Murder in Rose Hill by Victoria Thompson

Murder in Rose Hill
by Victoria Thompson

ISBN-13: 9780593639795
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: April 23, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sarah Malloy has just helped with the delivery of a bouncing baby girl at her women’s clinic, when she receives a visit from an engaging and determined young woman writing an article for New Century Magazine. Louisa Rodgers explains that she is researching the dangers of patent remedies. Sarah is only too happy to tell Louisa exactly what she thinks of the so-called medicines whose ingredients include heavy doses of alcohol and other addictive drugs, and hurt much more than they help.

A few days later, Sarah receives a visit from a bereft Bernard Rodgers, who explains that his daughter, Louisa, has been found strangled in the lobby of the building where New Century has its offices. The police have decided it was a random attack and have made no attempt to investigate, hinting that Louisa got what she deserved for sticking her nose where it didn’t belong. Sarah wants justice for the bright young woman but as she and Frank delve deeper into Louisa’s life, they find that nothing is quite as it seemed.


My Review:
Murder in Rose Hill is a historical mystery set in New York City in 1901. This is the 27th 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.

During the little investigating Sarah did, she could get people to talk to her, but she just accepted what people told her rather than considering other possibilities. Maeve did undercover work and quickly uncovered many lies, but then Frank accidently blew her cover. Frank and Gino tracked down information and followed up on leads. Gino did a good job at uncovering the truth, but even he was sure a certain person was the murderer rather than keeping his mind open. You'd think they'd all be more suspicious of everyone after solving so many murders.

When the second person died, whodunit became so very obvious (motive, means, opportunity). Yet the whole team totally overlooked this obvious possibility until the very end after everyone else was eliminated. This just seemed hard to believe. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical mystery to those who already enjoy the series.


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.

Cold Case Tracker by Maggie K. Black

Cold Case Tracker
by Maggie K. Black

ISBN-13: 9781335598059
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: April 23, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
K-9 officer Jackson Locke’s sister has vanished from a car accident and is assumed dead by the police, but her brother is certain she's still alive. The key to finding her may be her housemate, Amy Scout, his sister’s best friend and his old crush. But when Amy comes under attack, two things become Jackson’s sister has been investigating cold cases and someone wants Amy dead. Now he must untangle the mystery between the cold cases and his sister’s disappearance while guarding Amy from an enemy willing to kill to hide the truth…


My Review:
Cold Case Tracker is a Christian romantic suspense. Sergeant Jackson (with his K9) is searching for his missing sister and needs to interview her best friend, Amy, who was also his teen crush. He's ashamed of the stupid pranks and mistakes he made as a teenager, though, and so let's her think he's someone else after he saves her from an attack. Someone's looking for something his sister had and they seem to think Amy knows where it is. He protects Amy while they work together to solve what his sister was doing when she disappeared.

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. Jackson admired Amy's fight and determination while Amy liked his caring. They built each other up. Amy felt stupid about being fooled romantically by a man, and Jackson couldn't forgive himself for his youthful mistakes. There was plenty of suspense due to danger from the unknown enemy. The Christian theme was forgiveness. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


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.

Hidden Currents by Christy Barritt

Hidden Currents
by Christy Barritt

ISBN-13: 978-0999834503
Kindle: 292 pages
Publisher: River Heights
Released: January 1, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A notorious gang puts a bounty on Detective Cady Matthews’s head after she takes down their leader, leaving her no choice but to hide until she can testify at trial. But her temporary home across the country on a remote North Carolina island isn’t as peaceful as she initially thinks. Living under the new identity of Cassidy Livingston, she struggles to keep her investigative skills tucked away, especially after a body washes ashore. When local police bungle the murder investigation, she can’t resist stepping in. But Cassidy is supposed to be keeping a low profile. One wrong move could lead to both her discovery and her demise.


My Review:
Hidden Currents is a mystery. Undercover police detective Cady has to hide out in a little, island beach town until she can testify against some criminals who've put a bounty on her head. Trying to live as Cassidy, laid back ice cream truck driver, is harder than she expected (which, frankly, makes me question how she was able to convincingly infiltrate the gang, but, hey).

She's upset by how close she's come to dying (since the bad guys keep finding her) and worried about how long she'll potentially survive. She takes out all of her frustration on the hero, making some snap assumptions along the way. The hero could have explained the evidence against him (a borrowed truck with demeaning-to-women decals), but he preferred to be rude in return and then avoid his new neighbor, even though he's a Christian. Both regretted their words and slowly tried to along better.

I enjoyed the mystery and the other characters, her new friends. Cassidy tried to subtly ask questions, listen to gossip, and find evidence. Whodunit was guessable even though all of the evidence needed to narrow things down wasn't available until the big reveal. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this 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.

What Cannot Be Said by C.S. Harris

What Cannot Be Said
by C.S. Harris

ISBN-13: 9780593639184
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: April 16, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
July 1815: The Prince Regent’s grandiose plans to celebrate Napoléon’s recent defeat at Waterloo are thrown into turmoil when Lady McInnis and her daughter Emma are found brutally murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in a chilling imitation of the stone effigies once found atop medieval tombs. Bow Street magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy immediately turns to his friend Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for help with the investigation. For as Devlin discovers, Lovejoy’s own wife and daughter were also murdered in Richmond Park, their bodies posed in the same bizarre postures. A traumatized ex-soldier was hanged for their killings. So is London now confronting a malicious copyist? Or was an innocent man sent to the gallows?

Aided by his wife, Hero, who knew Lady McInnis from her work with poor orphans, Devlin finds himself exploring a host of unsavory characters from a vicious chimney sweep to a smiling but decidedly lethal baby farmer. Also coming under increasing scrutiny is Sir Ivo McInnis himself, along with a wounded Waterloo veteran—who may or may not have been Laura McInnis’s lover—and a charismatic young violinist who moonlights as a fencing master and may have formed a dangerous relationship with Emma. But when Sebastian’s investigation turns toward man about town Basil Rhodes, he quickly draws the fury of the Palace, for Rhodes is well known as the Regent’s favorite illegitimate son.

Then Lady McInnis’s young niece and nephew are targeted by the killer, and two more women are discovered murdered and arranged in similar postures. With his own life increasingly in danger, Sebastian finds himself drawn inexorably toward a conclusion far darker and more horrific than anything he could have imagined.


My Review:
What Cannot Be Said is a mystery set in 1815 in London. This book is the 19th in a series. You can understand it without having read the previous novels, and it didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The historical information was woven into the story without slowing the pacing. It created a distinct feeling of that specific time and place and helped bring the story alive in my imagination. The characters were interesting, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Both Hero and Sebastian were involved in the investigation. They tracked down leads and asked good questions. Though there were plenty of suspects, I guessed whodunit before Sebastian. I understood why he didn't guess whodunit sooner, though.

There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen

Death in the Details
by Katie Tietjen

ISBN-13: 9781639107186
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: April 9, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Inspired by the real life Frances Lee Glessner.

Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband Bill behind her. But when she discovers that Bill left her penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets out to make money the only way she knows by selling her intricately crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start—until Maple discovers her first customer dead, his body hanging precariously in his own barn.

Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in death in a nutshell.

With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town. But when her nemesis, the town gossip, goes missing, she becomes a suspect, she's determined to solve the mysteries before someone else ends up dead.


My Review:
Death in the Details is a mystery set in 1946 Vermont. I've read about Frances Lee Glessner's work of making miniature crime scenes and was intrigued with a sleuth based on her, but making miniatures of crime scenes seems to be the only similarity between them. While the author wove historical details into the story to give it a distinct sense of time and place, she also used several phrases that didn't come into use until after that date. She also mentioned seat belts, but those weren't added to cars until after 1949. Wrong details like this kept me from getting immersed in the story.

The mystery was clue-based, but Maple was so certain that her judgements about others were correct that she couldn't see the obvious. I had most of the whodunit worked out back when the murder was discovered. The crime scene miniature was mostly a way for Maple to demonstrate her theories. Maple wasn't very likable at the beginning and only slowly learned how to get people to listen to her. She was very socially inept, and it didn't help that she assumed the worst about others and didn't hesitate to let a person know that she held them in contempt--which was most people. However, she's devoted to justice, has a photographic memory, is observant, and likes everything to be neatly explained, so she got it solved.

There was a minor amount of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel, but more to historical fiction fans as the story was more about Maple growing as a person than the 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.

The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer

The Songbird of Hope Hill
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

ISBN-13: 9780593600818
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook
Released: April 9, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Birdie Clarkson only recently started working at Lida’s Palace, a house of ill repute at the edge of Tulsey, Texas. Abandoned and penniless, she turned to someone she thought was a friend, but instead it turned out to be a nightmare. She wants to leave, but doesn’t know how. And how will she ever feel clean again? When Reverend Isaiah Overly and his son, Ephraim, arrive offering a safe haven and better life for any of the women who want to leave, Birdie takes a chance. Ignoring the madam’s furious raging, she climbs into the back of the preacher’s wagon.

The Reverend and his wife, Ophelia, welcome Birdie to Hope Hill, which they founded as a haven to teach women, providing them with an education and skills necessary to ensure their future will be brighter than their past. Hesitant at first, Birdie soon joins the preacher at revival meetings as part of the chorus, singing alongside Ephraim.

Reverend Overly’s ministry is built on the premise than none are irredeemable. Will the Reverend be able to convince Birdie that God’s redemption wipes the soul clean—or will she feel forever to smeared to accept love?


My Review:
The Songbird of Hope Hill is a Christian romance set in 1895 in Texas. Birdie's father died and her mother abandoned her, so she goes to her mother's childhood friend hoping she'll help her get to her aunt. Only, Lida pressures Birdie into prostitution at her brothel. Birdie now feels worthless, used, and rejected. Then a pastor enters the brothel, offering refuge at his mission, and Birdie accepts. But what does her future hold? Most folk don't want anything to do with an ex-prostitute, and a few even claim God won't forgive a sin as bad as hers.

Ephraim is talented at playing and singing music, and he dutifully helps his pastor father with his mission and revivals. He feels restless, though, and he doesn't understand how his parents can pray for Lida (as he's never been told that they once knew each other). He's captivated by Birdie's beautiful singing and enjoys her kind, caring personality, but he's not supposed to get personally involved with the girls at the mission.

The main characters were engaging, reacted realistically to events, and grew in maturity. Birdie and Ephraim shared interests and got along well. The main focus of the story was how God forgives and can make one new. The pastor constantly prayed to God for guidance, and several of the ex-prostitutes accepted Christ as they came to understand what He'd done for them. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story of renewal and healing.


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.

These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas

These Tangled Threads
by Sarah Loudin Thomas

ISBN-13: 9780764242014
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: April 2, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Biltmore Industries master weaver Lorna Blankenship is commissioned to create an original design for Cornelia Vanderbilt's 1924 wedding, she panics knowing she doesn't have the creativity needed. But there's an elusive artisan in the Blue Ridge Mountains who could save her--if only she can find her. To track the mysterious weaver down, Lorna sees no other way but to seek out the relationships she abandoned in shame. Lorna is forced to confront the wounds and regrets of long ago. She'll have to risk the job that shapes her identity as well as the hope of friendship--and love--restored.


My Review:
These Tangled Threads is a historical set between 1915 and 1924 in North Carolina. The action switched between three main timelines (start, middle, end) with events being referred to in the later timelines that hadn't yet happened. It got a little confusing to keep track of what had happened in each timeline, and I think I would have enjoyed the story more if it'd just happened in order. The main characters were realistically complex with reactions based on their upbringing and tragedies in their past.

Lorna's a drama queen. It's all about her. For example, it didn't matter that two people were finally reunited and were having a joyous reunion. She wanted them to hear her guilty confession immediately and get angry at her to validate her guilt. Or the wood carver who has long admired her kept trying to compliment her, but all she could hear is that he might know her guilty secret. He's kind-hearted and talented but feels like few women would want him because of his club foot. At least he knows exactly what he's getting when he wants to court Lorna as he's been dealing with her confusing (to him) behavior for years.

The story was based in historical events, like the Biltmore Industries shops, a flood that happened in the area, and Cornelia's wedding. Those historical details were interesting and necessary to the story and so didn't slow the pacing. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical.


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.

The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn

The Missing Maid
by Holly Hepburn

ISBN-13: 9781835337394
ebook: 219 pages
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Released: March 27, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
London, 1932. When Harriet White rebuffs the advances of her boss at the Baker Street building society where she works, she finds herself demoted to a new position… a very unusual position. Deep in the postal department beneath the bank, she is tasked with working her way through a mountain of correspondence addressed to Baker Street’s most famous Mr Sherlock Holmes.

Seemingly undeterred by the fact that Sherlock Holmes doesn’t exist, letter after letter arrives, beseeching him to help solve mysteries, and Harry diligently replies to each writer with the same Mr Holmes has retired from detective work and now lives in Sussex, keeping bees.

Until one entreaty catches her eye. It’s from a village around five miles from Harry’s family estate, about a young woman who went to London to work as a domestic, then disappeared soon afterwards in strange circumstances. Intrigued, Harry decides, just this once, to take matters into her own hands. And so, the case of the missing maid is opened…


My Review:
The Missing Maid is a mystery set in 1932 in England. No one is murdered. It started off fine, with a well-born gal working as a secretary at a bank deciding to solve a case sent to Sherlock Holmes (because the bank is located at the fictional address). She posed as Holmes' secretary when dealing with the missing girl's family. She asked questions and followed up on leads, though mostly she seemed to stumble upon the needed information. She realistically made mistakes along the way, including not being very convincing in a disguise. Things started to become less and less realistic, though. The missing maid showed back up, but she's accused of theft. Again. Harry's determined to prove the maid's innocent.

At least one modern phrase was used. When questioning the girl, the maid never mentioned that the girl who took her in looked exactly like her yet Harry immediately assumed she was the look-alike girl. Harry put on trousers for the first time and hid her hair, and suddenly she had everyone convinced she's a man. The author implied she stunk and people moved downwind to avoid it, but they'd want to move upwind, and why is there a wind in an enclosed space? When in disguise, she walked off with a beer mug from a bar, and no one objected or found it odd that she was carrying it around in the streets. She could throw corrugated iron sheeting some distance yet couldn't figure out how to deal with her captive without help. Yet Oliver (who was helping her) could not only do it alone but came up with a way to pass the evidence on to the police. She's the one who insisted on doing a citizen's arrest, yet she hadn't thought all that through? And then she decided to type up her adventures like a Sherlock Holmes story while on bank time. Huh. Not to mention, why did the thief twice hide the jewelry under Mildred's pillow so she'd get caught if the game was to use her to allow the true thief to walk out of the house with the stolen goods? As in, the true thief never benefited from this complicated look-alike game.

There was no sex or bad language.


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.

To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower

To Slip the Bonds of Earth
by Amanda Flower

ISBN-13: 9781496747662
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Released: March 26, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
December 1903: While Wilbur and Orville Wright’s flying machine is quite literally taking off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with its historic fifty-seven second flight, their sister Katharine is back home in Dayton, Ohio, running the bicycle shop, teaching Latin, and looking after the family. A Latin teacher and suffragette, Katharine is fiercely independent, intellectual, and the only Wright sibling to finish college. But at twenty-nine, she’s frustrated by the gender inequality in academia.

Returning home to Dayton, Wilbur and Orville (and Katharine) receive an invitation to a fancy Christmas ball. Orville decides to bring their as-yet-unpatented flyer plans to the festivities, where they are stolen. Orville and Katharine also find a murdered blackmailer with Orville's screwdriver in his chest and the host's son covered in blood. Katharine sets out to find the missing plans and prove that her student is innocent.


My Review:
To Slip the Bonds of Earth is a historical mystery set in 1903 in Ohio. Katharine had a hard time remembering that her goal was to find the stolen plans. She spent no time looking for them but switched to proving that her student wasn't the murderer, or maybe discovering whodunit. She asked questions, broke into buildings to poke around, read letters not meant for her, and generally annoyed people. Yet she didn't figure out whodunit or find out who had the plans. Whodunit helpfully decided to confess in front of witnesses. It's never adequately explained how everyone seemed to know that Orville had Critically Important Plans in his jacket pocket, and it's mind-boggling that he took them to a party instead of leaving them behind with Wilbur. So I found the mystery pretty disappointing and, yes, I guessed whodunit before the reveal.

Katharine certainly had courage and drive, but she's not willing to listen to anyone's advice, even the people she's supposedly helping. She just did what she wanted to do, usually very impulsively and without thinking out the consequences. She had a quick temper, which didn't make her any friends, but she felt completely justified in her behavior. She lied all the time, yet was so disappointed when she caught her maid in a lie. She wasn't especially logical. For example, she couldn't decide if she should trust the description of a man given by a servant that she knew who was familiar with the man or the besotted description of him given by her best friend. Basically, I didn't find her very likable, and none of the other characters were particularly engaging.

There was no sex or bad language.


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.

One Last Shot by Susan May Warren

One Last Shot
by Susan May Warren

ISBN-13: 9780800745479
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: March 5, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When country music star Oaken Fox joins survivalist Mike Grizz's new adventure show in the Alaskan wilderness, he just wants to please his fans while earning money for his favorite charity. But when tragedy strikes, Air One Rescue must save them. The show's producer convinces him to sign on with Air One Rescue as a recruit for a new reality show as another way to get the money for charity.

EMT Boo Kingston did not join Air One Rescue to train a celebrity. But she's a rookie to the team, so yes, she'll train Oaken and keep him alive and not for a minute pay attention to his charm. And then five women go missing from a resort during a bachelorette weekend gone wrong. Now, Air One and the rescue team will have to use all their skills and manpower--including Oaken--to find them before a blizzard settles in.


My Review:
One Last Shot is a Christian romantic suspense. Boo pays too much attention to the negative things that people say about her on social media. She hopes that avoiding media attention will keep her emotionally safe, but she can't hide from how she feels about what happened. She's afraid that men that act like they care about her might just be using her. Oaken has to care about what his fans think of him if he wants to keep his fame, but he feels like he took over his talented sister's place after her death and maybe doesn't even deserve his fame. He also feels like God doesn't like him and is constantly making things go wrong around him. When he agrees to star in a reality show about SARs, Boo is tasked to be his main trainer and has to face the spotlight again. Her teammates help Oaken to see that God isn't against him, and Oaken helps her see the truth about what happened in her past and that he's trustworthy.

The main characters were engaging and came across as real people. I cared about what happened to them. Oaken and Boo got to know each other as they worked together and built each other up. There was plenty of suspense from the physical dangers of search and rescue as well as the emotional trials that they faced. The one thing that didn't make sense to me was how people spoke multiple times about sending the chute to the police (and I thought they finally had), yet at the end it was still just sitting around like no one even tried to put it somewhere secure.

The Christian theme was how God can use things in our lives to get our attention. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


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.

Baby Protection Mission by Laura Scott

Baby Protection Mission
by Laura Scott

ISBN-13: 9781335597984
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: March 26, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When his sister is kidnapped, rancher Cade McNeal will do anything to prevent his baby nephew from being next. Now Officer Ashley Hanson and her K-9 partner are on the case, and it’s up to them to track down the assailant and keep Cade and his nephew from harm. But as the suspect list grows and the attacks escalate, will they bring a kidnapper to justice before he strikes again?


My Review:
Baby Protection Mission is a Christian romantic suspense. This is part of a series but works as a standalone. Unknown to Ashley, her usually-absent FBI father got her a spot on a task force (for the ongoing case in the series), and she felt like her teammates doubted her abilities because of that. She's nearby when someone tried to kidnap Cade's nephew from his arms and ended up taking his sister (the baby's mother) instead. She used her K9 to immediately track down clues and was put on the case. She helped protect Cade and the baby while also investigating possible leads. Cade's worried about his sister, the safety of his nephew, and how to run his ranch as the animals still need tending.

The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Ashley and Cade worked well together and generally got along well. They came to admire and care for each other as they spent a lot of time together. Cade (and Ashley) prayed for protection and guidance. Cade trusted that God was in control, and Ashley grew stronger in her faith. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


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.

A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian

A Midnight Puzzle
by Gigi Pandian

ISBN-13: 9781250880208
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: March 19, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Secret Staircase Construction is under attack, and Tempest Raj feels helpless. After former client Julian Rhodes tried to kill his wife, he blamed her "accident" on the home renovation company’s craftsmanship. Now the family business—known for bringing magic into homes through hidden doors, floating staircases, and architectural puzzle walls—is at a breaking point. No amount of Scottish and Indian meals from her grandfather can distract Tempest from the fact they’re being framed.

When Tempest receives an urgent midnight phone call from Julian, she decides to meet him at the historic Whispering Creek Theater—only to find his dead body, a sword through his chest. After a blade appears from thin air to claim another victim, Tempest is certain they’re dealing with a booby trap… something Secret Staircase Construction could easily build. Tempest refuses to wait for the investigation to turn to her or her loved ones. She knows the pieces of the puzzle are right in front of her, she just has to put them together correctly before more disaster strikes.


My Review:
A Midnight Puzzle is a cozy mystery. This is the third novel in the series. You can understand it without reading the previous books, and none of the previous mysteries were spoiled.

The main characters were interesting and generally likable. This was a clue-based mystery. I kept thinking 'if Tempest would just listen--really listen--to what her mentor is saying...clues, girl!' But she didn't want to think anything bad about her mentor and so didn't think over what he said. While I had much of the mystery solved fairly early on, I didn't guess specifically whodunit until Tempest figured it out and set up an elaborate performance/trap to prove their guilt.

There was some bad language. There was no 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.

A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White

A Noble Scheme
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: March 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Gemma Parks is known throughout high society as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talent to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the elite firm's members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren't for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart.

Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his soul in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma not only to restore the missing boy, but also to win back the only woman he's ever loved.


My Review:
A Noble Scheme is a Christian romance with a mystery, set in 1909 in England. Most of the story was about this mysterious, unforgivable problem between Gemma and Graham. It didn't matter if they were in a rush to save a young boy, they had time for a long argument about Gemma's lack of trust and forgiveness. Or if Gemma was freezing while lost in the snowy woods, it was a perfect time to kneel in the snow mourning her loss. This rather undercut any suspense. By the end, they'd finally worked through a lot of their relationship trauma and focused on the problem of saving two kidnapped boys.

The mystery was pretty straight forward: they soon identified who was demanding the ransom, where the boys were, and even why they were kidnapped. It was just a matter of getting them back. However, some things were never explained: How did Graham find the lost Gemma so quickly when he didn't know where she'd gone? Or why did someone steal Graham's notes since later no one seemed to suspect him of having anything to do with the attempt to save the boys?

The main characters were likable and generally acted realistically. Gemma had to learn to forgive (because God forgave her and expected her to forgive others). Graham didn't trust God to be good since He could have stopped a tragic loss but didn't, so he had to work through that issue. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story to those who have read the previous book and enjoyed the characters.


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.

On the Lookout by Christy Barritt

On the Lookout
by Christy Barritt

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
ebook: 302 pages
Publisher: River Heights
Released: January 1, 2019

Source: Kindle, free book.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Cassidy Chambers accepted the job as police chief on Lantern Beach, she knew the island had its secrets. But a suspicious death with potentially far-reaching implications will test all her skills. Cassidy enlists the help of her husband, former Navy SEAL Ty Chambers. They must figure out if their John Doe is connected to the secretive group that has moved onto the island. As facts materialize, danger on the island grows. Can Cassidy and Ty discover the truth about the shadowy crimes in their cozy community? Or has darkness permanently invaded their beloved Lantern Beach?


My Review:
On the Lookout is a mystery. Police chief Cassidy identifies a potentially murdered man as coming from a cult located in her area. It's hard to investigate this closed-off group to determine if anything criminal is going on. Her husband, Ty, helps keep her safe as she asked questions and followed up on leads. Whodunit was guessable but not obvious, though I figured it out before Cassidy did. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this 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.

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

Never Fall Again
by Lynn H. Blackburn

ISBN-13: 9780800745363
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: March 12, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.

Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom?


My Review:
Never Fall Again is a Christian romantic suspense. Landry married a 'good Christian man' only to find out it was a front. He was emotionally abusive and manipulative. After he died in an accident, his parents threaten to take her daughter from her, so Landry took up a friend on her offer of a job making and teaching pottery to rich people at her exclusive mountain resort. Landry had a hard time trusting the appearance of goodness though she still believes in God. As she and Cal worked together on her dream home, they came to admire and care for each other. They built a friendship until they could trust each other enough to work through their issues from past relationships.

The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the the repeated attacks on Landry's livelihood escalating to danger to her, her daughter, and Cal. Both Landry and Cal occasionally prayed to God for help. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I would recommend this enjoyable suspense 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.

Speculations in Sin by Jennifer Ashley

Speculations in Sin
by Jennifer Ashley

ISBN-13: 9780593549919
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: March 5, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Cook Kat Holloway is distressed to learn that Samuel Millburn, husband of the woman who looks after her daughter, has been accused of embezzling funds from the bank where he works as a clerk. The accusation is absurd, and Samuel’s wife fears that her husband will not only lose his post but be imprisoned. Kat vows to uncover the truth. She turns to her confidante and handsome suitor, Daniel McAdam, for help.


My Review:
Speculations in Sin is a mystery set in 1883 in London, England. This is the 7th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the mysteries of the previous books.

The mystery was clue-based, and whodunit was pretty obvious from the start of the investigation. Kat asked questions and followed up on leads but seemed rather distracted by her growing attachment to Daniel. Kat has solved enough mysteries that it's mindboggling that she angerly rushed off to confront a person she believed was a murderer rather than waiting for the police to do their job like Daniel suggested. Of course, she's gotten off in private and threatened by the murderer. Also, some things didn't seem realistic, like she's locked in a strong room in a bank which required two keys to open the door but there's a window to the outside. Like criminals can't climb the outside of a building. Anyway, I wasn't that impressed by the ending.

The main characters were interesting and likable. Historical details were woven into the story. There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language.


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.

Hailey's Haven by Laura Scott

Hailey's Haven
by Laura Scott

ISBN-13: 978-1949144482
Kindle: 222 pages
Publisher: Readscape Publishing
Released: May 1, 2021

Source: Free ebook.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After escaping her abusive foster parents thirteen years ago, Hailey Donovan thought her nightmare was over. Gatlinburg Tennessee had been a safe place to live, until she's nearly hit by gunfire while hiking the Smoky Mountains. Her instincts are to avoid law enforcement, especially handsome park ranger Rock Wilson, but when more gunfire echoes around them, they're forced to work together to escape.

More attempts against Hailey convinces her to leave the city to start over someplace new. Rock talks her into staying and fighting against the unknown assailant. Rock senses Hailey has been traumatized in the past, and is determined to uncover the mystery surrounding her. As Hailey and Rock seek the truth behind the escalating attacks, Rock realizes he's also in danger of losing his heart. Can Rock provide Hailey the save haven she desperately needs?


My Review:
Hailey's Haven is a Christian romantic suspense. Hailey's foster father abused his foster children, preaching hell-and-brimstone while punishing them in abusive ways for being sinners. Obviously, Hailey's not interested in God who at the very least didn't save them from this man. The children escaped and became runaways, eventually becoming separated from each other. Hailey's finally found a place where she feels valued and safe, working on an animal rescue farm and giving tours to children. But when someone tries to kill her, she's ready to go on the run again.

Park ranger Rock heard a shot fired on a hiking trail and rushed to the scene, ready to rescue a damsel that didn't seem very distressed and was quite competent surviving in the forest. He quickly came to admire her and urged her to accept his help uncovering the attacker so she could keep the life she loves. Hailey's not really a team player, but she did try to get along, and she and Rock shared interests. The suspense came from the frequent attacks and the uncertainty as to who would want her dead, not to mention that she didn't really trust the police to treat her fairly.

Rock was a Christian and tried to show Hailey that God could be trusted. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense 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.

Undercover Colorado Conspiracy by Jodie Bailey

Undercover Colorado Conspiracy
by Jodie Bailey

ISBN-13: 9781335597946
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: February 20, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
To expose a crooked adoption agency, military investigators Thalia Renner and Phillip Campbell pose as a married couple at a mountain resort. But when they become the target of unknown enemies and deadly assaults, they wonder if their cover has been blown. As they investigate, they learn that the past is coming to get them.


My Review:
Undercover Colorado Conspiracy is a Christian romantic suspense novel. The main characters were likable and capable, and they reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from frequent attacks on Thalia and Phillip, and they're not sure who's behind them. Thalia was adopted when a child, so she's determined to endure despite the attacks and stop any crooked business. However, her unknown origins have left her feeling unanchored despite having good adoptive parents. She's determined to not need help, but her undercover role demands that she accept it. She learns to accept help (and love) and find security in her identity in Christ.

Phillip was stalked by a popular girl in his youth, but no one took his concerns seriously until she turned violent. The current attacks look at lot like those pulled by this stalker, but why would she track him down now? He felt like he did everything wrong, but he learned that God could still make it turn out alright. Thalia and Phillip worked well together and had a long working relationship to build their growing attraction on.

My only complaint was that the descriptions occasionally changed. Mainly, their suite was on the ground level, and they walked straight out of their suite to wander down to a trail or around the outside of the hotel. But later they needed to go up at least one floor in an elevator to get to their rooms. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable suspense 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.

The Last Word by Gerri Lewis

The Last Word
by Gerri Lewis

ISBN-13: 9781639106318
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: February 6, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Obituary writer Winter Snow is no stranger to grief, and writing obituaries for the citizens of Ridgefield, Connecticut, is her way of providing comfort to those who have been in her shoes. But funerals and eulogies are meant for the dead, so when the very much alive Leocadia Arlington requests her own obituary by the end of the week, Winter’s curiosity is piqued. Even more so when she finds Mrs. Arlington dead soon after. The police think it was an accident.

Winter's sure it was murder, though, because why else have a deadline? She becomes obsessed with trying to figure out the real killer. When Winter realizes Mrs. Arlington was working on a revealing memoir that has now gone missing, Winter begins to wonder if someone had a reason to kill to keep her quiet. With the help of her foodie Uncle Richard, her wise octogenarian neighbor Horace, her best friend Scoop, and Diva, the Great Pyrenees puppy she inherited from Mrs. Arlington, Winter must uncover the killer before the next obituary written is her own.


My Review:
The Last Word is a cozy mystery. Mrs. Arlington's a writer yet felt she needed to hire someone else to write her obituary. This is just the beginning of the baffling events. Like a gal was trying to stay hidden yet went on a long walk in public along a popular route. Or Winter knows they're in a hurry but took the time to take a shower, put on makeup, and otherwise primp. Or Winter knows she shouldn't be snooping, a cop is searching the house, the house has been trashed, yet when she knocked a vase over and broke it, she took the time to clean it up.

The author also didn't do a good job of describing things. I'd have to go back to re-read things because either I had misunderstood what she described or she forgot what she'd previously said. The whole story was unrealistic. Winter and the detectives treated evidence in ways that would see it thrown out of court. For example, she stole an iPad (evidence that the police were looking for) and went through it, sending things from it to herself, then turned it over. She was constantly illegally entering property and houses. And Winter's caught 'stealing from a dead guy's pocket' and is still a suspect after she explained it was her phone and contained evidence proving her story, yet she's allowed to take her phone home without anyone looking at it.

Anyway, despite the crazy and confusing, I still managed to figure out whodunit about halfway through. There was basically only one person who could have done certain things, and we soon learned that person's motive. Another person was sure acting suspiciously and had to be involved somehow. Not too difficult to figure out.

There was some bad language. There were no sex scenes.


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.

Murder by Lamplight by Patrice Mcdonough

Murder by Lamplight
by Patrice Mcdonough

ISBN-13: 9781496746368
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Kensington Books
Released: February 20, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
November 1866: The grisly murder site in London’s East End is thronged with onlookers. None of them expect Dr. Julia Lewis—one of Britain’s first female physicians--to examine the corpse. To study medicine, Julia had to leave Britain, where universities still bar their doors to women, and travel to America. She returned home to work in her grandfather’s practice—and to find London in the grip of a devastating cholera epidemic.

Inspector Richard Tennant, overseeing the investigation, wonders that she'd want to do the job but admires her thorough work examining the sexually mutilated clergyman's body. Days later, another body is found with links to the first, and Tennant calls in Dr. Lewis again. The murderer begins sending the police taunting letters and tantalizing clues—though the trail leads in multiple directions, from London’s music halls to its grim workhouses and dank sewers. Lewis and Tennant struggle to understand the killer’s dark obsessions and motivations. But there is new urgency, for the doctor’s role appears to have shifted from expert to target. And this killer is no impulsive monster, but a fiendishly calculating opponent, determined to see his plan through to its terrifying conclusion.


My Review:
Murder by Lamplight is set in 1866 in London. It's not really mystery genre. From the beginning, scenes from the killer's point of view hint at who he is and what happened to prompt the killings. Eventually we're told in his viewpoint who it is. While there were clues, most could apply to several people. The detective eventually worked out whodunit, but Julia didn't until she was kidnapped by him. Then she was angry that the detective came to capture the killer and try to save her life. After all, SHE was perfectly capable of saving herself from a manipulative serial killer.

Julia assumed all men underestimated her, and she assumed the worse of most men. The detective used her as a medical examiner, appreciated her detailed work, and accepted her input even when it meant reading a book about mental illness. Julia, on the other hand, assumed that the detective didn't appreciate her skills and intelligence and so decided to do his job for him, from searching for clues to lecturing him about criminal madness. Sigh.

Historical details brought the time and place alive with gritty, depressing vividness. I appreciated her extensive historical knowledge, but it disappeared at the end. Julia (with open cuts) jumped into the dirty water yet didn't get sick or an infection when a big point in the story was how filthy the water was. There were no sex scenes, but we're told that objects were shoved up the corpses' asses, how murder turned the killer on, and how children where sexually abused by adults (not in graphic detail). There was a fair amount of bad language.


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.

Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink

Trapped in Yosemite
by Dana Mentink

ISBN-13: 9781335009043
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Released: February 27, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
K-9 handler Von Sharpe sees an SUV viciously forced off the road in the Yosemite National Park with his ex-fiancée at the wheel. When he pulls Stella Rivers out of the vehicle, the very ground under their feet cracks and breaks with the onslaught of a terrifying earthquake.

When her meeting with a mysterious client is ambushed, Stella witnesses the man being gunned down by a sniper and becomes a target herself. With the threat of aftershocks triggering landslides and floods, the new mom has no choice but to run to save her baby girl—even if it means teaming up with the man who has no idea he fathered her child.

Trapped in a dangerously unstable wilderness with a killer closing in, Von and Stella are running out of time.


My Review:
Trapped in Yosemite is a Christian romantic suspense. The suspense mainly came from a major earthquake hitting the area right as an assassin tried to take out poor Stella. Much of the story was about rescuing people, trying to survive a bad snowstorm and earthquake damage, and getting back in contact with outside help. Stella ended up on a wilderness camp where her ex-fiancée happened to work. He had dumped her and never tried to look her up.

While I appreciate when an author has the character grow throughout the story, Von was hard to take for the first half of the story. The only emotion Von was comfortable with was anger, so he's angry at everything Stella did. Even though he broke their engagement, he's very jealous and didn't want anyone showing any interest in her. She asked someone else to help her get to her aunt and baby, and he's determined to go after her, despite the danger he warned her about and even though others assured him that she had a good reason for taking that risk. His intent? To yell at her, tell her how foolish she was to take such a risk, how she should have done what he said, and to basically make her feel like she can't handle anything without him.

Apparently his anger problem built up after his brother died, so finally facing his loss and grief and eventually feeling like he could let go of the guilt allowed him to deal with Stella more fairly. I could see why he liked the more mature woman of faith that Stella had become, but I still felt like she got back with him mainly because he's the father of their child. I didn't worry about him abusing her, though, as he did change a lot.

Some suspense came from attempts to kill various people (mainly Stella) at the camp. While the killer was identified and stopped, that thread was just dropped. We never found out if a certain camper survived to manipulate his children as he intended (which would affect a main character).

Stella had learned to trust God even in her grief, and Von saw this and started connecting with God again. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense 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.

Murder in Masquerade by Mary Winters

Murder in Masquerade
by Mary Winters

ISBN-13: 9780593548783
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: February 20, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Victorian Countess Amelia Amesbury’s secret hobby, writing an advice column for a London penny paper, has gotten her into hot water before. But now, handsome marquis Simon Bainbridge desperately requires her assistance. His beloved younger sister, Marielle, has written Amelia's Lady Agony column seeking advice on her plans to elope with a man her family does not approve of. Determined to save his sister from a scoundrel and the family from scandal, Simon asks Amelia to dissuade Marielle from the ill-advised gambit.

But when the scoundrel makes an untimely exit after a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Amelia realizes there’s much more at stake than saving a young woman’s reputation from ruin. It’s going to take more than her letter-writing skills to help the dashing marquis mend the familial bond and find the murderer.


My Review:
Murder in Masquerade is a mystery set in 1860 in England. Amelia's role as a advice column writer played very little role in this story beyond showing her progressive, feminist attitudes toward social norms. Her boyfriend's sister was going to run away with a man who's in debt and managed to anger a number of people on the racetrack. When they stumbled across his murdered body, Amelia and Simon felt like they had to discover whodunit. The police were pretty much missing from this scenario.

The main characters were likable. Amelia and Simon asked questions to discover who had a motive and was present when the murder happened. Amelia bickered a lot with Simon about who should question whom or go where. He hid something, so she snooped in his bedroom. When about to be found together in his room, rather than handling things an easier way, they climbed down a tree while she's wearing a crinoline dress. Frankly, it would have been even harder than described, but the author wanted a funny scene and so forced it.

I guessed whodunit jokingly and was surprised to be right as the motive was really weak. Amelia did finally figure it out based on one clue after several wrong guesses based on all the other clues. There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I didn't enjoy the characters as much as in the first story and wasn't impressed with the 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.

While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden

While the City Sleeps
by Elizabeth Camden

ISBN-13: 9780764241710
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: February 13, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Katherine Schneider's workaday life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired.

Jonathan has harbored feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works long nights to unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her. And throughout it all, Jonathan fears what will happen should Katherine ever learn his deepest secrets.


My Review:
While the City Sleeps is set in 1913 in New York City. The author wove historical details into the story to create a distinct sense of the time and place. The Bomb Squad and their attempts to stop bombings added some suspense. Katherine and Jonathan were flawed, realistic people who matured due to the events. Yet the 'romance' just didn't work for me. Jonathan faithfully escorted her to her subway each night for two years. She knew little about him, yet she still decided that he's this perfect, wonderful guy. So she started showing more skin and wearing her most flattering dresses to entice him into a relationship. He thinks she's so pure and untouched by the dirty, criminal world he grew up in and is thus desirable and above what he could hope for. But she's clear that she won't forgive lies (even by omission), and he's hiding the fact that he was born into a notorious criminal family.

The two didn't share any interests, though she was happy to eat the sweets he made and he was happy to do whatever she wanted to spend time with her. Both fell in love with an illusion they'd created about the other rather than the real person. Even by the end, some of that illusion remained. Jonathan thought that she brought out the best in him, but it's the opposite. She actually got him to break rules. She was more concerned with her desires than with his. She didn't support his dangerous police work, yet she kept ignoring his warnings of danger because she wanted to do something and not just wait. It just didn't seem like a healthy relationship.

Katherine suddenly decided in the epilogue that she could trust God with the future (especially regarding Jonathan's dangerous job). There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this more as a historical than a romance.


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.

Fatal First Edition by Jenn McKinlay

Fatal First Edition
by Jenn McKinlay

ISBN-13: 9780593639337
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: February 13, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Briar Creek Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, are at a popular library conference in Chicago to hear book restoration specialist Brooklyn Wainwright give a keynote address. After the lecture, Lindsey looks under her seat and finds a tote bag containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, inscribed to Alfred Hitchcock. Brooklyn determines the novel is one of a kind and quite valuable, so Lindsey and Sully return the book to the conference director, not wanting to stir up any trouble.

But just hours after the pair boards the train back to Connecticut, they find the conference director murdered in his private compartment. And worse—the murderer planted the book in Lindsey and Sully’s room next door, making them suspects. Now, they must uncover the murderer and bring them to the end of their line.


My Review:
Fatal First Edition is a cozy mystery, though actually it was more suspense than mystery. It's the 14th in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

While there were clues in overheard gossip, Lindsey didn't spend much time asking questions. The story was more about figuring out how to find and save someone who was kidnapped (not Lindsey) and about the difficulties caused by the horrible snowstorm. It was fun to see the crafters put their skills to such a...practical use. LOL. The main characters were likable and interesting. There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

One Final Target by Janice Cantore

One Final Target
by Janice Cantore

ISBN-13: 9781496457608
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: February 13, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A warrant service in the San Bernardino Mountains goes horribly wrong when an IED blast kills four police officers. Devastated by the loss of her team, the lone survivor, Long Beach sergeant Jodie King, struggles with her guilt and grief, especially as the case remains open with no clear leads or suspects. Weeks after the explosion, Jodie retires from the police department and returns to the mountain bomb site seeking peace and resolution . . . only to find herself in the crosshairs once again.

Sam Gresham just happens to be in the right place at the right time when shots are fired at Jodie. The newest detective for the county sheriff’s department, Sam is assigned to work the IED, his first case back after his own traumatic loss. While Sam sees an opportunity to help Jodie heal from her lingering scars, Jodie hopes fresh eyes will bring new insight to the investigation. Because after this latest shooting, it seems Jodie was always the intended target―and the threat may be much closer to her than anyone wants to admit.


My Review:
One Final Target is a Christian romantic suspense. Since Jodie was responsible for her team, she felt guilty for their deaths even though there was no way for her to anticipate what happened. Sam also second-guessed himself after his partner died in an accident, so he could understand some of what Jodie was going through and help her deal with her guilt and grief. He also found further healing through helping her. They worked well together during the intense events. The author kept me guessing about exactly who on Sam's suspect list had a personal grudge worth killing over. I thought I knew, but I also wasn't sure, so who could they really trust? The constant danger and this uncertainty created a high level of suspense.

Jodie struggled with believing God was good even when tragedy happened. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this engaging, suspenseful story.


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.

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

All My Secrets
by Lynn Austin

ISBN-13: 9781496437440
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: February 6, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company―and most of the vast fortune that goes with it―to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter unable to maintain their lavish livestyle. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. Sylvia wants to find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re under reduced circumstances.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.


My Review:
All My Secrets is a Christian historical set in 1898 in New York. It's about the legacy we leave behind and how our actions affect future generations. As the oldest, Junietta's story unfolded first as she told Sylvia and Addy about her first love. He was an impoverished immigrant who headed off to make it rich in the gold fields of California so he could give Junietta the lifestyle to which she's accustomed. She's forced into marriage with Art, the son of an evil, scheming man who set his sons against each other. Her marriage wasn't a love match, and she wants that for Addy along with a sense of purpose that she's found in supporting charities for widows, orphans, and the poor.

Sylvia then told how she married Junietta's son to regain the wealth of her childhood only to fall in love with him. She's determined to find a wealthy husband for Addy so that they both can continue the lifestyle they're used to. Addy likes social events and can't imagine giving up her home (even if it costs too much to maintain), but the men willing to court her aren't ones she can see spending her life with. Decisions, decisions for everyone.

The characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about them. Historical details about what life was like were woven into story, and some major historical events affected the women's lives. Junietta received God's forgiveness for her sins and, out of gratitude, reached out to help others. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this well-written historical.


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.

Fur Love or Money by Sofie Ryan

Fur Love or Money
by Sofie Ryan

ISBN-13: 9780593550243
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: February 6, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sarah Grayson is taking a break from her bustling secondhand shop in small-town Maine to spend time with a friend and her dog. But their purr-fect visit comes to an end when the dog leads them to a storm cellar on a nearby property, where they discover a dead body.

The deceased turns out to be a sticky-fingered financial adviser who swindled millions from investors and who has been presumed dead for the last three years. Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the owner of the property where the body was found—and that owner is a good friend of Charlotte’s Angels’, the senior citizen sleuths who work out of Sarah’s shop. The Angels are determined to clear his good name. But with a tight-lipped widow, a possibly shifty sister, and a slew of unhappy investors in the mix, the list of murder suspects seems endless. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels have a lot of webs to untangle before they can catch the culprit.


My Review:
Fur Love or Money is a cozy mystery. Unfortunately, the ending was confusing in several ways. We had the mystery of the murder but also of what happened to the stolen money. The main characters went around interviewing potential suspects, mostly people who lost their money and wanted it back. Then whodunit is caught in a lie, and Sarah explained to Rose what she thought happened. Only she gave one explanation, then another, and I'm going, "um, that sounds contradictory." I had to re-read it to realize she'd given events out of order and guessed some things based on no evidence (and these things were never confirmed, either).

Sarah wanted to tell her ideas to her detective friend, but Rose insisted they go back to the murder scene (and not tell anyone). Of course, whodunit happened to show up for a reason not explained (as the area had clearly already been searched for evidence and treasure). Whodunit never confessed to murder, never explained why the victim was killed at that location and before giving up the location of the money. It's implied that the money was found but this was never clearly stated. We're just suddenly told it would be returned to the rightful owners. So much wasn't clearly explained. Not a satisfying ending.

The main characters were nice, engaging people, but the clues were a mess. So Sarah can be sure that soil is an exact match just by looking at it? And, BTW, someone with frozen shoulder can't lift their arm without intense pain. They aren't going to spend money on expensive lawn equipment, they're going to hire someone to take care of their lawn. Quite a lot just didn't seem believable.

This is the 11th book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book didn't spoil any of the previous mysteries. There were no sex scenes. There was only one use of bad language.


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.

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

One Wrong Move
by Dani Pettrey

ISBN-13: 9780764238482
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: February 6, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Christian O'Brady was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country's foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists targets one of the galleries Christian secured, he is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forester was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until one of her colleagues destroyed her career, blaming her for mishandling evidence. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator's game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.


My Review:
One Wrong Move is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It had two mysteries and romances in it. The main story was Christian and Andi investigating the art heists. Christian pulled off some art heists as a teenager, so he's great at setting up security to prevent them, yet someone knows exactly how to break through it. Andi once worked crime scene forensics for the FBI, but she was falsely accused of messing up the evidence and putting an innocent man in prison. It's Christian's private investigator brother who ruined her career, but now her best friend (from that same lab) and his brother investigate her claim that she was set up.

The physical danger to the main characters and others kept the suspense high. The characters were smart, complex, and dealt with realistic struggles. I cared about what happened to them. The romantic pairs worked well as a team and built each other up. The characters were Christians, so they prayed to God to help them, and their beliefs affected their choices. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, 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.

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

Fatal Witness
by Patricia Bradley

ISBN-13: 9780800741631
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: February 6, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As a child, artist and potter Dani Bennett witnessed the brutal murder of her parents. With no memory of the incident or her true identity, she was forced to take on a new name and a new life, hidden away in Montana for the past 25 years.

Mae Richmond has spent the same stretch of time searching for her granddaughter, who went missing the night her daughter and son-in-law were murdered. Convinced the woman she saw in a pottery magazine feature is the woman she's been searching for, she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee, who tracks Dani down.

Skeptical but curious, Dani sets out on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and reclaim her true identity. But someone is determined to keep the truth of what happened all those years ago hidden.


My Review:
Fatal Witness is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second book in the series but works as a standalone. Mark once failed to protect the woman he loved, so he avoids romantic relationships. Now he has to keep Dani (and Mae) alive while they finally solve what happened 25 years ago. Mark admired Dani's character as they spent time together and got to know each other. They worked well together and brought out the best in each other. Dani was brave and refused to be a passive victim of events.

The main characters were likable, complex, and reacted realistically to events. The high level of suspense came from repeated attacks on Dani and Mae. Whodunit was guessable but not obvious or easy to narrow down. The case went cold years ago due to lack of definitive clues, and Dani struggled to remember anything about when she lived in Pearl Springs. Several characters were bitter because of unforgiveness, and Dani faced having to forgive others. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


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.

Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

Embers in the London Sky
by Sarah Sundin

ISBN-13: 9780800741853
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: February 6, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the Occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.

When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.

The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time.


My Review:
Embers in the London Sky is a Christian romance set in 1940, mostly in England. Aleida's abusive husband is ashamed that their son lacks fingers on one hand. As many rich families fled from the Netherlands, he sneaked his son away and gave him to an English family to take with them. Aleida escaped to England, but she didn't know who had her child. She agreed to work for the department handling sending children (including refuge children) into the country in hopes of finding her son. Hugh didn't have permission to tell her story, but he helped as he could. He also struggled to hide his asthma while reporting from areas burning from German bombs. He fought for the right to report on bad events, not just positive ones.

The main characters were complex, engaging, and I cared about what happened to them. Aleida and Hugh supported each other and built each other up. Then Hugh said something unthinking that triggered Aleida into feeling like he was controlling, like her dead husband. They both had to realize that they'd reacted wrongly to the situation. Concerning Theo, I thought it odd that Aleida didn't anticipate being asked and had trouble thinking of how to prove that she's Theo's mother.

Aleida learned to stop trying to control every detail of her life and trust that God loves her and is in control. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical.


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.

Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle

Of Love and Treason
by Jamie Ogle

ISBN-13: 9781496479662
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: January 1, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, has been petitioning various gods to heal her, but this quest has put her father in deep debt. Her last hope rests in Valentine and his God, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris's new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together. But instead Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives...and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.


My Review:
Of Love and Treason is set in 269-270 AD in Rome. I thought a novel would be a fun way to learn about Valentine only to learn that he might not have even existed and the little that's recorded is conflicting. The author has done a lot more research than me, but this story didn't even seem to match the various legends beyond Val was a Christian leader who prayed that a blind daughter of a judge or jailor would see again when they presented it as a test.

Val was portrayed as such a thoughtful, kind, and courageous man that it was hard to read the scenes of him being tortured and martyred. (While not highly graphic, we do get a rundown of the various torture devices, how they're used, and how much pain Val was in during his ordeal.) I loved the Christian message: the cost of standing firm and reaching out to unbelievers during a period of persecution and how Iris struggled with how God is real and good because He gave her back her sight, but how can she trust a God that doesn't always protect His followers?

My main problem was that the main characters just didn't act realistically. Iris was under threat of being sold to her father's superior officer to be raped, beaten, and maimed. He was initially a serious threat, then suddenly Iris came out of hiding and went about in public with no thought to the threat. The evil man knew Titus cared for her yet didn't have someone follow him as he repeatedly went to visit her hiding spot. In another case, Val was threatened with death and warned to leave Rome that day, but his pride kept him there because his church needed him. Hello, he won't be there to teach them if he's dead, now will he? Val's supposedly in hiding but would go out in public both at night and during the day to help his doctor host. He also barged into the clinic when unknown people were present. And so on. It's like he had a death wish. Then, at the end, a lot of people we know and like were unexpectedly killed. The ending felt rushed and wasn't very satisfying.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I might recommend this to Christians who want to know what it was like for a Christian to live in Rome under persecution.


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.

Dangerous Texas Hideout by Virginia Vaughan

Dangerous Texas Hideout
by Virginia Vaughan

ISBN-13: 9781335597878
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: January 23, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When her daughter is the only witness able to identify a group of bank robbers, single mom Penny Jackson knows their lives are in danger. When the FBI agent guarding them is killed, it's clear these men will do anything to keep Missy quiet—permanently. Disappearing to a small Texas town was supposed to be safe, but when the criminals track them down, police chief Caleb Harmon becomes their only hope for survival and one of the few people Penny'll trust.


My Review:
Dangerous Texas Hideout is a Christian romantic suspense. Penny will do anything to protect her daughter, who's now in danger because she's the critical witness in a bank robbery case. No matter where they went to hide, the bad guys found them. Caleb and the others in the case were busy looking for who was leaking their location and trying to protect Penny and her daughter. The suspense came from the repeated attacks on Penny and her daughter. Penny's dead husband was an abuser, so she liked that she felt safe and admired around Caleb. His mother abandoned him as a tween, so Caleb admired that Penny was so devoted to her daughter (plus Penny's pretty). One thing I didn't get was why Caleb was convinced Penny couldn't someday come back to visit him if she and her daughter went into witness protection. The girl was only in danger until the trial was over, so they could come back afterward. Caleb and Penny got married almost immedately after they stopped the attacker, so that was a pretty rushed stranger-to-married timeline.

The main characters were enagaging. Penny learned that she could trust that God is good and in control even when bad things are happening. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense.


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.