April 2023's Reading Summary

Happy May!  I'm kicking off the month with my April reading summary.  I didn't get the index updated this month, unfortunately.  Too much else going on this last weekend.

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

 

Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs (FunJungle #8) – 3

Teddy Fitzroy is on vacation again, this time in Malibu with his girlfriend, Summer McCracken, and Summer’s mother.  They are visiting a friend of Mrs. McCracken who lives right on the beach in Southern California.  Unfortunately, the beach stinks right now since a whale has beached itself and died.  The head veterinarian from FunJungle is there as well, as he is planning to assist his friend who works for NOAA on the autopsy to find out exactly what happened to the whale, but before they can do that, the whale explodes.  Obviously, someone is trying to hide something.  Can Teddy figure out what is really happening?

Since the last book was also set away from FunJungle, I was disappointed we didn’t get to spend much time at the park again here.  I did enjoy the LA setting since I live here, but it didn’t completely make up for missing the park and regular characters.  The plot spends time speculating on why the whale died and why someone who want to hide their involvement, which turns into several lectures on how humans are destroying oceans.  Yes, this is an important topic, but it took over and slowed down the story at times.  On the other hand, Teddy once again makes some logical connections with great clues that figure things out in the end.  The characters we meet along the way are fun, and I liked the development we got for Teddy and Summer.  If you are new to the series, I suggest you start with an earlier book.  Fans will still enjoy this one.

 

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn (Mainely Murder Mysteries #1) – 3

Kinsley Clark is hard at work with her landscaping company, SeaScapes, trying to get ready for the upcoming Walk Inns event at several bed and breakfasts in the area, including the one her aunt owns.  As she’s digging in the dirt outside her aunt’s inn, she discovers a shoe buried in the dirt.  She immediately recognizes the shoe as the one on the local news connected to the murder that took place the day before.  How did it come to be in her aunt’s garden?

I really did like the premise of this mystery, so I went in hoping to enjoy the book.  I did struggle through the first chapter, which gave us lots of backstory for Kinsley.  Fortunately, it ended with the discovery of the shoe, and things picked up with several interesting suspects, clues, and red herrings.  Unfortunately, when we reached the ending, not all the clues were accounted for.  I think I can make some of them make sense, but I’m not sure they do.  It’s a shame the plot turned out to be weak since I did like the characters and the setting.  In the way of extras, we get some gardening tips and a couple of recipes.  The characters and the setting are definitely a draw.  If only the plot were better.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry (By the Book Mysteries #2) – 5

Tess Harrow has decided to turn her grandfather’s old hardware store into a bookstore, which requires quite a bit of work.  Unfortunately, that work uncovers two sets of bones – both from women who had disappeared from town without a trace years ago and years apart from each other.  Worried that her late grandfather will become convicted in public opinion if not by the law, she starts looking into the case.  But can Tess figure out what really happened?

Honestly, my teaser just scratches the surface of what is going on in this twisty book.  There were some creative surprises, yet everything came together for a logical climax.  There was one plot point that felt a little out there to me, but it was minor.  And that’s saying something, too, since this is a wacky book with plenty of laughs along the way.  I do appreciate the subtle change in tone as we get closer to reaching the climax.  The characters, while a bit wacky as well, are still grounded enough to make us care about the outcome.  If you are looking for something twisty and fun, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.

 

The Truth We Hide by Liz Milliron (Homefront Mysteries #4) – 5

 It’s May 1943, and Betty Ahern has quit her job at Bell Aircraft to pursue her dream of becoming a private investigator.  She’s still studying for her license, but she’s been hired by Edward Kettle to find out who got him fired from his job at American Shipbuilding.  Supposedly, he leaked secrets to a reporter, but he claims he is innocent.  Then, the next morning, Betty learns that Edward was murdered during the night.  It’s only then that Betty learns Edward was a homosexual.  Was that the motive for his murder?  Or was it something else?

The series has taken a step away from the initial premise, but it is a natural step thanks to the growth we’ve been seeing in Betty.  And I also appreciate how it allows Betty to focus on the case, which keeps the pacing strong.  There are plenty of suspects who could have done it.  I figured it out, but only a few pages before Betty made the same deduction I did.  I did miss the supporting characters, who take a back seat here, but Betty is still a great main character, and the suspects are good.  I was worried that this book was going to turn into a lecture, but I didn’t find any anachronistic attitudes when it comes to Edward.  We do see plenty of negative attitudes, but they are treated as they should be without feeling out of character for our heroes or the time.  There are a couple of interesting threads introduced here, and I can’t wait to see if they are continued in future books.  As always, the period came fully to life as I read.  If you are looking for a strong historical series, be sure to pick this one up.  If you are new to the series, you are in for a treat.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Knot on Her Life by Mary Marks (Quilting Mysteries #7) – 4

Martha Rose’s efforts on her first granddaughter’s quilt is interrupted by her neighbor Sonia’s new foster daughter, Poppy.  Poppy thinks something is wrong with Sonia, and Martha quickly confirms it.  While Sonia recovers in the hospital, Martha gets to know Poppy better, and learns that Poppy’s parents were both killed a few months ago and the killer hasn’t been caught.  Martha tries to get someone from Poppy’s family to give her a permanent home, but she also begins to wonder if Poppy knows more about her parents’ death than she realizes.  Might she be in danger?

This is a unique premise for a mystery, and I enjoyed seeing how it unfolded.  There was plenty going on here, and it kept me engaged the entire way through.  Unfortunately, there is a pretty big why that is never explained, and another aspect of the ending felt a little needlessly harsh to me.  It was great to see all the characters again and find out exactly what is going on with them, and the new characters were interesting as well.  Fans new and old will be kept turning pages with delight until they reach the end.

 

Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly (Grilled Cheese Mysteries #3) – 5

Carly Hale is surprised when Dawn and Klarissa walk into her restaurant.  While she knew them in school, she hasn’t seen them since she’s been back in Balsam Dell, Vermont.  The chance encounter winds up with Carly catering Klarissa’s wedding shower.  But the day of the shower is filled with more tension than Carly expected.  Things only get worse when the groom crashes the party.  A little while later, Carly finds him at the bottom of the stairs, dead.  Who would want to kill him?

This book starts off quickly, introducing us to suspects and conflict before the murder happens, then gives us some great twists that kept me reading.  The climax logically resolves things, although I did have a couple of small niggles with the ending.  It was great to see the characters again, and I like how their relationships are growing.  There are some great new characters, including strong suspects.  Meanwhile, the book introduces us to grilled cheese donuts, including a recipe in the back.  If you are hungry for a fun cozy, pick this one up.

 

Curds of Prey by Korina Moss (Cheese Shop Mysteries #3) – 5

The wedding of Summer Harrington, daughter of the richest family in Yarrow Glen, and Nelson Trumbull, the nephew of the town’s mayor, is fast approaching.  Willa Bauer is thrilled that several local businesses are involved in the shower, including Curds & Whey.  Willa is busy setting up the cheese bar she will be offering, but it gives her a front row seat to a fight between the supposedly happy couple that leads Summer to call off the shower.  However, things take a turn when Willa finds Nelson stabbed to death in the stable a little while later.  Unfortunately, Willa’s almost boyfriend, Roman, looks to be the prime suspects.  Can Willa prove Roman is innocent?

It was wonderful to be visiting Willa and the rest of her friends again.  I like how a sub-plot brought in events from the previous book, making it seems like these are real people and not just characters.  I’m interested in seeing where some of the storylines go from here.  The plot starts quickly, and Willa has some interesting dynamics to deal with as she tries to get to the truth.  The climax logically wrapped everything up and kept me turning pages.  If you are left craving cheese, you’ll be interested in the three recipes at the end of the book.  This story left me hungry for the next entry in the series.

 

“X” by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone #24) – 4

This book has three stories intertwined to keep PI Kinsey Millhone busy.  In the first, Kinsey and her landlord, Henry, get a new neighbor, who seems adept at manipulating Henry and, by extension, Kinsey.  Meanwhile, Kinsey makes an interesting discovery while digging through the papers of a late PI for the man’s widow who is facing an IRS audit.  Finally, Kinsey is asked to track down a recent parolee by the man’s birth mother.

I’m glad I didn’t read the official plot description before I read this book since it has major spoilers.  Instead, I let these stories unfold and interweave as they would, and I got caught up in the book.  I do think the stakes were a little low, but I still enjoyed spending time with Kinsey and the rest, including some appearances by recurring characters.  One of the stories has a rushed ending, but the other two stories reach satisfactory conclusions for me.  Yes, this could have been a little stronger, but I really enjoyed spending time with Kinsey in this book.

 

Murder in Midtown by Liz Freeland (Louise Faulk Mysteries #2) – 5

Louise Faulk is following her desire to become a New York City police officer by taking the entrance exam, something that is rare for women in 1913.  Taking it makes her late for work, which is why she is the last to arrive and find the building completely burned down.  What’s more shocking is when she learns that one of her bosses was inside.  Guy rarely started before noon, if that early, so what was he doing there already?  With time on her hands, Louise digs into what happened.  Can she learn the truth?

I’m sad I waited so long to get to this book because it was a delight.  There is plenty here to keep us guessing, with some great twists along the way.  The suspects in this book were supporting players in the first, so it was fun to see them more developed.  The series regulars are all back and it was great to spend more time with.  In fact, one of them brings a real person into the book, which I enjoyed.  The world of 1913 came to life as I was reading.  I was kept guessing until I reached the end.  I need to move on to book three sooner rather than later.

 

Arbor Day Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers (Bucket List Mysteries #0.5) – 4

Sho is on indefinite leave from his job as a nurse. In an effort to clear his head, he goes to visit his sister Jenny, who has just opened a diner in Bluebonnet Hills, Texas. He’s arrived in time for the Arbor Day festival, but he sees some strange things happening. And then he meets Levi Blue, an actor in town trying to get an update on the construction of his fan museum. When Levi drags Sho into the investigation, what will the two of them uncover?

This is a prequel novella that introduces the characters and sets up the premise of the series. Since I’ve read other stories with the characters, I already knew part of what we learned here, but I still enjoyed seeing everyone meet for the first time. The pacing is a little off because of the set up, but there is plenty of story here. In fact, there’s almost too much, but it does come to a logical climax. There’s plenty of humor and some serious issues as well, and the two are balanced perfectly. If you are looking for a fun, you’ll be glad you picked up this prequel.