Uneasy Relations 

(Gideon Oliver #15)

By Aaron Elkins

Author Website

Gideon Oliver, world renowned forensic anthropologist known to most of the world as the “Skeleton Detective” wonders if the near death experiences he has suddenly been having are really just accidents or if the “Law of Interconnected Monkey Business” might have more to do with it.

He and his Park Ranger wife Julie are attending a conference at the Rock of Gibraltar celebrating the anniversary of the famous discovery of the remains of a part-Neanderthal child “Gibraltar Boy”. Although remarkable, the discovery was tainted by the loss of Sheila Chan, a colleague who was buried under tons of the ancient earth while working on the dig. 

As Gideon and Fausto, a former student and now the areas Chief Inspector, try to piece together the past as well as the present things seem to go from bad to worse. Ivan Gunderson, a famous archaeologist credited with finding Gibraltar Boy is consumed in a mysterious fire that leaves more questions smoldering than answers and Gideon must pick through the remains of his old friend to help solve the mystery of what is really going on.

Aaron Elkins does an outstanding job of intertwining his cast of nerdy, idiosyncratic, scientific characters in this Mediterranean setting laden with Barbary Apes and Neolithic remains. He takes us down the winding path of intrigue while keeping our deductive senses peaked.
A very good read for Gideon followers and for those new to the series who like a bit of forensic anthropology thrown in to their mystery reading.

This book review was originally written for Armchair Interviews

Dirkle Smat and the Flying Statue

By Lynn D. Garthwaite

Author Website

Meet the Explorers Club, Dirkle Smat, leader of the group, his brother Quid who always appears braver on the outside than he is truly feeling on the inside, Fiddy Bublob aka snack- bearer, Bean Lumley a true inventor and Toonie Oobles who adds a touch of feminine sensibility to the troop. Each of these curious kids shows inventiveness and intelligence while solving some minor and some not so minor mysteries together.

In Inside of Mount Flatbottom the Club uses their creative inventions to spelunk a deep dark cave and stumbles on to the answer to a long held myth and make some new friends in the process.

Dirkle Smat and the Flying Statue, the 2nd book in the series, takes the reader along with the kids to a magical land where they find getting home might be a little more puzzling a predicament than they bargained for.

In the third book in the series, Dirkle Smat and the Viking Shield, Dirkle and his friends find a century’s old map that leads them to a great historical treasure. The treasure inspires the kids to leave a bit of their own history to unearth.

Lynne Garthwaite’s Dirkle Smat series is a fun trip to the worlds of wonder that are often right here in our own backyard. Each story shows the value of helping one another through team work, positive encouragement and planning. They display a great transitional reading level for those children just entering the chapter book stage while still giving them plenty of illustrations to keep it appealing and a length that won’t overwhelm.

This review was originally written for Armchair Interviews

The Seance

Audio book version

By John Harwood

Fiona Hardingham, Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren (Narrators)

For a girl, growing up in the Victorian era has its own difficulties, but for Constance Langton things are far more ghastly than properly worn bustles and guarded reputations. Her mother is in an everlasting state of mourning over the loss of her youngest daughter Alma and her father is as detached, cold and indifferent as a wet fish. Forlorn, Constance makes a desperate attempt to bring her mother peace by arranging a séance’ which leads to Constance finding herself all alone in the world.

An unexpected inheritance befalls her in the form of an old, dilapidated and crumbling mansion with an ominous history. Constance becomes obsessed with disentangling the web of peculiar and eerie happenings the mansion has held for several generations and in doing so, finds her mind on the precipice of insanity and her life in mortal peril.

The author, John Harwood, does an excellent job of portraying the female character in this Victorian setting, which makes it easy to identify with the characters and follow the storyline with eager interest. The twists and turns of the mysteries surrounding the mansion and Constance’s life bind into a clever, believable conclusion.

I listened to the audio version of the book and I felt the narration was good although it did take me a bit to warm up to one of the narrators. There is one scene in particular where I felt the narration was too loud (even though shouting was taking place), but overall the multiple narrators introduced in separate parts worked quite well.

The story does take its time to build, but is worth the wait. I would recommend this book for its grasp of the era, the intricate story that beseeches being pieced together along with it skillful narration.

Dirkle Smat Inside Mount Flatbottom

By Lynn D. Garthwaite

Author Website

Meet the Explorers Club, Dirkle Smat, leader of the group, his brother Quid who always appears braver on the outside than he is truly feeling on the inside, Fiddy Bublob aka snack- bearer, Bean Lumley a true inventor and Toonie Oobles who adds a touch of feminine sensibility to the troop. Each of these curious kids shows inventiveness and intelligence while solving some minor and some not so minor mysteries together.

In Inside of Mount Flatbottom the Club uses their creative inventions to spelunk a deep dark cave and stumbles on to the answer to a long held myth and make some new friends in the process.

Dirkle Smat and the Flying Statue, the 2nd book in the series, takes the reader along with the kids to a magical land where they find getting home might be a little more puzzling a predicament than they bargained for.

In the third book in the series, Dirkle Smat and the Viking Shield, Dirkle and his friends find a century’s old map that leads them to a great historical treasure. The treasure inspires the kids to leave a bit of their own history to unearth.

Lynne Garthwaite’s Dirkle Smat series is a fun trip to the worlds of wonder that are often right here in our own backyard. Each story shows the value of helping one another through team work, positive encouragement and planning. They display a great transitional reading level for those children just entering the chapter book stage while still giving them plenty of illustrations to keep it appealing and a length that won’t overwhelm.

This review was originally written for Armchair Interviews

Just One Damned Thing After Another

(The Chronicles of St. Mary's #1)

By Jodi Taylor

Author's Website

Sara Ramm (Narrator)

At a place called St. Mary’s you might expect the words ...”and everything went white…” to be followed by some transcendent spiritual experience. However; at this St. Mary’s those words are followed by a jump, a jump in time that transports its passengers to periods in history where they are to observe, retrieve data and log their unobtrusive encounters there. Seems harmless right? Wrong. . Being a historian is not a job for the fearless. Max has already had her fair share of her own turbulent history before she even arrives at St. Mary’s. Once there, chaos seems follow her know matter what time continuum she is in. As if dealing with the complications of being hurled back into a place and time that is utterly foreign and unpredictable wasn’t enough, Max must manage to survive the relationships she shares with her quirky and unconventional colleagues.

Jodi Taylor’s theme to this first in the series of St. Mary’s books is quite a rollicking ride. It has all of the elements you could want: plenty of action, a splash of romance, just a smidge of science fiction, and a spunky, strong-minded (yet quite flawed) heroine that takes you on a unique adventure.

The narration of the story was spot-on and the peaks and valleys of the story really kept me guessing what would happen next. I look forward to reading the next installment in the series to see how the quest continues. I am hopeful that the second in the series will measure up to my now high expectations.

The only warning I would give is that there is some strong language and one explicit scene so if that is bothersome to you, beware. However; I would recommend this book to just about anyone even those that are not science-fiction fans, because the story line holds interest even without the science fiction component.

Dirkle Smat and the Viking Shield 

By Lynn D Garthwaite - Author's Website

 Craig Howarth

Meet the Explorers Club, Dirkle Smat, leader of the group, his brother Quid who always appears braver on the outside than he is truly feeling on the inside, Fiddy Bublob aka snack- bearer, Bean Lumley a true inventor and Toonie Oobles who adds a touch of feminine sensibility to the troop. Each of these curious kids shows inventiveness and intelligence while solving some minor and some not so minor mysteries together.

In Inside of Mount Flatbottom the Club uses their creative inventions to spelunk a deep dark cave and stumbles on to the answer to a long held myth and make some new friends in the process.

Dirkle Smat and the Flying Statue, the 2nd book in the series, takes the reader along with the kids to a magical land where they find getting home might be a little more puzzling a predicament than they bargained for.

In the third book in the series, Dirkle Smat and the Viking Shield, Dirkle and his friends find a century’s old map that leads them to a great historical treasure. The treasure inspires the kids to leave a bit of their own history to unearth.

Lynne Garthwaite’s Dirkle Smat series is a fun trip to the worlds of wonder that are often right here in our own backyard. Each story shows the value of helping one another through team work, positive encouragement and planning. They display a great transitional reading level for those children just entering the chapter book stage while still giving them plenty of illustrations to keep it appealing and a length that won’t overwhelm.

This review was originally written for Armchair Interviews

The Ghost Writer

Audio book version

By John Harwood 

Simon Vance (Narrator) 

Living a very solitary life with his overly anxious mother, Gerard Freeman’s only reason for getting up each day is his pen friend Alice. They share everything from the mundane to the mysteries and secrets that surround Gerard’s mother's past.

Gerard finds his great-grandmother Viola’s ghostly manuscripts and they take him down a shadowy path leading to a dreadfully real crime. Gerard’s passionate struggle to uncover the truth puts him in mortal danger and may just cost him his chance to be with Alice.

When I first began The Ghostwriter, I found it interesting, but I wasn’t awestruck, I just kept waiting for “something to happen”; for a while I thought it never would, but slowly that changed and I was drawn into the intricate account of Gerard Freeman’s life. One thing that really impressed me was the author’s ability to tell a story within a story, in fact at one point a story within a story within a story. To keep the reader engrossed in a tale and then bring them back to be just as engrossed in the overall tale takes an admirable skill, in my opinion. With that said, I was quite puzzled by the ending.

Simon Vance narrates and does a superb job. I have always enjoyed his narration and some of the accents he does makes me forget that it is he alone narrating. The characters come so much to life it also makes me wonder what his real voice is like and where he originates from.

I give this one 4 stars (Which means a very good book. I enjoyed it, perhaps even had a hard time "putting it down". I would recommend this book to others.)

Friars Club Encyclopedia of Jokes: Revised and Updated! Over 2,000 One-Liners, Straight Lines, Stories, Gags, Roasts, Ribs, and Put-Downs

By Barry Dougherty, H. Aaron Cohl (Compiler)

Need your funny bone tickled? Well, look no further because it will start with a smile, then a snigger and before you know it you are laughing out loud! Packed with over two thousand jokes, funny stories, and put-downs The Friars Club Encyclopedia of Jokes is a must-have for anyone with the need to feed their humor addiction.

Although the Friars Club has been roasting celebrities since 1950, Drew Carey holds the dubious honor of being the first to have his roast televised. He provides a witty, no-nonsense introduction to the book. Continuing in this same style, the book provides oodles of entertainment for the not-so faint-hearted. Page after page there is humor abound by literally hundreds of stars including Jack Benny, Dave Berry, George Carlin, Wanda Sykes, Red Skelton, Billy Crystal, Bob Newhart, Jerry Seinfeld, Jeff Foxworthy, Betty White, Lewis Black and Art Linkletter.

Each joke, from the subtle to the racy, is categorized by topic for ease in finding just the right one to break the ice at your next party or to open your next speech.

The Friars Club Encyclopedia of Jokes has a ton of highly amusing and at times side-splitting material for the mature audience. Barry Dougherty and H. Aaron Cohl have done a first-rate job of compiling and organizing it for browsing. There is even an index in the back of the book so you can search by celebrity if you prefer. I recommend you pick up this book for a great pick-me-up

This review was originally written for Armchair Interviews

Touch & Go

  Tessa Leoni #2

By Lisa Gardner 

Author Website

Elisabeth Rodgers (Narrator)

“Pain has a flavor” and that flavor is oranges, at least it is for Libby Denbe. But not so long ago when Libby’s life was without pain, a time when her “picture perfect” life really was perfect, the taste of oranges was bliss. She was married to the perfect man, and they had a beautiful daughter they both loved and cherished, their life together was their dream fused into reality, or at least, so she believed.

Now, that time is over. She and her family have been ripped away from their beautiful home into a nightmare that they fear and do not understand. Their perfect life melts away as the dark secrets each of them holds begins to surface while their current predicament gnaws at them both physically and psychologically.

It is up to Tessa Leone and other law enforcement to find them before it’s too late. But even if they can be saved physically, will it be too late to save them from their past?

This was the first book I have read/listened to by Lisa Gardner. Although this is the second in the series featuring Tessa Leone the story follows well by itself. The premise of the book was something that could be heard about on the news which is not normally the type of book I enjoy because of its modern style but some of the lesser characters were quite interesting and kept my attentiveness. However; What was disappointing to me was that they mystery was not challenging. I figured out the predictable conclusion very early on and was just coasting to the end to have my prediction confirmed.

The narrator, Elisabeth Rodgers, does a great job with the accent work of some of the characters, but I did occasionally find the narration a bit lulling. These parts were very minor and overall I would listen to her narratives again and she does believable work.

I would give this book 3 stars overall (my three star rating means – I can finish the book and am at least partially interested/entertained.)

The Night Watchman

 (Ray Quinn Series, Book 1)

Mark Mynheir

Author Website

Published By: Multnomah Books

Ray Quinn’s detective career was shattered, along with his pelvis and a few other body parts, thanks to the bullets that also took out his partner. The booze he pours down helps wash out some of the memories, but only long enough to help him sleep. Now, the most exciting thing in his life is the Sudoku puzzle he does each night at his job as a night watchman for an upscale condominium complex.

Ray figures life couldn’t be any more mundane and miserable–but he was wrong. An exotic dancer and a pastor turn up dead in one of the condo units where he works, an apparent murder-suicide. The pastor’s sister, Pam, can’t believe her brother would end his own life, let alone take another’s and begs Ray to help her restore her brother’s reputation.

Grudgingly and armed with a surly attitude and less-than-enthusiastic desire, Ray takes a look into the case. Before he knows what’s hit him, the case spirals out of control and gets more downright dirty and dangerous than he thought possible, the roots of which lie within his much-cherished Orlando Police Department.

Mark Mynheir’s The Night Watchman is the first in a new series and Mark’s true-life experiences in law enforcement shine through in this novel of Christian crime suspense. The language, actions and police procedures shown by the characters are so realistic you feel as though you are being led behind the scenes into the world that cops live each and every day. Also noteworthy is Mark’s remarkable ability to capture the very real emotional aspect of one’s faith and the turmoil we encounter in life that can lead us into and out of it.

There is a Reader’s Guide in the back of the book as a nice added feature.



I admire this talented author’s ability to write realistic crime fiction laced with Christian beliefs and would recommend this book to anyone looking for such.

The Story of the Samson

by Kathleen Benner Duble

A young boy climbs upon his grandfather’s bed and snuggles in next to him. He eagerly awaits grandpa to tell him the story that he has heard many times before, but can never get enough of. It is the story of grandpa’s house, a house that is made from pieces of a ship that grandpa worked on during his sailing days. The ship is named Samson.

Samson is a one hundred forty-nine foot schooner whose rich historical past spans over sixty-five years. Its exploits include encounters with the Titanic, the polar explorer Admiral Byrd and the Chicago World’s Fair. Each escapade encapsulates an emotion for grandpa that does not go undetected by his young grandson.

In true historical fiction style, this book is filled with loads of information for the reader.

The author, Kathleen Benner Duble, weaves the tale back and forth from Samson’s seal-trapping history to the present retelling of the story between grandpa and child. She captures the excitement and wonderment of the young boy who so lovingly admires his aging grandfather.

This review was originally written for Armchair Interviews

My Soul to Take: A Novel of Iceland

 By:Yrsa Sigurdardottir

Published By: William Morrow

Hearing babies cry in the fog and seeing shadowy images of young girls in mirrors can be chalked up to skittish nerves and flights of fancy, not ghosts, as far as Thora Gudmundsdottir, single mother and attorney at law is concerned. Her client, Jonas, on the other hand is a true believer and he has promised her an all-expenses-paid indulgent weekend at his New Age resort if she will come and see these supernatural occurrences for herself.

She travels to the newly renovated health resort that was erected on the grounds of an old farmhouse with a bizarre history. Thora barely settles into her posh room when the resort’s architect is found murdered. Her body had been bludgeoned, she was raped and pins had been inserted into the souls of her feet. She is but the first victim that will suffer such hideous degradation.

Thora quashes her doubts of the continuing eerie events and delves into the disturbing secrets of the past to discover who is responsible for the macabre killings in this chilling, Icelandic thriller.

From prologue to epilogue, My Soul to Take by Yrsa Sigurdardottir keeps you fastened in your seat!

I admittedly stuttered over the names of most of the characters (well, and the author’s too), but forged on because the storyline was so fascinating. She conveys the culture and atmosphere of Iceland with finesse. Her heroine, Thora, has the doggedness of someone I would definitely want in my legal corner if the need ever arose.

This is the second book in the Thora Gudmundsdottir series. Not only will I look out for the next in the series, but seek out the first as well.

Originally reviewed for Armchair Interviews

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.