And just like that another year is in the books. Before we turn the page to 2026, Let's take a look back at what I read in December, shall we?
With everything else going on (in addition to the holidays), I didn't have time to update the index this month.
All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great). The links will take you to my full review.
The Body in the Hayloft by Catherine Dilts
(Rose Creek Mysteries #3) – 5
Callie’s ranch has been invaded by guests when the Equi X
event loses their location at the last minute and Callie’s husband offers the
Double C for their use. Equi X is
supposed to celebrate the best of the equestrian community, both the novice and
the expert, and some of Callie’s friends and their loved ones are
participating. But when one of the
presenter’s cats goes missing, Callie finds herself among those trying to locate
the pampered pet. When Callie finds the
pet, she also finds a dead body. Is it
an accident? Or has the book club found
themselves involved in another murder?
It’s been two years since we last got to visit the ladies of
the Rose Creek Book Club, but it was worth the wait. Yes, all the characters we love are front and
center here, and I enjoyed getting updates on them and their lives. They each have their own storyline, which
allows them to shine. It also slows down
the mystery a bit, but for the most part, everything is balanced well. And the mystery has plenty going on to keep
us guessing. I did figure things out
just before the characters did, but barely. And the climax answered any lingering
questions I had. If you want a cozy
mystery with a strong community, be sure to check this series out. Fans will be delighted to return to see how
these characters are doing.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
A Grave Deception by Connie Berry (Kate
Hamilton #6) – 4
Kate Hamilton has found a murder from centuries ago. An archeological group from a college is
working in an area nearby, and they’ve found a very well-preserved body. Kate and Ivor are brought in to investigate
the items found with the body. The owner
of the property where the find was made is very curious and asks Kate to try to
find out who this woman was. But that is
complicated when a modern-day murder also takes place. Kate is well positioned to figure out what is
happening. Can she piece together clues
to solve the modern mystery as well?
The characters are the draw for me with this series, and I
enjoyed getting to see Kate and Tom’s relationship continue to evolve. Several of the other regulars were also
present, which was nice. The plot did
get derailed briefly a time or two for me, but those who enjoy British history
and antiques will enjoy those detours more than I did. Overall, the plot kept me engaged and lead to
a logical climax. And I learned
something about history and antiques along the way. Fans of the series will be delighted with
this new entry.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Murder in Manhattan by Julie Mulhern (Freddie
Archer #1) – 3
Freddie Archer is a columnist for Gotham Magazine
focusing on fashion and gossip, but when she mentions someone in her column
that turns up murdered, the police ask for her help in identifying the victim’s
companion. Not content to just observe
and report back, Freddie soon finds herself getting in over her head,
especially as the body count starts to rise.
Can she identify the culprit?
I’ve enjoyed some of the author’s other books, but this one
was very uneven. While Freddie’s world
of 1925 New York City came alive early on, it really slowed down the plot to
the point I was getting annoyed by Freddie and the name dropping of famous
people in the book. Once the story
really took off, it got better. I grew
to like Freddie, and I enjoyed seeing her famous friends. Still, there was a thread that just got
dropped on the way to an otherwise logical climax. There’s a sheen of humor to the story that
balances out the more serious moments.
I’ll give this series another try, but hopefully, the next is overall
stronger.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
No Stone Left Unturned by Annette Dashofy
(Detective Honeywell Mysteries #4) – 5
When Detective Honeywell is called to the scene of a robbery
turned shooting at a veterinary clinic, the case immediately becomes personal
since he knows the man the robbers shot.
But he can’t help but question what happened. It doesn’t feel like a true robbery but
something personal. Meanwhile, Emma is
on hand getting shots from outside the clinic.
Given the connection Honeywell has to the case, Emma starts to dig into
the background of the victim to try to see if she can uncover any leads to
help. Will they be able to find the
perpetrator before he strikes again?
As with the previous book, this one focuses a bit more on
Matthias, although Emma still gets plenty of page time and adds to the
mystery. I enjoyed getting to learn more
about the supporting players who populate Matthias’s world. The suspects may not get too much page time,
but that doesn’t hamper the plot at all, which is filled with clues, red
herrings, and enough twists to keep the pages turning. I always had a hard time putting the book
down. I enjoyed watching the characters
and their relationships grow out of what happened in the last book, although
you don’t need to read the books in order.
Still, with how excellent these books are, you’ll want to read them
anyway, so you might as well start with the first. This book left me anxious for the next in the
series. Annette Dashofy is one of the
best mystery writers we have today. If
you aren’t already a fan, fix that today.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
The Night Fire by Michael Connelly (Harry
Bosch #22, Rene Ballard #3) – 5
When Harry Bosch gets a decades old murder book his late
mentor had taken when he retired, Bosch goes to Renee Ballard to help him try
to solve the case. But their first look
through the old reports leaves them with more questions than answers. Meanwhile, Bosch is looking at the case of a
murdered judge that the police got wrong.
And Ballard is worming her way into the investigation to a homeless man
who died in a fire.
Obviously, there is plenty here to keep the reader
engaged. We bounced between the two
characters, which helps us get to know them and get updates on the people in
their lives. All the characters are
great. This one does introduce a
storyline I’m not going to enjoy in future books. The plot balances both characters well, and
brings things to a satisfactory climax.
It does rely on convenient things happening a time or two, but I had so
much fun I didn’t really mind. These are
police procedurals, and the content reflects that, so keep that in mind before
you pick up a book in the series. But if
you are looking for a book that will be impossible to put down, you’ll be glad
you chose anything from this author.
At Death’s Dough by Mindy Quigley (Deep Dish
Mysteries #5) – 4
It’s the beginning of February, and Delilah O’Leary is
finding the quiet season is quieter than she planned on. She’s hoping for a
full restaurant on Valentine’s Day to help carry her through to tourist season
again. On one of the restaurant’s days closed, Delilah and her great aunt go
out ice fishing, and they make an unexpected discovery - a dead body under the
ice. The victim was dressed for scuba diving, but who would dive in the lake in
the middle of the winter?
The premise definitely caught my attention, although I found
the pacing was uneven. Yes, I could tell the story was being set up, but it
felt a bit random to me for a while. Once things really got going, I was
hooked, with plenty of excitement, especially in the final quarter. And we did
reach a logical conclusion. The characters continue to shine, and I especially
appreciated seeing Delilah growing while building her relationship with her
boyfriend. And we get another four recipes to enjoy at the end. If you enjoy
culinary cozies, you’ll find yourself grabbing all the slices in this series.
Home for the Homicides by Rosalie Spielman
(Hometown Mysteries #4) – 4
It’s the middle of December, and New Oslo has been subjected
to some pranks in the last few days, but things are about to escalate. First, Tessa Treslow and her aunt Edna find a
man who was car jacked and left on the side of the road. Then, various businesses in town are being
vandalized. But when a murder victim is
found at the sight of a fire, Tessa really steps up her sleuthing. Can she figure out who is responsible before
things take a second deadly turn?
It was great to visit the characters during the Christmas
season. I loved how the season was
incorporated into the plot. Due to the
nature of the crimes, it takes a while to zero in on definite suspects or
motives, but the book always feels like it is moving forward. Having said that, the ending isn’t as
definitive as I normally like, but it worked in this case. I struggled with some character ages (feel
like we should have had an additional generation in there). On the other hand, we got to meet more of
Tessa’s family, and I really loved spending time with them. They all felt real. And I enjoyed catching up with our friends in
town as well. Fans will enjoy this
holiday offering. And if you haven’t
found this fun series yet, I recommend you fix that today.
Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews (Meg
Langslow #38) – 4
Meg and her mother are helping to organize two weddings for
two of Meg’s younger cousins set to take place the Saturday before Christmas.
Unfortunately, these young women are constantly feuding, so the weddings are
taking place back-to-back, even though they are sharing the venues. The two
brides bring nothing but drama in the days leading up to their events, and
that’s before Meg finds the wedding photographer dead. Unfortunately, the
suspect list is long, including members of the bridal party. Can Meg figure out
what happened?
Reading the Christmas set entries in this series has become
a Christmas tradition for me. Even when the plot doesn’t involve Christmas
explicitly, there is still more than enough holiday cheer to make it feel
festive. The mystery itself was a little weak, but things made sense in the
end. And the weddings provided plenty to keep me engage, including many laughs.
It’s always wonderful to spend time with these characters. If you are looking
for a fun Christmas cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
And then, I finished the year with three rereads. I didn't do new reviews so enjoy these briefer thoughts. The linked reviews are definitely fuller.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George
Speare – 5
Kit Tyler has arrived in colonial Connecticut to live with a
family she doesn't know. Her only friend in the village seems to be the local
outcast, accused of being a witch. Will Kit ever adjust to her new life?
This is an engrossing novel that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages.
Even after multiple rereads, I still can never put it down. The characters are
great, too.
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare – 5
The story of Daniel, a teen at the time of Christ who is
consumed by his hatred of the Romans. But as he cares for his sister and
encounters Jesus, will his life change? I loved this book when I read it in 8th
grade, and every time I read it, I'm pulled in all over again. Amazing and
powerful.
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
– 5
Not as intricate as Elizabeth George Speare's better known
books, but this tale of Matt's coming of age in the frontier days of Maine is
still a great read. Not to be missed by kids and adults alike.
