, NC and psychic finder of lost objects, is walking towards the Duck Historical Museum to return a gold coin when the building explodes, knocking her into the street and killing the museum's curator, Max Caudle. When she awakens in the hospital, Dae discovers she now has powerful visions of an object's history whenever she touches it. Though she's overcome with emotions when she handles old items, her new skill comes in handy when she and Kevin Brickman, a former FBI agent and new owner of The Blue Whale Inn, try to track down Sam Meacham. He's disappeared, and as he and Max were known adversaries, the police consider Sam the person responsible for the explosion and Max's death.

Dae believes Sam is innocent and that he may have some useful information about who caused the explosion. Following the impressions she picks up from a horse statue in Sam's office, she and Kevin continue to Currituck Beach, where they find an abandoned Segway in the bushes. As Dae grasps its handle, she feels intense fear and the sense of someone running. Now she believes Sam's in trouble and the same person that killed Max is threatening Sam.

Dae can't shake the feeling that the museum explosion, Max's death and Sam's disappearance are all linked to a rumored stash of old gold coins. Only when she can control her intense reactions to her visions is she able to uncover the museum's secrets, the gold connection and the real identify of the murderer.

This is a strong sequel to last year's A Timely Vision and includes some familiar faces. Dae's grandfather Gramps, a charter boat captain and a former sheriff of Duck, is a larger-than-life character who provides home, family and community stability for Dae. Kevin Brickman is an ex-FBI agent and the owner of the Blue Whale Inn. He becomes Dae's sounding-board and love interest, and he helps her come to terms with her new psychic ability. Dae's good friends and business neighbors, Trudy Devereaux and Shayla Lily, are three-dimensional, fun characters with distinctive personalities, histories and fashion style, and both provide a little comic relief.

So if you're looking for another book to read by the pool or on the beach this Summer, spend a little time in Duck, NC with Dae and her friends. You're sure to enjoy your time there.

* The next book in the series, A Spirited Gift, will be released in December 2011.

PROTAGONIST: A psychically gifted & single 36-year-old female mayor of Duck, NC and owner of Missing Pieces store

ACTION: Locked in the cabin of a boat, swimming in the cold Atlantic Ocean, car crashes, rescues

LOVE INTERESTS: Ex-FBI agent turned innkeeper

ROMANCE: Lots of kisses and hugs

QUIRKINESS: Dae's psychic abilities - touches a person's hands and finds their lost items, and sees and feels the history of an item upon contact

COLLOQUIALISMS: Local and regional sayings

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Pirating history of Outer Banks, scavaging methods of Duck ancestors, facts about the Outer Bank's wild horses

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted with some comic relief throughout

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Books by the Bay Mysteries by Ellery Adams, Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries by E.J. Copperman, Port Chatham Mysteries by P.J. Alderman, and Renaissance Faire Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene

 

To Sketch a Thief

A Portrait of Crime Mystery, by Sharon Pape, Berkley Prime Crime, June 2011

New PI Rory McCain, a former sketch artist with the Suffolk County Police Department, shares an uneasy alliance, an investigation business and her house with Ezekial "Zeke" Drummond, a federal marshall who died in 1878.  Since Zeke is confined to her residence, Rory does most of the investigating alone. She is an independent, 28-year-old protaganist with a lot of gumption and a .45 as backup.

A stray dog named Hobo appears in her yard one day, and Rory drives him to the street address stamped on his dog tag. When no one answers the door, she follows Hobo into the house and discovers a dead woman on the kitchen floor, a knife sticking out of her back. An estranged friend of the victim shows up and tells Rory that Tootsie, the dead woman's prized Maltese, is also missing. Thus begins Rory's involvement in a dognapping case that may also be tied to the murder of Hobo's owner.

After Rory decides to give Hobo a temporary home, she's hired by Tina Kovack, another dognapping victim and the murdered woman's friend, to find Tootsie and hopefully track down her own stolen Malteses. The investigation becomes personal when Hobo is poisoned and almost dies. Rory suspects Hobo's veternarian of providing information to aid the dognappers, but she must rely on him to keep Hobo alive.  More potential persons of interest come to light at the local dog park. Eventually an elementary school teacher helps Rory track down the people responsible for stealing the dogs when all other leads become dead ends.

To Sketch a Thief is filled with potential murder suspects, dog humor, a ghost consultant,  and red herrings. This is the second book in the Portrait of Crime Mysteries and a strong sequel in the series. If you are a fan of mysteries involving ghosts, good stories with canines and novels with a strong female protaganist, then you'll enjoy To Sketch a Thief.

* The third book in the series, Sketch a Falling Star, will be released in March 2012.

PROTAGONIST: Independent, 28-year-old, .45-toting, female PI

CRITTERS: Hobo - a 90-lb, gray & white mutt

ACTION: Fun dog chases, not-so-fun dog vs man, humorous dog vs ghost

LOVE INTEREST: Hobo, the adopted dog

ROMANCE: Lots of dog kisses and drool

QUIRKINESS: Ghost from 1878 who's computer proficient

INTERESTING TIDBITS: A glimpse into a lawman's day in 1878

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, cute scenes with Hobo

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries by E.J. Copperman, Port Chatham Mysteries by P.J. Alderman, Pepper Martin Mysteries by Casey Daniels

 

Hexes and Hemlines

A Witchcraft Mystery, by Juliet Blackwell, Obsidian Mystery, June 2011

Lily Ivory is not your average shop owner and businesswoman in San Francisco. She owns a vintage clothing store,  Aunt Cora's Closet, in the city's Haight-Ashbury district and is a practicing witch. That's why she's standing in Malachi Zazi's penthouse investigating his murder scene, and his glass-impaled body, with SFPD Inspector Carlos Romero.  The apartment is full of bad luck symbols designed to discount superstitions, including upside down horseshoes, broken mirrors, thirteen chairs at the dinner table, and a ladder to walk under at the front entry. Lily suspects a clearing spell has been cast throughout the penthouse. She can't read any residual energy, good or bad, which is strange in an almost 100-year-old residential building. She wants to find Zazi's murderer to help the police, but she keeps butting up against a force more powerful than she understands.

And that's not her only problem. Oscar, her familiar, refuses to be nice to the black cat she's temporarily inherited and is allergic to, and Bronwyn, her friend and employee, has an unfortunate connection to the victim.

Handsome journalist Max Carmichael hasn't called Lily since he's been back in town, powerful warlock Aidan Rhodes is angry that she's broken a fragile territory pact with other paranormals, and tall, dark and handsome Sailor is a sourpuss who reluctantly accompanies Lily to the more menacing parts of town in her quest for information.

This is the third book in the wonderful Witchcraft Mystery series, and it feels as fresh and new as the first, Secondhand Spirits. The characters seem alive with their individual personalities and idiosyncrasies, and colorful descriptions set the scene and pull the reader along for the whole adventure.

From gargoyles and Goofer Balls to dark magic in the forest, Hexes and Hemlines is sure to keep you entertained to the last page, and laughing along the way.  It's the perfect book to take to the beach, read at the pool or brighten up a dull flight. So whether you're on a vacation or a staycation, this Witchcraft Mystery will help make it a fun and relaxing one.

* The next book in the series will be released in 2012. 

 PROTAGONIST: Vintage clothes store owner, single, practicing witch

CRITTERS: Oscar- a familiar that turns into a pig around humans, Zazi's cat-a black cat staying with Lily and Oscar

ACTION: Time alteration, chase through a dark forest, fight on a rooftop, snakes ready to bite

LOVE INTERESTS: A handsome journalist, a gorgeous warlock, and a sexy bodyguard

ROMANCE: Melting pewter, sizzling kiss, hot embrace

QUIRKINESS: Unique characters, Oscar-the goblin who turns into a pig, High Prince Zazi-the aging, self proclaimed "High Prince of Hell", Doura-the high-voiced time-bender

COLLOQUIALISMS: Texas sayings and Spanish phrases

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Bad luck symbols, history of gargoyles, architectural descriptions, Tidal Basin cherry trees, war chemicals used for backyard gardening

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, witty dialogue, laughs throughout

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Art Lover's Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell writing as Hailey Lind, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

 

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat

A Magical Cats Mystery, by Sofie Kelly, Obsidian Mystery, February 2011

Kathleen Paulson has only been in  Mayville Heights, Minnesota for a few months, but already she's been adopted by two unusual kittens, catnip-addicted Owen and disappearing Hercules, and has formed several new friendships. One person she hasn't befriended is the visiting conductor and guest artist for the Wild Rose Summer Music Festival, pompous Gregor Easton.

Kathleen is overseeing the renovation of the public library when she hears loud voices in another part of the building. She finds Mr. Easton berating one of her coworkers and complaining about the chaos and inadequacy of the library. Easton is furious because the computer stations haven't been set up and he can't go online to check his emails. As Easton continues his tirade, Owen appears out of nowhere and attacks the conductor's head. Kathleen tries to mollify Easton by promising to send over a special breakfast to his hotel room the next day. But he never gets the chance to eat it. Kathleen finds his body slumped over Stratton Theatre's piano early the next morning when she's looking for someone else. 

With the reknowned conductor dead, it's questionable if the festival can continue. But that's small potatoes when there's a murder to solve. Afraid she's the primary suspect, Kathleen, Owen and Hercules band together to solve the case and catch the real killer.

This first book in a new cozy mystery series is lighthearted and very entertaining. The quick pace is helped along by several refreshing twists and unusual feline activity. I connected with the author's humor and couldn't help but laugh out loud at Kathleen's interaction with her almost personable cats. Though I had a little bit of trouble keeping Rebecca, Roma and Ruby straight when they shared a scene, that was just a minor blip in a very enjoyable story.  So if you're in the market for another fun book to read on vacation, be sure to pick up Curiosity Thrilled the Cat.

 *The next book in the series, Sleight of Paw, comes out in September 2011

PROTAGONIST: Past 30, new head librarian, lives in old farmhouse

CRITTERS: Two cats - Owen, gray and white tabby, and Hercules, stocky black and white cat

ACTION: Accidents in the library, humorous cat chases

LOVE INTEREST: Detective Marcus Gordon

ROMANCE: Lots of cat nuzzles and cuddling

QUIRKINESS: Catnip-addicted cat, veterinarian taking care of people, disappearing cats

INTERESTING TIDBITS: History of libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie, how to handle feral cats

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted, cute quips, humorous dialogue

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Midnight Louie Mysteries by Carole Nelson Douglas, Cats in Trouble Mysteries by Leann Sweeney, Cats and Curios Mysteries by Rebecca M. Hale; Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James