Cozy Mystery

Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks

Book Review Graphic
FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.
Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks was an exciting book.  As I was reading this book, I remember why I love books in this genre so much.  I always feel like I am coming home when I read them.  I enjoyed this author and her writing.  I know that I will read more books by her in the future because I enjoyed it so much and fell in love with Piper right from the start of the book.  This book isn’t super suspenseful, but that didn’t bother me because I loved this book.  I read this book in two sittings because once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down until I  had finished the entire thing. It has been quite a long time since I have read a book that made me want to stay up and keep reading until I had finished reading the book.  If you like suspense books, I would surely pick this one up because I am sure you will love it.

About The Book

Genre: Suspense Published by: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: July 14th 2020 Number of Pages: 336 ISBN: 0785226184 (ISBN13: 9780785226185)
A powerful family with lots of secrets. A forensic artist with his own tragedies. And a hurricane drawing bearing down on their private island. Fifteen years ago Piper Boone’s only child died in a boating accident, and Piper’s almost perfect life came to an end too. After living through a divorce and losing her job, she retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home—a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, who are practically American royalty. But Piper’s desire to become a recluse is shattered when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where Piper is having lunch. The crisis puts her family in the spotlight by dredging up rumors of the so-called Curlew Island Curse, which whispers say has taken the lives of several members of the Boone family, including Piper’s father and sister. Forensic artist Tucker Landry also survives the shooting and is tasked with the job of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. They forge a bond over their shared love of movies and tragic pasts. But when police discover a connection between the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, they face a more terrible lineup of suspects than they could have imagined: Piper’s family. Unraveling the family’s true history will be the key to Piper’s survival—or her certain death.

About The Author

Carrie Stuart Parks is Christy, Carol, and Inspy award-winning author, an award-winning fine artist, and internationally known forensic artist. Along with her husband, Rick, she travels across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement as well as civilian participants. She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to creativity.

Catch Up With Carrie Stuart Parks: CarrieStuartParks.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, & Facebook!

Buy A Copy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Let’s Be Friends

Enter To Win

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Carrie Stuart Parks. There will be 1 winner of one (1) RELATIVE SILENCE by Carrie Stuart Parks (print). The giveaway begins on July 13, 2020 and runs through August 16, 2020. Open to U.S. addresses only. Void where prohibited. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read An Excerpt

(more…)Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Margaret Margaret

15 Minutes by Larissa Reinhart

 

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Audiobookworm in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

15 Minutes by Larissa Reinhart was a fun book to read.  I was almost always left wondering what crazy thing Maizie was going to do next.  She was always doing or saying crazy things that would get on my nerves from time to time.  As I was listening to the story Maizie would do something crazy and I would always wonder how she always managed to mess just about everything up.  As the book went on and on I wished she would have just shut up for a few minutes so that she wasn’t always making everything even worse.  I did love that this book wasn’t intense and it made me laugh quite a bit even though it isn’t a comedy book.  I also really enjoyed the narrator in this book and the author.  I know that I will for sure be listening to more books that this narrator read because I loved her voice.  With everything going on in the world right now I chose this book because it is a light hearted story and was able to give me a world to escape into when I need a break from my life for a little while.  If you love mystery books but aren’t wanting to read anything that is intense I would pick this one up because in the end it was a super fun book to listen to.

About The Book

Author: Larissa Reinhart

Narrator: Joan Dukore

Length: 10 hours 26 minutes

Publisher: 1969⎮2020

Genre: Mystery; Amateur Detective

Series

Release date: May 28, 2020

She played a detective on TV, but now that her life depends on it, can Maizie Albright play a detective for real?

For fans of romantic comedy mysteries like Meg Cabot’s Size 12 Is Not Fat and Stephanie Bond’s Body Movers, The Wall Street Journal best-selling author Larissa Reinhart brings her listeners the first in the Maizie Albright Star Detective series, Hot Mystery Reviews’ “Top 10 Mysteries for Book Clubs”.

”Child star and hilarious hot mess Maizie Albright trades Hollywood for the backwoods of Georgia and pure delight ensues. Maizie’s my new favorite escape from reality.” (Gretchen Archer, USA Today best-selling author of the Davis Way Crime Caper series)

Three Teen Choice Awards, one Emmy nomination, and several Maxim covers later, Maizie Albright was an ex-teen star, stuck in reality show hell, and standing before a California judge. She has one chance for a new life: return home to Black Pine, Georgia, and get a job that has nothing to do with show business. So why not become a private detective – the person she played during the happiest days of her life?

Maybe because…

First: She’s got 10 days to get and keep the job. 

Second: She has to convince the only private investigator in town to hire her. 

Third: She lost the client’s wife on the first day. (And the woman may be dead…) 

Fourth: She just might be falling in love with her new boss. And she just might have lost him his business. 

But what has she got to lose, other than imprisonment, her dignity, and possibly, her life?

Start the Wall Street Journal best-selling series and download 15 Minutes today! 

“Sassy, sexy, and fun, 15 Minutes is hours of enjoyment.” (Phoebe Fox, author of the Breakup Doctor series)

About The Author

The Wall Street Journal bestselling author Larissa Reinhart writes the award-winning Cherry Tucker Mystery, Maizie Albright Star Detective, and Finley Goodhart Crime Caper series. She loves to tell funny stories about women, looking for love (and sometimes dead bodies) in all the wrong places.

Larissa, her family, and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, lived in Nagoya, Japan, but have returned to Peachtree City, Georgia. You can see them on HGTV’s House Hunters International “Living for the Weekend in Nagoya” episode. Larissa loves books, food, and traveling with her family. You can often see her adventures on Instagram (and her little dog, too).

Visit Larissa’s website to join her VIP Readers email group and get the free prequel to The Cupid Caper plus other exclusive bonus content! http://www.larissareinhart.com

WebsiteFacebookGoodreadsInstagram

About The Narrator

Born in Honolulu, HI, Joan DuKore began her performing career as a ballet dancer, and attended Virginia School of the Arts to continue her education. Her hobby of magic later became her profession, and she continues to perform in Las Vegas and around the world. Her love of reading eventually led to voice acting. She has produced over 30 audiobooks in numerous genres such as thrillers, romances, memoirs, mysteries and fantasies. She loves locking herself in her booth and living in the worlds that authors create.

WebsiteTwitterFacebook

Buy A Copy

AmazonAudible

Let’s Be Friends

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Margaret Margaret

Scarlet Oaks and the Exposed Photographer by Michaela James

 

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Audiobookworm in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Scarlet Oaks and the Exposed Photographer by Michaela James was a great listen and I enjoyed this book more than the first one that I listened to. I enjoyed the plot of this one more than the first book. I also loved all of the crazy things that the characters did in this book just like I did in the first book. If you want to see my thoughts on the first book you can click here and read it here. Like I said in my review of the first book I really enjoy this narrator’s voice and the author of this book as well. I spent the entire book waiting to see what crazy things that characters were going to do next. I also enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book more than I did the mystery aspect of the first book. This book didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat as I was listening to it but that didn’t bother because this story was a great escape and I loved listening to it while I was working. If you are looking for a mystery book to listen to I would check this one out.

About The Book

Author: Michaela James

Narrator: Kimberly M. Wetherell

Length: 12 hours 30 minutes

Publisher: LW Media Group Ltd.⎮2020

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Scarlet Oaks Cozy Mystery Series, Book 2

Release date: Feb. 6, 2020

Something sinister is going on at Bay Radio. Is it possible there’s a connection between the mafia-type men who show up after dark, the terrified young women they have in tow, and the ominous commune Scarlet’s sister calls home?

A troubled caller’s cryptic clues point to a man from Scarlet’s past. Could he be the key to breaking her sister Violet out of a seemingly impenetrable commune? 

Scarlet’s new boyfriend gets a crash course on the life and times of Violet, as they enter a world of shadows, sex, and secrets. With more than her own life on the line, Scarlet fights to save her sister.

Can Scarlet and friends, armed with only a harebrained scheme and spy store gadgets, solve this mystery? All roads lead back to the cryptic caller. Expose the photographer from Scarlet’s past, and the thick, scandalous web starts to unravel.

Jump on this speeding cable car with Scarlet and hold on for dear life. This fast-paced, clever mystery will have you laughing one minute and gasping the next. Spend time with the characters you’ve grown to love and make room in your heart for more. 

If you grew up reading or listening to Nancy Drew, you’ll love Scarlet Oaks. This is the second book in the Scarlet Oaks series. Continue the adventure – buy Scarlet Oaks and the Exposed Photographer today!

About The Author

Michaela lives near Reno, Nevada, where there are lovely walking trails and lots of sun. She was born and grew up in Hampshire, England, where there is less sun, but better chocolate! A professional voice over artist and the voice of a local radio station, Michaela enjoys watching great movies with her husband and grown sons, playing tennis and  and drinking lots of tea.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

About The Narrator

A bright, versatile, broad-next-door type, Kimberly M. Wetherell is rapidly becoming a sought-after talent in the voiceover market, specializing in audiobooks, commercials, and animation.

Kimberly has worn multiple hats in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. A graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University, Kimberly has been an actor, a singer of musical theatre, director of both opera and film, and producer of opera, film, and most recently, commercials.

She speaks French, Italian, and German (all thanks to her 15-year career in opera), and, as a lifelong lover of language, has a large catalogue of dialects and accents from around the world at the tip of her tongue.

Equally active in the literary world, Kimberly is a published essayist and contributing editor of The Nervous Breakdown. She founded and hosted DISH, a monthly food & drink reading series at SoHo’s Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, as well as having hosted other reading series around NYC, such as NPR’s Dime Stories at Brooklyn’s Barbès and TNB’s Literary Experience at Chinatown’s Happy Endings.

Voiceover artistry is the perfect marriage of her life’s two passions, and she couldn’t be happier with this new career pursuit.

TwitterFacebookInstagram

Buy A Copy

Buy on Audible

Let’s Be Friends

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Margaret Margaret

Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller by Michaela James

 

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Audiobookworm in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller by Michaela James was a good audiobook.  I really enjoyed the characters in this story and I was always left trying to figure out which person was the most insane in her group of friends and family.  These are the types of characters that I wish I knew in real life because they are a never-ending source of entertainment. I really enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook and I wouldn’t be mad if I were to listen to other books that she reads. I loved listening to this book because it wasn’t super intense but it did give me an escape from all of the crazy events that are happening right now.  I did enjoy the comedic parts of this book and those moments are the reason that I finished the entire audiobook in just a couple of days. I also enjoyed the author’s writing and I can’t wait to see what crazy things the characters are going to do next. There is one more book in this series that I am going to review next week so come back then to see how I feel about this series then.

 

About The Book

Author: Michaela James

Narrator: Kimberly M. Wetherell

Length: 10 hours 2 minutes

Publisher: LW Media Group Ltd.⎮2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Scarlet Oaks Cozy Mystery Series, Book 1

Release date: Nov. 9, 2019

Synopsis: Is it possible Scarlet Oaks, the reluctant new host of a men’s call-in show, inspired the first serial killer San Francisco’s seen in some 40 years?

Struggling to pay the rent after her boyfriend’s sudden departure, continue her role as mediator in an unconventional family, and feed a micro pig who appears less micro by the day, Scarlet’s life is far from perfect. But when an eerie sounding caller is identified as the bay area’s latest serial killer, it appears her life will never be the same.

With the killer continually calling into Scarlet’s show, while managing to stay one step ahead of the San Francisco police, Scarlet begins to fear she’s his next victim. Enlisting best friends Niles and Tom and their often-hilarious help, Scarlet sets out to find the elusive Serial Caller…before he finds her.

Root for Scarlet during this heart-pounding and alternately humorous mystery thriller. Fall in love with unforgettable characters, recognize familiar family members, and hold on tight for an adrenaline-filled ride.

If you’re a Stephanie Plum fan, make room for Scarlet Oaks!

This is the first book in the Scarlet Oaks series.

About The Author

Michaela lives near Reno, Nevada, where there are lovely walking trails and lots of sun. She was born and grew up in Hampshire, England, where there is less sun, but better chocolate! A professional voice over artist and the voice of a local radio station, Michaela enjoys watching great movies with her husband and grown sons, playing tennis and  and drinking lots of tea.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

About The Narrator

Kimberly M. Wetherell

A bright, versatile, broad-next-door type, Kimberly M. Wetherell is rapidly becoming a sought-after talent in the voiceover market, specializing in audiobooks, commercials, and animation.

Kimberly has worn multiple hats in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. A graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University, Kimberly has been an actor, a singer of musical theatre, director of both opera and film, and producer of opera, film, and most recently, commercials.

She speaks French, Italian, and German (all thanks to her 15-year career in opera), and, as a lifelong lover of language, has a large catalogue of dialects and accents from around the world at the tip of her tongue.

Equally active in the literary world, Kimberly is a published essayist and contributing editor of The Nervous Breakdown. She founded and hosted DISH, a monthly food & drink reading series at SoHo’s Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, as well as having hosted other reading series around NYC, such as NPR’s Dime Stories at Brooklyn’s Barbès and TNB’s Literary Experience at Chinatown’s Happy Endings.

Voiceover artistry is the perfect marriage of her life’s two passions, and she couldn’t be happier with this new career pursuit.

TwitterFacebookInstagram

Buy A Copy

Buy on Audible

Let’s Be Friends

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Margaret Margaret

Dangerous Ground by Susan Hunter

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Dangerous Ground by Susan Hunter was a great book that I enjoyed so much that I read it quickly.  I believe that I have read one other book in this series but I can’t be positive. That being said you don’t have to read the entire series in order to understand this book.  If you are interested in the series I would start from the first book and read them in order but if this is the only one that interests you then you won’t be lost if you read this book.  Leah did get on my nerves from time to time even though I knew why she was making the choices that she was. This book wasn’t super suspenseful but it did have enough that kept me reading until I was finished with this book.  I do think that I am going to back and read a few more books in this series because of how much I enjoyed this book. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy all of the drama that the characters had with each other because of the things that happened when they were all in high school.  It took me about half of the book before I was able to figure out who the killer was and when I figured it out I was totally shocked with is always a good thing when it comes to books in this genre.

About The Book

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Himmel River Press
Publication Date: November 19, 2019
Number of Pages: 364
ISBN: 1698530994 (9781698530994)
Series: Leah Nash Mysteries, Book 6

A Murder Among Friends …

Everyone is anxious to connect with actor Ryan Malloy when he returns to town for his 15-year high school reunion. Everyone except crime writer Leah Nash. She doesn’t have many fond memories of Himmel High’s golden boy. But it turns out she’s not the only one who isn’t a fan. Before the weekend is over, Ryan Malloy is murdered.

The hard-headed but soft-hearted Leah is unwillingly drawn into investigating his death by the pleading of Ryan’s terminally ill mother. She soon discovers that Ryan’s self-absorbed journey through life trampled on the dreams of a number of people. His old girlfriend, his best friend, his own brother, a local businessman—there’s no shortage of suspects—or secrets. But the solution eludes Leah, until the past and the present collide in a dangerous confrontation that threatens one life and ends another.

About The Author

Susan Hunter is a charter member of Introverts International (which meets the 12th of Never at an undisclosed location). She has worked as a reporter and managing editor, during which time she received a first place UPI award for investigative reporting and a Michigan Press Association first place award for enterprise/feature reporting.

Susan has also taught composition at the college level, written advertising copy, newsletters, press releases, speeches, web copy, academic papers, and memos. Lots and lots of memos. She lives in rural Michigan with her husband Gary, who is a man of action, not words.

During certain times of the day, she can be found wandering the mean streets of small-town Himmel, Wisconsin, looking for clues, stopping for a meal at the Elite Cafe, dropping off a story lead at the Himmel Times Weekly, or meeting friends for a drink at McClain’s Bar and Grill.

Catch Up With Susan Hunter On:
LeahNashMysteries.comGoodreadsBookBubInstagramTwitter, & Facebook!

Buy A Copy

 Amazon | Goodreads

Let’s Be Friends

Enter To Win

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Susan Hunter. There will be one (1) winner. The winner will receive an Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on February 17, 2020 and runs through March 21, 2020. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read An Excerpt

(more…)Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Margaret Margaret

No Stone Unturned by Andrea Kane

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

No Stone Unturned by Andrea Kane was an interesting book but not one that I would want to read again.  I believe that I had read one other book by this author and in this series. This another one where you won’t be lost if you only read this book but like I said before if you want to read the entire series I would start with the first book so nothing gets ruined in later books.  When I read books like this one I always wonder if things like this actually happen in the real-world or if companies like Forensic Instincts really exist in our world today. I did really enjoy this author’s writing and I was sad when the book ended because I really did enjoy these characters and I began to think of them as real people that are alive someone in the United States.  This book wasn’t super suspenseful but it did keep me reading the book until I was finished with it. I also didn’t figure out who had killed Rose until the end of the book which was also a good thing because that doesn’t always happen when it comes to books that I am reading because at this point I have read some many books I am usually able to figure out who killed the person pretty early on.

About The Book

Genre: Suspense Thriller
Published by: Bonnie Meadow Publishing LLC
Publication Date:
Number of Pages: March 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68232-039-
Series: Forensic Instincts

WHAT IF YOU FOUND YOUR FRIEND DEAD AND FEARED YOU’D BE NEXT?

Jewelry designer Fiona McKay is working on her latest collection of Celtic-inspired jewelry. She’s excited by the possibilities uncovered by Rose Flaherty, the antiquities dealer helping her research the heirloom tapestries inspiring her new collection. So when Rose calls to tell her she has answers, Fiona hurries to meet her. But her artistic world is shattered when she finds the lifeless body of the elderly woman.

Why would anyone kill such a harmless person? And what if Fiona had arrived just a few minutes earlier? Would she have been killed as well? Unnerved, she heads for her brother’s Brooklyn apartment seeking advice and comfort.

Ryan McKay, Forensic Instincts’ technology wiz is not amused by his little sister interrupting his evening with his girlfriend and co-worker, Claire Hedgleigh. But when Ryan and Claire hear the details of Rose’s murder, they fear that Fiona could be next, and quickly assume the role of her protectors. What they’re unaware of is how many people are desperately seeking the information now buried along with Rose.

A former IRA sniper. A traitorous killer who worked for the British. Two vicious adversaries taking their epic battle to America. A secret Irish hoard as the grand prize in a winner takes all fight to the death.

As the story woven into the tapestries passed down from McKay mother to daughter unravels, Forensic Instincts realizes that Fiona and her family are in grave danger. Together, the team must stay one step ahead of two rival assassins or risk Fiona’s life and the McKay family tree.

About The Author

Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty novels, including sixteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge―and keeping her readers up all night.

Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, became an instant New York Times bestseller. She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including NO WAY OUT, TWISTED and DRAWN IN BLOOD.

Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, NO STONE UNTURNED, showcases the dynamic, eclectic team of maverick investigators as they solve a seemingly impossible case while narrowly avoiding an enraged law enforcement frustrated over Forensic Instincts’ secretive and successful interference in a murder case. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, THE GIRL WHO DISAPPEARED TWICE, followed by THE LINE BETWEEN HERE AND GONE, THE STRANGER YOU KNOW, THE SILENCE THAT SPEAKS, THE MURDER THAT NEVER WASA FACE TO DIE FOR, and DEAD IN A WEEK.

Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include MY HEART’S DESIRESAMANTHA, ECHOES IN THE MIST, and WISHES IN THE WIND.

With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages. Kane lives in New Jersey with her husband and family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan.

Catch Up With Andrea Kane:
AndreaKane.comGoodreadsTwitter, & Facebook!

Buy A Copy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Let’s Be Friends

Enter To Win

Read An Excerpt

(more…)Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Margaret Margaret