March 2025's Reading Summary

It's the last day of March, so that means it must be time for another reading summary.  Just eight books in March, but here they are.  The links will take you to my full review.

Yes, the index has been updated this month.

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

Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles (Molly Murphy #21) – 3

When Molly visits her friends Ryan O’ Hara on the set of an early silent movie, her adopted daughter Bridie winds up getting discovered and cast in the lead. So Molly starts spending time on the set herself, where she sees some suspicious accidents. But when one hits very close to home, Molly starts investigating. Can she find proof of sabotage before someone dies?

I’ve always appreciated that this series has given us glimpses into many different worlds of 1900’s New York City. As a fan of movies, this setting was very fun. Having said that, the pacing was really off here, which was disappointing. The climax is satisfying, however. I enjoy spending time with the characters, although some growth would be nice. I did feel transported to the time period as I read. Fans of the series will appreciate time with the characters even if this isn’t the strongest book in the series. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford (Wine Country Cold Case #2) – 4

When Lino Pardini dies, Anne McCormack finds herself drawn into the resulting family drama.  Meanwhile, her uncle Jack is hoping for a fresh clue or two about what happened to Lino’s previous wife.  Then there are the questions around Lino’s death itself.  Can Anne help untangle it?

If you pick this book up expecting a typical mystery, you’ll be disappointed.  The family drama takes up much of the pages.  But that’s not a bad thing.  Thanks to the well-developed characters, the story is very compelling.  The multiple viewpoints are also used perfectly.  Still, the mysteries were wrapped up to my satisfaction.  There were a few details that were wrong and bugged me, but they are minor.  On the other hand, I am very familiar with the setting, and I loved seeing real places and roads I know popping up in the middle of the fictional locations.  Think of this more as a crime drama rather than a mystery and you’ll be pulled in, watching the pages fly by all too quickly.

Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early (Murder, She Wrote #60) – 4

When Jessica slips on the ice, her Caribbean get away turns into a stint at home in a wheelchair. But she still finds herself with a mystery to solve when a mysterious artist moves in across the street. His snow sculptures are drawing a crowd, but for the wrong reasons. Then a murder happens with potential ties to another case in town. Can Jessica figure out what is going on?

Those getting Rear Window vibes aren’t far from the setup, although Jessica still gets out quite a bit, which I was grateful for. While there is a lot happening here, I did find the pacing a bit uneven at times, but things come together wonderfully once the murder happens. I love how this book expertly captures the characters and community of Cabot Cove. Since that was the reason we loved those episodes so much, fans will love this aspect of things. With spring fast approaching, there is still time to enjoy some winter vibes with this fun book. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Shattered Sight by Liz Milliron (Jackson Davis Mysteries #1) – 5

Six months after an accident while pursuing a suspect injured his partner, Jackson Davis is returning to his job as a detective on the Niagara Falls police force.  He's assigned a new partner, a rookie who just got promoted.  And they've landed a confusing case.  A business CEO was found at the bottom of the falls, but was it an accident, suicide, or murder?  Even her family and co-workers can't agree on what might have happened.  Can they make sense of enough clues to solve the case?  Or will being back be too much pressure for Jackson?

Jackson's mental health is a major subplot of this book, and I'll admit it gave me some anxiety while reading.  Talk about great writing.  But I ultimately liked where that story ended and what it allowed us to learn about all the characters in the book.  I really did enjoy getting to meet them and am looking forward to spending more time with them.  The suspects were also strong.  The mystery was great since there were so many avenues to pursue, I had a hard time figuring anything out.  Yet in the end, things did make sense.  Since this is a police procedural, the content is definitely more than the cozies I often read, but the few scenes were obvious when they were coming.  This is a solid series debut, and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Jackson.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Helpless by Annette Dashofy (Zoe Chambers Mysteries #12) – 4

With the remains of a tropical storm hitting the area, the last thing that Zoe Chamber-Adams and Pete Adams need is a criminal running around the area. But that’s just what they’ve got. They are called to a horrific scene on a neighbors’ farm. The wife has been shot, the husband left for dead, and their daughter kidnapped. As Pete tries to find the daughter before she is taken out of the area, Zoe tries to learn what she can from the husband. Will the storm help or hurt them?

This is more of a ticking clock thriller than a mystery, with the book taking place over the course of a day. As much as I love this series, this one was a bit of a letdown. I found Zoe’s portion of the story slowed the plot down, and I found it a very dark book, even by this series’ standards. On the other hand, the overall plot of the book was great and I was still always reluctant to set the book down. It was great spending time with Zoe and Pete, and I enjoyed seeing the updates we still got on the series regulars and some ongoing stories. Fans of this great series will still be glad they picked up this book. 

Homicide in the Indian Hills by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Jane Wunderly Mysteries #6) – 4

Jane and Redvers head to India. The trip is part honeymoon and part work as Redvers is supposed to attend political meetings. While there, Jane befriends a woman who winds up dead just a couple of days later. The death is ruled death by tiger, but Redvers has another cause – murder. Can they figure out what really happened. 

I enjoyed this trip to India in 1927. The country and time really came to life for me. Jane and Redvers are the only returning characters, and it was nice to spend time with them again. This also means you can jump in here if you want to. The new characters are a mixed bag, but they are strong enough to pull us into the story. The mystery kept me intrigued until we reached the logical and suspenseful climax. Those who missed the electronic only Christmas novella from a year and a half ago will be happy to see it included here as an extra. Anyone looking for some travel with their historical mystery will be glad they picked up this series. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

The Final Draw by Ridley Pearson (Kingdom Keepers Inheritance #3) – 4

Eli Finn and his friends are in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for the fireworks on Friday night.  But the fireworks all go off at once.  And then the kids make another discovery – all the villains and henchmen have vanished from the various rides in the parks.  Can they figure out the riddle they got from Tiana in time to save the magic?  Or will it be lost for good?

If this is your introduction to the Kingdom Keepers universe, you will be very lost since it is the wrap up to over a dozen books across several series.  But fans of the series will know what to expect here and will enjoy what we get.  It’s pretty much par for the course, with lots of great scenes with Disney characters and the parks in spooky circumstances.  The characters are thin, but that’s been true all along the way.  Having said that, I really loved a couple of scenes with Eli and his parents that break out of some of the usual interactions with parents in middle grade books.  If this does turn out to be the last adventure in the Kingdom Keepers universe, fans will be satisfied.

Waters of Destruction by Leslie Karst (Orchid Isle Mysteries #2) – 5

It’s been a few months since we last checked in with Valerie and Kristen, and in that time, they’ve completed their move to Hawai’i. While they are trying to settle into their new life, Valerie agrees to help out their friend Sachiko who needs a bartender at the restaurant she manages. The old bartender has disappeared, but when his body turns up, the police start looking at Sachiko as a suspect. Can Valerie figure out what really happened to him?

Since Valerie and Kristen were fighting in the first book, I had trouble buying into their relationship. I’m happy to say they were getting along better here, and I enjoyed spending more time with them. The rest of the characters were great as well, and I hope we see many of them again. The plot appeared to be wandering a bit at the beginning, but everything came into play on the way to the surprising climax. Some of the characters do use Pigeon English, but I didn’t have trouble following their dialog. There is a glossary in the back if you want to learn more as well as five recipes to enjoy after you’ve finished. The setting came to life, and it was the next best thing to getting to visit myself. This is a fun second book for when you want a tropical retreat filled with murder. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.