This is my favorite of the inspector Chen series
586673
This is my favorite of the inspector Chen series. It is a real page turner, the tight intensity of the plot softened by Qiu's elegant translation of Tang Dynasty poems and his characteristic descriptions of mouth -watering dishes.
1963697
One of the best installments in this excellent series, I read this in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. Charles Lenox and his fellow detectives are interesting, engaging characters who continue to develop and evolve. The murders are well-plotted and believable when the killer is revealed. But one of the things I like best about this series is the tone of Finch's writing. There is such a spirit of gratitude and kindness, along with some great humor that is never mean spirited. This series is well worth reading and Finch is one of my favorite new writers.
4142832
Bury Your Dead brings the Inspector Gamache series to a new level. Louise Penny balances three story lines throughout the book and further develops the recurring characters. This is my favorite book so far.

If you are just starting these books, take the time to read them in order. While each book solves the recent murder, the ensemble characters have background story lines that span the series making them much more enjoyable if read in order.
The books continue to provide insights and history about Quebec that enrich the reading. Very enjoyable.
1936942
I think this is my favourite of this series. The plot is mostly engaging though somewhat predictable at times but the themes of survival in a difficult environment and problem solving and ethical and emotional imperatives make it satisfying. I looked forward to the next in the series.
3568784
This has been the best book in the series so far! I loved it so much that I took a several day break before starting the next book just to soak it up.

The murder of Sarah's husband has been in the background of the story pretty much since the beginning and it was nice to finally have it solved. I liked the mystery itself and was very pleased with the resolution.

I had some reservations initially about the introduction of another POV character. Up until this book the stories were always told from Frank and Sarah's perspective. In this book Maeve joins in the mystery solving and gets her POV added. Up until now I haven't been a huge fan of Maeve but it was nice to get to really know her. I liked her in this book much more than in any of the previous books.

I think this book was a huge step forward in Frank and Sarah's relationship and I am eager to continue their story arc.

Sarah also had quite a bit of time with her family in this book. With Maeve gone her mother got to help take care of her foster daughter Catherine. It was interesting to see the emotions that brought to the surface in Sarah.

This book marks a huge change in Sarah's relationship with her parents and ends with her going home for a while to process what she learned about her husband's murder.

This was an amazing book! I can't wait for the next one!
3586853
"Scones and Bones" is the twelfth installment in the Laura Child Tea Shop Mystery series. I picked the first one up years ago and was pretty much hooked from that point forward. The vast majority of the books have been wonderful with the exception of the last one, "The Teaberry Strangler" which I thought was one of the weaker installments. I was a bit worried since many series seem to fall apart around book seven or so and thought maybe this one had run its course. I am pleased to report that, in my opinion, "Scones and Bones" is back on track and is another good entry in a very strong series of cozies.

Set in Charleston, South Carolina, the Indigo Tea Shop owned by our protagonist Theo Browning is the center of most of the action. In addition to Theo, we have Drayton the master tea-blender and Hayley, the baker/chef for the tea shop as supporting cast. This time out, the murder takes place quickly in the story with a dead body found the Heritage Society's Plunder and Plunder party (which has a pirate connection). One of the exhibits ends up missing and Theo is immediately caught up in trying to figure out who the thief and murder is. Running down clues and gathering information from folks in the historical district of Charleston provides plenty of interesting back-drop as well as a plethora of possible suspects.

I adore the character of Drayton and was glad to see him more prominently featured this time out. Both he and Hayley take more active roles in the mystery than they did the last time which is a very good thing. Even more background information about these two characters would be appreciated as they are interesting additions to the cast. Charleston itself is front and center again providing a story rich in atmosphere and history - the city really is one of the characters. This installment was heavier on the setting and lighter on the mystery than usual.

I actually thought we were on target for a 5-star rating until I hit the last 30 pages. Up until that time, I had settled on my couch in front of one of the last fires of the season and was absolutely delighted. In the last section of the book, things didn't work so well and the ending felt rushed and a bit contrived where Theo (normally reasonably thoughtful) does a couple of really stupid things that feel totally out of character. Sad to have a less than stellar ending to what had been a wonderful read, but it's still a good book and worth a read.

For fans of this series, I think you will be pleased and if this is your first try at these, you can pick it up without having all the previous background. As is true with most cozies, it is best to start at the beginning and move forward but this one could easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

Glad to see Laura Childs hasn't lost her touch and I am looking forward to "Agony of the Leaves" when it is published.
1864071
Shamini Flint has created a series that I love to read. The character of Inspector Singh is the perfect blend of humor and intelligence, and there's the added bonus of following him from case to case throughout Southeast Asia. In many ways this series is comparable to Tarquin Hall's which is set in India and features private investigator Vish Puri. Both give Westerners insight into incredibly rich cultures so very different from their own.

A Curious Indian Cadaver begins with an emotional blockbuster of a scene set in 1984 immediately after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. When the news spread that she was killed by her Sikh bodyguards, it led to massive reprisals against anyone of that religious faith. This scene casts a long shadow of foreboding over the entire book. Any reader will know that what happens will never be forgotten. There will be consequences.

This fifth book in the series lets us see much more of the dreaded Mrs. Singh, a woman of the strongest opinions who is the main reason why the inspector loves to be constantly on the job. (She's a marvelous cook, so he does like to be home at meal time however.) Readers get to see how this odd couple fits in with their relatives in Mumbai-- those family connections which are so all-important in India-- and it gives Mrs. Singh a chance to see her husband in action... even to put herself in his shoes for a second or two. After being in her company for such an extended period, the inspector begins to see his wife in a different light as well. Will they get along better in future? Only time will tell.

The powerful opening scene that I mentioned earlier in many ways weakened the mystery for me. I knew that "payment" was due for 1984, and that made certain aspects of the plot rather predictable. But as I've stated in other reviews, the best crime fiction isn't merely about crime. It's also about characters, setting, and motivations. A Curious Indian Cadaver brought India to life for me and gave me a greater appreciation of its culture. I thought about how some people never seem to realize that two wrongs don't make a right, as tired as that phrase may be. It also allowed me to spend time with one of my favorite characters. Inspector Singh never ever disappoints!
1055063
This is my favorite in the series so far. I think its because Im falling more for these characters with each new book. That and theres something a bit more mysterious.

Mac McClellan is branching out from private investigations. His girlfriend talks him into joining the Palmetto Paranormal Society. Now hes ghost hunting. Not one for whimsy, his military background formed him into a no nonsense man, hes skeptical about things that go bump in the night.

Its not long before his lark with the paranormal becomes real. The president of the society is found dead under suspicious circumstances and, as Mac does his thing investigating the death, more bodies start piling up.

Since the dead aren't speaking, Mac investigates the only way he knows how, checking suspects off his list, digging up knew ones (pardon the pun), and stepping on toes. He may not be subtle, but hell get his man, or woman.

I really like Mac. I admire his discipline and bravery. Adore his affection for his dog, sneaking him human tidbits even though the dog will thank him with odiferous emissions later. And hes quite the ladies man. Though hes not fooled by a pretty cover. Hes just as likely to open a ladies door as to grill her when he suspects something fishy.  And he doesnt stray from his lady love. Mac knows a good thing when hes got it.

The author gives you a wide variety of suspects and more than one mystery to solve. He puts you in the setting, feeling the humidity of the southern air, smelling the fishy scent of the ocean, and hearing the calls of the soaring gulls. Im a southern gal and felt right at home. Minus a dead body or two.

Theres also plenty of action. Things get burnt up and bullets fly. SSDD for Mac.

If you're looking for a fun detective series with a great storyline, look no further.
874681
I love these mysteries, thank you Louise Penny. The question always is, how will Dective Inspector Gamache, his second in command Beauvoir, and yes, the villagers of Three Pines solve the murder. More than the who-done-it, I love the eccentric villagers of Three Pines as well as the cops. Penny always manages to show us different sides of each character. My favorite book in this series is The Beautiful Mystery. It's a closed door mystery that takes place in a monestary out in the middle of a Canadian nowhere. I recommend reading all her books in this series in order. However, you don't have to read all her books in order. Penny does a good job giving new readers the back story behind the characters. So. relax and be prepared to finish each book in one sitting. Each one is a page turner.
1517154
Detective Sgt. DC Smith is rapidly replacing Morse, Lewis, and Poirot as my all-time favorite detective.  Peter Grainger has developed him as a complex and fascinating, yet realistically human and fallible character.  In addition, each novel is filled with gems of what I think of as "GI humor" - the dark, sometimes brutal jokes that soldiers, cops, and emergency medical staff use to keep their morale up and to keep the horrors they witness at bay.  Smith is a master at using this kind of humor and Mr. Grainger weaves it into his stories in a fashion that adds to the realism, in addition to sometimes causing me to spray coffee over my Kindle.  This book, like his others I have read, lacks high speed chases, shootouts, and terrorist bombings, but you won't miss those tired old cliches.  Instead, you will get something much closer to real police work, made fascinating by the treatment of the characters that people these books.  I am already well into the next book in this series.  You should join me.
1298814
I like all the mysteries in this series! This one is my favorite. I love how the author takes her time and develops the story slowly - such a treat to find mysteries that I can't read in one sitting. The characters are complex and unique. Can't wait for the next one.
4456971
I have been reading this series since the beginning and this one has been my favorite so far.  Caprice's Sister Nikki is having professional problems with a rival caterer.  She decides to confront him and asks Caprice to accompany her.  Of course they stumble over his dead body and Nikki is the suspect.  Caprice sets out to clear her sister and solve the crime.  I liked this one because of the mystery.  I was surprised by the who did it.  There are plenty of suspects and red herrings to make it interesting.  I also liked it that she works closer with the police rather than against them.  The romantic triangle has also ended.  There are lots of decorating, animals and recipes.  This series should be read in order.  Enjoy this fun light cozy mystery.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
1115317
I love Anne Perry's Inspector Monk series. Not only are they good mysteries (this one totally fooled me), they provide a wonderful insight into daily life in Victorian England. You feel as if you're there, under the gaslights, hearing the sounds along the Thames and peeking into the living rooms of every class of Londoner. Because there are repeating characters, it is best to read them in order; however, each does stand well on its own.
4717908
This is another fine additional to the "Inspector Banks" series of mysteries.  Robinson does a great job of incorporating the story line from his book AFTERMATH into FRIEND OF THE DEVIL.  He also very cleverly incorporates his story line from THE FIRST CUT into this one as well.  Interestingly enough, THE FIRST CUT is a stand alone novel, and not part of this series.

I have one minor complaint about the book and that is the character of Annie.  Since she was first introduced into the series, she has been presented as a good cop with a lot of baggage, which has made her an interesting and intriguing character.  However, I think the time has come to have her break out of that mold and get it together.  It's starting to become more of the same, and I think Robinson can do better with this character.  In fact, I would like to read more about Winsome.  I think that character could add a great deal to the series.

I would recommend reading both AFTERMATH and THE FINAL CUT before reading this one.  While it's not necessary to, I think that will make reading FRIEND OF THE DEVIL much more enjoyable.
1906911
This series featuring DI Jimmy Perez is a great favorite and I eagerly await each new book in the story.  The setting is wonderful (the Shetlands are now on my bucket list of places to visit) and the characters are well developed and utterly believable.  Perez is not exactly the gung ho detective type but a pensive, melancholic man beset by feelings of doubt.  That adds to his attractiveness as a protagonist although at times the reader might want to give him a push and say "all right, let's get a move on."  Despite the characters and the lovely setting, the action was a bit slow in this novel.  As a result of a landslide, the body of a mysterious woman was discovered.  The task of the police was to identify her and discover who murdered her.  There were several suspects and one in particular became a prime suspect despite a couple of red herrings, but Jimmy and his team, including his superior from Inverness seemed to move at a slow pace.  However, it was still enjoyable and I look forward to the next installment.  Judging from a new development, the Inspector from Inverness will undoubtedly make an appearance.
1085546
I think this is my favorite Gamache novel so far. It was a good mystery, but the draw for me is the way Louise Penny creates realistic characters, with problems and flaws common to us all.
I think the inspector feels empathy for the criminals he hunts and this helps him succeed. This book would stand alone but you would have a better understanding of the main characters if you read the books in order.
1166516
This is the fifth installment of a six-part series of books (Sill Life With Memories) by Uvi Poznansky. I have read all of the previous volumes and have really enjoyed them all, but this one was my favorite. A couple of interesting things about this series that makes it unique are that it is not linear storytelling - it jumps from one time period to another from book to book - and the story in each volume is told from a different character's point of view. Because of that, you can really read the volumes in any order you choose. The characters are well-developed and believable, as is the plot of the story. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to the final installment.