Tag: Netgalley Reviews

DEATH with DOSTOEVSKY by KATHERINE BOLGER HYDE

Death with Dostoevsky (Crime with the Classics Book 4)

A Crime with the Classics Mystery #4

Professor Emily Cavanaugh is back at Bede College, not as a Professor, but on sabbatical and trying to work on her book on Dostoevsky.

On her first day in the library, Emily runs into a former student, Daniel Razumov, and his girlfriend Sveta. Daniel is also researching Dostoevsky but from a different point of view than Emily. Emily has always thought Daniel was one of her more promising students, but he seems unwell and distracted.

Emily’s new brother, Oscar is here as well as Richard McClintock, the sketchy chair of her division. And the fabulous Marguerite, one of my favorites!

When Emily finds out the reason for Daniel’s misery, she confronts fellow professor Taylor Curzon. Taylor is a predator and a very unlikeable person! Taylor could care less about what Emily or anyone else has to say about her shady behavior. She has dirt on everyone and uses it as a weapon.

But someone is tired of her wicked games and soon her job is open! Emily finds her dead on the floor of her office. And the shady people start coming out of the woodwork.

There was no shortage of suspects in this one. Some pretty nasty folks. But also some new characters! Luke’s nephew, Colin, also a cop and Oscar’s girlfriend Lauren.

When Daniel is arrested for the crime, Emily will try her best to figure out who the real killer is. Hopefully, before he/she realizes that Emily is on to them.

Another great one from this author. Always a pleasure and there is always something to learn!

Well Done!

NetGalley/ Severn House Release December 03,2019

 

 

Puddin’ on the Blitz by Tamar Myers

Puddin' on the Blitz

A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery

The success of Magdalena Yoder’s new Amish-Asian restaurant is threatened by murder in the deliciously quirky new Pennsylvania-Dutch mystery.

A murder mystery with an Amish/Mennonite theme.

The Story:

Magdalena Yoder is Mennonite and married to a Jew. Her mother-in-law is a piece of work and lives across the street with the other members of her apathy cult.

A woman who almost killed her is now in prison and has split her restaurant between her daughter and Magdalena, with Mags getting the 60% share. Between the daughter and Magdalena, they come up with an Asian Amish combo they call Asian Sensations.

Hiring Barbara Hostetler was a genius as she is a wonderful cook and baker. And soon enough we have a recent patron dropping dead.

Now Magdalena is being arrested for a murder she did not commit. Who is setting her up?

My Take:

I almost stopped a quarter of the way in because I wasn’t sure if this was satire or sarcasm. I couldn’t pronounce the names of anyone and I just did not care for the main character. I wasn’t sure if she was making fun of the people or if she just had a sarcastic tongue, which doesn’t really add up with the Amish.

It was less than okay, but you can read it yourself and let me know!

NetGalley/Severn House December 3rd, 2019

 

 

the last affair by Margot Hunt

The Last Affair

Love may be blind, but obsession’s a real killer.

From the title, I got the idea that this was going to be someone’s final affair. And it was.

Nora is married to a distant alcoholic and is miserable. She is sick and tired of her husband.

Josh is married to a psychopath. And he has had enough. So when he meets Nora and sparks fly, they both will begin an affair that will have deadly consequences.

So what separates this domestic suspense tale from all of the others I’ve read this year? Nothing. I figured out who was just plain crazy and who was obsessed very quickly. And the ending felt flat.

I’m not sure there was one redeeming character here. And there doesn’t always have to be, but for me, it was just okay.

NetGalley/ November 26th, 2019 by MIRA

 

 

 

 

 

BEYOND THE GATE by MARY SANGIOVANNI (A Kathy Ryan Novel)

Beyond the Gate (A Kathy Ryan Novel Book 3)

Kathy Ryan’s work as an occult investigator often leads her to the outskirts of society, law, and even reality…

This is the third book in the Kathy Ryan novels. Kathy Ryan works as an occult investigator and has seen things no one would believe. She is good at what she does and in this next story, she is hired by Paragon Corporation, a government-funded theoretical physics research facility. Someone has intentionally opened a portal to another dimension and found no beings, but some really disturbing flora!

A team of scientists goes in but doesn’t come out. A security team is Kathy and her team will do whatever they must to rescue any survivors and get out fast and close that portal.

These were some seriously sketchy researchers. They doled out information like misers. And they lied. A lot. Because contrary to what they say, this alien flora is able to pass through the portal and lead to chaos and death.

I’ve read the other books in this series. Kathy is a strong leader and her story is an excellent one!

Well Done!

NetGalley/ November 26th, 2019 by Lyrical Press

 

 

THE SHIP of DREAMS: The Sinking of THE TITANIC and the end of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russell

The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era

Gareth Russell has done his research. Uncovering previously unpublished sources and including photographs. Russell tells the story not just of the sinking of the Titanic, but of six well-known and well-heeled passengers and the role they played in history.
He is a gifted writer and puts the event in context with what was going on in the world. Especially the Americans and the British. With the Edwardian Era ending, war on the horizon and changes in the social norms, technology, politics, Irish Home Rule, the class system, this was a major time of change for the world.
We follow the stories of six of those passengers on the Titanic and how their lives changed.  The description of the sinking, minute by minute, the different ways Americans and the British handled the tragedy. Not everyone was chivalrous or brave. And for some that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.
For me personally, this was the best book I have read on the subject. And that was because it was so well researched and written. Myths were shown for what they were. Facts and journals told stories never heard before. The pictures were priceless in creating an image in your head of who these people were and how they behaved.
I would have no problem recommending this book as a definitive look at this point in our history.
Extremely Well Done!
NetGalley/ November 19th, 2019 by Atria Books

MEMORIES AND MURDER BY LYNN CAHOON

Memories and Murder (A Tourist Trap Mystery # 10)

A Tourist Trap Mystery #11

Fall has come to South Cove, the lovely town that is home to Coffee, Books, and More, owned by our coffee making, crime-solving Jill Gardner.

While we are all still reeling from Aunt Jackie’s abrupt break up with the man who worships her. Aunt Jackie isn’t talking about it. She is, however, acting very odd!

Love is in the air all over South Cove and Amy has Jill helping her with her wedding. The mayor is doing his best to get information on Greg running for mayor this year and is being very persistent.

When Jill hosts a talk at the shop on elder abuse, given by Paula, from the Senior Project, she isn’t really listening. But when she finds out Aunt Jackie is receiving strange phone calls from a man claiming to be her dead husband, Jill is suspicious. Is he a con man?

While Jill chases down leads on the mystery man, Greg is busy with murder. Paula’s boyfriend is dead, and she is looking good for murder. But Jill doesn’t believe it. Proving it may get her killed!

I have been with this series since the beginning. Jill has grown into a confident and strong woman. That is one thing I love about Lynn’s books, you can see the growth in each character and that is a hard thing to do.

This author has proven once again that she is one of the best in the Cozy Genre.

NetGalley/  November 12th, 2019 by Lyrical Underground

 

BROKE: Hardship and Resilience in a City of Broken Promises by Jodie Adams Kirschner

Broke: Hardship and Resilience in a City of Broken Promises

The author has taken a hard look at the state of affairs in Detroit. Through the voices of seven people whose lives have been changed forever by the mismanagement of the city and its eventual bankruptcy.

I visited Detroit regularly during the late ’80s and through the ’90s. It was a huge, sprawling place and going downtown was heartbreaking. To see block after block of neglected and abandoned homes and businesses.

There is enough blame to go around in this look at how cities are not getting the support they need to provide the services people need to survive and thrive. Everything is broken. The real estate market, the banks, the inept leadership, the lack of state and federal support.

About 40 percent of the city lives below the poverty level. Where is the investment in creating new jobs? How do these opportunists get by with paying $1000 for a foreclosed home and turning around and charging 3 times that in rent? The entire thing is falling apart and who is going to bail them out?

Detroit isn’t the only city in trouble. We just rarely hear anything about the others. The research in this book is very well done!

I appreciate the author bringing this into the light. And I hope people read this and stand up and do the right thing by their fellow human beings.

Highly Recommended Reading!

NetGalley/  November 19th, 2019 by St. Martin’s Press