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Round Up the Unusual Suspects

Babs Norman Golden Age of Hollywood Mystery, #3

by

Elizabeth Crowens

 

Murder on the set!

 

Round Up the Unusual Suspects is the third novel in Elizabeth Crowens's delightfully nostalgic Babs Norman Golden Age of Hollywood Mystery series, and the author shuffles history and famous faces to entertain readers. Using actual locations and figures from Hollywood's past to populate the story, the fictional detectives rub shoulders with the Golden Era's elite to bring to life the murder of an undercover German-American agent on the Warner Brothers' soundstage during the filming of the iconically patriotic movie, Yankee Doodle Dandy. 

Babs Norman, the principal in B. Norman Investigations, and her partner, Guy Brandt, are summoned by the head of the studio, Jack Warner himself, to discreetly find the murderer, while maintaining radio silence with the press. Babs chafes under Warner's hands-on involvement in the case, as Guy is assigned the plum task of investigating on the studio grounds while she is relegated to researching the victim's background. Meanwhile, she is desperately worried about her roommate, Aoi Otake, as the government proceeds with plans to send all residents of Japanese heritage to internment camps. Guy, working undercover alongside another embedded spy on the set of an Errol Flynn/Ronald Reagan vehicle, Desperate Journey, walks a delicate journey of his own as romance blossoms. 

The plot moves quickly with its exciting mix of fiction and historical facts and figures. Readers get a look at the realities of President Roosevelt's Executive Order regarding Japanese-Americans, the simultaneous infiltration of Nazi sympathizers into potentially critical positions during wartime, anti-Semitism, and the impact of society's views on gays and lesbians. The look and feel of early 1940s Hollywood is uncanny, and the frequent cameos of the era's big names are a surprise and delight. 

I recommend ROUND UP THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS to readers of historical cozy mysteries, especially those who enjoy 1940s wartime films. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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Thea

by

Genevieve Morrissey

Narrated by Nicole Fikes

 

Outstanding coming-of-age story set in 1920s Oklahoma City.

 

Thea by Genevieve Morrissey is the outstanding coming-of-age story of Thea Carter, set in the mid-1920s in Oklahoma City, and, combined with Nicole Fikes's audiobook narration, perfectly captures her struggles, triumphs, time, and place. All 15-year-old Thea wants is a little stability in her life, the chance to get her high school diploma, and her troubled mother to stop drinking. 

As the housekeeper to Dr. Hallam, a new physician in town, Thea's mother not only receives a salary but also a separate, self-contained, private apartment over the garage, where young Thea can secretly reside, out of her employer's sight. Unfortunately, her mother's frequent benders put all this in jeopardy, so Thea does her best to pick up the slack while hiding in the background so Dr. Hallam doesn't give her mother the boot. As Thea juggles her home life and schoolwork, she excels at school and, as time goes on, is accepted by the close-knit group of students and catches the eye of popular, smart Homer. But when her part in the smooth running of his household is discovered by Dr. Hallam, rather than seeing Thea as an unwanted burden, he gradually becomes her champion and she his supportive confidant. 

What a great story! Thea is engaging, endearing, and the picture of self-reliance, despite her tragic childhood, poverty, and manipulative alcoholic mother. With her eye always on the prize of earning her high school diploma, she overcomes so much that is stacked against her at the time, when girls were expected to leave school early, marry, and start a family. 

Dr. Hallam has his own struggles. A quietly private man, his personal story is revealed only a little at a time, and what a surprising and sad one it turns out to be. But he, too, perseveres, and even gets a second chance, as Thea pushes and encourages and secretly works in the background to help make it happen. 

The plot addresses important issues and how they were viewed during that era: women's roles, expectations, and education, Prohibition and drinking, pre-marital sex, and homosexuality. The Oklahoma City setting is unique, and although Thea says the city's population at the time of the story is over 100,000, it feels like a much smaller town. Everyone knows everyone else and all their business, and everyone has an opinion to share about what's going on. 

The audiobook narration by Nicole Fikes is absolutely wonderful. Her performance shines with incredibly believable, varied voices for all the speaking characters: young, old, male, female, local, and foreign. The switch between Thea and her mother, who have many conversations together, is amazing. My favorite voice is that of Grace Carter, the mother, with her strong regional accent, wheedling, nagging, and alcoholic mumbling. 

I highly recommend THEA to readers and listeners of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy an American midwestern or southern setting during the 1920s. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Silver Dagger Book Tours.

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King Coyote

by

Rachael Meyers Jones

 

Exciting summertime adventures paired with a hard-won coming-of-age story.

 

King Coyote by Rachael Meyers Jones is a wonderful and exciting summertime coming-of-age story as a pre-teen navigates his parents' impending divorce, loneliness, and a fish-out-of-water stay in rural Vermont. King is twelve years old when he is dropped off for the summer at his cousin's house in Northeast Vermont, while his parents work through the process of separating and setting up two households back home in Boston. When he and Nat were much younger, they had been inseparable: their families even shared a duplex. But when their grandfather had died, Nat's parents had relocated to the family farmstead in Vermont, and the two had not seen each other since. This summer, the cousins are thrust back together and finally have their comfortable relationship restored enough to work through the really big feelings they've both kept tamped down. 

King is the engaging main character whose hurt radiates from every pore. It will take the summer and a lot of adventure for him to realize he can't fix the change in his parents' feelings for each other. While reuniting with Nat gives him the sounding board he needs, it is his feeling of responsibility for the small, scraggly coyote he names Coal that eventually pulls him out of his sadness and allows him to gain some perspective. 

Intruding on his healing are the awkward encounters with the few white people in the area, who see him as someone to fear because of the color of his skin. His cousin knows what's going on but chooses to look the other way, at first. Nat, the only child of mixed ancestry at her school, had found their attitudes isolating, with most people choosing to ignore her, only seeing her white heritage, while others rudely overstepped basic common boundaries and personal space: a confusing and painful situation for her that her Black father tried to help her understand and overcome. While no answers are found on the teens' adventure into the wilderness, they come away from the experience with more confidence in themselves to handle whatever comes their way in the future. 

The description of the Vermont setting and the kids' summertime activities on the mountain are, for the most part, vivid, glorious, and idyllic. Their freedom to roam and relax without cellphones, videogames, and streaming services is a renewal, especially for King, who had much more access to this back in Boston. They gain knowledge, self-reliance, trust, and build resilience from their experiences, but still realize the toll their unexpected and impulsive absence had on their frantic parents. 

I recommend KING COYOTE to readers of middle-grade fiction and adventure stories, especially those who enjoy a natural or wilderness setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through Toppling Stacks Tours.

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Battered

Whipped & Sipped Mystery, #1

by

G.P. Gottlieb

 

Fun, intriguing start to this healthier culinary-themed cozy mystery series.

 

Battered is the clever first book in G.P. Gottlieb’s fun and intriguing Whipped & Sipped Mystery series, and in it, the author serves up a puzzling murder, complex character backstories, and plenty of delicious food talk. With its engaging and relatable main character, I was hooked from page one. 

Alene Baron is the new owner of Whipped & Sipped, a bakery café that came with some strings attached: a couple of legacy employees related to the former owner were to be kept on the payroll. However, kindness is Alene’s middle name, and she does her best to keep all her coworkers happy, healthy, and working at a job they love. Alene is relatable as a single mom with a pain-in-the-butt ex. She is also at the age where her father, with whom she and her three children live, is starting to show signs of needing a little extra help himself; the lady has got her hands full. The author does a fabulous job introducing not only the main character but also many secondary characters, giving them more than a superficial mention; I really felt like I knew these people. 

As the first book in the series, the author does the heavy lifting of not only introducing everyone but also establishing the world where the stories will unfold. Her Chicago setting is vibrant, and those familiar with the area will recognize many of the locations mentioned. Because of the buildup, the murder doesn’t occur until well into the book. However, this later development also serves to provide a goodly number of plausible suspects in the victim’s death whom Alene must eliminate from consideration. By this time, I, too, was quite invested in everyone and in Alene’s efforts, and read the entire book through before I knew it. I couldn’t quit until I found out the final resolution. 

I recommend BATTERED to cozy mystery readers who enjoy culinary-themed plots. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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Wonder in the Garden

by Talia Aikens-Nuñez

Illustrated by Irena Freitas

 

Light-hearted and colorful children’s picture book with a fun story that introduces basic Spanish vocabulary.

 

Wonder in the Garden is a light-hearted and colorful new children’s picture book by veteran children’s author Talia Aikens-Nuñez about a day in the life of a girl and her dog, Nube, as they help with the home garden. Besides the fun story, readers are introduced to some basic Spanish vocabulary useful in daily life. 

A young girl, her extended family, and her pet dog live together with a large, productive garden and orchard on their property. As she and Nube frolic through the fruit and vegetables, the Spanish equivalents of simple sentences, reactions, and observations of what they encounter are provided. The narrative is fun and full of life. Young readers and listeners will smile over the joyous play of the girl and her rascally dog. It is a fun way to see and hear simple Spanish words and sentences in a relatable context. 

This story is vividly illustrated with colorful scenes by artist Irena Freitas. With clear visuals, little readers and listeners will have fun discovering all the wonderful details included on every page. 

I recommend WONDER IN THE GARDEN as a wonderful option for use at home or in the classroom with single-language or bilingual speakers and readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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Zog’s Big Question:

An Interplanetary Tale of Wonder, Belief, and Big Questions

by

Adam Rice

Illustrated by Mac Rice

 

Fun, sweet sci-fi tale that simplifies a complicated concept.

 

Zog’s Big Question by Adam Rice and colorfully illustrated by Mac Rice delves into the quandary of faith versus science and helps young readers come away with a more comfortable understanding of this complex concept. Zog is a young Questling on the planet Luminos, where the inhabitants are cute, blue, water-drop-shaped creatures with triangular arms and legs and two expressive antennae. They also base their lives and culture on scientifically-proven facts and eat the bounty of the Knowing Fruit Tree. While they may sound comical, they exude a calm and friendly persona that children will find fun and completely non-threatening. Zog has heard that the inhabitants of the planet Terra accept some big ideas without scientific proof, and, finding this totally perplexing, decides to investigate the curious rumor in person. So, he leaves his home in a “borrowed” spacecraft and travels to Terra to see the truth for himself. 

While the story was not what I expected, I enjoyed it nonetheless, finding clarity in the simple explanation of how and why faith and science can be complementary. However, I do think a more specific book description, or blurb, regarding the focus on faith is needed as the one provided is so broad, it is a little misleading. I appreciated that while the central characters on Terra, Sam and Max, come from a Catholic-like church, the story emphasizes all religious traditions and not just those of a Christian viewpoint. I liked that the children took Zog to a secular institution for answers, too. 

Zog is engaging, and children will easily relate to his curious nature. The illustrations are rendered in calming blues on Luminos, with one drawing very reminiscent of a setting from the movie Avatar, and, once Zog is on Terra (Earth), greens are emphasized, too. At over 40 pages, it is more of a chapter than a picture book, and would be suitable for reading aloud at home, in Sunday school, or in religion classes. I would definitely like to see Zog return in future stories to tackle other adventures. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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Arson, Old Lace, and Murder

Charlie Kingsley Mystery, #8

by

Michele Pariza Wacek

 

Charlie is drawn into a deadly case of arson, murder, and revenge.

 

Arson, Old Lace, and Murder is the eighth book in author Michele Pariza Wacek's always-intriguing Charlie Kingsley Mystery series, where a deadly case of arson draws Charlie into the affairs of the clannish 1888ers, the direct descendants of the children left behind when every adult in Redemption mysteriously disappeared in a single night. While Charlie is delivering a tea order to her one client who lives in a part of town almost exclusively inhabited by 1888ers, she discovers a local business ablaze, with a young woman trapped inside. After rescuing her and hearing that a man was still in the building, Charlie returns to make another attempt, but it's too late. In the meantime, though, the survivor, who is well along in pregnancy, disappears with Charlie's coat and the money from her wallet. Shockingly, the police officer on the scene is completely uninterested in locating the young mother-to-be, or in investigating what is obviously a case of arson. The following day, after the local paper reports Charlie's actions at the fire, the wife of the man who perished comes to hire her to investigate his murder. 

Once again, Charlie Kingsley is at the center of a baffling crime that Officer Brandon Wyle doesn't want her investigating. However, this story is unique in that even her friends are adamantly opposed to her involvement, except for pseudo-detective and retired high school English teacher, Mildred Schmidt, who is eager to assist. 

Charlie hits a brick wall with every clue she pursues, and even the young woman who had pulled the disappearing act is unwilling to tell what she knows. In an interesting twist, Wyle is warned off asking questions about the case by his superiors and is forced to encourage Charlie to dig up something so concrete that the case can no longer be swept under the rug. The barriers to the official investigation into anything related to the 1888ers are unknown, but whatever they are, they are closely guarded secrets. 

Charlie and Wyle's relationship is off-kilter and uneasy, and I'm becoming less and less an advocate of their pairing as time goes on. I don't feel like he supports her or truly respects her as a smart and capable adult. It's time she explores other options. 

The story maintains a brisk pace as Charlie does her best to pry information from anyone who might shed light on the secrets of the 1888ers and an even more insular group, The Forgotten. The resolution was surprising, but it made sense. 

While this book is the eighth in the series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. However, for the best experience, read a couple of the previous books in this or the related series by the author. I recommend ARSON, OLD LACE, AND MURDER to readers of cozy mysteries, especially those who enjoy paranormal elements in their stories. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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HERA: Kingdom of Lies

by

Betsy Ellor

 

A riveting reimagining of Greek mythology's portrayal of Hera, the queen of all the cosmos.

 

HERA: Kingdom of Lies by Betsy Ellor is a vivid and riveting reimagining of the Greek goddess Hera's story, from before her marriage to Zeus to after. The goddess of marriage, motherhood, and family, Hera, is most often portrayed as jealous, quarrelsome, and vindictive, yet she is inevitably standing up to Zeus in support of the people and her dominions' responsibilities. Ellor's story brings together various tales involving the goddess and her relationship with Zeus and presents them in a lively, dramatic, and compelling fashion that had me reading this book from start to finish in one day. 

Beginning with her life on the island of Samos, Hera is the queen of a growing population of refugees fleeing from Zeus's war against Kronos (her father) and the Titans. Hera is a gifted and capable leader who is not afraid to get her hands dirty and is revered by the people. She is a confident young woman (in immortal years) who pitches in to serve however she can. The author deftly works in Hera's unique and unbelievable origin story and her rescue from captivity by Zeus, establishing that she has long harbored tender affections for her liberator. When the war is won, she is delighted by his eager courtship, but his ego and man-baby antics quickly disillusion her. Her drastically changed feelings for him resulted in violent and tragic consequences as well as pregnancy. Readers sensitive to this type of story element should take note. The attack is brutal and gut-wrenching to read, but Hera doesn't let it destroy her; rather, she uses it to strengthen her resolve to do what she can to temper Zeus's frequently thoughtless actions and poor decisions that affect their people. 

While traditional versions of the same stories often feel dry and dusty, Ellor's fresh narrative really makes Hera's tales, warts and all, come to life. You could feel her emotions, understand her actions, and see how she strives to embody the best of marriage, motherhood, and family. The book closes with the promise of more story yet to come, and I can hardly wait. 

I recommend HERA: KINGDOM OF LIES to readers of modern takes on ancient mythologies. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through WOW! Women On Writing Book Tours.

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Relatively Normal Secrets

The Falinnheim Chronicles, #1

by

C.W. Allen

 

Fast-paced and full of surprises, with engaging main child characters

 

Relatively Normal Secrets is the first book in author C.W. Allen’s delightful middle-grade fantasy series, The Falinnheim Chronicles, and features two precocious and curious siblings, Zed and Tuesday Furst. Obsessed with their parents’ shadowy pasts that no amount of questioning seems to shed any light on, Zed and Tuesday decide to take the opportunity to search their house for clues when their parents leave for a short business trip. Instructed to head directly to a trusted neighbor’s home after school, the brother and sister decide to detour to their own home instead to put their plan in action. 

Before they can even make a cursory look, two large, menacing men show up at the house and try to grab them and their pet dog, Nyx. With Nyx’s intervention, they escape through the woods behind the house, where they are magically transported to another land called Falinnheim. Suspecting the evil men will soon be on their trail, they travel to the nearest town in hopes of finding a way to return home and reunite with their parents. 

The two Furst siblings are fun, smart kids with engaging personalities and a talent for getting into trouble. Their questions about their parents’ pasts are relatable, and their parents’ deft deflection very mysterious. The various conspiracy theories and possible alternate lives the kids dream up to explain their parents’ reactions were wild and fun, and I loved how the two siblings worked together to find answers throughout the story. 

The plot is fast-paced and full of surprises, with magical elements, bandits, an evil, tyrannical leader, and a dangerous resistance group in hiding. The children find direction in mysterious, altered nursery rhymes left for them along the path of their journey, and Nyx proves to be more than just a pet dog. The exciting cliffhanger ending left me anxious for the next book. 

Ivy Tara Blair ably narrates the audiobook and creates distinct voices for each character. I appreciated the clarity of her delivery and the variety and vocal nuances she used to create the impression of different speakers. I would be happy to listen to more of her narrations. 

I recommend RELATIVELY NORMAL SECRETS to fans of middle-grade fantasy books.

 

For this and other reviews, visit by blog - Boys' Mom Reads!

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Murder, Local Style

Orchid Isle Mystery, #3

by

Leslie Karst

 

When the local orchid club president is murdered, Valerie steps up to catch the killer.

 

Murder, Local Style is the third book in veteran author Leslie Karst’s fun and layered Orchid Isle Mystery series, and once again, Valerie must step in to investigate a local death. When the president of her neighborhood’s orchid club dies after eating food she prepared for their club’s annual memorial dinner, Valerie naturally has a vested interest in clearing her name. 

Valerie Corbin, a former caterer, graciously agrees to help prepare the annual dinner when one of the two volunteers responsible must go to Oahu to care for her sick mother. Thankfully, only 60 attendees are expected, and most of the menu shopping has been completed. The menu is comprised of local favorites that sound delicious, and there are fun discussions of their preparation woven into the story. As is her tradition, the author provides recipes at the end of the novel. Valerie had only just attended her first club meeting at the invitation of one of her neighbors and was hoping to meet others from the area, but making everyone sick with her cooking wasn’t what she had in mind, so she had plenty of righteous motivation to discover the truth. 

Readers get an insider’s view of Valerie and Kristen’s marriage and home life, stressed by the murder and compounded by the building tensions between them and the inconsiderate neighbor next door, who uses loud power tools from dawn to dusk and has a dog that barks incessantly. Kristen’s nephew, Sean, has also come for an extended stay, and he gets upset when he overhears one of Valerie’s possible hypotheses, which would implicate his new island amour, who is also a member of the orchid club. Later, when he disappears for several days without a word to his aunt, Kristen is naturally concerned and upset, and Valerie doesn’t share her urgency to find him, which I found out of character for her. On the other hand, while Kristen has been somewhat supportive of Valerie’s past sleuthing, she’s really not on board this time, even though someone has done their best to point the finger at her wife. 

The plot is full of neighborhood gossip and intrigue, with everyone involved living within the same area. Everyone knows everyone else, their families, and all their business, so there are plenty of suspects to consider and some very good red herrings to rule out. As always, the author imbues the story with local flavor, both cultural and culinary. 

I recommend MURDER, LOCAL STYLE to cozy mystery readers, especially those who would enjoy a Big Island setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.