{I've Been Reading}

 Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Festival by Traci Hall

As soon as I finished the last page, I dashed off to the author's web page to sign up for her mailing list. I cannot WAIT for the second book in this series to come out so that I can spend more time with Macki and her family. This book had me completely, very happily, immersed in the orchards and pie filled kitchen and waiting impatiently for answers. There's a complex mystery with long simmering rivalries and an intense conclusion. The atmosphere will appeal to readers who are ready to finish with Summer and get into the Fall fun. There's a lot of vivid and detailed description, so if that isn't your thing this might not be the best choice for you. I read cozies for the chance to vicariously experience different places and hobbies, so I loved it.  

Assisted Living by Gianaclis Caldwell 

This eco horror novel has such a vivid, creepy setting that I'm looking at the big fir trees next to my house a little differently and hoping I've never done anything to offend them. (It was the previous owner who cut down their former companions, not me!) The author does a great job of creating suspenseful scenes early on, but when the big scary stuff started to unfold, it left me a bit underwhelmed.  It went from being a great, character driven book to a mediocre disaster movie. Then that final chapter got me caught up again and left me curious to see where this trilogy is going. So I'm not sure how I feel about it. 

The Secret Attic by Chelsea Conradt

From the first few pages, I felt like a new aquaintance was sharing her story. Addison never got along with her mother-in-law and, after the older woman's death, she finds herself sorting through Barb's belongings, trying to make sense of it all and help her husband deal with his grief even though she'd rather be absolutely anywhere else. This feels like a real person's experience and Addision struggles without jumping to the usual "she was awful and I'm not" that you encounter so often in fiction and in real life. Barb was an awful woman, but throughout the book Addison feels like a genuinely nice person struggling with an impossible situation. The first time she realizes that something is really wrong in the huge old house is chilling. Halfway through the book I felt like the plot slowed to a crawl but it picks up again before the satisfying ending. 

 Buried in the Woods Below by Daniel G. Miller

An isolated island with an abandoned amusement park and a heroine who has been hired as a nanny even though she has no experience with young children...this book has the elements of a traditional gothic with some modern twists. It's a wild, dramatic ride and I'm blown away by author's ability to create suspense within a scene. The ending wasn't a total shock, but I'm not unhappy with it.  (I'm not going to give spoilers, but if you're a reader who prefers trigger warnings, you should probably check for them berfore reading.) 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. 

{I've Been Reading} Miss Morton Takes the Waters

 Miss Morton Takes the Waters by Catherine Lloyd

I picked this book for the setting. Back when I was reading a ton of historical romances, Bath was mentioned frequently, without any details. Now my curiosity has been satisfied and I've enjoyed an intriguing mystery along the way. And, since I jumped in with the fifth book (there's just enough backstory included  that I didn't feel lost) I've got the opportunity to immediately go back and spend more time with the characters. I definitely want to find out more about Mrs. Frogerton. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. 

{I've Been Reading}

Probable Caws by Donna Andrews 

I jumped into the Meg Langslow mystery series with the 34th book (Let it Crow, Let it Crow!)  Despite the fact that I was missing years and years of backstory, I immediately fell in love with Meg and her wonderful extended family. I was excited to see that the newest book takes us back to Ragnar's castle and Meg's blacksmithing -- and the crows! Fifty rescue horses have been displaced from the farmland where they were being cared for and everyone is on hand to get them safely situated in Ragnar's barns and pastures. The horses are settling in well, but there's plenty of conflict between their caregivers and (of course) a body discovered in a barn in the middle of the night... All of the best elements of this series come together in a fast paced read with a satifying mystery at its center. 

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkenen

I absolutely loved this book! It has so many elements that appealed to me, especially the 1960s setting and parapsychology experiments. Dual timelines alternate between four young college students being tested for psychic abilities and Riley, a young woman who has accepted as job as caretaker for Betty, an elderly woman who really doesn't seem to need her services. Betty's house is a time capsule that she hasn't left in years. When she asks Riley to help her contact her old friends, it quickly becomes obvious to the reader that something happened back in 1964 and the tension gradually builds until you start to fear just how bad it's going to be. By the end, I was gripping the edges of my phone. Quotes at the beginnings of the chapters remind us that this kind of research was a real thing.

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. 

{I've Been Reading} The House on Blood Street

The House on Blood Street by Josh Hanson 

You know those over the top horror movies that leave you lying awake at night trying to forget (or at least figure out) what it was you just saw? This book is like that, but with absolutely none of the regret. Jack and Avery know there's something off about the fixer-upper they're buying. For them, that creepy collage in the basement is one of the selling points. When they find weird symbols under the dining room carpet, they're even more entertained. It's no secret their new house has a disturbing history. If you've ever asked yourself why the characters in a haunted house don't just walk out the front door, this gives a different perspective. I -loved- this one. (If, like me, you're not a huge fan of classic Italian horror movies, don't let the comparisons put you off. It's a definite fever dream, but it's never boring.)  

 If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle 

After wishing she could live in one of her favorite author's romance novels, Roxie Mitchell gets almost exactly what she wanted, complete with an adorable meet-cute moment. Then she finds out that her favorite author is branching out and the plot she's trying to survive is a thriller. This book is all kinds of fun. Midway through, I felt like the plot was dragging but by the last few chapters I was completely invested in the fates of the characters. I'd say more, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers here. 

A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras by Ellen Byron

Within the first few pages, I was reminded of why I've read every book in this series as it came out. The characters and setting are absolutely amazing and this is my favorite of the bunch so far. I love the way cozy mysteries give their readers a chance to vicariously experience so many parts of the world and in this one, I got to peek behind the scenes of Mardi Gras parades.  There's an intriguing mystery and lots going on between the characters. I can't recommend it enough, but you might want to start this series at the beginning. 

Plant Lady by Minyoung Kang

I'm not entirely sure how to describe this Korean novel. The publisher has it tagged as horror, but I'd disagree. It's more like a cozy thriller with a few well placed splashes of gore and reminded me of An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good, with a much more likeable protagonist who has a deep respect for houseplants and a strong sense of justice. 

Murder in Season by Rosie Sandler 

Steph and Mouse are at it again, this time planning a community garden for a charming historic village. The residents all have strong opinions and she's not allowed in the locked site without a chaperone, but her temporary roommate is a great cook and she's got big plans for the garden. One section of land has been specifically excluded from the plans and of course that's where they unearth a pair of long buried skeletons (not a spoiler, it's there on the back of the book!) I always enjoy reading about Steph and Mouse. The evolving plans for the garden play a large role in the plot and the parcticipation of various community members means we get more insight into their relationships and who might or might not have motive for murder. 

 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies.