The Christmas Murder Game was the December Cozy Mystery Club selection. I had never heard of this book before, but the cover and description caught myThe Christmas Murder Game was the December Cozy Mystery Club selection. I had never heard of this book before, but the cover and description caught my attention. Plus it was kind of fun to read a twisted holiday themed book. This locked room mystery was full of family secrets, lots of red herrings and quite a few murders. The cast was a bit hard to like after witnessing their actions towards one another, but the “game�, riddle deciphering and clue collecting was enjoyable. It reminded me of the movie Knives Out, with the family drama, elaborate storytelling, quirky characters and dark humor. I somehow managed to pick out the correct suspect so the reveal wasn’t much of a shock.
I listened to the audiobook. Laura Costello did a great job as a narrator and helped bring these twisted characters to life. ...more
The Mysterious Affair At Styles is the May Cozy Mystery Club read. Not only is this the first book in the long running Hercule Poirot series, but it iThe Mysterious Affair At Styles is the May Cozy Mystery Club read. Not only is this the first book in the long running Hercule Poirot series, but it is also Agatha Christie’s debut novel!! She began writing it in 1916 and then published it four years later once WWI had ended. Keeping that in mind while reading, I was constantly amazed at how brilliant her writing already was. It was obvious that Christie had a talent early on for creating stories full of endearing characters and twisty, cozy mysteries.
This isn’t the first book I’ve read by this beloved author, but it is the first book I’ve read in this series. Poirot made me smile. He’s incredibly quirky, questioning the most peculiar things and nothing is revealed of course until the very end. It’s easy to see why Hollywood has based so many detective characters after him.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this classic and would want to continue reading the series. It was entertaining trying to sort through the numerous clues and piece the mystery together. I look forward to discussing it in more debt tonight with the group over on YouTube later this evening. ...more
“Family is not whose blood runs in your veins, it’s who you’d spill it for.�
I selected this book to read as my locked-room mystery selection for the 5“Family is not whose blood runs in your veins, it’s who you’d spill it for.�
I selected this book to read as my locked-room mystery selection for the 52 Book Club Challenge. It ended up being such a surprise! It was quirky, captivating and full of plenty shocking twists. I quite frankly have never read anything like it. Think Hercule Poirot, but with a modern spin.
“Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once.�
Ernie is a writer who teaches other authors how to write a good mystery. The sections are broken down into various family members who have gathered for a reunion at a secluded ski resort. When the body of a stranger suddenly shows up having met a peculiar demise, you slowly start to learn about these characters through past actions and the numerous lies and secrets they have withheld from one another over the years. All along the way, Ern is speaking directly to the reader and giving “hints� on what clues may be important or pointing out premonitions for additional crimes that will occur within so many pages. With that said, I still didn’t have everything figured out at the end and was left shocked, repeatedly, as Ern laid out the entire reveal.
I’ve already recommended this story to family and friends and immediately put the next Ernest Cunningham novel, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect, on my TBR.
I received this book as part of the First to Read program with Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
I can't believe this is a debut nI received this book as part of the First to Read program with Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
I can't believe this is a debut novel!!! Talk about a crazy good start. Jane Cory is definitely an author to keep your eye on especially if she continues to delivers stories like this. My Husband's Wife is a psychological thriller that is full of twists, turns and many intriguing storylines. The book is told from two different perspectives: Lily and Carla. Each perspective has its own secrets and mysteries that slowly overtime begin to seemlessly entertwine.
Lily is a newlywed. A newlywed that lacks confidence and is haunted by the death of her brother. Her new marriage happened rather quickly and is already showing signs of trouble. Lily is also a criminal lawyer and has taken on a rather public case where she is representing a convicted murderer.
Carla is introduced as a seven year old girl who lives with her beautiful Italian mother. They happen to reside just right down the hall from Lily. She is constantly bullied at school for being different. Her upbringing definitely begins to shape her personality. She often spends time with Lily and her husband. Several years later she returns to London desperate to seek revenge on a couple people for ruining her mother's life.
The side characters include: Ed, Francesca, Larry, Joe, Ross, Rupert, Daniel, Tom, and Lily's parents. They definitely range in age and personalities. Each has their own demons that they are battling: infidelity, alcoholism, guilt, lust, Asperger's, honesty, loyalty and murder. They would keep a psychologist in practice for many years.
It's easy to understand why I've never despised so many characters in a book before. The main and side characters combined all have flaws and did things that were morally wrong. However, you can't stop reading or wondering how the story is going to progress. How it will blend together even more as the stories slowly come together and connect. There was a lot going on in this book. The author did a great job of smoothlessly melding all of the stories and kept the pace continously flowing from one chapter to the next and all the way through the book. The chapters were short and often left me anxious to read just a little bit more. Some parts of the story were indeed predictable or at least I had a hunch about, yet there were many that took me by surprise.
This book would make a wonderful selection for book clubs. There are so many plots to discuss and many characters to analyze that it would be interesting to read with a group and share your ideas along the way. It's definitely a complex story that you want to talk about, but you definitely don't want to give away any spoilers. I don't read too many thrillers, but sometimes it's fun to branch away from your typical genres and spend a few days with some darker characters. ...more
I received this book as part of the First to Read program with Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, I didn't see that coming!!!!I received this book as part of the First to Read program with Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, I didn't see that coming!!!! This book was full of drama, light suspense and during those last few pages a totally unexpected conclusion. The pope has passed away very unexpectedly leaving everyone shocked, but anxious to carry out certain ceremonial procedures. It is up to the Conclave now to elect a new pope. 118 cardinals from around the world, must come together and cast their vote for who they see fit and called to lead the church. As Dean of the College, Cardinal Lomeli is tasked with managing this group. Little did he know what that role would include. He uncovers several secrets, unravels the mystery surrounding the sudden appearance of a nun that somehow seems connected to a popular candidate, and even discovers secret compartments full of revealing evidence of monetary bribes amongst members. Each discreation sways the voting rounds and leaves you with one fascinating, well paced story.
I'm not certain I would have picked up this book to read on my own based solely on the subject matter so I'm grateful I was given a chance to read it. I'm not familiar with the author or his other works, but I enjoyed his writing style. You can tell he did his research on the topic. I was surprised that the setting kept my interest. At the beginning of the book, I will admit I was a bit concerned. There were so many people introduced that I wasn't sure I would be able to distinguish between them all. However, the main characters soon stood out and a storyline quickly came together. The scandals were a pleasant surprise and quickly grabbed my interest. You can't help rooting for a favorite candidate and remaining eager after each voting round. The cast of characters were all unique and very believable. Lomeli was an excellent lead. It was great watching him come full circle and gain more confidence in himself and his important assignment.
I enjoyed learning a bit more about the process of electing a pope. I think this book would appeal to those interested in the Catholic faith. At the same time, a reader interested in politics could easily associate with many scenes throughout the book. There is campaigning, vote buying, persuasions based off of beliefs and stances. Having just been through an election year, I chuckled at several similarities.
Overall, I surprisingly enjoyed this book. The characters really drew me in and constantly left me intrigued along the way. However, it was a bit predictable at times. I had a good guess who would receive the vote and be elected, but I was rather shocked at the info that came afterwards. The surprise ending was abrupt and unrealistic, but still very entertaining. I wish there had been a few more scenes or even a epilogue at the end. ...more
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