Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

 

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a wonderful week.

I love having a whole roasted chicken in the fridge, it's so homey and I feel like I can make a million different meals from that one ingredient.  Yes, I know I mention chicken roasting ad nauseam here, but believe it or not I can cook other things.  I can trim a whole beef tenderloin, clean and sectioned, in under 15 minutes.  I can make stuffed, braided bread, chocolate pot de creme, ice creams, seafood, ratatouille, or biscuits that will make you cry out in joy. Surprisingly, I don't have that many cookbooks, preferring books that teach not just feature recipes.  Of course, many people, including me, have the classics like The Joy of Cooking or the ever-famous Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.  I have my mother's copy of Julia Child's famous book, even in 1970 it was in its 19th printing, it's still going strong today.  Pretty amazing for a book not to be relegated to a backlist, all these years later. Of course, me cooking anything out of this book likely looks like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory, while standing on banana peels and being pelted with eggs, but I imagine I'm a world class chef. The hot, boob-a-licious kind of chef with dazzling smile and great hair, not the grumbling old man with dirty towel tucked under his apron.

I recently read Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge.  The first thing that you'll notice in this mystery is the cover, which looks very much like Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking only with a chef's knife plunged through the middle with blood running down it.  An amusing start without even opening the book.  This is the story of Tabitha Knight and her pal, Julia Child in 1949 Paris.  The book opens the day after a party held at Julia and husband Paul's apartment.  Tabitha and Julia are food shopping.  Julia has undertaken the task of teaching her friend to cook so is introducing Tabitha to various vendors and how to pick the best vegetables.  Upon returning to Julia's apartment, they discover something amiss, one of the guests from the previous night's festivities is dead in the building basement.  Not only is the death of a young woman terrible enough but she has been stabbed in the chest with Julia's own chef's knife.  Quickly, Julia and Tabitha become the main suspects in the brutal murder.  The only way out is to help solve the murder.

This book will be delightful for any fan of Julia Child, post-war Paris, cooking in general, or mystery lovers.  While Julia is present throughout, she does not overwhelm the story nor does the author treat the book as her term paper about all her Child research.  A pleasant read, with plenty of twists, the story will "stir" your imagination as you "strain" through the characters to figure out this "well-seasoned" who-dun-it.  Okay, I'll stop, but seriously, this was lots of fun.

I have to go start making dinner, hope I can find my chef's knife.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Hello everyone.  I hope your day is going well.

Some people walk through life (literally) with grace.  Not me, I walk through everything with an eternal sense of clumsiness.  Sadly, some of my lack of walking on clouds has rubbed off on my husband.  Now some of his troubles he deserves.  Hubby constantly leaves glasses, bowls, everything, halfway on and halfway off the counter or table.  It's begging mean old Mr. Gravity to do his job, while he laughs maniacally and twists his handlebar mustache.  This time, I'm talking about accidents.  One time after my grandfather had died, my sisters and I rented a house on the beach in Nags Head, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We invited my grandmother, thinking it would be a great escape for her and reenforcing that we were still a family of which she was a big part.  One day while helping my grandmother in her room, hubby had to get something that had fell behind a set of drawers.  They were about hip high, and he didn't realize that the top drawer was slightly open.  As he bent over the top to pull her item from behind the dresser, um...some very personal part of his body traveled into the top of the drawer (yes, he was dressed), at the same time he was leaning against the drawer.  Yes, he gave himself a major pinch, all the while not letting on to my grandmother what had happened.  Yep, that's one of my memories of renting a house for a family vacation.

I recently read The Villa by Rachel Hawkins.  I've reviewed several of her books before, enjoying them.  In addition, she writes The Ex Hex series under the name Erin Sterling, also reviewed here.  The Villa is about Emily and Chess, both authors and best friends from Asheville, NC.  When reunited for a visit they decide to spend the summer in Italy in a famous villa with an interesting history.  The story moves in dual timelines between the present and 1974 where five people are also renting the same villa for the summer.  They are musicians and a writer.  All hoping the setting will improve their creativity. Sadly in 1974 one of the five ends up murdered.  The crime is solved and one of them goes to jail, but when in the present-day Emily does some research, it appears things may not have been as it seemed.  As the book moves through everyone's time on their vacation, parts of their histories start to match up.  Will Emily solve what really happened in 1974, will the cursed house tear Em and Chess apart or worse?  

While I have enjoyed Rachel Hawkins past books this one is so superior.  The story is multi layered, interesting, moves at a thoughtful pace.  While not a heart pounding thriller, you'll be thrilled to keep those pages turning.  Highly entertaining, this book is hard to put down.  Don't miss it.

Now that I've told you about my husband and his hurt...um...pride...I better go make sure all the kitchen drawers are closed.   

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a great day.

Well, I can't say anything sarcastic about my husband.  A huge arrangement of flowers just arrived.  This weekend is our anniversary.  We had the sweetest wedding.  It was in upstate New York, in a tiny white church from the 1800's.  Then our reception was in a hotel near my dad's office.   Besides ballrooms, the hotel has a pretty restaurant on the banks of a river. Every year we would all go there for lunch at the holidays.  Of course, the restaurant would be packed with his coworkers and my dad would be so proud as my mom and us four girls were shown to our table.  He kept pointing to us, talking to people as we went by...he actually claimed us as his daughters. Pretty good for a guy that really wanted a son.  Anyway, our reception was at that hotel.  We had a sit-down dinner, open bar, live jazz band, the works. Best of all we had our loved ones, so many of which are now gone.  Sadly, this weekend also is the anniversary of my mother's death.  It's always an odd time, both happy and terribly sad. As always, when there is something sad or housework I want to procrastinate on, I read.  I've been reading lots!

I recently read The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews.  I've read and reviewed books by this author before, The Santa Suit just a few months ago.  Usually, I get her holiday books.  I'm always stressed, they look smaller, like a quick read, and they always have very festive holiday covers.  While I'm not normally one of those people that buys books based on covers, I do allow myself to be a bit sucked in at Christmas.  It's actually become a tradition.  While the holiday books are always wonderful, I wasn't sure about a 400+ page novel.

The Homewreckers was charming.  The story is about Hattie, who restores houses in Savannah.  She is convinced to star in a tv show, sharing her contractor abilities with the world.  The project is plagued by disaster after disaster, but when questions arise about a beloved teacher's disappearance years ago and how it might be tied to her new restoration, things get really troubling. This book has something for everyone, a romance, old houses, and a mystery. 

A word about the writing, it is very nice.  I have a pet peeve when someone describes xyz happening.  Then someone walks up, and they tell every detail of xyz again.  The two chapters later someone asks when happened and xyz gets explained in detail for a third time.  Mary Kay Andrews does NOT do that.  When an opportunity exists for an author to describe a series of events multiple times and they don't, I feel like they really respect their readers time which I appreciate.

This book, while not tense like my adored thrillers, is a very pleasant read. It would be great on a vacation or as a gift for someone buying a new house or moving to Savannah, or for any day of the week with a "d" in it.  With a tag line of "Love, murder, and faulty wiring," how could it not be fun? 

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Hello everyone.  I hope you enjoyed some nice holiday time.

I often tease my family here...hey, who wouldn't?  Especially if you met them, believe me, there is a lot to joke.  In fact, when we were at our first appointment for premarital counseling all those years ago, the minister asked what hubby and I saw as one of our major issues.  I said, "He thinks he's funnier."  My husband jumped in insisting that, in fact, he was the more humorous between us.  We had a lighthearted argument about it in front of the woman to marry us.  After that session she pronounced us ready to wed, even telling my mother we "would be fine" for the future. That was decades ago, and I don't know about us being "fine", but I will tell you that my husband still draws breath (for the time being), so I guess that is something.  

Seriously, my husband is a keeper.  He is strong but tender, unbelievably sweet yet equally annoying, he is way too smart when he wants to be.  Yep, he is one of the kind of men that I adore, those that are completely secure in their manhood.  They can go buy lipstick and lumber, carry heavy furniture one minute and cradle a tiny puppy the next. The kind of man that knows your pain or joy by just looking in your eyes.  I chose wisely.  Some do not.

I recently read The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner.  This is the story of Caroline, whose marriage is crumbling.  She escapes to London for a break, while there Caroline discovers an old bottle from a centuries old apothecary.  Since she is interested in history, she becomes determined to find the source of the unusual glass relic.  This story is also told from back when the apothecary is still operating.  It holds many secrets, including that its mission is to sell poison for women to use against their deserving husbands.

This clever story is a joy to read.   It is hard to put down as betrayal and mystery abounds.   As the present day and past stories start to mirror each other, you'll find yourself desperate to get to the finish, not wanting the storytelling to stop but to discover answers.  The end, both surprising and satisfying, left me wanting more. This sweeping tale is a pleasure and not to be missed.

How about The Lost Tavern next?  No, no, The Lost Bookstore!

A Slow Fire Burning by Paul Hawkins

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a great day.

Have you ever been on a boat?  Don't look at me that way, lots of people in land locked areas haven't had the opportunity to do their best Gilligan impersonation.  Despite living on the coast, my experiences are limited. My in-laws had a boat for a short time.  The one time hubby and I went out on the water with them and a terrible thunder storm started.  With lightening striking all around us, my mother-in-law made a break for it trying to get us to safety.  If you've never sat on the back of a boat, going way too fast, over other people's wakes, bouncing off of the ledge your sitting on and realizing at that very moment that you're positioned exactly over the propeller....well, let's just say....don't!  Also, when we were kids, going to the Jersey shore, we took the Cape May Lewis Ferry.  It was their last trip of the night because of a storm rolling in.  The water was rough and our seats, though inside, looked out over the ocean.  First there is no ocean, then lots of ocean, then no ocean.  Yeah, we were bobbing up and down like one of those glass woodpecker things old people used to put on their desks for relaxation.  Relaxation my fanny, I almost puked my guts out! Boats and I obviously don't get along.

I recently read A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins.  Sound familiar?  Yep, this is the author that wrote the famous book which inspired the subsequent movie The Girl on a Train.  I loved that book.  It had such suspense.  Not only was the scene the main character observed unreliable but so was the woman watching from the train.  It was well played, keeping up the tension and constantly pointing the eye of guilt in different directions.  I wish the same were true of the new book A Slow Fire Burning.  The title certainly does this novel justice, it's slow and sadly, disappointing.  Had it been another writer, it might have been okay...and just okay.  However, given what we know what Paul Hawkins is capable of, I feel let down.  This is the story of a man who is murdered on the houseboat that he lives on.  There are several characters that could be involved. The problem is none of them are likable...which matters to many readers.  For me, not so much in a thriller so I could be okay with that if they were the slightest bit interesting...which they aren't.  Then the story evolves way too slowly and there are just no big twists.  No suspense, no tension, no twists.  How is this a thriller?  

Now, as always, I remind you that I am a housewife that hasn't sold any books so take my opinion with a grain of salt, half an onion, a dash of pepper and call me in the morning.  Seriously, this book is rated four starts and editors pick on Amazon so you may love it.  For me, reading lots of thrilling thrillers, this was slow, boring and just disappointing all around, it is a hard no.  Pass completely. 

All this talk of getting sea sick is making me need a distraction.  Book anyone? 

Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena

Hello everyone.  I hope your day has been pleasant.

If you had wealthy parents would you consider killing them for their money?  Please note, I'm assuming you would all say no or run along as you have totally creeped me out.  Now, if your parents turned up dead would you throw your siblings under the bus to collect their share of the money? For me...absolutely.  I'll be getting phone calls tomorrow but let it be known that they are all goners!  Time to get even for my parents going with "what the majority wanted" and there being three of them (my sisters are triplets).  What they wanted always won.  Unfair.  So, if it comes down to it, up the river they go.  I'll even put my palms together and repeatedly curl my fingers, with an evil laugh, Disney villain style. Forget pricking your finger on that spinning wheel, you're prison bound! (Sleeping Beauty, must I tell you everything.)

I recently read Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena.  I love that Shari Lapena writes about upstate NY since that is where I grew up.  In this case, the story is about a family that lives in the Hudson Valley.  The very wealthy parents of three children are murdered.  The entire book is about who did it and why.  Lapena is an expert at convincing the reader that someone is guilty only to accomplish the same thing in the next chapter with another person.  A very fun read.  Not really thrillery but a great mystery.  Think the movie Knives Out, but much better.  The book features interesting character development which is revealed slowly, allowing our feelings toward each person to remain fluid.  Compounded with short, cliff hanger chapters and you've got a book that will fly by.  A great one to read on vacation.

By the way, to any reading siblings, expect no cakes with files from me.  You'll be lucky to get a cupcake!

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a nice day.

I had some interesting and memorable teachers.  Two high school English teachers come to mind.  I had a sweet little old man that kind of looked like a Bassett Hound (old to me then, he was probably in his late 40's). He used to exaggerate the way words were said, saying at least every syllable, if not more.  Vegetable wasn't vegetable it was "veg-e-ta-ble".  Hey, it kept our attention.  Another English literature teacher was also the drama coach, he was a natural for both and there was no distinction between the two.  I remember reading The Old Man and the Sea, going around the classroom each person reading one sentence.  Then, he had little pieces of wisdom he wanted to impart.  I still remember him telling us that the words "certainly" and "surely" were interchangeable.  He would chant "When I say certainly, you say ..." waiting for us to say "surely".  When the classroom would respond he would jump up and give a kind of high pitched roar.  His feet would literally leave the ground.  Silly as it sounds today, he must have done something right because I still remember what he taught, and him.

I recently read For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing.  This is the story of a fancy private school and the people that teach and learn there.  We follow several people but mostly Teddy, who was recently named Teacher of the Year.  He is very concerned about making his students the best they can be, even those that really rub him the wrong way.  Given that this is a wealthy school, he feels that several of the students have an elitist attitude that they would be better served without.  But what happens when teachers start getting sick, then dropping dead?  

This book is fairly long at over 370 pages and worth every sentence.  As things start going bonkers at this ritzy school you kind of want to give a bit of an evil laugh, it's like stepping back in time and binge watching a wacked version of Knots Landing (a prime time tv show kind of soap opera from 1979-1993).  While you won't find Joan Van Ark here, you will find plenty of twists and turns.  The author tells us pretty early on who is responsible but that just adds to the fun as we get to see that persons planning as well as the ominous results.  This fun and frantic read features short chapters with many ending in questions or cliff hangers.  A perfect summer read.  My favorite of Samantha Downing's so far.

Beware, this may have you digging out your yearbook and giving your teachers a second look.

The Shadows by Alex North

Hello everyone.  I hope you are all well.  It occurred to me that despite this being a housewife's blog, I've never actually given out any recipes.  Frankly, most of them it takes me a while to develop so I guard my secrets.  I'll include an easy, well-known recipe today but will put it at the bottom so you that don't speak "kitchen" can avoid it.

I've been reading up a storm and have many books to tell you about.  Today I want to talk about The Shadows by Alex North. If that author's name rings a bell you're not crazy.  Well, you very well may be a loon but you like books, so it doesn't matter. Anyway, awhile ago I received an advanced copy of The Whisper Man, by Alex North. When I opened the package the book came in, it started to sing a creepy song.  After such an unusual introduction to Mr. North and really enjoying The Whisper Man, I was very excited to read The Shadows.  The two books are very different. I viewed The Whisper Man as a true thriller. I always had that creepy "the call is coming from inside the house" feeling....you know like something is about to jump out of your closet at a moments notice. The Shadows is much more of a slow burn. The book has an elaborate story and the feeling is very dark and atmospheric.  Hubby repeatedly asked me if I liked it, I kept saying it was the "Eeyore" of settings in an Alex North kind of way....eerie and unsettling. Still you can't stop flipping pages.  It's about kids that were into lucid dreaming and the evil things those young men used it to accomplish.  Years have passed but now those acts, murders to be specific, are happening again. Is it somehow one of those young men now twenty-five years later or a copy cat? The story is unusual, creative and certainly enthralling.  The characters are interesting and well defined. In addition to a plot I obviously enjoyed, let me pause to take a moment to praise the writing. An interesting story could easily grab my attention without great writing, but in this case the reader is treated to both making the journey to the exciting end all the better.  A very unnerving novel, one you don't want to miss.

On to the recipe:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

you need:
one boxed spice cake mix
one can of pumpkin, 15 ounces (plain pumpkin NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix all together.  Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Makes 14 muffins.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Additional thoughts:

You may think these won't mix together without some other kind of moisture but they do! 

I use paper muffin liners.

You can add more or less chocolate or change the variety. I usually use dark chocolate chips as it's bold flavor seems to stand up better to the spice and pumpkin.

I often throw in a couple handfuls of cinnamon chips, if I have them.  You could use cinnamon chips and no chocolate.

My sister loves these muffins without anything but cake mix and pumpkin and she puts them in mini muffin pans (adjust cooking time downward).

They would make great cupcakes. Leave out the chocolate chips and instead add a buttercream or cream cheese frosting.  You could even put a bit of cinnamon in the frosting to make it nice and fall-ish. 

Experiment with what your family likes, these are a great place to start and are very forgiving.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins would be perfect while reading the disturbing and oh so good, The Shadows!

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

Hello everyone.

Hubby is back to work! I feel terrible about how he spent his vacation. He did some things around the house, one was cleaning out a walk-in closet to make it a mini library for me. After he went out and bought all the wood and brackets to build beautiful shelving I actually looked at the cleaned out closet and admitted I had forgotten how many shelves it already had and didn't want more. When I asked him to return all the lumber I think he might have hit me with it like in an old Bugs Bunny cartoon. In fact, it is still sitting in my hall, days later, unreturned, taunting me. It smells so good, that new wood smell. The boards he picked are so nice, thick and straight, they'd make beautiful shelves. I don't know, maybe I should ask him to build shelves anyway. If you see me in divorce court you'll know why. Likewise, if I suddenly go missing in a very mysterious way, first alert the police, second call my sisters, third write a book about it and make sure you make me an innocent victim with a much smaller butt and better hair!

While we were on our staycation, I read My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. I wanted this book the moment I saw it but resisted buying it. I had just read For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt. Frankly, I was afraid they were they same thing. For Better and Worse is about a murdering couple. They murder for a reason, someone has hurt their child. They have a purpose, a gore filled goal (it isn't really gory). Thankfully, My Lovely Wife is completely different.  I got lucky, my husband is a hopeless romantic, he sends flowers for notable occasions, big beautiful bouquets. In My Lovely Wife, the husband/father is the narrator and honestly, I don't think the author gives his name...ever. He is married to Millicent and they have two children. Life is perfect, their version of perfect.  Instead of showing his affection for his wife with flowers, jewelry or an exciting trip, this husband finds her someone to murder! It is so dark and twisted. They live everyday life like everyone else, making you wonder what the "normal" people you know do in private. Nothing like a Wednesday night of, "honey, can you pass the green beans and how do you think we should torture victim number three?"  As I was telling hubby the story I kept gripping the book, holding it up, laughing, saying it was so good. Makes me wonder about myself!

So, if you have read the latest round of husband/wife killer books, don't worry. You'll enjoy this too. It is well written, fast paced, full of twists that you won't see coming and perhaps a bit shame inducing for how much you'll like it. This was a heart racing rollercoaster from start to finish!

We have our wedding anniversary coming up next month, I'll have to think of "something" to do to celebrate!

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

Hello everyone.

Have you ever seen someone you thought you knew but it wasn't that person? Awkward to say but you know what I mean. Of course you have, everybody has. My husband told me about how they were on vacation when he was a kid and were 2,000+ miles away from home, and his sister thought she saw someone from her elementary school class riding their bike. When I lost my parents, I swear I saw each of them everywhere. I still often think I see my dad, he just had one of "those" faces and heads, especially from the back...you know...dad-ish. In the case of grief, I am sure it is very common especially shortly after your loss. Otherwise, I am sure someone has caught your eye. Some of us have a good memory for faces.

I recently read Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson. In this story, a woman, Hen (short for Henrietta) and her husband, Lloyd, have moved into a new house. They have dinner at the neighbors house directly across the street. A pretty normal and pleasant thing to do. While they are being given a home tour Hen sees a trophy that reminds her of a murder case. Although she doesn't know the murderer's face like I was yammering about earlier, Henrietta knows the trophy. She remembers the murder of years ago so clearly because she lived on the street where it happened. The trophy, for fencing, was taken by the killer as a grisly souvenir. Although their charming host has a perfectly logical explanation for having the award, Hen has a sense that all is not well. As they story progresses we find out not only did Hen live on the street where the murder was committed but has had mental health issues in the past. When she becomes absolutely positive that she is now living on the street with the killer, she goes to the police but who will believe her with her past? Even Lloyd doubts his wife, fearing another mental break. Ahhh, I've given you plot which I vowed not to do, you've likely already read the book jacket. I just couldn't help myself. This story is just what a thriller should be, twisty. It leaves you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages like a mad woman. It forces you to eat frozen pizza for dinner! Oh yes, gasp you should, this book is too good to even contemplate time away from it to make dinner...and the resulting dishes...forget about them!

Do yourself a favor, get your favorite take out pizza, some paper plates, and this book. You will savor them all!

The Silent Patient

Hello everyone.

I hope you are enjoying the winter weather and not too snow bound. Last time I was talking about the big storm that was coming and how my sister in upstate NY was due for something like eighteen inches. I admitted I was a little bit evil because I had a smirk on my face while writing about it. Hey, my family teases me about moving south when I complain about the humidity, fair is fair. Only I guess it isn't really. My sister slid while walking on the ice and really hurt her knees, like x-rays and Cortisone shots under both kneecaps hurt. Rrrrr, gives me the willies just thinking about it. Thankfully for her, she is much stronger than I am. Anyway, now I feel terrible, like a horrible rotten person. We were supposed to get a little ice and snow but had pouring rain and bad wind for a couple of hours, that was it. Just enough to make everything in our old house creak and groan, especially as the temperature dropped and the wood shrank. It was both creepy and annoying. I swore I heard dripping on the third floor, in the storage-rafters part. Of course I woke up hubby and sent him from bed to literally crawling all over to find no dripping. Phew, I would rather be wrong on that issue!

While all this "weather" was going on last weekend and we were hunkered down, I finished a book. I received an arc of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides from Celadon Books. It is available for pre-order and is released February 5, 2019. You all have busy lives so I'll cut to the chase, it was great, I loved it. See ya later!

Okay, just kidding. Figures huh, spend 45 minutes yammering on about the weather and family issues and one sentence about the book. Seriously, this is my favorite, a thriller. A husband and wife seem like everything is fine, one day she shoots him in the face several times, killing him. Then she never speaks again. Instead of jail she is in an institution. The story is told as a new doctor arrives and is very interested in this silent patient's case and is determined to help her. Now you mystery and thriller readers will agree that when you read a lot of these types of books you think you can beat the author, figure out the "who dun it" or the big twist. Sometimes we get it right, which is fine if you enjoy the story. Sometimes, however, the author shocks you and you, as the reader, are wrong. This story has an enormous twist, HUGE, as I am ashamed and delighted to tell you I didn't see it coming. I've been trying to get hubby to read it. I'm wondering if I missed signs, was this twist obvious? But I keep telling myself that I have read so many thrillers I would have seen it coming. Nope, boys and girls, you can cross the butler off your list in this one, he definitely didn't do it.  You've got to love when a book can make you gasp out loud and that is what this one did.

One more thing, I hate medical stuff so the title had me a little leery, but rest assured that is not an issue here at all. Also, know that this book is nicely paced and certainly keeps you turning pages before and after the "gasp". Get ready for February 5th, see if you figure it out!

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a complex, lengthy, weird, and an odd book. It's also: mesmerizing, brilliant, character rich, has a perfect setting in a creepy old mansion alone in the woods. The atmosphere is moody and rich, making the pages come to life. This book is filled with twists and turns. It is amazing and despite being over 400 pages I would still read more!
No spoilers, but the story follows a character that must solve a murder and moves within the bodies of the different characters to see things from their perspective. Now while I'm not a fan of fantasy, I still loved this book. I really am at a loss to describe this story. It is like Groundhog Day, meets Sherlock Holmes, meets The Death of Mrs. Westaway. The story is so involved with many characters and people moving within those bodies, it seems a bit confusing in the beginning. The reader soon learns about each character, loving some, disliking others. In addition, it has a satisfying ending (which I always appreciate). I am amazed at the work that went into this book, I think it might have been easier to solve a real murder than write this novel. If you are a mystery lover, what are you waiting for...get it now! 

This review was originally written for BookishFirst, a very fun web site. Many thanks to BookishFirst and the publisher Source Books for an advanced reader copy of this book. In addition, huge thanks to the author, Stuart Turton, for writing such a great story. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle will be released September 18th and is available for preorder.

Murder Mile by Lynda LaPlante

I am very glad I read Murder Mile. It is only the second book I've read that focused so intensely on the police and their efforts to solve a murder. In this case, several murders! Still, focused on just the police, I was afraid the story might be slow or even boring. I am so glad to say it was neither! By sticking to a limited amount of characters (there are still plenty), it feels like the story stays on point. I adore it when authors respect my time and stick to the plot...yet I still want a great story. Murder Mile delivers! It is detail oriented, fast paced, always interesting, and kept me guessing. Even right at the end I was convinced I knew who the murderer was, happily I was wrong. If you like police centered books, good murder mysteries, or just a great read, then this book is for you! 

This review was written for BookishFirst, a great site if you haven't visited. BookishFirst and the publisher Zaffre provided an advanced copy, this book is to be released September 4, 2018.

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams

A couple of months ago I read a great book by three authors, one of which is a favorite of mine, Karen White. I loved it, but more about that title in another review. When July's months Book of the Month choice list came out, I zeroed in on a familiar name....one of the other two authors of that story I enjoyed so much. The novel is The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams. Believe it or not, I consulted hubby about which title to get. The thriller, as always, had me drooling. What if reading a whole book by Beatriz Williams activated by raging case of "whole set-itis", requiring me to have a complete set of something, or in the case of books, read everything by an author? Let's face it, I need another author to follow like I need another hole in the head. (Side note, what an ugly saying. )Since you're reading a book blog, I'm sure you understand.  In any case, hubby urged me to get out of my thriller rut and venture on to The Summer Wives. For the record, I consider my love of thrillers to be loyal passion, not a rut, but I'm not arguing with someone who brought me a gift of a book last week.

The Summer Wives is about the differences between rich and poor, specifically on an island on the northeast United States. It kinda reminds me of the old mansions in Newport. Got it? While not the author's point, it also raised themes for me like 'us versus them', and 'locals versus visitors'. I live near a famous resort area. Tourists invade by the thousands in the spring, summer and fall. Traveling costs go up, traffic is tied in knots, restaurants are inaccessible. In short, it's a pain. However, thought must be given to the privilege of living in an area that people spend huge amounts of money to visit. In addition, the local economy would crumble without these tourists, willing to shell out up to $20,000 for a week in a "cottage", then more for food, souvenirs and let's not forget booze.

I know you think I have lost it and have no point, but I do. This book actually translated into issues in my own life, not intended, but really interesting. I've been reminded to be more grateful. In any case, Beatriz Williams weaves a story, not a page turner, but just a good old fashioned story about people. It has the ocean, a great big old house, a great lighthouse, lots of New England-ness, and a murder mystery. It is very interesting the way the story unfolds and despite appearing fairly straightforward there are several surprising twists. The writing and pace are perfect for the plot and kept me coming back for just one more quick chapter, then another and another. Yes, this was a very enjoyable read. Hubby gets an A+ for insisting that I make this my BOTM choice. Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to start looking at all the other books written by my new pal, Beatriz Williams. I can't help it, it's a sickness that I'm not interested in curing.

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

A few days ago, it was National Book Day! Who knew there was such a thing? There is a day for everything now. Not that I'm complaining. Heck NO! AND as luck would have it, dear darling hubby came home from work with a gift. Seems his last meeting was shorter than expected so he ventured out to Barnes and Noble to pick up Shari Lapena's new book An Unwanted Guest for me. Alright, this is where you all chime in together..."awwwww."  I know, he's a keeper...usually. I'm surprised he actually listened to me the ninety-five plus times I mentioned the book, pouting like a 2-year-old that I had too much to read already and would wait until it came out in paperback. Okay, now you and I, as book junkies, know that was never going to happen, but it made it look like a valiant, self-sacrificing effort to show some control. I know, funny, huh?!

So, hubby arrives home not only with a new novel but a salad for lunch. After literally snatching the book from his arms, a gasp of glee and quick peck on the cheek (generous aren't I?), I'm reading. This book is supposed to be a modern retelling of Agatha Christie's and Then There Were None, set in the Catskills of New York. I admittedly have a soft spot for the Catskills, so am already intrigued. The plot dives right in, introducing characters as they travel to the inn where they are to be weekend guests. The story moves quickly, we learn of the imperfection of each person and motives they have for crime. When someone ends up murdered, they all suspect each other, rightfully so. The author is masterful, shining the light of suspicion on one person, then as soon as I'm sure they are guilty, she moves the spotlight to someone else who seems just as plausibly the murderer. The book races to a classic "whodunnit" finish with a little extra twist on the very last page, just for good measure. Loved it. Despite my self-confessed pokey reading I was done in less than twenty-four hours, admittedly it kept me up much of the night. God Bless my booklight!

A couple of side notes, that have nothing to do with An Unwanted Guest.

I've read both of Shari Lapena's other books, A Stranger in the House and The Couple Next Door. I really liked both of those stories as well, so if you enjoy this perhaps you'll find them worth a look. Next, there are so many funny takes on this Agatha Christie story in TV and movies that you might like. Family Guy does a great episode, also a couple of older movies come to mind. Clue, with Leslie Ann Warren and Tim Currey. Also, the famous Murder by Death by the genius Neil Simon loaded with talent like Maggie Smith, Peter Sellers, Peter Falk, David Niven, Alec Guinness, Eileen Brennan, Elsa Lancaster, James Cromwell, Nancy Walker, Truman Capote, James Coco, and more. This satire pokes fun at how some authors cheat at the end of mysteries. The characters in the house for the weekend are take offs from books, with names like Dick and Dora Charles, Sam Diamond, etc. It is very funny.

A Gathering of Secrets by Linda Castillo

Well everyone, I bought a new vacuum but now the dishwasher broke. All I want is to live in a home of complete harmony, is that really so much to ask? Needless to say, to escape the Maximum Overdrive 2.0 going on in my house I have resorted to books! As usual!

I have been so fortunate to receive an advance reader copy of A Gathering of Secrets by Linda Castillo. I haven't read anything by Linda before so went into this completely blind. This story is half thriller half mystery. It opens like a rocket, and I mean opens. I was saying "wow" out loud during the prologue....you read that right...THE PROLOGUE. The first chapter was even more shocking. Immediately I'm intrigued.

Without giving the story away, this is set in Ohio within several groups of Amish. There is a murder, and we follow the chief of police, Kate Burkholder. Now Kate, who is ex-Amish herself has her own set of problems and they intertwine with the murder. Interesting huh? The chief is a very likable character that you find yourself totally rooting for. The thing is, after the super-exciting beginning the book settles into Kate going from person to person, interviewing them trying to find out who knew what and why certain things happened. I started to think "uh oh, here we go, this is about to get really dry and boring." The thing is, it didn't! It got more and more compelling of a read the further it went along and hung on until the very end...I mean the very end.

If you are interested in a mystery/thriller in a different setting or are interested in the Amish, this is the book for you. If the Amish setting is a turn off for you please know that it only assists the story, it doesn't detract or bog it down in any way. This book is released July 10th.

I cannot thank St. Martin's Press enough for so generously sending me a proof of this amazing story. Please don't mind it though if I blame you for my sudden urge to learn how to quilt.