Tag: mystery

Mini-Reviews: Leviathan, Herrings, Beresford

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James S.A. Corey, Leviathan Wakes

Sometime in the future, humanity has colonized much of the solar system. Mars is thriving, with a society and military to rival Earth’s, and hardscrabble colonies have spread on asteroids throughout the Belt. A fragile peace exists between the wealthier residents of the inner planets and the often dirt-poor Belters—that is, until Jim Holden’s Belter ship, the Canterbury, is destroyed by what appears to be Martian sabotage. Now Jim and his crew are on the run, Mars and the Belt are at war, and the entire solar system is a powder keg. Throw in a mysterious disease, a down-on-his-luck cop, and a missing girl, and the stage is set for catastrophe. This novel is straightforward space opera, and it’s a lot of fun. The world-building is fascinating; I liked the authors’ take on how society (and biology) might evolve in space. There’s plenty of action, characters to root for, and a suspenseful plot. The series is long and the books are thick, but I am somewhat tempted to continue since I really enjoyed this one!

L.C. Tyler, Ten Little Herrings

At the end of The Herring-Seller’s Apprentice, mystery writer Ethelred Tressider has disappeared. At the beginning of this book, his busybody agent, Elsie Thikettle, has tracked him down. He’s in the Loire Valley, in a rundown hotel that is currently occupied by a conference of stamp enthusiasts. Rumors are swirling about a rare Danish stamp that might appear at the conference, but that excitement is superseded by two murders that occur in the hotel. Elsie is determined to solve the crimes, but Ethelred seems to have other priorities. This is a fun little book that relies quite a bit on Elsie’s quirky voice and unreliable narration. I laughed at her but also pitied her, and I found both her and Ethelred pretty unlikable. As a result, I won’t continue with the series, even though it’s often quite funny and plays with some Golden Age tropes in an entertaining way. I just don’t think I need any more of this, and that’s fine—frankly, it’s a relief not to fall in love with another series!

Mimi Matthews, Miss Beresford and the Beast

Charlotte Beresford is visiting a school friend in Yorkshire, where she’s warned that the local estate and the earl who owns it are cursed. Despite her adventurous spirit, Charlotte dutifully avoids Moorcross Manor—until one day she takes a wrong turn and follows an injured dog directly to the crumbling estate. She falls and injures her head while on the grounds, forcing the reclusive earl to care for her until she recovers. Meanwhile, the earl, Magnus Sterling, finds himself unwillingly drawn to Charlotte, but his scandalous past prohibits any relationship between them. I always enjoy Mimi Matthews’ books, and this is no exception. I really loved the first half in particular, as Charlotte and Magnus slowly get to know one another. There’s a lot of top-notch yearning, especially from Magnus, plus many fun allusions to Beauty and the Beast. The second half is a bit anticlimactic by comparison; once they realize their feelings for one another, the external obstacles are easy to overcome. Nonetheless, if Matthews writes more “Daughters of Somerset” books (this one is billed as the first in a new series), I’ll gladly read them.

Mini-Reviews: Angels, Adversary, Cufflinks

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C.S. Harris, What Angels Fear

Rachel York, a beautiful young actress and prostitute, is brutally raped and murdered in a London church. Evidence at the scene points to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, as the killer. Sebastian is innocent, but higher-ups within the British government would be happy to see blame for the crime fall on him. So Sebastian has no choice but to search for the real killer himself, interviewing Rachel’s friends and associates while evading the Bow Street Runners. I vaguely recall reading this book many years ago and not liking it enough to continue with the series. Perhaps it was too dark and gritty for me at the time—this is definitely not Georgette Heyer’s Regency London—but this time I liked the book a lot and am eager to read the next one. Sebastian is a compelling hero with the requisite tortured past, and I’m intrigued to see how his relationships with his family and with Kat, another actress who was his first love and has now reentered his life, will develop.

Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Adversary to the Villain

Evie Sage is struggling with her newfound villainous identity and having trouble controlling her magic. Though she and Trystan are in love, she’s afraid of pursuing their relationship because, according to the Rennedawn Prophecy, they’re doomed to be adversaries. Nevertheless, the entire villainous gang is intent on fulfilling the prophecy to preserve the kingdom’s magic—but evil King Benedict is hot on their tail, and some of Evie and Trystan’s friends are still keeping secrets. I don’t think this series is good, yet something compels me to keep reading it! The emotional back-and-forth of Evie and Trystan’s relationship is silly and makes no sense, and I have absolutely zero idea what’s going on with the plot. But I guess I’m enjoying the cozy fantasy vibes and the fact that literally every “good” character in this series is going to fall in love. Also, this book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I definitely need to read the next one to find out what happens. But I’m not happy about it!

James Anderson, The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks

This final book in Anderson’s trilogy involves yet another murder at the stately home of Alderley. Ninety-six-year-old Florrie, a distant relative of the Earl and Countess of Burford, has just died, and all her relatives have converged on Alderley for the funeral and the reading of the will. Almost everyone is hoping for a significant monetary inheritance, but most are doomed to disappointment—particularly Florrie’s spiteful daughter-in-law, Clara, who angrily declares that she knows secrets about all the guests that could ruin their reputations. So it’s no surprise that Clara is murdered that very night, and one of the relatives must have done it. The stage is set for Inspector Wilkins’s final case. As with the two previous books in the trilogy, this is a well-executed pastiche of Golden Age mysteries with an intricate puzzle plot and a vivid cast of characters. Highly recommended for fans of the genre, and I’m sorry there are no more books in the series!

Mini-Reviews: Dukes, Paddington, Auburn

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Loretta Chase, Dukes Prefer Blondes

Beautiful Lady Clara Fairfax has been raised to do nothing beyond marrying a nobleman, but she’d rather be useful than ornamental. When her charitable work leads her to search for a missing boy who’s likely been absorbed into a London gang, she seeks out barrister Oliver Radford for help. Radford has a reputation for prosecuting gang leaders, fighting injustice—and being one of the rudest men in London. He has no time for Clara’s interference, yet he’s reluctantly intrigued by her determination. As the two work together, they fall in love, but will their very different social stations keep them apart? Every time I read a Loretta Chase novel, I’m surprised by just how good she is; this book was an absolute delight! I especially loved Oliver as a hero. He’s blunt, emotionally detached, and proud of his lack of charm, yet Clara utterly demolishes his defenses. Sure, the plot is silly and implausible, but I was having far too good a time to care! I really need to keep exploring Chase’s backlist, and I hope we’ll see more from her in the future!

Agatha Christie, 4.50 from Paddington

This novel opens on an exciting note, when elderly Elspeth McGillicuddy witnesses a murder in a train. She immediately reports the murder to a railway official, who thinks she imagined it but nevertheless informs the police. Yet the body isn’t discovered, either in the train or along the line. Luckily, Mrs. McGillicuddy’s good friend Jane Marple is on the case. Too old and frail to investigate herself, Miss Marple enlists the help of housekeeper extraordinaire Lucy Eylesbarrow, who hunts for the corpse while working at an estate that abuts the railway line. But can Lucy find the body and unmask the murderer before more people are killed? Much as I love Agatha Christie, I think this plot is a little weak; the murderer’s motive and plan are quite farfetched, and there’s no reason why that person should be the killer rather than any of the other suspects. I also think the characters aren’t particularly well drawn—except for Lucy, who is far too good for any of the men in this book! This is still an entertaining read, but not one of Christie’s best.

Sharon Shinn, Summers at Castle Auburn

As the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, Corie occupies an uncertain place in the world. For most of the year, she lives and works with her grandmother, a village herbalist and wise woman. But every summer, she visits the royal court at Castle Auburn, where her beloved half-sister is betrothed to the crown prince. At the start of the novel, 14-year-old Corie is infatuated with the dashing Prince Bryan and entranced by the beautiful aliora, fairylike creatures who serve in the palace. But as Corie grows up, she begins to recognize the problems and injustices around her, and she grows concerned for her sister’s—and the kingdom’s—welfare. But her quest to right those wrongs may cost her her own place at court. I’ve read this book a few times and always enjoyed it, and something different strikes me on each reread. Last time I saw the story primarily as a romance, but this time I focused more on Corie’s coming of age. Though she’s initially quite naive, she matures into an admirable heroine who’s determined to forge her own path. The novel is slow-paced and short on plot, but I enjoyed spending time again in Corie’s world.

Mini-Reviews: Romantic, Unpleasantness, Elatsoe

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Kirsty Greenwood, Romantic Hero

Gertie Bickerstaff is not okay. The final novel of her popular cowboy romance series is due soon, but she has terrible writer’s block. On top of that, her longtime boyfriend has just told her he wants a break. Desperate, Gertie performs a “manifestation ceremony” in hopes of getting her career and love life back on track. But she’s shocked when the villain of her series, River Oakley, shows up (shirtless, of course) in her apartment. The two must team up to figure out how River got here and how to send him home, but an unexpected attraction complicates things. I really enjoyed Greenwood’s previous novel, The Love of My Afterlife, and this one suffers a bit by comparison. I’m tired of contemporary romances where the heroine is a mess and the hero is perfect, yet somehow he loves her anyway. River never felt like a real person to me, and Gertie’s hand-wringing passivity got on my nerves. All that said, the novel is funny and breezy and a quick read. I did have fun with it, but I don’t need to ever read it again.

Claudia Gray, The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield

Despite their mutual affection, Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney haven’t seen or communicated with each other since he fought a duel over her. Now Jonathan feels stifled by his parents’ concern and jumps at the chance to visit his Aunt Jane and Uncle Charles at Netherfield. There he’s promptly embroiled in another mystery when Mr. Hurst, also a guest of the Bingleys’, drops dead in the breakfast room. Only Juliet can help Jonathan find the killer, but as they conduct another investigation together, they must also navigate their feelings in the face of parental disapproval. I’m continuing to enjoy this series a lot! I love the deep dive into Austen’s fictional worlds; this book in particular is fun for me, as a lover of Pride and Prejudice, since it imagines what the Bingleys, Darcys, and Bennets would be like 25 years after the novel. The mystery itself is pretty light in this installment (and I did guess the killer!), but that’s understandable because the novel mostly focuses on the various character relationships. I’m genuinely emotionally invested in what will happen next and will anxiously await the next book in the series!

Darcie Little Badger, Elatsoe

Ellie is basically a normal teenage girl—except for the fact that her pet dog is a ghost. Because of her Lipan Apache heritage, she has certain special abilities, including the power to raise the dead. When her cousin Trevor dies, supposedly in a car accident, Ellie communicates with his spirit and learns he was actually murdered. But the murderer, Abe Allerton, is a prominent man in the mysterious town of Willowbee, Texas, and Ellie will need all her family’s power and support to take him down. I’m glad the “indigenous author” Bingo square in my LibraryThing challenge prompted me to pick up this book, because I really enjoyed it! The world-building is unique, Ellie is endearingly snarky, and the ghost dog steals the show. The plot was interesting and fast-moving, and I liked the resolution of Ellie’s final confrontation with Abe. Overall, I enjoyed this one more than I expected to and would be interested in reading more by the author.

Mini-Reviews: Bride, Mink, Undercutting

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Anne Gracie, Bride by Mistake

Eight years ago, young soldier Luke Ripton was fighting Napoleon’s forces in Spain when he stumbled across a girl, Bella, being attacked by bandits. He rescued her and learned that she was running away from her vicious cousin, who planned to marry her and steal her fortune. Luke’s only course of action was to marry Bella himself, bring her to a convent for safekeeping, and have the marriage annulled later. In the present, Luke learns the annulment didn’t go through, so he has no choice but to retrieve his Spanish wife. But Bella is far from the demure, obedient bride he expected. Despite the implausibility of the plot, which veers into soap opera territory near the end, I had a lot of fun with this book! Bella is a strong heroine who’s determined to do the right thing, and Luke is unwillingly charmed by her. I also liked the book’s unique setting, focusing on Spain during and after the Napoleonic Wars. Overall, though it’s probably not a keeper for me, I found this an enjoyable historical romance.

James Anderson, The Affair of the Mutilated Mink

Another house party goes wrong at the English stately home of Alderley. This time the earl, who has recently become a film enthusiast, invites an American movie producer who’s thinking of using Alderley as the setting for his new project. The writer and leading man also attend, as well as an Italian actress who may become the leading lady. Then the earl’s wife invites her cousin and cousin’s husband, while the earl’s daughter, Gerry, asks two of her boyfriends so she can make up her mind between them. The stage is set for another murder, and while all the evidence initially points to one of Gerry’s suitors, the case soon becomes more complicated. This Golden Age pastiche is just as enjoyable as The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy and has a lot of fun with the genre’s tropes, including a Great Detective who comes in to “assist” the local police with the investigation. I especially enjoyed the references to fictional detectives such as Peter Wimsey and Roderick Alleyn, who are real people in this universe. Looking forward to reading the third and final book next month!

Megan Bannen, The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam

Tanrian marshal Rosie Fox doesn’t mind taking on the most difficult and dangerous jobs. As an immortal demigod, she can’t die, so her motto is “Act first, think never.” But she may be in over her head when the portals between Tanria and Bushong start malfunctioning, threatening the lives of everyone inside Tanria. Her boss calls in Adam Lee, the inventor of the portals, to see if he can repair them; instead, he and Rosie end up stuck in Tanria. As they search for a way out, they also grow closer, but Adam is keeping some pretty big secrets about his past. I love the creative fantasy world of this series, with its complex theology and quasi-Western vibes. But this book, I think, relies a little too much on the world-building and not enough on characterization or plot. Not a lot happens in the book till the last hundred pages or so, and the romance between Rosie and Adam also feels a bit forced. There’s a mismatch between the darker subject matter (the weight of immortality, the meaning of death, complicated family dynamics) and the light, breezy tone. I did still enjoy the book, and it certainly gives some good closure to the series, but I don’t ever need to read it again.

Mini-Reviews: Bloodstained, Famous, Bellwether

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James Anderson, The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy

This historical mystery novel has all the trappings of a Golden Age detective story: a country house party, hidden identities, political machinations, a secret passage, a famous jewel thief, a staged car accident, and multiple suspicious deaths. Based on the title, I was expecting the book to be humorous, but it isn’t particularly, though occasionally a character will toss off a witty line. Overall I think this is a great read for Golden Age mystery lovers. All the tropes are present in abundance (sometimes superabundance), yet the book still manages to subvert reader expectations in interesting ways. I don’t want to say too much more about the plot because it’s more fun to experience it as it unfolds. Suffice it to say that I liked this one quite a bit and am looking forward to the other two books in the Inspector Wilkins series (I have an omnibus edition that contains all three). Apparently they’re all set at the same country house, so I’m interested to see which characters will recur!

Mary Balogh, The Famous Heroine

The daughter of a wealthy merchant, Cora Downes would normally have no reason to mingle with London society’s upper crust. But when she (sort of) rescues from drowning a relative of the Duchess of Bridgwater, the duchess is so grateful that she decides to sponsor Cora for a Season and help her find a husband. The unconventional Cora is nervous and awkward in this new environment, so Lord Francis Kneller (a friend of the Bridgwater family) takes her under his wing. They soon become friends, but when Francis inadvertently “compromises” her, neither one expects the ensuing marriage to bring true love. This book was a reread for me, and I enjoyed revisiting these characters. Cora is a lovable klutz, and Francis is a kind hero with a sense of humor. Some aspects of the plot don’t quite work; for example, Cora’s mistaken assumption that Francis is gay, based on his colorful attire, persists for far too long. There are also plentiful references to the previous books in the series, Dark Angel and Lord Carew’s Bride, which I found slightly tiresome. But overall, I enjoyed my reread—Mary Balogh is reliably entertaining!

Connie Willis, Bellwether

Dr. Sandra Foster, a researcher at HiTek Corp., is studying the origin of fads, and it’s not going well. As she sorts through articles on hair bobbing and crossword puzzles and the Hula Hoop, she’s forced to deal with out-of-touch management, “sensitivity exercises,” and the world’s least competent assistant. As her world grows increasingly more illogical and frustrating, Sandra meets Dr. Bennett O’Reilly, a fellow HiTek scientist who seems strangely resistant to fads, if his terrible clothes are any indication. Could he somehow be the key to her research? I adore Connie Willis, especially her lighter and more comedic novels, of which this is one. It’s actually a bit stressful to read at times, because Sandra’s work frustrations are entirely too realistic! The satire of life in a corporate environment is spot-on, though, and I really liked the progression of the story and the romance. The book came out in 1996, so some aspects of it are dated now (no one researches anything on the computer), but overall I think it holds up quite well. Highly recommended if the premise interests you!

Mini-Reviews: Something, Captivity, Reluctant

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Julie James, Something About You

Assistant US attorney Cameron Lynde just wants a peaceful night in a posh hotel while her floors are being refinished. Instead, she’s kept awake by a late-night sex marathon in the room next door—followed by a murder. And unfortunately, because the case has federal implications, the person in charge of the investigation is FBI agent Jack Pallas, with whom Cameron has a contentious professional past. Since Cameron is a key witness with a high-profile job, she’s put in protective custody, which forces her and Jack into much closer proximity than they’d prefer—that is, until their mutual attraction complicates things even further. Julie James was one of the first romance novelists I ever read, and her books were a great gateway into the genre for me. This one is a fun read with likable leads; both Cameron and Jack are smart and good at their jobs, and they have great chemistry. The book isn’t destined to be a new favorite, but it was definitely an enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Michael Gilbert, Death in Captivity

This mystery has the unique setting of an Italian prisoner-of-war camp. An unpopular prisoner is found dead in a tunnel that some of the POWs had been digging to escape. But was his death an accident or murder? And how did he get into the tunnel, whose entrance is disguised by a heavy slab that takes four men to lift? One of the British prisoners, Henry “Cuckoo” Goyles, is tasked with solving the case, but his investigation is complicated by a potential informer within the camp, as well as by the eventual necessity for a prison break. This is a fascinating variation on the “impossible crime” mystery, where the circle of suspects is limited to camp guards and prisoners. Gilbert himself was a POW who escaped from an Italian camp during World War II, and his experience undoubtedly informed many details of the novel. The murder mystery is interesting—and several aspects of the solution surprised me—but it’s secondary to the vivid, personal depiction of this specific time and place. Recommended, but more for those interested in WWII history than for mystery lovers.

Eloisa James, The Reluctant Countess

Giles Renwick, the earl of Lilford, always does the proper thing. He needs an appropriate countess to uphold his social position, so it’s too bad that he’s continually lusting after Lady Yasmin Régnier, whose gowns and reputation are equally scandalous. Yasmin is attracted to Giles also, though she’s reluctant to admit it, as they seem to argue every time they’re together. Eventually they surrender to their mutual passion, but when Giles wants to marry Yasmin, she hesitates, unsure that they are truly well matched. I have really liked some works by Eloisa James, but this book was not one of them. I didn’t really believe in either of these characters or in the conflicts that kept them apart. Giles’s younger sister, who throws some obstacles in their way, also doesn’t seem to have a very clear or consistent motivation for her actions. I’ll try a few more of James’s books in hopes of finding one I really like, but this one was not it.

Mini-Reviews: Trespasser, Afternoon, Hero

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Tana French, The Trespasser

Antoinette Conway has fought hard for her place on the Dublin Murder Squad, and she’s determined to hold onto it despite the race- and gender-based harassment she endures from most of her colleagues. She and her partner, newbie Stephen Moran (last seen in The Secret Place), get all the most boring cases; but their newest assignment, apparently a standard domestic violence case, soon becomes more complicated and hints at possible corruption within the Murder Squad itself. One of my favorite aspects of The Secret Place was the development of Stephen and Antoinette’s professional relationship, and I was thrilled to see that continue in this book. Their partnership is tested, and I was on the edge of my seat hoping that they would come out stronger on the other side! The actual murder case wasn’t my favorite; I felt the victim’s personality and actions strained credibility. But overall, I enjoyed this book, and while I’m not sure it was intended to be the last Dublin Murder Squad novel, I think it works well as a finale.

Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

Christopher Phelan is a dashing military officer who enjoys his position at the peak of high society and has just begun a flirtation with one of its reigning beauties, Prudence Mercer. But when he’s called to serve in the Crimea, he is deeply changed and shaken by the horrors of war. His only solace is his correspondence with Prudence, with whom he’s fallen deeply in love. What he doesn’t know is that Prudence’s letters were actually written by her friend Beatrix Hathaway, an unconventional animal lover whom Christopher barely knows. Lisa Kleypas is a big name in historical romance, but this is my first encounter with her work. The plot drew me in; I love a good romance by letters, especially with a mistaken identity thrown in. That said, the big secret is revealed about halfway through the book, which means the second half kind of fizzles. I also found Beatrix a bit of a manic pixie dream girl—she brings hedgehogs to parties! She wears breeches to call on the neighbors! I did like her and Christopher together, though. Overall, I mildly enjoyed this one and am curious to read more by Kleypas, but I wasn’t blown away.

Gail Eastwood, An Unlikely Hero

Gilbey Kentwell is surprised and dismayed when his friend Nicholas invites him to a party at the estate of his father, the wealthy and powerful Duke of Roxley. Gilbey is “only” a viscount, and not a rich one, so he feels out of place amid the aristocratic guests. Moreover, the house party’s purpose is to marry off Nicholas’s twin sisters, sweet Vivian and feisty Venetia, but Gilbey has no interest in marriage. He soon finds himself drawn to the twins despite himself, but their confusing behavior may be hiding important secrets. This book was such a pleasant surprise! I think I’d seen Gail Eastwood on a list of steamless historical romance authors, so I grabbed this one at random, but I ended up really enjoying it. It’s not reinventing the wheel in any way, but it’s a solid, sweet example of a traditional Regency with a plot that’s fairly believable and realistic for the time. There are a few too many characters, and there’s a villain whose identity comes out of nowhere. But aside from those quibbles, I liked the book a lot and will definitely seek out more by Eastwood!

Mini-Reviews: Shippers, Corpse, Brides

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Katherine Center, The Shippers

JoJo Burton’s love life is a train wreck—a fact that becomes abundantly clear when she leaves her rich, “perfect” fiancé at the altar. JoJo thinks her problem may be rooted in unresolved feelings for her childhood crush, Finn Turner. Fortunately, her sister’s about to get married on a cruise ship, and newly divorced Finn is one of the guests. With several days of forced proximity and her sister’s help, JoJo is determined to attract Finn and thus fulfill her romantic destiny. The only problem is JoJo’s best friend, Cooper, who thinks her plan is ridiculous. As her attempts to lure Finn meet with disaster, JoJo eventually begins to question where her romantic destiny truly lies. This is a fun, fast-paced read with some cute banter, but I have to say that the romance drove me crazy! JoJo is implausibly blind to what’s right in front of her, and I don’t buy that Cooper would have kept his feelings a secret for so long. I also found the ending a bit anticlimactic after all the buildup. The book is still a fun, breezy summer read if you like this premise, but for me it’s not one of Center’s best.

Delano Ames, Corpse Diplomatique

Jane and Dagobert Brown are traveling through France when they encounter a violent death, about which Dagobert immediately suggests Jane write another mystery novel. While staying in Nice, they meet a diplomat from “Santa Rica” who is terrified of being assassinated. His fears seem justified when a bullet whizzes by his head, narrowly missing him but killing Major Hugh Arkwright instead. Who was the true intended victim, and who among the Browns’ new acquaintances at their French hotel is the killer? This series is enjoyable mainly for Jane’s snarky running commentary on the various people and events she’s writing about. The characters are largely well drawn, and I enjoyed the touches of humor, but the mystery itself is a bit lackluster; it kind of plods along without any real forward motion until the very end. Overall I liked this book fine, and I’d read more in the series if I came across them, but I don’t feel compelled to seek them out.

Amy Barry, Seven Brides for Beau McBride

After Junebug McBride found wives for two of her four older brothers, she’s been strictly forbidden from advertising for any more mail-order brides. But the third McBride brother, Beau, thinks Junebug had the right idea and places his own ad for a bride. Naturally, Junebug has to be involved and bets Beau that she can find a better wife than he can. But when she writes to six women instead of one, and they all come out West hoping to marry Beau, she has a problem on her hands. Especially when one of her brides, Ellie Neale, turns out to be best friends with Beau’s own pick, Diana—and Ellie soon falls for Beau herself! I enjoyed this fun Western romance, with its nonsensical yet enjoyable plot and over-the-top characters. Junebug is a lot and would be insufferable in real life, but she’s a lot of fun to read about. I liked that the seven potential brides were all decent and kind women, rather than being catty rivals. Beau and Ellie’s romance was sweet and had some funny moments due to Ellie’s melodramatic nature. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

Mini-Reviews: Waltz, First, Apprentice

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Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness

Louis Durand, age 37, is a prosperous but lonely businessman in 1880s New Orleans. Unable to bear his solitude, he begins corresponding with Julia Russell and proposes to her sight unseen. To his delight, the woman who arrives is younger and more beautiful than he expected. They marry immediately, and Louis is happy at first, but eventually he begins to notice some worrisome behaviors in his new wife. This novel is the literary equivalent of a train wreck: You know it’s going to be a disaster, but you can’t look away. I felt awful for Louis from the very first chapter, which reveals his aching loneliness and his hope that it’s finally about to end. I wanted things to work out for him, even though it was always obvious that they wouldn’t. The book is well written but painful! Ultimately, I’m just not a noir person; but if you are, I highly recommend Cornell Woolrich.

Lynn Painter, First and Forever

Duffy Distefano and her family are huge fans of the Minnesota Coyotes football team. But when the team’s mascot gropes Duffy at a game—and her retaliation is caught on camera—she becomes a target for Coyotes fans. She’s invited to tell her side of the story on a local morning TV show, only to be confronted by a Coyotes player, Connor Cunningham, who’s there to do damage control for the team. Their on-air conversation, which reads as flirtatious banter, creates good PR for the Coyotes, who suggest that Connor ask Duffy out to further improve the team’s image. But as they get to know each other better, they both develop real feelings. I really like Lynn Painter’s romances, which are fun and light with great banter, and this one is no exception. I’m not a sports person at all, so I felt like I was getting a little peek at a new-to-me subculture. I did find the plot a little bland, and the third-act breakup was both predictable and unnecessary, though at least it didn’t last too long. But overall, I liked this one and will be interested to see if there’s a sequel, as there did seem to be some chemistry between Duffy’s brother and her best friend!

L.C. Tyler, The Herring-Seller’s Apprentice

Ethelred Tressider is a mediocre mystery writer and a bit of a sad sack. His wife, Geraldine, left him for his best friend years ago, and now he has neither a romantic partner nor any close friends. The only person he seems to interact with regularly is his literary agent, the abrasive Elsie Thirkettle. But when Geraldine goes missing—along with a fortune she obtained by scamming investors—it’s up to Ethelred, with unwanted assistance from Elsie, to solve the case. This book is a light, humorous mystery that has some fun playing with the conventions of the genre. I loved Elsie’s no-nonsense voice and the way she bullies Ethelred—for his own good, of course! That said, while I’ll definitely read book two because I own it, I’m not sure I’m invested enough to commit to the whole series.