Busy Bodies: Claire Molly Mystery

By Joan Hess


Published By: Minotaur Books

Mortified, outraged and shocked are words that could easily describe Zeno Gorgias’ neighbors. Of course, he brought it on himself with his front lawn display of what he calls “interactive environmental art.” His latest work involves a barely clad woman strolling in his makeshift cemetery beside the centerpiece, a coffin. This cemetery is by no means a peaceful one. Loudspeakers boom sexually explicit sounds to the ever-gathering crowd.

Claire Malloy is having a cup of tea at the home of Miss Parchester, one such neighbor of the boisterous artist. The unconventional Miss Parchester feels Zeno is just exercising his right of expression, but Claire finds it hard to believe that the man in her life, Lieutenant Peter Rosen, can do nothing to shut down the three-ring circus that is creating such high emotion among the Willow Street residents.

Just when the situation seems at its pinnacle, a dead body is found in the notorious coffin-and this time it is not part of the artistic experience. Claire must find out just exactly who among the long list of angry suspects committed the crime while still keeping her sanity and her man.

I found the characters in this book quirky and outlandish, making it a very interesting read. One such character, Claire’s wisecracking daughter, adds substantial stress to the situation as only a teenager can do. It made me want to pour a glass of wine for Ms. Malloy and toast to her motherly resilience.

Busy Bodies is the tenth Claire Molly Mystery by Joan Hess, and it is a comical jaunt down the whodunit trail.

To further whet your appetite, included in the book is a first chapter sneak peak to number eleven in the series, Akin to Murder.

Originally reviewed for Armchair Interviews

In a Gilded Cage: Molly Murphy series

By: Rhys Bowen

Author Website

Published By: Minotaur Books

Determined, spirited and tenacious are just a few of the qualities that describe Miss Molly Murphy. After all, it is not just any young woman that can support the women’s suffrage movement, run a detective agency–and keep the attentions of her dashing, attractive, police captain beau all while just recovering from a nasty bout of influenza that has been sweeping its deathly hand across New York City.

At the encouragement of her neighbors, Molly marches headstrong in the Easter parade in a show of protest that women do not have the right to vote. There, she makes the acquaintance of Emily Boswell. Miss Boswell, although a Vassar alumni, has the unfortunate background of being orphaned and was raised by her aunt and uncle. She hires Molly to discover more about her parents and their regrettable end.

Molly takes the case and during her investigation meets another of Emily’s Vassar friends, Fanny. Fanny is wealthy, beautiful and spoiled. She also believes she has an adulterous husband. Fanny enlists Molly to solidify her suspicions, but as soon as Molly has a few findings to report, Fanny is stricken with illness and quickly dies.

Fanny is just the first death of several that are blamed on the ghastly epidemic but Molly isn’t totally convinced and she is determined to find out the truth and bring justice to her clients.

In a Gilded Cage is the eighth in the Molly Murphy series, by Rhys Bowen but it was the first I have read. I found that as I turned the pages I was able to step back in time right alongside Molly and share with her the discomfiture and prejudices of the time. Her inquisitive mind and gutsy determination makes her a character that you can’t help but admire.

I will look for the next in the series with much anticipation.

This review was originally posted on Armchair Interviews

The Yankee at the Seder

by Elka Weber

Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)



There is devastation all around, but young Jacob’s biggest concern is that he will never be able capture Yankees as a Rebel General now that the war is over. His family has been preparing for Passover for weeks and he sits on the porch eating some Matzoh while contemplating this disappointment. A Yankee soldier on Passover leave interrupts his thoughts and asks him for a bite. Jacob is stunned by this request, but even more so by his mother’s invitation to the stranger to share the Seder with them.

Melded into this wonderful story of a Southern families’ hospitality are the time-honored traditions of the Jewish faith. Included in the front of the book are Passover terms and in the back, historical information about the soldier the book is based on.

I found this book not only entertaining but enlightening. It is appropriately geared for the young reader. The author’s mastery of evocative words combined with Adam Gustavson’s picturesque illustrations enable the reader to gain a firm grasp of the history of this Southern family and their surroundings.

Elka Weber’s Yankee at the Seder is a skillfully-written poignant story of overcoming differences in order to celebrate humanity and freedom. This debut children’s book by Ms. Weber would make a tremendous addition to anyone’s library.

This review was originally written for Armchair Interviews

Crescendo (Inola Walela & Steven Hawk #3)

by Deborah J. Ledford
 Christina Cox (Narrator)

Author Website

Officer Inola Wilela finds herself amidst a tumultuous sea of havoc and uncertainty that begins with what seems like a straightforward traffic stop and turns into a battle to save a young boy. The father of the boy, a manipulative mad-man, begins a relentless pursuit to find his son so he can cash in on his inheritance. Inola vows to keep the boy safe but he is determined to locate the boy at any cost, no matter how much violence and bloodshed ensues.

Inola, being the only female police officer for the Bryson City force in North Carolina, is no stranger to psychological competition, but can her fortitude and strength of mind help her “keep it together “ through the raging chaos in both her professional and personal life? Together, with the help of her fiancé Sheriff Hawk, an ex-con of a computer whiz and a streak of luck or two, Inola vows to bring the mad-man down even if it means costing her the badge she so dearly loves.

This police procedural hits the ground running and keeps the action moving. During the few breaks in the action, readers learn more about Inola, what makes her tick, her thoughts and her dreams. I appreciate the author’s ability to capture that we, as humans, often misjudge what others think of us and that sometimes we must take chances to rectify the mistakes we make.
The story moves along quickly, but even so, I was routing for Inola and her comrades and finding myself getting more and more attached to their personalities and abhorring the “villain” increasingly as the story went on; all signs of a well-written story. The last scene admittedly made me cry indicating I was definitely in tune with the characters.

It was a first read for me by Deborah Ledford and I would definitely read another especially if it meant I could find out how Inola and Steven Hawk’s relationship develops.

I would warn readers that there is some strong language in this one, but violence and crime usually lend themselves to this in general.

Christina Cox narrates and does quite a good job “reading” the story, but if you are expecting much in the way of character voices it is not quite there. I found her tone and pace to be right on the mark, but I had hoped for a bit more when it came to the actual voices. This is my personal preference and I would not discourage anyone from this narration as she does a fine job of relaying the story in a genuine manner.

Overall I would rate this one at 4 stars which for me means …Very good book. I enjoyed it, perhaps even had a hard time "putting it down". I would recommend this book to others.

Embarking on Murder: Beanie and Cruiser series

By Sue Owens Wright 

Author Website

Celebrating her big 5-0 is bad enough for Elsie “Beanie” MacBean, but toss in getting tangled up in a murder investigation and nearly becoming another victim to the body layer of the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe (the “body layer” is the layer of bodies that never seem to be found–where the bodies get hung up under the water)–and it really takes the proverbial birthday cake!

To make matters worse, among the passengers of this Fourth of July dinner cruise is the wealthy, demanding and very irritating Ivy Diggs. Ivy and her much older husband are aboard for their anniversary, and by the loud voices emanating from their table, it becomes obvious that it is a not-so-happy occasion. Ivy treats her pampered pooch better than her newlywed husband and soon finds herself swimming with the fishes.

Everyone is quite content to accept the event as an accidental drowning. Everyone that is, except Beanie. Beanie has doubts and sets her sails to discover what really happened. She and her beloved slobbery basset hound, Cruiser, track the case with a bit of help from her devoted and somewhat overprotective friend, Sheriff Cassidy.

Things really heat up and get downright distracting for Beanie when she meets the strikingly attractive blue-eyed Professor Crispin who is studying some mysterious lake events of his own.

Together, Beanie and Cruiser find that there is more than one mystery lurking below the deep and dangerous waters of Lake Tahoe in this puzzling adventure.

Dog lovers will find Cruiser and his other canine cohorts a delight to read about. Beanie is a woman surpassing mid-life and is very comfortable with her four-legged companion and with herself, well, maybe not quite. Both characters are very likable and easy to relate to.

Don’t let the author’s smooth writing style and her ability to lull you with the imagery of the lapping lake waters fool you. She provides a twist or two in this cozy quest that will keep you guessing!

Kudos to Sue Owens Wright on this second book in the Beanie and Cruiser series, Embarking on Murder. I shall certainly be on the lookout for the next in this enchanting series.

Original review posted on Armchair Interviews

Dare to Die

Carolyn Hart
Published By: William Morrow



“She came in the rain. Alone. On a bicycle.” These are the words that start a chain reaction of diabolic events on the quaint little seaside island, Broward’s Rock, where Max and Annie Darling reside in their much-loved Franklin house.

Because of worrisome repair work to their home, Max and Annie have had to take up temporary residence in a modern cabin and move their long-planned picnic party to the harbor pavilion. Not being natives to the island, they are unaware of the troublesome and upsetting past that the pavilion holds for so many of the island’s residents.

The usually blissful inhabitants of Broward’s Rock are feeling the strain of this new arrival, the tragic party setting and all that it could mean, especially for the murderer hiding among them.

One by one, disturbing events begin to take place making things cloudier rather than clearer for Annie. Her instincts beckon for answers and she gives forth great effort to let the authorities do the investigating, but when she and Max are nearly killed in a horrific fire that was definitely no accident, things get too personal for that. Will she discover the truth to both the past and the present before it’s too late?

I found the complicated web of suspects and unpredictable characters that litter this Death on Demand series mystery by Carolyn Hart most enjoyable. I particularly took pleasure in those characters that brought a bit of levity to the mix. Peppered throughout Dare to Die are the names of other authors along with the titles of their books.

What a delightful tribute Carolyn Hart has given them. To me, this speaks volumes to the caliber of author that she is.

Original review done through Armchair Interviews

Author’s Web site: http://www.CarolynHart.com

Big Sid’s Vincati: The Story of a Father, a Son, and the Motorcycle of a Lifetime

Matthew Biberman

Published By: Hudson Street Press



Think of a Vincati as a three-dimensional puzzle assembled from pieces of not one motorcycle but two or more. The real challenge to the puzzle lies not just with completing it so it looks sharp, but making a masterpiece. One that its rider can speed down the road, wind whipping, handle bars gripped and body melded to roaring machine while the landscape flashes past and only memory is left in its wake.

Big Sid’s Vincati by Matthew Biberman is the account of a father and son building their intricate Vincati puzzle. This opus takes them years to create and years more for them to get the tools that enable them to understand one another as only a father and son can.

Truthfully, much of the technical information in this book was beyond my comprehension because I am one of the least mechanically inclined people you could meet. That said; it didn’t stop me from wanting to read more. I sought to learn more about the struggle Sid and Matthew bear to make their imagining of this legendary motorcycle into a sturdy reality. The hardship-filled journey they and their families endure leaves you crossing your fingers and routing for them to have a happy ending.

Motorcycle enthusiasts will sing praises for Big Sid’s Vincati. Those, like me, who are not bike fanatics, will gain a new respect for the passions and dreams that men hold dear.

Bravo to Matthew Biberman for pouring his life and heart onto the page for us to share.

Original Review posted for Armchair Interviews

Zombie Eyes (Bloodscreams, #3) 

                                                           by Robert W. Walker

Audio Version - Narrated by Robert Neil  DeNevoe

What starts out as one of New York’s most promising building projects turns into a nightmare when the construction crew unearths a centuries old ship buried deep below ground. The ship, while an archaeologists dream, spreads an unknown contagion and runs rampant through Manhattan.

In order to save the ever-growing army of “zombie-like” citizens from spreading the contamination throughout the country, David Stroud, who is all too familiar with supernatural occurrences, steps in to try and defeat the ancient evil that threatens to destroy them.

This is my first “zombie book” and my first by this author. The archaeological spin of the story made this an appealing read. I particularly liked how characters actions and behaviors were not always consistent when faced with danger and fear. This is how most of us would react I believe.

I also feel this more realistic aspect was shown in the conclusion of the book.
As the story progressed and the action increased, I felt that the story would play out well in movie form and currently this would fit right in with what is popular.

Unfortunately, the narration was mediocre at best. In my opinion, the narrator was somewhat monotone, did not always pause appropriately and I believe even bungled once on a word. The narrator did do a good job with the pace of the story, and some of the voices were done fairly well. I think had the narration been better the story would have pulled me in more.

Overall I would rate the book at 3 stars which for me means… Book considered "okay". I was able to finish the book and was at least partially interested/entertained. I might recommend this book to others if it seemed like something that would be a good fit for them.