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Happy book birthday to THE QUEENS OF CRIME by Marie Benedict
Marie Benedict is back writing about Agatha Christie's escapades but she is joined by a group of popular female mystery writers including Dorothy Sayers. The ladies know that to be taken seriously by their male counterparts they must not just write about solving a crime but actually solve the murder of a young woman. At first they seem to be in over their heads but end up doing much more than the police and journalists in finding answers. These queens are out to show the world that they are a force to be reckoned with. However they may find that when digging up dirt on others they risk calling attention to their own secrets. Readers of Tasha Alexander, Deanna Raybourn and Sherry Thomas will love what I hope is just the beginning of books to come with these ladies of crime. The audio kept my attention so much that I neglected to get much of anything else done and who could ask for more! 4 stars
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Emma has taken over the family estate sale business and has landed a big client. This is either a cause for celebration or concern when she learns that the popular B&B she thinks she is planning an estate sale for was actually the town bordello. Not wanting to step on toes she is trapped between selling everything interesting or selling everything scandalous. Small towns love nothing better than gossip and secrets and there is a big one she is hiding - she is secretly dating the police chief. Lots of fun and romance with a small town vibe and the laugh out loud high jinx Elinor Lipman knows oh so well. Fans of J. Ryan Stradal will love this! 4 stars
A lovely complicated family drama of a newly divorced mom dealing with having to get back on the saddle while dealing with two all knowing daughters, a stepdad and dad all living under the same roof. This is crazy enough without Lila having to be confronted with her ex-husband's new family everyday at school pickup. Lila is also trying to come up with another best selling book and dating in a small town after so many married years. Big emotions rule this book, competing dads, newbie dating rules and balancing an imagined "great" life vs. real life. Jojo Moyes is good at making us laugh, cry and shake our heads in agreement at all the complexities of everyday life. Her fans will be happy as will readers of SANDWICH and Ann Napolitano. 4 stars A clever debut as seen from the eyes of a little girl who doesn't fit into any of the molds society tries to put her in. She sees the world differently, displays emotions differently and acts on what she has learned of the world only to find that it is different from how others would act. In short , she is an alien or so she believes when she hears about a rare manuscript that no one has been able to decipher. She and her only friend Bobby head to the city after many long hours of research to discover the secrets the manuscript holds. An understanding parent, patient librarians and researcher all help her find her way in the world. The book points out all our human imperfections and impatience with things and people we don't understand with humor and a light touch. This gem offers book clubs much to discuss and a cornucopia of the complexities of language. 4 1/2 stars The next installment of a series that treats the world of fae with wit and charm. Emily Wilde has spent her life in the pursuit of understanding the world of the fae or fairy kingdom. Now with her fiancé at her side (who also happens to be a fae prince) they are back in the otherworldly trying to regain his kingdom once more and rid it of a horrible curse. Amusing dialogue , interesting creatures and a general sense of danger are found throughout these tales. A good time will be had by all. 3 1/2 stars
A locked room murder mystery that reads like a multilayered game of CLUE. A handful of mystery writers attend a conference by invitation of a bestselling and reclusive author. He doesn't show (of course) to the remote island (of course) and the deadly games begin as well as a sudden storm (of course). One by one they turn up dead and the remaining authors must give up their secrets and solve clues to survive but who is really pulling the strings and can we believe them? Of course not! A well crafted debut that will have you tripping over dead ends as much as the bodies. Rapid pace and you may want to keep a notepad handy to keep score. Drop everything for the evening and keep a light on. This is as much for readers of classic Agatha Christie as well as the zany locked room fun of Benjamin Stevenson. 4 stars Marrying into a dynasty family like the Sterlings wasn't ever on Maya's radar but she finds herself in the thick of it now. When the heiress to be turns up dead the other Sterlings circle the wagons and Maya goes to be supportive to her husband. The manor house with its round the clock luxury she and her baby could get used to but she is not prepared for the shock that alienates her from the rest of the family even more than marrying Colin did. There is just one tiny little problem - a secret that would give the family more reason to hate her and ruin her. Mean girls, backstabbing cousins, devious under the table deals and so many secrets all reminiscent of SUCCESSION. One thing is for sure - they underestimated Maya. 4 stars A slim novel that packs an emotional punch in a few days before a wedding. Gail is at a loss - her job, her solitude when her ex shows up on her doorstep with a cat in tow, and her cool as she tries to figure out what is expected as the MOB. She is concerned with her daughter's choice of husband after overhearing some troublesome news and fitting in with the ongoing wedding preparation that she is much too practical to embrace. With grace and humor Anne Tyler explores the bumpy path of human frailty. A sweet story for people in the back half of their lives that readers of Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett will appreciate. 4 stars
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