Death at Fakenham Races - Ross Greenwood

 Death at Fakenham Races - Ross Greenwood

Pub. Date: June 5, 2025

She read

ones, this works as a standalone. To help with identifying characters, the author provides a directory of the cast of players at the beginning of the novel. I really like that!

A police officer investigating a call at Fakenham Racecourse is attacked. When a dead body is found at the site, Ashley, a novice to the sport, and her team investigate the world of horse racing, where owners, trainers, jockeys, and bookies all have a role in this risky business. How far will any one of them go for a win? There is no shortage of suspects. 

A solid police procedural, I like this investigative team with their close personal relationships and sarcastic humor. There are twists and turns. Atmospheric, the descriptions of the Norfolk surroundings, particularly in the snow, are vivid and evocative. I am not a big horse race fan, but did appreciate Greenwood’s sharing knowledge of all aspects of the steeplechase as operated in the UK. 

If you enjoy police procedurals featuring capable female detectives, I encourage you to check out this book. This author/series has been added to my “must read” list. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the DRC.

****

Murder Under the Sun

 Murder Under the Sun - Faith Martin

Pub. Date: June 12, 2025

She read

DI Hillary Greene, known for her impressive solve rate, is now retired and serving as a consultant for Thames Valley cold cases. She and her team are assigned an unsolved case involving an older would be model who was murdered fifteen years ago. There is no known motive. Could it have been a family member, disgruntled business partner, a secret lover, or something to do with her modeling career?

I really like Hillary Greene and especially her wry humor. She lives on a long boat and drives a car nicknamed “Puff the Tragic Dragon.” She is a strong, capable leader and it is a pleasure following her as she solves her cases. This is a solid police procedural that is an engrossing, entertaining read. 

Faith Martin and her Hillary Greene series is another one of my automatic reads.  This is the twenty second installment but it can be read as a standalone

Thanks to #NetGalley and @JoffreBooks for the DRC.

*****

Chasing Shadows - Robert Bryndza

 Chasing Shadows - Robert Bryndza

Pub. Date: June 5, 2025

She Read

Ten years ago, on a drug raid in Manchester that Erika Foster was in charge of, her husband and some of her colleagues were killed and the murderer, Jerome Goodman, escaped. Now a DCI in London, inquiries into the death of a young woman find Erika face to face with Goodman whom she promptly arrests. The only problem is, the man she arrests has a different identity and Goodman supposedly died in an accident some years ago. She is placed on leave but cannot resist further investigation. With the surreptitious help of her team, she is determined to find out what really happened those ten years ago and bring Goodman to justice. As she unravels the truth, there are shocking revelations.

This is yet another riveting, can’t put down mystery/thriller from Bryndza. You always know with him that there will be a well plotted story that will hook you from the beginning. I like fifty two year old Erika, despite her propensity to being rather brash and often annoying to her superiors. A testament to her character, though, is the willingness of her team to assist her even when she is on the outs with her superiors. In this book, the suspense was heightened by Erika’s precarious job situation and her foreshadowing of possible doom. 

This is the ninth in the Erika Foster series.  As someone who has read and enjoyed some of the earlier installments, I liked learning more of her backstory. This would, however, work well as a standalone. I cannot wait for the next in this outstanding series.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RavenstreetPublishing for the DRC. 

*****

Twisted Bones - Helen Phifer

 Twisted Bones - Helen Phifer

Pub. Date: May 21, 2025

She read

This is the fifteenth in the Morgan Brookes series. Helen Phifer is one of those authors for whom when I see her name, I request the title without reading the synopsis. She writes books I have to force myself to put down or I would accomplish nothing until it is finished. This latest entry in the series does not disappoint. It can be read as a standalone as important background for the repeating main characters is filled in as part of the story.

When Morgan’s Aunt Ettie discovers a body hung up in a tree on the side of a river, Morgan and her team have questions about manner of death and time of death. Then they discover at least one other woman is missing and, as the case progresses, one of her colleagues is placed in grave danger. There are a number of suspicious suspects, which one is it?

This well plotted story combines a bit of horror with keep you guessing suspense. I like Morgan, a smart, capable, empathetic protagonist and the convivial, teasing relationships among her team. Interspersed with the tension of the case is some biting humor.

If you enjoy fast moving, suspenseful police procedurals, check out the Morgan Brookes series or any of Phifer’s other books. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.

*****

The Rushworth Family Plot - Claudia Gray

 The Rushworth Family Plot - Claudia Gray

Pub. date: June  17, 2025

She read

This is the fourth in the Austenesque mystery series featuring Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney. Written in the style of Jane Austen, Jonathan is the son of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife, the former Elizabeth Bennet. Juliet is the daughter of residents of Northanger Abbey. Challenging the mores of their era, they have worked together investigating and solving prior crimes.

Although attracted to each other, their parents do not approve of their beginning a relationship and separately have sent both of them off to London for “season” in the hopes of finding suitable partners. They are drawn together again by mutual friends and another murder to investigate. 

This is the third of the four installments that I have read.  This continues to be a delightful series. I enjoy the young characters….both of  them with their intelligence, unique charm, and Juliet’s willingness to accept Jonathan’s neurodivergent behaviors. The mystery is well plotted and kept me guessing.  Gray remains true to the Austen writing style and employs a good sense of humor. 

This can work well as a standalone. The stories are so charming, though, I would suggest reading all four at some point to thoroughly enjoy the characters. You do not have to be overly familiar (or remember) Austen’s writings to appreciate these books for their plots and reflection of the society at that time. My advice is to read them slowly to savor the language and nuances.

 I am looking forward to the next in this series. There is somewhat of a “situation” at the close of this installment and I can’t wait to see how it is resolved. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @AAKnopf for the DRC. 

*****

Save Her Life - Carolyn Arnold

 Save Her Life - Carolyn Arnold

Pub. Date: May 27, 2025

She read

FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos’ brother was killed by a hostage taker more than thirty years ago, and the book opens with her testifying at his parole hearing. As she heads home, she is called to the scene of another hostage situation. As a skilled negotiator, her job is to diffuse the situation with as little collateral damage as possible. Finally able to relax, she is called to duty again, but this time it is personal.  Someone has kidnapped her beloved daughter, Olivia, and she refuses to step aside as a crack FBI team races to save her. 

This is the first in what looks to be an exciting new series by prolific writer Carolyn Arnold.  I am fond of her other books, including the series featuring Amanda Steele and another with Madison Knight as the main character. The two storylines in Save Her Life are tense and suspenseful. Sandra Vos is a strong, capable, and likable protagonist, and her support team is equally appealing. Arnold does a good job of filling in the backstory of Amanda’s life. This book drew me in and wouldn’t let go. I read it in one day, not willing to put it down.

Now is the time for readers to get in on the ground floor of a new, exciting mystery thriller series with a strong female main character.  I look forward to many more installments.

*****

The Death Mask - Iris Johansen

 The Death Mask - Iris Johansen

Pub. Date: June 24, 2025

She read

A heinous character has discovered a valuable tomb in Africa and wants forensic sculptor Even Duncan to make the death mask for the woman whose tomb it is. He has chosen beautiful Bostonian Celine to serve as the model for it and enlists evil characters to “persuade” both women to participate. It is up to Eve’s husband, detective Joe Quinn and Alex Dominic, a wealthy mercenary, to save them and all they hold dear. 

For me, this was a poor choice. I should not have picked up a novel that was the 31st in a series, knowing nothing about it.  However, I did want to read something by a new to me author and Iris Johansen is a prolific and popular writer. I wasn’t familiar with the characters, their relationships, or their histories. The synopsis did not provide a lot of information and because of that, I realized it was not a book that I would typically select. 

As the book progressed, I did learn some things about the repeating characters, but still had a lot of questions about them.

This will be a welcome addition for fans of this series. There is action, excitement, adventure, kick ass female characters. There are also some extremely despicable players who were a turn off for me. There will be a big audience for this book, but unfortunately, I  am just not it. 

Bullies who seek retribution for people who insult them not my thing.  Seeing enough of that in real life right now.  Not fond of characters 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #GrandCentralPub for the DRC. 

****

Death at the White Hart - Chris Chibnall

 Death at the White Hart - Chris Chibnall

Pub. Date: June 10, 2025

She read

A dead body is found in the middle of the road in a Dorset coastal community. The victim has been tied to a chair, with stag antlers attached to his head. Detective Nicola Bridge has just transferred here, her hometown, from Liverpool. Thinking this will be a quiet location, she finds herself immediately coping with a homicide, few support staff, and many suspects. 

From the creator of Broadchurch, this has some of the same, small village quirkiness as the TV show. Well plotted, it is an engrossing, suspenseful read; entertaining, with a bit of humor. There are colorful characters, red herrings, twists, and turns. I like Nicola, a capable individual dealing with personal issues while doing her best at her job. I also like Harry, her younger, less experienced partner who proves to be adept. 

I hope this will become a book series by Chibnall and perhaps optioned for TV as well.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #VikingPenquin for the  DRC.

The Book of Everyday Resistance - Lori Perkins, Christopher Golden, Jessica Pipp, Michele Hornish, David Freed, Ed Stein, Riki Wilchins

The Book of Everyday Resistance - Lori Perkins, Christopher Golden, Jessica Pipp, Michele Hornish, David Freed, Ed Stein, Riki Wilchins

 This is a book of essays responding to our present political situation in the US. The entries are written by people with a variety of backgrounds, including attorneys, teachers, writers, artists, poets, mothers, fathers. They all have been affected in some way by what is happening right now.

Mostly prose, there is some poetry, all providing ways in our lives that we can feel we are doing something to address our concerns. Some of the essays miss a bit, others are right on, some heartbreaking, others uplifting….but they are all worthwhile reads.

Whether you feel helpless, hopeless, enraged, indifferent, there is something here to help with those feelings and what individuals can do to effect positive change.

Available as a free download to all by the publisher (Riverdale Ave Books), I have recommended this quick read to all my friends.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Riverdaleavebooks for the DRC.

*****

The Sublet - Greer Hendriks

 The Sublet - Greer Hendriks

She read

Anne is a ghost writer who has just signed an NDA to write a motivational wellness book for Melody Wells. A bit overwhelmed with balancing the demands of her job with married life and twin children, Anne and her family are in desperate need of a larger apartment. Melody assists her by telling her about an almost too good to be true sublet that is available. After she moves, Anne realizes all may not be as it appears in the new apartment and the history of its previous tenant.

This is a short story written by an author who has co authored a number of books I have enjoyed. This was a quick, but entertaining read. It is a mystery bordering on horror. I loved how Hendriks captured the “new agey”  and cringiness of Melody, a wellness guru. I did think that the story wrapped up a very quickly.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishing for the DRC.

****

A Question of Betrayal - Anne Perry

 A Question of Betrayal - Anne Perry

She read

Elena Standish, posing as a photographer, is sent to Trieste to rescue fellow MI6 agent Aiden Strother. He is her former lover who betrayed her and possibly his country. It is 1933 and Hitler and Mussolini are ascending. These are dangerous times. Meanwhile, Elena’s sister travels to Germany for the marriage of a friend to a rising star in the Gestapo. Back in Britain, their grandfather, former head of MI6, is tipped off that there are traitors in the government who are helping to fund the Nazis. 

This has been on my TBR for a long time.  It is the second in the Elena Standish series. I read the third one, liked it, and wanted to go back and read the prior installments.

Well written with much historical accuracy, there is suspense, intrigue, and even fashion commentary. It makes for a fast, engrossing read.

Although it was released in 2020 and takes place in 1933, this book may be more pertinent today given our present political climate. There are so many quotes here that resonated with me and I saw as a warning for our times.I found myself underlining line after line to go back to read and think about later. 

This could work well as a standalone.There are three subsequent entries in the series; Anne Perry passed away in 2023.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for the DRC. 

*****

#AQuestionofBetrayal #AnnePerry #Mystery #