Murder by the Millions

Literary Dining Mystery, #2

by

Daryl Wood Gerber

Murder mystery cleverly mirrors many aspects of THE GREAT GATSBY.

Murder by the Millions is the second book in author Daryl Wood Gerber's unique Literary Dining Mystery series, and with its welcome returning characters, new faces, and a myriad of parallels with the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic, THE GREAT GATSBY, it is a stellar new addition. From contentious business rivalries to disappointments in love to the scrumptious mentions of baked treats and well-researched historical recipes, this book has a little something for every fringe of cozy mystery fandom. 

Allie Catt and her two business partners, half-sisters Tegan Potts and Vanna Harding, are well along in their plans and preparation for their next big literary dinner, this time based on The Great Gatsby, when a newcomer to town, handsome developer Jason Gardner, swans into town, upsetting a whole swath of the folks of Bamblewood, North Carolina. Jason had bid on and been awarded the purchase of a row of four historic homes along the far end of Main Street with the intention of demolishing them and building a shopping mall in their place. While the town council is slated to approve his plans, many others, including Allie, are vocal in their opposition. Still, she wants to maintain an open mind, especially after spending some time with him as he explained his vision. But later, when Allie discovers Jason stabbed in the back with a spearpoint like one from her own collection, she becomes the police department's prime suspect. Someone is trying to frame Allie, and they have gone to great lengths to do a good job. 

Allie is the busiest young entrepreneur in town, with her catering business growing in leaps and bounds and her daily work at her best friend Tegan's bookstore, where she has a small financial interest. She is also finally finding some personal time to socialize and enjoy the perks of having an entire bookstore at her disposal. Her relationship with Police Detective Zach Armstrong seems to have permanently veered into the friend zone, and his assignment as the lead detective on the murder investigation isn't going to improve it. She's driven and energetic, so despite being warned off, she takes a hands-on approach to clearing her name. 

Many of the residents of the small town frequent the bookstore daily, so it was fun reading all the book titles and author names discussed over the course of the book as they come in for their next read. However, I've never encountered such widespread enthusiasm, nor such a deep understanding of The Great Gatsby's themes, or even knowledge of the plot as it's depicted in the book, in real life. Everyone LOVED it. But after reading about the literary dinner and dress-up —the culmination of all their plans, preparation, and anticipation —I could understand why the patrons there studied up before participating; it sounded amazing. I especially enjoyed the numerous parallels between the murder victim, Jason Gardner, his life and circumstances, and the fictional Jay Gatsby. 

The murder occurs after the victim's relationships with many of the townspeople have been vividly established, which results in plenty of potential suspects for Allie to check out and eliminate from her list. There are some really good red herrings to distract her and readers from pinpointing the actual perpetrator too soon, and of course, there are some awkward as well as perilous encounters on the way to the final resolution. I enjoy these characters, with their quirks and, sometimes, fractious, messy relationships, a lot, and was well entertained from start to finish. 

I recommend MURDER BY THE MILLIONS to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy literary-themed storylines. 

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

Born To Bead Wild

Glass Bead Mystery, #5

by

Janice Peacock

With an almost ensemble team of sleuths and its interesting glass bead theme, this long-awaited addition to the author's Glass Bead Mystery series will not disappoint.

Jacqueline “Jax” O’Connell and her best friend, Tessa Ricci, were on their way to teach a week-long glass bead jewelry workshop at a farm-turned-arts-camp in the Olympic Peninsula when they got a call from Jax’s neighbor, Val, that she was also going. Val, a hairdresser and an excellent, albeit at times adventurous, cook, was headed to the same location, having been hired as the new chef for the facility. Along with a huge pink suitcase filled with fashionable clothes and heels, Val had also brought her Basset hound, Stanley. But while Tessa was looking forward to sharing with her future students, Jax, a lifelong city girl, was a bit apprehensive about spending a week in a rustic camping environment. 

When they arrive at the camp, the three discover the accommodations are a tad more rustic than they’d anticipated, and with a strict no-technology policy in place, they are required to leave their cell phones in the camp office. However, making up for the inconveniences, the setting on the shores of a lake was beautiful, and Tessa and Jax were elated to find that the studio for their class was an absolute dream.

 While inspecting the beautiful space, Tessa is surprised when an old nemesis, Marvin Caputo, appears to check the studio’s ventilation system and questions its adequacy and safety. He and Tessa had come into conflict years earlier when he was trying to gain consulting work from her by claiming her glass studio wasn’t up to code and had caused her numerous problems. Even though Tessa had come out on top of that situation, her studio was fine; it still rankled. 

Marvin Caputo had angered many people in his past and had a notorious reputation. But when Caputo is found floating in the lake, all the workshop participants come under suspicion when it is deemed a homicide. Jax, Tessa, and Val quickly realized that someone in their group was a murderer. 

Born to Bead Wild is the fifth book in author Janice Peacock’s delightful and quirky Glass Bead Mystery series and is a long-awaited addition, as the last book was published in 2018. The main character, Jacqueline “Jax” O’Connell, is smart and savvy, and in this story, she has quite a bit of time on her hands to look around and uncover clues to what is going on at Full Moon Farm, the site of the workshop. She’s good-hearted, and though initially annoyed by Val accompanying her and Tessa, she stands up for her neighbor at every chance and willingly lends a helping hand. Tessa is the lead instructor for the glass bead class along with their friend, Adriana Jones, and although she must focus on teaching, she still has Jax’s back and urges her on when needed. For me, it was Val’s camp experience that took center stage. Honestly, I could feel the horror of those menus and weird staples, and I applauded what Val could create out of that mess. Frankly, I would have starved to death or worn a rut in the road to Port Angeles, going for food before eating any of the camp owner’s scheduled meals. 

The murder mystery and the amateur investigation were solid and intriguing. The victim doesn’t have much page/screen time, but it’s enough to know he’s trouble with a capital “T.” In contrast to our three heroines, quite a few unpleasant folks are involved with the workshop, including the owners of Full Moon Farm, and some make for good suspects. I never clued in on who the actual killer was until the reveal, though, with hindsight being 20/20, perhaps I should have. Then, too, the final resolution of the case comes with its terrific twist. 

With an almost ensemble team of sleuths, a great setting, and the interesting glass bead art and jewelry theme, I recommend BORN TO BE BEAD WILD to cozy mystery readers who enjoy artistic or craft-themed stories, books with a rural camp location or set in the Pacific Northwest, in general, but especially fans of the previous books in the series. 

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

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau

by

Jaime Jo Wright

A modern gothic suspense novel with fascinating multiple timelines set in the atmospheric Castle Moreau.

Two young women, more than a century apart, are hired to work at Castle Moreau. Once there, they encounter the mystery of others who came before them who have gone missing. The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by author Jaime Jo Wright is the modern iteration of the gothic novel with much more depth than I ever imagined. With its multiple timelines, each narrated by an engaging heroine, I was totally absorbed by the well-crafted, atmospheric story. 

I’ve become such a huge fan of the dual (or, in this case, TRIPLE) timeline tale. I love getting the story of what is going on from two (or more) seemingly unconnected storylines that slowly wend their way toward each other and converge to reveal the big picture. In this book, there are three stories, separated by decades, to reconcile, and I had no trouble discriminating which story was which, and all are compelling tales. 

The descriptions of the castle and its occupants at the three points in time created an eerie, menacing atmosphere from the start. I couldn’t help thinking something frightening was just around a darkened corner or across a creaking floor, hidden and waiting for an opportunity to appear. The tension built as each girl narrated their story. 

Daisy and Cleo are extremely likable and engaging young women, both at Castle Moreau, escaping their pasts. The initial interactions with those living in the castle were strange —odd enough to send anyone running —but they are both strong and strongly motivated to remain. Both have a curious nature and are determined to suss out the mystery of the women who vanished after arriving at Castle Moreau. The plot progresses with interesting twists and turns, including Cleo’s struggle with alcohol, and I was surprised and satisfied with the story’s resolution. 

With its fascinating multiple timelines, appealing heroines, atmospheric setting, and intriguing mystery, I recommend THE VANISHING AT CASTLE MOREAU to readers of suspense and thrillers who enjoy a touch of romance in their stories. 

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

Murder in Postscript

Lady of Letters Mystery, #1

by

Mary Winters

A charming new Victorian-era historical cozy mystery series debut, featuring Lady Amelia Amesbury!

Murder in Postscript is the debut novel in author Mary Winters’s new historical cozy series, A Lady of Letters Mysteries. The action begins quickly with a murder, but not the one mentioned in relation to THE postscript, which occurs by the end of the third chapter. The book has a charming tone and an equally delightful heroine, Lady Amelia Amesbury, the titular Lady of Letters. 

Lady Amelia is a refreshing character. Although a countess, her position was attained through a virtual marriage of convenience. The late Lord Edgar, aware that he was dying of a terminal illness, sought out and married Amelia as the perfect guardian and mentor for his beloved young niece, Winifred, after his death. Although sorrowful over his circumstances, Lady Amelia quickly came to love the young girl as if she were her own daughter. I loved that Amelia moonlighted as an ‘agony aunt,’ and that after this pastime was revealed to the reader, each chapter is headed with a letter to and a response from ‘Lady Agony.’ 

Amelia is joined in her investigation of the death of a lady’s maid and her mistress by her best friend, Kitty, and Simon Bainbridge, an old friend of the Amesbury family. Kitty is what we would categorize today as a “ride-or-die” friend. Simon had been a particularly close confidante of Amelia’s late husband, one of the few people aware of the illness that would take his life soon after his marriage to her. From the start, there was a spark between him and Amelia, although, at the time, she only wanted him to be on his way so she could make a secret rendezvous with a distraught letter writer in St. James Park. Together, Amelia and Simon make an excellent team as they work to unravel the book’s mysteries. I will anxiously anticipate their further adventures in future books in this series. 

As the investigation into the murders intensifies, it uncovers several possible suspects and reveals surprising plot twists. I didn’t figure out the answers beforehand, but I was satisfied with the resolution. 

I recommend MURDER IN POSTSCRIPT to readers of cozy historical mysteries, especially those that feature unusual (for the times) and progressive female sleuths or Victorian-era London. 

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

Afterward

by

Bristol Vaudrin

Unputdownable tale of the aftermath of a man’s attempt on his life and the impact on his partner.

Afterward by Bristol Vaudrin is a riveting tale of the aftermath of one partner’s tragic actions and their impact on the other. When Lauren comes home to find her boyfriend unconscious from his attempt on his own life, she naturally calls 911 and gets help. But as Kyle heals, his journey to recovery takes a road to an unexpected destination. 

Lauren thought she was living her best life with Kyle and was taken completely by surprise by his actions. She had built her life around him, making his friends hers for the previous four years, with her mother being the only tie to her life before Kyle. 

The plot follows Lauren from her frantic discovery, through his weeks in the hospital and treatment, and all the emotions she experiences as she tries to return to the life they lived before. Lauren’s narrative is gripping as she navigates the initial confusion and numbness she feels, along with the scrutiny of friends and coworkers, as the truth about Kyle’s “accident” slowly emerges. Her voice is distinctive, often laced with humor, regardless of the stage of her own journey. 

I recommend AFTERWARD to readers of literary, women’s, or healing fiction. 

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