Good Friday's Friday Post

Welcome to Good Friday.  It's time for this week's Friday Post.  I will be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

My teasers for the first three will be coming from Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst.

This is book three in her Orchid Isle Mystery series, and comes out on Tuesday.  But I was fortunate enough to get an ARC, so I've already finished it.

Here's how the book begins:

Paradise isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.

That sets a tone, doesn't it?

Meanwhile, at 56% into the eARC I read, we get this quote:

“You’re so welcome. Happy to be able to help in any way I can.” And this way I’ll get a chance to see all the suspects together at the same time, was Valerie’s unspoken thought. Just like in a TV mystery.

Will Valerie learn anything by having all the suspects together?  You'll have to read the book to find out.

I'll be reviewing the book on Tuesday, so I hope you'll come back to see what I thought.

For now, let's just over to this week's Book Blogger Hop.  The question is:

Which book really showcases your favorite author’s style, and what makes it stand out?

You assume I have a favorite author.  That alone could be an entire ramble from me.  But I'm going to go with a bit of an obvious choice, Dorothy Gilman.  (I stole Carstairs from her Mrs. Pollifax series.)  But I'm going to go with The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax, which is the second in the series, instead of the obvious first book.  This second book really cemented the series for me.

This book finds Mrs. Pollifax, a part time spy for the CIA, heading to Turkey on assignment.  Along the way, she starts talking to her seat mate.  Yep, he turns out to be very important to the story.  We still get humor in the narration and Mrs. Pollifax's out of the box actions.  And, of course, things go very wrong very quickly, leading to a wild journey across the country while Carstairs, back in Langley, Virginia, tries to figure out where she is.  To me, this is the set up for the best stories in the series.  The details vary, but those elements keep me hook and the pages turning.

That's it for me.  Hope your weekend is great.

Book Review: The Maze in the Heart of the Castle by Dorothy Gilman

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Entertaining allegory on dealing with grief

Cons: Doesn’t quite stick the landing

The Bottom Line:

A grieving Colin

Goes on quest to find answers

Weak ending; still good

Journey with Colin Through the Maze

When I finally decided to branch out beyond Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax books, I wasn’t going to venture to her young adult novels since those were harder to find. But after finding that The Maze in the Heart of the Castle played a part in her adult novel The Tightrope Walker, I had to track it down and give it a read. 

This is a hard book to pigeonhole. It is partially a book with a fantasy setting. Not that it involves wizards or magic but more unknown realms. More than anything, it uses these elements as allegory. 

The story follows Colin, who has recently lost his parents. He’s struggling, as you would expect for any sixteen-year-old who was in that situation. So when a family friend tells him that there is a castle on Rheembeck Mountain that might hold the answer for him, he sets out. When Colin arrives, he learns he will have to journey through a maze in the castle to find what he is looking for. Will he find it?

This book is essentially a series of challenges that Colin faces along the way. While that gives us more of an episodic narrative, in this case, it works. I was always anxious to see what would happen to him next and how he’d deal with the next complication. 

As such, Colin is the only character we see in the entire book. But even those he meets along the way are strong and help bring their sections to life. 

It’s the allegory where things fall a little flat for me. Obviously, the challenges Colin faces along the way represent various responses to grief. And I liked the way Colin grew from each stop he made. But when we reached the climax, I just didn’t feel like it quite worked the way I wanted it too. The allegory didn’t reach the climax I was expecting. But maybe that is the point, what getting through grief looks like for one person is different for someone else. 

I do have to comment on the history of this book. As I said earlier, it was originally mentioned in The Tightrope Walker, where what happened to the fictional author drove the story. Then, several years later, Ms. Gilman actually wrote the story and published it under her own name. That kind of thing is very fun to me. 

I’m glad I tracked down The Maze in the Heart of the Castle. Even if the ending didn’t quite work for me, I still enjoyed the book. 

March 2026's Reading Summary

It's that time again.  We've entered April, so it's time for a reading summary.  No foolin', here's what I read in March.

And yes, I did get the index updated this month.

All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).  All links will take you to my full review.

 

Europa by James Ponti (City Spies #7) – 5

Since the City Spies have relocated from Scotland to London, it means they can get some special training from those higher up in MI-6. The first such session involves looking at a coded message the agency has recently gotten. The City Spies quickly realize that the agents who had looked for it missed one thing - the targets are in Paris. But which of the potential targets is the real one? Can the team figure it out in time?

This is another excellent book in the series. While I didn’t feel there was a spotlighted character, each did get a moment to shine and grow, and the team shone as a whole. The plot slowed down a time or two early on, but it was never for long. Instead, I got caught up in the action multiple times. And the humor continued to make me smile and laugh. I also appreciated that the code brought in Renaissance painters and Shakespeare without really slowing things down. This is another book that all ages will enjoy. 

 

Pompeii, Paccheri, and Panic by Traci Andrighetti (Pasta and Piazza Mysteries #0.5) – 3

Giada Adair, is going through a painful divorce and has taken a job as a tour guide in Italy in an attempt to rebuild her life.  She and her best friend have headed over before her first official tour to do a little research in Pompeii.  But her trip takes an unexpected turn when an ancient lamp just unearth from Pompeii disappears and Giada finds herself implicated.  Worse yet, a young woman dies in front of Giada, and she becomes a suspect.  That is, unless she was the intended victim.  Giada is going to have to channel her cousin Franki if she wants to get out of this alive.

I’ve been wanting to try this author for a while, so I decided to jump in with this novella introduction to a spin off series.  I enjoyed the main characters, and I found the suspects strong.  Likewise, the plot was perfect for a novella and kept me engaged until the suspenseful and logical climax.  But I found the Italian and Italian accents a bit off putting.  Which yes, makes me lazy since we have a glossary at the end.  And it fits with a book set in Italy.  I also found the (ancient) potty humor disgusting at times.  Others?  I was laughing.  I fully own both of these issues are me issues.  Others won’t have them.  But, as a result, I’ll probably give the author another try with her earlier series instead of jumping into the first in this series.

 

Murder at Chateau sur Mer by Alyssa Maxwell (Gilded Newport Mysteries #5) – 5

It’s July of 1897, and Emma is covering a polo match when she witnesses a strange scene – a young woman with a less than stellar reputation is insisting that she must talk to Senator Wetmore’s wife. The next morning, Emma is summoned to the Wetmore’s residence - Chateau sur Mer. The young woman from the day before is lying dead in their entry way. Emma has developed a reputation based on her past exploits, and Mrs. Wetmore wants Emma to investigate so that the whiff of scandal won’t haunt her family forever. But what is the victim’s connection to the wealthy family?

The book does a good job of putting us back in Emma’s world while also setting up the mystery.  While there are great twists, I did feel a few things were rushed at the climax.  Still, everything did make sense.  I appreciated the updates we got on Emma and the other regulars, both real people and fictional characters.  Speaking of which, I love how the two types rub elbows seamlessly.  In fact, I was surprised to learn a couple I thought pure invention were real.  Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end to find out the facts that support this fiction.  As always, the summer setting gave me some relaxed vibes, and I felt like I was transported back in time.  If you are looking for a fun historical series, this is one to check out.

 

Vanished in the Crowd by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles (Molly Murphy #22) – 3

It’s September of 1909 and New York City is bursting at the seams as an estimated two million visitors are in town for a celebration or the three hundredth anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River. Some of those visitors are staying with Molly’s dear neighbors Sid and Gus. However, one of those women never arrives. No one seems to know where she is; even her husband doesn’t know. So Molly agreed to try to find her. But in a large city overflowing with people, where can she even start?

I’ve been a fan from the beginning, but like other recent entries, I struggled with this one. Daniel is his usual self, with the typical “character development.” The plot is uneven, and I pieced things together early. And the theme of the book turned into more of a lecture with repeated scenes about it. Mind you, I agree that the way women were treated in the early 1900’s wasn’t good. But lectures on it is not what I was looking for here. On the other hand, the majority of the characters are their usual charming selves. Fans of the series will still want to pick this one up. And they’ll be extremely anxious to pick up the next one as well. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #11) – 4

Evan’s latest call for help comes from a witness. A woman was taken off a New York City subway by four young men. When Evan manages to find the woman, she’s been horribly violated. Evan immediately goes after the men who did this to her, but she makes him promise not to kill them. Will he be able to keep his promise?

While this series is always more violent than what I typically read, this one felt darker than it needed to be. Then again, that might have been what helped me fully feel with Evan’s struggle to find another way to bring justice. I felt one subplot was recycled, but overall, I felt the character development was good. And the supporting regulars were good as always. We even saw a couple who hadn’t been around for the last book or two. And the plot kept me engaged. Other readers like me might want to think twice before picking up this book, but those who enjoy thrillers will love it. 

 

Death at Tidal Creek by Caleb Wygal (Myrtle Beach Mysteries #5) – 4

Clark Thomas is slowing building a relationship with Andrea, who has just opened a business next door to his bookstore. So when two people are found dead near the garbage bins at Tidal Creek Brewery, near where Andrea lives, Clark takes note, especially when one of the is the president of Andrea’s HOA. But it’s only when Andrea finds herself involved in the HOA that Clark fully gets involved. It turns out the late president was up to some shady business. Is that why he was killed? 

As always, this book had great beach vibes. I’m curious how the love triangle storyline is going to get resolved. We did get some good growth in Clark, interesting new characters, and a couple more tantalizing clues to his wife’s murder. The main mystery was good. I figured out a piece early but didn’t have it all put together. The ending was a bit exposition heavy as always, but my questions were answered. If you are looking for a beach vibe mystery, this is the book, and series, for you. 

 

Fatal Fried Rice by Vivien Chien (Noodle Shop Mysteries #7) – 4

Lana Lee has decided to do something about not being able to cook Chinese food by signing up for a class at a local continuing education school. She is hoping to keep her class a secret, but that becomes much harder when she returns after class to find the instructor stabbed in the back. With the detective assigned to the case certain that Lana is responsible, she must figure out what happened. But with the victim a stranger, can Lana learn anything about her?

The problem with this book is that Lana really has no connection to the victim. It takes quite a while before we start getting any leads on suspects and motives. Once that happens, the book picks up, and we reach a logical climax. Fortunately, Lana and the rest of the regulars are their normal charming and entertaining selves. I enjoyed checking in with them as always. Fans will still be glad they picked up this book. 

 

Birth of the Black Orchids by M. R. Dimond (Black Orchid Enterprises #1) – 3

This book is really two separate longish short stories that introduce us to JD Thomas and his friends Dianne Cortez and Johnny Ly. They have moved into a mansion in the town of Beauchamp, Texas. They have separate rooms upstairs and are opening businesses downstairs, lawyer, accountant, and vet. Days before Christmas, they hold an open house to show off the renovations and promote their businesses. Might something go wrong? Then, a couple of weeks later, a neighbor they are supposed to be helping vanishes. Where might she have gone?

I really did love meeting these characters. You can feel the bonds of friendship between them. However, the mystery in neither story is super strong. The Christmas setting of the first story helps with the cozy vibes. And if you are looking for those vibes, you won’t be disappointed to pick up this book. 

 

Broken Trust by Liz Milliron (Laurel Highlands Mysteries #3) – 5

Jim has been called to the scene of a murder in the office of a local mining company. The victim is Lonnie Butler, a friend of his – in fact he and Sally helped Lonnie get the job just a few months ago. Despite the fact that Jim’s sister and her two kids are coming for a visit, Jim can’t help but keep investigating. Unfortunately, one of Sally’s current clients has come up as a suspect in the case. She doesn’t feel she can share what she knows without crossing ethical lines, so she starts trying to figure out what really happened to Lonnie. Will the case come between them? Will they still be able to find Lonnie’s killer?

The mystery was good, with strong suspects that kept me engaged even when I began to suspect where the mystery was going. The wrap up was strong. The relationship issues were a very strong subplot. While one small aspect made me roll my eyes, the main issue was well done. I like that they both made mistakes and were both right, and their friends called them out for it. Meanwhile, I hadn’t realized how much Sally needed a friend until she got a new one here. If you haven’t read this book yet, you are in for a treat. Trust me. 

 

Frozen Stiff Drink by James J. Cudney (Braxton Campus Mysteries #6) – 2

As this book opens, Wharton County is bracing for a late winter storm that is supposed to dump quite a bit of snow on them. Before the storm buried them for good, the local magistrate dies under suspicious circumstances. But with his beloved Nana D missing, that’s all Kellan is able to think about. Until his brother becomes caught up in the murder investigation. Can Kellan help his family?

I came into this book hoping it would improve on the previous book, but it didn’t. The writing still keeps us outside the story, including summarizing conversations. There are many glitches, timeline and otherwise, that should have been caught with a good edit. While there is a lot going on, I still felt the pacing lagged, although the end did wrap things up well. The supporting players could use a bit more personality, especially considering how many there are and the complex connections. Still, I do like Kellan, and that makes me want to know what happens after the cliffhanger. If you aren’t already a fan, don’t pick up this entry. 

 

Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Jane Wunderly Mysteries #7) – 5

While Jane and Redvers got married several months ago, they are now taking the time for a proper honeymoon in September of 1927.  They are looking forward to relaxing days exploring the city and eating the delicious cuisine.  Which is when Aunt Millie and her new husband crash the trip.  Millie has gotten the two couples an invitation to a party hosted by her friend Clara Morton, who turns out to be quite the eccentric.  Jane and Redvers are hoping to slip away early, but their plans are scrapped when a dead body is found in the garden.  When a friend that Jane has just reunited with becomes the prime suspect, honeymoon plans get put on hold to solve this latest murder.  Can Jane free her friend?

Someday, I want to visit Venice, but traveling with Jane was the next best thing.  I felt like I was there with her and the fun group of suspects.  There were plenty of secrets and twists along the way to a satisfying climax, although a couple of things didn’t wrap up quite as well as I would have liked.  Aunt Millie is a hoot as always.  And Jane and Redvers get plenty of time to shine.  I love their relationship, and I had to laugh with them several times as I read reading.  Anyone looking for a light historical mystery will be glad they picked this one up.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Book Review: Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Jane Wunderly Mysteries #7)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Jane, Redvers, and a great mystery in a fun setting

Cons: Nothing major

The Bottom Line:

Honeymoon; murder

Tracking killer in Venice

A fun mystery

Honeymoon with Canals…and Murder

In addition to being a trip back in time, the Jane Wunderly Mysteries are also a travelogue of sorts.  Each book in the series has taken place in a new part of the world.  For book seven, we are settling into Venice for what turns out to be an eventful honeymoon in Vengeance in Venice.

If you haven’t been following this series, when we first met Jane, it was 1926, and the war widow had traveled to Egypt with her aunt.  But that trip turned out to be life changing for both of the women.  Along with solving a mystery, Jane met Redvers, a man with a mysterious job who has now become Jane’s husband.

While the pair got married several months ago, they are now taking the time for a proper honeymoon in September of 1927.  They are looking forward to relaxing days exploring the city and eating the delicious cuisine.  Which is when Aunt Millie and her new husband crash the trip.  Millie has gotten the two couples an invitation to a party hosted by her friend Clara Morton, who turns out to be quite the eccentric.  Jane and Redvers are hoping to slip away early, but their plans are scrapped when a dead body is found in the garden.  When a friend that Jane has just reunited with becomes the prime suspect, honeymoon plans get put on hold to solve this latest murder.  Can Jane free her friend?

I would love to visit Venice, so the setting grabbed me right away.  I loved that aspect of this book, feeling like I was right there with Jane as she traveled all over the city questioning her suspects and tracking down pieces of the puzzle.

And what a fun puzzle it was.  The suspects were quite a bunch, and I they kept me quite entertained when they were on the page.  They might have been slightly over the top, but they worked for this book.  There were lots of secrets, which made for a few surprises on the way to the logical solution.  I felt like a couple of things weren’t wrapped up quite as neatly as I would have liked, but that was a minor point for me.

Because Jane and Redvers are traveling so much, there are very few other recurring characters.  Aunt Millie and her husband, Lord Hughes, are in this book.  Millie is fun in small doses, and that’s what we get here.  Lord Hughes has a couple of minutes to shine.  And yes, we do see a couple of characters from the first book again, although it had been so long I must confess I had forgotten most of what we learned about them early on.

But the lack of recurring characters just gives Jane and Redvers that much more time to shine.  They make a great team, and I loved watching them in action.  It’s fantastic to see them so happy together.  And yes, I had to laugh at some of their reactions and lines over the course of the story.

Vengeance in Venice left me with a smile on my face.  Anyone looking for a light historical mystery will be glad they picked this one up.

Enjoy the rest of the Jane Wunderly Mysteries.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Book Review: Frozen Stiff Drink by James J. Cudney (Braxton Campus Mysteries #6)

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: I still like Kellan and care about him

Cons: Weak writing in a book that needed editing

The Bottom Line:

A snowstorm is coming

But then a killer strikes first

No improvement here

Murder During a Snowstorm

I had considered giving up the Braxton Campus Mysteries, but I’m so close to the end of the series, I decided to press on. Which brings me to Frozen Stiff Drink, the sixth in the series. It did little to change my mind. 

The series features Kellan Ayrwick, who has returned to his hometown and taken a job as a media professor at the local university - a job he’s hoping to turn into a permanent gig. But ever since returning home, he continues to find himself involved in the mysteries around town. Then there’s the soap opera of what is going on in his and his family’s lives. 

Which means you shouldn’t start with this book. Not only would you be lost in the ongoing storylines, but this book spoils several plot points from the previous book. 

As this book opens, Wharton County is bracing for a late winter storm that is supposed to dump quite a bit of snow on them. Before the storm buried them for good, the local magistrate dies under suspicious circumstances. But with his beloved Nana D missing, that’s all Kellan is able to think about. Until his brother becomes caught up in the murder investigation. Can Kellan help his family?

I’m sorry to say that the psychic introduced in the previous book is back again. I really don’t like those elements in my books, so I was sorry to see that. 

But the bigger issue is the writing. It tells us more of the story. A perfect example of this when we are told what happened in a conversation instead of actually getting to see the conversation happen. The result is a story that is harder to get into. 

This book tries to keep several balls going at the same time, and it doesn’t quite work. In fact, I’d say the pacing is another strike against this book. We get lots of rehashes and speculation. We do eventually reach logical climaxes. 

The book could have used a good continuity editor, too. I verified several mistakes in timing or other things that contradicted what we’d already been told. I’ve got to admit, this made it hard to care. 

Finally, the book has a lot of characters with lots of connections. It is really hard to keep them all straight, and they aren’t the most distinct characters. 

So, what keeps me coming back? I really do like Kellan. I keep hoping that he will get a happy ending. And maybe a little more respect from his family. 

But the fact that I like Kellan made the ending that much more compelling. I have to know what happens next. 

I do hope some things improve in the final two books. Only if you have already started the series is there any reason to pick up Frozen Stiff Drink. 

Here are the rest of the Braxton Campus Mysteries. 

Palm Sunday's Sunday/Monday Post

Happy Weekend!  Time again for the Sunday/Monday Post, where I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Our temps went down a little this week, but it was still in the upper 80's most of the week, which is unusually high.  Not that I'm complaining.  I much prefer warmer weather to colder weather.

Saturday was quite the day.  I spent the day down in Orange County.  I headed down there for the Muddy Dash.  Yep, another mud run.  It was held on a spot where I've done many mud runs over the years, and it was great to be back on the property.  I got good and muddy, too.  Cleanup wasn't quite as great as I would have liked, but I managed to get cleaned up.

Which was good since I then went to visit some family friends who live in the area.  It meant I got home in the evening, but it was so worth it to catch up with them.  But I will sleep well tonight.  (Yes, I'm typing this up having just gotten home.)

Joke of the Week:

In honor of baseball starting up again this week:

Why are zebras bad at baseball?

Three stripes and they're out!

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - TV Show Review: The Traitors - Season 4

Tuesday - Book Review: Birth of the Black Orchids by M. R. Dimond

Wednesday - Movie Review: Tremors 5 - Bloodlines

Thursday - Book Review: Broken Trust by Liz Milliron

Friday - Friday Post featuring Vengeance in Venice

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Frozen Stiff Drink by James J. Cudney

Tuesday - Book Review: Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer

Wednesday - March Reading Summary

Thursday - Book Review: The Maze in the Heart of the Castle by Dorothy Gilman

Friday - Friday Post featuring Murder, Local Style

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

I've got five books on my haul this week.

Up first is My Nightmare is Yours, the thirteenth Madison Night Mystery from Diane Vallere.  The book is out at the end of May, but I have an ARC, so I'll be reading it in a couple of months.  I'm very much a fan of this author, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in this mystery.

Next up is Welcome to Cozy Town, a novella (or maybe a short story) from Marla Cooper.  It is designed to be a spoof of cozy mysteries.  I loved Marla's two cozy mysteries, and I'm thrilled to see she is writing again.  And this just looks like something I am going to really enjoy.  Hopefully, I get a chance to read it soon.

I also snagged Call In for Murder by Tammy Barker.  This is her first novel, and it introduces us to a radio call in host in Las Vegas.

Someone I respect recommended Seven for a Secret Never to be Told by Derek Wheeless back when it came out last fall.  It sounds like something I will probably enjoy, so I finally got it.

Finally, I got Murder at the Karaoke Bar.  I know of three series that call themselves the Bucket List Mysteries, but this is the series by father/daughter duo who write as Elizabeth Perona.  It's the fifth and final book in the series.  While I wasn't a fan of book four, I am curious how they are going to wrap things up.

What I'm Currently Reading:

I feel kind of ashamed to get to this part of the post since this is a rare day when I read absolutely nothing.  (If you need to be reminded why, go back and look at all the fun I had today.  So, I'm not too ashamed).  Well, that isn't completely true.  I finished up Fair Warning by Michael Connelly, the audio book I was talking about last week.

But the book I didn't get to today is Sovereign Sieged, the eighth Court of Mystery novel from Sarah E. Burr.  I am about a third of the way into the book, and I'm enjoying it, although I'm ready for the main plot to kick in.

Maybe I should go see if I can get a chapter in before I fall asleep.

Have a great week everyone!

March 28th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Wild Cards – Undercover episodes always make me a bit nervous, and this one was no exception.  But overall, I enjoyed it.  Especially the twist on the death.  And I really enjoyed seeing Erica Durance.  I also appreciated how the two stories played into the same theme, something they don’t always do.

RJ Decker – This show is really growing on me each week.  The twists were pretty impressive in the first half.  It got a little predictable in the middle there somewhere, but then there was a good twist at the end again.  Still not completely sure how I feel about all the supporting characters, but for now, I’m enjoying the ride.

Survivor – Darn it!  I was really hoping we’d get to see the end of Rizzo.  He’s so egotistical, and I’m ready to see him get voted out.  Yes, I came around last season, but he’s irritating me again.  Plus, I like Charlie.  Loved seeing Angelica leaving her jacket behind for her tribe.  I’m surprised it took them this long to get to voting two people off.  We’ve still got a long way to go, so I’m sure it will happen again.  Happy the merge is happening next week.  Can’t wait to see the new dynamic.

March 27th's Friday Post

Welcome to this week's Friday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

For the first three, my quotes will be coming from Vengeance in Venice by Erica Ruth Neubauer.

This is book seven in the Jane Wunderly series.  This book finds Jane and her husband Redvers on a belated honeymoon.  Of course, murder is an uninvited companion.  Anyway, here's how the book begins:

With a salt breeze ruffling my bobbed hair and a gondolier crooning in a language I didn't understand as he piloted us toward a piazza where Redvers and I were about to have a quiet, romantic dinner, I was in heaven.

Such a nice start.  And Jane and Redvers are still oblivious to what is about to come.

Meanwhile, on page 56, we find this:

Redvers didn't have a chance to answer before a pounding on our door interrupted us.
We exchanged a look, and I sighed again. I already knew who it was, without so much as opening that door.

The book comes out Tuesday, and I hope you'll come back that day since I'll have my review up.

Now, let's jump over to this week's Book Blogger Hop.  The question of the week is:

What’s your favorite bookish scent, and why does it appeal to you?

I think it's that new book smell.  The promise of adventure to come is pretty intoxicating.  Old paperback smell is right behind it.  Again, I think it's the promise of fun and adventure to come.

Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Broken Trust by Liz Milliron (Laurel Highlands Mysteries #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Jim and Sally’s relationship and a good mystery

Cons: A couple of niggles, but nothing major

The Bottom Line:

 On different sides

Will case divide Jim, Sally?

A strong mystery

Will Jim and Sally’s Relationship Survive This Case?

While I know I won’t catch up completely on Liz Milliron’s Laurel Highlands Mysteries this year, I’m hoping to make significant progress toward that goal. So, I picked up Broken Trust, the third in the series. As expected, I enjoyed it. 

The series follows Pennsylvania State Trooper Jim Duncan and Fayette County Assistant Public Defender Sally Castle.  Despite the fact that they might be on opposite sides of the aisle in the court room, they’ve formed a friendship that is inching toward something more. You can follow their personal story just fine if you jump in here, but it’s always more fun to start from the beginning. 

This book finds Jim called to the scene of a murder in the office of a local mining company. The victim is Lonnie Butler, a friend of his – in fact he and Sally helped Lonnie get the job just a few months ago. Despite the fact that Jim’s sister and her two kids are coming for a visit, Jim can’t help but keep investigating. Unfortunately, one of Sally’s current clients has come up as a suspect in the case. She doesn’t feel she can share what she knows without crossing ethical lines, so she starts trying to figure out what really happened to Lonnie. Will the case come between them? Will they still be able to find Lonnie’s killer?

Since this book is a police procedural, it does contain a bit more than the cozies I often read. But there isn’t too much. In fact, some of that is written around, which I appreciated. As long as you expect that when you pick up this book, you’ll be fine. 

The mystery was solid. While I started to suspect where things were going, the red herrings did a good job of keeping me distracted. And there was plenty else there to keep me engaged. The characters introduced here, aka the suspects, were memorable. Everything came together for a logical and satisfying climax. 

Equally important here was what the case was doing to Jim and Sally’s relationship. I will say, a couple of things that impacted their relationship felt a little immature to me, but they weren’t issues for too long. However, the main issue of their relationship was wonderfully done. I appreciated that we could see the issue from both of their perspectives and neither was completely right or completely wrong. Their friends kept calling them both out on their behavior, too. I’m sure it helps that this book alternates from their points of view. In lesser hands, I could see this storyline favoring either side, but this really took the more mature, and realistic, approach. 

I do want to be clear that the mystery got more time than the relationship, but the relationship issues were a strong subplot. For me, they worked well together to hook me and make it hard to put the book down. 

I also appreciated that Sally got a new friend here. I hadn’t realized how much we needed that to help round out her character until we got it. Meanwhile, Jim’s sister visiting showed us a different side of his character. 

I’m glad I’m working on catching up on this series. I’m looking forward to seeing where Jim and Sally’s relationship goes. If you haven’t read Broken Trust yet, you are in for a treat. Trust me. 

Enjoy the rest of the Laurel Highlands Mysteries.

Movie Review: Tremors 5 - Bloodlines

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: A few cool moments

Cons: Familiar plot, characters we mostly don’t care about

The Bottom Line:

African danger

Graboids are back in action

Only for the fans

“Everything’s Bigger in Africa.”

After taking a trip back in time in the fourth installment, it was time to return to the present with Tremors 5: Bloodlines.  Actually, I’m sure most fans were surprised that this movie happened at all since it had been 11 years since the fourth installment.

When the film opens, we see Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) making a video to demonstrate his survival skills.  However, the video is interrupted by the arrival of Travis B. Welker (Jamie Kennedy) and a man from South Africa claiming that they have graboids there.  Burt is skeptical at first since he’s only ever heard of them in the western hemisphere.  But soon he is headed to Africa with Travis as his side kick.

When the pair arrive, they realize that, sure enough, they are dealing with graboids.  Unfortunately, some people are wanting to capture them alive.  Even worse, they have once again developed some new skills.  Can Burt figure out how to kill them?

Honestly, if you are a fan of the franchise, you pretty much know what to expect that this point.  And yes, that includes graboids with slightly different abilities to kill you.  After all, it would get boring of they all acted the same, right?  Honestly, the biggest change just made me roll my eyes.  Don’t get me wrong, it was cool to watch, but at this point, it’s like they are forgetting all the rules of the franchise.  On the other hand, there was a part of their behavior here that did make perfect sense to me.

My bigger issue with the movie is that we don’t really get to know any of the new characters that well.  Granted, some are just there to feed the graboids, but still, a little development would have been nice.  Even a trio who gets a lot of screen time doesn’t get that much real development.  The exception is Travis, but that makes sense because he spends the most time around Burt.  None of this is the actors’ faults.  It’s the fact that the script didn’t give them that much to do.

These movies have always been a bit raw in their humor, but this one seemed to push that envelop as well, which I didn’t appreciate.

The movie has upped the special effects game here, which was nice to see.  I’m sure the fact that it’s been eleven years since the previous movie helped with that.  Meanwhile, they also filmed this one is South Africa, which is the first time the franchise went super far for filming.

By the time a franchise has hit a fifth movie, it’s probably only the diehard fans who are excited anyway.  And they are the only ones I think will enjoy Tremors 5: Bloodlines.