TV Show Review: Fuller House - Season 5

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Lots of laughs and emotion with the extended Tanner family

Cons: Things feel a bit forced in the early episodes, but that goes away

The Bottom Line:

One last chance to laugh

With a family we love

Sad to see it end

“I Heard a Rumor They Have Cake that Tastes Like Pie.”

I have no excuse.  I’ve had the DVD set for Fuller House season 5 since it was released over four years ago.  I guess I was just trying to put off seeing the end.  But I finally watched the final season of the show, and I enjoyed it.

If you aren’t familiar with the show, Fuller House was a continuation/reboot/sequel series to the classic 80’s/90’s sitcom Full House.  When the show started, recently widowed D.J. Tanner Fuller (Candance Cameron Bure) had asked her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and her best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) to move into her house, aka the old Tanner house, to help raise her three boys, Jackson, Max, and Tommy (Michael Campion, Elias Harger, and twins Dashiell and Fox Messitt).  While Stephanie was single when the series started, Kimmy brought with her a teen daughter, Ramona (Soni Bringas), and an ex-husband who didn’t want to stay an ex, Fernando (Juan Pablo Di Pace).

Along the way, Stephanie found love in the most unlikely place – Kimmy’s brother Jimmy (Adam Hagenbuch).  And D.J. rekindled her romance with her high school boyfriend, Steve Hale (Scott Weinger).

Season 5 picks up where season 4 left off.  Stephanie and Jimmy are coming back from the hospital with their new daughter, which Kimmy was the surrogate for.  While Stephanie and Jimmy try to adjust to being parents, the guys go into partnership to buy a favorite sandwich shop.  Ramona gets a new boyfriend while Jackson winds up with the lead in the school play.  Stephanie decides to cook Thanksgiving dinner, which turns into a disaster – but not in the way you are thinking.  And Steve proposes to D.J., leading to planning a triple wedding for three very different brides.

No, the Olsen twins don’t make an appearance here, which means Michelle is the only character from the original we never see.  Because this season filmed while Lori Loughlin’s legal troubles were going on, we didn’t get to see Aunt Becky this season (which seemed weird given the wedding that ended the series), but Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier popped up several times as Danny Tanner, Uncle Jessie, and Joey.

And yes, this show is built on nostalgia for the original series.  There are lots of nods to the original either in moments, storylines, riffs, or outright copying.  But you know what, I was here for it.  Having rewatched the first half of Full House since I watched season 4 of Fuller, I caught more of those references this time.

Not to say that this is a carbon copy by any means.  There are plenty of fresh storylines and jokes to be had, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I was watching.

One thing I really appreciated was the way the show portrayed the friendship between the three guys, Fernando, Jimmy, and Steve.  The show did a good job of giving them chances to act together, and I loved watching their chemistry.  It might not be as strong as the chemistry between D.J., Steph, and Kimmy, but those actresses have been friends playing these characters longer.  Anyway, it was nice to see a show that showed such great friendships.  We can even include John Brotherton’s Matt, D.J.’s ex-boyfriend but still current business partner, in the circle.  Yep, he shows up a few times.

I’ve found that many modern sitcoms feel forced to me, with the shows working too hard to bring the laughs.  I felt that here with the first few episodes of the season, but once the show got rolling, the laughs came more naturally.  Either it is because I was watching this show over the course of a couple of weeks, so I could get more used to the rhythm, or the writers and actors took a couple of episodes to find the rhythm again.  Either way, I was laughing and enjoying the show completely by the time I’d hit the first quarter of the season.  And that continued until the end.

And I have to give the actors their due.  We have quite a large cast, obviously, but they all shine when they are on screen.  And no matter who the actors are playing off of, the chemistry is strong and brings the laughs.

Season five consisted of 18 episodes, and they are all in the DVD set on two discs.  Each episode is roughly 30 minutes.  Since this was a Netflix show, there aren’t commercial breaks, and the shows run the length of time needed, sometimes a little longer, sometimes a little less.

Along with the laughs, we also get some serious storylines and moments.  Nothing remotely preachy, but some good storylines that reflect who the characters are and what they’ve been through.  These storylines ultimately turned into very heartwarming moments that I loved.

Which brings us to the series finale.  I hit me harder than I was expecting, and I mean that in the best way possible.  Be prepared for all the feels.  It’s a perfect ending.

If, like me, you’ve been putting off watching the final season of Fuller House, it’s time to watch season 5.  You’ll really enjoy seeing where the characters end up.  If we ever get more with this very full family, I would be there in a heartbeat.

Book Review: Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason (Lady Darling Mysteries #1)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Lady Darling and a good mystery

Cons: Over writing and Lady Darling’s backstory

The Bottom Line:

A new sleuth appears

Interesting first story

Backstory bothers

Hunting a High Society Killer

I’ve been enjoying the mysteries that Colleen has been releasing under her Colleen Cambridge pen name, so when she announced she’d be being writing a new one under as Colleen Gleason, I paid attention. Unfortunately, Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer didn’t grab me as much as I would have liked. 

Lady Darling is a widow of a certain age (50), wealthy, and willing to live out her life in the country. But when her friend asks Lady Darling to chaperone her daughter as she comes out in society, Lady Darling reluctantly agrees to go to London for the season. 

At their first dinner party, the host is killed in his study. Lady Darling takes it upon herself to investigate and find the killer. After all, no one takes her seriously, so she can worm her way in and get answers. Certain that the killer was one of the men at the dinner party, she starts looking closer at them. Will she find the killer?

One thing I’ve notice with Colleen’s books is that they can be over written for my taste. We get a little too much about the character’s thoughts and their self-reflection. That’s usually tempered with well-developed characters and some good twists. Here, it got in the way of the book, especially at the beginning. I feel like it was done on purpose to more mimic the style of the 1890’s, when the book is set since it did seem more so than the other books I’ve read. 

Now, this isn’t to say we didn’t get some good twists. Once the story got going, I was entertained. The ending made sense when we reached it, although it was a little drawn out for my tastes. And Lady Darling made a couple of leaps along the way I didn’t think were supported by what she had learned when she made them. 

Lady Darling herself is a hoot. She’s got plenty of spark and enjoys taking advantage of being underestimated. 

The story is told from a few different points of view, and it worked well to give us the complete story and get to know a few of the other characters. 

However, my big gripe with the series was something in Lady Darling’s backstory that didn’t sit right with me. I’ll probably be alone in my take on this, and I can understand why she did what she did. I just feel like someone as smart as she is could have found another way to solve the problem, even given what society was like back then. 

I’m not sure if I will continue on with this series. However, plenty of other readers are enjoying meeting Lady Darling. If you enjoy this time and place, give Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer a chance and see what you think for yourself. 

Movie Review: Too Much to Lose - The Jane Mysteries

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good mystery with fun characters

Cons: Typical low budget cheese at times

The Bottom Line:

Missing Reporter

Appeared on pun themed game show

Another good flick

Hunt for a Missing Reporter

Hallmark has finally released the final Jane Mystery to cable.  And Too Much to Lose was a return to form for this franchise.

If you’ve missed the series, it features Jodie Sweetin as Jane Da Silva, a singer who has returned to Baltimore to help run the charities her late uncle was part of.  One of those is looking at old criminal cases and trying to solve them or free those wrongfully convicted.  When she does that, she works alongside Detective John Cameron (Stephen Huszar).  Rounding out the main cast is Jane’s aunt Sadie (Paris Jefferson).

As this movie opens, Sadie is gearing up for a fundraising gala that is supposed to help a local children’s hospital.  While Jane is all in to help, she gets sidetracked by a very active case.  Reporter Irene March (Sherry Miller) has gone missing after winning a pun themed game show.  With the police reluctant to do anything, Jane starts nosing around.  What will she find?

This movie engaged me from the start, and I appreciated the fact that we were starting off with a missing person case instead of a murder.  I always enjoy a variety in the plots even if most mysteries wind up dealing with a dead body at some point.  This one didn’t wind up going where I thought it might, and I appreciated that.  But everything made sense at the end.

Considering Irene was on a pun related game show, I wish the movie had included some better puns.  I mean, there is no such thing as a bad pun, but these still could have been more original.  Granted, we didn’t see much of the show itself, which was probably for the best.  What we did see was pretty bad.  Yep, it was the worst of the low budget cheese in this movie, but not the only example we got.  But as long as you know to expect that going in, you’ll be fine.

We really don’t have any supporting characters, just the three leads.  And, naturally, the romance between Jane and John.  I enjoyed watching that play out here.

And we got to see Jodie sing again here.  And she plays dress up thanks to Sadie’s extensive costumes, which is always fun.

All told, Too Much to Lose was a fun addition to the franchise.  I’m glad I finally got to see it.  If you’ve enjoyed these movies, you’ll want to watch it.  I haven’t heard anything about any more, but if we do get more, I’ll be watching.

Book Review: O, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany (Year-Round Christmas Mysteries #8)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Characters and setting charm as always

Cons: Pacing of mystery and repetition

The Bottom Line:

Mystery neighbors

Merry must find her landlord

Some charm, some issues

Suspicious New Neighbors

Being the Christmas lover that I am, I’ve read Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas series since it started. While I still enjoyed popping in on the characters, I did find the most recent, O, Deadly Night, a bit disappointing. 

The series is set in the fictional town of Rudolph, New York. When the city’s economy was dying years ago, they took advantage of their name and rebranded themself the Christmas capitol of the country. The tourists loved it. Our main character is Merry Wilkinson, who runs an upscale gift shop, called Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. 

It may be busy season, aka December, but Merry’s landlord at home is distracted by the new neighbors who have moved in. Mrs. D’Angelo hasn’t been able to meet them, and as the center of the town’s gossip mill, that doesn’t sit right. And, she keeps noticing weird things going on at the house. Merry’s too busy to give it too much attention. That is, until Mrs. D’Angelo disappears. Was she right about something strange going on across the street?

As always, I love the setting for this series. The town names are so charming, and I can easily get caught up in the magic of a town that celebrates Christmas all the time, especially when we are visiting in December. That holiday spirit infuses the pages and draws me in. 

Sadly, the book suffered from repetition. It was worse with a subplot involving a cookbook that Merry’s friend is putting together. But there is an entire scene near the beginning that could have been removed without confusing the reader at all. In fact, I made sure that I hadn’t wound up going back a chapter. 

Once the mystery really does get going, it was interesting, but I didn’t feel Merry was active in the investigation. She kept getting updates from others. She does figure things out at the end, but she was also pretty stupid at the end. Overall, the pacing could have been better. 

The characters are their normal charming selves. I do love the cast of characters, so seeing them again was fun. Yes, a couple annoy, but I find I even enjoy seeing them. 

While this isn’t a culinary cozy as such, we do get lots of discussion of delicious food, so I was happy to see the two recipes at the end. 

While there were things I enjoyed about O, Deadly Night, there were things that needed to be smoothed out. The result, for me at least, was a mixed bag. 

Here are the rest of the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this mystery. 

Movie Review: A Case for the Yarn Maker - An Ainsley McGregor Mystery

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Compelling mystery, fun lead characters

Cons: A little low budget cheese, but a small dose of it

The Bottom Line:

Business exec dies

Setting off second fun film

You’ll be glad you watched

“My Jokester Brother Thinks Being Funny Is More Important Than Being Intelligent.”  “And My Sister Is a Nerd.”

I enjoyed the first Ainsley McGregor Mystery movie when it premiered on Great American Family just about a year ago.  I was hoping that the second, A Case for the Yarn Maker, would make its way to the channel at some point as well.  Fortunately, it made the leap from streaming to cable over the weekend because I enjoyed it.

Ainsley (Candace Cameron Bure) is leading an event to honor the 150^th anniversary of her town, Sweet River.  The featured guest at this event is Ellie Mitchum (Christine Upright) a local woman who founded a nation-wide yarn company.  Ellie is difficult from the moment she shows up, but she doesn’t come out of her room to give the talk.  Instead, she’s dead.  Now, Ainsley must work with her brother Ryan (Robin Dunne), the sheriff, and her boyfriend Jake (Aaron Ashmore), the fire chief, to figure out what is happening.  But can they do it?

Yes, I have to comment on the opening act.  We start with a couple few minutes that end with Ellie’s death, then flashback an hour.  Seriously?  We didn’t need the flashback.  Yes, it is a pet peeve.  But since we got Ellie’s death in real time at the first commercial break, I’m unsure why we needed the opening scene.

Okay, that’s out of my system.

I really did enjoy this movie.  We don’t have the awkward exposition to start things off we got with the first movie.  Instead, the writer gives us just enough context to remember who the characters are without trying to reestablish everything.  Even though I hadn’t watched the first movie in a year, I was quickly back in these characters’ world.

And what fun it is.  Ainsley, Ryan, and Jake are a great main trio.  Their joking and teasing of each other made me smile and laugh as I was watching.  The chemistry the three actors have really makes us believe their relationships.  We do also see Ainsley’s book club, and those were fun scenes as well.

Meanwhile, the mystery was solid.  Looking at the plot of the book, I’m wondering if this is a wholly original story.  Either way, it kept me guessing until the end with some great twists, suspects, and plot points.  Yet, everything made sense at the end.

Yes, the movie does have some of the low budget cheese I was expecting when I sat down to watch it.  A few of the performances and a few of the lines were to blame.  But it really was kept to a minimum.  If you watch these kinds of movies on a regular basis, it won’t bother you at all.

I really enjoyed A Case for the Yarn Maker, and I hope we get more movies in this franchise next year.  Meanwhile, I need to make time to start reading the books.

October 5th's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to this week's Sunday/Monday Post!  I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

After all the excitement last week, this was another quiet week.  It was month end close at work, so busy.  And I got another couple things put on my plate for this upcoming week.  You remember how I was talking about September being a marathon that's also a sprint?  I haven't reached the end of that yet.  Hopefully, at the end of this week, things will have calmed down some.  Hopefully.

And I'm mourning the loss of summer weather.  Since it's October, I guess I need to admit that we are not going to get hot weather again this year.  Things really dropped off once we hit September, with temps barely hitting the 90's for a day or two before dropping to the mid-80's or even the 70's.  It's unusual for it to drop that fast.  I'm not happy about it.  But I guess it is time to admit fall is here and start thinking if I need to grab my jacket when I go somewhere.

And yes, I know I have it pretty good if I am complaining that the weather isn't quite to my liking.  But it is my blog, and I'll whine about summer going away if I want to.  :)

Joke of the Week:

What do you call a store that sells only bagels and donuts?  Hole Foods.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti

Tuesday - September Reading Summary

Wednesday - Book Review: Murder Comes Home by Rosalie Spielman

Thursday - Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Friday - TV Show Review: The Marlow Murder Club - Season 2

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Movie Review: A Case for the Yarn Maker

Tuesday - Book Review: O, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany

Wednesday - Movie Review: Too Much to Lose

Thursday - Book Review: Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason

Friday - TV Show Review: Fuller House - Season 5

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

This section was looking like it might be rather small.  And then Friday happened.

I started out the week with one ARC.  A Grave Deception is the sixth Kate Hamilton Mystery from Connie Berry.  Kate is an antiques dealer who has moved to England, where she is constantly finding herself involved in murders.  It won't be out until December, so I'll be reading it in a few weeks.

Friday, I got approved for a second ARC.  This one is Murder in Manhattan by Julie Mulhern.  I'm determined to stay up to date on at least one of her series.  This is the first novel, although I did read the prequel novella earlier this year.  The main character is an advice columnist in 1920's New York City.  It also comes out the beginning of December, so I'll be busy the beginning of that month.  (Especially since there's one more ARC I want to request that month.)

Also, Friday, I learned about a couple of ebook sales I wanted to take advantage of.

Gigi Pandian sent out her newsletter, and part of it was announcing that she's got a sale on a boxed set of her first three Accidental Alchemist mysteries.  I think I have the first book in paperback around the condo somewhere, but even if I do, this is still two books I don't have for a total of $2.99.  You just can't pass that up.  The sale is good all month, so you've got time if you are interested.

Also, Tule Publishing is discounting almost all of their ebooks to $1.99 for the month of October.  While there are still some I'm eyeing, I went ahead and bought A Case for the Cookie Baker by Candace Havens.  It's book five, and the only one I did not have, in her Ainsley McGregor Mysteries.  Now, I need to actually read the books, right?  I have no excuse.  (And yes, the movie I'll be reviewing Monday is based on one of the books.)

What I'm Currently Reading:

As I'm typing this, I finished up a book last night.  Murder Most Scenic is a collection of short stories by Liz Milliron.  These are the stories that really introduce the characters in her Laurel Highlands Mysteries.  I read book one before I realized I really should have started here, so I went back to the beginning.  I enjoyed them, and now I'm anxious to get back into the series.

I've got a couple of Halloween books on my TBR pile for the month, and I have barely started on one of them.  Haunted House Ghost is the fifth book in the Baxter Campus Mysteries from James J. Cudney.  I'm not far enough into it to have an opinion yet.  The series can be uneven, but hopefully, this will be a good entry in the series.

Have a great week!

October 4th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Marlow Murder Club – I really didn’t follow this story.  Was it there was too much going on?  Not concentrating enough from week to week?  Both?  I enjoyed the main characters as always, but I just wasn’t invested in the mystery.

Celebrity Weakest Link – I was glad to see the couples didn’t fight with each other.  At least on camera.  And the stuff between the couples was pretty fun – in keeping with what we would normally see.  I was wondering if it would still be for charity or not, but I really did like both of the charities they were playing for at the end.  There were some rough rounds in there, but the guy who won finished strong.

Only Murders in the Building – Yes, I’m all caught up!  (Watch for my season 4 review coming soon.)  I’ve watched all of season 5 so far this week, and I’m intrigued.  Glad I only have to wait until Tuesday for the next new episode.  After that, it’s going to be hard since I’m used to binging this show.  I’m also liking that they are creating a stronger overall mystery these days instead of focusing on a different suspect each week until we reach the end.  Are we taking down the billionaires?  Or are they just red herrings?

Dancing with the Stars – Well that was a surprise.  So much for my prediction about Andy.  I like the guy, don’t get me wrong, but he really is the weakest dancer left.  Overall, not my favorite night.  I get the desire to tie into TikTok, but this just did not work for me.  I wasn’t a fan of most of the songs.

Shifting Gears – Nice episode back.  The big guest stars they’d been teasing were under used, however.  I mean, it was great to see them, but I was expecting a little more.  I also didn’t realize Nancy Travis was in this episode.  Kind of cool to have all the shows represented in one episode, but I was thinking it was going to be a different episode.  I’m really going to struggle with this relationship between Matt and Eve.  The age difference is messing with me, which is a shame since I like both Tim Allan and Jenna Elfman.  It’s nice to see her in something else.

The Challenge – I get that CT is older, but I am wondering why I keep rooting for him.  He doesn’t seem to be that good at this anymore.  I understand the reputation from year’s past, but that doesn’t mean he’s that good right now.  Mind you, I wouldn’t be doing any better, so I’m not judging.  And I was sorry to see him go.  At least his partner had the same issue he did during the trivia challenge, so he wasn’t the only reason they lost.  I think I would have struggled with that as well.  Balance and I are not friends.

Survivor – Realistically, it probably should have bene Sophia.  She is struggling so much it is going to keep being an issue for the team.  I mean, look at how the tribe fell apart at the puzzle.  They also need to figure out the puzzles.  But, I’ve got to say I’m glad they kept their focus on Annie.  She was going to be a problem later on if they let her think she was running things.  And seriously, how do you think you are in control?  Have you never seen this show before?

The Amazing Race – I must admit, I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the show as it was starting, so I was not always following all the ins and outs of the train travel.  Looks like some teams did make a very fortunate accident there, however, since they wound up in the front.  Hopefully, the rest are able to catch up on the next leg and maybe the leading teams get hit with something that doesn’t work for them, so they are knocked out of the lead.  Yep, already rooting against the leaders.  Meanwhile, not too surprised with the bottom team, but my pick for loser last week is still around.

TV Show Review: The Marlow Murder Club - Season 2

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Two good mysteries with fun characters

Cons: The final mystery is disappointing

The Bottom Line:

Three Marlow cases

First two are entertaining

Last one disappoints

“How Are You?”  “Well, Apart from Standing Next to a Dead Body, I’m Good, Thanks.”

The producers behind The Marlow Murder Club decided to do something different for season two.  While season one spent four episodes bringing the first novel to life on the screen, season two would bring us three different stories.  Each would unfold over two episodes, which gave us a total of six episodes for season two.  While two of the stories were quite entertaining, one fell flat.

If you’ve missed the series or the books, it revolves around three unlikely friends in the British town of Marlow.  There’s retired archeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), dog walker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin), and the Vicar’s wife, Becks Starling (Cara Horgan).  Rounding out the main characters is DS Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew), who has come to recognize how helpful these three amateurs can be to solving the crimes in their community.

The first two episodes are pulled from the second book in the series, Death Comes to Marlow.  It kicks off with Judith being invited to a party celebrating a wedding, scheduled to take place the next day.  But when the groom-to-be dies in a locked room, it’s up to our characters to solve the murder.

I’d read it about a month before the episodes aired, so I was very familiar with it.  In order to cover the story in two episodes, they had to cut out a few things, most prominently some sub-plots, but a twist or two got rushed as well.  Overall, it was a decent take on the story, although it’s easy to say the book was better in this case.

Up next, we have the case of a dead body in the middle of the cul-de-sac.  There are only two houses still occupied since the rest have sold out to a developer who wants to build in the area.  But neither of the couples will admit to seeing anything that morning.  Who is the victim?

I really enjoyed this story as well.  Since this was an original story, I didn’t know for sure where they were going with it, and I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.  They manage to have time for a good sub-plot or two involving the main characters as well, which I enjoyed.

The final story of the season involved a murder at the local sailing club.  When one of the members is found dead, it looks like an accident, at least at first.  But the trio soon uncover evidence that it was murder.  Can they navigate club politics to find the killer?

Honestly, this was the story I struggled with.  While the set up was good, there were just too many suspects and motives, and we didn’t see enough to cement the relationships and their motives.  And that’s without any real subplots.  While things did make sense at the end, we got a long monologue from Judith explaining what had happened as she accused the killer.  That’s only slightly better than the villain monologuing.

One thing I loved from the first season is the chemistry of the main cast.  That holds true here again, and it’s only gotten stronger.  While they were just forming their friendships in season one, here, they are established, and you can feel how much they care for each other.  The supporting actors and guest stars are just as good at bringing their characters to life.

The show is filmed in Marlow, which is also fun.  The locations are lovely.  If I ever make it to England, I’d enjoy visiting.

While the final third of the season is disappointing, I highly recommend the first four episodes of season two.  They show just how fun The Marlow Murder Club can be.

Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black (Shady Hollow #1)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Decent mystery and likable characters

Cons: One element bothers me (and is a me thing)

The Bottom Line:

Creative setting

Slow start to good mystery

But one thing bugged me

Not Bad, but Didn’t Quite Work For Me

When I heard about Shady Hollow, I knew I had to give the series a try. It sounded like a fun twist on the cozy mystery genre. Having finally read the first, I can say it didn’t quite work for me. 

The series is set in the town of Shady Hollow, where woodland creatures live together in harmony. The carnivores have sworn off eating animals, or at least their fellow residents (fish are still on the menu). It’s so peaceful that the sheriff and deputy have little actual crime fighting experience. 

Until one day when the body of Otto, a toad, is spotted floating in the pond. When evident that he was stabbed surfaced, it is quickly deemed a murder. Granted, Otto wasn’t well liked, but who would want to kill him? Fortunately, Vera Vixen, a fox and the newspaper’s ace reporter is on the case. Can she catch the killer?

Sitting down to read this book, I thought it had the potential to turn into one of my favorite series. When I set it down, I concluded that it’s not bad, but I don’t think it is for me. 

The story is told in omniscient point of view. While it’s not my favorite story telling method, the author did a decent enough job with it. But it worked to keep me out of the story. As did the backstories we got on some of the characters as soon as we met them. 

That backstory also contributed to the story starting out a little slowly. Once it got going, there were some decent twists and surprises along the way, and the ending made sense. 

And the characters were fun. I liked them and found myself rooting for Vera to figure things out. 

The cast of animal characters are human in every discernable way. You just have to accept that a mouse and easily talk with a bear or a moose owns a coffee shop. I’m okay with that, but I felt the author could have done a better job with the town. Maybe it’s just me, but I was expecting a bit more creativity like the book store they invented. That was brilliant. 

But what really bothered me was the idea of interspecies romance. I was willing to buy everything else, but for some reason, that really bothered me. I get it, this is a me issue, so your mileage on this will vary. 

So, that’s why I won’t be continuing on with this series. If the premise still intrigues you, give Shady Hollow a try. Lots of others love it, so you might as well.

Book Review: Murder Comes Home by Rosalie Spielman (Hometown Mysteries #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong mystery and characters

Cons: No cons came home

The Bottom Line:

Cameraman dies

Setting off compelling book

Better with each book

Tessa Must Pick Another Murderer

I am really enjoying Rosalie Spielman’s Hometown Mysteries.  In fact, Murder Comes Home is the third book I’ve read this year in the series, and I’m planning to work in the Christmas entry into my December reading plans.  Anyway, this third book in the series was another page turner.

The series features Tessa Treslow, who has returned to her hometown of New Oslo, Idaho, after retiring from a career in the Army.  She and her aunt are working on setting up a car restoration business, and in order to do that, they need to clear out their old garage so they have more space to work.  When they are contacted by the TV show Picks with Ricks, they quickly agree to be featured on the show, hoping the hosts will find some items they are willing to buy, thus getting them some money and cleaning out the garage a little.

However, what one of the hosts fixates on is the car that Tessa and her aunt have almost finished restoring.  While the duo haven’t decided about selling it to him, Tessa is shocked to find it on a nearby deserted road.  Worse yet, the body of the show’s camera man is inside.  Who wanted him dead?  And why in their car?

A TV show or movie coming to town is hardly a new set up for a mystery, but this one caught me with the unusual murder set up.  The stolen car pulled me in right away, and the further I got into the book, the harder I found it to put down.  The twists kept coming until I reached the ending.  At that point, everything made sense.

It’s helped that there is a strong mystery in the past as well that kept me engaged.  And that’s all I will say on that subject.

The characters are becoming better developed as the series goes along, as well.  I’m really growing to love the regulars, including the fun residents we’ve been fortunate to meet.  Tessa and her family are wonderful characters, and I love getting to spend time with them.  And I’m really liking Tessa relationship with her love interest as well.  The suspects did a great job keeping me confused as the story went along.

So far, this series has gotten stronger with each book I’ve read, and Murder Comes Home is no exception.  I already can’t wait until I get to visit the characters again.

Settle in for the rest of the Hometown Mysteries.