Miraz Jordan

Abandoned for sexism and the male protagonist's attitudes and actions to the female mission partner — The Complete Genesis Earth Trilogy by Joe Vasicek. 📚

when his scientist parents open a wormhole and discover signs of intelligent life on the other side, Michael is the only planetologist young enough to voyage to the alien star.

He is not alone. Terra, his mission partner, is no more of an adult than he is.

The first person narrative adds force to the boy's invasion of the girl's privacy. I left the book where he was intimidating and threatening physical violence. I don't need to read that.

Unfortunately every career comes to an end, but the series has been excellent and this was a good finale. MURDER MOST FINAL (DI Hillary Greene Book 23) by Faith Martin. 📚

This is the case that Hillary’s boss, Superintendent Rollo Sale, has never been able to forget. Now he’s about to retire, he asks the cold case team to pull out all the stops. This could be Hillary Greene’s final investigation.

A bit relieved to have finished Poison Point (Wild Blue Air Mysteries Book 1) by Sabine Frisch: 📚

When Barry Barton books a flight to his new cottage on Poison Point, Elle gets a close look at the man who's become the most hated person in Blind Cove.

It was a bit repetitive and quite unlikely. At one point I checked the author was actually a human and not an AI. It just grated on me somewhat. Book 2 won't be in my future.

I bought this book months ago and nibbled away at it. It was all very interesting though I think I've retained no particulars. Nice to understand though how some of our weird English spellings have come about and why changing them wouldn't be in any way easy — Why Q Needs U: A history of our letters and how we use them by Danny Bate. 📚

Why does 'W' sounds like 'double U'?

What has the letter 'Q' got to do with monkeys?

Why are the 'C's in circus pronounced differently?

What's the point of the second 'N' in the author's first name, 'Danny'?

And why does 'Q' need to be followed by 'U'?

I didn't care so much for this specific plot but still enjoyed the regular characters and setting — A Midnight Murder by Kate Wells. 📚

Jude Gray is ready to ring in the New Year the proper way – at the local pub, surrounded by friends, neighbours and the usual Malvern mix of good cheer. …

[But] as the clock strikes twelve and fireworks light up the sky, tragedy strikes. One of the Merebrooks is found dead.

Free crime books, one day only: Courtesy of Anne Shillolo's newsletter — Stuff Your Kindle & More 📚 😀 🐻:

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I've decided to stop reading this Project Gutenberg book I am a woman: 📚

"I Am a Woman" by Ann Bannon is a lesbian pulp fiction novel written in 1959. Laura Landon flees her harsh father and college failure to start fresh in New York City's Greenwich Village. Living with vivacious roommate Marcie, Laura discovers unexpected feelings and navigates the underground gay bar scene with new friends Jack and Beebo Brinker.

It was written nearly 70 years ago and I'm finding the old repressions and culture too uncomfortable.

The team eventually solve this thorny mystery, even though some of those interviewed aren't sharing all they know. A good read — Mystery in the New Forest (The DI Callum MacLean mysteries Book 4) by Carol Cole. 📚

Angus was a photographer, Sunday school teacher and chairman of the local gun club. A man everyone agrees had no enemy in the world.

There were some very intriguing and moving elements in this book, with unusual goings-on. I enjoyed the read — Watch Them Fall (Detective Clare Mackay Book 10) by Marion Todd. 📚

A body is hauled out of St Andrews harbour. This was no accident – DI Clare Mackay and her team have a murder investigation on their hands.

Superintendent Penny Meakin is more focused on a break in at the salubrious home of local property developers.

I enjoyed reading the latest in this series. The victim was truly ghastly — Swamp Shoot by Jana DeLeon. 📚

When the crew of No Place Like Home arrives in Sinful to shoot an episode for the series, most of the locals are thrilled. After all, it’s a chance to showcase their town and maybe get some screen time. Fortune, Ida Belle, and Carter have their doubts that it’s going to be the wonderful event the others are predicting.

But no one expected the lead actor to be murdered.

I enjoyed this free book and could consider reading more. It was a light read — A Sticky Inheritance: Maple Syrup Mysteries by Emily James . 📚

When Nicole’s uncle dies and she inherits his maple syrup farm, she thinks it’s time to leave her career as a criminal defense attorney behind for a life that allows her to stay far away from murderers and liars.

For half a day at least.

Her uncle’s suicide looks like it wasn’t a suicide at all.

This freebie was a lightweight but reasonably enjoyable read. A View to Kill For (Belle Isle Cozy Bookstore Mysteries Book 1) by Stephanie Andrews. 📚

With suspicion closing in and no one willing to tell the whole truth, Kate must untangle a web of secrets before the bookstore—and her freedom—are lost.

A rather complex case that reaches back in time and into the present. Marjory and her team manage to work it out though — Murder on the Solway (Detective Marjory Fleming Mysteries Book 9) by Aline Templeton. 📚

Connell Kane … is charged with her death. Then his car is discovered abandoned at the Mull of Galloway, a suicide note taped to the wheel. Case closed.

Two years later, after a ferocious storm, the receding waters reveal a battered car stranded on the Solway mudflats ― and the body of a man.

It’s Connell.

An intriguing mystery with several potential perpetrators and one very unusual character who remembers everything. This book spent a lot of time on the individual characters.

Marjorie's family also had some major happenings to contend with. Murder in Dunmore (Detective Marjory Fleming Mysteries Book 8) by Aline Templeton. 📚

Marnie Bruce has returned to find out what happened the night her mother disappeared — the night she left Marnie for dead.

Marnie has hyperthymesia. She remembers everything she has ever seen and heard: every face, every word, every detail. But that night is the one memory she cannot recover.

I really enjoyed Every Sky a Stranger by LJ Cohen. 📚

When an EMT with PTSD falls through a portal into an alternate version of Boston, three friends from different realities in the multiverse, each of whom owe him a debt, attempt a rescue before conflicting memories of a life he never led destroy his mind.

First though I needed to reread (and re-enjoy) Litany for a Strange World.

Cohen handles these characters and worlds really well, and the end was nail-biting.

I'm looking forward to the third in this trilogy.

This was quite a fun read — Endurance: The Complete Series by A. C. Spahn. 📚

A disrespected ship, exiled to lonely patrol in the dark corners of the solar system.

A crew of screw-ups, written off by the entire fleet.

They're about to change everything.

If they don't blow themselves up first.

The crew were interesting, the adventures brief and highly improbable, but in an enjoyably light-hearted way.

Absolutely the most delightful book I've ever read. 100% recommended for adults and kids with any interest at all in birds — Omnibird: An Avian Investigator's Handbook by Giselle Clarkson (author and illustrator). 📚

It's informative, beautifully written and drawn, funny and a total page-turner.

I almost never buy books on paper, but Omnibird: An Avian Investigator's Handbook by Giselle Clarkson (author and illustrator) was an instabuy for me. 📚

Omnibird investigates 18 common birds from habitats around the world―eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. Explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, find the fascinating in bird calls, bird poop, feathers, and flight patterns.

The text and especially illustrations grabbed me.

Grisly murders feature in Killing on the Norfolk Broads (Detective Geldard Mysteries Book 10) by Heather Peck, but while they have to be solved the author doesn't linger over the nasty details.

I enjoyed this book. 📚

Detective Greg Geldard is still reeling from a blazing row with his partner Chris when the call comes. A body in a derelict farmhouse outside the quiet Norfolk village of Themelthorpe.

Abandoned: Three Good Weapons (A Horus Thriller Book 1) by A. R. Shaw. 📚

The Horus Thrillers combine covert operations, near-future technology, international intrigue, and explosive action in a gripping series where no mission is what it appears to be—and no one can be trusted.

I'd imagined travel, tech, slick undercover work and the like. Early on though were prolonged shooting, violence, gruesome killing. It's not the book for me.

It's about 18 months since I read Litany for a Strange World by LJ Cohen, but having started the next in series I realised I needed to refamiliarise myself with the story.

It was again an enjoyable read. 📚

I abandoned this part way through Book 1 as I just dislike the characters and it was all a bit unbelievable. The Complete Hampstead Heath Mysteries Books 1-4 by Sabina Manea. 📚

Join ex-lawyer turned sleuth Lucia Steer as she navigates the leafy streets of North London on four cryptic and compelling cases.

A good read in a series I enjoy. Secrets on the Norfolk Broads (Detective Geldard Mysteries Book 9) by Heather Peck. 📚

Marie Leakey was a masseuse. Popular, kind, no enemies in the world. She died alone in her modest bungalow after a takeaway curry. A curry she never ordered.

This book felt a little bitty, but there were some deeper currents swirling. Still a good read. A Cold Harbour: (Detective Shona Oliver Book 7) by Lynne McEwan. 📚

DI Shona Oliver is caught in the crosshairs of the National Crime Agency. They know she has information about the murder of her former boss and are determined to charge someone.

Another good read in the series, with lots of court case — Hidden Currents (Sheriff Hank Worth Mysteries Book 8) by Claire Booth. 📚

[Hank's] deputy sheriff Sheila is in court testifying against the men who had left her for dead in a brutal attack, and the defense will do whatever it takes to win their case.