If you enjoy reading "comic crime" with a delightful sleuth
929590
This is such an enjoyable cozy mystery series set in Ottawa, Canada.  This book is 4th in the Camilla MacPhee series.  Camilla is a lawyer with an office assistant whose antics make you laugh out loud.  Getting to know the other characters has been delightful.  If you enjoy reading "comic crime" with a delightful sleuth, this series just might be for you!
3456613
Geoff Collins is a wonderfully versatile writer (check out his bibliography), and here, he weaves a delightful mystery set in the Holy City. Hop along and crack this case with Giordano -- you won't regret, and it will get you primed for the other books coming along in the series.
3691053
What I admired about "Restrike" was this novel's ability to combine a fast-paced, fun mystery with authentic knowledge of the New York art world. (The term "restrike," for example, refers to a later version of a print, made from the original plate, often done after the artist's death.) I learned about art and art forgery, but what kept me turning pages were the characters, especially the friendship between Coleman and Dinah Greene. A charming mystery that entertains and surprises at the end like this one is a jewel. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
3586778
When I had the chance to read Assault in Forgotten Alley and realize there was a novella that started the series, A Scotch and Herring Mystery, I immediately downloaded Rampage on Rogers Avenue to meet the main characters right from the beginning. I am certainly happy I did!

The merge of Jewish life is prominent in this new series, but it is the characters that complement won my attention. I highly recommend you consider reading David Y. B. Kaufmann!

There is a mystery within the mystery regarding the relationship between James and Drew. They had been friends since they were very young, but something had occurred within the past few years that caused their separation. This is an ongoing issue that continues into the next book, and perhaps will enter future novels.

In this first mystery, we enjoy the first encounter of the two friends. Drew is now married and has become a Rabbi. His father was a police officer, killed in the line of duty... Although James had known about some of this, and had even attended events in the background, they had not spoken...
I wasn't quite sure whether James had taken advantage of the Jewish connection of his latest case in order to contact his old friend, and partner. Readers will begin to find little tidbits out that add a personal flavor to the series...Especially the development of Faigy, Drew's new wife...

Especially enjoyable is the interaction between the two friends as it relates to a case... James, by the way, had Drew's father as his mentor while Drew listened and observed his father in action as he handled his cases. Of the two, Drew is the Sherlock Holmes to his Watson, James McCallum...  James has an interesting background which will be explored more fully in the novel--review coming next. Apparently, James' father was on the other side of the law, BUT, was very good Friends with Police Officer Aldala, allowing the two young boys to become close friends. However, James has yet to be totally accepted as the new, and only, detective in his precinct and creates some prickly situations when he refuses to condone any type of prejudicial slurs against the Jews living in the community...

Another little tidbit, quite surprising, is the Rabbi's interest and collection of hero action comic books! I look forward to seeing how this is worked into the upcoming books!

A pawn shop has been broken into, the owner beaten...This mystery is not anywhere near the complexity of Assault in Forgotten Alley. It does a great job, however, of seeing the clues gathered by James, then Drew, and then readers listen while the two regurgitate the details almost ad nauseum as is sometimes the case for difficult cases. I enjoyed the back-and-forth banter and quickly decided this author had a new fan! Actually, you see, readers will either being learning new things, or being reminded of the symbols of the Jewish Religion while working to solve a difficult mystery! Loved it!

GABixlerReviews
4892552
Fun reading while waiting to see the Inspector solve the crime!
212789
Enjoyable storyline and a smart detective makes for a delightful read.
726490
The first few pages of this boom feel slightly confusing as to tone and direction, but keep going-- the direction is perfect and the character you've just met is one of many that will turn and twist  eliciting laughter, smiles and more laughter. The comedy is both as broad as Are You Being Served and as charming as The Pink Panther series. The mystery holds your attention with the same urgency as most good mysteries but for different reasons. This book is great fun and a pleasure to read. I would highly recommend it.
4354354
This series is a charming collection chronicling the tales of the world's newest crime-fighting duo: Archangel and Kelly.  Archangel is the eccentric cross-dressing detective who looks drop dead gorgeous in a skirt and sky high heels, while Kelly is his assistant who's expertise has more to do with breathing fire and cooking up a delicious breakfast than solving murders. Together, this oddball pair works together to create the greatest crime solving team since Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.  While a bit on the eccentric side Michael Archangel is an expert detective and can solve almost any case in under 24 hours. Kelly on the hand is endearingly average, with no background in criminal studies or forensics; her civilians perspective when surveying crimes scene make the readers connect with her almost instantly. Filled with witty repertoire, pop culture references and some pretty serious crime solving this is one of the best mystery series out there today. And it comes at a pretty amazing price; you'd be hard to find a single novel selling for the low price of this entire collection!  While the first book of the series is relatively short, in comparison to the others, it's the perfect introduction to our two favorite characters and sets the stage well for the following books. While equally charming and hilarious, the last two books of the collection definitely take a more serious turn as the crimes turn more serious and the characters are given much more depth. By the end Archangel and Kelly seem real enough to leap off the page. The only thing I'm disappointed in is that there isn't more!  I really hope this author comes out with some more books to add to this series, I'd love to hear more about Archangel and Kelly's lives.
4847756
Seniors' Sleuth is a delightful cozy mystery full of humor, warmth and intriguing plot-twist that kept me guessing right till the end. Usually I can surmise the answer to the mystery before the end, but in this novel, I couldn't - and yet, the end was fitting and believable, to my delight. The main character, Winston, is a nice guy if a bit of a bumbler, but his persistence and his dedication pay off. It isn't a fast-paced novel but the story never drags as we follow Winston's sleuthing through twists and turns from suspect to suspect to the charming and satisfying end. Well done, J.J. Chow!
2662711
I love the comfortable tone in this light-hearted whodunit that flowed easily from chapter to chapter, quickly becoming a page-turner that I did not want to put down. This mystery had a few twists and turns where I thought I had it figured out until that aha moment when I knew exactly who the killer was and it was fun watching it all play out. The author did a great job in the presentation of this story pulling me in so that Im rooting for Sarah and her merry band of sleuths whose age range from teens to the 70s. I like the camaraderie and the dialogue between this group and their interaction amongst the people of North Harbor. This was a wonderful read and I cant wait for more adventures with Sarah and her friends in the next book in this delightfully charming new series.
2425070
A Dickens of a Murder is the first book in the Canterville Book Shop Mystery series by Joyce and Jim Laveve. Lisa Wellman, a librarian who loves books, quit her job at the Portsmouth Public Library, and became a partner with a loyal library patron, Simon Canterville. Together, they opened a book shop in his wonderful old Victorian home in Olde Town Portsmouth, VA. Ebenezer Hart permits to open this shop within a mostly residential neighborhood were being hotly contested by Ebenezer Hart and several other residents of the neighborhood is hotly contesting the book shop making access to the required permits challenging. Shortly before the grand opening, Lois and Simon find a dead body lying on the roof of the house. Unfortunately, the body turns out to be Ebenezer positioned like The Hanged Man Tarot Card. Simon quickly becomes the primary person of interest in Ebenezers murder. The lead detective investigating the murder just happens to be Lisas ex-husband, Daniel Fairhaven. Just when Lisa cant imagine things getting worse, she meets a resident ghost, Charles Dickens, who is determined to haunt her into finishing his last novel. Their interactions bring a delightful touch of laugh out loud, humor to the story. Simon is framed for the murder, an attempt on Simon's life, a fire at the bookstore, an unpleasant meeting with Ashcroft (Simon's son and the suspicion of others, leads Lisa to use her sleuthing skills to search for the killer with Daniel. I appreciated cameo visits from literary characters from other series written by the Lavenes. It was fascinating to recognize how skillfully Joyce and Jim integrated Charles Dickens' life and writing into their story line, including quotes from several of his books. They brought Charles Dickens him to "life". The conversations between Lois and Charles, two people from different centuries, added a charming touch.  This was such a captivating story! I loved Simon and Lois, and the fondness between them and their pets (cats-Truffles, Maggie May and Puck, along with bulldog pup, Wordsworth).  I am looking forward to the further adventures of Lisa and Simon in the book shop and Lisas first novel. A delightful cozy mystery with a paranormal element, this is the perfect Christmastime book!

Disclaimer: I feel honored to have been given an Advanced Reading Copy by Jim Lavene dedicated to Joyce. I can picture Joyce smiling down from heaven as Jim and her family carry on her legacy. I received a copy of this book from the author to provide an unbiased review. That did not affect my ability to write and post an honest review. I believe anyone who appreciates a well written cozy mystery with a paranormal element and touch of humor will enjoy this book.
1549658
Alan Bradley has taken us on a convivial armchair adventure, a delicious romp into yesterday..into the lives of a quirky English village called Bishop's Lacey and the genteel poverty stricken residents of Buckshaw: the de Luce family where pies are as easily served up as murder (okay with the exception of Mrs. Mullet's custard pie). It is up to Flavia and her trusty BSA bike, Gladys to prove her father's innocence, and net a murderer; all the while her intellect running circles around the local constabulary.

And who wouldn't find Flavia de Luce enchanting? This enterprising young sleuth has a penchant for poison, can sing out the atomic number of arsenic and selenium by rote as easily as she can trill out the Mikado or hum along to the Tocatta by Pietro Domenico Paradis. She can extract a synthetic curare at the drop of the hat, distill the itchy humours of poison ivy, and yes..get pig-tailed deep into a postage stamp murder mystery of epic proportions.

Bradley's tale of the fabled Ulster Avengers and the hands that have made off with them reads like a chronicle of the Hope Diamond, replete with quaint British history and a surfeit of historical idioms that will be bound to amuse and engage.  He has created the most singular character in Flavia de Luce and it is a delight to read about her maiden voyage into Holmes' territory. Obviously we will be seeing more of Flavia in novels to come!
2403528
Having listened to the unabridged version of this latest story by P.D. James this past week, I was thoroughly entertained by her artful character development of all the characters.  The setting is a minor museum dedicated to a short but disturbing period of 20th century history.  The victim, while not shown in a very sympathetic light, was struck down shortly after insisting the museum be closed.  His siblings only half-heartedly try to help the investigation, while continuing to protect their own interests, the museum.  All the characters have their flaws, even the Inspector and his assistants, as they would in real life and P.D. James conveys this as well as any author I have read.  The attention to the little details make this story exceptional in relation to other current mysteries.  The killer is well concealed until the end of the story.  This is one of the best Dalgleish mysteries I have read and strongly recommend this book to P.D. James' fans.
4206115
Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted Criminal brings together elements of the Crow, Batman, and the Shadow in a story that, despite the obvious (to me anyways) homages to these characters, introduces an original character to add to the roster of supernatural-noir heroes.  The origin and action blend together seamlessly, and the humor made me chuckle several times.  It's a fun book to read-so give it a whirl. Highly recommended
2712626
I've been a big fan of William Deverell's crime novels ever since I met him at a Vancouver Library event back in early 2008, and grabbed a copy of APRIL FOOL, which had won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel (the Canadian crime writing award).

It took me a little while to settle into Deverell's style when I read that book - it's different to most other crime fiction - but once I did I really loved the adventures of Arthur Beauchamp, a Denny Crane-esque trying-to-be-retired legal legend. Deverell melds quirky characters, witty dialogue, contemporary themes, satire, crime, and literary touches into a richly authentic Canadian setting.

SNOW JOB is the fourth of trial lawyer turned novelist Deverell's six Beauchamp books (out of 18 novels in total since 1979), and in this one the man many consider the doyen of Canadian crime writing really ramps up the satirical touches. There's a madcap sort of feel to the book, which I found really enjoyable but may be a bit marmite-y for some crime fans (ie you love it or hate it).

Arthur Beauchamp is a terrific character. He's a bit of a bumbler in everyday life, a semi-retired lawyer living on a farmlet on Garibaldi Island, who gets himself into all sorts of misadventures. But inside a courtroom he's peerless, even if he starts to doubt his abilities as he ages. There's just something incredibly lovable about old Arthur, and the cast of misfits who surround him.

SNOW JOB just screams Canada too - from the weather to the politics to the cities and their citizens. It often seems that Deverell has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, but there's a sense of love beneath the satire as the crime plot rumbles along. Along with twice winning Canada's top crime writing prize for his Beauchamp series, Deverell has won the very prestigious Hammett Prize for literary excellence in crime writing, and prizes for humorous writing. That resume gives you a good sense of the melting pot that is a Beauchamp book - there's courtroom thriller aspects, humour of a variety of shades, politics, and a lovely literary style that is readable but also intelligent.

This one sees Arthur in the cold of Ottawa rather than his beloved Garibaldi Island off the coast of British Columbia, as well as travelling to Eastern Europe, so there are a few new tweaks. If I'm brutally honest, SNOW JOB may not be my favorite read of the Beauchamp series, but that's just because Deverell sets the bar so high. I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend it.
1785055
Murder and mayhem await as our much loved author/ sleuth sets off to visit friends at their "little castle" resort in the Highlands.

I was pleased to read an advance copy of this book.

In this latest escapade, Diane manages to set her sleuthing skills to work on a tangled mystery involving multiple business and marital betrayals, give us some awesome descriptions of the Isle of Skye, and get in some writing - that is the fictional author is busy sleuthing as well as writing.

I always enjoy the colorful characters, as well as Diane's wry sense of humor.

If you enjoy a classic Christie style mystery with a bit of modern flair and technology, this could be your next murder mystery.
2480916
This is another thoroughly enjoyable mystery from one of my favorite writers, Judith Cutler. Jane Cowan is just the sort of nuanced character that Cutler can sink her teeth into. Victim of horrific spousal abuse, Jane has worked hard not to let that define her. She's funny, she's smart, she's hardworking, and she's an excellent school administrator. In many ways, she reminds me of another favorite Cutler character, Fran Harman. Both characters certainly have superb people skills.

Another thing that I liked about Head Start is that Jane isn't your typical amateur sleuth, and with the horrible things that have happened to her in the past, she shouldn't be. She has more sense than to tackle investigating vandalism, theft, "accidents" and the like on her own. She lets the police do their jobs and keeps them informed.

While readers can learn about the joys, trials, and terrors of teaching, they're also experiencing a finely crafted plot filled with twists and turns. First and foremost, who's responsible for what's going on? Does Jane's ex-husband have someone on the outside doing his dirty work for him? Is all this even aimed at Jane to begin with? Could it be aimed at the school itself? Readers have to pay attention to navigate the plot and arrive at the proper solution.

The reveal happens offstage because Jane let the experts handle all the heavy lifting, and this didn't bother me a bit. It's realistic. 99.9% of amateur sleuths who think they know more than the police are only going to make everyone's lives more difficult. Head Start is a fast-paced, first-rate puzzle of a mystery with an appealing heroine. I hope to read more books featuring Jane Cowan.