Paving the New Road by Sulari Gentill

Paving the New Road by Sulari Gentill ISBN-13: 9781464206917 Paperback Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Jan. 2, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
It's 1933. Rowland Sinclair is the bohemian younger son of the wealthy, influential, conservative clan headed by his powerful brother, Wilfred.

New Guard leader Eric Campbell is traveling to Germany to meet members of the Reichstag and, he hopes, Hitler. Old enemies have united to undermine Campbell's ambitions. The Old Guard has a man serving as Campbell's interpreter, but he needs backup since their man in Munich, Peter Bothwell, has been killed. Rowly's mission is to derail Campbell and, while at it, investigate Bothwell's death. Rowley's unconventional housemates, the poet (Jewish), the painter (Communist), and the sculptress (unpredictable), insist on coming along to watch his back. It's not your expected spy ring.

Their cover, aside from false passports, is buying art - at the Old Guard's expense. In Munich the friends pursue their joint missions while growing increasingly horrified at the goose-stepping euphoria, cruel acts, and book burnings of the rising Nazi movement. Yet they meet decent Germans like the tailor Alois Richter who's pursuing contracts for Nazi uniforms against rival Hugo Boss, and brave Albert Göring, Hermann's younger brother. And two besotted women: Unity Mitford, who stakes out the Osteria Bavaria every day at eleven a.m. intent on meeting her idol Hitler; and a photographer called Eva Braun, a rather ordinary young woman who's besotted with a man she calls Mr. Wolf.


My Review:
Paving the New Road is a historical suspense novel set in the spring of 1933 in Australia and Germany. This is the fourth book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, but this story did spoil some suspenseful events in the previous stories.

As Hitler rises in power in Germany, Australia has its own threat in Eric Campbell. He's in Germany trying to get support and ideas from the Nazis, and one of the Australian spies sent to disrupt Campbell's plans turns up dead. Rowly agrees to take the spy's place, and his quirky friends insist on going with him. But first they have to survive the airplane trip to get there! Once there, they work together to disrupt Campbell's plans, look into the suspicious death, pretend to be art dealers buying modern art, and run into famous people. The suspense came from the danger of torture and death from the Nazis (and others), but there was also a "we might as well have fun while we do it" humor to it all.

There was some bad language (if you're American) to a fair amount of bad language (if you count British/Australia bad words). There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting and exciting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Honey-Baked Homicide by Gayle Leeson

Honey-Baked Homicide by Gayle Leeson ISBN-13: 9781101990827 Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: Dec. 5, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It's fall in Winter Garden, Virginia, and business at Amy Flowers' Down South Cafe has never been better. So when struggling beekeeper Stuart Landon asks Amy to sell some of his honey, she's happy to help. The jars of honey are a sweet success, but their partnership is cut short when Amy discovers Landon's body outside the cafe early one morning. As Amy tries to figure out who could possibly have wanted to harm the unassuming beekeeper, some of the suspects start harassing her. She'll have to use all of her skills--and her Southern charm--to find her way out of this sticky situation.


My Review:
Honey-Baked Homicide is a cozy mystery. This is the third book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous mysteries.

Amy's a nice gal who asked questions and passed information on to her detective boyfriend. The mystery was clue-based. Suspense was added by a couple of young men harassing Amy because one of them got in trouble for reckless driving around her. It wasn't hard to guess the motive, which narrowed down whodunit. I wasn't certain who the actual murderer was until the confession, though.

There was one use of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Comic Sans Murder by Paige Shelton

Comic Sans Murder by Paige Shelton ISBN-13: 9780425277270 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: Dec. 5, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As the owners of The Rescued Word, Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester specialize in restoring old typewriters and repairing beloved books. They've invited world-famous horror author Nathan Grimes to their shop to use their equipment for his next book. But all plans to work on the book take a step in the wrong direction when a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes--and the only sign of the owner is the dismembered foot he left inside! Then the body of Clare's high school friend Lloyd Gavin is discovered sans one foot.

When all toes point to a small, invitation-only class reunion gone wrong, Clare and her best friend, police officer Jodie Wentworth, hurry to track down the killer before more former classmates become Most Likely to Be Killed.


My Review:
Comic Sans Murder is a cozy mystery. This is the third book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous mysteries.

The mystery was clue-based. A critical clue was known by Clare before the big reveal, but the reader is left in the dark about what it is. Still, I was fairly certain of whodunit even before then, so whodunit is guessable. Clare illegally entered a building twice because she was too impatient to wait for her detective friend's help, but she was generally content to ask questions and tag along when Jodie (the detective) questioned people. The antics of the horror novelist filled out the "everyday" part of the story.

There was a minor amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Death Makes a Prophet by John Bude

Death Makes a Prophet by John Bude ISBN-13: 9781464209024 Paperback Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Jan. 2, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Welworth Garden City in the 1940s is a forward-thinking town where free spirits find a home-vegetarians, socialists, and an array of exotic religious groups. Chief among these are the Children of Osiris, led by the eccentric High Prophet, Eustace K. Mildmann. The cult is a seething hotbed of petty resentment, jealousy and dark secrets - which eventually lead to murder. The stage is set for one of Inspector Meredith's most bizarre and exacting cases.


My Review:
Death Makes a Prophet is a mystery novel that was originally published in 1947 and is set in England. The first half of the book followed the events leading up to the murder, showing who had a motive. We don't see the murder. In the second half of the book, Inspector Meredith was called in and methodically, carefully pursued answers to this puzzling case. There were plenty of clues, but Meredith couldn't form a logical scenario from them.

Meredith uncovered clues that we already knew and, at the end, some critical clues that he didn't share until the big reveal. I did correctly guess whodunit, but how it was done was the surprise. I liked Meredith and his helper. There were no sex scenes. There was a lot of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Hark the Herald Angels Slay by Vicki Delany

Hark the Herald Angels Slay by Vicki Delany ISBN-13: 9780425280829 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: Nov. 28, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Santa’s summer vacation plans turn deadly in this festive mystery from the author of Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen and We Wish You a Murderous Christmas.

The town of Rudolph, New York, has the Christmas spirit all year long—but when homicide heats up a summer holiday, it’s up to shop owner Merry Wilkinson to wrap up the case.

In Rudolph, Christmas in July heralds Santa’s arrival by boat to begin his summer vacation at the lake, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is looking forward to a busy weekend. But she’s caught off guard when her ex-fiancé, Max Folger, unexpectedly arrives with a team from a lifestyle magazine wanting to do a feature on the July festivities.

It’s clear that Max’s visit has less to do with business and more to do with winning back Merry’s heart. Merry has too much on her plate to deal with an old flame, but when Max is found strangled to death in Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, she must find out who wanted him dead—and stop a killer from ruining the summer holiday cheer.


My Review:
Hark the Herald Angels is a cozy mystery. This is the third book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous mysteries.

The mystery was clue-based, but there weren't many clues. Much of the time was spent developing the characters, looking for a missing person, and other side issues rather than asking questions about the murder. Still, I did guess whodunit before the end (purely based on what was reasonable and a vague clue), so it is possible to guess. The main characters were generally nice, and the overall story was interesting.

There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Quick Curtain by Alan Melville

Quick Curtain by Alan Melville ISBN-13: 9781464208706 Paperback: 268 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Dec. 5, 2017

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
'Don't talk bunk!' said Mr Douglas. 'You can't carry on with the show with a man dying on stage. Drop the curtain!'

When Douglas B. Douglas—leading light of the London theatre—premieres his new musical extravaganza, Blue Music, he is sure the packed house will be dazzled by the performance. What he couldn't predict is the death of his star, Brandon Baker, on stage in the middle of Act 2. Soon another member of the cast is found dead, and it seems to be a straightforward case of murder followed by suicide.

Inspector Wilson of Scotland Yard—who happens to be among the audience—soon discovers otherwise. Together with Derek, his journalist son, Wilson takes charge of proceedings in his own inimitable way.

This is a witty, satirical novel from the golden age of British crime fiction between the world wars.


My Review:
Quick Curtain is a humorous mystery set in England and was originally published in 1934. It's a clue-based mystery, but it's also a spoof on "clever detective" murder mysteries. The detective and his journalist son exchanged witty banter as they worked together to uncover clues. I was a little surprised at the assumptions they made, though I grant that "clever detectives" do tend to make flashy assumptions. The story wasn't really about guessing whodunit, though technically you can.

While I enjoy this author's humor and his interesting characters, I liked "Death of Anton" better. I guess I felt a little tricked, thinking it was a real mystery and not learning it was a full-fledged spoof until the end. And the ending left a few loose ends lying around, which was a little unsatisfying. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Christmas Ranch Rescue by Lynette Eason, Lauryn Eason

Christmas Ranch Rescue by Lynette Eason, Lauryn Eason ISBN-13: 9780373457472 Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: Dec. 5, 2017

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from NetGalley:
When his former crush is suspected of funneling drugs through her ranch, it's DEA agent Nathan Williams's job to find out if Becca Price is guilty. But after Becca is attacked, his top priority becomes protecting her. Convinced she's innocent, Nathan is determined to find the real culprit before the escalating threats become deadly. An ex's betrayal has left Nathan wary, and falling for the suspect he's secretly investigating is a no-win move, so he must keep an emotional distance. But with criminals preparing for a fatal showdown, can he find the truth in time to save Becca's life?


My Review:
Christmas Ranch Rescue is a romantic suspense novel. It's the fifth in a series, but you can understand this book without reading the previous ones. The suspense came from the bad guys periodically attacking the heroine. I liked that the hero supported and backed up Becca rather than trying to run things. He (briefly) struggled with his judgment about Becca's innocence as his last girlfriend totally deceived and betrayed him.

Becca acted much younger than the trained surgeon we're told she was. She was impulsive, didn't think through her actions, and was driven by her emotions. She was stubborn and didn't have a strong sense of self-preservation, though she didn't want anyone else to get hurt. While I liked that Becca was dealing with a back muscle injury due to a riding accident (thus forcing her to accept help), I found it improbable that she went through a car wreck and everything else with this injury never really impairing her ability to move or getting worse.

Having kept my horse at a boarding stable, I was immediately suspicious of a certain character's behavior and quickly figured out what was going on. Though ...we're never told why the bad guys ran their drug scheme in such a risky way. Since I found it so easy to figure things out, it seemed odd that the good guys felt like the case was so baffling. (Side note: horses don't automatically run from their opened stalls in a barn fire as horses aren't rational when frightened.) There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Death of Anton by Alan Melville

Death of Anton by Alan Melville ISBN-13: 9781464208720 Paperback: 278 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Dec. 5, 2017

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Seven Bengal tigers are the star attraction of Carey's Circus. Their trainer is the fearless Anton, whose work demands absolute fitness and the steadiest of nerves. When Anton is found lying dead in the tigers' cage, it seems that he has lost control and been mauled by the tigers—but Detective-Inspector Minto of Scotland Yard is not convinced.

Minto's investigations lead him deep into the circus world of tents and caravans, clowns and acrobats, human and animal performers. No one is above suspicion. Carey, the circus-owner with a secret to hide; Dodo, the clown whose costume is scratched as if by a claw; and Lorimer, the trapeze artist jealous of his flirtatious wife—all come under Minto's scrutiny as the mystery deepens.

This amusing and light-hearted novel from the golden age of British crime writing has long been neglected.


My Review:
Death of Anton is a mystery set in England that was originally published in 1936. It's a clue-based puzzle mystery, and a humorous one at that. The reader knows more about what's going on than the detective, but he snooped around, asked questions, and thought things out until he solved the case. Since we learned several clues before he did, it wasn't difficult to figure out whodunit (and what was going on) before the detective.

Even if we'd been told whodunit from the beginning, I still would have read the whole story because I really enjoyed the humor. The main characters were interesting, and the detective had an entertaining view of life. For one thing, he found it ironic that his brother (a Catholic priest) and 7 tigers all knew whodunit but couldn't tell him, so he had to sort it out for himself.

There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this entertaining mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate

Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate ISBN-13: 9781464209123 Paperback Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Dec. 5, 2017

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
In the winter of 1942, England lies cold and dark in the wartime blackout. One bleak evening, Councillor Grayling steps off the 6.12 from Euston, carrying £120 in cash, and oblivious to the fate that awaits him in the snow-covered suburbs.

Inspector Holly draws up a list of Grayling's fellow passengers: his distrusted employee Charles Evetts, the charming Hugh Rolandson, and an unknown refugee from Nazi Germany, among others. Inspector Holly will soon discover that each passenger harbours their own dark secrets, and that the councillor had more than one enemy among them.

First published in 1943, Raymond Postgate's wartime murder mystery combines rich characters and a fascinating depiction of life on the home front.


My Review:
Somebody at the Door is a mystery set in 1942 in England and was originally published in 1943. A man is murdered using mustard gas, and the police investigate his fellow train passengers. Instead of a typical investigation, we get a series of short stories showing the background of each suspect with events occurring from his point of view. One of these stories was quite exciting. Some were interesting and showed what England was like at the time (Home Guard duties, blackout, etc.). The Inspector also learned this background information, and it helped eliminate some suspects and provided motive and opportunity for others.

I did figure out whodunit from those stories and my guess was confirmed when the Inspector questioned a few people and turned up the final clues. Yet much of the information in the stories was filler--maybe interesting in a historical sense but having little to do with the mystery. Even the exciting sub-story could have been summarized in a paragraph as that person wasn't a strong suspect. Basically, this story may appeal more to fans of historical novels than of whodunit mysteries.

There were no sex scenes, though there was a description of a nude female's breasts. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Forgotten Sisters by Shannon Hale

Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters by Shannon Hale ISBN-13: 978-1-61963-485-5 Hardcover: 323 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Released: March 3, 2015

Source: ARC review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a year at the king’s palace, Miri has learned all about being a proper princess. Instead of returning to her beloved Mount Eskel, Miri is ordered to journey to a distant swamp and start a princess academy for three sisters, cousins of the royal family. Unfortunately, Astrid, Felissa, and Sus are more interested in hunting and fishing than becoming princesses.

As Miri spends more time with the sisters, she realizes the king and queen’s interest in them hides a long-buried secret. She must unravel the mystery, protect the girls, complete her assignment, and finally make her way home.


My Review:
The Forgotten Sisters is a young adult fantasy novel. It's the third in a series, but you don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one. However, if you read this one before the others, much of the suspense of the first novel will be spoiled. The first novel is very worth reading, so I'd recommend reading these in order.

Miri is a determined and adaptable young lady who wants to go home but is ordered to first teach three girls how to be princesses. She makes a bargain: she'll do the teaching in return for ownership of the land her village uses, otherwise their land is about to be sold out from under them. No one realizes the challenge they set her. She (and the sisters) have to be clever and very adaptable to push past every challenge and make things right.

I like how the girls paid attention to what was going on, worked well together as a team, and used their skills in unique ways to solve problems. The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd highly recommend this fun novel.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.