Category: mystery

Gone Tonight

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Sarah Pekkanen

Is psychopathy hereditary? This is one of the questions readers will have whilst reading this novel. Ruth is keeping secrets. Secrets about her past. No one knows what she has done, not even her own daughter, Catherine. A catastrophic event happened when Ruth was still in high school, and she’s been on the run ever since. And you know what? She’s done a pretty good job at evading the people of her past, her father, mother, and even the brother she is so close to, who has had to live with her disappearance. Throughout life, she has perpetuated the lie that  when she became pregnant in high school, her overly religious parents abandoned her. She’s also done a pretty good job at raising her daughter, Catherine. As a single mother, Ruth has raised her daughter to be a successful nurse on her way to a new city and a new job. 

But life begins to go awry when Ruth starts showing signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Ruth begins to write the truth of her life, or at least what she remembers, in notebooks because she believes her daughter should know the truth of her parentage and the truth behind her mother’s story. 

Devastated by her mother’s diagnosis, Catherine cannot understand her refusal to get formally assessed or make care plans. Suspecting something is amiss—her mother’s responses feel more like lies than simple memory loss—Catherine starts investigating. What she uncovers proves to be confusing and contradictory than expected. Yet, bits of truth slowly emerge, forcing Catherine to realize she may not know the woman she’s called mother at all.

Pekkanen has organized her novel in chapters written from the viewpoints of both Ruth and Catherine, allowing us to see their individual perspectives. However, neither Ruth nor Catherine can be considered a reliable narrator, which adds ambiguity to the truths we encounter as readers and aligns our discovery process with Catherine’s.

Overall, this book offers an engaging and accessible read—an ideal respite between heavier novels. Its fast-paced plot makes it easy to finish in one sitting. 

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the copy.

The Devil in Oxford

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Jess Armstrong

The Devil in Oxford is the third novel in the Ruby Vaughn Mystery series. Full disclosure, I have not read the first two. The novel can be read as a stand alone, however as I read, I couldn’t help but feel as though I would have enjoyed it more if I knew some of the backstory that was referenced such as how did she and her love interest Ruen meet, her history with the solicitor, how did she come about living with Mr. Owen (my favourite character by the way.
Ruby Vaughn is a “disgraced heiress” who has a penchant for attracting both the supernatural and mystery. Armstrong, through her characterization of Ruby, both indirectly and directly, successfully portrays her as a strong-willed, intelligent, and precocious woman who wonderfully does not “know her place”. Ruby lives with an eccentric, charming old man, their housekeeper, Mrs Penrose, and, of course, a cat. Mr Owen owns a rare book shop where he and Ruby work… a rare book shop, my dream location (and my dream job, if I’m being honest), so this fact may have contributed to my affection for the book.
The novel starts with Ruby playing tennis with her good friend Leona, during which she notices Leona acting peculiar. When called out, Leona skirts the issue. Ruby then returns home to find that Mr Owen has procured tickets to an intriguing exhibition of “curious” oddities and artefacts. Where, of course, a bloody crime ensues, Ruby’s love interest arrives, and Lenore may or may not be a suspect. Poor Ruby has a lot to navigate in this novel: her personal life, solving a crime, and discovering the true character of the people most important to her… thank goodness she has her cat, Fialla, as support.

I really liked this novel. I liked Ruby; she was spunky, stubborn, and confident when it came to solving mysteries, but not so confident in her personal life… like most of us. I loved Mr Owen and his grandfatherly nature. I especially loved the setting; as soon as you mention a rare book store in an academic setting, I’m hooked. I did, however, miss not being “present” to witness the spark that set fire to the slow burn that is the central romance.  So I’m definitely going to seek out and read the first two. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the Copy

What Stalks the Deep

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by T. Kingfisher

I’m beginning to really love the Sworn Soldier Series. I find our intrepid hero Alex Easton brave, highly intelligent, and wonderfully funny. They also have the most fascinating backstory, of which I would love to read more about (T Kingfisher, please write a novel about Alex’s childhood up until they become a soldier!).

Poor Alex seems to find themselves consistently thrown into a situation that includes creepy creatures and/or the supernatural. These situations do NOT help in overcoming the PTSD that comes with fighting a land war. 

This time, Alex travels to the United States because their friend Dr Denton (whom we met in the first book of the series) needs their help finding his cousin. Denton’s cousin has unfortunately gone missing in the depths of a mine, of all places. Upon their investigation, they encounter gruesome, inexplicable goings on that ultimately have all those involved questioning their involvement. 

I really liked this novel (as I always do with Kingfisher), albeit it’s not my favourite in the series. I found it very brief and would love to have more time with the characters. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the copy

The Witch’s Orchard

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by Archer Sullivan

The Witch’s Orchard is a propulsive crime novel, with glimmers of Appalachian superstition and “witchyness”. Annie Gore, a private investigator, is approached one day by Max, the brother of a missing girl. Years ago, when Max was just a young boy, three little girls went missing, one of them his sister, and law enforcement has been unsuccessful in finding the kidnapper. Creepily enough, an Applehead doll was left in each of the young girls’ stead. Jessica, Oliva, and Molly and only Olivia was returned. Annie Gore’s investigation leads her to learning more about the people and the folklore of the area. It also leads her to make new friends, so when tragedy strikes again (and again), it hits closer to home when Annie knows the next victim. 

This novel was a perfect summer read for me (I read it in a day!). It immediately captured my interest and held it with its suspenseful plot. The unpredictability of the resolution kept me engaged, making it a perfect choice for anyone who loves a good crime novel!

I will be looking out for more of Archer Sullivan’s books in the future!

riThank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy.

The Red Letter

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By Daniel G. Miller

Yay! We are back with Hazel Cho! The brilliant, chaotic private investigator we met in Miller’s “The Orphanage by the Lake”. I love Hazel. I love reading the story from her point of view, where we see her deductive reasoning, logic, and at times paranoid thinking work their way through the intricacies of a case. In the Red Letter, Hazel is asked by her old acquaintance and “friend” attorney Shavali (who, to make things weird, just happens to be the ex of Hazel’s boyfriend Jack to help defend a young man whom she believes is wrongfully accused in the horrific death of a priest.
Hazel refuses the case at first, but the security footage of the violent, gruesome death of Fr. Kenneally triggers her, and she can’t help but conjure images of the trauma she experienced in her first case. However, under pressure from Shavali and Kenny, she agrees, and soon regrets the decision.
Soon, there is another murder, with the victim dying the same way. Another… so obviously, the suspect cannot be the young man sitting in prison. But who could it be?
As the story progresses, the murders become closer and more personal, with Hazel herself fearing for her life and the lives of those she loves.
I liked this book! It is a quick read; however, the plot seemed rushed, allowing for no substantial character development. For example, the death of a key character didn’t really affect me all that much because we didn’t get a chance to get to know them. And I didn’t feel sorrow for the heartache experienced by those suffering the loss. Additionally, at times, it seemed there were numerous opportunities for the author to build suspense, but the action was rushed through too quickly.
I like Miller’s writing. I like Hazel. I will be reading more of Hazel Cho’s adventures.

Party of Liars

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by Kelsey Cox

If you want a REALLY good “whodunit”, Party of Liars is a perfect fit. Almost like a game of Clue, we have a collection of characters all gathered under the same roof to celebrate Sophie’s 16th birthday. Sophie is the daughter of Ethan, a handsome and charismatic psychiatrist, and stepdaughter to Dani, a former social influencer who is now Ethan’s wife and mother to their baby daughter, Charlotte. All live in the notorious mansion on the hill, a place that stood empty for years because of its dark past but now fully renovated (including the removal of an entire facade to be replaced by glass to replicate a real-life dollhouse.

Poor Dani is having a difficult time, with postpartum depression mixed with a bit of loneliness, she is being to see things, things like the form of a woman in white who hides behind curtains and skulks in the bushes, and most disturbing she is beginning to hear things….like the cry of a baby, a baby that isn’t hers.

Dani isn’t the only one with “issues”. We also meet an assortment of other characters who all seem to be dealing with unresolved anger and bitterness, or a delusional sense of justice. 

The evening of the birthday party, a death occurs. Someone plummets from a balcony to the stone steps below. Who is this person? Was it an accidental death? Was it a murder?

Cox writes her novel in a series of chapters, each written from the point of view of a different character. Dani, Ethan, the superstitious nanny Orlaith, Ethan’s ex-wife Kim, Mikayla, a friend of Sophie’s, could all be the victim or the suspect. 

I enjoyed this novel immensely. I especially enjoyed the distinct voice each character brings to their specific chapter. Cox also writes in such a way that it took me a while to determine my suspect (and I’m pretty good at predicting within the first third of a novel…but not this one!!!). Most of the novel takes place over the day, from the pre-party to the party and ultimately the post-party, with flashbacks embedded to build character and motive.

Kelsey Cox is a skilful mystery writer. Her character building, plot construction, and proficiency in creating atmosphere and suspense make this a perfect summer read and one I would recommend to my High School students.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish

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By Paula Brackston

Ok, I LOVED this book. I loved the setting, I loved the atmosphere, I loved the characters, and I especially loved the writing. 
The novel takes place in England in the late 1880s, and Hecate goes to work at Hereford Cathedral to assist the librarian in sorting and caring for the cathedral’s extensive collection of books. Upon her arrival, Hecate soon discovers she can communicate with ghosts, and the Hereford Cathedral is riddled with ghosts! Hecate shares her gift with her father, who (being a scholarly man himself, somewhat knowledgeable in archaeology and the occult) is incredibly supportive of his daughter. 
All is well in the village until suddenly a murder occurs, and then another and then….
Hecate learns through her communication with the ghosts and her study of artefacts buried deep in the cathedral walls that a dark force has been unearthed and is beginning to wreak havoc upon the villagers. 
This novel has magic and mystery. It is a ghost story with fantastical creatures. The plot is detailed and intriguing, and the characters are engaging and interesting. Most of all, Brackston is a skilled writer with beautifully crafted prose.
It is always a treat to find a novel that not only entertains its readers with a compelling plot but can also serve as a mentor text for word choice and sentence structure. 
There is now a second novel in this series, called The Cathedral of Lost Souls, which will be published in November that I CANNOT wait to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy.

Salt on Her Tongue

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By C.S. Porter

Why didn’t I know about C.S. Porter?  Salt on Her Tongue is the second instalment of the Kes Morris File series, and now I am desperate to read the first, Beneath Her Skin. 
Kes Morris is a homicide detective who was put on leave in the previous book (I am not aware of the specifics behind this leave, but it doesn’t significantly impact my enjoyment of this novel, as I was still able to fully appreciate it without reading the first book.) In this book, her new captain calls her to work on a missing person’s case (as a favour to him). Kes is a little put out, her speciality after all is murder, not missing persons. But she is told she must, so she does. This case takes to to a small village in the Bay of Fundy where our missing girl was last seen. And although the girl’s boyfriend is distraught over her disappearance, the locals believe she left on her own until a witness claims to have seen her talking to a man. Soon, what starts as a missing person’s case ends up as a murder case, and Kes is bound and determined to find the killer. The twist is, could the murder be the missing girl? Additionally, the villages seem somewhat secretive, not entirely forthcoming with any information, so could they be responsible? 
I really enjoyed the character of Kes and her problem-solving strategies. She is a strong, intelligent, socially savvy policewoman who independently (except for her IT friend Chester) resolves mysteries and murders on her own.
The novel’s fast-paced plot and interesting characters make this a perfect summer read.
After reading Salt on Her Tongue, I can’t wait to dive into the first book, Beneath Her Skin, and eagerly anticipate the release of the third novel in the Kes Morris Files.

Thank you to Netgalley and Nimbus press for the copy.

The Dark Library

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by Mary Anne Evans

Don’t you absolutely love the cover of this novel?

Our setting is in the University town of Bentham on Hudson, right in the middle of the Second World War. Our initiating incident is the apparent suicide of  Dean Jamison, who jumps from a tower at the university. Coincidentally, it is immediately after he meets with Estella (or E as she prefers to be called). Obviously, his death appears suspicious,  I mean, to those who worked closely with him, he didn’t seem depressed or desperate, condescending and patriarchal, sure, but if anything, overly controlling. Our protagonist, E, is naturally stunned by the dean’s sudden death. Still, it’s not like she’ll miss him, even though he was a colleague and ‘friend’ of her late father (himself a professor) he was never supportive of E’s position as professor of literature, for example, not giving her the title of professor,(because she was only holding the position until the ‘rightful’ instructors returned from war), and relegating her to the smallest, most obscure office on campus. Luckily, E’s closest friends also work at the university, Margorie and Leontine.

So Dean Jamison’s death immediately creates suspense, because if it, secrets are revealed and we soon learn that E’s father is entwined in treacherous political dealings. Which is somewhat surprising to E It’s not like she adored her father. E lives a rather solitary life with only the family’s housekeeper Annie as “family”. Before her post as professor, Estella had led a somewhat everyday life as a High School teacher until she was summoned home by Annie because her mother had disappeared and her father had taken ill.

The Dark Library is quite a little mystery. It is deftly written in that one of the central mysteries is solved about halfway through the novel (a rather central mystery in that it serves in developing E’s character and furthering the secondary plot). The second mystery that serves to answer all of our unanswered questions. 

A mystery, a romance, with tinges of historical content, this novel is a wonderful addition to your summer TBR list. It also makes for an engaging addition to any High School library. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the copy.

The Farm House

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by Chelsea Conradt

After her mother’s death, Emily Hauk moves from her city life in San Francisco to a rural farmhouse in Nebraska. A change that would hopefully help her grieve her loss as well as slow down from the hustle and bustle of life. After all, it was easy for her husband and herself to work from home. Here, they can plant a garden, go for long walks, and listen to the silence. As an avid runner, she could run for miles and miles without worrying about the obstacles of urban life.
The idyllic lifestyle Emily wishes to create for herself isn’t quite as easy to create as she had hoped. Emily soon realizes that the farm isn’t exactly as it seems; the barn appears to move independently, its distance from the house increasing and decreasing daily. Strange lights appear in the barn in the middle of the night when no one should be on the premises, and on top of it all, Emily starts hearing voices and, more disturbingly, finding human teeth on the property. Still, unfortunately, her husband doesn’t take her seriously, and neither does the local sheriff. Eventually, Emily becomes aware of the farm’s violent history, which explains the unsettling experiences she undergoes.
The Farm House is a ghost story, a psychological thriller, and a crime story rolled into one. It is a perfect addition to your summer reading list!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the copy.

What Feasts At Night (Sworn Soldier Series #2)

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by T. Kingfisher

As a huge fan of the first book in the Sworn Soldier series, What Moves the Dead, I was so excited to read this second novella and see what adventures befall Alex Easton after their nightmarish experience at the Usher Estate (review here). 
Alex and their loyal, albeit grumpy valet Angus return home to Gallacia, specifically to the family hunting lodge. They are motivated mostly by their new friend Mrs Potter (whom we met in the previous novella) ‘s desire to study the mushrooms indigenous to the Gallacian mountains. 
What was hoped to be a leisurely and restful vacation is anything but. First of all, the caretaker of the lodge has unexpectedly died a mysterious death. No one in the village, especially the caretaker’s daughter, wishes to talk about the circumstances of his death…but his death is clouded by superstition and terror. As well, Alex is plagued by a recurring nightmare of a ghoulish woman who sits on their chest and steals their breath. This nightmare conveniently plays into the local superstition of the moroi.
Not one for superstition, Alex, Angus, and Mrs Potter (who is a woman of science, after all) are determined to come to a more logical understanding of Alex’s nightmares, which turns out to be more difficult than they first believed.
I so enjoy Kingfisher’s writing. I especially like the Sworn Soldier series (so far), which are both charming yet horrifying at the same time. A delightful combination!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the copy!

The Amalfi Curse

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by Sarah Penner

Haven Ambrose has found her way to Positano, Italy, to lead a team of archaeologists in researching sunken wrecks off the Amalfi Coast, a place rich in history filled with folklore of curses and witches. But Haven isn’t there to study history folklore or besides her research, Haven has a second more personal reason for participation in this expedition, before her father’s death, he, as a renowned nautical archaeologist himself died he made her promise to return to his last dive site where he believed he had found a lost trove of rare gemstones.  No one on Haven’s expedition team knows this; if they did, they would be sure to claim them for their own. 
Upon her arrival, Haven is immediately drawn into a mysterious incident: a yacht is ensnared in a whirlpool, collapses, and vanishes beneath the waves, taking most of the crew with it. Could this tragedy be linked to the fabled Amalfi Curse?
Now, for the second timeline, there is indeed a second timeline that occurs more than 200 years before Haven’s arrival. This is Mari’s story. In Positano, the women are stregheria- sea witches who protect their village from pirates, specifically the infamous Mazza brothers. Mari is the most powerful strega, and she is integral to the success of the protection spell. The only problem is that she longs to escape her home and run away with her American sea-faring lover to live a life away from the unpredictable sea. 
The two timelines are masterfully interwoven, keeping me engrossed and endearing me to both female protagonists. Yet, the portrayal of the female community and the potency of the stregheria truly captivated me. This novel had me delving into Italian folklore, sea witches, Positano, and the Amalfi Coast, sparking a desire to visit these places.
I wish a few plot points were fleshed out a bit more, and I would have appreciated a bit more backstory for a couple of the characters.
The Amalfi Curse is a perfect novel for your summer reading list.

Thank you to Netgalley and Park Row Books for the copy!

Haunt Sweet Home

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by Sara Pinsker

Mara has been going through life thinking she is a nobody, a failure. There is nothing like a family Thanksgiving dinner to make her feel more like a loser, especially when her cousin Jeremy is there, Jeremy, who seems to have been born with a golden horseshoe up his butt. Unable to find a job that pays her bills, Mara takes a job (or did she beg?) with her cousin’s unique television show “Haunt Sweet Home”. Now, Haunt Sweet Home is not your typical home renovation show. It’s a show that not only films the renovation of a room or two, but also serves as a ghost hunter, recording any ghostly phenomena that happen to take place. The more frightening, the more significant the audience. 

As part of the filming crew, Mara has firsthand knowledge of the authenticity of the paranormal activity, but she is in no position to debate the ethics of the truth behind “reality TV.” Instead, she just does her job during the week and spends her weekends living out of a tent, attending to her wood carving, the only talent she acknowledges in herself. 

The book is written in first-person narrative and focuses more on Mara’s emotional development than the plot. Her personal running narrative is one of self-deprecation, self-searching and self-realization. Pinsker writes this narrative in a way that resonates with anyone who has ever felt insecure about who they are. Mara’s slow but steady realization of her strength is a journey many can identify with. But Mara does not come to this realization on her own; she makes a friend whilst on the job, someone who seems to know who she truly is, someone who appears to be just the right person to support her in this journey of self-discovery and growth, the only problem is, is this friend real or not?

This turned out to be a different “ghost” story than I expected. It is in no way scary; it is rather more of a story that is a running narrative of a young woman’s self-discovery and growth. A light, easy read but not scary or suspenseful. 

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for the free copy