April 2024's Reading Summary

We've hit the end of April.  Time to look back at the books I read in April.  And yes, I got the index updated.

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

 

Molten Death by Leslie Karst (Orchid Isle Mysteries #1) – 4

Valerie Corbin and her wife, Kristen, are spending a couple of weeks in Hilo, staying with Kristen’s friend Isaac.  They have arrived just as a lava flow is really gaining steam, so they decide to go out and see it early their first Saturday morning on the island.  When Valerie wanders away from the other two, she sees part of a body being buried in the molten lava.  She can’t get anyone to take her seriously, even Kristen and Isaac.  Certainly, the police aren’t taking it seriously without any proof.  Can Valerie figure out what really happened?

Author Leslie Karst lives part time in Hilo, so I wasn’t surprised that she chose this as the setting for her new series.  Her knowledge showed in how she brought the setting to life.  And who doesn’t want a Hawaiian vacation?  The plot was very inventive, and I appreciated Valerie’s good motive for getting involved.  We had some nice twists before a great climax.  I did struggle with Valerie’s relationship with Kristen because they were so at odds for much of the book.  I think if this hadn’t been my introduction to them, I would have been okay with this sub-plot.  Overall, I liked the series regulars by the end, and Valerie’s darker baggage made her an interesting character.  We do get some Pigeon and Hawai’ian mixed into the dialogue.  A couple times it was a bit overwhelming, but for the most part, I could figure it out from the context.  We get six Hawaiian recipes at the end.  The inventive plot will make this series debut a winner for mystery fans.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Brie Careful What You Wish For by Linda Reilly (Grilled Cheese Mysteries #4) – 4

Business is booming at Carly Hale’s grilled cheese restaurant this summer, thanks in part to Ross Baxter’s new cash delivery service.  He’s saving money for college this fall by delivering orders to seniors.  One, however, is giving him problems with her constant demands and complaints.  But when Ross discovers her dead body one day, the police think he could be the killer.  Can Carly clear him?

I’d fallen in love with this series, so I was happy to be back for book four.  With the victim being difficult, we had plenty of suspects, although we soon focused in on a smaller group.  They did their job well confusing me.  I had a few pieces figured out, but most of it was still confusing to me until I reached the end, when things made sense.  I appreciated other characters warning Carly about the danger of getting involved at first, but it felt a bit one note as the story went on.  Still, that’s a minor complaint.  All the series regulars have key parts in the story, and I loved getting updates on their lives.  The two gourmet grilled cheese recipes at the end sound delicious.  Fans will find themselves wishing for another book when they set this one down.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

The Fly on the Wall by Tony Hillerman – 4

John Cotton is working late one night at his job as a political reporter at the state capital when another reporter comes in bragging about having just gotten a huge story.  Just a few minutes later, that other reporter is dead.  John begins trying to figure out what the story might be, but when another reporter is killed, he can’t help but wonder if the story he’s pursuing is deadly.

Those most familiar with Tony Hillerman because of his books set on the Navaho reservation will find this political thriller is quite a departure.  Heck, it isn’t even set in the southwest, although we do get a memorable scene there.  As a thriller, it took a bit to get going, but once we did, I was hooked with several edge of your seat scenes.  John is the only character we truly get to know; it would have been nice to get to know some of the others better.  The book originally came out in 1971, and it shows.  Parts are definitely dated.  None of these complaints are reasons to skip the book.  If you pick it up and give it a chance, you’ll find yourself enjoying it.

 

An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen by Liz Freeland (Louise Faulk #3) – 3

Louise Faulk’s boring Thanksgiving shift at her precinct is interrupted when she is asked to go to a death scene.  A young woman has killed herself and one of her twins, or at least that’s what Louise’s fellow officers think.  But Louise thinks there is more to the story.  Can she find the while conducting an unofficial investigation?  Or will it get her fired?

This book is definitely darker than what I normally read, so keep that in mind when you pick it up.  Unfortunately, the plot wanders a bit before we reach the suspenseful and logical climax.  On the other hand, I did enjoy getting to spend time with Louise and the rest of the regulars.  We don’t get a nice wrap up for the ongoing storylines, but we do get some advancement on them, and there aren’t any cliffhangers.  The book is set at the end of 1914, and that provided a nice backdrop to the action of the book.  While not the strongest book in the series, fans will enjoy our last visit with Louise.

 

Yosemite by Sandy Dengler (Jack Prester #6) – 5

Jack Prester’s latest assignment is to take three CPA’s into the wilderness around Yosemite and hide them from the assassins after them so they can be witnesses at an upcoming trial.  Jack’s dad thinks it is doomed to fail, and with a new baby, the stakes for Jack are high.  But his agrees, with his parents and Ev staying nearby to provide support if needed.  Will he be able to keep everyone alive for two weeks?

It's been almost ten years since I read the previous book in the series, but I quickly slipped back into his world, and it was wonderful connecting with the characters again.  Because we get the story from multiple points of view, we get to see the tourist spots as well as the area Jack is traveling.  This also allows the tension to rise as we keep reading.  This isn’t a high-octane thriller with tons of action, but it was impossible to put down since I had to know how it would turn out.  I did feel like a couple of minor things weren’t tied up with a nice bow, but I’m being nitpicky here.  On the whole, I loved getting to spend time with Jack again, and I can’t wait to crack open the next in the series.

 

Under the Paper Moon by Shaina Steinberg – 3

Not content to stay home during World War II, Evelyn Bishop went to Europe and joined the OSS.  Now back in Los Angeles, she has settled into life as a PI.  But when the target of her latest case is murdered, Evelyn must join forces with Nick Gallagher, the man who betrayed her, to figure out what is going on.  Can they do it?

The premise and setting for this book intrigued me, and I dove in excited to see what would be happening.  We get some flashbacks to the war, but most of the book is set in the “present” of 1948.  The story was good with plenty going on to keep us engaged and a climax that makes sense.  But there are many things that didn’t work for me, including the relationship between the leads.  I also feel like the author forced a certain ending on Evelyn’s life.  But maybe it was just that I was rooting for other things to happen.  In the end, I was okay with the way Evelyn’s life turned out.  Maybe it was just that the film noir inspiration didn’t work for me here.  The narration got a little awkward at times as well, but most of the time it worked.  I’m not sorry I read this book, and I got caught up in the story, but I’ll probably pass on anything else from the author.

NOTE I received an ARC of this book.

 

A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge (An American in Paris Mysteries #2) – 4

When this book opens, Julia Child is excited about a demonstration that a famous chef is going to be doing that afternoon at Le Cordon Bleu, and she insists that her friend and neighbor, Tabitha Knight, go with her.  However, the demonstration ends abruptly when the chef dies after taking a sip of a rare and expensive wine he’d received just before the event started.  Despite vowing to stay out of it, Tabitha can’t help but wonder what is going on.  Can she figure it out?

As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but wonder why the characters, who are speaking French, are throwing French words into every line of dialogue.  But that writing quirk aside, this was another great book.  I loved getting to visit the characters again, and Tabitha was just as smart and resourceful as in the first book.  Meanwhile, the new characters lead us on a merry chase in a well-constructed mystery.  I was satisfied when everything was explained.  As with the first book, there is a smattering of foul language.  Once again, Paris in post the World War II era came to life, and I enjoyed this look at the time period.  Don’t read this book hungry since all the talk of food will make your mouth water.  I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Tabitha and Julia and look forward to their next adventure.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

The Ducal Detective by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mystery #1) – 5

Jacqueline Arienta Xavier has just been crowned Duchess of Saphire after the death of her parents in an accident.  Since she is still mourning them, she is struggling to adjust to her new duties.  Then she gets word that her parents’ death may have been murder.  Not knowing who to trust, can she figure out what happened to them?

This is a fun novella that introduces a mystery series with a light fantasy setting.  Considering all that the novella has to do, it’s impressive how it balances it in the short length it has.  I was immediately drawn to Jacqueline, and I loved what we saw of her here.  I also really liked the rest of the characters.  The world was fun, and I hope we get to explore it further as the series goes along.  For the length of the story, the mystery was good with enough twists to keep us engaged on the way to a logical climax.  I appreciated the balance we got in tone between the sadness Jacqueline is experiencing and the lighter scenes.  I can’t wait to make a return visit to this series.

 

Torn Asunder by Barbara Ross (Maine Clambake Mysteries #12) – 5

Julia Snowden is happy and nervous to be hosting the first wedding in years on Marrow Island.  The wedding is between her friends Zoey and Jamie.  The rehearsal dinner the night before has one man that Julia doesn’t recognize at it.  Part way through the meal, he collapses.  Unfortunately, it quickly becomes apparent that he was murdered.  Fortunately, Julia’s detective boyfriend, Tom, is on hand.  But if no one knows who the man is, who would want to kill him?

Obviously, Julia begins to make connections soon, and this book gave me major Agatha Christie vibes.  I do mean that as a compliment.  The suspects were strong, and I had a hard time putting the book down until things came to a logical and surprising climax.  I love the characters in this series, and it was great to spend time with them again, even if some of the regulars only had cameos.  There are five more recipes at the end of the book to enjoy later.  I laughed and teared up a time or two as I was reading this book.  Series fans will put this one down very satisfied.  If you haven’t started the series yet, you need to fix that today.  This is a great series.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Under the Radar by Annette Dashofy (Zoe Chambers Mysteries #9) – 5

When Zoe Chambers is called to the scene of a shooting, she is surprised to find the shooter is Horace Pavelka, a friend from high school.  Horace has confessed to shooting Dennis Culp, a man who has bullied and abused him since they were in school together.  The evidence for self-defense is compelling, so Pete Adams lets Horace go.  However, Horace has only been out a couple of hours when another of his tormentors winds up dead and everyone on the case seems to go missing.  Can Pete find any of his suspects?  Will Zoe be able to prove her friend innocent?

This author has a way of pulling you in from the first page, and this book is no exception.  The book has several strong subplots that make for even more compelling reading.  There was one twist I didn’t quite feel was earned, but that’s a minor issue.  Things come together for a tense and logical climax.  The characters are strong as always, and I love watching Zoe and Pete’s relationship deepen.  This is a little darker than my typical cozies, but as long as you know this going in, you’ll be fine.  Once again, we spend equal time in Zoe and Pete’s heads, allowing the suspense to grow as they work on things from different angles.  Fans who haven’t read this one yet are in for a treat, and if you’ve missed this series, be sure to start it soon.

 

The Crossing by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch #18, Mickey Haller #5.5) – 5

Harry Bosch is trying to settle into his second retirement from the LAPD, but he’s not finding anything to truly satisfy him.  Still, when Mickey Haller asks for help on one of his court cases, Bosch is reluctant to agree since it would be working for a defense attorney.  As Bosch begins to poke around, he thinks that the client could have been framed for murder.  But can he find the real killer?

The book spends as little time as possible getting Bosch, and us, hooked on the case.  And what a great case it was.  While we have an idea of who early on, the why remains a big mystery until near the end.  Meanwhile, we know the danger Bosch is in, and it makes for a great thriller.  I enjoyed seeing Bosch and Haller working together again, and we see some others from their lives as well.  As always, the foul content is higher than the books I typically read, but they are appropriate for the case.  If you are looking for a book you won’t be able to put down, I highly recommend this one.

 

Death Washes Ashore by Caleb Wygal (Myrtle Beach Mysteries #2) – 4

One morning Clark Thomas is awakened by a text from one of the detectives in town requesting his presence at a crime scene.  The body of Connor West has washed up on the local state beach.  Connor was the star of one of the local tourist attractions, a gladiator themed dinner and show.

Even after Clark is warned away from the case, he can’t help but dig into Connor’s life and his work at the Gladiator Games Dinner Show.  With a face from his past as his way into the lives of those Clark wants to interview, can he figure out what happened?

I had an issue with how Clark got involved in the mystery here, but I put that aside and kept reading.  The mystery was good with several strong suspects and twists along the way to a logical climax.  I appreciated how Clark went about things in the climax, too.  We also got to know him and a couple of characters better, although I feel like we have many who hardly had any page time.  The writing could have used polish in several spots, but most of the time it was fine.  There is a little advancement on the cliffhanger from the previous book, but we’ll have to keep reading to see where it goes next.  Overall, this is a fun second book in the series.