Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

 Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

Ernest Cunningham #3

Benjamin Stevenson

Reviewed by Helen

Ernest is at it again solving a murder or two, this time his ex-wife Erin rings him just on Christmas and while he is busy with plans for his wedding to Juliette, she is in jail accused of the murder of her boyfriend Lyle Pearce he cannot not get himself involved so off to the Blue Mountains he travels.

If you have read the first two books in the series you will know that Ernest’s way of unravelling the clues is different to say the least and this one is no different, arriving at the jail to talk to Erin he gets started Lyle was a philanthropist helping young people overcome their problems and he has sponsored a magician Rylan Blaze to do a tour this year, but as Ernest investigates at the venue Rylan also loses his life in such a bizarre way, will Ernest find the killer or killers? There are quite a few suspects to choose from.

This is another very interesting story in this series one that I did very much enjoy, I love the authors style of writing and the clues along the way had me thinking hard I didn’t pick who done it till the end, this is one that I do highly recommend a good mystery that is witty and different.

4 stars

October 22, 2024 by Penguin Random House Australia

Widows Walk

 Widows Walk

Martha's Vineyard Murders #3

Raemi A Ray 

Reviewed by Helen

Another brilliant story in this series this time Kyra and Tarek find themselves solving a few murders when they are invited to a Thanksgiving dinner at the historic mansion on Chappaquiddick but who is the killer and will Kyra survive this one.

Kyra did not want to attend this dinner but when her boss has come from London and her client insists that she be there, she and her friends attend on Thanksgiving Day, Chappy is meant for the very wealthy and it is cut off and can be very dangerous when the wind blows and the weather and tides move in, when the first body is found at the bottom of the servants stairs, they are all wondering if it was an accident or murder vital papers for a take-over are signed as soon as they declare the victim is dead, this is a worry and off course having Julie and Wes there adds to the tense atmosphere knowing how much they dislike Kyra, but when a second body is found and the internet also goes no phone lines they are totally cut off, the pressure builds and Tarek gets everyone into one room but which one of them is the killer?

This is a page turner of a story the tension builds with each turn of the page, how many victims will there be? Will her friends Chase and his friend Gerry and her aunt and uncle all survive? How will Tarek and herself come out of this one? This is a must read story that I highly recommend to any reader who loves a classic who done it. I loved this one and look forward to many more mysteries on Martha’s Vineyard, thank you MS Ray for another fabulous story.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

November 6, 2024 by Tule Publishing

The Body in the Lighthouse

 The Body in the Lighthouse

A Georgina Drake Mysteries #4

Kate Hardy

Reviewed by Helen

Another fabulous story in this awesome series, this one takes us to a lighthouse in Summerstrand when Georgina has an assignment to take photos and interview the owner, Eliot Manson who is renovating it, much to the dislike of many of the locals, but when she arrives with her trusty dog Bert and her partner DI Colin Bradshaw what they find is the owner dead and then Bert digs up a bone, which means two cases to investigate.

The investigation starts in earnest with Doris helping with the body found buried, and Georgina is enthused to help uncover what happened to them and who they are, but the scene in the lighthouse looks very suspicious to Colin and Georgina and with the fact that the victim is not well liked by anyone only his fiancé there may be a lot of suspects to interview with the forensic team on the case there are some answers coming in and it classed as a murder.

When the victims fiancé is found dead as well more questions are piling up and the pressure is on Colin to find the answers, of course Georgina is there to help she is very good at getting answers to her questions and with Doris helping with the buried body they soon discover who this person is and are uncovering the reason for his death, but will they discover who killed Eliot Manson.

This is a page turner of a book one that I read in one sitting, I could not put it down, so well written it kept my mind turning trying to work out who done it, Kate Hardy brings the characters and the setting to life in her stories and of course Georgina, Colin, Doris and Bert are a formidable team they work through things and get the answers, I do highly recommend this one and the series and look forward to many more mysteries to uncover in this beautiful setting.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

October 29, 2024 by Storm Publishing

A Saxon Shadow

 A Saxon Shadow

Chief Inspector Shadow #8

H L Marsay

Reviewed by Helen

I came into this series late and I have only read book one and now this one, but I loved the first one and this one as well and I am really looking forward to catching up with the others in the series, I am loving Chief Inspector John Shadow set in his ways and not impressed with all of the new ways of policing and then there is Sergeant Jimmy Chang, they make a fabulous team together.

There is a lot happening around York at the moment vandalism in the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey not to mention the break and enters that have been happening and Shadow and Jimmy are on the case when they are called to The Mill house when the owner and eccentric business man and one who obsessed with Saxon history is found dead in his study. It appears that it may have been a burglary gone wrong with another one in the village that same time as well, but is it, can Shadow and Jimmy get the answers they need to discover what happened?

This one is filled with such fabulous characters most interested in the Saxon history of the area and searching for a treasure trove of historical items that people have been searching for, for many years, the list of suspects grows as does Shadow’s indigestion with Jimmy’s mind moving fast and coming up with thoughts as well.

This is such a fabulous mystery, it had me thinking I didn’t pick the culprit till the very end, this story is witty and I love the interaction between Shadow and Jimmy, I do highly recommend this one, I am looking forward to catching up with the series.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

October 7, 2024 by Tule Publishing

A Matter of Life and Depths

 A Matter of Life and Depths

Cruising Sisters Mystery #2

K B Jackson

Reviewed by Helen

Book two and Char and Jane are off on another cruise, this time to Japan so the cruise is themed with all things Japanese, it should be a great cruise now that they are living on the cruise ship with hopes of travelling the world meeting new people and enjoying themselves, but at the reception night Char is fuming when she realizes who else is travelling her dead husband’s mistress the woman who had a child that Char always wanted and the woman who tried to take this cruise ship apartment away from her has taken a job as yoga instructor aboard, tempers flare, how will this cruise end?

Char and Jane are both fuming, that Kyrie Dawn and her son Quinton who is the spitting image of her husband are here, sailing towards Yokohama and Chef Elliot is found dead in the yoga studio with Kyrie Dawn standing over him with the murder weapon in her hand, when she is put under arrest by head of security the handsome Xavier, but when he asks that Char look after Quinton, that is a big ask, but she will not say no and the more time both she and Jane spend with Quinton the more they get to love her husband’s love child and the more determined the they both are to prove Kyrie Dawn innocent, especially when there are two more murders and Char and Xavier are put in a very dangerous position.

Another fabulous story in this series, fabulous characters, fabulous settings and a mystery that was throwing red herrings all the way through I had no idea who was doing the killing until the very end, and seeing how Char coming to terms with all that is happening with her new life as a travelling single woman and how things have worked out with Kyrie Dawn and little Quinton.

I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a good cosy mystery, it is fabulous.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

August 28, 2024 by Tule Publishing

The Wraith's Return

 The Wraith's Return

Martha's Vineyard Murders #2

Raemi A Ray

Reviewed by Helen

Book two in this series and again it was a fabulous read, Kyra has come back to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer, she intends to relax and enjoy, her last visit was filled with danger as she investigated her father’s death and after making friends and getting close to Detective Tarek Collins, he has ghosted her since she left the island, but she is happy to catch up with Chase and the other friends she has made, but when a storm uncovers the shipwreck of a pirate ship this starts a war between treasure hunters and conservationists and Kyra gets caught in the middle when two of the salvagers die and friend and pub owner Gully is arrested for murder.

When Gully is arrested his best friend Tarek arrives back on the island to prove his innocence and this brings Kyra and Tarek together again and investigating another murder, the big question is why would someone kill the two divers are they after the treasure or is there another reason, so many questions not enough answers and then when a local is murdered and another one is missing things heat up and soon Chase and Kyra find themselves in danger traipsing through dangerous caves, will they make it out alive will Tarek find them in time?

This is really another well written murder, mystery that had me turning the pages and guessing till the end so many fabulous characters good and bad and of course catching up with friends from the first book is always good, Martha’s Vineyard is a fabulous setting for this story and I am really looking forward to the next one in the series.

I do highly recommend this one to any reader who loves a good murder mystery, I loved it.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

August 22, 2024 by Tule Publishing

The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman

 The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman

The Lady in Blue Series #3

H L Marsay

Reviewed by Helen

We are back with Dorothy Peto and Scotland Yard and I loved it H L Marsay has taken me on another mystery through London and are investigating a series of jewel thefts, when Dorothy is requested specifically to assist in the case of searching for a missing Frenchman, Colonel Lamarchant has arrived requesting help to discover the whereabouts of his relation, Marquis De Nagay and then this takes them to a country house in Yorkshire, will they get the answers they need to uncover their missing Frenchman and what about the jewel thefts?

Dorothy fits really well at Stray Park in Yorkshire and is a great help to Inspector Derwent but the more questions they ask the more they have, when the body of a man is discovered they immediately think it is the Marquis De Nagay, but no it is not and Dorothy is convinced they need to return to Stray Park and Yorkshire retracing the Marquis’s steps is not giving them answers and the Colonel is getting closer to Dorothy and they seem to be getting nowhere fast, but Dorothy is feeling very strong about the views of the of detectives and the group of Irish, communists and conscientious objectors, will they find the Marquis and will they discover the answers about the jewel thefts are they linked somehow?

I loved this one from start to finish and I was guessing till the end, what a story suspenseful and a page turner, I really am loving this series I think Dorothy is the best she is so real and honest as she learns her way through Scotland Yard and Inspector Derwent is just so good, this is one that I highly recommend and the ending was not what I expected but so good, it really is a fabulous story and I can’t wait for more.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars