September 2024 Additions to My Digital Security Blanket

 

Boy howdy, did I ever fall off the abstinence wagon in September. Sale prices, reward points... everything combined to keep me pressing the BUY NOW button. However, there's evidently something good about abandoning all restraint in buying eBooks. What is it? I haven't even visited any of my usual haunts to look at them for days. I looked at my list and couldn't believe how many eBooks I'd purchased, and my lack of restraint means that I'm going to have to streamline this post a bit or I'll be typing forever.

I've grouped my purchases according to their genres/subgenres, and if you click on the link in any of the book titles, you'll be taken to Amazon US where you can learn more about it-- including the synopsis, which is the main thing I'm leaving out in the interest of time. 

It's time to roll out the record of my gluttony...

=== Police Procedural ===

 

 

 

 

Less Than a Moment by Steven F. Havill. Set in a fictional New Mexico county.

▲ This is one of my favorite series. The mysteries are always strong, and the cast of characters is phenomenal. I've been taking my time reading my way through the series because I know it's a Sure Thing.

 

 

The Third Sin by Aline Templeton. Set in southwestern Scotland.

▲ Another favorite series of mine. This is the last book in it, and since I'm almost ready to read it, I knew it was time to buy it. 

I've never been disappointed in any book that Templeton has written. Val McDermid calls her "the crime czar of the Scottish small town." Templeton brings small town Scotland to life with her strong mysteries and wonderful cast of characters. I'd have Big Marge Fleming investigate anything for me.

 

 

 

 

 

Murder in Copper by Virgil Alexander. Set in Arizona.

▲ I'm always on the lookout for mysteries set in Arizona, especially if they have Indigenous characters and culture in them, as this one does.

 

 

 

In Dark Water by Lynne McEwan. Set in Scotland.

▲ I've been missing Scotland a lot this year, so my reading keeps jumping back to that country. I've had my eye on this first book in the DI Shona Oliver series, and now I've got it.

 

 

Paper Cage by Tom Baragwanath. Set in New Zealand.

 

▲ This is another book I've had my eye on. a records clerk and amateur sleuth's young nephew disappears, and she drops everything to find him, with the help of a detective from Wellington. There's some excellent crime fiction coming from New Zealand, and I'm looking forward to reading this one.

=== Thriller ===

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wilderness Punishment by Todd Borg. Set in California.

 

 ▲ This is the third book in Borg's series featuring medieval history professor Josie Strong. He's come up with some interesting plots for Josie, and I do enjoy the characters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd. Set in New York City.

 

▲ I have a thing for cartography, so there's no way I could pass this one up! 

 

 

 

 

 

Holly by Stephen King. Set in Ohio.

 

▲ Stephen King has a conversational style that often mimics my interior monologue. I've read many (not all) of his books, starting with Carrie and 'Salem's Lot way back in the day. I was in the mood for some King, and-- as a matter of fact-- I'm about halfway through this now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red River Road by Anna Downes. Set in Australia.

 

 ▲ To be honest, the cover of this book has intrigued me since the first time I slapped eyes on it. Then I found out it was set on the west coast of Australia, and I was in... especially with reward points in my pocket!

 

 

 

 

 

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton.

 

▲ I love mysteries, and I enjoy dystopian fiction. Combine the two (Ben H. Winters wrote a superb The Last Policeman trilogy a few years ago) with a fun appearance at The Poisoned Pen, and this was another book I couldn't resist!

=== Short Story/Novella ===

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tasting Menu by Stuart MacBride. Set in the Highlands of Scotland.

 

▲ You can read my review of this short story if you like.

=== Cozy Mystery ===

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Peggy Rothschild. Set in California.

 

▲ I feel a need for a canine infusion, and since I enjoyed the first book in this series so much, I know that I'll get what I crave here.

=== Historical Mystery ===

 

 

 

 

 

Because I Would Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower. Set in Massachusetts.

 

▲ I've been eyeing this book for a long time, mainly because Emily Dickinson is the sleuth, and she is probably my favorite poet. I tend to be leery of mysteries using actual historical figures, but once in a while I bite the bullet and give a book a try. This is one of those times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hired Guns by Steve Hockensmith. Set in Arizona.

 

 ▲ A new Western historical mystery by one of my favorite authors. I simply could not resist!

=== Golden Age Mystery ===

 

The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey. Set in England.

▲ I can be a bit stubborn. I've kept trying Golden Age mysteries because I read raves by many other people about them, and I feel as though I'm missing out. For the most part, I'm just not a Golden Age mystery fan, but there is an occasional exception, and Josephine Tey is the prime one. I've enjoyed every one of her books that I've read, so when this one went on sale, you wouldn't believe how fast I jumped!

Whew! I'm finally done! What do you think of my haul? Have you read any of them? Did I tempt you with any of them? Inquiring minds would love to know!

August 2024 Additions to My Digital Security Blanket

 

You knew it was going to happen sooner or later. After months of relatively modest eBook buying, I fell off the wagon. I fell off the wagon so hard, I think I have wheel marks on my credit card. Granted, almost all of them were on sale for I-can't-pass-this-up prices, but there's no way I can avoid saying that August was a month of overindulgence. And since I did, I'd better shut up and start telling you about the eBooks I simply could not resist!

I've grouped my purchases by genre, and if you click on the links in the book titles, you'll be taken to Amazon US where you can learn more about them. I've also included authors' websites where available.

=== Police Procedural ===

Coffin Island by Kate Ellis. Set in England.

 

Synopsis: "Despite many years living in South Devon, DI Wesley Peterson has never visited the tiny island of St Rumon's. That is until erosion from a storm reveals three bodies buried outside the local churchyard.

Two are ancient skeletons, but one is far more recent, and Wesley realises he has uncovered a case of murder. But whose remains are they? And who killed them?

The island has only a small number of inhabitants. Yet one resident keeps cropping up in Wesley's investigation: the author and self-styled academic, Quentin Search.

Meanwhile Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, becomes fascinated by the remains of the island's old priory. His discovery of a journal, written by a sixteenth century cleric, reveals an eerie tale of strange rituals and disturbing deaths.

As Wesley begins to wonder whether the past might be repeating itself, another murder occurs . . . There is a calculated killer on the island - one whose grip is as deadly as the rising tide." 

▲ This is a favorite series of mine, so much so that I've already read it. You can take a look at my review if you like.

 

 

Blind Eye by Aline Templeton. Set in Scotland.

 

Synopsis: "DCI Kelso Strang is led to believe that something very odd is going on around the prosperous fishing port of Tarleton on Scotland's south-east coast.

Firstly, a young detective inspector is traumatised after witnessing a doctor throwing herself off a cliff, and accusations of extortion have riven the local community. When the ugly death of a young farmer sets off a murder investigation, Strang finds himself caught in a spider's web of criminality.

He is entirely unprepared when he is struck by the worst tragedy of his career, even though it has connected him with an advocate's assistant, Catriona, daughter of DI Marjory Fleming." 

 

▲ This is an entry in another favorite series of mine. One of the reasons why I like it so much is because the author takes readers around lesser known areas of Scotland. This one looks especially intriguing because it ties in with her DI Marjory Fleming series-- another good'un. 

=== Thriller ===

Wilderness Justice by Todd Borg. Set in California.

 

Synopsis: "It was a brutal demand from the California Bureau of Investigation to medieval weapons expert Professor Josie Strong. Your 14-year-old daughter was picked up on a smuggling charge. Never mind whether she was framed. We’re going to send her to prison unless you help us find a twisted killer who is hiding in the Yosemite wilderness.

 

With no other options, Josie is forced to team up with a former student and professional hacker to find the missing killer. Instead, she finds evidence of a conspiracy and cover-up, and she and her daughter Samantha will be lucky to escape alive..."

▲ I enjoy Todd Borg's Owen McKenna series so much that when I learned he had a new series coming out, I pre-ordered them all. This is the second book in the Josie Strong series. You can read my review of the first, Wilderness Vacation, if you like.

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz.

 

Synopsis: "Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written—let alone published—anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot.

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that—a story that absolutely needs to be told.

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.

As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?" 

▲ The synopsis intrigued me so much, and the price was such an incentive that I couldn't resist this one.

Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T.J. Newman.

 

Synopsis: "Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.

More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.

Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent—Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife—who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.

There’s not much time. There’s even less air.

With devastating emotional power and heart-stopping suspense, Drowning is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them—against impossible odds." 

▲ I enjoyed this author's first thriller (Falling) so much that there's no way I could pass up a sale on this second title. I need to get to The Poisoned Pen for one of her events. She's a local author.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen. Set in Maine.

 

Synopsis: "Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built."

▲ I enjoyed the TV series Rizzoli & Isles so much that I kept telling myself I needed to read the books the series was based on. Especially when I got to meet the author at The Poisoned Pen. But... that never happened. When I saw this book on sale, I took a look and liked what I saw. I think this will be better since I won't read it with any memories of a TV series.

 

 

=== Short Stories ===

 

 

Lawless: New Stories of the American West by Various Authors. Set in the American West.

Synopsis: "Saddle up for a wild ride in this all-new volume of original short stories that explore the untamed lands and rugged characters that define the western frontier. From outlaws and lawmen to cowboys and frontiersmen, these tales capture the rough and tumble spirit of the West in all its glory and danger.

Lawless brings together thirteen of today’s best writers, each offering a unique perspective on the American frontier. From a boy caught between his abusive stepfather and the bank robbers he stumbles across to a young woman willing to do whatever she must for her freedom to a heart-pounding tale of tracking outlaws across the southwestern territories, these stories will transport you back to a time when the West was still raw and untamed, justice is scarce and life a constant battle for survival.

Featuring tales of adventure, intrigue, and the timeless struggle between good and evil, Lawless will take you on an unforgettable journey through the untamed heart of the American West."

▲ I do like reading stories set in the American West, and since this anthology has a few of my favorite authors (like Steve Hockensmith and Larry D. Sweazy), I couldn't resist.

=== Noir ===

Code of the Hills by Chris Offutt. Set in Kentucky.

 

Synopsis: "With his signature crackling prose, literary master Chris Offutt has staked out his own territory in crime fiction, a place of familial allegiances, old wounds, and revenge—the code of the hills. His new book, a sharp, twisty southern noir with echoes of James Sallis and Daniel Woodrell, will force Mick to face up to the way of life he thought he’d escaped.

Mick Hardin is supposed to be retired, transitioning to civilian life. Back in the hills of Kentucky after a two-year absence, he’d planned to touch down briefly before heading to France, marking the end of his twenty-year Army career.

But in Rocksalt, trouble is brewing. Mick’s sister Linda, recently reelected as sheriff, and her deputy Johnny Boy Tolliver are investigating the murder of Pete Lowe, a sought-after mechanic at the local racetrack. Mick doesn’t want to get involved—he wants to say his goodbyes and get out of Dodge. But when he reluctantly agrees to intervene in a family dispute requiring a light touch, he uncovers evidence of an illegal cockfighting ring and another body, somehow linked to the first. And then, Linda steps into harm’s way, leaving Mick to solve the crimes himself.

Code of the Hills is a harrowing novel of family—of what we’re willing to do to protect and avenge the ones we love." 

 

▲ This is another series that has turned out to be a favorite. Offutt has a way of making the natural world an integral part of his stories that I just love. This one was on sale (finally), and since I already have an advance reading copy of the book to follow, I knew I had to get this one.

 

 

=== Amateur Sleuth ===

 

 

How Lucky by Will Leitch. Set in Georgia.

 

Synopsis: "For readers of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Nothing to See Here, a first novel as suspenseful and funny as it is moving, the unforgettable story of a fiercely resilient young man living with a physical disability, and his efforts to solve a mystery unfolding right outside his door. 

Daniel leads a rich life in the university town of Athens, Georgia. He’s got a couple close friends, a steady paycheck working for a regional airline, and of course, for a few glorious days each Fall, college football tailgates. He considers himself to be a mostly lucky guy—despite the fact that he’s suffered from a debilitating disease since he was a small child, one that has left him unable to speak or to move without a wheelchair. 

Largely confined to his home, Daniel spends the hours he’s not online communicating with irate air travelers observing his neighborhood from his front porch. One young woman passes by so frequently that spotting her out the window has almost become part of his daily routine. Until the day he’s almost sure he sees her being kidnapped..." 

 

▲ The synopsis drew me in, and the reference to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time was probably the clincher. (I read Curious Incident... so long ago that I didn't have this blog yet!)

=== Non-Fiction ===

 

 

Left for Dead: A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis by Peter Nelson and Hunter Scott.

 

Synopsis: "Hunter Scott first learned about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis by watching the movie Jaws when he was just eleven-years-old. This was fifty years after the ship had sunk, throwing more than 1,000 men into shark-infested waters—a long fifty years in which justice still had not been served.

It was just after midnight on July 30, 1945 when the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Those who survived the fiery sinking—some injured, many without life jackets—struggled to stay afloat as they waited for rescue. But the United States Navy did not even know they were missing. As time went on, the Navy needed a scapegoat for this disaster. So it court-martialed the captain for “hazarding” his ship. The survivors of the Indianapolis knew that their captain was not to blame. For fifty years they worked to clear his name, even after his untimely death.

But the navy would not budge—not until Hunter entered the picture. His history fair project on the Indianapolis soon became a crusade to restore the captain’s good name and the honor of the men who served under him." 

 

▲ I, too, remember that scene from Jaws, and since I've always had an interest in naval history and fights for justice, I couldn't pass this one up.

 

 

The Lost King of France: A True Story of Revolution, Revenge, and DNA by Deborah Cadbury

 

Synopsis: "Royalty, revolution, and scientific mystery---the dramatic true account of the fate of Louis XVII, son of Marie Antoinette, and an extraordinary detective story that spans more than two hundred years.

Louis-Charles, Duc de Normandie, enjoyed a charmed early childhood in the gilded palace of Versailles. At the age of four, he became the dauphin, heir to the most powerful throne in Europe. Yet within five years he was to lose everything. Drawn into the horror of the French Revolution, his family was incarcerated and their fate thrust into the hands of the revolutionaries who wished to destroy the monarchy.

In 1793, when Marie Antoinette was beheaded at the guillotine, she left her adored eight-year-old son imprisoned in the Temple Tower. Far from inheriting a throne, the orphaned boy-king had to endure the hostility and abuse of a nation. Two years later, the revolutionary leaders declared Louis XVII dead. No grave was dug, no monument built to mark his passing.

Immediately, rumors spread that the prince had, in fact, escaped from prison and was still alive. Others believed that he had been murdered, his heart cut out and preserved as a relic. As with the tragedies of England's princes in the Tower and the Romanov archduchess Anastasia, countless "brothers" soon approached Louis-Charles's older sister, Marie-Therese, who survived the revolution. They claimed not only the dauphin's name, but also his inheritance. Several "princes" were plausible, but which, if any, was the real heir to the French throne?
The Lost King of France is a moving and dramatic tale that interweaves a pivotal moment in France's history with a compelling detective story that involves pretenders to the crown, royalist plots and palace intrigue, bizarre legal battles, and modern science. The quest for the truth continued into the twenty-first century, when, thanks to DNA testing, the strange odyssey of a stolen heart found within the royal tombs brought an exciting conclusion to the two-hundred-year-old mystery of the lost king of France." 

▲ French history? A mystery? Count me in!

A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue by Dean Jobb

 

Synopsis: "Catch Me If You Can meets The Great Gatsby meets the hit Netflix series Lupin in this captivating true-crime caper. A skilled con artist and perhaps one of the most charming, audacious burglars in history, Arthur Barry slipped in and out of the bedrooms of New York’s wealthiest residents, even as his victims slept only inches away. He befriended luminaries such as the Prince of Wales and Harry Houdini and became a folk hero, touted in the press as “the greatest jewel thief who ever lived” and an “Aristocrat of Crime.” In a span of seven years, Barry stole diamonds, pearls, and other gems worth almost $60 million today. Among his victims were a Rockefeller, an heiress to the Woolworth department store fortune, an oil magnate, Wall Street bigwigs, a top executive of automotive giant General Motors, and a famous polo player. Dean Jobb—hailed by Esquire magazine as “a master of narrative nonfiction”—once again delivers a stylishly told high-speed ride.

A Gentleman and a Thief is also a love story. Barry confessed to dozens of burglaries to protect his wife, Anna Blake (and was the prime suspect in scores of others). Sentenced to a twenty-five year term, he staged a dramatic prison break when Anna became seriously ill so they could be together for a few more years as fugitives. With dozens of historic images, A Gentleman and a Thief is page-turning, escapist, and sparkling with insight into our fascination with jewel heists and the suave, clever criminals who pull them off." 

▲ I've always had a weakness for rogues and jewel thieves, and this one sounded so interesting that I decided to indulge myself.

Whew! See what I mean about falling off the wagon?

Have you read any of these? Which ones? Or... did I tempt you with any of my purchases? Do tell-- inquiring minds would love to know!

July 2024 Additions to My Digital Security Blanket

 

July was a strange month. Let me rephrase that. I was in a strange mood during the month of July. Part of me wanted to go wild on an eBook-buying spree, but another part slapped my hand whenever it hovered over the BUY IT NOW key. But I did manage to avoid the mental swats a few times, so let's see what books made it through the gauntlet!

My purchases are grouped by genre, and if you click on the links in the titles, you'll be taken to Amazon US where you can learn more if something intrigues you, too. I've also included links to the authors' websites where possible.

=== Historical Mystery ===

A Case for the Ladies by Maddie Day. Set in 1920s Boston, Massachusetts.

 

Synopsis: "Amid Prohibition, Irish gangs, the KKK, and rampant mistreatment of immigrant women, intrepid private investigator Dorothy Henderson and her pal Amelia Earhart seek justice for several murdered young women in 1926 Boston. As tensions mount, the sleuths, along with their reporter friend Jeanette and Dot’s maiden aunt Etta. experience their own mistreatment at the hand of society and wonder who they can really trust.

This novel brings a pre-fame Amelia Earhart to life in 1926, when she lived in a Boston suburb and worked as a teacher and social worker at a settlement house founded to help immigrant women. After Amelia meets fictional lady PI Dot Henderson, and more than one young immigrant woman is found murdered, the two put their heads together to seek justice for the less powerful. Meanwhile, Etta Rogers, a founder of the settlement house and a Wellesley professor, works with reporter Jeanette Colby to investigate the Irish gangs who are not only running illicit liquor but also seeking to take over the settlement house real estate." 

▲ For the most part, I tend to be leary of historical mysteries featuring real-life people, but sometimes I can't resist. This was one of them. A Case for the Ladies is about a time in American history that fascinates me, and-- as far as fascination goes-- Amelia Earhart has always been on my radar. 

=== Thriller ===

Wilderness Vacation by Todd Borg. Set in present-day Canada and Los Angeles.

 

Synopsis: "UCLA Medieval History Professor Josie Strong is one of the few Black women professors nationwide. She has succeeded very well in a challenging career. It remains to be seen if she can succeed as a single mother raising her 14-year-old daughter Samantha.

In hopes of deepening their mother-daughter bond, Josie plans a wilderness vacation out of cell phone range where they can have shared time and not be distracted by the internet.

However, Josie and Samantha don't realize they have witnessed a crime. As a result, powerful men want them dead.

A killer intends to follow Josie and Samantha into the wilderness and leave their bodies in the forest. But what the assassin doesn't know is that Professor Strong is an expert in the construction of medieval weapons. Josie can go into the dark forest and find materials to make a deadly weapon. The out-of-shape professor can become a warrior.Good luck, Mr. Assassin. You may have met your match..." 

▲ I'm a long-time fan of Todd Borg's Owen McKenna series, and when I found out that he had a new series, I immediately pre-ordered it. In fact, I've already read it, so feel free to read my review.

=== Police Procedural ===

Triptych by Karin Slaughter. Set in Georgia.

 

Synopsis: "From Atlanta’s wealthiest suburbs to its stark inner-city housing projects, a killer has crossed the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries, too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread—and whose arrogance and explosive temper are threatening his career. And Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael’ s lover before she became his enemy. But unbeknownst to both of them, another player has entered the game: a loser ex-con who has stumbled upon the killer’s trail in the most coincidental of ways—and who may be the key to breaking the case wide open." 

▲ I read one of Slaughter's books a few years ago and thought it suffered from "too much middle." I hadn't read any further; however, I discovered the TV series Will Trent a few months ago and fell in love with it. (More on the TV series in an upcoming knitting post.) Since I enjoyed the series so much, I thought I'd take a chance and read this book which is listed as the first in which Will's character appears. 

=== Amateur Sleuth ===

Playing Dead by Peggy Rothschild. Set in California.

 

Synopsis: "Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.

Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.
 
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?" 

▲ I enjoyed the first book in this series (A Deadly Bone to Pick) so much that I couldn't resist using some bonuses to purchase the second any longer. I really look forward to reading it.

Have you read any of these? Any recommendations? Or did I tempt you with any of my purchases? Inquiring minds would love to know!

June 2024 Additions to My Digital Security Blanket

 

I have to be honest. Last month, I was a bit down and cheered myself up by taking advantage of excellent sale prices on some books I'd been keeping my eye on. (Somehow I managed to avoid cheering myself up with a big yarn order.)

I've grouped my purchases according to genre/subgenre, and if you click on the link in the book's title, you'll be taken to Amazon US where you can learn more about it.

Let's take a look at what cheered me up!

 

 

 === Thriller ===

 

 

Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson. Set in Sweden.

 

Synopsis: "Art expert Emma Lindhal is anxious when she's asked to appraise the antiques and artefacts in the infamous manor house of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, on the island of Storholmen, where a young woman was murdered nine years earlier, her killer never found.

Emma must work alone, and the Gussman family apparently avoiding her, she sees virtually no one in the house. Do they have something to hide?

As she goes about her painstaking work and one shocking discovery yields clues that lead to another, Emma becomes determined to uncover the secrets of the house and its occupants.

When the lifeless body of another young woman is found in the icy waters surrounding the island, Detective Karl RosÉn arrives to investigate, and memories his failure to solve the first case come rushing back. Could this young woman's tragic death somehow hold the key to the first?"

▲ Art expert? Infamous manor house? Sweden? Count me in!

 

 

The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs. Set in England.

 

Synopsis: "Paul’s just here to help, or so he claims—sent by a charity for vulnerable people to do odd jobs for elderly widow Gwen. But for Gwen’s daughter Connie, there’s just something about Paul that rings alarm bells from day one. He’s a little too kind, a little too involved…Worse still, Gwen seems to have fallen under his spell.

The last thing Connie wants is a stranger meddling in the safe routine she’s built around Gwen. She loves being the one Gwen turns to for cooking, cleaning and company. But the more Paul visits, the more Gwen is relying on him. By the time he conveniently finds himself between homes and has no choice but to move in, Connie is certain he’s trying to push her out completely.

It’s her word against his, though, and as her attempts to unmask him become ever more desperate she’s not the only one left wondering if she’s lost her grip on reality. But when events start spiralling rapidly out of her control, should Connie wage all-out war on Paul and risk losing Gwen forever—or has that been his plan all along?" 

▲ I've read and enjoyed a previous book by Marrs. He has a knack for choosing interesting stories, and this one creeped me out a little-- the kind of creepy that makes me want to read it.

 

 

The Legacy of Foulstone Manor by J.C. Briggs. Set in England.

 

Synopsis: "Westmorland, England, 1970

Dark and imposing in a bleak landscape, Foulstone Manor stands abandoned on the edges of the Lake District.

Reclusive Joan Goss inherited Foulstone, but her fragmented memories of her childhood there still disturb her and she keeps her distance in a cottage on the outskirts of the land.

Joan was brought up by adoptive parents after her mother died and her father abandoned her.

And she has spent her adult life haunted by the dark rumours of her past.

When Joan’s goddaughter Amanda comes to stay with her, she is finally forced to confront the secrets behind Foulstone Manor.

Records show that Joan’s father committed suicide. But what happened to her mother? And why was Joan never told the truth about her childhood?

As Joan uncovers her mother’s diary, the full truth of her parents’ marriage is revealed.

Did his traumatic experiences in the First World War force her father into an early grave? What caused Joan’s mother’s untimely death?

Can Joan come to accept the inheritance that she has always rejected…?

THE LEGACY OF FOULSTONE MANOR is a dual timeline Gothic mystery set in England between the 1970s and the 1920s, exposing family secrets and the legacy of trauma from the First World War." 

▲ I have to admit that an old, old, old, old favorite of mine, the Gothic mystery, with its spooky old houses and all those secrets has been coming back in favor, hence this purchase. I once did a post on my favorite houses in literature. I may have to do another one in the near future!

The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw. Set in Spain.

 

Synopsis: "A thrill-seeking Harvard linguistics professor and an ultrasecret branch of the Catholic Church go head-to-head in a race to uncover the secrets of the lost city of Atlantis. The ruins of the technologically-advanced, eerily-enigmatic ancient civilization promise their discoverer fame, fortune, and power… but hold earth-shattering secrets about the origin of man.

While world-famous linguist and archaeologist, Thomas Lourds, is shooting a film that dramatizes his flamboyant life and scientific achievements, satellites spot impossibly ancient ruins along the Spanish coast. Lourds knows exactly what it means: the Lost Continent of Atlantis has been found. The race is on, and Lourds' challengers will do anything to get there first.

Whoever controls the Lost Continent will control the world."

▲ Another favorite of mine-- tales of Atlantis. I seem to be reviving my favorites of yesteryear.

=== Police Procedural ===

The Buried by Sharon Bolton. Set in England.

Synopsis: "Florence Lovelady, the most senior serving policewoman in Britain, visits convicted serial killer Larry Glassbrook in prison. Larry is coming to the end of his life but has one last task for Florence: to learn the identity of the remains discovered at children's home Black Moss Manor. The town Florence escaped narrowly with her life still holds many secrets. Will she finally learn the truth? Or will time run out for her first?

The latest Florence Lovelady thriller, set shortly after the bestselling first novel The Craftsman in the chilling, new series from Richard and Judy bestseller Sharon Bolton."

▲ Sharon (S.J.) Bolton is an author I've always enjoyed. I recently read The Craftsman, the first book in which Florence Lovelady appears, so when this one came up on sale, I snapped it up.

Their Angel's Cry by Shannon Hollinger. Set in Maine.

 

Synopsis: "There’s a ferocious storm heading toward the isolated town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley gets the call every cop dreads. Three bodies have been found on Rattlesnake Mountain, half a day’s hike from civilization. And when Maggie finally reaches the site, exhausted and freezing, she discovers something even more terrifying—a tiny baby girl, kept alive only by the warmth of a small dog who refuses to leave her side.

As Maggie races the baby to safety, she wonders, why on earth the family risked hiking the mountain in this weather? Who were they and who could possibly have killed them?

A former detective, Maggie may be an experienced investigator, but she’s still an unwelcome newcomer. Battling town prejudice, her fears for the orphaned baby, and the increasingly dangerous weather, Maggie soon discovers the case is far more complicated than she could have imagined. The family is not who they seemed. The mother has never had a baby, there’s no link between them at all. So whose baby is it, and where are they now?

With Coyote Cove cut off by the storm, Maggie knows that wherever the killer is, they won’t be able to leave. Stuck in town with a murderer on the loose, Maggie must race to find them before anyone else gets hurt. But she hasn’t counted on the killer taking matters into their own hands, and going after Maggie first…" 

▲ I've never heard of this author before, but I think that little dog persuaded me to give this book a try.

=== Amateur Sleuth ===

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza. Set in Italy.

 

Synopsis: "Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered.

Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and learn the story of Serafina—a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly the more she challenges the status quo, the more she finds herself in danger.

As Sara discovers more about Serafina, she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. At once an immersive multigenerational mystery and an ode to the undaunted heroism of everyday women, The Sicilian Inheritance is an atmospheric, page-turning delight." 

▲ I've been hearing a lot of good things about this book, and the synopsis was irresistible.

The Audrey Hepburn Heist by Mollie Cox Bryan. Set in New York City.

 

Synopsis: "When it comes to writing Golden Age Hollywood biographies, the pen is deadlier than the sword.

Charlotte Donovan's life changed drastically when her boss died, leaving her a grand New York City apartment and a small fortune, but with stipulations. While writing an Audrey Hepburn biography, Charlotte consults on a new "Holly Golightly" miniseries, and a reality TV show where America selects the lead of the new series. When the actress who's the national favorite is murdered at Charlotte's cast party, she feels obligated to pursue justice for the young ingenue.

Charlotte, along with her detective boyfriend and best friend, follow a a dangerous trail of smoke and mirrors. Nothing is as it appears, and nobody is who they seem to be, starting with the murder victim. With each detail Charlotte unearths, the more frightened she becomes—and the more determined." 

▲ I have a fondness for the Golden Age of Hollywood as well as Audrey Hepburn, and I've also enjoyed previous books by this author.

=== Cozy Mystery ===

The Last Supper by Rosemary Shrager. Set in England.

 

Synopsis: "When an old television rival, Deirdre Shaw, is found dead at the Cotswolds manor house where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence is asked to step into the breach. Prudence is only too happy to take up the position and soon she is working in the kitchens of Farleigh Manor.

But Farleigh Manor is the home to secrets, both old and new. The site of a famous unsolved murder from the nineteenth century, Farleigh Manor has never quite shaken off its sensationalist past. It's about to get a sensational present too. Because, the more she scratches beneath the surface of this manor and its guests, the more Prudence becomes certain that Deirdre Shaw's death was no accident. She's staring in the face of a very modern murder. . ."

 

▲ The first Prudence Bulstrode cozy... let's just say I was channeling Julia Child when I ran across this one. (I also fell in love with the main character's name.)

 

 

Have you read any of these? Which ones? Did I tempt you to give any of these a try? Inquiring minds would love to know!