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Well researched historical mystery hits the ball out of the park

Well researched historical mystery hits the ball out of the park

The Babe Ruth Deception by David O. Stewart Kensington Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 27 Sep 2016 Review It took me a while to get into The Babe Ruth Deception. The novel starts slowly, so at one point I put it down to read something else. I was glad, however, that I went back to Stewart's novel because once the action picked up it was riveting. Like Stewart's other novels, The Babe Ruth Deception is well researched and intricately plotted. The corruption of the time,

A Delusional Innocent or a Man Bred for Murder

A Delusional Innocent or a Man Bred for Murder

THE MURDERER'S SON a gripping crime thriller full of twists by JOY ELLIS Joffe Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 23 Sep 2016 Review Readers are guaranteed a terrific mystery when they pick up one of Joy Ellis's procedurals. The Murderer's Son is a stand alone novel, rather than part of the Nikki Galena series. Don't be discouraged- The Murderer's Son is a thrilling read that demonstrates Ellis's understanding of human psychology as well as her ability to craft a challengin

Manor style murder adds pizazz to Death by Pumpkin Spice

Manor style murder adds pizazz to Death by Pumpkin Spice

Death by Pumpkin Spice by Alex Erickson Kensington Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 27 Sep 2016 Review Fall is coming and Death by Pumpkin Spice is the perfect treat for a restful afternoon. Alex Erickson turns this delightful cozy series on its ear, providing readers with a classic manor house murder mystery starring all of their beloved characters. I was incredibly impressed. Krissy Hancock is more at home running her bookstore cafe than rubbing shoulders with the elite

Marriage mayhem in Pelican Louisiana

Marriage mayhem in Pelican Louisiana

Body on the Bayou A Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron Crooked Lane Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 13 Sep 2016 Review Like Joan Hess, Ellen Byron captures the essence of life in a rural town - its quirks, unique characters, and the impact of everyone knowing everything about your business. What I especially love about Ellen Byron is that she clearly "knows" Louisiana as only a native can. It makes her stories all the more plausible despite being off the wall. Body on t

She may not be Morse...

She may not be Morse...

British Manor Murder By Leslie Meier Kensington Books Pub Date: 27 September 2016 Review The newest Lucy Stone mystery, British Manor Murder, is a treat for Anglophiles and cozy lover's alike. Once you get past Lucy's whining about the loss of her grandson's company, the book becomes quite enjoyable - the lighthearted fun mystery readers expect from Meier. Lucy accompanies her friend Sue on her trip to England to see the Earl of Wickham's new hat exhibit. As lovers of Briti

Pushy, insecure and completely irresistible, Agatha Raisin returns in Pushing Up Daisies

Pushy, insecure and completely irresistible, Agatha Raisin returns in Pushing Up Daisies

Pushing Up Daisies by M. C. Beaton St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 20 Sep 2016 Review Pushy, insecure and completely irresistible, Agatha Raisin returns in Pushing Up Daisies. Once more Aggie pursues romance and a killer. As you might guess, she is more successful finding the latter. As always, it is entertaining to accompany Agatha as she lies, bullies and annoys her way to discovering the truth (aided in her misadventures by her friends and

A Night Without Stars has everything a science fiction lover desires

A Night Without Stars has everything a science fiction lover desires

A Night Without Stars A Novel of the Commonwealth by Peter F. Hamilton Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Del Rey Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 27 Sep 2016 Review A Night Without Stars has everything a science fiction lover demands - a unique, exquisitely detailed universe complete with believable aliens and technologies, a thrilling fast-paced plot, characters who are understandable, even when their motives and actions come into conflict. As I have not read The Abyss Be

Debut National Crime Agency procedural a winner

Debut National Crime Agency procedural a winner

The Pick, The Spade and The Crow The National Crime Agency Series, Book 1 by Bill Rogers Thomas & Mercer Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult) Pub Date 27 Sep 2016 | Archive Date 11 Oct 2016 Review The Pick The Spade and The Crow, the debut novel of Rogers's National Crime Agency series, sets a high standard for subsequent installments. Senior Investigator Joanne Stuart has recently been seconded to the National Crime Agency's Behavioral Science Unit. Her first c

A murder, a monkey and a missing daughter

A murder, a monkey and a missing daughter

Death of an Avid Reader A Kate Shackleton Mystery by Frances Brody St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 13 Sep 2016 Review Kate Shackleton is a rarity in rural post WWI England - a professional private detective. Independent, pragmatic, and highly perceptive, Kate is an excellent investigator, despite the limitations of the time on communication and travel. She is assisted by her colleague Sykes, a former policeman. In Death of an Avid Reader, Kate

Love baking bread? Expand your horizons with Slow Dough: Real Bread

Love baking bread? Expand your horizons with Slow Dough: Real Bread

Slow Dough: Real Bread Bakers' secrets for making amazing long-rise loaves at home by Chris Young Nourish Cooking, Food & Wine Pub Date 13 Sep 2016 Review Slow Dough: Real Bread is an excellent book for home bakers with some degree of experience. While novices may easily become overwhelmed, Slow Dough: Real Bread has a lot to offer bakers looking to expand their horizons. I liked the wide variety of bread recipes, as well as the assortment of recipes that use bread as an in

Clever period procedural with touch of theater magic

Clever period procedural with touch of theater magic

Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 20 September 2016 Review Smoke and Mirrors is an impressive mystery set in post WWII Britain. Elly Griffiths has done a wonderful job bringing the era to life complete with the uneasiness that accompanies major social and technological changes. Where Smoke and Mirrors departs from the standard police procedural is with the inclusion of Max Mephisto with his knowledge of theater and i

Caturday Reads: By Familiar Means is a cozy paranormal treat

Caturday Reads: By Familiar Means is a cozy paranormal treat

By Familiar Means by Delia James Berkley Publishing Group Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 20 Sep 2016 Review By Familiar Means is a solid, well written paranormal cozy with likable characters. While it isn't groundbreaking, it is an entertaining read perfect for a relaxing afternoon. What more could a reader want? In By Familiar Means, coffee shop owners Jake and Mirabelle ask Annabelle to uncover whether there is a ghost haunting the location of their planned expansion. Desp

What connects a witch, a woodcarver, and a children’s book author?

What connects a witch, a woodcarver, and a children’s book author?

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Delacorte Press Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 20 Sep 2016 Review Flavia de Luce is an unforgettable heroine. At 12, Flavia possesses the brutal honesty of youth, along with perceptiveness and intellect. Her precocious nature and her unique perspective make her a one-of-a-kind investigator. Despite her youth, Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d is not a children’s

Caturday Reads: Hearne's The Purloined Poodle is doggone good

Caturday Reads: Hearne's The Purloined Poodle is doggone good

Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries: The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne Subterranean Press Sci Fi & Fantasy Pub Date 30 Sep 2016 Review Every dog gets his day and today is Oberon’s chance to shine. Oberon isn’t an ordinary wolfhound. His finely tuned instincts know when trouble’s afoot - in this case when prizewinning dogs have been stolen. Solving the mystery is as appealing as snarfing sausages, so it is no surprise that Oberon thinks he and Atticus should take the case. What dr

Caturday Reads: Cats and CEOs have a lot in common

Caturday Reads: Cats and CEOs have a lot in common

Business Cat: Money, Power, Treats by Tom Fonder Andrews McMeel Publishing Humor Pub Date 27 Sep 2016 Review Business Cat walks the fine line between funny and disturbing, ultimately leaving readers a bit off balance. Why? Cats and billionaire CEOs have a lot in common. Both do exactly what they want when they want without worrying about the affect on their slaves (oops staff). Neither need to work, indeed, their “help” often causes more trouble than assistance. On the o

Caturday Reads: Into the Grey

Caturday Reads: Into the Grey

Into The Grey A feline-filled academic mystery by Clea Simon Severn House Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult) Pub Date 01 Sep 2016 Review Clea Simon’s novels are not only enthralling mysteries where cats play an important role, they also address important issues - in this case sexual harassment in an academic setting. The newest Dulcie Schwartz mystery, Into the Grey, places her under suspicion for the murder of a professor interfering with her dissertation. But as

Ambitious Fantasy Spy-Fi Novel Reimagines Start of Cold War

Ambitious Fantasy Spy-Fi Novel Reimagines Start of Cold War

MJ-12 Inception: A Majestic 12 Thriller By Michael J Martinez Skyhorse Publishing Mystery & Thrillers, Scifi & Fantasy Pub Date: 6 September 2016 Review MJ-12 Inception is an ambitious fantasy spy-fi novel set during the early years of the Cold War. Normally I’m a bit leery of stories where the characters have super-powers. I believe that authors have to make a good justification for the existence of unusual powers. Michael J Martinez exceeded my expectations, by not only

Make more delicious meals with the More-with-Less Cookbook

Make more delicious meals with the More-with-Less Cookbook

More-with-Less Cookbook 40th Anniversary Edition by Doris Janzen Longacre with Rachel Marie Stone Herald Press Religion & Spirituality, Cooking, Food & Wine Pub Date 27 Sep 2016 Review The idea behind the More-with-Less cookbook is conservation and elimination of food waste. In America particularly, many go hungry while vast amounts of food are thrown away. At the same time, many of the so called "convenience" items from the grocery save little time and eat away at food bud

French Noir Thriller Released in English

French Noir Thriller Released in English

The Wicked Go to Hell By Frederic Dard Pushkin Vertigo Mystery & Thrillers, Psychological Pub Date: 20 September 2016 Review Good and evil are impossible to distinguish in this engrossing noir thriller translated from the French. A cop and a spy share a prison cell, but which is which, and what happens when the two escape together. To what extent does duty supersede conscience, and what is the nature of loyalty. Is it only labels that separate one man from another? Dard ca

Tautly Plotted Mystery Reflects Legacy of South

Tautly Plotted Mystery Reflects Legacy of South

Devil Sent the Rain By Lisa Turner William Morrow Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: 27 September 2016 Review Initially I expected Devil Sent the Rain to be a classic Southern gothic. Instead, it is a realistic police procedural set in a Deep South strongly affected by tradition. Like a building left uncared for, corruption runs throughout, despite the pleasant facade. When Caroline, the daughter and heir apparent of the Lee family is murdered, it is Detective Billy Able and hi

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