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.

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!

Wired for Magic

by

Janet Roberts

Fun mix of magic, high-tech, and suspense!

Wired For Magic by Janet Roberts is a fun mix of magic, high-tech, and suspense, making for an interesting and unique tale as a former supermodel deals with a billionaire stalker after her and her magical abilities. Rowan Campbell is tired of running from the thugs hired by high-tech mogul Jarrod Marrone. What started as an obsession with her beauty and presence has evolved to a determination to possess her and her, as yet untapped, magical abilities, which were passed down to her through her maternal line. 

The story begins with Rowan on the run once again, narrowly escaping being snatched by two of Jarrod’s large minions in a London tube station. This time, however, Rowan has a plan to evade Marrone’s goons long enough to go to her Aunt Maya in Wales to finally learn about the magic she’s ignored all her life. From the context, it appears there is a lot of backstory to catch up on regarding Jarrod’s attempt to secure Rowan, so much so that I often felt like I was reading the second book in a series. Still, as the book progresses, bits and pieces are revealed to create a picture of obsession and a man with too much time on his hands and plenty of money to spend on unscrupulous plans. 

The plot is chock-full of fun and interesting twists and coincidental connections. I liked how several of the women Rowan met on her journey continued to work on her behalf, even as literal strangers. The Welsh setting lent the story a fresh look and feel while still tapping into the ancient Celtic mythology that is usually associated with Ireland. The places Rowan visits are varied and vividly described, giving one the impression of having been there in person. I also enjoyed the Pittsburgh locations stateside, a big and vibrant city full of history, but not as overused as New York and others. 

I recommend WIRED FOR MAGIC to readers who enjoy contemporary and suspense-filled fantasies. 

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

Early Snow

Guy Hogan Mystery, #2

by

Kevin Wolf

Intriguing and original mystery series with a paranormal twist!

Early Snow is the second book in author Kevin Wolf's refreshingly original Guy Hogan Mystery series, where 1980s-set mysteries and suspense rub elbows with the paranormal. In this sophomore outing, Guy goes to work with his old friend, Dalton Cummings, now retired from the Fish and Wildlife Service, who has started his own security business. Their task is to keep watch over a weekend art auction at an historic hotel in Estes Park. But as the art prepares to move in, a massive snowstorm hits, and Guy, Dalton, hotel staff, and guests must hunker down, snowed in and without power. But as ghost stories about the hotel are passed around, those stranded there, including Guy himself, start seeing things that hint they are not alone. 

Guy Hogan is such a relatable character, a widower still adjusting to life without his Jenny, he's kind and considerate, and trying to help Dalton with his new, post-retirement gig. While Dalton is definitely in charge of the job, he has his limitations when it comes to dealing with the public, especially the ladies, and those tasks fall to Guy. As the guests were still arriving for the weekend when the storm hit, the big-name celebrities expected to bid at the auction had gradually canceled, so at least they weren't having to deal with that extra bit of distraction. However, I loved reading the "Who's Who" of early 80s celebs mentioned in the story. 

The mood is deliciously creepy and was kicked off by early arrivals taking a ghost tour of the hotel, heightened by loss of power, and galvanized by the ghost stories shared around the lobby fireplace the first night by the in-house tour guide and professional storyteller. The ghost stories, the heavy, falling snow, the extreme cold, the dark, and the sudden isolation due to the storm all contribute to a brooding, expectant atmosphere and building suspense. 

The story moves steadily onward with the frightening sightings of child ghosts from days gone by; the hotel had been a happy, memorable setting for these children when they were living. But as Guy, the story's narrator, doesn't believe in ghosts, he is thoroughly thrown off, wondering if what he's seeing is real. The murder is sudden and surprising, with much mystery surrounding it from the very beginning. The reader is kept in suspense for quite a bit before the identity of the deceased is revealed, while we hear accusations immediately regarding who the murderer is. The resolution, while probably closer to what happens in real life than most mystery novels, leaves everyone with questions. However, Guy may have finally found someone he can start spending some time with, other than Zac, his beagle, and that's a good thing.

The audiobook is narrated by Greg O’Donahue, who does a great job crafting Guy’s persona and a variety of supporting characters, both male and female. After listening to both this book and the debut novel in the series with O’Donahue performing, his voice has become Guy Hogan’s for me. Somehow, he makes Guy sound old enough to have been around the block a time or two, while still retaining a touching vulnerability. The narration and production are clear and clean, so I never had to re-listen to any passages to figure out what was being said.

I recommend EARLY SNOW to fans of mystery and suspense stories with a ghostly touch. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

Murder On Site

The Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries, #1

by

TG Wolff

Great characters and an intriguing murder mystery land this book on my list of top books of the year!

Murder On Site is the first book in veteran author TG Wolff's new Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries series, and I couldn't imagine a better start. With a host of great characters working together to solve a baffling murder, I happily read this book in one sitting, riveted to its pages. 

The main characters, the titular Rizk brothers, Jakob and Seth, are twins and, though physically alike, personality-wise are as different as night and day. However, both are called to lives of service, Jakob as a prosecuting attorney and currently the interim attorney general for the state of Indiana, and Seth, a Miami police detective, back home in Indianapolis for the funeral of Harrison Stanley, the previous AG and a father figure to the brothers, especially Jakob. Harry had died while he and Jakob were playing golf, and Jakob was really struggling with his sudden passing. 

Jakob assumes the position of interim AG at the governor's behest until a new one can be elected, and he faces intra-departmental competition and sabotage from his former supervisor, Jessica Hartley, and a state senator who's in her corner. As Jakob settles in, a former colleague calls for advice on a difficult case. The family of a woman whose body was found on the construction jobsite where she worked as an inspector is pressuring his office to charge the only suspect in her murder immediately. The case against the man is extremely weak, with little evidence truly tying him to the murder. Unfortunately, the family is politically connected to the same state senator already causing Jakob grief. Jakob needs help to find the killer and find them fast, so he turns to Seth, who has his own struggles, personal and professional, he needs to face back in Miami. Together, they function like a machine as they conduct a solid investigation. With few clues to start with, it is up to Seth to open new, productive lines of inquiry and, perhaps, prompt some forgotten observations or answers to previously unasked questions from potential witnesses. 

The plot is well-paced, with details of the case, the twins' backstories, and other exposition seamlessly woven into the narrative. While the subject, a tragic murder, is serious, the author works quite a bit of humor into the story through dialogue. I laughed out loud several times at snarky comments, clever comebacks, and even at attorney Andrew Rosenfelt's name. Having worked in a city engineering department for almost two decades, I found the construction elements relatable and familiar, and the setting perfect for intrigue. 

I recommend MURDER ON SITE to readers of mysteries, especially those who enjoy a legal or construction setting. 

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