"The Sign of Four Spirits", by Vicki Delany

Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery book #9

Gemma Doyle, co-owner and manager of “The Sherlock Homes Bookshop and Emporium loves to turn into an amateur sleuth in her spare time and can’t help but to poke her nose where it doesn’t belong. “The Sign of Four Spirits” brings us to West London, Cape Code, Massachusetts during the tourist season when a psychic fair is about to open. Thinking they are a fraud, Gemma doesn’t believe in fortune tellers and mediums but with much probing by her friends she joins them at a séance held by Madame Levalier. During the séance, there is a commotion in the library and when the lights are turned on, Madame Levalier is dead stabbed in the back of the neck with a long sharp hat pin...Just the right incentive for Gemma to spring into action. I leave it to you to read this soft mystery and to come to your own decisions....

I enjoy soft mystery from time to time and I know one by Vicki Delany will answer my wish. Although we have a couple of murders, none are gruesomely described. Of course Gemma was there to help her cop boyfriend with the investigation and as the story builds up we have a touch of the paranormal and a hunt for the whodunit. Everything moves at a steady pace, no rushing around just smoothly said till we reach the surprising reveal. The plot is good and fun to follow.

Gemma is a good character who comes off as a rude, blunt at time but she doesn’t go around bushes and tells it as she see fit. We also have recurrent actors as well as a few new ones to enjoy; they are quite a contrast to Gemma. Readers should enjoy this cast. I simply love Moriarty, the cat.....

This 9th installment works fine as a standalone and should please most lovers of soft, well-said and well plotted mysteries.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC which I received via Netgalley

"Odyssey's End", by Matt Coyle

Rick Cahill book # 10

San Diego PI Rick Cahill is in financial trouble, his wife and daughter left him after multiple fits of rage cause by CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) which is slowly destroying his brain. In desperation he accepts an offer from Peter Stone to find and protect his daughter, Angela Albright, from a Russian mobster Sergei Volkov, whose testimony had helped to convict him to a 15 years sentence. Sergei was about to be released.....S50, 000 to track Angela was hard to say no to....but his effort attracts attention....this case may be his last hoorah....

With its many references from the past to situate us this story is not hard to pick up at this point and reads well on its own.

The story is well plotted and written and of course Rick Cahill is a sympathetic character to root for. A simple case of missing person turns out to be more complicated by multiple death threats, very bad criminals, a brush with cryptocurrency, the witness protection program and the mighty FBI. Why not add clues that will lead him to a violent and bloody shootout by the end. Mr. Coyle did not forget to add all the suspense needed to make his story exciting. From slow moving action at first it turned out that the many twists and turns provided at the end certainly held my attention till I close the last page. Along the way, a lot of focus is set on Cahill’s personality, he broods a lot about his life; he misses his wife and daughter, and harps about it from the beginning till the end, it is a bit much...I wanted to tell him get a life Cahill...but who knows what the author has in store for
him next...

I received this ARC from Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley for my thoughts.

"A Stranger in the Family", by A.J. McCarthy

A Charlie & Simm Mystery book # 3

In a few words:

When a strange man approaches Shanna McGuire and shocks her with a story that makes her question her family history. She asks Simm to investigate the man’s claim. A former private investigator and pub owner in downtown Montreal he and his wife Charlie love to tackle simple case of genealogy and see what they will uncover. But what they think is a straightforward case soon takes a dangerous turn with threats, violence and homicide.

My thoughts:

I love how Ms. McCarthy incorporated in her tale the dark period in Quebec’s history, “The Duplessis Orphans” and has concocted masterfully an engaging mystery around this shameful time. Laced in, is a complicated family dynamics and an unwavering persistence to find the truth. Charlie and Simm exchanged their point of view in a good-humoured teasing way, it is pleasant to follow them. The many characters in this tale are interesting and are essential to propelling the plot forward which leads to a smashing disclosure. Not only, is this fast-paced and engaging story marred by the mistreatment of orphans it also takes us into a web of lies and betrayal while Charlie and Simm race against the clock to avert another murder.

I love this puzzle set in my home town and love how Charlie and Simm with their lovely pug Harley navigated the perilous journey while facing bodily threats. This story is well said, well-done and is captivating from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book and I leave a voluntary review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own

"Blackfire", by Ty Patterson

Hawke and Stryker book #1

With 7 series in his library adding one more seemed to have been a breeze for Mr. Patterson. He has his formulae pat down to a tee and once again has giving us a new series with all the excitement we have come to expect and once again provided us with an action packed thriller introducing his new players: New York’s toughest PIs, former forces operatives Axtion Hawke and Kael Stryker.

When a mundane corporate espionage case lands on their desk and soon a sinister turn of events starts after their client is threatened, they then find themselves entangled in ruthless cartels, corrupt politicians and crooked cops.....Buckle up for a high-octane read.....

I am a huge fan of this author and have read all of his 47 books so far and plan to follow up in the future. I know his style will have a lot of action, lots of shooting, killings, lots of Kung foo style action, bad guys galore and good guys heroes and let’s not forget a story that is exciting and fast pace. “Blackfire” follows the same pattern as all of Mr. Patterson books. I know by now to be in the mood for this kind of stories in order to enjoy every moment.

Once started, the story captured my attention immediately and held it throughout. I like the new players, Hawke and Stryker, PIs with flair and ethics what is not to like. They are well-done and their action is in tune with their profession. To tight things up a bit, cameo appearance from Zeb and his team always here to save the day.... This is a good first outing for these two guys.

Although I like this new series and was such a thrilling experience to pass time reading it, I have to admit it is not my preferred series and this by far.

Thank you Mr. Patterson once again you made my day.

"Code Name Butterfly", by Embassie Susberry

Paris 1941, the Nazi occupation is imminent. When journalist Elodie Mitchell received an unexpected invitation to a Josephine Baker performance... meeting Jo will be a life changing event.....Beneath the glitz and glamour is a network of spies with mission to gather vital intelligence...

This fiction is the unforgettable tale inspired by the life of Josephine Baker who during the darkest days of WW11 has shown the extraordinary strength of the human spirit and of a young woman caught in the web....Both are Black Americans.

This is a complex story about family, racism, courage and love. It captures the flavour of France before and during the occupation. The setting and atmosphere is fantastic and seize perfectly the turbulent swirl of events during that time. The story is extremely slow moving at first but when France is invaded and tension grows among the population then the story has wind in its sails and we are off into one very exciting adventure following the two heroines and their friends, members of the resistance, blowing trains and killing or dodging the enemy and assisting those in need. Eventually escaping to Portugal and finally home...Only to return to France to their love....yes there is a hint of romance amongst the background of war...why not.

The style is fluid, eloquently written, the words have punch and no doubts came from the heart. The handful characters are colourful, well represent and easy to follow. I especially loved how the most celebrated night-club entertainer; the flamboyant Ms. Baker is featured.

Event with its slow tempo, this story captured my attention from start to finish and I can honestly say “Code Name Butterfly’” is a good book to enjoy and spend time with.

My thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this ARC

"Deadly Tides", by Mary Keliikoa

Misty Pines Mystery book#2

A Psychological suspense

This is a satisfying whodunit mystery and a well-crafted page-tuner. It brings Jax Turner, a small seaside town sheriff, to focus on his community while holding tight to the hope of getting back with his FBI agent ex-wife, Abby Kanekoa.

After looking into the request to make a welfare check on his brother a surf shop owner’s, Jax sets out only to find the man absent, looking further he finds tracks leading to a pool of blood and a severed foot on the beach...The find is not the only one recovered...FBI needed to be called bringing Jax” former wife into the picture.....and a dual investigation is launched.

What is not to like, this story is simply a fantastic read. We follow two interesting threads that eventually mesh together. While Jax does his investigation Abby’s troubles continues with her mother who has Alzheimer’s and needed to be place in a nursing home. Things turned not to be as simply as one thought. The story goes back and forth between the two and sometime crosses path when Abby works with her ex or vice-versa. But as more severed feet are found and more people go missing in the surfing community Jax suspect a serial killer is on the loose and as readers we are at the sea coast, the forest in all kind of weather and of course into an exceptional setting. Ms. Keliikoa’s writing is clear and powerful, she is a master shuffling a multi layered plot with characters that are complex, unique and seem like real people. Jax has a hard time facing his separation and the loss of his child while Abby still has mixed feelings about her ex and keeps her sorrow to herself. The narration is moving and will hit close to home for those who suffered the same experiences. In the words we sense their struggles and their pain we can only hope for a better outcome in the end. It really evokes sympathy... The writing craft is superb, the characters three-dimensional and the setting is a dream...What a combination. Well-said and well-done.

This is another wonderful ARC I received from Level Best Books via Netgalley

"The Secret They Hid", by Roberta Kagan

Margot’s Secret Book #1

The story primarily takes place in Berlin between 1915 and 1933 and it revolves around the captivating love triangle of two brothers, Leo and Alex in their share interest with the beautiful Adelaide. This story is of love, family secrets and the challenges of survival.

Although this fiction is set during the Great War, its aftermath and during the rise of Hitler it primarily tells a story of survival and gives us a perspective of life in Germany for the working classes. Mostly we see how Adelaide survives when both brothers were gone to war leaving her to support three very young children. This story is intense and difficult to put down. Adding a blend of romance and intrigue into the historical context is simply a bonus.

This story reads well and is smooth sailing from the opening chapters till the conclusion. I like that the focus was on the characters rather than on the horrors of war. Every word is written with passion, sorrow, despair and torment in everyday language. The characters are well-crafted: some you love and others you surely will dislike...

“The Secret They Hid “has all what lovers of historical fiction which for: a captivating story well told and well played out.

A million thank you to the publisher The Book Whisperer for this ARC which I received via Netgalley