Murder in the Mill-Race by E.C.R. Lorac

Murder in the Mill-Race by E.C.R. Lorac ISBN-13: 9781464211751 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: August 6, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Dr Raymond Ferens moves to a practice at Milham in the Moor in North Devon, he and his wife are enchanted with the beautiful hilltop village lying so close to moor and sky. At first, they see only its charm, but a suspicious death begins to reveal its secrets.

Everyone says that Sister Monica, warden of a children's home, is a saint—but is she? A few months after the Ferens' arrival her body is found drowned in the mill-race. Chief Inspector Macdonald faces one of his most difficult cases in a village determined not to betray its dark secrets to a stranger.


My Review:
Murder in the Mill-Race is a mystery set in England that was published in 1952. The locals keep telling the same story to the police--the saintly dead woman must have had an accident. They even helpfully provide misleading evidence in addition to not telling what they know or suspect. Still, the detective and his partner managed to trick people into saying helpful information and discovered clues from the body. Even "what a person doesn't say" was a clue.

I enjoyed the two clever detectives and how they managed to get their information. I was able to correctly guess whodunit early on, and I had no other suspects due to the obviously misleading clues. So whodunit was guessable, though more so after the true clues started to show through. There was occasional use of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I would 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.

Might As Well Be Dead by Rex Stout

Might As Well Be Dead by Rex Stout ISBN-13: 9780553763034 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Bantam Released: 1956; 1995

Source: Borrowed from the local library.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Eleven years after he accused his only son, Paul, of wrongdoing and sent him away from home, Nebraska businessman James Herold calls upon Nero Wolfe to track down the young man so that he can make amends. Only Paul doesn't want to be found.


My Review:
Might As Well Be Dead is a mystery set in 1956 in New York City. Archie Goodwin's humorous view of events always makes the story fun to read, and the mystery kept me thinking. This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Whodunit was on my suspect list and was guessable, but I didn't put all the pieces together until Wolfe explained it. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of humorous historical mysteries.


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.

A Song of Joy by Lauraine Snelling

A Song of Joy by Lauraine Snelling ISBN-13: 9780764232923 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: August 6, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Minnesota in 1911, Nilda Carlson is torn between society life in the city of Blackduck and spending time with her family back home on the farm. Her employer, Mrs. Schoenleber, gives her more and more responsibility and experience, including recommending new opportunities for her philanthropy. Still new to America herself, Nilda focuses on the area's immigrant community, but she'll have to fight to get her ideas accepted by the locals and donors alike.

In the meantime, one of her greatest joys is her weekly piano lesson with the handsome schoolteacher, Fritz. But just as Nilda is beginning to realize she has feelings for him, a rich young man attempts to impress her with what his wealth can offer her.


My Review:
A Song of Joy is a Christian romance set in 1911 in Minnesota. This book is the fourth in a series and the third with Nilda as the main character. I didn't realize this was a continuation of her story, and I haven't read the previous books. The first few chapters "spoil" what happened in the previous books to get new readers up to speed on what she's gone through. Fritz hardly spent any scene-time with Nilda, but it was clear that Nilda and Fritz were attracted to each other and only each other. A rich, young man attempted to impress Nilda with his wealth so she'd marry him, but there wasn't much suspense about how the romance would turn out.

Much of the story was spent describing daily life for her family on the farm and for Nilda in town. Enjoyable historical details about farm life, manners, and such were woven into the story. Some suspense was created during Nilda's efforts to come up with ways to help the poor, local immigrants and gain support (and money) for her projects. Plus a detective clearly bent on causing trouble for Nilda kept popping up to question people about her or to say nasty things to her.

There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this story to those who have read the previous novels and who will enjoy learning how things are working out for those characters or to people interested in what life was like for immigrants at this time.


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.

Marked for Revenge by Valerie Hansen

Marked for Revenge by Valerie Hansen ISBN-13: 9781335232274 Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: Aug. 6, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
EMT Kaitlin North can’t believe the shooting victim at an isolated Ozark cabin is the man who once saved her life. Now the only way she can keep undercover police officer Daniel Ryan alive is to help him elude the hitmen on his trail. With danger closing in, can Kaitlin and Ryan trust each other’s instincts…and take a chance on love?


My Review:
Marked for Revenge is a romantic suspense novel. I liked Kaitlin and Daniel and their banter. They were the only two characters that were really developed since they were on their own for most of the story. Kaitlin enjoys the excitement of being an EMT, though keeping a sick and injured police officer alive when there's a bounty on his head was a bit too much excitement. Still, Daniel once helped her turn her life around, and he needed her quick thinking, street smarts, and medical knowledge (not to mention her money and her truck) to stay alive. She insisted that he follow her orders when it's a medical-knowledge issue, and she'd follow his orders when it was a police-knowledge issue. She got to give her input into everything else, especially when Daniel was too sick to make good decisions. He respected her input and knowledge.

So they worked well together as a team, though they sometimes disagreed. They also had a similar sense of humor, and I can understand why they fell in love. The suspense was created by the constant physical danger to Daniel as the target of the bounty and to Kaitlin because she's helping him. I still don't follow why Kaitlin (or Daniel) couldn't have called his boss way back at the beginning as the boss was the one person that Daniel trusted. The fact that previous friends were turning on him did make his avoiding asking anyone else for help seem reasonable.

Kaitlin became a Christian back when she turned her life around, and it was the motive behind many of her actions. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I enjoyed this funny and 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.

Singapore Sapphire by A.M. Stuart

Singapore Sapphire by A.M. Stuart ISBN-13: 9781984802644 Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: August 6, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Singapore 1910--Desperate for a fresh start and to distance herself from her tragic past, Harriet Gordon joins her brother in Singapore at the height of colonial rule. Hoping to gain some financial independence, she advertises her services as a personal secretary. It is unfortunate that she should discover her first client, Sir Oswald Newbold--explorer, mine magnate and president of the exclusive Explorers and Geographers' Club--dead with a knife in his throat.

When Inspector Robert Curran is put on the case, he realizes that he has an unusual witness in Harriet. Harriet's keen eye for detail and strong sense of duty interests him, as does her distrust of the police and her traumatic past, which she is at pains to keep secret from the gossips of Singapore society.

When the body of a potential witness is dragged from the canal, Harriet feels compelled to help with the case. She and Curran are soon drawn into a complex web of stolen gemstones and a mysterious gang of thieves who have no qualms about killing again to protect their secrets.


My Review:
Singapore Sapphire is a mystery set in 1910 in Singapore. The detective asked good questions, looked carefully for evidence, and was able to connect the clues well. Harriet found the body. She's observant, and people were more inclined to talk with her than the police. She found out some important information that she passed on to the detective.

By about halfway through, there was enough information to guess who was involved but not who did the actual killing. Soon the suspense started: a race to find and save someone who was kidnapped. At this point, people started being more truthful about who did and saw what, so everything except the original whodunit was explained bit by bit. Based on what had been confessed and the timeline, whodunit seemed so obvious to me that a confession didn't really seem necessary, but the detective believed the case would remain open without one. (As I don't what to spoil things, you won't really understand why this bothered my logical mind unless you read the story.)

Anyway, the main characters were complex, interesting people. I cared about what happened to them, and they reacted realistically to events. The historical and setting details were woven into the story without slowing the pacing. These details brought the story alive in my imagination. There were no sex scenes. There was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd highly 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey ISBN-13: 9780764230844 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: August 6, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, CGIS special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous and volatile crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer's adrift cutter, and the direction the clues point will test him and the guard to their limits.

Complicating matters further is the arrival of investigative reporter Harper Grace, who has come home because a drug lord that she put in prison has ordered her killed. An interview with the dead victim's wife convinces her there's a story worth uncovering, even if it means risking her life again. Finn and Harper can't ignore the sparks flying between them. Will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer before they become his next mark?


My Review:
The Killing Tide is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the first book in a new series. After Harper's investigative reporting puts a drug lord in prison, he orders his people to kill her. Her brother, Noah, asks her to stay with one of his Coast Guard team, Finn, so they can keep her safe. Noah's team must also investigate the death of a Coast Guard officer who has been murdered. Harper wants to help her friend, the wife of the murdered officer, discover why he was killed. She's not really interested in being safe and knows how to protect herself, so she faced danger from the murder investigation as well.

The constant danger to the main characters kept the suspense high. The characters were complex, dealt with realistic struggles, and I cared about what happened to them. Finn and Harper had dated before the start of this story, so it was a matter of Harper deciding if she loved and trusted Finn enough to keep her reporting close to home. Some of the characters prayed to God to help them stay safe, etc. 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.

The Farmer's Daughter Romance Collection by Mary Davis, Kelly Eileen Hake, Tracie Peterson, Jill Stengl, Susan May Warren

The Farmer's Daughter Romance Collection by Mary Davis, Kelly Eileen Hake, Tracie Peterson, Jill Stengl, Susan May Warren ISBN-13: 9781643520940 Paperback: 448 pages Publisher: Barbour Books Released: Aug. 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Change is an inevitable part of farming, and growing up on a farm has taught five women how to be strong, adaptable, and continually hopeful. From Montana to Kansas, South Dakota to Wisconsin, these young women weather the storms of life by holding to their faith.

Marty’s Ride by Mary Davis
Marty Rawlings demonstrates her fearless tomboy attitude when her twin nieces are kidnapped. But can lawyer Reece Keegan earn her trust when she catches up to him?

A Time to Keep by Kelly Eileen Hake
Rosalind MacLean shows her resourcefulness when the railroad cuts through town and she opens a diner. Ewan Galbraith is worried that her beauty might put her in danger from the other railroad men and quietly protects her.

Beyond Today by Tracie Peterson
Amy Carmichael lives for today, never planning too far ahead, until a new circuit rider comes through and she falls in love with him. But her twin is set on marrying Tyler Andrews and is the one that all the men are drawn to.

Myles from Anywhere by Jill Stengl
Beulah Fairfield is beautiful, innocent, and hardworking, which attracts a mysterious stranger’s attention. But Myles Trent has nothing to offer a young lady, one who is expected to marry another.

Letters from the Enemy by Susan May Warren
Lilly Clark stands up against prejudice when Heinrick Zook is a target of suspicion simply for having a German heritage during the Great War. Branded a traitor to her fiance and country for befriending Heinrick, Lilly finds freedom from legalistic religion and a loving relationship with God from her new friend.


My Review:
The Farmer's Daughter is a collection of five Christian historical romance novellas. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable collection.

"Marty's Ride" was set in Montana Territory in 1887. The hero was initially on the wrong side of things (morally, not legally) and so had some work to convince the heroine that he's a good guy that she can trust. I had a hard time accepting the heroine's belief that she's so skilled with a gun, strong, and clever because the hero so easily thwarted any attempts she made and pointed out how she didn't think out the consequences of her plans. He also demonstrated how clever he was as a lawyer. He's so impressed by her bravery and loyalty that he gave up doing what he's so talented at for her sake. No idea what he's going to do as a job. Not the type of story that I enjoy.

"A Time to Keep" was set in Montana Territory in 1886. A sweet romance of two pairs of kind, hardworking guys and gals as they spent time together, fell in love, and figured out how they're going to merge their lives (as the two men worked as blacksmiths for the railroad). The hero and heroine each felt like they failed a family member that they felt responsible for and had to learn to forgive themselves. They prayed to God for guidance and protection.

"Beyond Today" was set in Kansas in the late 1800s. The new circuit rider preacher arrives in town, and he and the heroine fell in love at first sight. They're kissing within a day and talking about marriage soon after. But the heroine's outgoing, charming twin sister is determined to marry him. The talented, caring, responsible, hardworking heroine with a heart longing after God did seem a good match to the caring and supportive pastor, and they worked well together. So I enjoyed the story even though I don't care for romances that happen so quickly. The first half was the romance and the second half a suspense when someone goes missing in the middle of winter.

"Myles from Anywhere" was set in Wisconsin in 1881. A young man ran away from his family and worked odd jobs all over the United States until he ended up as a farm hand. He's interested in the same gal as his boss, but his boss thinks the hero is sweet on another girl. Everyone's confused about who loves whom. I honestly don't understand why a man would be attracted to someone's temper (or her "pouting face" to be exact). The hero and heroine don't know much about each other, and the girl's parents have concerns about his mysterious past and apparent disbelief in God. Both hero and heroine ask God to change them into people that can make a happy, strong marriage, and circumstances occur to do this.

"Letters from the Enemy" was set in South Dakota in June 1918. The heroine agreed to marry her fiance before he left to fight in the Great War because she felt that no one else would marry her. The local pastor preaches that obeying God (and your husband or parents) and going to church is critical to avoiding sorrow and receiving blessings from God. The heroine stood up against townsmen bullying a German immigrant but then dreaded that God might let her fiance die because the Germans are evil, right? But this German helped her understand God's grace and love, and she provided friendship that helped him withstand the discouragement of how he's being treated.


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.