Review: Yellow Iris: A Short Story

Yellow Iris: A Short Story by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of Agatha Christie's popular character, Hercule Poirot is back, this one is a case that is very different then the previous ones. Poirot receives a call from a woman who is need of his assistance to help him stop a killer that might be wanting to kill her.

These short stories of Christie's are so nice when you need something quick to read, or you don't have the time to start or want to start a new book just so you can quit reading in a half an hour. These are quick, cute, fun little reads that still filled with plenty of enjoyment as a full length novel.

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Review: The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger: A Short Story

The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger: A Short Story by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of Agatha Christie short stories featuring Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, husband and wife in which they run a PI business. Tommy and Tuppence are very witty and quick with each other which makes them a very enjoyable couple. Every time I read a story of them I know I'm going to get a good laugh out of them. The mystery is easy to figure out, but it's the play of T&T in which I enjoy the most. This short story finds T&T (As I'm known to call them) Have receive a blue envelop of which has information of international importance hidden beneath the stamp, but there not the only ones that are interested in it, it seems that the Russian Mob is also, and Tommy seems to get himself tangled up in it. Like I said the mystery is easy to solve it's Tommy and Tuppence and their quick wit, funny lines which reminds me of the way my husband and I are. I think we've all got a little bit of T&T in us



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Review: The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What the way to start off my New Year with a fantastic book! The story was was remarkable, entertain, suspenseful, intriguing, and very interesting. I don't believe I've ever read a book like this before, but I'm so happy I decided to go ahead and get this book.

However, this book can be confusing but if you just stay with it, it will all make sense and before you know it, you've been consumed by this story. There's so many characters that you have to keep track of, not just by name, but what they do, who they are to who, etc. etc, but that's ok, before long you're knowing why they are telling you what they are telling you, there giving you some clues to many things, that will have you thinking ahead.

The story starts out in the 1920, but at times, you would think it was around the 1800's, but really the date doesn't matter, nor really play a huge part in it except for one day. By one day, I mean Aiden Bishop will relive the same day over and over and over, but not as himself, oh no this is where you need to pay attention, each time he wakes up his 'host' is a different person, he only has eight host and each host is at this same event, Aiden has to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. If he can't solve the whodunit by the time his last host is there, then when he wakes up again, then the loop starts all over again, but with out his memories.

This really is a fascinating book, there's a little bit fantasy, little bit of literature, little bit of magic, and a whole lot of mystery! This book will have you wanting to hurry home from work, keeping you from doing housework, keep you reading on these cold days or warm days depending on the season your reading it. You'll find yourself thinking about this book until you've picked up where you left off.

The writing of the book is really good, very interesting and unique story, well thought out as to how to keep the reader engrossed in the story. The story had a nice pace to it, not to fast for you to lose what's going on, nor to slow to where you want to skip ahead. This is going to be the book that many will still talk about in the coming year. This will be one of those books that everyone needs to read.

If your still on the fence about reading it like I was, don't waste your time thinking about just pick the book up and read it, it won't disappoint, in fact this will be the one you recommend the most to friends, family, co-workers, even the person sitting next you at the doctors office. I highly, highly recommend you give this book a try, you'll really enjoy it




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Review: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful story between a grandfather and grandson and also a dad and son. The way this story was written was like poetry, it really touches you in more ways then one. It's hard to tell a child about Alzheimer's, especially when that person doesn't know how to tell them themselves.

Noah Noah as his grandfather calls him, and the grandfather have shared a love with each for so many reasons, both love mathematics, grandpa's jokes, both love grandma/wife, and the love between them. Grandpa wants to tell Noah Noah what is happening to him before he forgets who they both are, but there fear for grandpa, fear losing all his wonderful memories of the life with grandma and her dislike for coriander, forgetting his favorite number game, him forgetting his son, Ted, who didn't like math but loved words, and forgetting who Noah Noah is. It's also hard for Noah Noah to see grandpa forgetting things, and not understanding or knowing what's wrong with grandpa as he see's his beloved grandfather decline.

This story will make you smile, laugh, and cry, you can feel the emotions come out of the story, it will leave you breathless and speechless, it will help you see things from a child's eye, and the fear of the adult, this is a wonderful story everyone should read

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Review: Mardi Gras Murder

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You can’t go wrong reading about Mardi Gras, with it’s fun, colorful, entertaining, excitement, and that’s exactly what I found reading this book. The descriptions of the characters, the place, the atmosphere, made me feel like I was involved in the whole aspect of the book.

Maggie is the main character and the amateur sleuths. Gran’ is a judge in the Miss Pelican contest, but when she takes ill, she convinces Maggie to be her replacement. After a confrontation with another judge, Maggie latter discovers him in his car….dead. Of course, Maggie can’t help herself, she’s going to jump in and investigate his death. There’s also a another small mystery in the background, which helps break up the book so it’s not all about the dead judge, you get to know the character’s more and more in each book.

Maggie herself smart, edge, she takes risks but nothing that will put her in harms away. The characters can be a little quirky, but that’s what brings the life to these characters. The book itself is the fourth in a series, and I found it to be easily read as a standalone, without feeling lost and wondering who was who. The plot was interesting and kept me entertained and wanting to keep reading it. When I did stop I couldn’t wait to get back to it to see what was happening, I keep second guessing as to who dun it, but when I finally settled on the one, I was very surprised I got it right, as sometimes I don’t. The descriptions of the characters, the town, the history was very well written and not so over the top as some are. The humor of the book was well written and in all the right spots.

Overall, this book is well worth the read.


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Review: The Changeling Murders

The Changeling Murders by C.S. Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the fourth book in The Thief Taker series by C.S. Quinn. Charlie Tuesday, the main character, continues in his adventures with his complex life. Set in Renaissance England, The author detail and description provides an atmosphere of what England was really like during the 17th century.
Rebellion has broken out against the king. When the great fire broke out and wasted most of the city, King Charles II has no money to rebuild, poverty is plentiful in the city, and paranoia is among everyone. The people are noticing how Charles II is spending money on his mistress, Lady Castlemain, this ensures the people Charles not only supports the theater, but also prostitution, after all, Lady Castlemain was a prostitute before becoming a Lady.

Maria, Tuesday’s former love is kidnapped on her way to a wedding. When a dead body is found it is dressed in Maria’s clothes. Lily, Charlie’s partner teams up with him to help find Maria. A note also states that if Charlie doesn’t find The Lord and Lady before the end of Lent, Maria will die. Now Charlie must against the clock to find the mysterious Lord and Lady whom he doesn’t know who or where they are. For all he knows they could be standing right in front of him.

I loved this book, and found that it could be a standalone if you didn’t want to start from book one, but why wouldn’t you? The author has really done a remarkable research on this time period. Fast paced, intriguing, adventurous, twist and turns, the chapters are short but leave you wanting to continue on reading. The characters are wonderful, enjoyable, some are more tolerable then others, but you need those also in a book to make the story plausible, and engaging.


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Review: The Voice Inside

The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank Netgalley, the author and of course the publisher, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Night Birds was the first book in this series, and if you haven’t read it, this would be a good book to start with from the author. If you don’t want to start a new series and just read a book, this one does make a good standalone one to read.

Frost Easton is back, after the death of his sister, by a serial killer, works in homicide for the San Francisco Police Department. The killer was caught and imprisoned, but now may go free, because a fellow police officer, and his closest friend planted false evidence to put Rudy Cutter behind bars.

Rudy has sworn revenge on those who has wrong him including a woman who wrote a book about him, and seems to know more about him than anyone else. Easton wants nothing than to keep him behind bars. All the while Frost is battling his own demons. He has a cat named Shack, and he’s pretty important to Frost, and he’s got on huge personality! He doesn’t talk, he doesn’t go and solve the murders for Frost, and he’s just your typical, every day, cat.

The book well keeps you turning the pages long into the night. I loved the plot and the characters, the action, the adventure, the suspense; the pace of the book was really good. I’m looking forward to a third book and hopefully many more from this series.


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