Category Archives: Mystery

Sep20

The Lost Apothecary

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The Lost Apothecary

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

This was a book that I wasn’t even sure I wanted. It was an alternative to a Book of The Month Club pick. I didn’t like the description of the main pick for the month, but didn’t want to skip a month, so I reluctantly added this one. It sat on the shelf for awhile, and when I reached for what I thought was a different book, this one was there instead. Is that book serendipity? I think so.

This book was paced very well, and had such an air of mystery that I finished in one sitting. It was that good.

The story is written from the points of view of three different women:

Nella, the apothecary, begins the story in 1791 London. Although not old in years, her body is failing her and it’s her belief that it’s a form of punishment for what she has become. You see, Nella didn’t always set out to be a poisoner; it was at a very young age that she learned the skills of healing and helping women from her mother. She studiously watched and learned, and observed the great respect that was shown to her mother by the women that came to her for all types of remedies. But then Nella is left on her own, and in her grief meets someone who would shatter her world, which would lead her to a secret life that starts to break down not only her mind, but her body.

Eliza is also in Nella’s timeline. She is a young 12 year old girl who initially meets Nella at the behest of her employer, but then relies on Nella when she needs to rid herself of a ghost – real or imagined. Nella is drawn to Eliza, but fears that her young and innocent curiosity will lead her on a path as lonely and dangerous as her own. One night Eliza makes a horrible mistake, and it starts to bring everything crashing down on Nella. Eliza naively tries to make it right, and sacrifices everything.

Caroline’s point of view is present day. She is in London alone. Her personal life is falling apart, and she has no idea what’s next for her. She has a chance meeting with a gentleman who convinces her to join his group for “mudlarking” on the Thames. Not exactly sure what mudlarking is, and with nothing really planned, she joins the group. She’s about to give up searching through the muddy water of the Thames, when she finds a blue vial with an etching of a bear. And so begins her journey to find out where it came from, and leads her onto a search for a lost apothecary. But another mistake puts Caroline in jeopardy. Will anyone believe her? And will she finally make peace with her life and make the right decisions.

This book is simple in the storytelling, but so very compelling and satisfying that you empathize with each character. All too often when a book is written by various points of view, and one being of a killer, it’s hard to like all of the characters – and yes, I know some books are written so that you hate or despise a certain character, but this book makes you feel such sympathy for each one of these women that you only wish the best for them. I’ve been in such a reading slump lately, and this book that “accidentally” came to me got me right out of it – and it turned out to be such a sweet pleasant surprise.

Let’s chat about The Lost Apothecary – leave your comments below!

Interested in “mudlarking” on the Thames? Here is a great article:

Mudlarking in London on the Thames by Laura Porter

And this great website documents just some of the wonderful items found in the Thames

Tideline Art

Here are a few mudlarking images —

Jun27

A Treachery of Spies by Manda Scott

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A Treachery of Spies by Manda Scott

“An espionage thriller to rival the very best, a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse, played in the shadows, which will keep you guessing every step of the way.

An elderly woman of striking beauty is found murdered in Orleans, France. Her identity has been cleverly erased but the method of her death is very specific: she has been killed in the manner of traitors to the Resistance in World War Two.

Tracking down her murderer leads police inspector Inès Picaut back to 1940s France where the men and women of the Resistance were engaged in a desperate fight for survival against the Nazi invaders.

To find answers in the present Picaut must discover what really happened in the past, untangling a web of treachery and intrigue that stretches back to the murder victim’s youth: a time when unholy alliances were forged between occupiers and occupied, deals were done and promises broken. The past has been buried for decades, but, as Picaut discovers, there are those in the present whose futures depend on it staying that way – and who will kill to keep their secrets safe.” – Bantam Press

If that doesn’t hook you in, nothing will!

So apparently this is the second book in the series, but so far I don’t think there has been a third.  It didn’t dawn on me right away, which is not a bad thing. When a book can stand on its own and doesn’t depend on the reader knowing the characters or plot of the previous book, the reader doesn’t feel left behind. I have stopped reading a book when I realized that I wasn’t reading in order, and had to go back and start the series from the beginning.  Not great when you realize that the series may not be your cup of tea.  But there were hints at the beginning of this one that led me to believe there was a prior book, or books.  It didn’t really matter – like I said, this stands on its own just fine.

About this book (big sigh) — I did like it quite a bit.  The mystery surrounding the murder was very good, and it kept me guessing.  The flashbacks to the 1940’s and 1950’s were right up my alley – as I have stated many times, books that move through time are my thing (I was going to say “my jam”, but thought better of it). 

But I did find this book very hard to follow – and that’s unusual for me.  So what was it about this book that gave me a hard time.  I liked the plot, I liked that characters, and I really liked the flashbacks; but what I didn’t like was how difficult it was for me to follow who was who as it bounced from 2018 to the 1940’s.  I’m sure it’s just me and my lack of attention span, I mean I did start it back in March before all of the crazy COVID-19 pandemic stuff happened, and I only picked it up from time to time as I had to get used to being in lock-down and working from home, but I did find myself flipping back to earlier chapters wondering “who is this again?”.  I almost felt like I needed to start over and read it straight through, rather than how I was reading it in stops and starts.  However I wanted to move on, so I kept at it.

Now to answer my question – what was it that made it hard for me to follow?  Was it all the French names? (to my friend Marie – don’t laugh at me).

The story takes place in France, so of course most of the characters are French – and some of the names were similar.  What didn’t help is that some of the characters were family members, so I had to remember if I was reading about senior, junior, or a cousin.  Alright, before you think I’m a complete idiot – some of those same characters worked as spies during the war – and used fake names and nicknames, and even changed their names.  Crazy times! 

Other than that confusion (which I’m still convinced was probably only me), I really did enjoy the story.  The characters are strong, and Ms. Scott does a great job of keeping the reader guessing as she weaves fictional characters with some very real spy agencies and organizations that fought for freedom in France during World War II.  Of course my fascination with WWII spies made the flashbacks a bit more interesting to me – but the current time mystery was also very well done and kept me wanting to know who the killer was. 

The main character, Inspector Inès Picau, is a smart, tough character that has obviously been through something traumatic (a clue that there is a prior book), and I enjoyed how she interacted with her team and with the suspects.  She’s a clever one.

The other main character is Sophie, who you only get to see in flashbacks, is also a great strong character.  I loved her story, and she is the puzzle piece that pulls all of this together.  She’s actually the heart of the story.

That’s really all to say – the story has so many twists and turns that it can be hard to describe without accidentally giving something away.  I’m glad that I read this one, and will likely go back to the first book – even though I hate reading books out of order.

One last thing to mention – I did read that the book has been optioned as a new TV series, but no word on when.  Here is an article for more information (but I have to say I’m somewhat disappointed that every article I read about this says the murder takes place in WWII France – it does not – the murder takes place in 2018 France):

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/harry-potter-producer-adapting-thriller-treachery-spies-tv-1295118

For more information on Manda Scott and her books, visit her webpage – it’s pretty awesome:

https://mandascott.co.uk/

Sep29

Tangerine by Christine Mangan

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Tangerine by Christine Mangan

Tangerine
By Christine Mangan
Published by Ecco

I found this book pretty enjoyable, even if I didn’t like any of the characters – not one.  It was just twisty enough that I had to keep reading to find out what happened in the past, as told from two different points of view, and what was about to happen.  It was like one of those really annoying MTV reality TV shows that you just can’t stop watching even though you really dislike all of the people involved.

We start with a dead body, that at first seems pretty obscure, but later makes sense.  Like everything else in the book, this lays the foundation of piecing together all of the clues sprinkled throughout. But, I have to admit, those clues are pretty obvious.  Nothing really surprised me, and in fact, it was annoying to see that it was so obvious in places.

So, after the opening, where are we?

Set in Tangier in 1956, we meet Alice Shipley – a British citizen, married, and unhappily living in a foreign land because of her husband John’s “secret” job.  She’s not exactly sure what her husband does but he may be working for the “government” – I don’t think she’s even sure which government.  It is during this time that Tangier is gaining its independence from France, and the book hints that this could be part of John’s secret job – although John is an American.  But then again, Tangier has always been known as the spy capital of the world, so maybe John is there for some other nefarious deed.

As far as Alice is concerned, however, the city is oppressive in both climate and culture. She’s regretting her marriage to John, and particularly his insistence that she accompany him to this part of the world, so far from her home and where she feels comfortable.  But as miserably as she feels at the beginning of the book – things are about to get worse.

One day, out of the blue, Alice’s roommate from college shows up.  Alice doesn’t seem particularly happy to see Lucy standing in her doorway, but whether out of manners or a feeling of obligation or guilt, Alice invites Lucy in.

At first it seems that Lucy wants to make amends for something that happened to cause the rift between them – again only hinted at, with the clues slowly building throughout the book. And if Alice is slightly wary, well then John is downright suspicious.  It’s obvious from the moment that Lucy and John meet that they are not going to be friends – the animosity and petty jealousy between them is putting Alice in a pretty bad spot, and she begins to fall apart emotionally as things escalate.

As their past unfolds, Alice and Lucy tell their versions in alternating chapters and we begin to see how Alice – the rich, orphaned girl, and Lucy – the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, became so close that it’s difficult to see where one begins and the other ends – but maybe that’s exactly how Lucy wants it.  Her manipulation of a feckless Alice is disturbing and sinister.

Now because this is a mystery, I won’t go into much more detail, but I will say that throughout I just wanted to slap some sense into Alice. I thought John was a complete ass; and by the end of the book I despised Lucy so much that if she had been a real person standing in front of me – I would have hurled the book right at her.

See, just like I said at the beginning – I did not like one character in this book!

One last thought – I was intrigued by the Tangier setting, and I really wished that the author had done a better job of bringing the city itself into the story.  There were glimpses of Tangier, but I think with a city so rich in history and beauty I would have enjoyed feeling a little more immersed.  Maybe we’ll get to see more of that in the movie version, because apparently George Clooney intends to bring this book to the big screen.  Not sure I’d watch for the story, but I would watch for the setting.

If you are interested in learning more about Tangier – take a look at the wiki page:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangier

What are your thoughts?  Have you read Tangerine?  Please feel free to comment below.
 

Sep23

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano

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Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions (An Auntie Poldi Adventure – Book 1)
By Mario Giordano
Translator: John Brownjohn
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I’m always so reluctant to post an unfavorable review, and to date I don’t think that I’ve had to.  This one may be my first.

There were a few things that I liked when I was deciding whether or not to buy it. First,  it was compared to “Auntie Mame”, but as a zany mystery. Second, it takes place in picturesque Italy.

However, there were some things that I just couldn’t get my head around. One of which was how this zaftig, 60-year-old woman, who sweat profusely under her wig was able to convince her family, and a police officer, to bend to her every whim. I just didn’t buy it, and frankly, Auntie Poldi just wasn’t an interesting character.

However, with all of that said, I wanted to finish the book – which I did in one sitting (it’s a pretty quick read), but then found myself a little let down by the ending. Needless to say, I don’t think I’m going to continue with the series.

But to be fair, the premise sounded promising to me and others may find it interesting, so I’ll do a quick synopsis of the plot.

Sixty-year-old Isolde “Poldi” Oberreiter, is the daughter of a Munich police detective, (but I’m not sure if we know that right away). She’s a widow who doesn’t think she has much to live for, so she retires to a Sicilian village in Italy, where she believes that she’ll live out her days away from her family, slowly drinking herself to death.

When she finds the body of her young handyman on the beach, she decides that maybe there is some life in her left, and resolves to find the murderer. She bases this idea on the fact that since her father was a detective she must surely have the skills to solve this crime. Of course, she goes bumbling along, dragging her family into her zany plan – which are all too happy to become accomplices because she no longer thinks about her death.

We also learn that Poldi has a weakness for good-looking policemen, and likes to go around town taking snapshots of them as they go about their daily routine. When she gets romantically involved with one, he is also pulled along into her wacky scheme. To his credit, he doesn’t cave in to her every whim, and gives her a hard time when she has the audacity to take over his investigation. It’s no surprise that like all amateur sleuths Auntie Poldi solves the crime, and makes the police look like dolts.

So, why am I being so hard on this book when I usually do like a cozy mystery with an amateur sleuth. It has to be Auntie Poldi herself. I found her to be so overbearing and unlikeable; and the way she is described in the book as overweight, unable to climb steps without wheezing, and the sweat that seems to accumulate under her wig that needs continuous adjusting; well let’s just say that I really didn’t want to visualize that in my head.

All in all I’m glad that I finished it. There were some fun characters, but not enough to bring me back for the second book in the series.

I’d like to hear from anyone that has read this book or series so far. There seems to be some fairly good praise for it – I guess it just wasn’t for me.

 

Aug19

Burntown by Jennifer McMahon

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Burntown by Jennifer McMahon

Burntown
By Jennifer McMahon
Published by Doubleday Books

This book starts with a murder! One night, young Miles is having a little bit of fun lurking in the bushes of his backyard, dressed as Robin Hood, plotting to spring up and scare his mother. All in good fun, right…at first. Instead, what he witnesses is a horrific crime that changes his life forever.

The story jumps ahead a little bit, and we learn what happens to Miles and how he grows up, but not a lot of time is spent on this part of the story. It’s just the set-up to a bigger piece of the puzzle which comes later.

We catch up with Miles, who is now married and a father of two, a boy Errol and a girl Eva. He’s a respected professor and author, and a part time inventor. As an inventor, he forms a bond with Eva, who shares his love of the mechanical toys and trinkets that he builds for her. But there is another secret invention sitting in his workshop that Eva knows nothing about – until the night of the storm.

And this is where the mystery begins. As the storm rages, and the river rises, Miles is checking to make sure that his work shop, and the inventions inside, are protected and kept safe. Lily, Miles’ wife is planning on evacuating their home, as Eva follows her father to the workshop. Eva doesn’t remember much after that; she’s suffering from some form of amnesia. What she does know is that her father and brother are dead, and she and her mother are in hiding, fleeing some unknown danger. She’s not sure if the danger is real or just some figment in her mother’s unhinged mind.

Jump ahead again, and Eva is now Necco, living in a station wagon with her boyfriend. But tragedy strikes once again, and Necco is back on the run and accused of murder. As she tries to figure out how to clear her name, she meets some unusual characters – but are they friend or foe? And what has this got to do with her father’s invention?

I just loved this book. It never slowed down, and it kept moving at such a great pace. There are some very interesting characters that at first make you wonder how they all fit – but it all does fit – eventually. Heroes, villains, and a circus? This book is a delight!

Jul3

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

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The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

The Essex Serpent
By Sarah Perry
Published by Serpent’s Tail

This book is beautiful! From the gorgeous cover and end papers, to the way the story is written, it’s just a beautiful book.

I want to thank Simon Savidge, from the Savidge Reads blog and The Readers podcast. He’s mentioned this book a few times, and spoke so highly of it that I had to read it. As of this review it’s not yet available in the U.S., so I had to order it from the UK – and it was worth the wait.

So let’s dive in.

In the opening chapters of the book we learn that Michael Seaborne is dying of cancer, and that he is being attended to by his dutiful wife Cora who, although seems to be taking very good care of him, does not seem to be emotionally distraught over the fact that he’s so ill and close to death. In fact, we learn that Michael is an abusive husband, and Cora is beginning to realize that soon she will be free of him, and he will be leaving her a very wealthy woman.

Also attending to Michael is his doctor, Luke Garrett, who seems to have quite a crush on Cora. When Michael makes it clear that he doesn’t want any treatment that will prolong his life, Dr. Garrett is all to happy to comply. With Cora, though, it’s not immediately clear how she feels about Dr. Garrett. She’s fond of him and relies on his company, but more than anything she wants to be an independent woman and considers herself an equal to men – not very common in the Victorian era.

Rounding out the Seaborne household is Cora and Michael’s son Francis, and Martha, the one time nanny who now also acts as a companion to Cora. Francis, or Frankie as his mother calls him, is an odd, quiet child that likes to collect trinkets – a feather, a shell, anything that catches his eye that he finds interesting and wants to study. Martha is devoted to Cora and Francis, but as a very committed Socialist she has some issues with their wealth and privilege.

After Michael’s death, Cora decides that she needs to get away from the home she shared with her cruel and abusive husband. She packs up Frankie and Martha and leaves London, taking up residence in the town of Colchester. It’s there that she happens upon Charles and Katherine Ambrose, old friends who are traveling in the area. From them she learns of the legend of the Essex serpent. It seems there have been some strange occurrences in a nearby town, and the locals believe that the serpent is back and creating these events. Cora is so intrigued, that when Charles Ambrose offers to write an introduction letter to his good friend, the Reverend Will Ransome, Cora at once agrees to travel to Aldwinter to meet the Reverend and his family – with the hope that she’ll get a glimpse of the Essex Serpent.

All seems to go very well for a while; Frankie and Martha have settled in and have made friends with the Ransome family, and Cora delights in the thought that she soon may see this mysterious serpent. But things take an interesting twist as Cora and the Reverend, who have as many things in common as they do differences, become very fast friends – much to the dismay of Dr. Luke Garrett, who is quite jealous; and Martha, who is worried that what’s happening between Cora and Will is quite inappropriate.

While Cora and Will continue their friendship, which entails frequent long walks and copious letter writing, the people of the town are beginning to believe in the curse of the Essex serpent. Children are no longer playing out doors, and the church congregation is growing as people turn to God, and to Will, for comfort in their fear.

Along the way we meet other characters whose lives are entwined with Cora, but the author manages to separate their stories so that there are sub-plots throughout. She does this by adding vignettes to the various sections of the book, which walk you through the passage of time, but always keeps her eye on the ball of the main plot – the serpent. It’s an interesting way to tell a very full story, and it makes the book move along at a very nice pace. This is also used to great advantage in beautifully descriptive passages, such as how the seasons change, how the air smells, and how the fog rolls in. It can go from seemingly so beautiful one minute, then all at once become dark and a bit gothic.

I could go on and on, but I’d be afraid of spoiling this wonderful story – let’s just say that toward the end of the book things start to happen very quickly, and I found myself racing to get to the end. Once I got there, however, I was sad that it was over – I didn’t want the story to end, and I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters, or to the Essex landscape that was described with such beauty. This is a book that I could see myself re-reading some day – it’s that good!

If you’ve read The Essex Serpent, I’d love to hear your thoughts. As always, please feel free to comment below.

Sep20

The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz

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The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz

The Girl in the Spider’s Web
A Lisbeth Salander Novel
by David Lagercrantz
Published by Alfred A Knopf

Question:  What does a computer company in California, the NSA, a group of hackers, the Russian mob, a scientist, and an autistic child have in common?

Answer:  A girl with a dragon tattoo!

Lisbeth Salander is back – and it’s been a long time coming!

For those of you who may not know, the first three books in the series were written by Stieg Larsson. Dubbed “The Millennium Series”, the books, and subsequent movies, became mega-hits after Larsson’s death in 2004.

The story goes that he had planned on a ten book series, but had only partially completed the fourth book at the time of his death. A legal battle ensued between his long-time partner Eva Gabrielsson, who he never married, and his his estate, which was controlled by his father and brother. It is believed that Gabrielsson is still in possession of Larsson’s computer and the unfinished fourth manuscript; however this book is not based on that manuscript. Instead, this book was written completely from scratch with the permission of Larsson’s estate (his father and brother). The entire story can be found on the wiki page at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_series

It’s been about 5 years since I read the last book in the series, so my mind isn’t as fresh on the writing style of Stieg Larsson, but I can tell you that David Lagercrantz does a fine job of bringing these characters back to us, and there was never any sense that this book did not belong with the initial trilogy.

The story and the characters are intricately woven together and it can seem disjointed at first, but what’s important to note is that what may seem inconsequential at the beginning becomes very meaningful later on. With a book like this it’s very important to pay attention to every detail and to read each word. Every. Single. Word.

So, back to my original question – how do these seemingly unrelated entities all wind up together?

When a respected scientist leaves his job at a computer company in California, to care for his autistic son back in Sweden, the NSA receives some chatter that he may be in danger. His work on artificial intelligence is widely regarded as leading edge, and it seems everyone wants to get their hands on it. Between the leaks in the police and the corruption of big business it’s clear that some people will go to any lengths to gain the upper hand. Including the Russian mob – with ties back to Lisbeth’s father.

The book begins from various points of view, and introduces you to some new characters that will play a larger role in the story. Of course there is also the point of view from Mikael Blomkvist, the co-lead character in the previous three books, as we get some insight into his life since the last book. Things are not going well for Blomkvist, or for his magazine, Millennium.

Blomkvist and Salander have not been in contact with each other for quite some time, and the journalist is feeling the pressure of not having written anything earth shattering in a while. Just as he’s starting to be called out by the Swedish media as a “has-been”, and even worse, Mikael is drawn into a case of stolen research and murder. When he realizes that his favorite hacker is somehow involved he asks for her help. Lisbeth will help, but she also has her own agenda as she continues to struggle to put her past behind her.

Throughout the book there is little interaction between Mikael and Lisbeth, but as usual the two of them find a way to work together to solve the mystery and bring the bad guys to justice. We also see a bit of a different side of Lisbeth in this book, which was refreshing, but when the Lisbeth that we’ve come to know from the other three books is front and center, Lagercrantz doesn’t miss a beat. She’s still a favorite character.

Like the first book in the original series, this one gets off to a bit of a slow start. But right around the 120 page mark there is an incident that feels like a kick to the stomach and you realize – here we go! From that point on the pace picks up, and since the story takes place over a span of only a few days, it’s a race to a very satisfying ending.

One difference that I noticed is that this book isn’t as graphic or gory as the first three, but it still maintains a high level of suspense. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just about two days.

If you’re a fan of the original trilogy it’s a must read. If you haven’t read the first three books this one might be a bit confusing to start out with – but to the credit of the author or publisher there is a list of continuing characters from the first three books at the beginning of this book. I don’t believe that you have to have read the other three books to enjoy this one – but I highly recommend them as well. As a fan of the series I hope to see it continue.

Any other Lisbeth Salander fans out there? Please leave a comment, and let me know if you think this one lived up to the other three.

Sep11

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

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Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly
Published by Kathy Dawson Books

There’s been a lot of buzz around this book, so I was very excited when it was featured in the August Owl Crate box. The description of the book on the back cover sold me right from the start.

“With the wit of Sherlock, the smarts of Veronica Mars, and the humor of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, this is a debut novel you won’t want to miss”

Needless to say, I was not a disappointed.

The book actually begins at the end of the story, then takes you on a wild ride explaining how they got to that point. I have to admit, I love when a book gives you the partial ending and then makes you go all the way back to the beginning to figure out how in the world they wound up there.

The story is narrated by a 16 year old girl named Zoe. Zoe starts out pretty unhappy. She’s the product of divorced parents and has been ripped from the city, school and friends that she’s familiar with, and forced to live with her mother in upstate New York where she attends public high school in a bland and boring town. Leaving a fairly privileged lifestyle in Manhattan and now stuck in the suburbs of River Heights, Zoe is not making any friends and she’s finding it difficult to fit in. But she has a plan – if she keeps her grades up and her record clean, she can finish high school at the prestigious Prentiss Academy, and then on to Princeton. Her plan would mean leaving her mother, which she is all too happy to do, and moving back to Manhattan with her father and his new wife. It’s a great plan. Until Digby drops into her life.

Digby is also a high school student, who shows up unannounced at Zoe’s door one day and tries to convince her to show him some photos that she’s taken. I won’t go in to how he knows she’s taken the photos, let’s just say that Zoe is not pleased. In fact, she opens the story with, “Of course I didn’t like Digby when I first met him. No one does.”

Digby is brazen and brash and very difficult to like, but like him or not Zoe gets pulled in because, as we learn later, Digby never takes “no” for an answer. There is also another character that plays an integral role in the story, and that’s Henry. Henry is a friend of Digby’s from their childhood and is all too familiar with Digby’s shenanigans.  He tries to warn Zoe, but it’s no use, against his better judgement even Henry gets dragged in!

And so an adventure with drug dealers, kidnappers, perverts, and a wacky school dance begins!

As Zoe, Digby and Henry attempt to figure out what happened to a girl from River Heights that’s been missing for months, Digby is also trying to piece together the kidnapping of his younger sister eight years ago. He thinks it’s too much of a coincidence and that the two events are related. Together the three of them pull off some pretty dangerous and illegal schemes, and Zoe is in real danger of ruining her perfect school record. Throughout the story I was cheering them on, even though at times I felt like I wanted someone to ring Digby’s neck. He really is a hard character to like. But then again so is Zoe, who complains so much about her “miserable life” in River Heights that she’s almost as obnoxious as Digby.

Because of the whining, I didn’t find Zoe’s inner monologue narration as witty as, let’s say Veronica Mars, however I did find the conversations between Zoe and Digby humorous and even sweet at times. The conversations between Digby and Henry, although humorous as well, were a bit over done with the constant use of “dude” and “bro”. But then again, I’m not a teenage boy, so who knows, maybe it’s perfectly natural.

The story is quick paced, and as it progresses the friendship becomes the best part of the story, and even goes so far as to pull in few more characters – some likable, some not so much. By the time you’re almost at the end of the book, you’re reminded of where Zoe’s story began, and it races to a pretty satisfying ending – for now. YES! there is going to be a sequel.

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I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. For now, I will be impatiently awaiting the sequel, along with the rest of it’s fans – and there are many.

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Sep4

Tear Drop by Joanne Clancy

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Tear Drop by Joanne Clancy

Tear Drop
Detective Elizabeth Ireland Crime Thriller Series, Book 1
by Joanne Clancy

Ten years ago Elizabeth Ireland was a detective with the the Metropolitan Police in London, working on a highly publicized serial killer case, known as Teardrop. The killer was caught, and the case was a lock; until Elizabeth was accused of tampering with evidence, and the killer was set free. The allegations proved to be false, and she was able to successfully sue the department for defamation, but the damage was done.

Now, Elizabeth is living in Ireland, working as a private investigator, and dating Frank Murphy, a Detective Chief Superintendent with the Murder Unit. All should be well.

Enter sleazy reporter Brendan Mahon. Mahon brings a letter to Elizabeth, claiming to be from Ross Campbell aka Teardrop, stating that he’s going to kill again. Knowing that she worked the case 10 years ago, Mahon asks her to consult on this new case for The Examiner, the newspaper where he works. She’s reluctant, tells Mahon that it’s likely a hoax and that Ross Campbell is probably dead. After promising not to share the letter with anyone, she agrees to help.

But Elizabeth breaks her promise and she shares the letter with Frank, knowing full darn well that she’s sharing it with the police. Now she’s working with the police as their expert consultant. There’s just one problem. Elizabeth knows that this letter can’t be from Campbell. She knows he’s dead. The reason she knows this, is because she’s the one who killed him!

Wait, isn’t that a spoiler? Before anyone starts freaking out that I just gave away a big plot point, this fact is revealed in the first chapter and in no way diminishes the mystery of who the killer is. I believe it’s important to know that fact right from the beginning because it’s a big reason why I liked this book so much.

With this knowledge, the book takes a different kind of turn. Instead of just trying to figure out who this new killer is, we also have to worry about Elizabeth, and how she’s going to convince the police that they are looking for the wrong person.

At just about every turn, her insights into the case are dismissed. It’s a very badly kept secret that she’s dating Frank, the head of the Murder Unit, and she’s resented by some of the detectives working on the case. In desperation, Elizabeth makes a risky decision that may just put herself in jeopardy. As the clues begin to pile up, and the case takes on a new twist, Elizabeth starts to fear that she’s made a terrible mistake and she’s beginning to wonder who she can trust.

I was engrossed in this book right from the start. I found Elizabeth’s struggle with her guilt and the truth of what she did so compelling, and I’m very interested to read more about her. I also liked her interaction with Frank, the DCS that she’s dating and the lead on this new case. The author did a great job depicting Elizabeth’s inner struggle and how it could affect her relationship.

The story itself is a good one, and the pacing is fantastic. Not once did this book lag or get bogged down. It moved very quickly, and kept me guessing. No sooner did I think that I knew who the killer was, a new clue would pop up and I would change my mind again. By the time the killer was revealed, it was a complete surprise.

Overall, this book was a quick and enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery, but doesn’t like all the unnecessary and gratuitous gory violence that’s sometimes found in this type of book. Don’t get me wrong – this book is about a serial killer so there is violence, it’s just not in your face blood and guts.

I’m looking forward to Joanne Clancy’s second book in the series, “Insincere”.

If this sounds like your kind of mystery, please feel free to comment.

Disclaimer – I received a free advanced reader’s copy of this book for an honest review.