June 2025's Reading Summary

 Last day of June.  Half way through the year.  I lowered my reading challenge at Goodreads for the year, but I'm still on track for my normal 120+ books read this year.

My blog index has been updated for this month's reviews.  So let's take a look at what I read this month.  The links will take you to my full review.

All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

 

Home is Where the Murder Is by Rosalie Spielman (Hometown Mysteries #2) – 5

Tessa Treslow is settling into her hometown in Idaho after retiring from the Army.  She’s happy to be back for Pioneer Days, a local festival to celebrate the founding of her town.  But the weekend takes a turn when a stranger shows up claiming to be the long-lost cousin of Tessa’s best friend, Freddie.  Then the woman is murdered with all evidence pointing to Freddie.  Tessa knows her friend didn’t do this, but can she prove it?

I was happy to get to revisit these characters, and this book didn’t disappoint.  Several of the characters were more fully developed, which I appreciated.  And I enjoyed seeing the quirky characters again.  The mystery might have started a little slowly, but the further I went, the more I was hooked until I struggled any time I had to put it down.  The climax answered all my questions.  I appreciate how Tessa’s time in the army is handled and the fact that Tessa is middled aged.  It’s nice to see some variety in main characters.  If you are looking for another cozy series to add to your reading list, you need to check this one out.

 

A Rogue’s Company by Allison Montclair (Sparks and Bainbridge Mysteries #3) – 3

It’s August 1946, and Lord Bainbridge has returned from his latest trip to Africa.  That means that Gwen’s life has once again turned complicated as she attempts to wrestle her life back from her father-in-law.  Lord Bainbridge is insisting that Gwen’s six-year-old son is ready to attend the boarding school that the Bainbridge men attend, and she doesn’t have custody to stop him.  Can she figure out how to get control of her life back?

Those following this series will be absolutely hooked by this storyline.  I was anxious to see how it was going to play out.  But this is a mystery series, and the mystery was lacking, starting too late with some key elements feeling forced or rushed.  Don’t worry, Gwen’s business partner, Iris Sparks, gets plenty of page time and some nice development, and all the usual supporting players are here.  We also get the usual banter that makes me laugh.  The paperback I bought recently contains a bonus short story that I feel like was pieced together from a subplot in the previous book, but I don’t remember for sure.  While the mystery may have been weak, fans will still be glad they picked up this book.  I’ll be continuing on with the series soon.

 

Murder Italian Style by Diane Vallere (Samantha Kidd #16) – 4

Samantha and her husband thought his father was treating them to a vacation to visit family friends in a small Italian village over New Years. When they arrive, however, they learn that Samantha’s ability to solve crime has been requested. Twenty-six years ago, a murder occurred in the village, and their hostess’s boyfriend has been serving time for the crime ever sense. While reluctant at first to figure out what happened, Samantha soon becomes intrigued. Can she overcome the language barrier to find the truth?

Since we are out of the country, we don’t see most of the usual gang, but the new characters make up for it. We come to care for them enough to make us care about the outcome of this cold case. There are a couple of small things that could have used a little more explanation, but the main questions are answered satisfactorily. We may be in a foreign country, but we still get Samantha’s usual wit and breezy narration. And her love of snack foods takes an Italian turn, which left me hungry. Fans will enjoy this trip abroad. Pack your bags for another fun mystery. 

 

Note: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Big Fat F@!k-Up by Lawrence Allan (Jimmy Cooper #1) – 5

Jimmy Cooper was a cliché of a child actor, but he’s turned his life mostly around and is now a PI in LA, working freelance as well as cases for his mother’s law firm.  When his latest case ends with him in a pursuit around the city, he gets another dose of fame, which leads him to some new clients.  One such client is Alicia Crowley, a young woman about to get her inheritance.  But she thinks someone is attempting to kill her and wants Jimmy to keep it from happening.  When the prime suspect, her uncle, turns up dead, Jimmy must figure out how to keep Alicia out of jail.  Is Jimmy in over his head?

Yes, the title does give a clue about the content of the book.  Although I will say, it felt like it was used appropriately and not as a writing crutch.  If that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, you’ll find yourself loving this book.  The story takes a little time to set things up, but it never feels like it is dragging.  The mystery is entertaining and reaches a logical climax.  The characters are strong, especially Jimmy, who gets some great development in the book.  Yet there is a nice layer of comedy, too.  It’s an addictive mix that I breezed through faster than I thought I would.  I’ll definitely be back for more.

 

Throne of Threats by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mysteries #5) – 4

Jax is just days away from the event we’ve been waiting for almost as much as she has – her wedding to the youngest son of a ruler of a neighboring kingdom. With friends and family coming in a couple of days before the big event, and a couple of days before the rest of the guests, Jax is hoping for some relaxing before she has to play hostess and politics with her guests. But when Uma, her lady in waiting, goes to pick up the flowers a couple of days before, she is kidnapped. With only a cryptic clue to guide her, can Jax find Uma and rescue her? And will this latest case hurt her relationships with those she loves most?

Any fan of the series has been looking forward to the events of this book. The beginning takes a bit of time getting to the story. Part of that is set up, but some is just general updates on the characters and the realm. Once the kidnapping happens, the pace doesn’t let up. I loved how things came together. I also loved getting to spend time with these characters again. They truly are fun. Reactions to the events of the story felt realistic, and part of that is because of elements from the past books that are mentioned in passing. It feels like we’ve turned a page in the series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next. 

 

The Gatehouse Mystery by Julia Campbell (Trixie Belden #3) – 5

When Trixie and Honey find a diamond in the gatehouse on the Wheeler property, Trixie is certain that there is a thief around. Could it be one of the new Wheeler servants? We also get to meet Trixie's two older brothers and the five new friends form the Bob-Whites of the Glen. While the mystery isn't strong, the characters are great and this remains one of my favorites in the series.

 

Thrown for a Scoop by Dana Mentink (Shake Shop Mysteries #4) – 4

Upper Sprocket is celebrating its centennial, and Trinidad Jones has created a special freak shake to celebrate the milestone.  But before the celebration kicks off, a stranger wanders into her shake shop.  He’s a true crime podcaster trying to track down clues on a fifty-year-old case, and he thinks that Trinidad’s soon to be brother-in-law, Doug, might know something about it.  Since Doug isn’t good with strangers, Trinidad tries to warn him only to find that the stranger is dead when she arrives.  Despite vowing to stay out of it, she can’t help but try to clear Doug.  Can she do it?

I was pleased to see the author was self-publishing a fourth book in the series.  It does a good job of updating us on the characters while also kicking the story off.  We are treated to a well plotted story that kept me guessing until we reached the logical climax.  And the characters are as quirky and charming as always.  There were some continuity issues early on that felt like things left over from earlier drafts of the book, but once things really got going, I didn’t notice any more of them.  This book will definitely make you crave ice cream, and I am curious what was in the breakfast ice cream that is featured in a fun subplot.  Fans of this series will scoop up this book.  I know I’m glad I did.

 

Playing it Safe by Ashley Weaver (Electra McDonnell #3) – 3

With the Blitz now a nightly reality in London, Ellie is happy to be contacted by Major Ramsey with a new assignment. She is headed to the port city of Sunderland with only a book on birds as a clue to what her assignment is. She’s hardly arrived when someone’s she’s just met dies outside her boarding house. Is it connected to her mission?

While I’ve enjoyed the first two books, this one wasn’t as good. There is too much to the plot. While the ending makes sense, it is very rushed because of being overly ambitious. There’s also a focus on the love triangle, a storyline I’m not invested in since I know the outcome won’t be one I like. I also missed the regulars, although we did still get updates on some ongoing storylines. The book isn’t all bad. Ellie is enjoyable to spend time with, and the story kept my attention when it was the focus, allowing us to see another part of life in England in 1940. This is a book for fans of the series. Everyone else should start at the beginning. 

 

No Hallowed Ground by Steve Hockensmith (Double-A Western Detective Agency #2) – 4

The team of Diehl, Hoop, and Eskaminzim are back on the trail.  This time, they are heading a bit further east than normal when they are sent to Missouri.  According to their client, some thieves have just made off with the cash for a local bank, and if it isn’t returned quickly and quietly, it would cause the bank to close.  Not that our heroes believe that.  But when they learn the truth, the realize that the stakes would impact the entire country.  And they realized just how outnumbered they truly are.  Can they win against overwhelming odds?

If you are looking for an action book, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.  There are some entertaining twists to the story, and the plot is strong enough to hold the action scenes together.  The characters are good, but they could be a little stronger.  Still, they are developed enough to make you care about the outcome.  I appreciated how the changing points of view were used to increase the suspense.  I also appreciate how the politics of March 1894 was brought into the book.  It informed the action without ever being preachy.  While we got some language, I was more bothered by some of the violence, so know that before you pick up the book.  But if you want a historical action story, do pick up this book.

 

Big Bend by Sandy Dengler (Jack Prester #9) – 4

A reporter has gone missing in Big Bend down in Texas, and Jack is asked to help find him. However, when Jack arrives, he finds some auditors have arrived to monitor everything going on in the park. And when out searching for the reporter, Jack finds someone else out there.  The results of that encounter are tragic. What is happening in the vastness of this park’s wilderness?

It is always nice to revisit Jack and the supporting characters we’ve met along the way. Yes, Ev is involved as well. There is a plot point that will be hard for fans of the series. Overall, the plot bites off a bit too much and so a few of the connections feel forced and rushed. Likewise, a few of the minor players fade into the background and are hard to keep straight. The writing is still magical, and I love how the location came to life. I’m hoping we get more books with Jack soon. 

 

Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #10) – 2

One of Evan’s few friends is Tommy, who also happens to be his weapons dealer.  But after discovering some of Tommy’s weapons on an assassin that Evan was fighting, he is mad at his friend for not following Evan’s strict code.  Their initial conversation doesn’t go well, but things get complicated with other assassins and a young man that Tommy is trying to help.  Will the two be able to solve their differences?  Or will they wind up killing each other?

This series is a definite break from my cozy diet, but one I usually love despite the rather graphic violence we get.  In this case, the book has too many flaws.  The entire plot could have been resolved with a couple of conversations.  There are great stretches in the middle where nothing really happens – we’re just dealing with repetitive scenes that don’t go anywhere.  Evan is more evil than usual.  I get that it was supposed to lead to some growth, but it didn’t work for me.  And the ending?  I really felt like it let me down.  We get some ripped from the headline politics in this book, but it leads to cliches and doesn’t feel like there is much point to it.  I feel like the series is marking time in some ways since the initial arc was resolved, and this is worse than normal.  The writing is still wonderful.  Lots of others seem to still love it, but this one is best for only the diehard fans.