Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 18

Murder at Wintertide by Fleur Hitchcock - Book Review

Publication Date: 10th Oct 2024

Genre: Middle-Grade Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Enjoy the chilly mystery! 

Young George is excited to spend Christmas with his Dad and Grandpa at the rented house named Wintertide. When he sees a sudden light on the cliff and hears about a dead body found in the sea, George wonders if the events are connected. Isla, his cousin, seems to have the same doubts. Soon, the tweens band together to find out more and solve the mystery, not realizing that it could very well put their lives at risk. 

The story comes in George’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with a short prologue about a body drifting in and out of the sea in the third-person POV. Then, it switches to George’s first-person narrative in the present tense. The kid and his dad are traveling to meet their family for joint celebrations (Grandpa’s birthday and Christmas). 

There’s a bit of a mystery right in the beginning about some people arguing on the road. We slowly get more information about the family dynamics, new members, the boy’s favorite ones, etc. Since it is in his POV, we don’t always know much about the others. However, this slowly changes and the undercurrents become clearer. 

The setting is perfect for the mystery. Lyme Regis is a coastal town, a bit away from the mainline. It has high cliffs, an extensive beach, and beautiful streets. The weather alternates between windy, rainy, snowy, and chilly. Naturally, this makes the mystery more interesting. 

The other kid, Isla is sweet. George is a different kind of sweet. Both are easy to like and root for. Their contrasting personalities and the slowly budding friendship between the new cousins add a nice personal touch to the plot. Of course, there are many other personal elements since this is a family trip. 

The mystery blends archeology, history, action, adventure, danger, some attempted sleuthing, and all the things children would love. As expected, the kids get into situations that could be way dangerous in real life. At least, the adults here are not fully absent. They do try to keep the children safe, and the kids also realize they are getting into tricky stuff (even if it doesn’t stop them).

The culprit is easy to guess thanks to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) clues scattered throughout. It should keep the young readers engaged and make them guess about the whos and whys. 

There’s some light humor sprinkled at random, making George an entertaining narrator. I like the subtle change in him as things change towards the end. 

The ending is heartwarming and sweet, just as how it should be for the target age group. There are some bittersweet moments too, but hope and love do triumph over everything else. 

To summarize, Murder at Wintertide is a steady-paced mystery with young sleuths solving a crime and discovering more than what they want. This is my first book by the author, and I’m curious to read more. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for eARC.  

#NetGalley #MurderAtWintertide

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Cozy Witchy Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A good debut; cozy read 

Hecate Goodwin aka Kate lives in a cozy cottage near the Ipswich forest in the same compound as her family house, Goodwin Manor. As a hedge witch, she prefers solitude and the company of her black cat, Merlin. 

Suddenly, Kate is bombarded by nightmares, strange messages, her older sister Miranda, and Matthew Cypher, a man who once tricked her. Kate has to host the annual Halloween gathering while dealing with what would occur on her birthday (the same date). Matthew’s arrival complicates things as he comes from a coven that practices forbidden magic. 

However, Matthew may be the only one to help her when the truth of her dead mother’s dark magic practices comes to the front. Turns out, Kate’s mother hid many secrets. Whom should Kate trust? What should she do? 

The story comes in Kate’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Isn’t that an adorably cozy cover? Despite the word dark in the title, the book doesn’t get too dark or dive deep into scary elements. It has a few scenes and some danger but the overall vibe is pretty much comfy. 

The setting is atmospheric, be it the forest, the cottage, the manor, or the little bits of village we get to see. I could feel the mist and the darkness of the shadows lurking around and waiting for the FMC. 

A lot of space is taken up by routine activities like cooking, eating, etc. This is another reason for the cozy vibe. The story progresses a little during these scenes but not all readers will enjoy it. 

Kate’s arc is decent (she has her flaws) but the others are pretty straightforward. Matthew gets some sort of grey shades but then we know he is the hero, so it’s only Kate and others doubting his intentions. I do wish at least the main side characters had a little more depth. 

This is a romance with some paranormal danger thrown in. While I did like the possibly enemies-to-lovers (at least for Kate) trope, the love happens too fast and some of it feels unbelievable. 

The blurb calls this a celebration of the Halloween season, which is an apt description. Shaman is a big day for the witches, and the preparations start early. There’s a lot of pumpkin as well (carving, latte, etc.). 

The pacing is steady. It may feel slower at times but I think the momentum sustains pretty well. 

An epilogue would have been nice too. It was needed as I had a few questions about some motives, etc. 

There are recipes at the end (yay) for the various dishes mentioned in the book. I like a couple of those and might try them one day. 

To summarize, A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy witchy romance with a touch of darkness and danger. It is a good debut work (and no kitchen sink). I look forward to reading more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ADarkAndSecretMagic

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Dual Timeline, Romance 

3.3 Stars (almost an outliner)

One Liner: No magic realism; not that impressed 

1987

Augusta Stern had to finally retire from her job as a pharmacist. She moves to Florida upon her niece’s advice. However, not having a busy routine makes her restless. Add to it the reentry of Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy she knew in her teenage years, disturbs her peace of mind. 

As a young girl in the 1920s, Augusta was proud of her father’s pharmacy and wanted to follow in his footsteps. Her great-aunt Esther’s arrival brings many changes in their lives, including the biggest one that leaves Augusta with many regrets. 

Sixty years later, can Augusta find a way to move on with her life and spend the remaining time in peace? What happened back then? 

The story comes in Augusta’s third-person POV in both timelines, with Irving and other POVs at random. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m more of an outliner for this. I wish I could have liked it more.

Firstly, there is no magic realism here. There’s possibly an attempt made but it is just fancy descriptions and wishful thinking. Every healer woman is not a witch nor does she work with magic even if people think otherwise. 

This is mainly a second-chance romance for characters in their 80s. While it is great to read books with senior citizens where they lead active lives, seeing the MCs act childish doesn’t really feel heartwarming. I did empathize with the FMC’s resentment to an extent. 

The side characters like Esther and Shirley could have had more development. Esther especially could have been a lot more than what she ends up here. It would have also helped create a more definite setup for magic realism. And a special yay to Jackie. Love her! 

I do like the topics chosen – women in medicine, gender bias, parental death, medical advancements, bullying, mafia, etc. However, when I realized the core of the plot rests on miscommunication (or the lack of communication), I lost interest. It’s bad enough to read 30 and 40-year-old characters making a mess of relationships. These people are in their 80s and still cannot have a decent conversation until the end! 

Also, the 1987 (present timeline) feels like it is set in the 2000s. My guess is that the age was calculated from the 1920s to decide when the present timeline should be. However, the rest of it feels more contemporary (like after 2010) except for the lack of mobile phones and social media.

The pacing dips in the middle. Though we see both timelines, there isn’t much movement in the present one.

We get the first chapter from Irving’s POV around 35% or so. By then, I was sure this would continue in Augusta’s. The sudden change pulled me out of the story. We also get a few scenes from the omnipresent third-person. The changes should have been introduced earlier. For example, having the first Irving’s chapter at 10-12% would have set the pattern for the rest of the book. 

The Jewish rep is well done without providing too much detail but making it stand out just the same. 

To summarize, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a cozy read about first love, second chances, missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and women in medicine. I wish I liked it more but it is not a bad book by any means. Guess I wasn’t in the mood for it. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for eARC. T

#NetGalley

Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Christmas Romance Novellas 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Sweet! 

The book is published by the Christian wing of the publisher, so God and faith get a mention more than once in the first two stories. This is a collection of three novelettes set around Christmas and feature Mistletoe in some form. Set in wintery small towns, each story has a couple that will fall in love and a community with all the cozy vibes. All stories are Hallmark-style and can be a little too sweet for some. 

TBH, I requested this book mainly to read Pepper’s The Mistletoe Prince. Prince Arran is Ellie’s brother, mentioned a few times in Loyally, Luke. I knew I had to read his story. The other two stories were a bonus. ;) 

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller – 3.5 Stars 

Emmy Banks loves Christmas. After all, she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri. Kieran O’Neill has lived in Ireland, renovating a castle for over twenty-five years. He returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. Kieran is Emmy’s bestie’s older brother and a childhood friend. Renewing their friendship is easy. But what happens when they want more, and Kieran has to leave the town? 

The story comes in Emmy and Kieran’s third-person POVs. 

The characters are in their 40s, a good change from the younger romances. The setting is quite beautiful with the small-town vibe (where everyone knows everyone). The Christmas theme is also done well with an abundance of decorations, the winter fair, hot chocolate, etc. The romance is okay but I cannot help but wonder if it would have been better as a slightly longer piece. Even some 4-5 pages extra would have done the trick. It is still sweet, though. 

The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham – 4.5 Stars 

Prince Arran of Skymar has to spend three months in a small town in North Carolina, where his sister Ellie lives with her husband, Luke Edgewood. This ‘punishment’ is also a chance for Arran to become his former self and find out who he is if not a prince with a title. Charlie, Luke’s cousin and carpenter, is a tomboy hiding in plain sight and suffering from low self-worth. The Christmas fundraiser is her chance to prove her worth. Can the two broken hearts mend each other as the season works its magic? 

The story comes in Arran and Charlie’s third-person POVs. 

This is the longest story in the book, which means it has enough space for proper development and the traditional arc (including a sort of third-act breakup). Charlie and Arran are lovely characters and easy to root for. Luke has enough presence and adds charm to the plotline. Ellie and Penelope have a teeny scene each but that’s fine. The focus remains on the main characters and their growth. There’s a light touch of faith, similar to the other books in the Skymar series. Beautiful! 

Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts – 2.5 Stars 

Hailey Fairchild is a romance author whose love life is a mess, thanks to her Mistletoe weakness. Seems that she cannot resist men who kiss her under the mistletoe and learn her lesson late only to repeat the cycle. Of course, it all started with her crush on her brother’s best friend and the popular guy at school, Carwyn Davies. Back in her town for Christmas, Hailey is determined to break the cycle but life may have other plans for her. 

The story comes in Hailey’s first-person POV. 

This is the shortest and weakest story in the collection. While Hailey’s voice is quirky enough, I couldn’t connect with her. (Hard to when you end up calling the MC an idiot right at the beginning). There are quite a few tropes and with no space for exploration, the story feels underwhelming. It does deal with some important themes like bullying, lack of confidence, fears, etc., but the approach didn’t work for me. 

*

Since it is a Christmas-themed sweet romance collection, I’m rounding it up to 4 stars (also coz I liked the story I wanted to read). 

To summarize, Mistletoe Season is a super sweet set of three novelettes with a Christmas theme as the central point. Check out others' reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Thomas Nelson, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MistletoeSeason

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski - Book Review

Publication Date: 01st Oct 2024

Genre: Historical Fantasy (Witchy Family Drama) 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Introspective (irregular pacing) 

Triplets Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley convert their home into a Tearoom after the untimely death of their parents. Their mother, Clara, was a witch who gave up her position for love and married a human. The teashop is what the triplets consider her legacy and a cozy place for people to find answers to questions in the tea leaves. 

With the Council of Witches expecting the sisters to take up a responsibility (with dire consequences) and an old curse being activated, they find themselves being pulled in different directions. Can the sisters retain their bond while exploring their individual identities or will the curse and the Council break them apart? 

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Ever since I saw the book on NetGalley, I kept hoping it would be Read Now at least for a day. I wasn’t sure if the publisher would approve my request and didn’t want to risk it. Luckily, the book did become available for a week or more. 

Not sure why I thought it would be a contemporary witchy read. It’s a historical one (set in early 1900s). However, there isn’t much about the period. The story could be set anywhere and would still work. 

The house is my favorite part of the book. Imagine a building that can clean itself, do the dishes, dust the cobwebs, and repair everything on its own. I want a house like that! The tearoom setting is beautiful and chaotic. 

The writing is a bit prosey and has a lyrical touch to it in many scenes. While this can slow down the pace, I like how the words flow. 

The sisters have different personalities making it very easy to track their arcs. Though they are triplets, Anne sounds older and more stressed out almost throughout the book. This aligns with the character development as she has somehow become the older and more responsible one after their mother’s death. 

The POV is a blend of limited third-person and omnipresent. This can be a little hard to follow. 

The book drags in the middle as the miscommunication trope stretches on. This could have been trimmed a little. That said, I understand why it had to go on. A rubber band needs to be stretched beyond its elasticity to snap. The same theory applies here. 

The concept of using flavors and scents to talk about memories, truth, lies, etc., is lovely. If only we had such lie detectors in real life too! 

Each chapter starts with a symbol and its interpretation. This aligns with the content in the chapter and provides some knowledge about tea reading (if you can remember or make note of it). 

The ending is hopeful and sweet. It establishes the need for growth and change while showing how these things don’t have to affect relationships and family bonds. 

To summarize, The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a worthy debut dealing with important themes. While there are a few niggles, I like the overall vibe and feel. Will be happy to read more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheCrescentMoonTearoom

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 30th Sep 2024

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/RavenswoodWitchSocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209499498-the-ravenswood-witch

Genre: Dark Historical Fiction, Paranormal

3 Stars

One Liner: Could have been better!

Book Blurb:

‘There are a lot of shadows atRavenswood, so you will need to be strong…’

The year is 1885, and a young woman is on the run,knowing if she’s caught, she’ll be hanged for murder. Moments from a safehaven, she collides with a gruff stranger, falling and breaking her ankle.

To her surprise, the man – Marcus Greybourne –convinces the local constable that she is his reclusive wife of ten years,Luna. He carries her back to the neglected and crumbling Ravenswood Hall,promising if she agrees to maintain this charade, he will keep her safe untilher injuries have healed.

But the house is haunted by shadows and secrets.What’s more, the real Luna Greybourne is missing without a trace. Scratches andmarks made by her around the house suggest witchcraft, and indeed Luna is knownlocally as the Ravenswood Witch; her reputation is in tatters, like thewallpapers of the padlocked rooms she’d destroyed.

As strange happenings in the house continue, outsidethe screech of a raven echoes across oppressive woods that seem alive with darkmagic. And the woman who is now pretending to be Luna can’t help but fear she’sescaped the noose for a far more terrible fate…

A completely compelling andunforgettable historical book club read – fans of Jane Eyre, Weyward, and TheBinding will be utterly spellbound.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in the third-person POV.

I enjoyed the author’s previous two books (No. 23Burlington Square and At the Stroke of Midnight) and had high hopes for thisone. Unfortunately, the terrific premise was given an average execution.

Firstly, what I liked about the book –

The setting delivers the Gothic vibes it promised.It is dark, dirty, and suffocating. There’s a bit of animal cruelty as well,though the mentions are limited to what is necessary for the plot. Theatmosphere is spot on.

Bran is such a terrific pet. The crow ends up withmore personality than some of the characters (take what you will from thisstatement).

The beginning is great and hooks the reader rightaway. It establishes the conflict and sets the stage for drama and intrigue.

The romance is not explicit or excessive. While Istill wish for a few more interactions between them, it doesn’t overpower theplot most of the time.

However, things started to go downhill pretty soon.Here’s why –

We get extensive snippets about the past fromanother character’s third-person POV. This could be the young woman or not.While I was initially curious, by the halfway mark, I had enough of it. Allthis is filler content and unwanted.

A better approach would have been to provide thebackstory in three chapters – one to establish the details, the second to dealwith the conflict, and the third for the reveal. That way, we would have savedaround 50 pages (or more).

Marcus and Real Luna could have gotten a chapter ortwo each to add depth to their arcs. Except for being the brooding, handsome,heartbroken man, Marcus doesn’t do much. The real Luna is worse since we don’teven get to see her.

A lot of space has been wasted on a character thatpretty much went nowhere. Not to mention the repetition that weighed down thepacing and made this move slower than a snail.  

The side characters like Mr. and Mrs. Webber alsocould have gotten some detailing. A couple of more scenes in the village wouldhave made it easier to support the sudden developments at the end. Right now,it sounds strange and out of character.

For books with paranormal and witchy themes, it isbetter to go full into the vibe. Going this way and that doesn’t help much.Sustaining the effect is important, irrespective of the characters’ opinions.

To summarize, The Ravenswood Witch has immensepotential but ends up underwhelming and slow, with more fluff than substance.However, it will suit your needs if you want an atmospheric read for theseason.

Of course, I will read the author's next book.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources andBoldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honestopinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Jenni Keer

Jenni Keer is a well-reviewed author of historicalromances, often with a mystery at their heart. Most recently published byHeadline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of theYear.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @JenniKeerAuthor

X/ Twitter: @JenniKeer

Instagram: @JenniKeer

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JenniKeerNews

Bookbub Profile: @jennikeer

***

This has been a stop on the #TheRavenswoodWitch blogtour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources)Thanks for stopping by!

Wished by Sarah Ready - Book Review

Series: Ghosted #4 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 01st Oct 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Magic Realism)

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining! 

Twenty-five-year-old Anna is a romantic at heart and longs for a happy future. Circumstances forced her to become a cleaner to support her mother and eight-year-old sister, Emme. She had been cleaning Max Barone’s house for three years and had been in love with him for almost as long. 

Max Barone is a thirty-something successful jeweler, running the family business with precision. He wants things to be uncomplicated and simple. He has no idea about Anna. 

One day, Anna made a wish for him to love her and for them to be married. It sounds harmless until she realizes that her wish has come true. Now, Anna and Max have been happily married for years. But is it love? Is this what she wants? What should they do? 

The story comes in Anna’s first-person POV, with the prologue and epilogue in Max’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is my first book by the author. I’ve wanted to read her works for a while but the 400+ page counts were daunting. Wished is just over 300 pages, the perfect size for this genre. 

With a premise like this, I was curious to see how it would play out. There are so many factors to consider! I’m pleased to inform you that the execution was fun. I won’t reveal the details as it will dampen the effect. 

The prologue by Max puts the reader right in the middle of the plot. Then, we go back to the beginning and listen to Anna tell us how she ‘fell in love at first sight’ with Max and the rest of it. 

Anna is really sweet. Yeah, she does sound a bit dreamy and naïve at times but it suits her personality. She’s someone who wants to be kind and do what she can to help others be happy. 

I haven’t read the previous books in the series, so this is my first time meeting Max. He does take a wee bit of time to warm up to, but then I can see his side. However, I did wish the shift in his affections was a little more spaced out (or the previous one toned down). While I understand the change in viewpoints, it still feels a bit odd. 

The settings are my favorite! I love the description of the house and of the various places in Paris. Even the cramped home where Anna lives gets such a visual description. As a fan of settings, I love it when I can picturize the places easily. 

And yeah, this is an insta-love thingy, so it may not work for everyone. While they did have each other in their lives for three plus years, there weren’t enough interactions for a connection. So, everything happens quickly as we get into the main plot. 

Still, the book manages to discuss themes like bullying, dysfunctional and toxic family, etc. I like the discussion about the change in how things have been perceived over time (Freud) and that there’s always a choice to be a better person. 

The spice is quite high (seems most of my September reads decided to hit level 4). The author likes to use a lot of adjectives for descriptions. While it reads well, some of it feels excessive, especially during intense scenes. 

Naturally, there is a third-act breakup. It was supposed to happen, so I was prepared for it. And yes, we get HEA with an epilogue. I do have a few teeny questions but that’s me nitpicking. 

To summarize, Wished is an entertaining romance with a touch of magic realism. It needs suspension of belief. However, if you want something fluffy and spicy read, grab this one. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #Wished 

Ninetails: Nine Tales by Sally Wen Mao - Book Review

Publication Date: 28th May 2024

Genre: Short Stories

3 Stars

One Liner: Interesting but a mixed collection

Ninetails is a collection of short storiesre-imagined and based on the fox spirit in Chinese mythology. It is a feministanthology dealing with misogyny, immigration, racism, and different types ofabuse against women, especially Asian women (by fellow Asians and Westerners).

Apart from the individual short stories, there’s anoverarching story set on Angel Island where the Chinese people land in the US.The immigration office decides the fate of these people after the men and womenare separated and made to stay in different buildings. The conditions arepathetic and deplorable.

As always, I made notes for each story (presentedbelow with only grammatical edits):

The Haunting Of Angel Island

Arrival:Tye arrives at the island for her new job as an interpreter at the immigrationoffice. We get her past and a glimpse of the mythical fox. The beginning of theoverarching story. I’m curious!  

Love Doll:What happens when a love doll (a human-sized s*x toy) starts to have feelings?In the first-person POV of the doll, the story takes us through her life andthat of its new owners. Falls flat when it should have hit the high note. 

Beasts of the Chase:What happens when a woman decides to turn back into a fox (vixen)? How does herethnicity affect her life? Okay!

The Haunting Of Angel Island

More events at the immigration office. Differentwomen, several stories, and different fates.

Turtle Head Epidemic:Meng Li was an eighteen-year-old student when the turtle head epidemic sweptSingapore. Was it because of a dead pig, a woman, or a fox spirit? This shouldhave been better.

The Fig Queen:What happens when a woman with a troubled life becomes tiny and someone elsetakes her place? A story of metamorphosis in many ways. Kafkaesque almost!

The Haunting Of Angel Island

The overarching story continues as more women arriveand await the decision of the immigration officers.

A Huxians Guide to SeductionRevenge Immortality: The longest story in the book with afirst and second-person narration. Well-written and better than the previousones.

The Girl with Flies Coming Out of HerEyes: Started great but I soon lost interest! The titlesays it all. Won’t reveal anything else.

The Haunting Of Angel Island

More women, ghosts, spirits, and opposite faiths;believe your God or the White God?

Lotus Stench:The story of a fox spirit and a ghost (woman, obv.), and that ties themtogether. An interesting read.

The Crush:Another lengthy story about love… or as the title says crush. How do crushedmanifest? What to do with them? Feels more mellow than the other stories. 

The Haunting Of Angel Island

Tye is the focus again as the connecting storylinecomes to an end.

Departure:What kind of departure can this be? After all, there are many ways to depart!Surreal… (which is the aim of the collection).

Thanks to a review by Sarah, I went into the bookwith fewer expectations. This helped since most stories didn’t have much impactand felt they couldn’t reach their potential. A couple of stories wereabove-average but most were the kind I forgot a day after reading (the notessaved me).

Fortunately, the overarching piece is a lot better.And, I now know some random information about figs, wasps, bees, foxes, etc.

To summarize, Ninetails has its moments with poeticprose and surreal situations. However, the stories have a varied impact, whichdilutes the overall enjoyment.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Books, for a copyof the book. 

#NetGalley #Ninetails

Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander - Book Review

Series: A Secret Bookcase Mystery #3

Publication Date: 30th Sep 2024 

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3 Stars 

One Liner: As cozy as it can be! 

Annie Murray plans an elaborate mystery dinner to help her friend Penny (Priya’s girlfriend) raise funds to restore the historic Wentworth farmhouse. Penny already spent all her money on the place and will have to sell it if she doesn’t have more funds. 

The dinner starts with Curtis Wright annoying the actors and soon falling dead at the table. With a storm raging outside and a long list of suspects inside, Annie needs to find out who the killer is. However, she soon realizes that there’s a lot buried in the past. The killer is determined to keep their identity a secret. 

The story comes in Annie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

So… it’s settled then. The series will continue to be a super light cozy mystery. Not that I mind since I read this when I wasn’t feeling great but followed the plot and guessed the killer. 

The settings are the highlight of this series. Since the book is themed around Halloween, we get storms, power outages, old buildings, damp basements, etc. Quite atmospheric, I say! 

There’s a list of characters, though some don’t reappear, making it too easy to guess the outcome. Even Dr. Caldwell has a limited role, which I don’t mind. After all, this is Annie’s book. 

Things are better between Annie and Liam now, though methinks she is crushing a little too much. But okay. At least, he is no longer acting like an idiot. 

There’s a slight development in the overarching case (Scarlet). Not enough to make me happy but progress nevertheless. The next book should have something significant (I hope so). 

To summarize, Death at the Dinner Party is a light cozy mystery of less than 250 pages and can be read in a single sitting if you have the time. I will continue with the series and will soon read the next book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #DeathAtTheDinnerParty

Maisie vs Antarctica by Jack Jackman - Book Review

Publication Date: 10th October 2024

Genre: Middle Grade Adventure

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A freezing adventure! 

Eleven-year-old Maisie lives with her father who writes boring books like How to Wrestle a Crocodile or How to Diffuse a Bomb. In real life, he is a boring person who makes triangle origami and does basic puzzles. However, with no one to watch Maisie, her father has to take her with him to Antarctica. Soon, Maisie realizes there is a lot she doesn’t know about her father. He has many skills and may be hiding a secret too! 

The story comes in Maisie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, how can I resist a book about a young girl and her dad having an adventure in Antarctica? 

Maisie is a sassy and imaginative narrator, which will work great for the target audience. She is a tween who is bad at school, doesn’t pay attention to most things, and thinks too fast for adults to catch up with. 

The story is fast-paced and combines adventure, danger, intrigue, and superpower. The heady combination is perfect for kids, especially since Maisie messes up a lot and often needs to be rescued by adults. Young readers can see how easy it is to get into trouble. The adults are also capable, which is another plus. 

The freezing landscape of Antarctica comes alive on the pages without any extensive detail. We see what the narrator sees, which are loads of ice and other strange stuff. 

Despite the antics and danger, the story manages to deal with topics like the loss of a parent, the loss of a life partner (for the father), being a loner, the hardships of being a single parent, etc. These aspects shape the character arcs, making them integral to the central plot. 

The blurb calls this the first in the series, and I can see why. Though it works as a standalone, we have only scratched the surface and are yet to delve fully into the main characters’ lives. Naturally, there have to be more adventures. I hope Miss Kumari will feature actively in the coming books. 

The chapter titles are quirky and hint at what’s to come though there aren’t any major reveals. They are all titled ‘How to…’ a nod to the books the dad writes. Since this book is being written by Maisie, it is fitting that she follows her father’s footsteps. 

I would have loved it if the book had some illustrations – Maisie’s flaming red hair, the dad, the caterpillar, etc. Even a sample of handwriting, for that matter, would enhance the appeal. 

To summarize, Maisie vs Antarctica is a terrific start to a new series and I hope we get to see more adventures of Maisie and her father. I enjoyed this fast-paced narrative bubbling with an eleven-year-old’s overactive imagination. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MaisieVsAntarctica