To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano

To Write a Wrong
by Jen Turano

ISBN-13: 9780764235320
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: August 3rd 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Miss Daphne Beekman is a mystery writer by day, inquiry agent by night. Known for her ability to puzzle out plots, she happily works behind the scenes for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, staying well away from danger. However, when Mr. Herman Henderson arrives on the doorstep of the agency, desperate for someone to investigate numerous attempts on his life, Daphne soon finds herself in the thick of a case she's determined to solve.

Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he prefers living a quiet life, determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished while searching for the Lost City of Gold. As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed at Daphne, the situation quickly deteriorates, and a revealed secret jeopardizes Daphne's career.


My Review:
To Write a Wrong is a Christian romance set in 1887 in New York. The characters got into silly situations, but the humor seemed to fall flat for me. In the first part of the book, the author sometimes even skipped out on the funny part of the scene. Daphne would get into an awkward situation, then we'd jump forward to Daphne summarizing what had happened rather than getting to see how she managed to talk her way out of it (which is usually the funny part). There were also a lot of scenes with two characters talking things over in detail, so not a lot of action happened until the second part of the book.

The mystery wasn't really the point of the story. Daphne asked enough questions to create an extensive suspect list, but she didn't ask obvious questions to help narrow down that list. Like one incident happened in the secret passages, so who knew how to access them? Daphne was able to solve the mystery, but most of the time was spent in silly situations with Herman, allowing them to get to know each other. They had shared interests, built each other up, and got along well.

Some historical details (mainly about clothing) were woven into the story, but this author doesn't write highly historical novels. For example, she used modern phrases like "you are stronger than you think." Daphne felt like she lacked courage and often prayed to God for courage in the past. 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander

The Cryptographer’s Dilemma
by Johnnie Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781643529516
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: August 1st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Navy cryptographer Eloise Marshall is grieving the death of her brother, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, when she is assigned to investigate a seemingly innocent letter about dolls. FBI Agent Phillip Clayton is ready to enlist and head oversees when asked to work one more FBI job. A case of coded navy intel using jargon code related to dolls should be easy, but not so when hearts get entangled. Can Eloise risk loving and losing again?


My Review:
The Cryptographer’s Dilemma is a Christian romance set in 1942 in America. There was a mystery, but more scenes focused on Eloise or Philip thinking about their personal troubles than on solving who the traitor was. The author often had someone think about what happened rather than show events, especially in the first half of the story. These were significant events, like apparently Eloise's and Philip's opinion of each other changed from "unpleasant person" to admiration during a briefly summarized train ride. It was a sudden change from mildly negative feelings to fighting romantic attraction, and I'm not really sure why they were attracted. For that matter, I never understood why an invaluable cryptographer was quickly trained as an FBI agent and sent to interview people when other people (with more experience) could have done that job.

Eloise's past was a secret for half of the story. There's a scene where she saw a newspaper photograph and got extremely upset for pages, and we have absolutely no idea why. It's hard to empathize when I have no idea why she's upset. Many chapters (20% of the book) passed with no more information about why she's upset or what was in the picture. At least with Philip, we know about the event that had him upset. I didn't really understand him, though. He felt guilty that a criminal was facing the death sentence because of his testimony since even that man is made in the image of God. However, he's determined to go to the war front, and it never occurred to him that he might feel guilty about personally killing the enemy.

The mystery was basically talking to a few doll collectors in an attempt to understand who could have written the coded messages. It didn't take Eloise long to solve the code. Scenes from the traitor's point of view explained her motives and actions, so it's not a puzzle for the reader to solve. At the end, Eloise threw away common sense (though not her gun) when she charged in before the FBI to save her beloved stranger...er, Phillip. And, of course, they paused in the middle of a time sensitive, danger-filled moment to have their first kiss. So it had a lot of my pet peeves. 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

An Engagement of Sorts by Alene Wecker

An Engagement of Sorts
by Alene Wecker

ISBN-13: 9781524417642
ebook
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: August 9th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
More comfortable in breeches than ball gowns, Anne Fletcher sees the freedoms she once enjoyed slowly taken from her in the name of fashioning her into an eligible young lady. When her parents try to force her into marriage, Anne makes a desperate attempt to salvage her last vestige of independence. Anne strikes a deal with her intended husband: if she cannot secure a man for herself in London, she will marry him when she returns. Her parents agree to send her to help her pregnant sister who lives in London if she agrees to finally marry some eligible man. Now she simply needs to find a way to get out of her sort-of-engagement.


My Review:
An Engagement of Sorts is a Regency romance. Unfortunately, the book wasn't what I expected from the description, and I didn't find it believable due to the inaccuracies. For example, an explosion that threw people away from a fireplace and toward the window also shattered the window, yet somehow the glass shards ended up all over the floor inside the room. A lot of odd things about that scene, like this bomb-like explosion occurred in a powder horn that her father was wearing, yet he didn't even suffer a flesh wound? Anyway.

Anne didn't defy convention so much as she was willfully ignorant of etiquette and propriety to a degree that just didn't seem believable. Granted, multiple times she deliberately tuned out what other people said then later realized it would've been good if she had listened to them. However, she seriously didn't seem to realize that there would be any problem with her wandering about a village at dawn in her nightgown and then demanding that the vicar allow her inside a room alone with him. Worse, he knew the possible consequences and didn't want to marry her, yet he let her in? All to create another scrape for her to get out of.

Anyway, Anne had an abusive family where everyone criticized her every behavior and called her silly and stupid, so she's drawn to the one man who loves her willful, bold, rude, and unpredictable behavior. She feels like every man ogles her bust or leers at her. The villain repeatedly tried to rape her, including in her own home (with plenty of people about) and in outdoor areas where he could be spotted. She's traumatized by these attacks and has nightmares, but the few people she tells either don't believe her or say that her behavior rather invites that sort of aggressive response. The whole story was about her trying to find someone who won't abuse her and will help her stop this villain from hurting other women.

I liked that the author tried to make complex characters, like a hero so disgusted with his father's behavior that he acted the exact opposite of him even though it didn't really achieve anything. But the numerous inaccuracies drained any realistic feel from the story. While I appreciated how the hero believed and supported Anne, he actually went too far with this by saying that she shouldn't change anything about herself. Is it really a good thing to discourage Anne from improving her flaws (like her temper and impulsiveness now that she finally realizes that actions have consequences)? Anyway, this was clearly not a story suited to me. While there was attempted rape, there were no sex scenes. There was no modern 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.

The Man Who Wasn't There by Henrietta Hamilton

The Man Who Wasn't There
by Henrietta Hamilton

ISBN-13: 9781914904684
ebook
Publisher: Agora Books
Released: August 12th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
People who get mixed up in murder cases must expect to be bothered. And so it is for amateur sleuths Sally and Johnny Heldar late one evening. It seems cousin Tim has found himself in a bit of a pickle: his fiancée, Prue, has reneged on their engagement after becoming a suspect in the murder of her unlikeable employer. Desperate to win her back, Tim pleads with the Heldars to help clear Prue’s name. But Sally and Johnny find themselves perplexed by the Willow Walk murder. Filled with blackmail, wartime treachery and lying witnesses, the crime-solving duo have their work cut out for them.

But will they be able to help Prue… or is she more wrapped up in the case than Tim realised?


My Review:
The Man Who Wasn't There is a mystery that was written in 1956 and set in England. It's the third in a series, but it works as a stand-alone. This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Johnny (who is helped by his wife) used logic to puzzle out the solution. They made sure that anyone who came to them with information also gave it to the police. Much of the story was interviews, so the main characters were barely developed. They're likable people, but little was told about them outside of the crime. There were several suspects that could have murdered the victim. I was able to guess whodunit near the end and even the twist before it was revealed, but I was uncertain before then. There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting puzzle 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 Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque
by Todd M. Johnson

ISBN-13: 9780764212369
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: August 3rd 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As a barrister in 1819 London, William Snopes is a strong advocate who chooses to defend the poorer classes against the powerful. That changes the day a struggling heiress, Lady Malissa Jameson, arrives at his door.

In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering estate, Lady Jameson invested in the acquisition of a merchant brig, the Padget, allowed by a letter of marque from the king's regent to legally capture cargo from French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the ship returns to the London harbor, it's met by constables and soldiers ready to seize its goods, accusing the sailors of piracy. And the letter proving their legality has disappeared.

Moved by the lady's distress, William Snopes cautiously takes the case. But as he gets deeper into the mystery and prepares for trial, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more powerful than he'd imagined.


My Review:
The Barrister and the Letter of Marque is a suspense set in 1818 in England. There were a number of point of view characters, but none of these characters were deeply developed. While there were certainly noble things about both William and the lady, they were flawed enough that I didn't really find them engaging. Neither of them had more than one good, loyal friend outside of work/home, so apparently I'm not the only one. The reader knows the scam, who's involved, and what's going on (or, at least, they should have a very good idea based on the clues they get from the bad guy viewpoint). It all seems hopelessly stacked against justice.

The main characters did react realistically to events, but to the point it was a problem for me. Initially, the good guys have a lot of fight in them, but then they view it as hopeless. While I found it interesting to see how everything worked out, I prefer books that maintain a feeling of hope even when things are at their worst. The main characters didn't believe in God or that he might work things out for justice, but either God was at work or the good guys ended up incredibly lucky. The characters didn't thank God.

The author clearly did a lot of research on the historical details, though he still got a few minor things wrong. For example, Saturday was not a "common day of rest" in the Regency Period. Still, the details woven into the story created a vivid, distinct sense of place and time. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this intense historical 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.

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond

Death in Castle Dark
by Veronica Bond

ISBN-13: 9780593335871
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: August 3rd 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Maybe it was too good to be true, but when Nora Blake accepted the job from Derek Corby, proprietor of Castle Dark, she could not see any downsides. She would sink her acting chops into the troupe's intricately staged murder-mystery shows, earn free room and board in the castle, and make friends with her new roommates, which include some adorable kittens.

But something sinister lurks behind the walls of Castle Dark. During Nora's second performance, one of her castmates plays the part of the victim a little too well. He's been murdered. Not ready to give up her dream gig--or to be the next victim--Nora sets out to see which one of her fellow actors has taken the role of a murderous real-life villain.


My Review:
Death in Castle Dark is a mystery novel. The mystery was clue-based, and the author included many misleading clues that needed to be sorted out. The final necessary clue didn't come until nearly the end, but I was suspicious enough of whodunit that I was saying "no, don't do that!" while Nora still hadn't figured it all out. Nora had a rather active imagination that made living in a literally dark, large castle rather spooky for her. The main characters were an interesting mix of actors, and the murder mystery show idea was entertaining. There was no sex. There was some bad language (the casual swearing use of "God"). 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.

Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason

Hostile Intent
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9780800729370
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: August 3rd 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Ava Jackson entered the military shortly after high school, but her mother's illness has forced her to request an early discharge. She already lost her father while deployed, and there's no way she's going to let her mother die alone. But after a visit to the nursing facility where her mother lives, Ava is attacked walking back to her car. Fortunately, FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives in time to help fight off her attacker.

Caden reveals to Ava that she may hold the key to the murders of three families, and he needs her help before anyone else is harmed. The hits show a pattern, and clearly the killer has an agenda. But if Caden and Ava can't discover what it is, Ava may be next on the hit list.


My Review:
Hostile Intent is a Christian romantic suspense. This book is the fourth in a series, but it works as a standalone. Both Ava and Caden were competent and did a good job of thwarting the bad guy. The suspense came from Ava being a target as well as the need to solve the complex mystery of what was going on and who was killing people before more people died. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Ava and Caden worked very well together and finally acknowledged an attraction that had existed for a long time. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting 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.