What a fun mystery from a debut author! Camp demonstrates horse knowledge and intimacy with Northwest ArkansaI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
What a fun mystery from a debut author! Camp demonstrates horse knowledge and intimacy with Northwest Arkansas in this kick-off to a new series following a horse rescue farm owner. In this book, Mallory, a forty-something divorced woman with a college-going daughter, is accused of murdering her cranky and wealthy neighbor. It grabbed me from page one and I zoomed through in about a day. Truly, this book is the epitome of cozy. Mallory is a savvy fairly savvy amateur investigator--and she needs to be, as she is the prime suspect. There's a romantic subplot with some nice twists and turns. Revelations and tension keep up a perfect pace. I correctly guessed at the guilty party about halfway through, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment one bit because there were still plenty of surprises as the climax neared. I genuinely enjoyed Mallory as a character. She's my age, curvy, and loves food without shame--hooray!
The thematic elements of the cozy were so well done, too. The author knows horses and the work it takes to maintain a property. I loved seeing Northwest Arkansas used as a setting. My in-laws live there and I have a more than passing familiarity with the place; Hillspring, the fictional Ozark small town in the book, definitely reminded me of Eureka Springs.
This is a series I would love to keep reading!...more
This is a pretty fun cozy mystery in some regards. In a small Ohio town, Charlotte and her cousin Matthew are taking over their French-born grandparenThis is a pretty fun cozy mystery in some regards. In a small Ohio town, Charlotte and her cousin Matthew are taking over their French-born grandparents' cheese shop. Her grandmother, amidst her mayoral campaign, is caught red-handed over the body of her rival candidate's womanizer husband. Charlotte delves deep into town gossip to find out the identity of the true killer.
What worked well: the cheese knowledge is spot-on and I love the vibe of the shop. The characters, though. The interactions came across as melodramatic, with conflicts contrived to ramp up tension. A romantic subplot involves a secret that is not a secret from the start, and every time the dude tries to talk to her, they are interrupted. One time is understandable, but again and again? None of the adults felt like they could just... talk unless it was about gossip. A bit of that is needed in a modern cozy, sure, but everyone came across as immature and unlikeable, main character included....more
Art of Prophecy is one of the best books I’ve read this year, a high fantasy delight loaded with incredible I received an advanced copy via NetGalley.
Art of Prophecy is one of the best books I’ve read this year, a high fantasy delight loaded with incredible fights, moral complexities, and soap opera twists galore. It’s lush and lovely, shattering the usual fantasy tropes from the start: the prophesied hero is a spoiled, poorly-trained brat, and the powerful enemy he is destined to vanquish dies an ignoble death at a common soldier’s hands. Varying points of view create a nuanced perspective of events as the lost hero struggles to stay alive while pursued by assassins with different motivations. Chu's alternate world take on historical China is intriguing and definitely has room for further exploration in later books. ...more
I read this book probably twenty times over when I was a kid, so it was interesting to revisit it as an adult. I'm pleased to say that, unlike a lot oI read this book probably twenty times over when I was a kid, so it was interesting to revisit it as an adult. I'm pleased to say that, unlike a lot of other childhood reads, this held up well, though the sadness of the circumstances around the real story hit me pretty hard. O'Dell's inspiration is based on a Native American woman who, when the rest of her tribe left their remote island off the Southern California coast, stayed behind. She ended up living alone for 18 years. The way O'Dell handled her survival story and the passage of time is deftly done. You never really come to know Karana in an intimate way, which makes it easier to feel like you, the reader, are the one who is surviving alone. This newer version of the book includes a forward by acclaimed children's author Lois Lowry that adds more context for the real and fictional stories....more
Dewey Decimated is the 6th book in the Haunted Library Mysteries, set in modern Clover Ridge, Connecticut. CI received an advanced copy via NetGalley.
Dewey Decimated is the 6th book in the Haunted Library Mysteries, set in modern Clover Ridge, Connecticut. Carrie is a librarian and town council member, and she can also see ghosts--and has a reputation for solving murders as well. I hadn't read any previous books in the series, but I had no problems getting into the groove. The premise of the book seems straightforward at first: the library has acquired the long-abandoned building next door to expand their space. A man's body is found on the premises, dead for many years--and his bewildered ghost begins haunting the library. Things become more convoluted as the dead man is identified as the uncle of Carrie's fiancée. A local reporter puts heavy pressure on Carrie to get back to her amateur-sleuthing ways, and she can only resist the urge for so long...
The setting here is incredibly fun, and I loved how the mundane library work was paced into the plot. Carrie is a great character, realistic and compassionate, and her romance with Dylan is quite sweet. The pacing of the mystery, though, didn't work for me in major ways. The ghost that the action centers around has amnesia, and only remembers things in perfect timing with the rest of the plot. It annoyed me in how it felt so contrived. I'd been excited to see how ghosts would be used in the plot and it was a big disappointment to find them integrated in such a clunky way. So many other aspects, like the local political drama and the ambitious local reporter, worked well, too....more
I bought this book for research purposes, and though it didn't provide new information in that regard, I found it to be an enjoyable, fascinating readI bought this book for research purposes, and though it didn't provide new information in that regard, I found it to be an enjoyable, fascinating read on the modern food of Lyon as seen through the experiences of an experienced American chef....more
I received an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.
A Field Guide to Mermaids is an intelligent, gorgeous book, one that will be beloved by the inteI received an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.
A Field Guide to Mermaids is an intelligent, gorgeous book, one that will be beloved by the intended middle grade audience but also dazzle adults. It sure dazzled me. Martin has worked for years as a park ranger, and her breadth of knowledge on ecology and biology added insight to her previous novels for adults; here, in this fantasy book written as a nonfiction field guide to mermaids as found on contemporary Earth, her expertise and incredible artistic skill are in the forefront.
The subject is regarded with absolute seriousness. Mermaids are discussed in terms of the types of tails they have and why these features would matter in their environment, what nearby creatures they resemble and work with in symbiosis, and how they have changed due to industrialization and pollution. The book is divided by the types of water bodies in which mermaids may be found. Every page is lavishly illustrated. The variety of perspectives and the rainbow of colors are a delight to the eyes. In all truth, most every page here would be a joy to have framed on a wall.
The book also delights the mind. Martin whips out advanced terminology in ecology and trusts that kids will get it--and they will. Martin's mermaids are based on the sound science of existing creatures. I learned some handy new words for defining different characteristics, and I imagine most people will finish this book feeling the same....more
A fascinating all-color and graphically-pleasing hardcover book that acts as a fascinating introductory manual to the complex world of wine. It breaksA fascinating all-color and graphically-pleasing hardcover book that acts as a fascinating introductory manual to the complex world of wine. It breaks down wines by various types and then by major wine-producing regions of the world. The descriptions of flavors are incredibly evocative. There is a great deal of advice on pairings as well. This is a book that will not only be handy for me as a writer, but as a cook as I explore more wines....more
I hadn't read the first book in this cozy mystery series, but I had no trouble slipping into this cozy New EnI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
I hadn't read the first book in this cozy mystery series, but I had no trouble slipping into this cozy New England setting with ice cream galore and a man found dead in a locked room. Lead character Riley is a former CIA librarian who comes across as smart, savvy, and compassionate. When she's hired to cater ice cream for a nearby art exhibit opening at an imported Scottish castle, she finds a lot of drama among the guests, and soon, the dead guy--the man whose art was on exhibition. He was a creep, and a lot of people have reason to want him dead.
What sets this apart from other recent cozies I've read is that there are layers here. There's more going on that the dead dude. The ending had several twists I didn't see coming, and I loved that. I'm definitely curious about reading more from this author!...more
I'm ashamed to say I've owned this for years and it has wallowed in my to-read pile, which is a darn shame, as it is a fascinating read. It's very difI'm ashamed to say I've owned this for years and it has wallowed in my to-read pile, which is a darn shame, as it is a fascinating read. It's very different from other writing book because it's not about ideas or the technical aspects--it's about why people write, or struggle to do so. The book there focuses on three major motivations: the need for achievement, affiliation, and power. In the Kelner's own surveys, he found most published writers tend toward the power aspect. This fascinates me, because my first instinct is to think power = negative, but not necessarily. It also means wanting attention, wanting to make readers FEEL. This is a great analytical read for writers who enjoy psychological studies that illuminate the self....more
The second volume in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series is just as fun as the first! Carly Hale is eager forI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
The second volume in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series is just as fun as the first! Carly Hale is eager for the town of Balsam Dell's autumn food competition. Life is pretty good. Her restaurant has brisk business, and her romance with local election Ari has a positive zing to it. But when a cranky nearby restauranteur with a major grudge against Carly ends up dead, Ari is set up to be the main suspect. Carly goes into full-meddlesome mode to delve into past and present town drama to uncover who is truly at fault.
I love cheese, so the central conceit of the book delights me to no end. The mystery is good, too, loaded with twists and turns. The book has a great cozy vibe--no major violence, no cursing, just a mild romance. Balsam Dell is such a good murder village. I thought I had guessed the identity of the murderer, but I was wrong--and I love that, because the book kept me in suspense all the way through....more
I probably read this book 20 times as a kid. This is my original copy, with a bookplate with my name on the inside cover, dated 1990. I have found somI probably read this book 20 times as a kid. This is my original copy, with a bookplate with my name on the inside cover, dated 1990. I have found some childhood classics don't stand up well--this one does. Rawls is masterful with his evocative descriptions and layered emotions. I can see how this book likely had a huge influence on my own writing. The book feels authentic to the Ozarks of the 1920s-1930s, warts and all. It therefore connects to my own family past, as my grandpa's family was starving in Arkansas and fled for California to start over during that time. ...more
This book totally deserves the buzz that it has received. It's a cozy high fantasy that in a way is more akin to a game like Animal Crossing than the This book totally deserves the buzz that it has received. It's a cozy high fantasy that in a way is more akin to a game like Animal Crossing than the standard action-packed genre novel: it's about an orc who, after years of adventuring, settles down in a new town to create the place's first coffee shop. That's really the whole premise, and it's a delight. This is a must-read for people who love found-family and drool-inducing food descriptions....more
I haven't read the original The Island of Doctor Moreau, and recall only bits of what the original story entaI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
I haven't read the original The Island of Doctor Moreau, and recall only bits of what the original story entailed; therefore, I approach this book on its own considerable merits rather than as a derivative work. This book is something of a character study of the young daughter, Carlota, and the hired mayordomo, Montgomery. The set-up: Doctor Moreau works at a remote estate in late 19th-century Mexico. He has created human-animal hybrids as medical marvels--though he has truly been hired to produce strong slave laborers for his patron. His daughter Carlota has been raised among the hybrids and considers them friends. The arrival of sullen Montgomery, a man haunted by lost love and alcoholism, only briefly disrupts the rhythm of the place. It is when the patron's arrogant son arrives and becomes smitten with Carlota that things take a decisive, dangerous shift....
The book is quite literary in tone, with a much greater focus on the interpersonal drama than on the science fictional side, which normally isn't my thing at all, but Moreno-Garcia's writing pulled me in. I found some of the major reveals to be a bit telegraphed, but the ending still delivered surprises and immense satisfaction. I knew very little about Mexico and the Yucatan during this period, and I feel like I learned some genuine history. The insights into state of colonialism there were both disturbing and enlightening--a more real horror than Moreau's creations, for sure....more
This is about a hundred page-long book describes two major western battles in Arkansas, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. The text is quite dry and the natThis is about a hundred page-long book describes two major western battles in Arkansas, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. The text is quite dry and the nature of the flow doesn't always make clear who is fighting on what side. There are massive footnote biographies of the major players that would have been better placed in their own sections rather than occupy 2/3 of some pages. The maps are simple in 1990s style but effective. There are a few other black and white illustrations and photographs from the war. There are some blatant typos, including an officer who time travels to the 1950s.
I bought this at a library used book sale. It was evident then that a chunk of pages was coming loose. Unfortunately, as I read, the majority of the pages broke free of the binding. I suppose it's just as well that I was underwhelmed by the book's content, as it is now very difficult to read and is fated for the recycling bin....more
A Hint of Mischief is a modern cozy mystery set in Carmel, California that follows Courtney, a shopkeeper whoI received an advance copy via NetGalley.
A Hint of Mischief is a modern cozy mystery set in Carmel, California that follows Courtney, a shopkeeper who makes and sells fairy gardens, and who really can see and speak with fairies. Her resident fairy, Fiona, help her as she meddles with murders and intrigue around Carmel. The fantasy element is light and fluffy. There's no big worldbuilding here--the fairies are pretty much the pop culture standard.
This is the third book in the series but I had no issues at all getting into the mystery. There is a massive cast of residents and visitors to town; normally, I have trouble keeping track of a lot of names, but the author did an excellent job of adding physical descriptions and hints to help me track who is who. (I wasn't surprised to find out the writer has experience with many mystery novels--it shows). There's a light romantic subplot, too.
This book focuses on Courtney's contract job to make an elaborate fairy garden party for a group of forty-something sorority sisters with a lot of drama. When one of the guests ends up dead, Courtney can't abide that a friend is under suspicion, so she begins her own investigation. There were two aspects that grated on me: 1) the murder victim is famous, and yet there's no mention of media attention at all, and it's not like the matter is kept secret. 2) Courtney is... well, rather obnoxious. She's not a listen-and-watch quiet kind of amateur sleuth, but the kind who is nosey and pushy. It's a wonder she has any friends; I sure wouldn't want to associate with her unless she could help me evade suspicion of murder!
That said, I liked the book overall. I loved the setting of Carmel, and the author does a great job of making the small town feel vibrant and fun. Fairy gardens make for a unique angle for a series and I enjoyed learning more about them. The fairy themselves are pleasant, and I do appreciate when the sleuth is a cat lover. I'd be willing to read more in the series to see if the sleuth is more likeable under other circumstances....more
I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.
This young adult read uses a medieval France-inspired setting and overlays that with a grim caseI received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.
This young adult read uses a medieval France-inspired setting and overlays that with a grim case of a Jack-the-Ripper-esque criminal and a heady dose of moon magic. It follows Cat, a teenage orphan who is an assistant on a project to essentially build a massive cathedral devoted to the Sun. When one night she can mysteriously hear a woman being murdered, she rushes to help and ends up being part of the investigation--and with a keen romantic interest in the investigator, Simon, a young man who seems almost too capable of thinking like a serial killer.
Some of the positives: the author approaches mental illness with a deft touch. This book could really open readers' minds to what those thought processes are like and the importance of patience, friendship, and compassion. The setting is interesting, too, though I was left craving deeper worldbuilding; if there are more books, I hope to understand more about this world and its magic. Cat's job is fascinating and that premise hooked me from the very start. That said... Cat's actions also frustrated me at times. She seems to be in a strange place of privelege, to be able to get buddy-buddy with powerful people so quickly. She's also the type of lead heroine that all the boys fall in love with, and that's a tiresome trope for me personally.
This book should also come with some trigger warnings in published form, as it is quite dark. Sexual assault happens and there are graphic descriptions of grizzly murders. That said, the book makes an effort not to dwell on these scenes or glorify what happens....more
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