Review: Murder's Snare by Paul Doherty

Murder's Snare (A brother Athelstan Mystery, Book #23)

by Paul Doherty

Release Date: December 3, 2024

2024 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 224 Pages

ISBN: 978-1448313105

ASIN: B0D6YYBCHD

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

Normandy, 1358: The Free Company of the 'Via Crucis - the Way of the Cross' sweeps into the peaceful village of Avranches, like the riders from the Apocalypse, leaving nothing but death and hellish destruction in their wake.

London, 1382: Brother Athelstan is summoned to unpick the ugly truth behind a number of killings afflicting the great city. Some carried out like clean, efficient assassinations, all bearing the message 'Justitia Fiat - let there be justice', others inflicting torture and humiliation upon the bodies. But the victims all have one thing in common - they were all once members of Via Crucis.

With every new gruesome discovery, Brother Athelstan, with the help of Coroner Cranston, uncovers more clues which make up a most complicated riddle - but can he put together the last piece before the fate of the whole country is decided?

 

My Thoughts

Murder's Snare is the next book in the long-running Brother Athelstan mystery series and I impressed with the way the author can still come up with a mesmerizing mystery that really embodies the time period.  This is actually a multi-layered story with several solutions to different plots all leading to the main plot at the end of the book, but in which all the plots are interconnected.  Just when you think you have things figured out, the author throws in some twists and turns that make you question your thinking. And even though I did figure out who the culprit was pretty early on, there were times I was questioning my main choice although I did not quite figure out some of the secondary plots. 

Brother Athelstan is the priest of St. Erconwald's, a church located in the more salubrious section of London, and his constituents tend to largely flirt with the law. Brother Athelstan is quite aware of the activities of his flock, but manages to reign in their activities as much as possible and the humour that is exhibited through these tales is quite interesting and the author manages to describe quite a bit of life during this time period through these characters.  Athelstan also works for coroner Sir John Cranston, so when there is a crime to investigate, he is often caught up in those circumstances as well. Because this the twenty-third book of this series, I don't think there is a lot of character development for these characters, so a lot of the attention was on the secondary characters which suited me just fine.  

For a shorter book, the mystery itself was actually quite complex and rather interesting. I had just finished a non-fiction book about this time period, so it was fascinating to follow that book with this one and immerse myself in the time period through the eyes of the characters. To say ti was a brutal time period doesn't go far enough, but there was also warmth and loyalty as well. All the plot threads do interconnect so you have to pay attention to everything that is discussed, and there is even some deeper political intrigue happening below the actual murder mysteries, something I was expecting to happen at some point considering the political climate of the time period.  There is a wide array of characters and the author doesn't waste time reacquainting readers with familiar ones, so I was glad I had read all the previous books in the series.  I did find the mystery itself quite fascinating as I love it when there are consequences for actions that happen in one's past that impact one's present and you can't just brush it off with 'it was war'. 

Verdict

Murder's Snare was a fairly fast-moving mystery that had layers upon layers of mysteries within it.  Part of this could be frustrating, but in a good way, as you had no idea which thread the main characters were following or solving, and the author was great at including twists and turns that made you keep guessing. I loved the descriptions of the time period and often felt like I was walking beside Brother Athelstan as he was walking down the streets and seeing what he was seeing, reminding me of how comfortable we are in this modern world.  I highly recommend this series if you love historical mysteries and want to immerse yourself in world full of strife and political intrigue.

 

Review: The Wild Coast by Lin Anderson

The Wild Coast (Rhona MacLeod, Book #17)

by Lin Anderson

Release Date: December 3, 2024

2024 Pan

Ebook ARC; 464 Pages

ISBN: 978-1529084573

ASIN: B0BTDF5VG8

Audiobook: B0C24MGQNP

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

The height of summer in Scotland. Small west-coast campsites are the go-to for wild campers and campervans. Remote, loch or beach-side, most occupy a field on a highland croft.

Until a lone camper disappears. Then another. It appears that a killer has found the perfect way to operate. Remote, unnoted and lethal.

Meanwhile in Glasgow , Police Scotland is facing allegations of sexual assault by its male officers. In that list is one DS Michael McNab.
Did McNab overstep the mark, or is the accusation against him a way of putting him
out of action forever?

 

 

My Thoughts

The Wild Coast is the next entry in the long-running Rhona MacLeod mystery series, and this one explores the challenges women face while traveling alone as well as how easily someone's reputation an be destroyed through allegations. I absolutely loved the setting of the book as the wild coast of Scotland's northwest seemed to contrast beautifully with the difficult case and subject matter of the book. It made me yearn to get on a bike and do a road trip.

 

Because this is the seventeenth entry in this series, I don't really feel like there was much character development especially if you have read the previous installments.  As a result, I was much more interested in the secondary characters that populated this book, the family members, the ones involved with the victims and the reasons for their choices and actions.  While I wasn't completely satisfied with the characters and didn't emphasize with all of them, I was still invested in what was happening in their lives.  Rhona and Chrissie were quite active in the investigation, but they come across as old acquaintances. I always love when Pike makes an appearance as his psychological insights are always fascinating, and McNab is always three steps away from falling off a cliff, if in a literal sense. I keep waiting for the book when he finally ends up over the edge.

 

The plot moved along rather quickly as the team investigated missing women as well as a couple of bodies that were discovered. The plot focused on women and the difficulties they have when traveling and escaping abusive relationships, and many important issues were discussed including sexual assault and mistreatment of women.  McNab finds himself caught in the middle of a possible sexual assault case due to choices he makes, and the team has to work hard to figure out if he is guilty or innocent. This secondary plot line poses the question about how well you actually know someone even after having worked with them for years and how easily someone's reputation can be ruined.  One of the things I have always liked about this author is the way all the threads are wrapped up in the end, and this one satisfies on all counts as well.  

Verdict

The Wild Coast was an interesting read and I liked how the author contrasted the difficult themes of the book with the beautiful setting. The plot moved rather quickly and while the character development wasn't a focus of the book, for long-time readers, being familiar with the characters and their lives definitely helped. While this could be read as a standalone, I do think it reads better if you have read the previous entries in the series as the author doesn't explain the relationships, assumptions are made that you are already familiar with them.  As a woman, I appreciated the subject matter and the difficulties and dangers of traveling alone. And if you like forensic work, that is a main part of this series as the main character is a forensic scientist.

 

Review: Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

Under Loch and Key

by Lana Ferguson

Release Date: December 3, 2024

2024 Berkley

Ebook ARC; 416 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593816851

ASIN: B0CW18SRPF

Audiobook: B0CXF7CPKQ

Genre: Fiction / Romance / Paranormal

Source: Review copy from publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. 

 

Lachlan Greer is looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. 

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.

 

My Thoughts

Under Loch and Key is probably one of the first romance books I have read in approximately two years, but I was looking for something different than the usual epic fantasy, non-fiction, and mystery books I usually tend to read, and thought this would be a good light read.  And that is exactly what this was.  It actually had some of the tropes that I like; solving a curse, riddles, centuries-old secrets, and a romance that wasn't based on the stupid and overused miscommunication trope.  Where it sort of lost me was in the execution.

 

First of all, I enjoyed both of the characters and thought they were fairly mature. The reason I stopped reading romance novels was because of the immaturity and the overuse of the miscommunication trope, but I didn't find it to be true in this book. While the main characters did have their issues, one was guarding a fairly large secret that could destroy him while the other really had no knowledge of her family history, so I found the development of this quite interesting.  Even though both characters struggled to true the other, they were willing to work together without doing stupid things, and that is what kept me going. Key kept fighting to get to know her family despite the rough beginning, and Lachlan was willing to let Key into his world and share some of his knowledge.  

 

Where it struggled at times was with the execution.  The story did comes off as 'cutesy' and I wanted more 'zing'.  To be honest, I didn't always feel the connection between the two characters, other than being friends, but that sizzle, no, not always there.  That doesn't mean to say the romance aspect was boring or anything as it wasn't, but when I read a story, I want to feeeeel that connection between the characters.  The curse and the history of both Key and Lachlan's family were interesting, but then I love fantasy so this is the stuff I really enjoy. I did think the spicy scenes were well-written and I definitely did enjoy the build-up to the characters eventually getting together, and I will admit to some laugh-out-loud moments, but then there were some parts that slowed down the story quite a bit.  

 

Verdict

Under Loch and Key was actually an interesting story and I did enjoy the family dynamics and the way Key found a new home and friends.  I liked the dual POV as it gave me insight into both characters and what they going through personally and it definitely helped with their character development.  I did think the grumpy guy and the bouncy girl was a bit over the top and could have been downplayed a little bit, but overall, the story was fun and not a bad choice for my first foray back into romance in quite a while.  Personally, I really enjoyed the parts where the characters discovered family secrets and went looking for answers; it was the inner monologues that actually slowed it down for me, not the hunt for secrets.  Too much introspection drives me to boredom. 

 

Review: Dungeon Crawl Carl by Matt Dinniman

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, Book #1)

by Matt Dinniman

Release Date: August 27, 2024 

2024 Ace

Hardcover ARC; 464 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593820147

ASIN: B08BKGYQXW

Audiobook: B08V8877BY

Genre: Fiction / Fantasy / LITRPG

5 / 5 Stars

Summary

You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.

 

My Thoughts

Dungeon Crawler Carl is the first book in the incredibly popular LITRPG series featuring Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat Princess Donut.  It took me awhile before writing this review because I wasn't sure how to describe it.  When I received a hardcopy version of this book, I had already listened to it twice, so it gave me an opportunity to listen to it again as honestly, it is probably one of the best audiobooks around and I would have used any excuse to go back to that world. So I listened and read at the same time. And although this was my third go-through, it was still as funny as the first time I listened/read.

 

This book is such a unique blend of humour, sarcasm, and serious moments that you never know what to expect from one moment to the next. I was literally laughing out loud, then gasping in shock from one scene to the next, realizing that although this book doesn't take itself seriously, there are some serious things going on with the themes and in the background, only some of which is revealed in this book.  

 

Carl and Princess Donut are so much as main characters and feed off each other so well. The dialogue is witty and fun, and there is also the inclusion of other NPC included in the story, something that often throws a wrench into Carl's plans.  Because I have already read the first six books in this series, I paid more attention to what was not said and done this time round, realizing the depth to the story I missed the first time through.  While it appears to be a dungeon-style maze with the requisite stats you would expect in a LITRPG, you quickly realize how much Carl and Donut are being led around by something else entirely.  However, it's well-balanced and quite nuanced, so I didn't really pick up on how much until I read the later books.  

 

I really love the fact that this book makes fun of itself through the inclusion of pop cultures comments and quotes, and considering the world has collapsed around him, it seems fitting for Carl to rely on these quips to keep himself going and keep himself sane in what must be absolute chaos.  Although the first book covers a couple of levels of the maze, you quickly realize there is way more depth and complexity that at first appears, with factions and rivalries that should play a role in future books, something that sounds intriguing and fun.  

 

Verdict

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a breath of fresh air from those grimdark epic fantasy novels I had been reading, and the audiobook is a standout in audiobooks.  It is one of the few I could listen to over and over again, that's how well it is done, and I am not one to re-read books.  If you are looking for something with humour and sarcasm, but still has a lot of depth to it, I highly recommend this series.  

 

Review: A Snake in the Barley by Candace Robb

A Snake in the Barley (Owen Archer, Book #15)

by Candace Robb

Release Date: December 3, 2024

2024 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 325 Pages

ISBN: 978-9448315758

ASIN: B0D6YZ1417

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

York, 1377. Owen Archer is determined to find his friend, taverner Tom Merchet, who has been missing for five days. His wife, Bess, is frantic with worry.

Who is the elusive Widow Cobb that Tom was seen visiting? And who is the man spotted following Tom before he vanished? As Owen hunts for clues, Bess decides to visit the widow’s lodgings and makes a terrifying discovery.

Owen digs up past sins and long-buried secrets that answer some of the questions surrounding Tom’s disappearance. But who is the sly and malevolent figure intent on destroying his friend, and why? A shocking confession will rock Owen to his core . . .

 

My Thoughts

A Snake in the Barley is the next entry in the long-running Owen Archer mystery series, and honestly, I don't know how this author manages to come up with engaging mysteries book after book.  This instalment features Tom and Bess from the York tavern, and I was thrilled to get to know them better and have them feature in their very own mystery. 

 

Being book fifteen in this series, it is hard to keep developing Owen and his family as we have gotten to know them pretty well, so I was glad the focus was on developing the characters around Owen. Although Tom and Bess feature in older books, we don't really know a lot about them so it was nice to have their characters in the foreground and learn more about their history.  I thought the author did a great job weaving the past into the present and how that eventually has consequences if you haven't dealt with major things from your past.  Although the concept of PTSD and other mental illnesses did not really exist during this period, the author managed to include that in that book but from the perspective of the time period which we know doesn't really go well for those who suffer.  

The descriptions of the time period are well done, and I like how the author does not romanticize the past. I personally would not want to live during this time period as it was pretty rough and disease ran rampant through people's lives.  Although it was sad to read about those downtrodden people, it was the reality.  In fact, I think it was probably worse than even the descriptions showed in this book.  Hunger, cold, homelessness, starvation, disease, etc.. all all realities of this time, much worse than in today's world. Although it can be bleak however, the author shows a nice balance of what life is like for those who work hard and are comfortable, and the reliance on each other in order to survive.  

Verdict

A Snake in the Barley has a mystery that was quite fascinating and although it was quite a complex case, with a lot of people involved, I was captivated by the concept of how you can't really run away from your past actions.  It can be hard to keep track of all the players, especially if you are not familiar with the books, and there were quite a few secondary themes running through the story.  However, the author managed to pull them all together in the end in a satisfactory way.  This was definitely another entertaining entry to the series, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

 

Review: Death Writes by Andrea Carter

Death Writes (Inishowen Mysteries, Book #6)

by Andrea Carter

Release Date: November 19, 2024

2024 Oceanview Publishing

Paperback ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-1608096329

ASIN: B0BPF68RST

Audiobook: B0D1HDW8P6

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

Solicitor Benedicta “ Ben” O' Keeffe and her boyfriend Police Sergeant Tom Molloy race to Dublin after hearing that some strangers had moved in with Ben' s parents.

In Glendara, preparations are underway for Glenfest,
The festival begins, and an eager crowd awaits Featherstone' s appearance on stage. He is unexpectedly engaging, but when he stands to read from his new book, he stumbles and keels over on the platform. Ben discovers that she holds Featherstone' s will at the office, drafted by her predecessor. Soon, she' s drawn into a complicated legal wrangle over the man' s estate involving his family and the assistant who lived with him.

My Thoughts

Death Writes is the next instalment in the engaging Inishowen Mystery series, and I particularly liked this one because of the difficulties involving elderly scams of which Ben's parents became victims.  I think this happens far more than is reported and I was happy to read about something that may give others clues and warnings so it may not happen to their own parents or elderly neighbours. The other murder plot line wove nicely around the issue with Ben's parents and I really liked how the author wove the two together into a cohesive story.

Because this is the sixth book in the series, I don't really feel like Ben's character developed a lot, but she was still dealing with the demands of her job and her insecurities in her relationship.  I never know what to think when I see someone who is so successful professionally be a dolt when it comes to relationship issues, and I definitely roll my eyes when Ben takes things personally when her boyfriend doesn't give her the information she feels she is entitled because she is a lawyer.  I should mention here that the love interest is a police detective, Police Sergeant Tom Molloy, and I always hate it when a person feels entitled to information about an investigation when they have no business knowing anything, professionally or personally.  And to be honest, Ben is a lawyer, she should know better.Their relationship has grown on me and I have enjoyed the development as they try to work out how to manoeuvre their professional and personal lives to make a relationship work.

The author is very good at tying loose ends in her books and despite having several story lines, everything wrapped up nicely at the end.  I actually preferred the one involving Ben's parents over the one involving the writer, but I don't think it had anything to do with poor development or writing skills, simply my preference.  I love the descriptions of the town and the area in which Ben lives as it seems to beautiful; I want to visit the place every time I read one of these books.  The vivid descriptions are one of the highlights of the books.  

Verdict

Death Writes was a slower than normal entry into this series, but the strength of the book always lies in the characters, characters with distinct personalities and lives.  I enjoyed the development of Ben and Tom's relationship and the difficulties they have as they are both workaholics. As I mentioned, the plot was a big slower, and I did prefer one story line over the other, but it was still interesting and entertaining. I am very curious as to what will happen next as the author did throw a big wrench into the story line and I really have no idea what is going to happen in future books.  And while this book could be read as a standalone, I do recommend you read the earlier books in order to get a richer understanding of the character and story development between Ben and Tom.

 

Review: The Other Ancient Civilisations: Decoding Archaeology's Less Celebrated Cultures by Raven Todd DaSilva

The Other Ancient Civilisations: Decoding Archaeoogy's Less Celebrated Cultures

by Raven Todd DaSilva

Release Date: October 29, 2024

2024 Mango

Ebook ARC; 350 Pages

ISBN: 978-1684813230

ASIN: B0DHM9PBNC

Genre: Non-Fiction / Ancient History

Source: Review copy from publisher

4 / 5 Stars

Summary

A more nuanced look at the ancient world. The Other Ancient Civilisations looks outside mainstream ancient civilisations and cultures and delves into astounding finds unearthed at archaeological sites around the world. Discover the archaeology that sheds light on the secret stories of the Nubians, Olmec, Xiongnu, Minoans, Akkadians, and many more. Each chapter delves beyond the rise and fall of each society, highlighting the lives of everyday peoples of the past. Discover who they interacted with and how they lived, and what we can learn from them.

 

 

My Thoughts

The Other Ancient Civilisations is definitely a must-read for both those who are fascinated with ancient civilisations and have an in-depth knowledge and for those who are just starting their journey into ancient historical civilisations.  To be clear, this book is not meant to be an in-depth study of any of the cultures mentioned, but more of an introduction to some of the more obscure civilisations that existed in our past; it can be used as a launching pad into a more in-depth study if one wishes.   

Even with a background in history, I love these kinds of books and have read several this past year. Focusing primarily on ancient cultures that are not discussed a lot in mainstream media, the book highlights around twenty ancient civilisations and includes maps and pictures of artefacts. Because I had the kindle edition, I went online to look up some of the colour photographs so I could study the photos in-depth, but that is just me as the photos were fine in the kindle version.  

Although I was familiar with a lot of the chapters in this book, there were some that I had just heard about so it was nice to learn more about them. I even flagged the sources so I could do further reading in the future. A few that stood out to me were the Olmec, Xiongnu, Dilman, and Lapita civilisations, and I appreciated the knowledge and research that went into those chapters.  

The writing style was clear and concise, and if you are new to reading historical non-fiction, you will find this book easy to read. That doesn't mean the author doesn't display her depth of knowledge and research, she just understands how to relay the information in terms that are easy to understand for people who don't have a deep knowledge of the material.  I also enjoyed the fact the author didn't focus entirely on the royal families, but discussed the daily lives of people and how war interrupted their lives creating chaos and resentment at times.  The focus was very much on the societies and how they all worked together, or did not function so well together, not simply on the elite.  

Verdict

The Other Ancient Civilisations had a nice, easy reading style that flowed very well from chapter to chapter. Even though it didn't go as in-depth as I would have liked, I did manage to flag a lot of things that interested me to do further research and the source material sent me on a hunt to order more books about these civilisations.  And although the book doesn't go into enough depth for me, it was still fascinating reading and would be a great book for those who want to learn more about these cultures without being bogged down in details that can make the reading experience feel more like a textbook.  Of particular interest are the opening vignettes that draw you into the society through the eyes of someone who lived during that time period and made the time period feel more alive.  

 

 

Review: A Merry Little Murder Plot by Jenn McKinlay

A Merry Little Murder Plot (Library Lover's Mystery, Book #15)

by Jenn McKinlay

Release Date: October 8, 2024

2024 Berkley

Ebook ARC; 317 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593639382

ASIN: B0CRTC24ZY

Audiobook: B0D63FDSZF

Genre: Fiction / Cozy Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars

Summary

During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen because she believes they are destined to meet. 

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. 

 

My Thoughts

A Merry Little Murder Plot is the next installment in the Book Lover's Mystery series, and while it was fun to read, it was fairly predictable and focused quite a bit on the librarian's role in the library, almost a hero-worship of librarians through discussions on topics such as book banning and the role authors should play in peoples' lives.  It was a bit preachy in my opinion as even librarians can hold prejudices and have been known to belittle people's reading choices.  Other than that, it was fun to revisit Lindsay and company as they celebrate the festival season.

 

I did think the book started off rather strongly, with a plot that was rather engaging. You had characters who were quite into the festive season and others were reluctant to participate for a variety of reasons. The story focused largely on the writer-in-residence program that featured a popular writer working on a new book, and she was as bit prickly in the beginning. To be honest, I think writing a story in full view of a bunch a patrons frequenting a library would be kind of strange, and I think I would have difficulty writing in such circumstances as well and probably become cranky as a result.  

 

When one of the patrons becomes irritated with the person chose as the writer-in-residence and stirs up trouble, this is where I started to become irritated with the story line. It's not that I didn't like the issue of book banning as it seems to come up more frequently these days, but I think it was the execution for me. The reasons were weak and then the actual plot around it seemed so far-fetched that I was actually rolling my eyes. 

When the actual murder occurs in the book, I didn't really know what to think simply because the book fell into more tropes than Santa has bells on his sleigh, and what was rather interesting in the beginning just didn't seem to work anymore.  I honestly wondered if the author knew what the purpose of the book was, the murder-mystery or a book about book banning and the consequences.  Naturally, Lindsay and company have to help with the murder investigation, and while the author tried to throw in some interesting red herrings, it didn't really work for me and I knew who the culprit was pretty early on.  

Verdict

A Merry Little Murder Plot was fairly predictable, and while the beginning of the book was quite interesting, the middle of the book fell apart and descended into a bit of chaos. The plot was rather weak compared to some of the previous entries in this series, and I thought the twists didn't really deter the reader from realizing who had done the deed. In other words, nothing much went on and there were a few unrealistic things in the plot.