Book Review: Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah

“The words, they are here and there! He does not recognize the illogic! To what dos one listen if not the words? If one matters, then so must the other!”

Hercule Poirot, CLOSED CASKET by Sophie Hannah

Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah is the second in the new Hercule Poirot mysteries based on the infamous sleuth created by the legendary Agatha Christie. As readers of my book reviews know, I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie and rate her as my all-time favorite author. And I always enjoy a good mystery. While there are definite differences in Ms. Hannah’s writing style as compared to Christie, I nevertheless found Closed Casket enjoyable and good read.

Closed Casket

Two of the main reasons I liked Closed Casket was its setting and the type of mystery — a murder mystery during an estate house party, complete with family drama, last-minute will/beneficiary changes, and the presence of the one and only Hercule Poirot.

The little Belgian detective and his friend Inspector Edward Catchpool have been invited by Lady Athelinda Playford to her mansion. At dinner on the evening of their arrival, Lady Playford makes the dramatic announcement that she’s changed her will, cutting off her children and instead leaving her fortune to her dying secretary Joseph Scotcher.

Before the end of the evening, Scotcher is dead, bludgeoned brutally and there’s even a witness. Alas, like any good Poirot mystery, things are seldom what they seem and author Sophie Hannah weaves a tale that kept me interested and even guessing to the end — I do love a good red herring or two.

Closed Casket was an enjoyable read and interesting mystery. I do recommend the book, and be sure to visit Sophie Hannah’s site to see her other novels.

Book Review: Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie

Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie has been in by TBR pile for a while, one of the few books by my favorite author that I had not read. Unfortunately, I found this to be a tedious read and not much mystery at all. When I read a Christie, I want a good, juicy mystery that keeps me guessing or at least keeps me engaged. This did not do it for me.

Passenger to Frankfurt

This is one of Christie’s books that does not feature one of her famous detectives. Personally, my favorites star Hercule Poirot, although there are several Miss Marple mysteries I enjoy as well. However, Passenger to Frankfurt fell flat for my tastes. It was repetitive and while I liked the main character Stafford Nye, after a while, I just didn’t care if he actually discovered why he was entangled in an international issue.

The story started just fine, Nye meets a mysterious woman during an airport layover and allows  himself to be convinced to give her his identity because she says her life is in danger. Upon returning home to England he reconnects with the mysterious passenger to Frankfurt — is she spy or what? And quickly, Nye is now involved with a global plot that includes Hitler-influenced youth, wealthy matriarchs, and even his great-aunt Matilda, who was one character I genuinely adored.

No regrets reading the Passenger to Frankfort, but definitely not a book I’ll pick up again. There are many really wonderful Agatha Christie mysteries out there to read. Back in November, I reviewed the Five Little Pigs and gave it 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads. You can check out my review here — definitely enjoyed it more than Passenger to Frankfort.

Other Christie favorites of mine include:

  • Death on the Nile (my number one favorite!)
  • Halloween Party
  • And Then There Were None
  • A Caribbean Mystery
  • Evil Under the Sun
  • Dead Man’s Folly
  • Murder on the Orient Express
  • The Seven Dials Mystery
  • Death in the Clouds

I do recommend heading over to the official Agatha Christie website for everything about the author and her books. You can check out news about the latest adaptations of her work, including the anticipated new movie of Murder on the Orient Express. Plus I highly recommend printing out the complete list of her novels (by publication year) if you’re like me and trying to complete your collection.

Happy reading!

Book Review: The Firstborn by Quenby Olson

Happy Release Day to author Quenby Olson and her newest book, The Firstborn!

I loved The Firstborn by Quenby Olson because as I read, I forgot I was reading. It’s that simple. When I can lose myself in a book like that, it’s a winner. I was looking for a book to distract me from the chaos of life and The Firstborn kept me captivated, giving me characters I wanted to spend time with in a setting that I’d like to visit if I could time travel.

The Firstborn

Set in Regency England, The Firstborn is Sophia’s story. She’s smart, loving, and loyal to her family — so much so that she’s sacrificed everything for her younger sister, Lucy and the girl’s illegitimate baby, George. Sophia has created a ruse, assuming the role of a young widow and pretending to be George’s mom. Now Lucy has run off and Lord Finnian Haughton appears on Sophia’s doorstep making inquiries about the child. It seems his younger brother is George’s father and Lord Haughton does not want a scandal.

The Firstborn is an engaging story and I enjoyed the back-and-forth between Sophia and Lord Haughton (Finn). From Sophia’s obvious dislike for him upon first meeting to their mutual desire to ensure little George is safe and cared for despite two very irresponsible birth parents. Author Olson also gives us some wonderful secondary characters. I particularly liked Lord Haughton’s sister and the elderly Lady Rutledge.

While I did receive my copy of The Firstborn as an ARC, but I’m looking forward to adding it to my paper book collection of Quenby Olson titles. If you’re looking for a charming, well-written romance, then grab a copy of The Firstborn as soon as you can.

Definitely check out author Quenby Olson’s other books at her website. And my review for her YA book Knotted.

Here’s the Amazon link for The Firstborn (don’t say I never gave you anything!)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07117P4BK

 

Book Review: The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro

Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are back again in The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro, the second book in her Charlotte Holmes trilogy. Teens Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are descendants of the infamous duo Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. While book one in the trilogy (A Study in Charlotte) takes place at their boarding school in the United States, book two has the duo in Europe during winter break. Of course because this is Holmes and Watson, a tangled web of mystery and intrigue abounds — a poisoning, a disappearing uncle, art forgery, and kidnappings are just the tip of the iceberg.

Last of August

While Holmes and Watson may have survived last fall with their lives (barely), this winter break will prove to be even more dangerous. Not only will they find themselves working alongside a Moriarty, but they’ll have to deal with their own complicated relationship and Charlotte’s dark past.

I enjoyed reading The Last of August quite a bit, for which I’m glad since I always hope that the second book of a trilogy doesn’t fall flat. This didn’t, not at all. It gave me everything I like in a mystery with the added bonus of characters I’m still learning about — Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson. I love that author Brittany Cavallaro has given the reader a slow reveal of these two. And there’s still plenty left to learn, which is why I’m now looking forward to book three.

The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro is a fast-paced YA mystery with plenty of action, suspense, and dialogue that pops. The European settings were a nice combination of gritty (perfect for the underworld of the art forgery) and fanciful when viewed through Jamie’s less jaded eyes. If you’ve already read A Study in Charlotte, definitely don’t miss out on book two!

You can check out author Brittany Cavallaro’s website here to see  more about her Charlotte Holmes trilogy as well as her other work.

#AmReading . . .Are you?

This weekend I began “The Last of August” by Brittany Cavallaro, the sequel to “A Study in Charlotte” that features Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson, teen descendants of the famous Holmes and Watson duo. If you haven’t read “A Study in Charlotte” and YA mystery is your thing — go grab a copy now and read it. You can read my review here. As for the second book, I’m about 100 pages in and it has my attention. Keep an eye for my review sometime later this week.

I also finished “The Firstborn” by Quenby Olson recently. My review is up on Goodreads and I’ll be posting it here on the blog as soon as the book officially releases. I had the awesome fortune to receive an ARC and thrilled that I was able to read it early. It’s releasing May 9, so if Regency romance makes your heart swoon, definitely mark your calendars and get a copy of “The Firstborn”. Visit author Quenby Olson at her website to see what else she’s been up to.

What else is on my #TBR list?

  • Star Wars AFTERMATH, Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig (bought and waiting for me to dive into)
  • The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg (the paperback has been on my shelf for too long!)
  • Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah (again, bought and need to read soon)
  • Imzadi (Star Trek: The Next Generation) by Pete David (okay, so I’ve actually read this book three times but I’ve never owned it until now, which is why it’s on my current to-read list)
  • Cloak of Shadows by C.K. Dawn (on my Kindle app)

Like many of you, I have a few dozen more on my e-reader, including a few books on the writing craft. I’m setting time aside daily to catch up and keep up with the books I want to read. How’s your TBR list for 2017 going? Doing the Goodreads challenge?

5 Months to MONSTER by Michael Grant

One of my all-time favorite YA series is GONE by Michael Grant. I can’t actually remember when I read the first book, but it was before the second one came out, so fairly early after its release. It was the first book by Grant that I had read and after the first chapter, I was hooked. I had been looking for something different and GONE delivered.

Gone books

Since then, I’ve read and reread the full series about six or seven times because not only do I find the story interesting and yet disturbing — it’s all about the characters for me. Astrid, Sam, Edilio, Lana, Caine, Diana, little Pete, Orc, and the list goes on. While LIGHT concludes the series and ties up the story perfectly (if not bloodily) well, I was very excited to hear yesterday that MONSTER will release in October 2017, a book giving us GONE fans a bit more about what happens after LIGHT.

Below is the video of author Michael Grant reading from his soon-to-be-released book MONSTER. Please check it out and if you haven’t read the GONE series, now is the perfect time to start — you’ve plenty of time to get the series read before October.

 

 

So watch the video below and then go get GONE and read.

 

 

Here’s the link for the GONE series: http://www.michaelgrantbooks.co.uk/the-gone-series/gone/

Book Review: Silver Stars by Michael Grant

Author Michael Grant takes us back to the Front Lines with Silver Stars, the second novel in this gripping series. It’s the summer of 1943, World War II like you’ve never see it. Silver Stars, a Front Lines novel drops readers into an alternative reality where young women fight fiercely, side-by-side with men, on the front lines as foot soldiers, spies, and medics.

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From the inside flap of Silver Stars: “The women are not heroes for fighting alongside their brothers — they are soldiers.”

While Silver Stars is a book about war, including the gritty, bloody, and horrific scenes of battle and death. It’s really the story of three young women soldiers: Rio, Rainy, and Frangie. Somewhere about three-fourths of the way through book one, these women became real for me, I became invested in their stories. Silvers Stars gave me deeper insight into each of them and they continue to amaze me.

In brief, Rio is our soldier on the front lines of battles, fighting for her life and the lives of the men and women in her platoon. And she knows what it’s like to kill. Rio’s evolution from Front Lines into Silver Stars and through to the conclusion of Silver Stars is worth reading just on its own, but you’ll also want to get to know Rainy and Frangie more.

Rainy has brains and is tougher than even she knew she was. A Sergeant, Rainy has a gift for languages and a father who runs numbers for a crime boss. Her work in intelligence and her father’s association lands her an assignment that puts her behind enemy lines. Rainy’s story is compelling and terrifying — but as a reader, you always admire her resolve and courage.

From her first chapter, Frangie conquers her own demons to push through and do her job as a medic regardless of fears. She’s fierce, smart, and determined. And she’s compassionate. Silver Stars takes us in a bit closer to Frangie’s personal life with a look at her older brother and his politics, and how it affects her. This was maybe my favorite part of Frangie’s story.

All three women face prejudice for the simple fact that they are female, and Frangie must also deal with unrelenting racism because of the color of her skin. Their battles are so much more than just dodging enemy fire; their enemies often are the males wearing the same uniform they wear.

Silver Stars is one of those books that I can and will reread because there’s so much to absorb and it’s simply that well written. I highly recommend reading Front Lines and then grabbing a copy of Silver Stars. You won’t regret it. It’s not your average YA and it’s by far one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Find Silver Stars and other Michael Grant books here: http://www.michaelgrantbooks.co.uk/

Definitely check this out as well! There’s history, videos, maps, character bios, and all sorts of cool stuff. http://www.frontlinesbook.com/

Book Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I love Greek mythology and I love a good romantic tale. Combine the two and for me, you’ve got a winner. I’ve now read “Starcrossed” by Josephine Angelini multiple times and I have to admit, I don’t get tired of it. I’m still able to take in the fine details and enjoy the development of the characters. The first time I read this book I really did not care for the main character, Helen. She annoyed me. However, I loved her best friend Claire. She is a great secondary character and I would love to read her story…especially detailing how she grew up with Helen, observing Helen’s weird “powers” and how Claire dealt with it. I think it would make a great prequel (hint-hint Ms. Angelini.)

starcrossed

“Starcrossed” is the story of teenage Helen. She is stunningly beautiful, socially awkward, and unswervingly loyal to her family and closest friends. When the Delos family moves to her island home, her life is turned upside down. As she battles uncharacteristic feelings of rage towards these strangers, she begins to doubt her own sanity. Added to her violent mood swings is exhaustion, as she begins to have bizarre nocturnal journeys. What do you do when you have a nightmare and you wake up covered in sand, grit and grime and you know you’ve not left the house? Like Helen, you’d probably think you were losing your mind.

After a life-changing and death-defying encounter with Lucas Delos, Helen’s pseudo-normal world explodes. She is swept away by ancient passions and a feud dating back to the Trojan War. Can she find her place in this new world, now that she knows who she really is? What about Lucas and their feelings for each other? “Starcrossed” is a journey of epic proportions taking the reader into the world of Gods, demigods, and their ill-fated love affairs.

“Starcrossed” by Josephine Angelini is a recommended read. It successfully combines mythology with modern day. There is plenty of action, believable dialogue, and fantastic secondary characters. The love story of Helen and Lucas is believable as well as frustrating at times, but you keep cheering for them. Give “Starcrossed” a read; you won’t be disappointed.

Josephine Angelini’s book “Starcrossed” is book one in a trilogy. Check it out and her other books at her site: http://www.josephineangelini.com/books/

Book Review: Knew You’d Come: A Haunting Love Story by Christine Cacciatore

Once in a while I enjoy a quirky or paranormal romance. When I stumbled upon “Knew You’d Come: A Haunting Love Story” by author Christine Cacciatore, I was happy to find a novella that effortlessly combines a hot romance with ghosts and a bit of the Old West. Yes, this is a novella — a shorter work that is a great read and easily finished in one sitting.

knew-youd-come

Author Christine Cacciatore gives us Tansy Reynolds, a ghost hunter who’s investigating the Wilderness Saloon. This old establishment has a reputation for being haunted and it’s Tansy’s job to debunk or confirm the haunting. When the other paranormal investigator doesn’t show up, Tansy is left alone to complete the job. Within hours, she discovers evidence of a presence and by the second night, her entire world is rocked when she makes actual contact with ghost of Whip Daniels.

I enjoyed the story of Tansy and Whip — the mingling of their past and present was intriguing. Cacciatore creates solid characters, fun dialogue, and some super sexy scenes. The heart of the story is true love and how two people can be meant for each other even after decades and death.

So tonight, shut off the TV, pour yourself a glass of wine or cup of tea and get lost in “Knew You’d Come: A Haunting Love Story” by Christine Cacciatore. You can find out more about author Christine Cacciatore on Good Reads; be sure to check out her other books.

To get your own copy of “Knew You’d Come: a Haunting Love Story” visit Christine Cacciatore at Amazon.

Reading: Ways to Find Great New Books

Back in September 2015, I wrote this blog post for the Writing Wenches. Since the site is no longer available to view, I wanted to share it today with my readers because I’m always on the lookout for ways to find great new books, and I’m sure you are too.

i-love-books

I love books. I love to read. As a kid, my earliest book recommendations came from my mom and the amazing librarians in the children’s section of our local library. As a teen, I read books my friends said were must-reads and I spent hours exploring the shelves of bookstores.

books

While I have favorite genres and I most definitely have favorite authors, I’m always open to new ideas and new authors or at least authors that are new to me. Because of my husband’s influence I read (and loved!) Douglas Adams and Michael Crichton. A friend introduced me to Barbara Michaels and I stumbled onto Michael Grant when scanning the bookstore shelves for something that just looked interesting — I had no idea as I grabbed his book “Gone” that I’d become a huge fan with an obsession for his series.

Before we were all connected through the internet, I often discovered new authors and books by catching recommendations on talk shows or the news. That’s how I actually first heard about Harry Potter.

Today, there are so many ways to find amazing new authors and books. Social media makes it easier than ever to stay connected but there’s something to be said for the old-fashioned method of simply asking another human (in person!) what they recommend.

The next time you’re in a book store ask the clerk or even the person standing next to you in the aisle what they’re reading or what’s the best book they’ve read this month. Most readers love to talk about their favorite authors and the great books they’ve read. Connect and share and you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to climb out of a reading rut and discover something new.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to find new authors and authors that are new to me.

On Twitter:

Search the hashtags #amreading, #books and #authors. Check out the #amwriting hashtag. These are great ways to find not only new authors to read but fun writerly and readerly people to follow.

On Facebook:

Follow your local library’s page or your favorite author’s page. Check out what your favorite author is reading or who that author interacts with to find new authors and books to enjoy.

IRL:

Spend time at your local library. Check out the displays that have recommendations from the librarians, ask for recommendations — don’t be afraid to ask. Librarians are there to help and they’re usually plugged into what’s hot in different genres.

Be bold and step out of your comfort zone. Choose to read something from a different genre. There’s a lot of great literature and awesomely engaging stories out there.