Miraz Jordan

Darn it! I went to read Bridges to Burn (Detective Clare Mackay Book 8) by Marion Todd today, only to find I'd already read it (and given it 5 stars). I recall nothing about it! 📚

In a series I enjoy, Standing Dead (A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book 8) by Margaret Mizushima was a good read. 📚

Mattie’s K-9 partner, Robo, makes a grisly discovery—a body tied to a dead pine tree. Mattie is shocked when she realizes she knows the dead man

Why was this NZ$11.28 when I bought it 2 weeks ago and now it's $19.56!!!

Another gripping book in the series: The Lost Steersman (Steerswoman Series Book 3) by Rosemary Kirstein. 📚

Rowan goes exploring in more strange and dangerous territories, encountering demons, hunting for Slado and making amazing discoveries.

I was in the mood to read all day and lost myself in Murder Against the Odds (Warwick & Bell Crime Mysteries Book 3) by Janice Frost. 📚

It was a good, engaging read with some unexpected outcomes.

Murder on a Country Walk (Warwick & Bell Crime Mysteries Book 4) by Janice Frost was another enjoyable read. 📚

I like these lead characters, though in this book one of the victims / suspects was seriously unpleasant.

I'd forgotten I'd read other books by Judi Daykin, with varying enjoyment. The Wild Thyme Farm Murder (Detective Sara Hirst Book 6) was well-written though, held my attention, and managed to produce several viable suspects. I enjoyed the interactions of the characters. 📚

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!