The blurb depicting The Nightingale Affair by Tim Mason as a “Victorian detective thriller” is what influenced me the most, as I was in the mood to read a classic mystery after a few of the modern domestic thrillers I had been through recently. I was delighted by the moody puzzle of this book; the…
It has been a few years since I read my last Fiona Barton book, but a quick glance through my review of it reminded me how much I enjoyed her writing, and her latest release Local Gone Missing is another winner. This is more of a police procedural than a thriller, and reading about the…
I distinctly remember picking this book out from a long list of pitches sent by a publisher, simply because the premise hooked me immediately; an old woman picks up the phone, hears one word, and shoots dead the husband she’s been married to for decades before fleeing their home. Now that’s a beginning to remember!…
When a Ruth Ware books lands on my doorstep, I get excited. I’ve read every single one of her books published, and really enjoyed all of them. Because she’s writing in such a crowded genre, I’ll recognize certain tactics of suspense, or a stretch in truth or reality here or there, but overall I can…
Without fail, almost every man that has stood in front of my bookshelf in the past few months has commented on this Jeffrey Archer book. Over My Dead Body is the latest in the William Warwick series, and because Archer is a bestselling international sensation, I figured I better give it a read and see…
I always rejoice when I get the chance to read a classic mystery. The Tangled Miracle by Canadian author Bertram Brooker was originally published in 1936 under the pseudonym Huxley Herne, and has recently been re-released by indie publisher Invisible Publishing which has a Throwback Series that re-introduces public-domain books. A locked room mystery of…
When I first heard about The Maid by Nita Prose and the enormous buzz it was getting a few months ago, I knew I would love it. A cozy mystery about a quirky maid written by a well-regarded Canadian book editor? Sign me up. Now it’s being made into a movie, and was just named…
I do believe I’ve stumbled upon a new must-read mystery series for my Canadian followers. Why just Canadian? I’m not sure you can get the Lane Winslow Mystery Series past our borders as its published by small press Touchwood Editions, so if you are having trouble finding it, please contact them directly to see if…
A Beginner’s Guide to Murder by Rosalind Stopps seems like a cozy mystery at first glance; a bunch of little old ladies plotting a murder together to save a friend. This appeals to the Murder She Wrote lover in me because I relish the idea of getting older but not losing my ‘spunk’. But as…
Sometimes you read a book where you don’t entirely know or understand what is going on. One character’s remark may prompt you to question whether something really happened the way you thought it did, or it may be unclear as to what the characters are aware of vs. what the reader is aware of. How…
Well this is the perfect book to read on vacation, especially a summertime vacation! It takes place on a remote estate on the wild coast of California, complete with crashing waves, beautiful ocean scenery and a wild landscape easy to get lost in. I flew through this book and brought it everywhere with me while…
I remember when Marjorie Celona‘s first book was released, Y. It came with huge buzz, her publishers were relentlessly pushing it to all the Canadian book festivals, and international rights were sold widely. It was awhile ago now, so I don’t honestly remember my reaction after reading it, but I do recall this buzz, which…
