Ornament Review: It's Snowing Sweetness - Christmas Cupcakes #4 - 2013 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Pretty color combination for wintry feel

Cons: Personally, the blue frosting doesn’t appeal to my appetite

The Bottom Line:

Cupcake that gives chills

Colors invoke winter storm

A visual treat

Wintry Sweetness

Cupcakes seem to be all the rage these days.  I’ve noticed gourmet cupcakes popping up all over the place.  While the appeal seems to be lost on me, I certainly do enjoy looking at the great results in the Christmas Cupcake series by Hallmark.  It's Snowing Sweetness! is the entry for 2013, and it’s another winner.

This ornament has a very wintry feel to it.  The cupcake itself is vanilla, a first for the series.  No, I didn’t taste it, but it is easy to tell from the bits of white poking out from the cupcake holder.  The frosting is a light blue, which matches the dark blue cupcake wrapping.  And coming out of the top is a white snowflake decoration.  There are also big flakes of glitter covering the cupcake.

When you combine all that, you get a picture that will give you shivers, even in the middle of summer.  The blue and the white are very pretty together, and you can just picture a winter snow storm.

On the other hand, the blue frosting is the one thing that doesn’t appeal to me personally.  I’m not a big frosting person, and generally, blue frosting just tastes bland to me.  I look at this ornament and I appreciate the beauty, but I just can’t see eating it.  (You know, maybe that’s a good thing).

This is the first ornament in the series not to be made completely of felt.  While the majority of the ornament still is, the snowflake on top is made from plastic.  And since the hook to hang the ornament is at the top of the snowflake, it is plastic as well.  You'll find the ornament is balanced and hangs perfectly straight.

Naturally, the ornament has a flat bottom since cupcakes also have flat bottoms.  You’ll find the series marker down there.  Since this ornament celebrates winter, you could chose to display it longer than just at Christmas, and the flat bottom makes it easy to do that anywhere you want.

Overall, this is another fun entry to the series.  The wintry feel it gives makes It's Snowing Sweetness! lots of fun.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Christmas Cupcakes series.

Original Price: $9.95

August 9th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

Hi and welcome to this week's edition of Book Beginnings and Friday 56.  This week, I'm reading The Survivor, a thriller by Gregg Hurwitz.  It's certainly a departure for me, but I'm really enjoying it.  I might get it finished up today, in which case I'll post a review later today.  We'll just see how it goes.

Anyway, here's how it starts.

From this height, the cars looked like dominoes, the pedestrians like roving dots.  The breeze flew crisp and constant, cooling Nate's lungs on the inhale - none of that touted L.A. smog this close to the ocean.  To the west, blocks of afternoon gridlock ended at the Santa Monica cliffs, a sheer drop to white sand and the eternal slate of the sea.  The view would have been lovely.

Except he was here to kill himself.

It really is an effective opening, isn't it?

And from page 56, we find:

Awe settled in, a sense of the enormity of what he had done, but he expected to feel something more, too.  A hint of remorse, perhaps.

And that's all the teasing I'm going to give you.

Ornament Review: Cookie Cutter Christmas #2 - Writing a Letter to Santa - 2013 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Another cute Chirstmassy scene

Cons: Not as much food as last year's, but I'm being picky

The Bottom Line:

Another cute scene

As our mouse friend writes Santa

Please keep them coming

Sweet Snowmouse Writing a Letter to Santa

When it comes to pure cuteness factor, it's hard to top Hallmark's Cookie Cutter Christmas series.  There are two official ornaments and two compliments out, and I love them all.  2013's official release is a good example of why.

Each ornament in the series features a Christmas activity scene inside a different cookie cutter shape.  This year's shape is a heart.  But it's what it inside that makes me love it.

Our main character in this series is a mouse.  In this scene, he's busy writing a letter to Santa.  You can see him in the foreground in his red pajamas holding a giant candy cane pen.  He's standing on a piece of paper that is beginning to curl up at the top.  So far, all he's writing is "Dear Santa."  Behind him on the left, you can see a Christmas tree reaching up to the top of the cookie cutter frame.  Behind him on the right is a hearth with one stocking hung on it.  Above the hearth is a wreath.

Now one thing I loved in the first of the series was how much food was used to create the pieces of the scene.  That doesn't seem to be the case here.  I already mentioned the candy cane pen.  The wreath looks like it was formed in a Bundt pan.  Other than that, it feels like we're looking at an ordinary Christmas tree or hearth.

But I'm being nitpicky at this point.  The scene itself is incredibly cute.  You'll smile just looking at it.  This is one of those series I can't imagine how the artist will top herself every year, but I look forward to seeing Nina Aube try.

And the details are really great.  I know I just said I would have liked more food, but come on.  There's part of a tree and a hearth in there.  How much more could you really want.  This is a small ornament, but the scene has so many little pieces it must have been a pain to make.  But the end result is so wonderful because it all comes together perfectly.

The heart comes to a point on the bottom, but it isn't big enough to balance the ornament on at all.  And there is a bump in the back that acts as a handle.  As a result, there is no way to display this ornament except on your Christmas tree.

The ring for hanging the ornament is in the indentation at the top of the heart.  When I first saw this, I thought it might be tricky getting a hook in there, but it's not that bad.  And the ornament is perfectly balanced, so it will hang straight on your Christmas tree.

If you're looking for the series marker, you'll find it on the back of the ornament.  That's the logical place for it since there is plenty of room back there.

While I collect way too many series and enjoy them all for what they are, this is a series that is truly wonderful.  I will keep enjoying Cookie Cutter Christmas #2 for many years to come.

Be sure to check out the other cute ornaments in the Cookie Cutter Christmas series.

Original Price: $12.95

Book Review: Father Knows Death by Jeffrey Allen (Stay at Home Dad Mysteries #3)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great characters and humor

Cons: Weaker mystery than others in series, environmental aspect of plot

The Bottom Line:

County fair murder

Puts Deuce back in action which

Makes readers happy

Death Stalks the Fair

When I find a series I enjoy starring a male main character, I stick with it.  They are rare in the cozy sub-genre I normally read.  So it is that I bought Father Knows Death, the third book to feature Deuce Winters, a stay at home father.  I enjoyed my return visit to his small town.

It’s county fair time, and that means the town of Rose Petal, Texas, has pretty much shut down.  Everyone is either working at or attending the fair every possible minute.  For the winters family, that means spending time at the 4-H events since daughter Carly has joined this year.  Julianne is there despite being a week overdue with their new baby.  And Deuce is working the 4-H booth cooking hamburgers and hot dogs.  It’s the major fund raiser for 4-H for the year.

On his first trip to the freezer to get more meat, he discovers the body of George Spellman in the freezer.  George was the groundskeeper for the fair.  Everyone knew who he was, but very few people seem to know him super well.  So why was he killed?  When Mama, the woman who runs the fair each year, hires Deuce to find the killer, he starts digging around.  But can he dig up the killer?

These books have always been a fun mix of humor and mystery, and that continued here.  Deuce and his friends tease each other, and I found myself laughing at them quite a bit.

The mystery seemed a bit on the light side here.  Don’t get me wrong, there were strong suspects and some good twists.  But I felt like the others in the series had stronger plots overall.  Still, I enjoy the pages, and found them flying by all too quickly.

I really enjoy the main characters in this series, and that continued here.  If the scenes with Deuce and his daughter don’t melt your heart, you’ve got a serious problem.  I also enjoy the relationship he has with his wife and parents.  There are a strong group of new characters in this book, and each felt real to me as well.

My biggest problem with this book is the environmental aspect it took.  Yes, it ties into the plot, and it is a subject that is much in the news.  However, it didn’t feel that balanced a look at it to me, just the author taking the opportunity to lecture us.  Maybe I am wrong in his intent, but that’s how it felt.

The book contains lots of short chapters, so the pages certainly fly by.  Maybe it isn’t quite as fast a read as it seems, but I always made it further through the book than I thought I would when I sat down to read.

Despite the flaws I found, I still enjoyed visiting Deuce.  While Father Knows Death seems to wrap up the series, I hope I get to visit him again. 

Ornament Review: Boushh - 2013 Hallmark Limited Edition Star War Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great sculpt of a minor Star Wars character

Cons: Only if you didn't get it already since it is limited

The Bottom Line:

Limited bounty

Worth trying to find for fans

Force is with this one

Fearless, Innovated, and Now an Ornament - Complete with Thermal Detonator

I have a confession to make.  While I have seen the Star Wars films a few times and enjoyed them, there are so many minor characters I don't know.  That's why I almost passed on getting Boushh when Hallmark released him as a limited edition ornament.  I was fortunately enough to get to read the back of the box before he sold out, and as soon as I did, I snap one up.

In, like me, you've forgotten this character, Boushh is the bounty hunter who has captured Chewbacca at the beginning of Return of the Jedi and brings him to Jabba's palace.  Just one catch - it is actually Leia in disguise in an attempt to infiltrate Jabba's palace in order to free Han.

Still, even with that refresher, I had to pull out my Star Wars blu-ray and rewatch the scene.  As I did, I was thrilled to see just how close this ornament matches what was in the movie.  There is no hint who is behind the costume.  Instead, we get Boushh in his tan shirt, pants, and boots.  The left hand is holding a thermal detonator while the right has a weapon.  The only thing missing from the ornament is the chain in the right hand that connects to Chewbacca.  We've even got the flat helmet over the face and the pack on the back.

And I can certainly see why fans gobbled this ornament up.  It's a minor character, but the sculpt is perfect.  I can't imagine a better look for this character.  And really, how many are you ever going to find?  Hallmark likes to go with these lesser known characters for the limited edition ornaments, and they chose Boushh this year since it is Return of the Jedi's thirtieth anniversary.  Otherwise, would they have ever really considered him?

Add to the great sculpt is good balance.  While the ornament is not the steadiest since it just has the character's two feet to stand on, it will stand up on its own.  You could easily incorporate Boushh into any scene you are creating for the characters.

If you want to hang him on your tree, I've got still more good news.  He hangs straight.  Well, there might be a slight tip to the front, but I can't tell for sure.  If so, it obviously isn't bad at all.

So if you need to Star Wars geek out, track down a copy of the 2013 Boushh limited edition ornament from Hallmark.  You'll be very glad you did.

Original Price: $14.95

TV Show Review: Political Animals - Complete Series

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: A few moments are entertaining

Cons: Characters are hateful

The Bottom Line:

Political show

With no characters to love

No reason to watch

"They Only Love Us When They're Not Busy Hating Us."

As much as I am a USA Network addict, they do have a couple shows I don’t love.  But it was this last summer that they released the first show I actually hated.  That show?  Political Animals.  If it had lasted longer than six episodes, I would have given up, but after I gave it my standard two or three episode trial, I was almost done, so I stuck it out.

The show revolves around Elaine Barrish (Sigourney Weaver).  She was First Lady back in the 90’s to a President (Ciaran Hinds) from a southern state.  After he left office, she divorced him since he continually cheated on her.  Now, after an unsuccessful bid to get the Democratic party nomination, she is working for her rival, President Garcetti (Adrian Pasdar), as Secretary of State.  One son is her chief of staff Douglas (James Wolk).  The other?  T.J. (Sebastian Stan) is still a drug addicted screw up who came out of the closet as a teen – while the family was still in the white house.  Rounding out the cast is Elaine’s mother (Ellen Burstyn) and Susan Berg (Carla Gugino), the reporter who made a name for herself by attacking Elaine during the time she was First Lady.

First of all, can we say Clinton clone?  While the creators denied it, anyone can see that, aside from a few superficial changes, they were obviously modeling the character on Hillary.  The only thing that really bothered me here is that they denied it.

The story was moderately interesting.  Basically, we spend these six weeks on a crisis and watching as Elaine deals with a vice-president she can not stand and considers challenging her boss for the nomination during the next Presidential election.

As an aside, as a Heroes fan I did enjoy seeing Adrian Pasdar as the President.  His character on Heroes also had political aspirations, including one day being President.  It was a brilliant bit of casting.

The entire acting was fine.  I bought the performances every week.  The cast is strong and brings their characters to life brilliantly.

Here’s my issue with the show.  I don’t like any of the characters.  Well, the younger son was sympathetic, but the rest went from hateful to despicable and back again.  You actually felt like rooting for all of them to fail and fail spectacularly.  And that’s why I wouldn’t have been back.

Then there’s the fact that this was supposed to be a limited run series.  And yet, they left us at the end of the sixth and final episode (which was filmed long before the series aired) with a major cliffhanger.  Seriously?  You can call it whatever you want, but they planned to come back for season 2, which is lie number two.  The ratings weren’t good enough, however, and the show was canceled.  But nothing was wrapped up or settled.  Honestly, I’m wondering what the point of these six episodes by themselves is.  There’s none I can see unless they are setting up for the next season.

The six episodes are preserved on two DVD's.  Picture is widescreen and sound is full surround.  Looking for extras?  You'll find some deleted scenes on the discs, but that's it.

But really, there’s no reason to buy or watch Political Animals.  Let us let this show quickly fade into the forgotten trash bin where it belongs.

Music Review: Acoustic Storytime (Live Stories and Songs) by Jason Gray

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fresh look at the truths in some great songs

Cons: "If I Were a Dog," fans already have most of these songs.

The Bottom Line:

Acoustic concerts

Give new life to great music

With timeless lyrics

A Man and His Guitar - Live

Some times, I have a hard time telling an acoustic CD from a regular CD, especially when it is a band making it.  That's not that case with Jason Gray's Acoustic Storytime (Live Songs And Stories).  This disc is just Jason and his guitar.  And the result is wonderful.

Okay, so maybe the sub-title doesn't quite ring true.  While the majority of the tracks are live, there are a few studio cuts in here.  But again, these tracks are just Jason and his guitar.

The results really show off how talented a musician he is.  I find I don’t really miss the other instruments.  Sure, they'd be nice to have there, but it's not really necessary.  He shines.  And this holds true whether we are going with the slower tracks or the more upbeat ones.  As he says near the beginning, he's not a rock musician, but there is enough stylistic changes, even with just him and his guitar, to keep you engaged.

And the lyrics shine all the more as a result.  This disc was released after his 2007 release All the Lovely Losers, so many of the songs here are from that release.  Since that was the disc that introduced me to Jason's music and still holds many favorites, I don't mind at all.

There are so many encouraging songs on this disc.  "This Far" is a statement of faith that "I don't believe you've brought me this far to give up."  Or there's the defiant faith of "I'm Not Going Down" that looks to God instead of circumstances.  We are reminded that God uses the weak in songs like "Blessed Be" and "You Are Mercy."

There are a few new tracks here.  There's "Down to the River," a song of surrender.  I really like "The Reason Why You Brought Me Here," which is a song searching for faith in the midst of pain.  Then there's the interesting case of "The Things We Hold Back."  While it's treated as a new song, it was actually from his 2000 independent release.  Finally, we get a cover of "New Way to Live."

Fans who haven't heard this disc before will be interested to find a teaser version of "How I Ended Up Here."  It's just the first verse/draft of a song that would show up on his next studio release.  What strikes me is how the audience laughs at some of the lines.  I'd never really considered them that funny before, but I can see why they laugh.

Jason tried to write a love song, and it wound up here.  "If I Were a Dog" imagines Jason as a dog in the presence of the object of his affect.  Jason, I love your music, but please don't try to write any more love songs.  This one doesn't work.

Finally, we get a slightly changed radio edit version of "Everything that I Own."  This is the only song that isn't just Jason and his guitar but includes other instruments and back up singers.  Frankly, it feels a bit over polished; while the result is fine, I prefer the original from All the Lovely Losers.

And there's the talking.  With the exceptions of "If I Were a Dog" and "How I Ended Up Here," all the talking is contained on separate tracks.  Several times, Jason talks about his stuttering and how God uses weakness like that in our lives and the lives of others.  He draws an analogy from a trip a friend took to a vineyard.  He encourages us to show Jesus to others.  And he shares the story of how a friend set him straight when he was ready to give up.  All these tracks are funny yet challenging and encouraging.  It really is good stuff to listen to and makes me hear the songs around them with near ears.

Earlier, I mentioned Jason's stuttering.  You can certainly notice it at times, but it's not that bad. When I've seen him in person, it's been worse than we hear here.

Even though this disc came out in 2008, I just now got it.  While I didn't need to rush out and get it, I'm glad I finally got it.  There isn't much here that die hard fans need to hear, but they will still enjoy it.  And Acoustic Storytime (Live Songs And Stories) will certainly encourage and challenge you.

CD Length: 77:29

Tracks:

1. Down to the River (Studio)

2. "…acoustic storytime"

3. This Far

4. "…because of our weakness"

5. Blessed Be

6. "…getting to the good stuff"

7. The Cut

8. The Reasons Why You Brought Me Here

9. "…switching the tapes"/How I Ended Up Here

10. "…loose that tongue!"

11. Weak (Studio)

12. The Things We Hold Back (Studio)

13. "…when's a good time to give up?"

14. Not Going Down

15. I Won't Back Down

16. "…praying with our lives"

17. You Are Mercy

18. If I Were a Dog

19. "…getting more than I deserve"

20. Grace

21. New Way to Live (Studio Cut)

22. Everything I Own (Radio Remix)

Ornament Review: North Pole Tree Trimmers #1 - Light Tester - 2013 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Cute ornament to start of a new series

Cons: Could possibly be too green?  Maybe?

The Bottom Line:

Problems with your lights?

Santa's tree trimming elves are

Ready to help you

Making Sure Your Tree Lights on All Sides

At one point, I swore I was not going to start any new Hallmark series ornaments.  As soon as I saw the first in the North Pole Tree Trimmers, I knew that wasn't going to happen for 2013.

This new series features the elves who make up Santa's elite tree-trimming division.  You didn't know he had one?  That's how good they are.  This ornament features a young looking elf holding a red light bulb.  He's hooking it up to a batter with red and green wires to make sure it works right.  And he's got a green bulb in a pack slung over his back.

With my luck with Christmas tree lights, how much do I have to pay for them to come visit me?

My only issue with this ornament is how green it is.  The elf is wearing almost all green from his cap (with a gold bell on top) to his overalls and shoes.  He does have a red shirt and red socks on, but it is mostly green.  Even the battery pack is a dark forest green.  I'm of two minds on this.  First, it will make the ornament blend into the tree, making it harder to see.  Then again, that might add to the fun since it will make it appear more like the elf is sneaking around the tree testing the lights thereby creating a bit of mystery and magic.

Overall, I really do love this ornament.  The elf is cute and the overall effect is very lovely.

Using the battery and the feet as a base, this ornament will stand up if you want to display it that way.  He's not completely steady, but he is steady enough that a good jostle would be needed to knock him over.

But in my mind, this is a series to hang on your tree.  The hook is actually on the side of his hat.  The ornament hangs straight from side to side, but it does tip slightly forward.  It's very slight so not really that noticeable.

Looking for the series markings?  They are on the bottom of the battery exactly where I expected them to be.

I have a feeling I will constantly go back and forth about whether I like the elf being so green or not, even after I've hung him on my tree.  But I already know I love the North Pole Tree Trimmers series.  Can't wait to see what the next in the series looks like.

Be sure to check out the rest of the North Pole Tree Trimmers series.

Original Price: $14.95

Book Beginnings and Friday 56 for August 2nd

It's Friday!  Time again for Book Beginnings and Friday 56 for the week.

I've got a double header for you today.  Up first is The Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews.  

It starts like this:

 I woke up to find three sheep staring pensively down at me.

Jumping to page 56, we find:

"Finally," she said, as if she'd summoned me hours ago.  "I need to talk to someone about getting my music back."
"I can check with our lost and found," I said, pretending to misunderstand her.  "Are we talking sheet music of CDs or..."
"I haven't lost my CDs," she said.  "But that woman made me stop playing them!"
She was pointing to Mother.

Intrigued?  Well, you can learn more about the book by reading my review.



My other book this week is Father Knows Death, the third Stay at Home Dad Mystery by Jeffrey Allen. 

It's first sentence goes like this:

George Spellman's lifeless face gazed at me amid the packages of frozen bratwursts.

And on page 56:

On cue, a caravan of golf carts buzzed up the dirt trail, headed in our direction, with Mama Biggs leading the charge.

I'm about 100 pages in and enjoying this one so far.

But here's the funny thing - both books involve the characters solving a murder at a fair.  I didn't plan it that way, but that's how it happened.  Funny, isn't it?

What I Read - July 2013

Here are my July reads.  Once again, I got quite a few in.  I'm pleasantly surprised at how I do this, although there are two books on tape and a couple really short/fast kid's book in this mix.

All ratings are on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (great).  And all links take you directly to my review here on my blog.

CRASHED by Timothy Hallinan (Junior Bender #1) - 3

What at first appears to be a normal job for professional burglar Junior Bender leaves him blackmailed into helping a mobster.  But what that mobster wants to do is even more surprising - and dangerous.

I found the characters very real, engaging, and enjoyable.  Unfortunately, I found the plot uneven and the foul language a bit more than I can tolerate.  Then again, this isn't my normal choice for reading material, so it's on me.  I'm glad I tried it because I was curious about the series, but I won't read any more.

THE HEIST by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Kate O'Hare and Nick Fox #1) - 4

FBI Kate O'Hare has been chasing conman Nick Fox for years.  But when she finally catches him, her life is turned upside down.  Now she finds herself teamed up with him to try to catch another criminal.

To me, this book felt like a melding of the TV shows White Collar and Castle, both of which I love.  It was funny and a wild ride.  The pace was just a little off at times, but for the most part I enjoyed this romp.

A PRINCESS OF MARS by Edgar Rice Burroughs (John Carter #1) - 4

American Civil War vet John Carter is shocked to find himself suddenly on Mars where he becomes a semi-prisoner of a race of aliens.  But then he meets another human and sets out to free them both.

I enjoyed the movie from last year and finally got around to reading the book.  It was a lot of fun even if most of the plot was familiar thanks to the movie.  There was one slow section that seemed to come out of no where to slow things down, but on the whole it was worth reading.

HEIRS AND GRACES by Rhys Bowen (Lady Georgiana #7) - 5

Lady Georgiana is asked to come to an estate in 1930's England to teach the new heir to the dukedom proper upper society manners.  This heir has just been discovered and has been raised in the Australian Outback.  However, not too long after this heir arrives, Georgie has to add sleuthing to her list of things to do when someone gets a knife in the back - literally.

These trips back in time are always fun, and this one was no exception.  I loved the new characters and the tension was so thick I always had a hard time putting it down.

I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE by Donald J. Sobol (Encyclopedia Brown #1) - 5

The first book in this long running kids series introduces us to Encyclopedia Brown and his mind for facts.  As in all the books, there are 10 cases for him to solve, and we are given the clues to solve them along with him.

I'd love to say that I figured all these out on this reread.  Really, I would.  A few I remembered, but most of the time I was stumped.  I had a rough idea what the clue was, but I couldn't put my finger on it.  Guess I'm still not smarter than a fifth grader.

THE WRONG GIRL by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Jane Ryland #2) - 5

This is the second book about reporter Jane Ryland and Boston detective Jake Brogan.  This time around, Jane is helping a former co-worker find out if she was sent to the wrong woman while trying to track down her birth mother.  Meanwhile, she is also covering a murder that Jake is investigating.  A woman is found murdered.  Two kids under 3, both alive, are in the next room.  It looks like a simple domestic dispute except the woman has no ID anywhere in the apartment.

I loved the book.  It started fast and never let me go until I reached the end.  The characters were great as well, and I had a blast spending time with all of them.

I got the book via Amazon Vine. 

HOMICIDAL PSYCHO JUNGLE CAT by Bill Watterson - 5

Is there such a thing as a bad Calvin and Hobbes book?  Not quite as many stories but some sharp looks at our culture that are still relevant 20 years later.  And just plan plenty of laughs.

THE LAST WORD by Lisa Lutz (Spellmans #6) - 5

Isabel's hostile take over of the family's PI firm has not gone well.  As her parents rebel, she tries to juggle the cases and the paperwork side of the business.

All this is served with multiple storylines and plenty of laughs.  The characters are as rich as always, and the ending is great.  No, this isn't the last we'll hear from the Spellmans, but the ending of the book explains the title perfectly.

THE TWO MINUTE RULE by Robert Crais - 3

Max Holman has just been released from prison when he gets the news that his estranged son, a police officer, has been murdered.  When the official story doesn't add up, Max begins poking around.  But is he in over his head?

Another of Crais' stand alone novels, I found this one rather disappointing.  The plot was a little too obvious.  And, as a completely personal issue, the language also bothered me.  On the other hand, the characters were great and compelled me further into the story.

THE HEN OF THE BASKERVILLES by Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow #15) - 5

Meg is the assistant direct at the Un-fair, a local alternative to the state fair.  The first morning things get off to a rough start with some vandalism and theft, including two heritage chickens from the chicken tent.  Throw in tension in the wine pavilion and things are hoping before the dead body shows up.

While I didn't find this one as laugh out loud funny as some of the previous entries, I did really enjoy it.  The plot was good and the characters - new and old - were fun.  Meg's twins stole every scene they were in, too.  Fans of the series or lighter cozies in general will love it.