Children of the Shadows by Erica Vetsch

Children of the Shadows
by Erica Vetsch

ISBN-13: 9780825447150
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Released: October 10, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Someone is preying upon the street children of Regency London. They seem to think no one will notice when urchins go missing--and even if they are noticed, who will care? Detective Daniel Swann and his colleagues investigate the missing children. But with recent revelations about his past and an unexpected, complicated inheritance to deal with, this is a terrible time to dive back into the seedy underbelly of the crime world. Nevertheless, he's still a Bow Street runner on the case, searching shadowed alleys and coal-drenched streets to find the missing.

But the tangle of expectation and the dynamics of power cannot be easily ignored, even if there are children in danger. When Daniel's past threatens to overwhelm his future, he will need a miracle and the help of his friends to both apprehend the villain and unravel his tangled family web. And it may be that his new responsibilities demand that he leave the children of the shadows to their terrible fate--or lose everything.


My Review:
Children of the Shadows is a Christian mystery set in 1816 in England. This is the 3nd book in the series, and it didn't spoil the previous mysteries. However, you at least need to read the previous book to understand the romance as Juliette and Daniel were told they must stay apart for various reasons. The little time they had together was usually spent kissing. I was sad that Juliette had little to do in this story except fret about her future.

Daniel, his police partner, and his apprentice investigated the disappearing street children. They tracked down clues or had others look for certain information for them. All of the obvious clues pointed toward someone they didn't believe could be guilty. I did wonder why Daniel wasn't suspicious of the behavior of one of the culprits (who was the one I guessed). There was a very subtle clue pointing at the other culprit, but I didn't catch it at the time. Some historical details were woven into the story, but other details verged on fantasy.

The Christian element was mainly how the main characters felt that the street children were valuable and deserved help. There was no sex or 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.

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

Appalachian Song
by Michelle Shocklee

ISBN-13: 9781496472434
Hardcover: 364 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: October 3, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Bertie Jenkins has spent her life serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.

Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.


My Review:
Appalachian Song is a Christian romance set in 1943 and 1973 in Tennessee. Walker and Reese fell in love while spending time together searching for the midwife who delivered him and for the story of why he was given up for adoption. They mostly bonded over both having been adopted. I can understand why Walker felt rejected when he learned he was adopted, but a Christian apparently feeling that he was meant to have one life but that was messed up when he was adopted just seemed strange to me. He did change his attitude, but it's not like he missed out on a better life or something.

The 1943 story was about Bertie's life with her sisters and as a midwife. She took Songbird in and protected her against her violent father. Bertie taught her about how God adopts us as his children when we confess our sins and accept Jesus and that God is our good Heavenly Father. The main characters were engaging and realistic. Interesting historical details were woven into the story to give it a distinct sense of time and place. There was no bad language or sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

Skye Fall by Paige Edwards

Skye Fall
by Paige Edwards

ISBN-13: 9781524424572
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: October 23, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Isla Montjoy has a new career in nursing and a police officer boyfriend she adores―until she stumbles across proof of her boyfriend’s corruption. Determined to protect his secrets, he attacks her and leaves her for dead. But against all odds, she lives. On the run for two years, Isla’s life is far from assured as her would-be murderer doggedly tracks her across the UK, intent on silencing her forever.

On a climbing trip in the Scottish Highlands, Ben Pressley-Coombes encounters Isla, a beautiful woman who promptly pepper sprays him without warning when he startles her. After that rough start, Ben hopes never to lay eyes on her again―but fate has other ideas. Forced into an uneasy association that transforms into love, the pair soon faces a deadly threat: Isla’s relentless pursuer has discovered her hiding place. If she is to survive, she and Ben must outmaneuver the dirty cop and his treacherous plot to snare her.


My Review:
Skye Fall is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Isla tried to make a life for herself while hiding from her corrupt ex-boyfriend, but he kept hunting her to kill her. Ben's father had an accident right after Ben learned that an employee embezzled all of their business' money. Ben had to juggle all of these concerns after his father hired Isla as his homecare nurse so she could hide in the USA for a while.

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from Isla being repeatedly attacked by her ex-boyfriend, several health emergencies, and the tension of trying to save Ben's business. Ben loved Isla's art, wanted to protect her, and decided this meant that she was the one. Isla liked that he was considerate and that she didn't feel threatened by him. However, she still had flashbacks to her ex-boyfriend knifing her when holding her, so she had trouble letting Ben hold her. She felt like she'd never get better despite all of her counselling and that Ben deserved a woman who wasn't so broken.

Isla didn't feel like God was even listening to her prayers anymore. Ben told Isla how God had been an important part of his own healing journey. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Hercule Poirot's Silent Night by Sophie Hannah

Hercule Poirot's Silent Night
by Sophie Hannah

ISBN-13: 9780062991638
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: October 24, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It’s December 19, 1931. Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are looking forward to a much-needed, restful Christmas holiday, when they are called upon to investigate the murder of a man in a Norfolk hospital ward. Cynthia Catchpool, Edward’s mother, insists that Poirot stay in a mansion by the coast while he solves the case. Cynthia’s friend Arnold is soon to be admitted to that same hospital, and his wife is convinced he will be the killer’s next victim.

As Poirot digs into the mystery, he discovers that the murdered man was a retired post office master, and by all accounts very well-liked. The local constabulary’s investigation failed to uncover how someone could have entered a hospital room and killed him under the noses of the staff. With no obvious motive or suspect, Poirot has less than a week to solve the crime and prevent more murders, if he is to get home in time for Christmas.


My Review:
Hercule Poirot's Silent Night is a mystery set in 1931 in England. It's the 5th book in the series but the first I've read. It works as a standalone. A Scotland Yard Inspector, Edward Catchpool, takes the place of Hastings and is a competent helper as well as the one who writes about Poirot's cases. Poirot had him gather clues, either giving specific instructions or leaving him to casually pick up information for him, while Poirot asked questions elsewhere. The author has clearly read Agatha Christie's Poirot and even quoted lines from those books. This Poirot was close enough to the original to be acceptable.

This was a clue-based, puzzle mystery which held together logically despite the many twists and plentitude of information (not all of it relevant). As it turned out, Poirot and I grabbed the same clue given at the beginning so it was a matter of my seeing if my suspect could have done it and not getting distracted by others who had a motive. The main characters were engaging. The other characters were quirky and full of family drama. There were only a few uses of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of complex puzzle 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.

Crime Scene Conspiracy by Jessica R. Patch

Crime Scene Conspiracy
by Jessica R. Patch

ISBN-13: 9781335597694
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: October 24, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Tasked to investigate a series of suspicious suicides and accidents, Texas Ranger Emily O’Connell is on a covert mission to investigate a governor’s connection to the deceased women. After her own father's betrayal and due to her job investigating state-level corruption, she doesn’t trust anyone—including crime scene cleaner Stone Spencer. But when Emily’s questioning makes her the serial killer’s next target, she must turn to ex-ranger Stone for help. With threats at every turn, outrunning a merciless villain could be the last thing they do.


My Review:
Crime Scene Conspiracy is a Christian romantic suspense. Emily's job is to uncover corruption, so she's already skeptical about seemingly upstanding, trustworthy people. After not realizing her father had lied to her and her mother for years, Emily struggled to trust anyone. Add in a case where a rich, powerful person is buying off law enforcement to hide murder as suicides and accidents, and she doesn't want to work with anyone for fear they'll betray her, too. Besides, anyone involved in the investigation is immediately in danger of dying. She's willing to work with Stone because he saved her life and became a target as well. And yet someone's still leaking information about their whereabouts and whom they suspect...

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from many, many attempts to kill Emily and Stone and from the danger to anyone who helped them. Emily and Stone generally worked well together, but the lack of trust was a big issue that Emily realized she needed to deal with....but how? 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.

Paws to Remember by Sofie Kelly

Paws to Remember
by Sofie Kelly

ISBN-13: 9780593548707
Hardback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: October 17, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When a water leak repair results in a body being found behind the walls of the store run by the artists’ co-op that Kathleen's friend, Maggie, is part of everyone is completely mystified as to whose body it is and who hid it there. Her boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, confirms the body could be a young woman who disappeared more than thirty years ago. When a friend with a connection to the young woman asks Kathleen to look into the circumstances around the disappearance, she and her cats—who have special feline talent for catching felons—find themselves digging up secrets that at least one person in Mayville Heights would much prefer stay buried.


My Review:
Paws to Remember is a cozy mystery. This is the 15th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the mysteries in the previous books.

It's a clue-based mystery. Kathleen asked questions without being pushy or accusing, but she also seemed unusually reluctant to ask natural questions that needed answers. The cats helped out a lot with this one. The cats are intelligent and have cat abilities (disappearing and getting out of places) taken to a magical degree. Their actions drew attention to clues but they also provided humor. The police seemed content to leave the investigating to Kathleen. I mean, the obvious suspects would be the men working on that wall back when the girl disappeared, but Kathleen eventually had to ask a friend to find out who those people were and what had happened to them.

I correctly guessed whodunit shortly before Kathleen did (and I had no firm suspect before then). When she figured it out, she foolishly tried to confirm her guess by herself. The clue she was trying to double-check wouldn't hold weight in a court of law, so why bother? Instead, whodunit saw her and attacked her. Kathleen? You ARE allowed to hurt murderers trying to kill you. You had a weapon, hit back once, and knew whodunit was still aggressive. You're allowed to take whodunit down and not just hope someone will come and rescue you...

There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun 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.

Home at Night by Paula Munier

Home at Night
by Paula Munier

ISBN-13: 9781250887894
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: October 17, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It’s Halloween in Vermont, winter is coming, and five humans, two dogs, and a cat are a crowd in Mercy Carr’s small cabin. She needs more room―and Grackle Tree Farm, with thirty acres of woods and wetlands and a Victorian manor, has finally come up for sell. They say it’s haunted by the ghost of a mother searching for her missing child, but Mercy loves it anyway. Even when Elvis finds a dead body in the library.

There’s something about Grackle Tree Farm that people are willing to kill for―and Mercy needs to figure out what before they move in. A coded letter found on the victim points to a hidden treasure that may be worth a fortune―if it’s real. She and Captain Thrasher conduct a search of the old place―and end up at the wrong end of a Glock. A masked man shoots Thrasher, and she and Elvis must take him down before he murders them all. Under fire, she and Elvis manage to run the guy off, but not before they are wounded, leaving Thrasher fighting for his life in the hospital, Mercy on crutches, and Elvis on the mend.

Now it’s up to Mercy and Troy and the dogs to track down the masked murderer in a county overflowing with leaf peepers, Halloween revelers, and treasure hunters and bring him to justice before he strikes again and the treasure is lost forever, along with the good name of Grackle Tree Farm….


My Review:
Home at Night is a mystery/suspense novel. It's the 5th book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novels.

The characters were engaging, complex, and acted in realistic ways. Mercy and her talented service dog and U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog tracked down clues, asked good questions, and pieced together what was going on. The suspense remained high as someone--or maybe more than one person--was attacking and killing people as Mercy looked for a possible, hidden literary treasure that would be worth much and reveal secrets.

There was no to occasional use of bad language (I didn't keep track this time, but I do know it was minimal). There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy canine mysteries and 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.