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Half Baked Women: The Reheat

by

Bobbie Candas

 

Strong memories, stronger friendships!

 

Half Baked Women: The Reheat by author Bobbie Candas is a warm and enlightening trip glimpse into the past of a group of four long-time friends: Carney, Breeze, Margo, and Nicki. Meeting as freshmen at the University of Texas at Austin in 1971, the four women had kept in touch over the ensuing years, even as they had pursued divergent lives. Twenty years later, the four reunite for a weekend in San Antonio and reconnect as a group, catching up and comparing lives, reliving their past triumphs and trials, and perhaps, gaining strength from one another to face their futures. 

Carney is a never-been-married, love ‘em and leave ‘em party girl who’s never quite grown up. Margo, a former model, but now married with a young daughter, has been feeling like she’s lost herself in her life, a bit stagnant and a little trapped. Breeze is taking a breather as she starts proceedings for her fourth divorce. And Nicki, an EM doctor and single mom in need of a break from her demanding schedule and, hopefully, a recharge. All made questionable life choices as they navigated their early college days, but they survived with a little help from their friends, or in spite of them. I loved the look back at being a college student in the 70s in Texas and could relate to many of their experiences, both at school and in social settings. It is the first time the girls have been out from under the scrutiny of parents, and the temptations and freedoms college life offered made some choices particularly dangerous, and the naïveté of some of the girls was spot on. 

I enjoyed the colorful and vivid descriptions of the various settings, especially of Austin, with mentions of many familiar and fun places from the past and present. With Spring Break just around the corner, the girls’ road trips gave me a desire to drop everything and head out somewhere, too, at least for a brief moment. 

I recommend HALF BAKED WOMEN: THE REHEAT to readers of women’s fiction. 

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

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Haunted by a Broken Oath

JD Wolfe Investigation, #1

by

Dee Armstrong

 

Riveting and unique!

 

Haunted by a Broken Oath is the first book in author Dee Armstrong's fascinating JD Wolfe Investigation paranormal detective mystery series, and with its unique premise and compelling plot, it was an absolutely riveting beginning. Justyne Diamond "JD" Wolfe has just completed the licensing requirements to become a private investigator and is working in her adopted family's PI business. Her first solo assignment is late-night surveillance of an all-night diner owned by a longtime family friend and decorated war hero who believes something illegal is going on during the late shift. But what JD discovers kicks off an entire series of dangerous events, starting with a kidnapped child, a global child trafficking ring, and murder. 

JD has such a tragic past and is coping the best she can. Orphaned young, she has been literally haunted by the spirit of a strange woman, as long as she can remember, who is still present in her life and dreams. I honestly felt that JD was just done with her being there all the time, whether the woman was hanging around or actively meddling in her daily activities. Their communication is difficult. While the ghost woman can understand JD, she can only respond in stilted, staccato syllables and simple words. I enjoyed how, as the story progressed, JD relaxed somewhat about her presence and began to partner with her as she finally figured out how the ghost could help by following or finding people and doing small tasks JD could not. JD is a hardworking young adult, but at times she lapses in maturity as she tries to make sense of her cases and family revelations. Even as she's working through what she endured as a child, she still has the compassion to try to help a returned veteran who was severely wounded before being medically discharged. 

The plot is well-paced and deals with several serious issues, including child sexual predators, the death of a parent, suicide, and mental health, to name a few. The author juggles these topics and their related storylines and multiple points of view to create an absorbing tale. While initially appearing unrelated, these disparate and complex storylines unfold with surprising twists and gradually converge into a bombshell of a whole. 

I recommend HAUNTED BY A BROKEN OATH to readers of paranormal detective stories. 

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

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Last Rituals

Thóra Guðmundsdóttir, #1

by

Yrsa Sigurdardóttir

 

Witchcraft and murder in modern-day Iceland.

 

Last Rituals is the first book in the Thóra Guðmundsdóttir series by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdardóttir, and it is a compelling but creepy start. When German graduate student, Harold Guntlieb, is found murdered, his corpse gruesomely mutilated, his friend and drug dealer is too conveniently pegged by the local police for his death. His skeptical but wealthy parents back in Germany ask local attorney Thóra Guðmundsdóttir to conduct a private investigation to find the real killer or confirm the official findings. Along with the Guntlieb's local representative in Iceland, Matthew Reich, Thóra retraces the original investigation, discovering more questions than answers the deeper they dig. 

Thóra is such a relatable character: a recently single mother of a son and a daughter, with a detached ex-husband who's remarried a younger replacement and is the partner in a small law firm in Reykjavik. Besides coming to terms with her new life, the lease for the office space included a receptionist, the property owner's daughter, who is completely worthless in running the office, so she's having to navigate around her. Thóra's frustration with the clueless but prickly girl leads her to make comments later in the book about the girl's physical appearance that some may find offensive. This book was originally published more than 20 years ago, so it was written even earlier, when such comments weren't viewed as critically as they are now. Thóra does step up in a big way, though, to emotionally support her teenage son when he is discovered to have made a major misstep on the path to his future. 

While the murder inquiry is outside of Thóra's wheelhouse, the remuneration offered by the Guntliebs is too good (and needed) to pass up, and she and Matthew conduct a good, methodical investigation. Along the way, they learn a great deal about Harold's field of study: witchcraft and the persecution of those accused of witchcraft in Iceland during the Middle Ages. In meeting his friends, they also discover that witchcraft is more than just an entertaining topic to some of them, who may be putting what Harold had learned into practice, especially upon Harold's death. 

A caution to those readers sensitive to such matters: the means and manner of Harold's death are described, as are the body modifications he had made to himself prior. Also, there is some discussion of the horrific treatment and torture of those suspected of witchcraft, and some of the charms and spells call for very off-putting elements. 

I enjoyed the story, but wasn't a complete fan of the narrator of the Audible audiobook edition I listened to. Although she provided a great range of voices for the different characters, I felt her delivery of some of Thóra's dialogue did not match the scene's tone or the circumstances, making Thóra come off as a flighty, lightweight airhead who wasn't taking her job seriously. I will probably read the subsequent books in the series in a physical or ebook format. 

I recommend LAST RITUALS to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially those who enjoy grittier tales or Icelandic settings. 

For this and other reviews, check out my blog, Boys' Mom Reads!

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Bait the Devil

Bounty of Shadows, #2

by

Winter Austin

 

A simple job to corral a "Failure To Appear" turns complex and deadly.

 

Bait the Devil is the second book in author Winter Austin's outstanding Bounty of Shadows mystery series, and it absolutely hits the ground running and never lets up as Dot Ybarra and her partner, T.J. Roman, track down a defendant as a favor for attorney and Dot's cousin, Vivian Montgomery. However, the marine veteran they're after doesn't want to be 'retrieved,' and he's got the special skills needed to avoid collection. But as the body count in his wake increases, so does Dot, T.J., and Vivian's determination to find him, and they don't give up. 

What a great new adventure for Dot and company! This time around, the action moves from Dot's home territory in the Idaho mountains to Boise, where she's living and working to become a certified bounty hunter, and beyond, as they track a fellow veteran who's on his own personal mission. I loved seeing that Dot is in a better headspace since recuperating from the events of the debut novel; the truths she learned then and her successes have started to pay off. She seems even more confident and settled than ever. I enjoyed seeing her get to use some of her own special skills as a helicopter pilot, marksman, and horsewoman to exciting effect. While Dot is carefully working through her past experiences, the same cannot be said of T.J., who is struggling with PTSD associated with his Army service. 

With the case they're working on marked "Confidential" and rife with redacted government reports, TJ, Dot, and Vivian operate in the dark for much of the book's beginning, but bit by bit, the secrets come out. A good twist later on, and this book became impossible to set down. Besides the engaging main characters and the mysterious, compelling plot, the author's writing style draws readers in and makes them forget there's anything else outside their story. 

I recommend BAIT THE DEVIL to readers of crime fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. 

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

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A Poet’s Ballad

Crossword Mystery, #1

by

Aditya Banerjee

 

Endearing characters and a well-crafted puzzle of a mystery set in 1980s small-town India.

 

A Poet’s Ballad is the first novel in author Aditya Banerjee’s new series, the Crossword Mysteries, and I couldn’t have wished for a better, more satisfying debut than what I found. With its endearing main characters, vibrant and lively small-town setting in 1980 India, and well-crafted and, literally, puzzling mystery, I felt like I was taking a refreshing vacation every time I opened the book. 

The story is told from the viewpoint of two main characters. Mahesh Pal is a Delhi graduate student preparing to join a Ph.D. program in far-off London, England. Aarvi Lal is the manager at her family’s generations-old bookstore, preparing for her traditional wedding in two weeks. Both face huge life changes when they each receive an odd inheritance from a local retired university professor whose death may not have been as accidental as it has been claimed—the common link among the three is their love of crossword puzzles. 

I was immediately drawn into the story by the easy and authentic camaraderie among Mahesh’s university friends. The author completely captures in his portrayal the essence of this time in Mahesh’s life as he prepares to embark on the next phase of his academic career, and he does so quickly and in only a few pages! You could easily understand Mahesh’s conflicting emotions: excitement for the future, sadness over leaving his friends and family, and regrets that he and his father do not see eye-to-eye about his decision to continue his studies rather than return home to work in the family business. 

Being a contemporary of the fictional Aarvi Lal, I could readily empathize with her feelings and experiences as a young, educated single woman at the start of the 1980s. She’s always been the obedient daughter, going with the flow (rather than fighting with her mother) and never causing her parents any trouble. She studied hard to succeed academically, only to be expected to shelve her accomplishments and autonomy when she married. The author recreates the restrictive atmosphere of the time, the conservative views of women’s roles in the family and the workplace, and the necessarily cautious arms-length relationship between Aarvi and Mahesh because of the potential damage she could suffer from the juicy gossip should she be perceived to act too casually. I enjoyed their mutual respect and growing friendship. These two are capable and smart in their pursuit of Devesh’s story, and they were a joy to watch as they worked together to work out the mysterious clues. 

The author creates a vivid and vibrant setting for the story in his depictions of the historic tourist town Benares and the activities leading up to Aarvi’s pending nuptials. I could feel the heat and humidity of the ancient city, but even the bustle of the tourists and religious pilgrims was nothing compared to the manic preparations necessary before the traditional Indian wedding. It was fascinating, complex, and eye-opening; I was exhausted just reading about it all. 

With its engaging characters, compelling mystery, and vivid setting, I recommend A POET’S BALLAD to historical mystery fans, especially those who would enjoy a 1980s time period and an Indian setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Hook, Line, and Murder

Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery, #1

by

G.G. Calpo

 

I was hooked from the start!

 

Hook, Line, and Murder is the first book in author G.G. Calpo’s fresh new Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery series, and its engaging main characters and compelling plot had me hooked from the start. Retired kindergarten teacher and recent widow, Meagan “Meg” Brightbook, is still very much in mourning over the suspicious deaths of her husband and son the previous year, and her friend group of other retired educators has been a strong, supportive lifeline for her. So, when Brie Townsend, a local bad girl, is murdered and her friend Edna Gomez, who’d had a recent and very public run-in with the young woman, becomes the police’s number one suspect, she and the rest of her group leap into action to find the real killer and clear their friend’s name. 

Meg is such a sympathetic and relatable character, still grieving over the tragic loss of her husband and grown son in a boating accident. But her friends have kept her involved and active, preventing her from giving up on life. The appearance of Edna’s attorney, Fred, has also piqued her interest and sparked thoughts that there could be more to her own story ahead. I liked how Meg and her fellow retired teachers knew everyone in their neck of Long Island, having had them as pupils or the parents of their pupils at one time or another, and boldly asked whatever questions they had without hesitation, confident they would get answers. I enjoyed them developing a plan of action and splitting up their investigatory tasks among the group, giving attention to everyone’s particular strengths, skills, or knowledge. 

The plot unfolds through Meg’s point of view and is more complex than you realize at first; there’s more than one death that needs the group’s scrutiny after all. I enjoyed the brief glimpse into Filipino culture and family relationships, too. Although I had some suspicions, I never anticipated the path the story would take to reach its final resolution. Talk about twists and turns! 

I recommend HOOK, LINE, AND MURDER to readers of cozy mysteries and domestic thrillers. 

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

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The First to Die

by

Suzanne Trauth

 

Mesmerizing tale of a daughter’s search for her mother’s killer.

 

The First to Die by Suzanne Trauth is the mesmerizing mystery of a young woman’s deep dive into the circumstances surrounding her mother’s disappearance and subsequent death. Connie Tucker is called home to her childhood home in New Jersey when the remains of her long-missing mother were discovered. Simone Tucker had disappeared from the theatre where she had been in rehearsals for A Streetcar Named Desire, when Connie and her sister, Gaby, were 13 and 14, respectively, never to be seen or heard from again. But someone in her life had seen her at least one last time that night, and Connie was determined to find out who that person was. However, someone was just as determined to stop her. 

Connie is a sympathetic character, stuck in her past, unable to fully move forward until she knows what happened to her mother and whether a secret her mother made her promise to keep could have made a difference in the tragic outcome. Her feelings are further compounded by her father’s perceived betrayal when he sent her younger, grieving, out-of-control self to live with an aunt in California soon after her mother’s disappearance. Her sister, Gaby, is the perpetually wounded one, her main desire being to have her family reunited and happy again. Their father, Liam, while grieving the loss of his wife all over again, tells an inconsistent story of his movements the night of Simone’s disappearance. The combination makes for a riveting story I couldn’t put down. 

The plot alternates between the present and the past as Connie begins her own investigation when the cold case detective assigned to her mother’s murder inspires little confidence. The story unfolds as she chases her own memories of that night and questions some of the most important people from her past, never expecting the twists and turns she encounters. I had so many theories about what actually happened as I read, but the resolution still came as a big surprise. 

I recommend THE FIRST TO DIE to readers of mysteries and domestic thrillers.

 

For this and more book reviews, visit my blogs, Boys' Mom Reads! and Guatemala Paula Loves to Read.

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Hard Headed Woman

by

Howard Gimple

 

Mystery, suspense, and murder at a Long Island nature preserve.

 

Hard Headed Woman by Howard Gimple is a suspenseful, original murder mystery set in New York and centered on a Long Island nature preserve called Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. When Hannah Johansson’s marriage crumbled, she’d come home to her parents’ home in Rocky Point, New York, to rest, recover, and reflect on her future. Instead, she discovered her father, the former Superintendent Emeritus of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a birders’ paradise he’d singlehandedly built from its swampy ground up, in dreadful condition, weak, and almost at death’s door. 

Hannah herself was struggling with an unknown illness that would randomly strike, making her lose control of her legs and collapse. While suffering one of her spells of weakness, as she called it, she accidentally knocked her father down some stairs, causing him to experience a fatal stroke. On top of everything else going on in her life, Hannah now believes she’s killed her own father. However, her cousin, a physician experienced with stroke patients, is skeptical of the diagnosis and decides to look further into her father’s death. And Hannah, while spreading her father’s ashes at his beloved wildlife refuge, observes some very shady goings-on, and when she asks questions, she quickly discovers someone is willing to kill to keep the truth of what’s happening there a secret. 

While Hannah is a vulnerable and sympathetic character because of all she’s gone through, her love for her father helps her get her act together to seek the answers she craves about his death and the suspected shenanigans at the wildlife refuge. She starts out so scattered and filled with pain and anger, it is easy to root for her healing and gradual transformation into a stronger person. 

The plot moves quickly, with the heroine encountering unusual stumbling blocks in her investigation. The author does a wonderful job crafting exciting, shocking, and unexpected scenarios and consequences for Hannah’s snooping. I couldn’t stop reading until I understood what all was going on and was surprised by who was behind her father’s death. I really enjoyed the New York and Long Island settings, and the mentions of street and road names, the businesses, and vivid descriptions made these locations come alive for me. I liked “meeting” Hannah’s family and friends, especially her bestie, Bette, who was going through some major life changes of her own. 

I recommend HARD HEADED WOMAN (a perfect title, by the way) to readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers with interesting female protagonists. 

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

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Limerence

Limerent, #5

by

LS Delorme

 

A war has begun.

 

Limerence is the fifth book in author LS Delorme's enthralling Limerent series and brings more characters from previous books into the foundational plotline. Kara, the creator of the timeline of the story, and her ghostly lover and second, Dante, discover a powerful virus has infiltrated their world, and it must be contained, but even more disturbing is that a number of Cambion and their ghost watchers have vanished, and all trace of them has been erased from The Office's computer records. As Dante and Kara search for the virus and their lost friends, they also must look for a traitor among their own people. 

This story was immediately absorbing, and Dante was the perfect narrator and mysterious, strong protagonist with a past. His relationship with Kara is loving and protective, and while they are involved in serious, life-and-death events, they are still able to love and banter with one another. Kara is already struggling with being overwhelmed by the stories, faces, and conditions she absorbs from the people she encounters from the beginning of the book, and this affects her and the plot's trajectory the longer she resists Dante's attempts to unburden her. 

The plot is in constant motion from the start, which includes a massive school shooting, and readers sensitive to this type of scenario should take note. In addition, spirits and souls are unmade, and previously living beings are unalived. The suspense constantly builds as these things happen, especially as no character, secondary or main, is untouchable. Dante does his best to find out what is going on, save his friends, protect Kara, and get their story back to normal. There is a great cliffhanger ending that promises more exciting story to come. 

While this book can be read as a standalone, I feel the previous books should be read first to fully understand and enjoy what’s going on. I recommend LIMERENCE to readers of dark fantasy and paranormal romance. 

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

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Dying With a Secret

The Dead Detective Casefiles, #4

by

T.J. O’Connor

 

Complex and clever new case for the ghostly detective.

 

Dying With a Secret is the fourth novel in author T.J. O’Connor’s unique Dead Detective Casefiles paranormal mystery series, and Tuck and Angel’s latest adventure treads pretty close to his obsession with aliens from outer space. One afternoon, when Angel is working on a newly discovered cache of letters, maps, and records from Winchester’s Civil War days, she’s called to meet with an FBI agent in the library’s main rotunda, but before he can explain the purpose of his visit, he is swiftly, violently, and invisibly attacked right before her eyes and several other witnesses, including Tuck. The man falls to the ground, dead, his body liquified from the inside out. As law enforcement scrambled to discover what happened, locking down the library, fearing a possible outbreak of an infectious disease could be the culprit, Tuck is thrown into the man’s body and experiences his last few moments. No one believes him when he describes the murder weapon as a ray gun. 

Meanwhile, Tuck is visited by the beautiful spirit of Sally Mosby, a former resident of Winchester and infamous Confederate spy. She’s seeking justice for being falsely accused and executed, and the papers Angel is working on may hold long-held secrets that could clear her name. 

Angel and Tuck are back and have settled into their unusual second chance at a life together. While Tuck is still trying to figure out this being dead thing, he’s getting more comfortable, and the description of their daily life is almost normal. Their banter is certainly lively and full of wit. They depend on a small circle of close friends and former colleagues for moral support and for information about what’s going on in Tuck’s old department. But shocking betrayals by some of their nearest and dearest left me reeling alongside the couple. 

The plot is well-paced and unfolds from multiple points of view as the disparate storylines progress. Early on, readers are aware they are related, but how, who, and why remain big unknowns. There is action and suspense galore as Detective Cal Clemens falls off the radar, and no one knows where he is. There are creepy goings-on at a local classified research facility involving children, and that kept me glued to the pages, dreading where it was going. However, the tension really ratcheted up as a group of characters navigated a treacherous underground cave system in search of a rumored lost treasure. I honestly had to remind myself to breathe as the suspense kept building and they went further and deeper, and I never guessed who the real danger was all along. 

I recommend DYING WITH A SECRET to readers of paranormal mysteries and thrillers, especially those who enjoyed the previous books in the series. 

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