August 2024's Reading Summary

 Yes, I'm jumping the gun a couple of days with my reading summary.  But with the long weekend, I wanted to get it up now.  So, let's take a look at everything I read in August.

Yes, I got the index updated this month.

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

 

Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley (Deep Dish Mysteries #3) – 5

Delilah O’Leary is thrilled that she’s been asked to cater the posh fund raiser for the library since she needs events like this to help her restaurant get through the lean winter months.  The event is being held at a remote mansion on the outskirts of the town.  Unfortunately, the first big storm of the season is due in that night.  Even worse, someone dies during the event, and the storm traps Delilah, Detective Capone, Delilah’s staff, and some of the guests, at the mansion.  As it becomes clear that the death was a murder, Delilah begins to poke around.  Are they trapped with a killer?

This is a mystery trope we don’t see very often any more, and I was a little concerned about the author pulling it off when I sat down to read it.  I need not have worried.  There was plenty here to keep me engaged and confused as we worked toward the logical climax.  We do see most of the regulars (only one gets a cameo as a result of the set up), and it was nice to get updates on them.  Meanwhile, the suspects kept me guessing.  The atmosphere of the storm also added to the fun of the story.  There are some recipes at the end, and the focus on creating a pizza with alternative ingredients.  This is the best book in the series to date.

 

A Voyage of Vengeance by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mysteries #3) – 5

Duchess Jacqueline Arienta Xavier is thrilled to be joining the maiden voyage of Rose of the Sea, a luxury vessel.  The voyage is also a birthday celebration for one of her friends, Lady Carriena, the future ruler of Isla DeLacqua.  But Jax is surprised to find that her fellow passengers are an odd assortment of people, more for the political gain of her friend’s duchy than a true celebration.  Then the weird things start happening.  Can Jax figure out what is going on?

I was so happy to be back with these characters for the third novella; they already feel like old friends.  While we get all the suspects introduced to us at once, it wasn’t long before I felt like I knew them well.  The plot wandered a bit, but my patience was rewarded with a strong mystery and a great revelation.  I also appreciated that the plot felt appropriate for the length of the story.  The setting has just hints of a fantasy world to it while still being mainly about the mystery, and I love it.  There are some hints at what came before, so know that going in.  I enjoyed this story and can’t wait to see how the series transitions to full novels.

 

The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver (Electra McDonnell Mysteries #2) – 4

Ellie McDonnell is happy when Major Ramsey walks back into her life with another case he needs help with.  A young woman has recently been found in the Thames, and she was wearing a bracelet locked to her wrist.  Ellie successfully takes it off, but what the two find inside just leads to more questions.  Soon, they realize they are on the trail of spies for Germany.  Can they find them to stop them in time?

I enjoyed the first in the series, and I was happy to see the second one is just as fun.  Ellie has a logical reason to be involved in the case, and the story unfolded in a logical way while keeping me fully hooked until we get to the suspense climax.  On the other hand, I’m already frustrated by the love triangle, especially since I suspect I know where it is going to wind up, and I’m not going to be happy about it.  The characters are loads of fun, probably because most of them are on the shady side of the law, and I enjoyed spending time with them.  I also appreciated how real history from 1940 was woven into the book.  Overall, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the third.

 

Please Don’t Push Up the Daisies by Diane Vallere (Madison Night #11) – 4

In the time that Madison Night has dated Tex Allen, she hasn’t met his sister.  Until now.  Lily and her four sons are moving to Dallas now that her husband is finally granting her a divorce.  However, when Madison goes with Lily to pick up the papers, they find him dead in his office.  With Tex out of commission thanks to his nephews, can Madison figure out what really happened?

This is another great mystery that jumps right in and keeps us guessing until the end.  I did find a couple of things that could have been a little clearer, but nothing that truly impacted the plot.  What I really loved is the character growth we got for Tex and another series regular.  But Madison really shines in her moment; it was my favorite part of the book.  There are some funny moments as well, and fans of Doris Day’s movie will find some fun nods.  If you’ve been enjoying this series, you’ll be glad you picked up the latest in the series.

 

Death in St. George’s by M. A. Monnin (Intrepid Traveler Mysteries #3) – 4

Stefanie and Thomas are taking a week’s vacation in Bermuda.  At least that was the plan.  They’ve hardly arrived when they get pulled into a case.  A bracelet that had recently been uncovered in a dig on the island was stolen.  Stefanie and Thomas agree to join the dig for a day in hopes they can figure something out.  But then a murder happens.  Will they figure things out?

The mystery started well, and I was intrigued.  Unfortunately, I did find the pacing was uneven as our leads spent quite a bit of time theorizing.  Still, there was a strong mystery underpinning the book, and I was impressed when I reached the end.  I love Stefanie and Thomas, so I enjoyed spending more time with them even if a sub-plot involving their relationship made me roll my eyes.  The suspects became strong characters by the end of the book.  I’ve definitely got some sights I want to see if I ever make it to Bermuda in person.  Until then, I enjoyed this virtual vacation with murder.

 

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack (Vacation Mysteries #1) – 2

Eleanor Dash’s first book was an instant best seller.  It was inspired by a trip she took to Rome, and she fictionalized parts of it.  She just didn’t change the hero’s name, and ever since, her ex, Connor Smith, has been worming his way into her life.  Ten years later, Eleanor is planning to kill him off – at least in her next book.  However, someone seems determined to do it in real life on a trip they are both on to celebrate ten years of her series.  Can she figure out what is going on?

The premise of this one sounded fun, and I was intrigued when I heard that there are footnotes in the book.  Sadly, the footnotes didn’t add anything; in fact, they came across as self-indulgent at times and lazy at others, like when the author put character descriptions in them.  And I’ll call out the foul language, which was especially excessive at the beginning.  (See your footnote complaining about calling out foul language didn’t work.)  The characters were shallow, and some of their relationships and issues seems like issues that could have been resolved quickly.  Eleanor herself doesn’t seem to fit her backstory.  Yes, the characters grew, but it wasn’t quite enough for me.  The pacing in the book was off as well, although there were some good twists.  I did enjoy the virtual trip to Italy.  In the end, this book wasn’t nearly as clever as it thought it was, so the result wasn’t as entertaining as I hoped it would be.

 

The Jig is Up by Lisa Q. Matthews (Irish Bed & Breakfast Mysteries #1) – 4

When Kate Buckley gets a text from her sister, Colleen, she packs up her daughters and heads home to Shamrock, a town that has become an Irish themed tourist destination.  Before Kate can find out what is wrong with Colleen, the two find the dead body of Colleen’s best friend, Deirdre, who was a famous Irish dancer.  Kate finds herself drawn into the mystery of what happened.  Can she solve the case?

I’m a little surprised we haven’t seen an Irish touristy town as a series theme before now.  While I did feel things and characters could have been a bit more fleshed out, I enjoyed what we got here.  The theming is fun and made me smile multiple times.  The characters are, likewise, charming, and I am looking forward to getting to know them better.   The mystery got off to a strong start, and the book kept me engaged, even with some things that might have annoyed me in lesser hands.  You’ll dance through this debut and be left anxious for the encore.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn (Starlit Bookshop Mysteries #2) – 3

It’s the final week of the year, which means it is time for the annual fundraiser for the library in Silvercrest, Colorado.  Like the rest of the town, Emma Starrs is thrilled that the cast of Chasers, the popular mystery TV show, is coming to town to headline the events.  However, when murder threatens the event, Emma is asked to step in and help make sure the gala on New Year’s Eve goes off without a hitch.  Can she do that?

It's been a couple of years since the first book in this series came out, so I wasn’t sure how much I’d remember about the characters.  Fortunately, I was able to slip back into their world without too much effort.  Sadly, the mystery was disappointing.  The emphasis was more on the planning for the event, and those scenes grew repetitive.  We did reach a solution, but parts of it felt forced to me.  On the other hand, the characters were charming.  I really did enjoy seeing Emma and her family and friends again.  I wanted to like this more than I did, but it was mixed for me.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman (Leaphorn and Chee #3) – 4

Joe Leaphorn is tackling several cases that have grown cool over the last few months.  At the forefront is the case of the double murder or an old man and a teenage girl who were murdered near the man’s hogan.  The only witness is the teenager’s aunt, a listening woman, who is blind.  Unfortunately, she doesn’t have much she can add to the case, but Joe follows the few pieces she has given him.  Will that be enough for him to figure out what really happened?

I wasn’t surprised when the various cases Joe was investigating played into this case, but I did feel like things were a little unfocused early on.  Still, everything came together well, and the last third is a page turning thriller.  While I like Joe, we still know very little about him or his personal life.  Likewise, the rest of the cast isn’t fully developed, but they are real enough given the page time they have.  I do appreciate how Joe balances the Navajo myths versus the reality of police work.  It’s easy to see why these books are so well loved, and I’m glad I’ve picked them up.

 

Between a Flock and a Hard Place by Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow #35) – 4

The new home renovation TV show Marvelous Mansions has come to town and made a less than stellar impression.  Meg, in her job as special envoy to the mayor, is on her way to try to keep everyone happy when she discovers the neighborhood has a new problem – feral turkeys.  Naturally, Meg gets involved in trying to round them up, while Chief Burke works on trying to figure out who put them there.  Then Meg stumbles on a dead body.  Are the two events connected?

Those familiar with the series will be delighted with the latest entry.  Yes, the antics with the turkey keep the mystery in the background for a while, but I was having so much fun I didn’t much care.  It helped that I was laughing at what was happening.  When Meg finds the body, the mystery does pick up and lead us through some great twists to a logical climax.  The characters are their normal charming selves, and the new characters fit right into the series.  If you haven’t met the characters yet, these books standalone well enough that you can jump in here.  And if you are a longtime fan, you’ll be happy with the latest release.

 

French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries #3) – 5

Ricki James-Diaz is leading the efforts of the Bon Vee staff to put on the best haunted house New Orleans has seen this Halloween.  Those efforts are being hampered by their new next-door neighbor, who is constantly making complaints about them.  Ricki is shocked when she learns who has bought the house – mega movie star Blaine Taggart, the best friend of her late husband.  Ricki had hoped to never see Blaine again, but things get complicated when another dead body turns up on Bon Vee property.  Can Ricki once again figure out what happened?

I’m so glad that a new publisher picked up this series.  It was wonderful to visit Ricki and her friends again.  I enjoyed getting to see some of the relationships grow in this book, even if Ricki’s relationship with the detective isn’t really realistic.  I also enjoyed seeing Hollywood pop up here.  The mystery itself is strong with some nice surprises before we reach the logical ending.  It was fun to visit the city during Halloween.  As always, I laughed several times while reading.  We also get some recipes inspired by vintage cookbooks at the end of the book, including several appropriate for the season.  Fans will be just as happy as I was that Ricki and her friends are back.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.