Mystery Mondays - Blog Tour: Banana Split

Welcome to another Mystery Monday at Melissa's Bookshelf!  I am excited to be a part of another blog tour today, taking a look at Banana Split, the seventh book in Josi S. Kilpack's Culinary Mystery Series.  I admit I haven't read the first six, but when I finished Banana Split, I wished I had been reading these books from the beginning.

Let's start with the basics, shall we?

Title: Banana Split
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: March 6, 2012
Paperback, Shadow Mountain
Book source: Received a copy from the author to participate in this blog tour -- many thanks to you and to Tristi Pinkston for inviting me to participate in the tour!


Synopsis


Sadie Hoffmiller has survived eighteen months of nonstop adventures filled with murder, deceit, and danger.  She could really use some rest -- and maybe even some time to heal -- relaxing in the tropical paradise of Kaua'i.  However, palm trees and sunshine are not as effective a medication as Sadie had hoped.  And when she finds herself entangled -- literally -- with a dead body, she is forced to face the compounding fears and anxieties that are making her life so difficult to live.


Her determination to stay out of danger and to focus on overcoming her anxieties soon takes a backseat when she meets eleven-year-old Charlie, the son of the woman whose body she discovered near Anahola Beach.  Charlie has some questions of his own about what happened to his mother, and he is convinced that only Sadie can help him.  If only Sadie were as confident in her abilities as Charlie is.


With the help of her best friend and a local social worker, Sadie dives into another mystery with the hope that, at the end, she'll be able to find the peace and closure that has eluded her.


My Thoughts

Okay, for starters, it's a nice bonus to read a mystery that also includes recipes inspired by the location and mentioned throughout the story.  There are several that I hope to try at some point -- most don't seem to be too complicated to make and it would be fun to get a feel of some of the local flavor of Hawaii.  Interestingly enough, this is the second mystery I have read recently that is set in Hawaii, and it is proving to be a fun way to learn even a small bit about their culture.  But going back to the recipes, I also discovered that there is an index of all the recipes located in the front of the book, which is a fantastic feature!

When reading this story, it is obvious that I must have missed a lot of Sadie's background by not having read the other books.  However, this book can certainly be read as a stand-alone and on its own merit.  So, while I would probably recommend starting at the beginning, don't feel like you have to just because I told you to!  Okay, that said, I also feel like I have missed out on a TON of Sadie's character development.  Rumor has it, the vulnerable Sadie we see in Banana Split is quite different from the Sadie that people got to know in the first six books.  However, we do get to see her work on overcoming the vulnerability she feels, and even by the end of the book she is a different woman from the Sadie I met on the first page.

The mystery itself evolves quite a bit as the story unfolds.  We are introduced to several suspicious characters, which always sparks me to contemplate who had the most motive to commit the murder.  I have to admit that as I got into the thick of the plot, the storyline slowed down a little for me, but Kilpack is able to keep the twists and turns coming and pulls you right on to the end as the pace quickens again for the last several chapters.  An added bonus in my mind is that this is a nice, clean book -- sure, the murder is a little gruesome, but that is mainly left to your imagination and after all, it IS a murder mystery.

If I have intrigued you so far, you really ought to pick up a copy of Banana Split (or one of Kilpack's other Culinary Mysteries) and see what it's all about!

My rating: 

For more information about Ms. Kilpack, please visit her website.

Be sure to visit the other blogs participating in the tour and hear what they have to say about Ms. Kilpack and Banana Split:

April 2nd: http://taffyscandy.blogspot.com/
April 2nd: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
April 3rd: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
April 4th: http://screamandhug.blogspot.com
April 5th:http://www.kathiswritingnook.blogspot.com
April 7th: http://www.ifonlylifecouldbethatsimple.blogspot.com/
April 7th: http://cranberryfries.blogspot.com
April 9th: http://vampirekiss1967.blogspot.com/
April 10th: http://agooddaytoread.com/
April 11th: http://www.ldswbr.com
April 12th: http://susan-thebookbag.blogspot.com/
April 13th: http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com
April 13th: http://micheleabell.blogspot.com/
April 16th: http://scribbledscraps.blogspot.com/
April 16th: http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/
April 20th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
April 26th: http://www.lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com
April 28th: http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com
May 11th: http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com
May 14th: http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com
4th Week of May: http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/

The Return of Mystery Mondays: Blog Tour for Blood Orchids

When I was contacted about participating in the Blog Tour for Blood Orchids by Toby Neal, I simply couldn't resist this opportunity to "resurrect" Mystery Mondays with a review of a great mystery!  While I have been quiet on the blogging front, many thanks to Toby Neal and her publicist for reaching out to me and for their interest in my site!  Thank you for my review copy, which was an e-book, 241 pages.

From BookSparks PR: Blood Orchids follows police woman Lei Texeira, whose life starts to unravel after discovering a gruesome murder scene on the shores of beautiful Hawaii. A scene that also begins to expose Texeira’s dark buried past. After an impulsive mistake she is sent to mandatory counseling to help deal with the escalating violence and how it triggers her. Meanwhile she gains the attention of a killer, and the lead detective on the case, Michael Stevens. Even deeper conspiracies develop the story, originating with her father, a convicted drug dealer. Haunted by a persistent stalker, the shadow of her past looms over the growing relationship with Stevens, Texeira, with the help of her loyal Rottweiler, battles the monsters of her past and present, reaching out toward a loving future.

I actually haven't been reading very many mysteries of late, so I enjoyed diving back into the genre with Blood Orchids, Toby Neal's debut crime novel.  This was a fast-paced book that proved to be a quick read and was perfect for the last few evenings.  Not only do we have the mystery behind the discovery of that first murder scene, but ultimately Lei Texeira is embroiled in her own frightening scenario involving a creepy stalker.  Naturally, one starts to wonder if the two mysteries are connected, though Neal presents several plausible possibilities and keeps you guessing.

I liked the fact that it wasn't immediately obvious as to who the various perpetrators might be.  However, in the end when the cases were resolved, it almost felt like the answer came out of left field.  I didn't think there were enough clues that would enable you to solve the crimes on your own.  Sure, there were a few suspicious characters along the way, but when did we learn about the key points that would have made us realize who the true murderer or stalker was?  Or perhaps Neal was sneaky enough to just slip things in where they might be missed?? :-)

In the end, that was my only complaint about the book.  Blood Orchids was full of action and some romance, too.  The dynamic between Lei and Michael Stevens was exciting to watch unfold.  I also enjoyed that the story was set in Hawaii.  I admit that I'm not too familiar with the culture there, so I was able to get a brief glimpse into a small part of the island life.  You'll find an interesting mix of characters, including the psychiatrist that Lei has to go see for mandatory counseling.

If you are looking for a mystery that's relatively quick to read and will get your heart racing just a bit, then I urge you to give Blood Orchids a try.  Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour!!

For information about Toby Neal and Blood Orchids, visit Neal's website.


Link to Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/toby.w.neal

Link to Twitter page: https://twitter.com/#!/tobywneal


My rating: 

Mystery Mondays: Review: Pushing Up Daisies

Title: Pushing Up Daisies
Author: Rosemary Harris
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: February 2008, St. Martin's Press
Hardcover,
Book Source: Received my copy from the author for review

Synopsis

Thirtyish former television exec Paula Holliday relocates from New York City to sleepy Springfield, CT, determined to turn her passion for gardening into a new, less stressful career.

When an eccentric spinster dies, her landmark property is left to the local Historical Society, and Paula sees the garden’s restoration as a way to get her fledgling business off the ground. She’s prepared for everything, but not for the mummified baby she digs up her first day on the job. After a cursory investigation, the local police decide it’s an old secret, not a recent crime, so they drop the matter, but . . . Paula’s not so sure.

Casual snooping turns serious when someone is impaled on a garden tool and one of Paula’s helpers is arrested for the crime. Aided by the still-hot aging rocker who owns the local greasy spoon, a Shakespeare-quoting massage therapist, and a handsome Mexican laborer with a few secrets of his own, Paula unearths more dirt the suburban town has kept buried.

Rounding out the cast, and among the suspects, a randy Congressman and his gin-swigging mother, an amoral newspaper reporter, an octogenarian ladies’ man, childhood sweethearts reunited after 50 years, and a tattooed lady you wouldn’t want to mess with.

My Thoughts

Have you been looking for a fun, cozy mystery to read?  Then I would urge you to try out Rosemary Harris' Dirty Business mystery series!  Quirky and entertaining, Pushing Up Daisies is a very worthy debut in the world of cozy mysteries.

While the overall story and mystery might have benefited from a bit more fleshing out, this book remains a winner.  With a wide array of characters, most of whom are quite likeable, you can't help but expect some interesting events to occur, and Harris certainly takes us for a winding ride on the way to solving the puzzle.  In the end, since everyone in town seems to have a secret to hide, there's more than one mystery that needs to be solved, which adds a bit of spice to the story.

Yes, there's also a bit of potential romance in the air with this book--two eligible bachelors are introduced, in fact.  So now, not only do I look forward to trying out another of Harris' mysteries, I am anxious to see who Paula Holliday ends up falling for.  Again, many thanks to Rosemary Harris for sending me Pushing Up Daisies for review!

My Rating:

Other reviews of Pushing Up Daisies:

Lesa's Book Critiques ~ Kylee's Journal ~ S. Krishna's Books

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Mystery Mondays: Maid of Murder Blog Tour!

Welcome to the kickoff of Amanda Flower's blog tour for her mystery debut, Maid of Murder! I am excited to share with you my review of her cozy mystery and hope you'll give it a try, yourself! Let's start off with the basics, shall we?

Title: Maid of Murder
Author: Amanda Flower
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: June 2010, Cengage Gale
ARC, 280 pages
Book Source: Received my copy from Vera at Luxury Reading--many thanks for including me in this blog tour!

Synopsis

India Hays is a lot of things... starving artist who pays the rent as a college librarian, daughter of liberal activists, sister of an emotional mathematician, tenant of a landlady who has kissed the Blarney Stone one too many times, and a bridesmaid six times over. But she's about to step into the most challenging role of her life: amateur sleuth.

Childhood friend and now knockout beauty, Olivia Blocken is back in town to wed her bodybuilder fiance with India a reluctant attendant... not just because the bridesmaid's dress is a hideous mess, but because she's betraying her brother. Mark still carries a torch for the bride who once broke his heart and sent his life into a tailspin.

When Olivia turns up dead in the Martin College fountain and the evidence points to Mark, India must unmask the real culprit while juggling a furious and grieving Mother of the Bride, an annoyingly beautiful Maid of Honor, a set of hippie-generation parents, the police detective who once dated her sister and is showing a marked liking for her, and a provost itching to fire someone, anyone--maybe even a smart-mouthed librarian.

India's investigation leads her on a journey through childhood memories that she'd much rather have left in the schoolyard, but to avoid becoming the next victim, it is a path she must follow. 

My Thoughts

By now most of you who are familiar with what I review will know that I always enjoy picking up a mystery book! Whether it's a complex "whodunnit" that is sure to surprise or a cozy mystery with humor and other interesting tangential side plots, I can't help wanting to try to solve the crime before the culprit is revealed.

Amanda Flower's Maid of Murder certainly falls more into the cozy mystery category, with more than its share of quirky characters and amateur sleuthing by India Hayes. Sprinkled with humor and wit, this book tells the story of a tragic pre-wedding murder and shows you all sides of the crime and the people involved. A more varied group of suspects and supporting characters you'd be hard-pressed to find, from India's nosy Irish landlady, to the deceased bride's testosterone-filled fiance, to her liberal parents and their hunger for causes and demonstrations. And that's only the start!

The mystery itself isn't too complicated and naturally we are led to suspect several people before the murderer is revealed. The story is fast-paced, thanks to India's desire to pursue the investigating on her own--although her methods are at times more of a hindrance to her brother's case than a help. I really enjoyed reading this book--Flower's timely use of humor and dry with make for an entertaining read. My only disappointment was in how quickly the case wrapped up once we were hot on the trail of the murderer. I would have been happy with more fleshing out of that aspect of the storyline--and I have to admit I wouldn't have minded seeing more development of the budding relationship between India and Detective Mains. Oh, in case you are wondering, I did figure out who killed Olivia before it was revealed--it wasn't a huge surprise for more than one reason...

If you're looking for a quick read and a cozy mystery, you might like to pick up a copy of Maid of Murder and give it a try!

My rating:

Other stops on the Maid of Murder Blog Tour:

Bookin' with Bingo - August 11th (interview)
The Lit Witch - August 12th
Just Short of Crazy - August 16th
Reading at the Beach - August 17th
Books and Needlepoint - August 18th
Books By Their Cover - August 19th
Luxury Reading - August 20th

For more information on Amanda Flower, please visit her website and look her up on Facebook! To purchase a copy of Maid of Murder, please visit Amazon.com!

Mystery Mondays: Review: Revenge Served Cold

Title: Revenge Served Cold
Author: Jackie Fullerton
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Pub Date: May 2010, Thomas House Publishing
Paperback, 287 pages
Book Source: Received a review copy from The Cadence Group--many thanks!

Synopsis

Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. With an eyewitness to the crime and proof that her car was the murder weapon, it appears to be an open-and-shut case.

Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth, Ann Marshall, for help. Believing in Kathy's innocence, Anne launches her own investigation, uncovering proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathy's past and threatens her own life.

In a race against time, Anne must count on her close friends and even the ghost of her father to help her bring a killer to justice before it's too late.

My Thoughts

Many thanks to the folks at The Cadence Group for providing me with Ms. Fullerton's latest thriller, Revenge Served Cold. My thoughts in this book ran the gamut of emotions from the moment I picked it up until I finished the last page.

I will admit that as I worked through the first 40-50 pages, this book read like a soap opera and I began to wonder if I would make it through the story. Then, however, Fullerton starts putting the pieces in place and I was hooked. Yes, we know that Kathy Spence is not the murderer, but we are left guessing as to who it might be--from two possible suspects. I was pretty sure I knew who did it all along and upon reading the inevitable (though relatively minor) "twist" I learned that I was right! Paced rather quickly, Revenge Served Cold is an easy read with just enough pull to keep you turning pages. The writing and dialogues may lack color, but I finished it easily in one morning and it was nice to whip through the pages and forget the outside world for a few hours. I could have done without the ghostly encounters with Anne's father, mainly because she likely wouldn't have been able to solve this mystery without her deceased father's help, and that point bugs me just a bit.

For the most part, though, I was enjoying my escape into this book until the last couple of chapters of the book when our heroine did something so ridiculously reckless and stupid, I found myself annoyed through what was meant to be the most suspenseful part of the book. I just don't see how anyone with half a brain at all would do what Anne did towards the end of the story--particularly upon learning that the case should be wrapped up fairly shortly. I will leave it at that. Sadly, the way things played out with Anne further tainted my feelings on this book, but if you are looking for a tidy little mystery that won't occupy too much of your time, Revenge Served Cold is just the book for you!

My Rating:

Other reviews of Revenge Served Cold:

Books Please ~ My Book Views ~ Minding Spot ~ Ashley's Library

Pudgy Penguin Perusals

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Mystery Mondays: Audio book Review: 8th Confession

Title: 8th Confession
Author: James Patterson with Maxine Paetro
Read by: Carolyn McCormick
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Pub Date: April 2009, Hachette Audio
Source: Won from a blog contest

Synopsis

As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching—waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey, the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home.

As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed—a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls through the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought.

As the hunt for two criminals tests the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly between Cindy and her partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revelations as only James Patterson can. And remember, this is the only Murder Club episode of the year.

My Thoughts

You might recall from my previous mentions about how a reader can really influence how you feel about an audio book--at least, I find that happens to me. A good reader can make a not-so-great book better, or vice versa. With 8th Confession, I have to confess that I was not nuts about Carolyn McCormick's reading, though at times she does do a great job, depending on the character she is portraying (she gets an A+ as Yuki's mother, for example). But more often than not, I just felt her reading seemed to prim and proper for the story, if that makes any sense.

However, I thought the story behind 8th Confession was so good that the reading really did not mess up the listening experience for me. I found myself completely engaged with the story--well, not so completely that I couldn't drive safely on my commutes, but I'm sure you understand what I mean. In fact, I now think that listening to audio books might be the best route for Patterson's novels for me--with their short chapters they really are perfect for listening. And as his stories are generally fast-paced and exciting, it makes for a great audio book experience. Not that I don't enjoy reading his novels in print, but they really are a great option for my daily commutes.

As with most of his books there is a bit of sexual content and foul language, most of which I am willing to overlook, though I really could do without some of it. Given that Patterson always has several storylines working at once, I don't need all the details of the various relationships--insinuations work just fine for me. But I definitely enjoy the multiple storylines and now that Patterson has developed all the women in the Murder Club so much, there is a lot more to work with for their various stories. If you enjoy Patterson's novels, I definitely recommend checking out their audio versions--I don't think you'll be disappointed.

My rating:



Other reviews of 8th Confession:

A Novel Menagerie ~ Bermudaonion's Weblog ~ Bobbi's Book Nook
Booking Mama ~ A Bookworm's World ~ Shh I'm Reading
Diary of an Eccentric ~ reading comes from writing
Lori's Reading Corner ~ Joyfully Retired

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see your site listed above, please leave a comment with the link to your review!

Mystery Mondays: Dying for Mercy Giveaway!!

I'm excited to bring to you this giveaway for Mary Jane Clark's newest book, Dying for Mercy! Thanks to Katrina at Wiredset for letting me giveaway TWO COPIES of this book on my site!

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When death shatters the serenity of the exclusive moneyed enclave of Tuxedo Park, New York, Eliza Blake, cohost of the country's premier morning television show KEY to America, is on the scene. While attending a lavish gala at her friends' newly renovated estate, Pentimento, Eliza's host is found dead—a grotesque suicide that is the first act in a macabre and intricately conceived plan to expose the sins of the past involving some of the town's most revered citizens.

Determined to find out the truth, Eliza and her KEY News colleagues—producer Annabelle Murphy, cameraman B.J. D'Elia, and psychiatrist Margo Gonzalez—discover that Pentimento holds the key. Nestled in the park's sprawling architectural masterpieces, picturesque gardeners' cottages, and lush, rolling landscape, the glorious mansion is actually a giant "puzzle house," filled with ingenious clues hidden in its fireplaces, fountains, and frescoes that lead them from one suspicious locale to another—and, one by one, to the victims of a fiendish killer.

As Pentimento gives up its secrets, it becomes clear that no amount of wealth or privilege will keep the residents of Tuxedo Park safe. But just when Eliza unearths one final surprise, she comes face-to-face with a murderer who believes that some puzzles should never be solved.

You can check out more information about the book at Amazon.com.

BOOK TRAILER




HOW TO WIN:

For one entry, leave a comment.

+1 entry - Become a follower on Google Friend Connect. (+2 entries if you are already a follower)

+1 entry - follow me on Twitter (@Melsbookshelf) and let me know you did

+2 entries - Tweet about this contest and leave a link to your tweet.

+2 entries - Blog about this contest and leave a link.

The contest will remain open until Sunday, August 9th at 11:59pm EDT and the winner will be announced in a Mystery Monday's post on the 10th! This contest is open to US residents only.

Good luck!!

Mystery Mondays: Review: A Deadly Habit

Title: A Deadly Habit
Author: Andrea Sisco
Genre: Mystery
Pub Date: July 2009, Five Star
ARC, 270 pages

Synopsis

When Probation Officer, Penelope (Pen) Santucci was a child, she dreamt of being a nun. She dressed in bed sheets and roller-skated regularly into the confessional of Father Daniel Kopecky. There she bared her soul, fabricating sins only a precocious eight-year-old could invent. As a twenty-seven-year-old woman, she's doing the same thing, sans the roller skates and bed sheets. Only this time, she isn't inventing stories. She's confessing her involvement in a murder; a murder she didn't commit, but one in which she is the most promising suspect.

Wisecracking, safecracking Pen lures an elderly priest and a young nun into committing felonies on their wild search for the truth. Hardly appropriate behavior for the dedicated probation officer, but while Pen believes in her job, she has little faith in the justice system. Unfortunately, Pen digs herself deeper into trouble and straight into a muddy grave, dragging her sexy attorney in with her. If they ever get out of it alive, he plans to wring her neck himself. That is, if the thugs who are after the money she found don't get her first.

My Thoughts

Thanks to Bostick Communications for my ARC of A Deadly Habit.

Well, you all know how I love a good mystery, and it's even better when it happens to be a mystery that is full of humor. A Deadly Habit is Andrea Sisco's debut novel, and in my opinion it is a great start! Pen Santucci is a hilarious amateur detective, trying to clear herself of her soon-to-be-ex-husband's murder. You never know what might come out of her mouth, but chances are she would have been better off keeping it shut. Her sister, Germaine (the nun) is another great character--she lives a life devoted to God but can't resist getting involved with Pen's search for the truth. Yes, you really feel for Pen's lawyer, Marco, who is doing all he can to make sure his client isn't charged with murder, but has to be her keeper, as well. But he is determined to help Pen through this, if only due to the fact that he owes Father Daniel Kopecky a favor. I think Father Kopecky got a little more than he bargained for when Pen came to confession, though.

Yes, a great set of characters really helps to make this story work. As for the mystery itself, it's pretty well done, with just enough given to the reader to let them have a guess at figuring out who really murdered Pen's jerk of husband, Paul. The main focus is really on Pen's crazy antics to discover the truth. I also rather liked that while you sense an attraction between Marco and Pen, it's not really addressed in great detail in the book, just a few lines here and there, leaving you to wonder what may come of the pair. It's become so common to weave in romances between principle characters in suspense/mystery books these days, it was refreshing to be left hanging about that this time around.

While I normally prefer books to be written from a third person point of view, the fact that A Deadly Habit was written entirely from Pen's point of view did not really hurt the book. It actually gives further insight into Pen's character and why she is the way she is. (Hmmm, did I mention her crazy mother??) Overall, the writing is generally easy to read, if a bit choppy at times--to me that is easily overlooked and did not hamper my enjoyment of the story.

If you enjoy mysteries or are looking for a book to give you a few laughs, I'd recommend checking out A Deadly Habit, due out this month. For a sneak peak, you can even read the first chapter here. And an additional note from Andrea herself--she loves talking with book clubs, so if you have any interest in having Andrea visit your book club (via phone or in person) please visit her web site and drop her a note!

My rating:

Mystery Mondays: Review: 7th Heaven

Title: 7th Heaven
Author: James Patterson (with Maxine Paetro)
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Pub Date: Feb. 2008 (this ed: Apr. 2009), Grand Central Publishing
Trade Paperback, 376 pages

Synopsis

Two cases have pushed San Francisco detective Lindsay Boxer beyond her limits. In the first, a terrible fire in a wealthy home has left a married couple dead and Lindsay and her partner, Rich Conklin, searching for clues. At the same time, Michael Campion, the son of California's ex-governor with a reputation for partying, has been missing for a month. When there finally seems to be a lead in his case, it is a devastating one. And the combined pressure from the press and the brass is overwhelming.

Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano plunges into the biggest case of her life to get to the bottom of Michael Campion's disappearance. As fire after fire consumes couples in expensive neighborhoods, Lindsay and her friends in the Women's Murder Club race to find the arsonists responsible. But suddenly the fires are raging too close to home. Frightened for her life and torn between two men, Lindsay confronts the most daunting dilemmas she's ever faced — in a thriller with unexpected twists and emotional extremes of the kind only James Patterson — "the man who can't miss" (Time) — can deliver.

My Thoughts

It has been awhile since I read any of the Women's Murder Club (I'm hereby referring to it as WMC) books by James Patterson. I was waiting for this 7th book to come out in paperback, and even though it's been sitting on my shelves for awhile, I only recently got around to reading it. Don't ask me why, because as I always find out when I start one of Patterson's WMC books, I can't put them down!

While he may not be a literary genius, I do find Patterson's books to be enjoyable, not to mention very easy, to read. Short chapters can do wonders for a book, especially when one is busy and often interrupted from reading. (Because as much as I didn't want to put this book down, there were times I had to.) Another big reason I like this series of books in particular is that we get to know a set of characters and revisit them over and over and see what is new in their lives. I think that adds to the appeal of the WMC books.

One of Patterson's strengths is his ability to weave together separate mysteries and crimes and yet still tie it all together into the story. For me, that really helps with the pacing of the story and keeps me turning the pages--you get a fresh look into one of the crimes every few chapters. With 7th Heaven, one of the side plots did bug me a little bit, and that was the problems that Yuki had when trying to date true crime writer Jason Twilly turned creepy. Initially it just didn't seem to fit, though by the end of the book it did make more sense in relation to the story. In my opnion, this little piece of the puzzle just felt almost as if it had been added in after the fact. Other than that, I really thought the ending was well-done, and I honestly didn't see it coming. I'd say more but I'm afraid of giving too much away to those of you who haven't read this book.

If you like mysteries and suspense/thrillers, I think you would enjoy Patterson's Women's Murder Club books. It's not absolutely necessary to read them in order, but I do think it's preferable to do that so that you can see the main characters develop.

My rating:



Other reviews of 7th Heaven:

My Random Acts of Reading ~ Jenn's Bookshelf

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see your site listed here, please leave a comment with the link below.

Mystery Mondays: Review: Why Shoot a Butler?

Welcome to another Mystery Mondays review! This week we are taking a look at a title from one of my favorite authors, Georgette Heyer. Better known for her Regency and Historical Romances, Heyer did write several mysteries during her career, with a bit of help from her husband, a barrister. He helped Heyer make sure that enoug clues were sprinkled throughout her stories so that readers might have a chance at solving the mystery. As you'll see in my review, I think he could have done a better job with Why Shoot a Butler? :-)

Title: Why Shoot a Butler?
Author: Georgette Heyer
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: April 2009, Sourcebooks
Trade paperback, 329 pages

Synopsis

Every family has secrets, but the Fountains' are turning deadly...

On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel. The girl protests her innocence, and Amberley believes her--at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the clues incriminating Shirley Brown begin to add up...

In an English country-house murder mystery with a twist, it's the butler who's the victim, ever clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled. Fortunately, in ferreting out a desperate killer, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant, but this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth...

My Thoughts

This is only the second Heyer mystery I have read and thought I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I liked it as much as Detection Unlimited. With Why Shoot a Butler? Heyer takes a different approach by having law enforcement officials that border on incompetent and an amateur who is much more talented in the sleuthing department. That particular device provides for many humorous exchanges between the officials and Amberley. Of course, I also liked the idea that instead of "the butler did it," the butler was the victim, or one of them, anyway.

Once again, Heyer's talent for witty banter and dry humor does much to make this an enjoyable read. There is also quite a bit of action, with no less than three murders and one more attempted before the ultimate culprit is found out. My biggest issue with this story was that it was not very obvious to the reader what was actually going on, and what the real mystery truly is, beyond the initial murder of the butler. I did have an inkling as to who the "bad guy" was, but no clue as to the motive. Of course, when the case is explained at the end, Heyer does manage to tie it all up neatly. As is typical with Heyer there is a romance, but unfortunately it is thrown in so suddenly towards the end that she was not able to exercise her true talents in this area. I suppose I could see it coming but it really wasn't worked into the plot as well as it could have been.

Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read and one I think that most cozy mystery-lovers would enjoy. While I had some issues with the plot, that did not hamper my enjoyment of the story and Heyer's writing and humorous dialogues. I do wish, however, that some of the typos had been taken care of by Sourcebooks--there were two or three that were glaring and should never have made it through.

My rating:



Other reviews of Why Shoot a Butler?:

A Lovely Shore Breeze ~ Reading Adventures
Books and Needlepoint ~ Grace's Book Blog

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your review listed here, please leave a comment below. Thanks!

Mystery Mondays: Review: Boston Scream Pie

Welcome to another Mystery Mondays review! This week I've got a fun one for you... Boston Scream Pie, by Rosemary and Larry Mild, which is the third book in their Paco & Molly series. Don't you love that title? I will also be participating in the Omnimystery Tour for this book and will be sharing an interview with the authors on Saturday, July 11th--I'm so excited! Be sure to stop back by for that, but for now here's a taste of what the book is about and my thoughts on it...

Title: Boston Scream Pie
Author: Rosemary & Larry Mild
Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: August 2008, Hilliard & Harris
Trade paperback, 180 pages

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Caitlin Neuman, a Maryland high school student, is plagued by a series of bizarre nightmares about a horrific car accident on a snowy road. The lone survivor of a car crash that claimed both her parents and twin sister years earlier, Caitlin was too young to remember the details of that fateful night. But are these present-day nightmares simply Caitlin’s mind working out the past, or is there more to these vivid images that haunt her every waking moment?

As the harrowing images escalate, Caitlin takes matters into her own hands and seeks out the one source she knows can solve the mystery of the nightmares: retired Baltimore detective Paco LeSoto.

For any other detective, such a case would seem impossible. But for Paco LeSoto, nothing is impossible. Paco, after all, has both a keen ability to solve mysteries, and the loving support of his wife and biggest cheerleader, Molly, a woman whose deliciously skewed language, exquisite culinary skills, and shrewd cleverness are equaled only by her girth.

As Paco and Molly set out to find answers, they’ll uncover a string of unsolved deaths and a case of mistaken identity buried deep in the past. As the clues mount and the tension builds, Paco and Molly are led to a nearby family embroiled in a crisis of its own.

Newlyweds Newton Boston and his blonde bombshell wife Delylah are mired in their own family turmoil as Delylah’s adult children churn up trouble that threatens this already-fractured family. But what Newton doesn’t know is that four dead husbands lie in Delylah’s past. When another Boston family member dies under suspicious circumstances, all clues point to murder.

Can Paco and Molly stop another killing, bring justice to the culprits, and right an egregious wrong from the past—before it’s too late? As they uncover the sinister clues, Paco and Molly will either shed light on a long-hidden secret, or stir up a recipe for disaster.

My Thoughts

I have to admit, the title alone was enough to sell me on the book, though the cover leaves a bit to be desired. This was another one of those stories where I had a difficult time following the story initially because the scenes switched back and forth between characters that seemed to be totally unrelated. However, the Milds slowly bring everyone together in what I thought was a pretty slick plot line--one that I will also not divulge because it really is key to the story.

Boston Scream Pie is one of those mysteries where you can piece together information and figure out who the culprit is, but there are so many mini-mysteries that you never really can have the full story figured out. Actually, one of the main mysteries is really uncovered with little fanfare, but there is so much to the story (and the reader likely has that part figured out, anyway) that I didn't mind this to be the case. Honestly, what makes this book (and probably the series, though I have only read this title) is the characters. The Milds do a great job portraying all of the family members and possible suspects of the various murders and it becomes interesting to debate who has the most likely motive. Truth be told, Molly and her "Mollyprops" (or malapropisms) really steal the show. In the beginning, it was amusing to see her misuse and mangle various words and phrases, but by the end it was hysterical, as the "slips of tongue" really grew to have double entendres or were just plain amusing in their tone. One of my favorites was "defacation of character" as opposed to defamation of character.

Overall, Boston Scream Pie was an easy, light read that provided a lot of laughs. The relative simplicity of the mystery may disappoint some diehard mystery lovers, but the plot and outcome were all carefully drawn with a resolution that I am sure will satisfy most readers. I should also note that there is a bit of sexual content as well, though nothing very graphic or gratuitous--I felt that it was pertinent to the storyline.

My rating:



If you have reviewed this book and would like to see a link to your review listed, please leave a comment below!

Mystery Mondays - Discussion Question

Welcome to another edition of Mystery Mondays at Melissa's Bookshelf. The hubby and I are back safe and sound from the family reunion in NC, but with all the drama (it was a crazy, crazy trip) I did not have time to read a mystery (or any other book) for a review today. Instead I thought I'd pose a question to see how you mystery-lovers out there feel about this...

Do you prefer to read a mystery that you are able to piece together all the clues and solve by the end of the story? Or would you rather be totally shocked by the outcome? (As long as the resolution is at least feasible, of course.)

Personally, I admit that I get great satisfaction out of being able to solve a mystery--probably because I am rarely able to do so, it seems. However, if an author is able to take me completely by surprise and also back it up with evidence in the story, I think I prefer the mysteries with the unexpected twist at the end. There's just something about that eye-opening, jaw-dropping reaction that makes those books worth the read.

So, what do you think? Please leave a comment below!!

Mystery Mondays: Review: For Glory

Welcome to another Mystery Mondays post! My apologies for the lack of one last week, but it was for a good cause, if I do say so myself. But I'm back this week with another review... Elisabeth Lee, author of For Glory and the recently released Flashes of Glory, contacted me recently about reviewing her first book, For Glory. Focusing more on an audience of women in their 40's and 50's, Ms. Lee has written a book with a 50-something female protagonist, Carlyle Hudson, whom you can't help but like. And if you can't tell from the cover, the story involves a dog, the title namesake, Glory. So let's get to it, shall we?

Title: For Glory
Author: Elisabeth Lee
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: October 2006, BookSurge Publishing
Trade paperback, 333 pages

Synopsis

"I deal with other people by keeping secrets. Bottom line: I do not like people knowing what I do for a living, how much money I make, my age, or marital status. So I lie, I think of it as acting. All good poker players act. I'm a very good poker player."

Returning to Kansas from San Francisco after the death of her mother Carlyle Hudson encounters two mysteries: one from her mother's past, and one right in front of her. Who is the source of the ominous demands that she Pay Up?


My Thoughts

While I may not be a member of Lee's true target audience with this book, I really enjoyed the story. For Glory is more than a mystery, it's a story of what happens to Carlyle Hudson when she goes home to Kansas after her mother's death to pick up the pieces. Lyle has a newly acquired house and bridal shop that she's not quite sure what to do with, not to mention a little Smooth-haired Fox Terrier named Glory that she seemingly has no desire to put up with. And naturally, you know a man will come into the picture sooner or later, too.

Lee's gift is writing strong characters, and that includes the little dog, Glory! Lyle is full of spunk with a lot of attitude, and you soon see that all of the Hudson women (Lyle and her three aunts, Luce, Loretta and Lenore) are quite a hilarious bunch. While I enjoyed getting to know them, and the story in general, I felt like the two mysteries in the story were a little lacking. Not in actual excitement, of course, but in terms of how they were all figured out. To me, this wasn't your typical "whodunnit" story where the reader is right there trying to figure out who the culprit is. The evidence really wasn't presented in a way that the reader could pick up on all the clues, in my opinion. I noticed some suspicious actions by characters at times, but couldn't figure out what any motives would be. And why random acts of burglary by young thugs seemed to happen with great frequency to Lyle I'll never understand.

Overall, though, it was a light, entertaining read that will certainly get you laughing. And everything is resolved quite nicely at the end, and for me that's when the pieces really started falling together and everything made sense. I guess the sleuth in me just likes to be able to figure it all out as I go.

My rating:



If you have reviewed this book and would like me to add a link to your review, please leave a comment and let me know!

Mystery Mondays: Your Recommendations

Welcome to Mystery Mondays! (And Happy Memorial Day!) Sadly, I have no review prepared for today, I have barely even gotten any reading done this weekend, which is rather pathetic given that it's a three-day weekend! I guess I shouldn't complain too much because I've been productive in other ways. I am hoping to be able to devote a nice block of time to reading today, however.

Anyway, I thought I would let today be another opportunity for a bit of a poll question/discussion. Please leave your responses in the comments below...

This week's question:

What mystery book or series (this can include suspense/thrillers or other genres that also have the element of mystery) would you recommend to a mystery newbie and why? Does that differ from what you would tell a seasoned mystery-lover to try? If so, what are your recommendations for them?

I'll be interested to see the responses... I know several people out there haven't read mysteries as much, and the answers might tempt them to, and I am always looking for new mystery authors to read. Thanks to everyone for participating!

Mystery Mondays: Review: Naked In Death

Title: Naked In Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
Pub Date: February 2009, Penguin Group (orig. 1995)
Trade paperback omnibus, this title 271 pages

Synopsis

Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she's seen it all - and knows that her survival depends on her instincts. And she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire - and suspect in Eve's murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about - except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

My Thoughts

I have to admit that I wasn't really all that interested in reading these books... until I had read some recent reviews of several titles in the series. When I happened to see the omnibus edition of the first two In Death books I figured, why not give them a shot?

Somehow, in reading those reviews I didn't realize these books were set in the future, which gives them an interesting twist. Actually, at times I wished that there was more emphasis on the fact that these books are set in the future--Robb could have supplied more detail in that respect. The story is certainly not for the faint of heart, and I should have realized that there would be more than enough sex, as well, given who we're dealing with (Robb a.k.a Nora Roberts). I skimmed over that and dealt with the foul language--I suppose it made sense for the story, regardless of whether or not I actually liked it. The storyline was interesting, if a bit predictable. But at the same time there were enough twists that I didn't have it totally figured out by the end. Robb does a pretty good job with the characters--Eve and Roarke are fairly well-developed (Eve more so than Roarke), and the antagonistic characters are definitely not likable in the slightest.

I plan to read the next book, Glory In Death, sometime soon, though I don't know that I'll continue the series beyond those two books. My reading tastes don't really include a lot of sex and foul language. All the same, Robb writes a good, suspenseful mystery and I could appreciate the story for that in itself.

My rating:



Other reviews of Naked In Death:

Reading Comes From Writing

If you have reviewed this book and would like to see your link here, please leave a comment below. Thanks!

Mystery Mondays: Review: Murder In Mesopotamia

Title: Murder In Mesopotamia
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: Originally 1935, this edition 2007, Black Dog & Leventhal
Hardcover, 284 pages

Synopsis

Something has terrified Louise Leidner. In fact, she is so frightened and acting so delusional that her husband, archaeologist Dr. Eric Leidner, hires Amy Leatheran, a young nurse and the book's narrator, to look after his wife while they're on a dig in the Persian desert. Soon Louise tells Amy that she's been receiving threatening letters from her ex-husband--who died years earlier. The nurse assumes this is just an example of the woman's paranoia--until Louise is murdered. Clues are few and far between, but suspects and moties abound. It is up to Hercule Poirot to put together the pieces of this seemingly unsolvable puzzle.

My Thoughts

Oh how I love Agatha Christie and the famous Hercule Poirot. Murder In Mesopotamia is now officially one of my favorite Agatha Christie mysteries. Why? Because I just simply didn't see the ending coming. Christie was so talented at leading you to look everywhere but at the actual perpetrator. Of course, by saying this I may give something away, but trust me, if you read this you will not be disappointed.

In typical fashion, Hercule Poirot just happens to be passing through when the latest murder happens, and naturally he is called upon to try to solve the mystery. Initially Amy Leatheran is skeptical of his abilities, but in his usual way, Poirot is able to convince her that despite his silly appearance and tendencies towards arrogance at times, he does indeed know what he's doing.

One of the things I love about Agatha Christie is that she always sets the stage for the crime to occur. We see the characters before the murder actually takes place and start to form opinions about who might have a motive and a means. Next, she adeptly leads us through Poirot's questionings of all of the possible suspects, leaving it up to us to try to decipher clues that she subtly drops. I think I have yet to solve one of her mysteries for myself. I have come close, but never quite dead-on. This particular mystery ranks right up there with The Murder of Roger Akroyd, for me.

My rating:



If you have reviewed this book and would like me to include a link to your review, please comment below, thanks!

Mystery Mondays: Review: Murder Is Binding

Title: Murder Is Binding
Author: Lorna Barrett
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Pub Date: April 2008, Berkley Trade Pub.
Mass Market Paperback, 271 pages

Synopsis:

The streets of Stoneham, New Hampsire are lined with bookstores...and paved with murder.

When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries-and hunt down someone who isn't killing by the book.

My Thoughts

My mother came across this book at our local independent bookstore while we were browsing one day and recently loaned me her copy. It's an enjoyable, cozy mystery and is the first in the Booktown Mystery series. While I didn't find the plot to be very difficult to figure out the characters and their interactions are what made this story work for me.

When Tricia's older sister, Angelica, comes to town, Tricia's not happy about it, and with good reason since they'd never been close. Angelica is downright annoying at times, though eventually it becomes clear she really has good intentions in visiting Tricia--not that it's easy to see, with her backhanded compliments and general bossy nature. She even helps Tricia figure out whodunnit. The men that come into both of their lives are interesting as well, and I'll just leave it at that. As for Doris, when you learn more about her you won't be surprised that no one in town mourned her death. The town sheriff is another character you love to hate, even if she is rather stereotypical for a small-town law officer.

Was this the best mystery I've ever read? No, but it's a fun read that won't take up too much of your time. It's perfect for a rainy afternoon with a nice cup of tea or perhaps hot chocolate. And what's not to like about a mystery that has a cat named Miss Marple? (That would be Tricia's cat who roams the bookstore, which is called Haven't Got a Clue--cute, right?) The second book in the series, Bookmarked For Death, was released in February and I plan to check that out at some point down the road.

By the way, there's another neat feature about this book. Angelica is a great cook, and the recipes she fixed throughout the story are included in the back of the book, how cool is that? I'm thinking about trying her spaghetti sauce. :-)

My rating:



Other reviews of Murder Is Binding:

Kittling: Books ~ Socrates' Book Reviews ~ Book PSmith

If you've reviewed this book and would like me to include a link in the list above, please leave a comment with the link. Thanks!

Mystery Mondays: Crimes of Paris WINNERS!!

It's time to announce the lucky winners of The Crimes of Paris giveaway!! Thank you again to Hatchette Books for allowing me to offer FIVE copies to some lucky readers! In the end, there were 66 total entries and Random.org chose the following:

Christina

Ruth at Bookish Ruth

wordlily

Bingo

kathy55439

Congratulations to the winners!! As soon as I post this, I'm sending all of you an email. Please send me your snail mail addresses as soon as possible so that I can forward them onto Hatchette. After that you'll soon be seeing this in your mailbox:

Thanks again to everyone who entered the contest!