Miraz Jordan

Another good read in a series I enjoy — Murder at Miners Bluff (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 6) by Anne Shillolo. 📚

The remote location has no road access and the terrain is so extreme that a helicopter can’t land. … Can they apprehend a killer and escape the confines of the canyon before rains and flash floods threaten the bluff, destroying precious evidence and trapping the team?

Another from a series I quite like: 4th Silence (Schock Sisters Mystery Series) by Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano. 📚

Thirty years ago, eight-year-old Tiffany was found murdered … Now, as the anniversary of her death looms, sisters Charlie and Meg Schock are pulled into their most chilling investigation yet. When their mother launches a campaign to reopen the case, it ignites a media storm and political backlash.

I really enjoyed the lesbian romance, Under the Witness Tree by Marianne K. Martin. 📚

After inheriting an old plantation house, Dhari Weston heads south to settle the estate and meets intriguing Dr. Erin Hughes, a local history professor with in interest in old houses and the new girl in town.

It didn't follow the usual pattern, the characters were interesting, and the author taught us some new (to me) historical truths.

I'd read more by this author.

Ten Clues to Murder (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 10) by D.B. Borton. 📚

Cat Caliban thought her biggest challenge this holiday season would be surviving her annual family Monopoly game. But when a member of her local writers’ group calls in a murder, the stakes suddenly skyrocket.

This book took some very unexpected turns revealing Borton's skill as a writer. I don't want to risk giving anything away, but I found this book very satisfying.

Another good (and mouthwatering) read — The Mumbai School for Murder (A Temple Hill Mystery Book 3) by Meeti Shroff-Shah. 📚

When fiery teacher Ms Venus is found slumped across her desk, the school insist she died of natural causes.

But Radhi’s not convinced. The Ms Venus she knew was in rude health, quite literally, stirring up drama and discord at every turn.

Another lesbian romance: Fire Fall by JD Glass. 📚

Bennie Grego, an EMT by day and comic book artist by night is forced to make a near impossible decision.

I guess romance books, of any ilk, just don't sit that well with me (though I keep hoping). This left me a bit uneasy. I may have liked it better as an action-focused novel with a side of finding that special someone.

I'm a little mixed about the lesbian love story Beowulf for Cretins: A Love Story by Ann McMan. 📚

A burned-out English professor toiling away at a small college in Vermont’s Champlain Islands finds love and ensuing complications that very well may spoil her last shot at tenure and happiness.

With a cast of brilliant academics and a university as the setting the book wandered off into highfalutin topics and verbal exchanges that were too stratospheric for my simple tastes.

It was a decent story though.

Author D. L. Keur has several series I enjoy, and Toxic Deceit (The King & Midnight K-9 Mysteries Book 3) was no exception: 📚

When a young woman exhibiting signs of psychosis is killed, it seems like a drug-induced frenzy… Then, another woman dies after falling into a seizure-induced coma and, hours later, a family of four is admitted to the hospital, all of them showing signs of poisoning …

Most of Knight Shadow (Jorja Knight Mystery Series Book 8) by Alice Bienia was interesting and enjoyable. 📚

When her boss sends her to check on an old army buddy displaced by a fire, Jorja leaps at the chance—only to find him dead in a downtown alley.

Several chapters at the end though, after things were more or less resolved, were confusing and felt like a rushed afterthought.

I enjoyed The Sydney Mysteries — three gripping crime thrillers by Jean Bedford. 📚

Anna Southwood never meant to become a private investigator. But after her charming, corrupt ex-husband turns up dead in a locked car on a remote mountain track — and leaves her a small fortune of dirty money — Anna figures she might as well put it to use doing some good.

It's also enjoyable to read books set in the southern hemisphere.

The murders continue in Malvern, but Jude Gray notices the things the murderer wants to keep hidden and provides invaluable clues for the detectives. A Very Merry Murder by Kate Wells. 📚

a beloved national TV show is coming to film their Christmas special on [Jude's] land, celebrating the charm of rural living.

At least, that’s the plan… until one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances.

A very satisfying story with pleasing characters and a delightful location. Killer in the New Forest (The DI Callum MacLean mysteries Book 3) by Carol Cole. 📚

Detective Inspector Callum MacLean should be unpacking boxes in his new home. But when a man is run over and killed outside Godshill Village Hall, his week’s leave is cut short. …

The post-mortem reveals Stafford was already dead before the car wheels struck him.

Another good read in this series, though rather gruesome. A Murderous Mind (Naomi Blake Mysteries Book 11) by Jane Adams. 📚

When the mutilated body of a student is found in her university room, the scene is horrific.

I’d already read book 1 of The Maybridge Mysteries — three gripping cozy murder mysteries by Liz Fielding and enjoyed the next two as well. 📚

Welcome to Maybridge, a picture-perfect Cotswold town where the roses bloom, gossip runs rife — and murder is never far from the flowerbeds.

Cat's new career as a detective is developing nicely as she solves a decades old murder with almost no clues to work with. Nine Burned Lives (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 9) by D.B. Borton also has a very nice twist or two. 📚

Cat Caliban never expected her golden years to be quite so eventful. She races into a burning house to rescue a litter of kittens, only to stumble across a charred human skull.

The concept of Death Of A Ghostwriter (Wye Valley Widows Book 1) by Gaynor Torrance was interesting: a chap dies and it turns out 3 current wives are notified … 📚

The execution though wasn't satisfying. I think the book needed a really good editor to bring it into line. Some parts were repetitive, some read like a book for kids. There was a strong narrator voice that felt like telling about the story rather than being engaged.

I eventually realised that Ellie's infuriating inability to stand up for herself in Book One was because the author left plenty of scope for character development. Ellie Quicke Mysteries Books 1–7 by Veronica Heley. 📚

Meet Ellie Quicke. Devoted cat lady, tea addict, recent widow — and now amateur sleuth!

Over the course of the 7 books I came to really enjoy the series and have happily discovered there are more to read.

I smiled as I picked up Eight Miles to Death (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 8) by D.B. Borton because I know I can rely on this series to be entertaining and enjoyable. 📚

Meet Cat. Retired housewife. Budding private investigator. Reluctant parachutist.

Cat investigates the present day WASP who flew huge, big and little planes for the US in WWII while suffering sexism, sabotage and lack of recognition.

A good read.

A series I seem to enjoy more with each book. Seven Deadly Sins (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 7) by D.B. Borton. 📚

[Cat's] sleuthing skills are called on when sixteen-year-old Peter Baer washes up on the banks of the Ohio River — a length of rope wound tightly around his neck.

Cat doesn't understand computers, not does she want to, so when her hacker nephew talks to her we get sentences like this, which I find hilarious:

You could tell him you needed me to put in some tube time frobnicating your software and working on your website.

I'm always happy to buy and read books by Cari Hunter, such as The Stolen Girl. 📚

Detective Inspector Jo Shaw is bored, desk-bound, and absolutely not supposed to answer the phone call that sends her to a body in an empty house.

Quality writing, set in the UK, lesbian protagonist.

I jumped into this series with the last available book Body at the Doctor's (DI Jordan Carr Book 9) by Diane M. Dickson.

The book's set in Liverpool and I really enjoyed the 'local' language. I may read others in the series. 📚

"I wouldn't fit in here. Not me, I'm chavvy deep down," Stella said.

As a romance this was an OK book, but it could have done with a good editor to tighten up a few awkward spots. The Love Plot (The McCarthy Sisters Book 3) by Elle Douglas. 📚

Best-selling first time author Kendra Green fears a sophomore slump. She retreats to the gorgeous Canadian Rockies in the guise of research and meets the enigmatic professor, whose sharp intellect and magnetic presence make concentrating on her manuscript nearly impossible.

I enjoyed this, though I wasn't so keen on the spy / intrigue element. Dead Silence (Naomi Blake Mysteries Book 7) by Jane Adams. 📚

Journalist Jamie Dale is investigating an explosive story involving the military when someone silences her for good. Her car is set ablaze . . . with her inside it.

I'm enjoying this series more and more. Six Feet Under (The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 6) by D.B. Borton. 📚

Rocky Zacharias is a troubled soul with an equally troubled past. She’s finally out of jail, but not out of danger.

There are snippets I highlight in each book because they tickle me, like this:

But Moses’s son Paul is a systems analyst who believes in better living through electronics

There was a degree of friction for me while reading this book. It was partly slightly awkward language, partly somewhat off-putting characters. It was OK, but I may not read more by this author. Bitter Roots: Police Procedural Mysteries by C. J. Carmichael. 📚

Dispatcher Zak Waller prefers working behind the scenes in the Sheriff’s Office , but when the Sheriff is quick to pin the death on an unknown outsider, Zak starts his own sleuthing.