A Murder Unmentioned by Sulari Gentill

A Murder Unmentioned by Sulari Gentill ISBN-13: 9781464206979 Hardcover Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Feb. 12, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The gun used in Rowland Sinclair's father's death some thirteen years earlier has turned up in a drained dam at the family's country homestead in Yass. Rowland and his elder brother, Wil, had avoided any discussion of the event. The possible involvement of the teenage Rowly and his older brother's intervention comes to light as their enemies use their influence to set the police to renew their inquiries into Henry Sinclair's death.

Rowly and the trio of artist friends who live in his Sydney suburban mansion, and generally have his back, avail themselves of a racing green Gypsy Moth (Rowland is a pioneer in air travel) and a yellow Mercedes sports car (another frightening mode of transport) to arrive in New South Wales' Southern Tablelands, bent on clearing Rowly's name.

With cameo appearances from historical figures - Bob Menzies in the Sinclair kitchen, Edna Walling in the garden, and Kate Leigh grinning lasciviously at Rowly in a jailhouse crowd - and a real sense of fun contrasting with the quite genuine tension.


My Review:
A Murder Unmentioned is a mystery set in Dec. 1933 in Australia. This is the sixth novel in a series. This story referred back to events that happened in previous books, especially the fourth book, but you don't have to read the previous books in order to follow this one.

The main characters were interesting, caring people. Rowly was even more hot tempered than usual, ready to punch people for any insult. It was a clue-based mystery. I caught on to who the anonymous informant was long before Rowly and Wil, but it was realistic that they didn't suspect that person until strong evidence pointed in that direction. Rowly had to save people's lives at several points in the story, which added suspense. Interesting historical details were woven into the the story.

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


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


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

No Escape Claws by Sofie Ryan

No Escape Claws by Sofie Ryan ISBN-13: 9781101991244 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: Jan. 29, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It's fall in North Harbor, Maine, where Sarah owns a charming secondhand shop and sells lovingly refurbished items of all kinds. The shop is always bustling--and not just because a quirky team of senior-citizen detectives works out of it and manages to get in even more trouble than Sarah's rough-and-tumble rescue cat, Elvis.

A cold case heats up when young Mallory Pearson appears at the shop. Mallory's father is in prison for negligence after her stepmother's mysterious death, but Mallory believes he is innocent and asks the in-house detectives to take on the case. With Sarah and Elvis lending a paw, the detectives decide to try to give Mallory's father a second chance of his own.


My Review:
No Escape Claws is a cozy mystery. It is the sixth book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book did not spoil any of the previous mysteries.

The main characters were nice, engaging people. They were trying to prove that a person hadn't committed a crime, so they also had to prove who did do it. The amateur detectives asked questions and looked into various alibis. I immediately realized that the judge's identification of the culprit was based mostly on the hat (which is a clue that got them asking the right questions), but it took a very long time for the characters to figure that out. I also correctly realized whodunit a good bit before the main characters. The cat didn't even play much of a role except that of "cute cat."

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


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


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Colour of Murder by Julian Symons

The Colour of Murder by Julian Symons ISBN-13: 9781464210891 Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Feb. 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
John Wilkins meets a beautiful, irresistible girl, and his world is turned upside down. But did he really commit the heinous crime he was accused of? Told innovatively in two parts: the psychiatric assessment of Wilkins and the trial for suspected murder on the Brighton seafront, Symons' award-winning mystery tantalizes the reader with glimpses of the elusive truth and makes a daring exploration of the nature of justice itself.


My Review:
The Colour of Murder is a crime story set in England and originally published in 1957. The first half of the story was John recounting to a psychologist the events leading up to the murder. He's unhappy with his wife and attracted to a beautiful, young girl. He makes up an elaborate fantasy world around this girl, though she's not consciously encouraging him. He has blackouts when he drinks too much, but he's so unhappy that he's drinking too much. Then a murder occurs and John is arrested for it. He has no memory of the critical parts of that evening because he was drinking.

At this point, I was bored as I was expecting a mystery rather than a story of a pitiful mid-life crisis. Then we get into the actual murder trial. The evidence increasingly showed that John was unlikely to have committed the murder (though it was still possible). However, the police and jury don't see anyone else with an obvious motive--though they weren't looking too hard. There were clues and, at the very end, John's lawyer is certain he knows who did it.

Basically, this novel is less a mystery and more of a commentary on the justice system and how lawyers twist the truth to fit the image they are trying to build. John couldn't stand being seen as the type of person they made him out to be and ends up insane. I found it a rather depressing read. There was a fair amount of bad language (including b**ch). 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Coronation by Boris Akunin

The Coronation by Boris Akunin ISBN-13: 978-0802127815 Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Mysterious Press Released: Feb. 5, 2019

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

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After five years spent abroad building up a business as something of a private investigator, the handsome, stuttering Fandorin is back in Moscow--and in for a case that entangles him with the highest echelons of Romanov royalty. Grand Duke Georgii Alexandrovich arrives in Moscow with three of his children for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II, who is fated to become the last Emperor of Russia.

During an afternoon stroll in the park, Georgii's daughter Xenia is dragged away by bandits, only to be rescued by an elegant gentleman and his Japanese sidekick. The passing heroes introduce themselves as Erast Petrovich Fandorin and Masa, but panic ensues when the party realizes that four-year-old Mikhail has been snatched in the confusion. A ransom letter arrives from an international criminal demanding the handover of the Count Orlov, an enormous diamond on the royal scepter which is due to play a part in the coronation. Can the gentleman detective find Mikhail in time?


My Review:
The Coronation is a mystery set in May 1896 in Moscow. It's the seventh book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the previous novels.

The viewpoint character was a butler for the Grand Duke Georgii Alexandrovich. He spent a lot of time thinking about his butler duties in the first part of the book. While interesting, that did slow the pacing for the suspense and mystery. The series heroes are not viewpoint characters, so we only learn what the butler sees or is told. And he's a fool who keeps messing things up because he has no faith in the hero's abilities.

After the kidnapping, the story was a race to find and save the child mixed with events related to the coronation and various romances of all types. I guessed who the mastermind, Dr. Lind, was shortly after the kidnapping. Someone made a comment that made me think "oh, I bet that character is the mastermind." It's extremely rare that I'll jump to the back of the book, but I did so in this case and it turned out I was correct. However, it was realistic that the characters in the story didn't catch on until the very end. Don't expect a happy ending – even the butler wasn't happy, and things turned out well for him.

There were no graphic sex scenes. There was some bad language. I'd recommend this mystery to those interested in the Russian setting.


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 House of Stone and Ivy by Anita Stansfield

The House of Stone and Ivy by Anita Stansfield ISBN-13: 9781524408565 Paperback: 280 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: Jan. 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Orphaned as children, Hennie and Lottie share an unbreakable friendship. Together, they suffered the horrors of orphanages and the workhouse, and now grown, they continue to rely on each another. When Lottie approaches Hennie about a possible position at a manor house, Hennie is eager to work alongside her dear friend. However, to secure the positions as stable hands, they will have to undergo a bold act of deception: the women must disguise themselves as men.

Upon arriving at the manor, Hennie is stunned. Her new position is at Ivy Manor—the beautiful estate where her mother was employed long ago and where Hennie was raised until her mother’s death. Hennie has wonderful memories of her friendship with the son of the house, Jack, and is shocked and dismayed to learn he has vanished. Living in disguise at the manor allows her to gradually uncover the truth of Jack’s disappearance and eventually find him. Both Hennie and Jack are thrilled to be reunited, and their friendship is renewed. Soon, their relationship blossoms . . . and threatens their determination to remain concealed. Will they be prepared to risk everything for love?


My Review:
The House of Stone and Ivy is a romance novel loosely set in 1808 in England. There were numerous historical details that were incorrect for this time period, but the story read more like a fairytale, anyway. The point of view was distant and omniscient, telling the reader what the various characters felt and what they did. There was a lot of telling what happened rather than showing events through scenes and dialogue, perhaps partly because several years pass during the story.

The characters were likable, and the romance was based on an enduring friendship. But the dialogue didn't flow naturally and often repeated what we were told they were thinking, which slowed the pace. There was little suspense because of the distant point of view and quick passage of time. We're quickly told how the potential problems turned out to not be problems. Only two people let their greed and self-interest prevent them from immediately forgiving and supporting the main characters. The only problem that was not solved quickly was the reason Jack was in hiding, and Hennie pushed him to face the conflict and find a solution. There were no sex scenes 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.

Protecting His Secret Son by Laura Scott

Protecting His Secret Son by Laura Scott ISBN-13: 9781335231901 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: Feb. 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It's a shock to private investigator Mike Callahan to see Shayla O'Hare again, and with a child in tow--especially with shots flying her way. Protecting the pair must take priority over their tangled past. Is she being targeted for her family's crimes--including possibly killing Mike's father? And what will Mike do when he realizes her son is actually his son, too?


My Review:
Protecting His Secret Son is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the sixth in a series, but you can understand this book without reading the previous ones.

The romantic pair have a past: they slept together once, got engaged, then Mike accused her family of being involved with the people who killed his father. She left and didn't try too hard to let him know that she was pregnant with his son. Now she's back to visit her father, and someone starts shooting at her. Mike protects her while trying to figure out who is behind his father's death and why they're after Shayla. The secret comes out that he's the father of her son. He wants to be involved in his son's life, but she's still not feeling too cozy toward a man whom she thinks still believes her father and brother are corrupt. I liked the characters, and the Callahan brother finally solve their father's murder.

Both characters prayed to God for protection. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.


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

CrossFire by Jeanette Windle

CrossFire by Jeanette Windle ISBN-13: 9780825441431 Paperback: 617 pages Publisher: Kregel Publications Released: Aug. 26, 2009

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Following a whirlwind romance and impromptu wedding, Sara is whisked off to her husband's palatial family estate in Bolivia. Cultural differences and family adjustments are no match for her fierce love for Nicolas. But Sara soon opens a Pandora's box of questions surrounding the Cortez family's billion-dollar business, becoming ensnared in a deadly clash between her new family, a drug cartel, and the DEA.


My Review:
CrossFire is a Christian suspense novel. The first third of the book was setting everything up: a young gal longing for a loving family (since hers has died) has a whirlwind romance and marries a man from Bolivia. They return to his home, and she's shocked to realize how rich his family is. She accepts the lies that he tells her about his family because she wants it to be true, but soon she realizes that the family business is being used to smuggle cocaine into other countries. Through an English-speaking missionary church, she knows a DEA agent who has offered to help her if she ever needs it.

By about halfway through, she really, really needs help. She's gotten on the wrong side of powerful people determined to contain any damage she might do to them. She's brave, has integrity, and can think on her feet when she has to, so she manages to stay alive despite everything. The DEA agent is a kind and determined fellow who helps as much as he can.

The story is exciting and suspenseful, but I think I would have liked it better if it was a little shorter. We learn a lot about Bolivia and the drug situation there, and these details are what I like about this author's books. However, even right in the middle of suspenseful situations, we get these long lectures about things like what each character thinks about cocaine and how they justify their actions. A lot of this was repetitive, so it didn't add to my understanding of the situation and slowed the scenes.

Sara feels like God is a remote, uncaring deity to allow so much suffering to happen to her family. By the end, she can see how God has been using events to bring about a positive end and has a stronger sense that God personally cares about her. There was no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.


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


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.