The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis

The Wagtail Murder Club
by Krista Davis

ISBN-13: 9780593817520
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: February 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Holly Miller's driving back to Wagtail, Virginia when she spots something hiding on the side of the road. It's an adorable black Labrador in a cage with a note attached to his collar, dubbing him Squishy and asking the finder to care for him. Holly takes Squishy home to the Sugar Maple Inn and another surprise awaits her. Holly’s ex-boyfriend Ben is set to check-in with a group of his attorney colleagues who all seem to think he and Holly are still an item.

When one of Ben’s fellow attorneys dies in a fall, it could be chalked up to an unfortunate accident but then a second lawyer is murdered. Along with her beloved furry friends Trixie and Twinkletoes, Holly has to put the pieces together to find the killer before the fiend causes another fatality.


My Review:
The Wagtail Murder Club is a cozy mystery. It's the 10th book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this story, and this book didn't spoil the previous ones. But I lost all respect for Holly in this book. The author decided to have a crisis between her and Holmes, whom she supposedly loves. Ben showed up unexpectedly and proposed marriage to Holly in public in front of his business colleagues even though she'd made it clear she's not interested in him. A thousand ways to handle that, but she choose 'I can't embarrass Ben; I'll say yes and break the engagement later' like that'd do anything but delay the embarrassment. She didn't think once about Holmes' feelings, and she didn't try very hard to tell him what she intended to do before he heard the news of her engagement to Ben from someone else. This became a big mess and yet...in the end, no feelings were hurt. Seriously?

At the beginning, I quickly identified whodunit. I'm going, "Oh! What a horrible person!" though this was based off of subtle clues rather than outright meanness. By halfway through, I'd figured out whodunit for the old murder (though why came out later). Then there's another murder, and I easily figured that one out. Only Oma thought things out logically. Holly would think a clue could mean this or that or that. Or she'd recognize a clue indicated this but then conclude the exact opposite a moment later. At the very end, suddenly the lightbulb went on for her.

The pets were charming, as usual. I never did understand why a law firm wanted to open an office in Wagtail and why Ben, of all people, wanted so badly to move there. 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.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Midnight on the Scottish Shore
by Sarah Sundin

ISBN-13: 9780800741860
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: February 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the German occupation of the Netherlands is to do the unthinkable--become a spy for the Nazis in Britain. She soothes her conscience with a plan to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. Her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy--a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?


My Review:
Midnight on the Scottish Shore is a Christian romantic suspense set in 1941-1942, mostly in Scotland. Cilla spies on the Nazis for a Dutch resistance group until it gets dangerous. Desperate to escape the danger, she charms a German intelligence officer into taking her into training to spy for Germany on British soil. But things go terribly wrong when she's dropped off. She's captured by Lt. Lachlan, who unknowingly sends her to the British counter-intelligence to be trained as a double agent. No one believes that she's not truly a German spy, but she's determined to be pleasant and do a good job if it'll help the British war efforts.

The characters were well-developed, had complexity, and acted realistically to events. They felt like real people who really lived through these events. The historical details were woven into the story and brought the story alive in my imagination. Lachlan and Cilla worked well together, finding ways to convince Cilla's German contact that she's loyal while providing only information of minimal importance. Lachlan struggled with forgiving his brother, who betrayed him by deliberately ruining his naval career. Cilla found the freedom that God offers, even when we're physically confined. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical 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.

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason

Serial Burn
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9780800741211
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: January 21, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Jesslyn McCormick was just seven years old, a devastating house fire killed her parents and two younger sisters. Now the fire marshal of Lake City, Jesslyn is determined to find the person who started the fire that robbed her of her family. As the 25th anniversary of her family's deaths approaches, a string of fires--including at Jesslyn's church--brings up all those old feelings and offers new evidence.

Because church fires are considered a hate crime, FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to work with local law enforcement. Nathan has his own past--one he'd prefer not to revisit. And focusing on helping Jesslyn track down the arsonist is a great distraction.

As both the case and the chemistry between Jesslyn and Nathan heat up, memories will come flooding in from the past to bump up against hopes for the future. And when Jesslyn comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare, she'll have to confront her fears and rely on Nathan and her community of friends in order to survive.


My Review:
Serial Burn is a Christian romantic suspense. While it's the 3rd book in a series, it works as a standalone. Jesslyn has dedicated her life to solving the arson that killed her family and to solve other arsons so people can have justice. As a child, Nathan made a foolish mistake which resulted in a fire that caused the death of his friend. While they shared an understanding of the grief that arson can cause, Jesslyn felt like she must solve her family's murder before she can have a future of her own.

The main characters were likable, capable people who reacted realistically to events. Jesslyn and Nathan worked well together and supported each other. The suspense remained high due to a serial arsonist setting buildings on fire even when people were inside. Someone was also attempting to kill Jesslyn. Nathan's brother struggled with accepting God's forgiveness of his guilt. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting story.

While I enjoyed the book, one attack worked when it shouldn't have. Jesslyn was driving her car at a decent speed when someone standing beside the road threw a bottle at her rear window. Rather than bouncing off (as the throw was unlikely hard enough to have much force against an object moving rapidly away from it, not to mention that the bottle would have bunt, rounded edges that would diffuse the force), the bottle smashed the rear window and fell inside the car. Suspense novels require enough suspension of disbelief, I'd prefer that basic physics were at least followed.


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.

Defending the Child by Sharon Dunn

Defending the Child
by Sharon Dunn

ISBN-13: 9781335980397
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: January 21, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After Marielle Coleman’s foster son witnesses his mother’s murder, he becomes a killer’s next target. Escaping into a raging Montana snowstorm, Marielle and her little boy hide at a remote camp—and unexpectedly reunite with her ex-fiancé, Graham Flynn, a DEA agent. Now Graham and Marielle must put aside their distrust to save the child from dangerous pursuers.


My Review:
Defending the Child is a romantic suspense. Marielle and Graham were engaged ten years ago but broke up when Graham chose a job that Marielle didn't like. He just happened to be at the camp they met at when she fled an attacker during a heavy snowstorm. The bad guy walked into the camp through the deep snow, but somehow they can't get out even with a snowmobile. The bad guy followed their footprints in the snow to find them, again and again. Graham never thought to use this to set an ambush for the bad guy. Graham was so obvious when he tried attacking the bad guy that he was the one who got surprise-attacked.

All of the good guys seemed inept. For example, the good guys kept leaving their keys in their car ignition so the bad guys could easily hop in and drive off. Though Graham is a DEA agent, he seemed unable to shoot anyone, didn't think to pack some spare bullets for his several guns, and was super-easy to disarm (thus arming the bad guys). At the end, Marielle's hands were loosely tied with a bungee cord but she couldn't get free. And the cops looking for her nearly missed finding her because they glanced inside the building, didn't see her, and didn't bother to search any further. And so on.

At least Marielle and Graham will probably be happy in their marriage. Graham fell in love with the boy, decided he'd like to be a father after all, and Marielle fell in love with the way he bonded with the boy. She had confidence throughout that Graham could handle the bad guys so followed his directions, and he never thought twice about her driving during some tough situations. He gave her his extra gun so she could defend herself. She admired his courage in going after the bad guys to protect her, risking his safety for hers. Anyway, they're a good fit, they just needed to see that by spending time together again.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I couldn't get past how unrealistic the whole thing was, but it was suspenseful.


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 to Know by Tasha Alexander

Dangerous to Know
by Tasha Alexander

ISBN-13: 9780312383794
ebook: 306 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: October 26, 2010

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-law's beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out riding a horse, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girl's wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.

Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling chateau in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: she hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the child's wake. As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim.


My Review:
Dangerous to Know is a mystery set in 1892 in France. This book is the 5th in the series, but you can understand it without reading the previous books.

The characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. They felt like real people. The historical details were woven into the story, bringing the world alive in my imagination without slowing the pace. It's a clue-based, puzzle mystery. Emily investigated by asking questions of various people and being observant. However, unusual for the pair, Colin had no idea of whodunit and Emily didn't suspect until she was captured by whodunit. Since whodunit was my major suspect, I guess that the author did this to show that Emily can save herself and Colin had to admit he couldn't keep her safe even when trying as it's his fault that she was in danger.

There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

Family in Hiding by Valerie Hansen

Family in Hiding
by Valerie Hansen

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
ebook: 288 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: January 1, 2014

Source: Rented Kindle ebook.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When her estranged husband Dylan's inadvertent dealings with a crime ring bring danger to her doorstep, Grace McIntyre has no choice but to follow him into the witness protection program. To safeguard her children, they must all go into hiding as one big happy family. Grace doesn't know what's worse—having to pretend she's in love with the man who betrayed her trust or keeping ahead of the killers. In hiding, Dylan is all that stands between their safety and certain death. Now more than ever, he wants to be the man that Grace once loved. Keeping his family alive is his only hope—to be a hero and a husband.


My Review:
Family in Hiding is a Christian romantic suspense. This story was less about avoiding attacks--though there were some--or solving a case but about trying to adjust to being in Witness Protection and assuming new identities. Especially with 3 pre-teen kids involved.

Dylan wanted to provide abundantly for his family, so he spent a lot of time at work and got into to less-than-legal adoptions, though he didn't realize the children were being kidnapped. In return for providing evidence, he and his family were given new identities and moved to a new state. Grace didn't want to go with her husband as she felt angry with him and was trying to get a divorce, but she was also targeted by the crooks.

Dylan first decided to seek forgiveness from God then determined to be the husband his family deserved. Grace came to realize she'd contributed to their relationship problems, too. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

Christmas Cover-Up by Lynette Eason

Christmas Cover-Up
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9780373445745
Kindle: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: January 1, 2013

Source: Rented through Kindle.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Seven-year-old Lucy Randall had been kidnapped in broad daylight fourteen years ago, and now Detective Katie Randall is determined to solve her sister's case. Her only option is to team up with the man whose family hates her. Former FBI agent Jordan Grey knows the beautiful cop isn't to blame for his brother's death, but he can't risk causing his parents more pain by falling for Katie. He'll have to focus on finding Lucy. But when Katie and Jordan uncover the truth, will this kidnapper turn killer?


My Review:
Christmas Cover-Up is a Christian romantic suspense. Katie's sister was kidnapped when they were kids, and her parents blame her. She became a detective and has tried to solve her sister's cold case in hopes of earning back her parent's love. She comes to realize that God's love isn't earned and maybe she was wrong about her parents not loving her after all...

FBI consultant Jordan has been hired to help solve the case, but his parents blame Katie for his brother's death, even though they shouldn't. While Katie and Jordan quickly were attracted to each other, his parent's blame and rejection of Katie made any relationship problematic.

The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Jordan and Katie worked well together and came to care for each other as they got to know each other. The suspense came from threats and whodunit's willingness to kill to keep the truth hidden.

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

In at the Death by Judith Cutler

In at the Death
by Judith Cutler

ISBN-13: 9781448313471
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: January 7, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
October 1861, England. Harriet and Matthew Rowsley, the housekeeper and estate manager of Thorncroft House in Shropshire, have to cut short their successful trip to Oxford when they receive word a decapitated and mutilated body has been found on the estate.

While trying to help the strangely slow police investigation, the couple face an unsettling threat to their after years of searching, a legitimate heir of Thorncroft estate has been found! They find themselves hosting an American gentleman whose charm doesn't quite conceal his alarming plans for the future of the estate and all its inhabitants.

Harriet has to confront her past but also share a secret of her own that could change her and her loved ones' lives forever...


My Review:
In at the Death is a historical set in 1861 in England. As it's more about wrapping up the series (with an epilogue explaining the futures of all the favorite characters), you'll probably enjoy this story more if you've read at least a few of the previous books. A murdered man's found near the estate, and they struggled to find someone willing to photograph or sketch the head so they can identify the man. They all agreed that it was pretty obvious why he was killed, who (in general) did it, and that the killer's likely long gone. And the police discouraged anyone from even talking about the murder. This was one case where I didn't mind that the killer was never found.

The Trustees have to deal with the American heir, a Southern slave owner looking to raise money since the American Civil War is starting. He's determined to find a way to inherit earlier rather than later, or at least sneak some expensive items away. The whole household's on edge as he schemed against them, specifically targeting Harriet. This prompted her to look for a missing will that could change who inherits, which was apparently discussed in a previous book. And, of course, there's a happy ending to wrap everything up.

There was some bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this story to fans of 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.

Tough as Steele by Susan Sleeman

Tough as Steele
by Susan Sleeman

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Kindle: 320 pages
Publisher: Edge of Your Seat Books
Released: February 1, 2022

Source: Rented through Kindle.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Detective Londyn Steel must find an abducted socialite. Her family’s company, Steele Guardians, was supposed to protect the family matriarch at her eightieth birthday party when she disappears, and Londyn fears her investigation will ruin her family’s company's reputation. Then County Detective Nate Ryder declares jurisdiction over the scene. Londyn bristles at his interference at first, but they combine forces to locate this missing woman before it’s too late.

As they search for leads, emotions Nate hasn’t felt since before his service as a Navy SEAL come to the surface. He credits Londyn for unearthing the guy he used to be before his military service. But they fear the socialite may be murdered soon--if she hasn't been already--so their feelings for each other have to be put on hold.


My Review:
Tough as Steele is a romantic suspense. Detective Londyn and County Detective Nate investigated the kidnapping of a rich, older woman during an event for which Steele Guardians was providing security. The woman was like a grandmother to Nate as her daughter acted as a mother to him when he lost his own father. Her faith was an example to him in the past, and now his faith helped Londyn trust God even when He seemed untrustworthy.

They worked well together. The mystery was interesting, and they followed up on any leads--even when they broke the rules. They felt saving a life was more important than making sure the case would be airtight against the kidnapper. There was the constant worry that the woman had already been killed, and the rescue attempt created a suspenseful ending.

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