Miraz Jordan

I enjoy Anne Shillolo's murder mystery series, but Murder at Lost Lake: (An Elk Ridge Murder Mystery Book 3) had a couple of important plot points that stretched my belief a little too far. That made the book just a little less enjoyable. 📚

Four victims in one day is a bleak and frightening record.

Having recently visited Tekapo I was intrigued by this new murder mystery set there: Dark Sky: Murder among the stars - by Marie Connolly. But I don't buy / read books on paper (it's a real chore for me) and it seems there's no ebook. 😢 📚

I was doubtful about The Jenny Starling Mysteries Books 1–4 by Faith Martin at first but really rather enjoyed the books with their understated gentle humour. 📚

When she wasn’t saving the trees, whales, or whatever else needed saving, Jenny’s mother was painting; and painting anything at all that took her fancy. Her daughter’s long-suffering van, council walls, park benches — once, even a neighbour’s poodle …

Books:

1. The Birthday Mystery
2. The Winter Mystery
3. The Riverboat Mystery
4. The Castle Mystery

The Outskirter's Secret (Steerswoman Series Book 2) by Rosemary Kirstein was as gripping as the first book. 📚

The world building in this series is phenomenal and as we learn more about steerswomen, outskirters and wizards there are some hints about what's going on below the surface. On to Book 3!

I don't often read fantasy, but on Annie's recommendation (what Annie said goes for me too) I took a chance on The Steerswoman (Steerswoman Series Book 1) by Rosemary Kirstein. 📚

I found it really engaging and immediately bought the next.

I like that the main character is a scientist.

@Annie

I didn't get off to a good start with the first book in this series, but Murder at the Wedding (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 9) by Jane Adams was a darned good read. 📚

I like these characters who are quirky and interesting, and the story cleverly uses their talents.

Somehow I started reading Murder at the Willows (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 8) by Jane Adams forever ago and then only just came back to it. 📚

The clues soon point to murder. But dear Jean was beloved by the community, who would do such a thing?

I enjoyed the story and the characters are appealing. One more in the series …

Such a good read! Gone to Darkness (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 4) by Barbara Nickless was perhaps even more intense than the previous three in the series. I hope there will be more books with Sydney. 📚

She's coming into her own as a rookie police detective.

Sydney is growing into civilian life, but the past still haunts her. Another good read. Ambush (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 3) by Barbara Nickless 📚 :

From the dark alleys of Mexico City to the mean streets of Denver, Sydney and her K9 partner, Clyde, use their wits and determination to chase down the ruthless killer.

The Girl Who Found Joy (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 6) by Amy Vansant.

A somewhat complicated plot. Since the reader has more info than the detectives do, I suspected the outcome by maybe 2/3 through. Still a very engaging read. 📚

Jana DeLeon has created another engaging and fun story in the Miss Fortune series with Swamp Spies. 📚

This book opens with an undercover spy mission to rescue Carter before yet another Sinful resident turns up dead in suspicious circumstances.

Fortune, Gertie and Ida Belle sort things out.

Another in a gripping series — Dead Stop (Sydney Rose Parnell Book 2) by Barbara Nickless 📚:

With Denver beset by a series of monsoonlike thunderstorms that threaten to flood the city, Sydney and her K9 partner, Clyde, must wade through a murky trail of murder that stretches back thirty years—all to rescue a child

Such a good read I've preordered the next in series — Redemption (Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran Book 1) by Deborah J Ledford 📚 :

a Native American sheriff’s deputy risks it all to find a friend who’s gone missing.

Set around the Taos Pueblo reservation, it incorporates interesting elements of spirituality.

Yet another in a series that grips me: The Gathering Storm (Detective Shona Oliver Book 4) by Lynne McEwan. 📚

DI Shona Oliver’s past and present collide when James McGowan, her ex-classmate – now a famous actor – comes to the area to make a Robert Burns biopic.

I highlighted many parts of Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner but the last third was draggy and weird (possibly over my head) 📚 :

With cool feminist sophistication and … the paranormal and bizarre, … Warner depicts the classic tale of an ageing spinster's battle to escape her domineering family

Thanks to @bsag for mentioning it.

Loved reading A Matrimonial Murder (A Temple Hill Mystery Book 2) by Meeti Shroff-Shah. For me the location and people are exotic. There's so much about Indian food — items I've never heard of. It's all so colourful and vibrant.

I suspect there's a layer of humour that's well over my head. 📚

I enjoyed this and may read others by this author if there are any, but somehow I never felt quite connected with the characters. Shot in the Dark (Detectives Martin & Stern Book 1) by Anna Britton. 📚

Unusual with its blend of texts, emails, reports, phonecalls and procedure.

I like this series and enjoyed the fast action of The Girl Who Saw the Truth (The Shee McQueen Mystery Thriller Series Book 5) by Amy Vansant. It seemed though to be a book of two separate and unconnected stories. 📚

Shee and Mason investigate who's using a local port for nefarious dealings. …

When assassins chase Croix's favorite hacker into Loggerhead, she never imagines saving him will lead to her own complicated past.

I read this in two widely spaced hits: Island on Fire: The extraordinary story of Laki, the volcano that turned eighteenth-century Europe dark by Alexandra Witze and Jeff Kanipe. 📚

Excellent writing and gripping stories. 1783&84 were the most awful years for Europe. Recommended!

Another from an author I enjoy: Someone Rotten Riding the Rails (The Accidental Detective Book 6) by Kris Bock. 📚

Two Russian crime families have rented a private historic train to the Grand Canyon for their children’s wedding

Our detective team have several problems to solve …

I quite enjoyed The Birthday Girl (A Mallory Dawson Crime Thriller Book 1) by Sarah Ward. 📚

A remote island location, a devastating storm, a serial poisoner, an injured ex-detective, an increasing number of bodies …

A fairly good read, though it didn't utterly grip me — Lest We Forgive (DS Liz Moorland. Major Crimes. Book 1) by Phillipa Nefri Clark. 📚

While Liz’s hands are full chasing an escaped criminal, Vince … pieces together a compelling theory that the crash was no accident.

I didn't quite gel with Fall (Detective Harriet Foster Book 2) by Tracy Clark at first, but the book did grow on me. The political intrigue aspect just isn't my big interest. 📚

a twisted journey into the underbelly of Chicago as Harriet and her team work to unmask a serial killer stalking the city’s aldermen.

Friends, here's an ebook bundle to sit back and enjoy. I love these books. The Complete Ellie Tappet Box Set Cruise Ship Mystery Bundle by Cheri Baker 📚:

Set sail for friendship and fun with Ellie Tappet, the crime-solving grandma readers can't stop raving about.

Format: DRM-Free Epub (For All Devices Including Kindle, Kobo, Tablets, Phones, & Nook)

A somewhat amusing read, poking gentle fun. The Dinner Lady Detectives: A charming British village cosy mystery by Hannah Hendy. 📚

Margery and Clementine are enjoying a peaceful middle-age together … eagerly awaiting retirement from their work on the front line serving meals to the students at Summerview secondary school.

Their calm life is shattered when their kitchen manager is found dead in the school’s walk-in freezer.