Tuesday Book Reviews on Monday

 

Five-star review of Murder in the Sunshine (The Retired Detectives Club Book 1) by Steph Broadribb

In this first of a series, we’re introduced to four retired law enforcement people, three from England and the other from the US. They’ve all now live in a huge retirement community in Florida. When Moira finds a young woman floating in a pool in their section, she and the others (Rick the American former DEA staffer and married couple Philip and Lizzie, he a former DCI like Moira and she a CSI specialist). They’re quickly ahead of the bumbling police officer assigned to the case, but what makes this more interesting is that both Moira and Philip have secrets about why they retired. I don’t doubt Lizzie and Rick do too, but their revelations will have to wait for the rest of the series. I also hope the retired detectives can help make The Homestead the safe place it was billed to be.

Tuesday Book Review

 

Five-star review of Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

I read this for the first time several years ago, but now that I’ve seen the historic places mentioned in the books, even sold books at Fuller Lodge, it’s easier for me to follow the actions of Dewey and Suze. Their stories stayed with me, so when I saw a copy of the first one at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, I had to buy it. Rereading it struck me with how Klages created the voices of the two eleven-year-old girls. The story of once secret Los Alamos is told through the eyes of two pre-teens including all the ethical questions of whether, just because the scientists could invent the bomb, they should. The growth of the girls’ friendship against that backdrop makes an interesting, sometimes exciting and other times even humorous read.

Tuesday Book Review on Wednesday

 

Five-star review of Tides of Acerba: Paradisi Chronicles (Caelestis Series Book 4)

 by M. Louisa Locke

 I’ve enjoyed Locke’s Victorian San Francisco books but this series is my favorite of hers. I haven’t read any of the other Paradisi novels by other authors, but the world-building aspects of these stories is inspiring for me as a science fantasy writer. In this one, Mei Lin Yu must contend with her great grandmother’s illness, the resistance to her as heir to Hen Nain as a member of the MynyEnergy Board and world-wide acceptance by the Ddaerans to her as the future Promise Keeper, her mother’s continued sniping and the machinations of other high-ranking Yus and Quinns. Along the way, she makes new allies and new enemies. Her agreement to find out why Ddaerens don’t wish to leave their seaside village in Vida, the territory controlled by the Quinns, leads to her uncovering a conspiracy. Added to what she must deal with is her relationship with Jaxon, who’s been keeping things from her. Enough loose ends promise an additional book in the series.

Tuesday Book Review

 

Five-star review of Once Upon a Crime by Robin Stevens

 This collection of short stories tells the tales of a few of the murders and mysteries solved by Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong intermixed chronologically with novels in the Murder Most Unladylike series. The two founders of the Detective Society now in their teens in 1930’s England. There are also one story featuring their friends George and Alexander, the Junior Pinkertons, and another long one starring Hazel’s 10-year-old sister May and taking place at the start of WWII. May has helped Daisy and Hazel before but this one was solved through her own reasoning and actions. I’m now looking forward to reading the first full-length novel about May and her exploits. Each of the stories in this collection is good, written from the POV of one of the protagonists with the proper word choices for someone their age. They were each unpredictable and satisfying.

Tuesday Book Review

 

Four-star Review of Pilfered Promises (A Victorian San Francisco Mystery Book 5) by M. Louisa Locke

 Annie Fuller, now married to lawyer Nate Dawson, is asked to investigate thefts at the new store The Silver Strike, a Victorian-era department store. When the women’s clothing designer and head seamstress is killed, she suddenly has more than one crime to solve. All my favorites from Annie’s boarding house, Nate’s sister Laura and new characters from the store help in their new adventure. The meticulously researched historic details of 1880 San Francisco and early department stores add to the enjoyment of the book. This historical mystery series never disappoints.

Tuesday Book Review

Five-star review of NoFixed Line (A Kate Shugak Investigation) by Dana Stabenow

 I always enjoy the stories about Kate in the wilds of Alaska. In this one, a plane goes down in a violent snowstorm and is buried in the side of a mountain. Kate’s friends, staying in her cabin for New Year’s Eve, see in happen and investigate, finding two small children in the rear of the plane who speak only Spanish. With the help of Jim, the half-wolf mutt, the aunties and all the parkrats we’ve met throughout this series, Kate gets to the bottom of what the plane was doing out in the storm. After many years, I’m still loving this series.

Tuesday Book Review on Thursday

Five-Star Review of Heir of Uncertain Magic (Whimbrel House Book 2) by Charlie N. Holmberg

Holmberg rarely disappoints and hasn’t in this sequel to Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. Hulda and Merritt must deal with her missing director at BIKER, the investigation by LIKER, the London equivalent of the Boston agency, into missing funds, and another magic-user putting obstacles in their path. Owein, the ghost who used to inhabit the walls of Whimbrel House and now living in the body of a dog, is as always delightful as they try to teach him letters so he can spell out messages to them. Others from the first Whimbrel House story are also on hand, including Baptiste. Meanwhile, Merritt must grapple with his family, who he hasn’t seen in many years. The developing romance between Hulda and Merritt enriches the historical fantasy.