Audiobook Review: Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer

 

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin (The New Adventures of Enola Holmes #4) by Nancy Springer

Publication Date: February 10th 2026 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 6hrs 59min

Narrators: Tamaryn Payne & Matt Biddulph

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Enola Holmes is attending a graveside burial when she hears a bell ringing from a freshly dug grave. When she investigates, she makes a chilling discovery: a young woman named Trevina, buried alive and with no memory of how she ended up there.

Realizing Trevina is still in danger, Enola brings her home and nurses her back to health while trying to uncover who sealed her in that coffin, and why. Soon, Enola and her charge are thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse as the culprit, none other than Moriarty himself, sends his thugs after them. To complicate matters further, Enola learns that her brother, Sherlock Holmes, is investigating the same villain and warns her to stay away from the case.

 

I haven’t read the previous Enola Holmes books, though I’ve enjoyed the movies, and I’m not usually a big YA reader, but I found Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin a page-turner! It was clever, suspenseful, occasionally funny, and had a dark, sinister edge. Mystery and suspense fans will find plenty to enjoy here.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook. Tamaryn Payne narrates most of the story, with Matt Biddulph voicing the epilogue. Payne delivers excellent performances across the board, male and female characters alike, with just the right emotional nuance, and her English accent is a delight. The audio format really brought the story to life.

4 Stars

Book Description:

Enola Holmes—international bestselling and Netflix streaming sensation—returns when the rescue of a young woman sends her into battle with her brother Sherlock against his most deadly, implacable enemy - Professor Moriarty.

In February 1891, London, Enola Holmes—the much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes—is attending a burial when she hears the faint sound of a handbell in the graveyard. It is not in Enola’s nature to ignore such oddities, no matter the occasion and when she investigates further, as is the Holmes' family instinct, she discovers something absolutely chilling. The ringing bell is attached to the tombstone erected over a recent gravesite and someone, buried within, is pulling the string to ring the alarm.

Galvanized into action, Enola and her companions swiftly and successfully unearth the coffin within, freeing a still-living young woman, one Trevina Trairom. Enola, by predilection and by trade a Scientific Perditorian, a finder of lost things, finds herself comforting and protecting this young girl. The girl herself is a mystery – she remembers very little, including her identity, and has no idea who has buried her alive, much less why. While protecting this mysterious girl from an enigmatic enemy, she discovers that Sherlock is engaged in a related mystery. Enola joins Sherlock in his battle against the scourge of London, the Napoleon of Crime himself, Professor Moriarty. Facing her most brutal foe ever, determined to protect and unravel the secrets surrounding the mysterious Trevina, Enola takes her place more fully than ever as a proud member of the Holmes family.

 

Blog Tour Review: The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

 

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

Publication Date: June 11th 2024 by Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row Books

Pages: 304

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | HarperCollins | BookShop.org | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Adam and Stella have been traveling all over Europe, blissfully still in love after four years, but then a bomb goes off and Adam goes missing. Stella is panicked and desperate in her search for him and it becomes apparent, Adam wasn’t just the nice, normal guy she thought she married. However, Stella has secrets of her own, too.

 

As Stella digs deeper into Adam’s past, it’s not clear who she can trust. There are those who think she was involved with Adam’s business, and that she knows more than she’s letting on putting her in danger, as well.

 

The Paris Widow was an engrossing, action-packed mystery unfolding all over Paris, and parts of Europe, a glamorous backdrop to exciting story! I felt like a lot of the revelations were easy to spot, but the story was still a fun page-turner! A perfect thriller to sink into this summer! 

4 Stars

Book Summary: 

From USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Belle comes a deliciously twisty new thriller following a married couple vacationing in Paris whose trip takes a dark turn when the husband goes missing, dredging up secrets from both of their pasts, perfect for fans of THE PARIS APARTMENT.

When Stella met Adam, she felt like she finally landed a nice, normal guy – a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. She loves knowing she can always depend on Adam, which is why when he goes missing during a random explosion in Paris, she panics. Right after what is assumed to be a terrorist attack, she’s interviewed live on TV by reporters, begging anyone who knows anything about her husband’s whereabouts to come forward and is quickly dubbed “The Paris Widow.”

As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer in the black market for priceless antiquities, making deals with very high-profile and dangerous clients. Reeling from this news and growing suspicions about her husband, Stella can’t shake the feeling that she’s being followed. And with Adam assumed dead, she realizes that whoever was responsible for the bombing will come after her next. Everything – and everyone -- that Stella has tried to keep in her duplicitous past might be her only means of survival and finding out what really happened to Adam.

An irresistible and fast-paced read set in some of Europe’s most inviting locales, THE PARIS WIDOW explores how sinister secrets of the past stay with us – no matter how far we travel.

Photo Credit: Sara Hannah Photography

Author Bio:

Kimberly Belle worked in marketing and nonprofit fundraising before turning to writing fiction. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Kimberly lived for over a decade in the Netherlands and currently divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam. She is the bestselling author of The Marriage Lie, Three Days Missing, Dear Wife, as well as The Last Breath, The Ones We Trust, Stranger in the Lake, My Darling Husband, and The Personal Assistant.

Connect with Kimberly Belle:

Website | X | Instagram | Goodreads

Review: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

 

How to Solve Your Own Murder (Castle Knoll Files #1) by Kristen Perrin

Publication Date: March 26th 2024 by Dutton

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Annie Adams has been summoned to the small village of Castle Knoll by her wealthy Great Aunt Frances for a meeting, but when she gets there her Great Aunt is found murdered. Annie discovers that Aunt Frances had believed she’d be murdered when a fortune teller predicted it back when she was seventeen years old. Frances kept diaries and even a murder board with theories of her own murder, and of her friend Emily’s disappearance. Annie is drawn into both mysteries, unraveling the past through Aunt France’s diaries and by talking to the players still living in Castle Knoll.

The story is told both from Annie’s perspective and through Frances’ by way of her diary entries back when Emily went missing. Aunt Frances, Emily and their friend Rose were close, but it was a complicated relationship between the three. Annie gets to know her Aunt through those pages, and the events that transpired. She’s determined to solve the case, as a lot is riding on her doing that.

I thoroughly enjoyed How to Solve Your Own Murder! It felt like a modern Agatha Christie. Quaint village setting, several suspects, and an observant heroine! Annie is clever, gleaning clues I wouldn’t have guessed, but made that perfect sense when revealed. I didn’t realize there’s another book coming, but look forward to Annie tackling another mystery, revisiting Castle Knoll with it’s interesting mix of characters, and hopefully seeing the hints of romance between Annie and a certain character come to fruition!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

For fans of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club , an enormously fun mystery about a woman who spends her entire life trying to prevent her foretold murder only to be proven right sixty years later, when she is found dead in her sprawling country estate... Now it's up to her great-niece to catch the killer. 

It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends. But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.
 
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder. Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer?
 
As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.

 

Audiobook Review: One of Our Own by Lucinda Berry

 

One of Our Own by Lucinda Berry

Publication Date: March 12th 2024 by Simon & Schuster Audio

Audio Book Length: 3 hrs 54 mins

Narrators: A.J. Cook & Tessa Albertson

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Librofm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Felicia volunteers at a suicide hotline center to help others to avoid a tragedy that rocked her family years back. However, Felicia has had to deal with other adversities! I was riveted by her story and how she related to the poor young girl who called in! The young woman was drugged and assaulted at a local party. The events after have thrown her into desperate despair. Unfortunately, this story could be ripped from the pages of real-life and my heart went out to her! I was on the edge hoping that Felicia could help her.

Things turn more disturbing as Felicia realizes this girl attended the same party her son did a few weeks back. Dread creeps in as Felicia pieces together the puzzle of what happened that night.

I listened to One of Our Own straight through in one go. I needed to know how it all turned out!  The audio isn’t very long, novella length, but the story packs an emotional punch!

I listened to an audio of One of Our Own. A.J. Cook’s (from Criminal Minds) and Tessa Albertson’s performance enhanced this compelling story. A definite recommend!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A suicide prevention hotline volunteer answers a call that turns her world upside down in this edge-of-your-seat audio original thriller by the bestselling author of The Perfect Child and The Best of Friends, performed by A.J. Cook (Criminal Minds) and Tessa Albertson (Younger).

Felicia, a single mother and lawyer by day, volunteers at a local crisis center to give back to her tightknit community in a small Wisconsin town. One night, she answers a horrifying call: through tears, a frantic teenage girl tells her that she was a victim of sexual assault at a local house party.

Felicia is shocked, and breaking protocol, she begins communicating with the girl on her own, determined to keep her safe and hold her assailants accountable. But as she gets closer and closer to the truth, she can’t shake the feeling that she and the girl are connected by more than the phone call. As the girl shares more details, Felicia begins to think the unthinkable—someone close to her may be involved in this heinous crime.

As Felicia earns the girl’s trust and more facts emerge about the incident, she faces a gut-wrenching battle between her protective instincts and the moral responsibility to do what’s right. This taut thriller is the perfect listen for fans of The Push, Wrong Place Wrong Time, and We Need to Talk About Kevin.

Audiobook Review: The Inheritance by Nora Roberts

 

Inheritance (The Lost Bride Trilogy #1) by Nora Roberts

Publication Date: November 21st 2023 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 419

Audio Book Length: 13hrs 51min

Narrator: Brittany Pressley & Nora Roberts (intro)

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Loved Inheritance! Sonya’s story grabbed me from the start, with her ruined engagement, to how she came to inherit the historic mansion on the coast of Maine. It sounded so gorgeous, with its grand library, breathtaking views of the ocean and a widow’s walk! It’d be hard to refuse even with the ghosts that seem to inhabit the place. Sonya finds out there’s a tragic history, the brides in her family have died soon after marrying. A dark presence laid a curse down long ago that needs to be broken.

 Nora Roberts weaved a captivating tale complete with characters to love and hate. Parts were spooky with unexplained happenings in the mansion, but Sonya had backup and support with her best friend, Cleo, her mother, and the hunky lawyer, Trey. They all are on board with investigating the past and eliminating any threat to the future.

The story stopped at an interesting part, and I was surprised. At first thought that maybe my copy was cut short, but then figured out it was a to-be-continued/cliffhanger sort of ending. I eagerly await the next installment!

Brittany Pressley, one of my favorite narrators, performed each character with a distinct voice, some with accents, and delivered with emotion that brought the characters to life! I completely recommend the audio version! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts―a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.

1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…

Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.

Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…

Connect with Nora Roberts:

Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Audio Review: Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by Naomi Alderman, Leigh Bardugo, Alyssa Cole, Lucy Foley, and more...

 

Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by Naomi Alderman, Leigh Bardugo, Alyssa Cole, Lucy Foley, Elly Griffiths, Natalie Haynes, Jean Kwok, Val McDermid, Karen M. McManus, Dreda Say Mitchell, Kate Mosse & Ruth Ware

Publication Date: September 13th 2022 by Harper Audio

Pages: 380

Audio Book Length: 11 hrs 28 min

Narrator: multiple (see below)

Source: Publisher & Libro.fm

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Goodreads | Audible

My Thoughts:

I’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie’s mysteries. I’ve read almost all and have re-read my favorites many times over the years, so I was understandably excited for the “additional” Miss Marple stories written as I think as an ode to Agatha Christie and her much beloved spinster sleuth. I had fun with all the stories. Some I rated higher because they were, IMO, truer to Agatha Christie’s version of Miss Marple.

Evil in Small Place by Lucy Foley read by Alex Kingston: Miss Marple is visiting an old school friend. A much talked about French woman is murdered before choir practice. Of course, not much gets by Miss Marple which puts her in some danger. Loved this one and it felt very true to Miss Marple’s character and Agatha Christie’s style. Excellent narration. 4.5 Stars

The Second Murder at the Vicarage by Val McDermid read by Adrian Scarborough: The vicar’s former maid is murdered in his kitchen. Told from the POV of the vicar he’s smart enough to not underestimate Jane and her observations and instincts. Felt very short, but it was fun and classic Jane. Great narration. 4 Stars

Miss Marple Takes Manhattan by Alyssa Cole read by Adjoa Andoh: Miss Marple visits Manhattan to see her nephew, Raymond’s book turned into a play on Broadway. As they go to have a tour behind the scenes, chaos and drama ensues. Of course, Miss Marple’s experiences from her hometown of St. Mary’s Mead help solve the case. I enjoyed this, but it strayed a bit from the Miss Marple I’ve come to know. 3 Stars

The Unraveling by Natalie Haynes read by Imogen Stubbs: A local shopkeeper and farm hand get into a fight and not long after the farm hand is found murdered. The shop keeper and his wife are automatic suspects, but why would they do it? Trust Jane to come to the solution while unraveling yarn. Very Miss Marple. Wonderful narration. 4 Stars

Miss Marple’s Christmas by Ruth Ware read by Alison Steadman: Miss Marple spends Christmas at the Bantry’s and has to help solve a theft that threatens to sully not only the Bantry’s name, but a servant’s as well. Classic Miss Marple and I loved that some of the past characters were included! Great narration. 5 Stars

The Open Mind by Naomi Alderman read by Jodhi May- Miss Marple solving the murder of an unlikable academic while at a dinner at a founder’s dinner at a college. Interesting mystery but parts felt hard to believe. Loved Ms. May’s accents, but she sounded young for Miss Marple. 3 Stars

The Jade Empress by Jean Kwok read by Chipo Chung: Miss Marple on a cruise helps solve the murder of an elder Chinese man traveling with his daughter and a companion/health care giver (?). Great narration. 3.5 Stars

 

A Deadly Wedding Day by Dreda Say Mitchell read by Cathy Tyson: Miss Marple attend a wedding of her old friend, Miss Bella’s niece. At the wedding an unexpected guess causes some trouble and there’s a murder. I don’t remember Miss Bella from A Caribbean Mystery, but they met on the island of St. Honoré while Miss Marple solved another murder. Miss Bella turns out to be an excellent sleuthing partner. Classic Miss Marple and Kathy Tyson did a fantastic job with all the accents!  4 Stars

The Mystery of the Acid Soil by Kate Mosse read by Celia Imrie: Miss Marple shares a train car with a young man traveling to the same village, distraught over the disappearance of his girl. Another classic Miss Marple with an enjoyable narration. 4 Stars

 

Murder at the Villa Rosa by Elly Griffiths read by Ramon Tikeram: Told from the POV of Felix Jeffries, author of a popular mystery series having a problem with his main character. Set at a gorgeous hotel in Italy. Sounded lovely! The mystery and explanation were kind of bizarre to me. Enjoyed the narration. 3 Stars

The Murdering Sort by Karen M. McManus read by Tanya Reynolds: Miss Marple and her great niece, Nicola, tackle the murder a friend’s grandfather just after he’s proclaimed that the family wants him dead for his money. Another fun, classic Miss Marple! Loved Tanya Reynolds performance even if she did sound young for Miss Marple. 5 Stars

 

The Disappearance by Leigh Bardugo read by Miriam Margolyes: Miss Marple is urgently called back to St. Mary’s Mead by her friend Dolly Bantry after the disappearance of one of her lodgers causes chaos. There’s also the apparent suicide of a student that raises questions. Enjoyed the narration. 4 Stars

Book Description:

A brand-new collection of short stories featuring the Queen of Mystery’s legendary detective Jane Marple, penned by 12 remarkable best-selling and acclaimed authors.

This collection of 12 original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the character to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Marple through their own unique perspective while staying true to the hallmarks of a traditional mystery.

■ Naomi Alderman
■ Leigh Bardugo
■ Alyssa Cole
■ Lucy Foley
■ Elly Griffiths
■ Natalie Haynes
■ Jean Kwok
■ Val McDermid
■ Karen M. McManus
■ Dreda Say Mitchell
■ Kate Mosse
■ Ruth Ware

Miss Marple was first introduced to fans in a story Agatha Christie wrote for 'The Royal Magazine' in 1927 and made her first appearance in a full-length novel in 1930’s 'The Murder at the Vicarage'. It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Marple novel, 'Sleeping Murder', was published posthumously in 1976, and this collection of ingenious new stories by 12 Christie devotees will be a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains the most famous fictional female detective of all time.

Review: Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

 

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Publication Date: August 16th 2022 by Berkley

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Phoebe is back in Florida to clean out her estranged father’s house after his death. She also must finish her dissertation for her PhD with the subject of true crime, how the stories have been shaped based on reporting. Her studies and upbringing have taught her to be careful and suspicious of others, a view that isn’t a bad idea these days, IMO, but it’s also kept her from allowing anyone to get close. So, when her next-door neighbor, Sam, hot as he is, offers to help she immediately rebuffs him. However, after a bit of persistence on his part Phoebe gets to know him better, gets closer, and the mutual attraction they feel starts to grow.

I’m a Forensic Files/Dateline/true crime junkie as well so I appreciated all the references and I’m totally on board with being cautious. Phoebe had a lot of baggage from her parent’s ugly divorce, and the way her father treated her growing up. I did feel bad for Phoebe, but her prickliness got to me, and I had a hard time connecting to her. I adored Sam, he was a sweetheart and I wondered at times why he was interested. Phoebe’s brother, Connor, was a fun, nerdy, likeable character as well, and I was pleased how Phoebe was truly sweet to him. They had a great relationship despite the fact they were separated for a lot after the divorce.

Despite my issues with Phoebe and the fact I thought the story could’ve been edited down a bit, I did enjoy Love in the Time of Serial Killers overall. There was some fun, laugh-out-loud moments, and the romance was sweet and steamy.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst.

PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years.

It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced that her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). It’s not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart.

Review: A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber

 

A Certain Darkness (Verity Kent Mysteries #6) by Anna Lee Huber

Publication Date: August 30th 2022 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Pages: 376

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

The Verity Kent series has been an exciting, addictive adventure! Verity and her husband Sidney have come a long way since reuniting after the end of WWI. Both have had to work through the traumas they experienced during the war. Verity served as an undercover agent, often crossing into enemy territory, and Sidney was on the front lines seeing untold horrors. These ordeals and more took a toll on their marriage, and it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, but it’s evident that Verity and Sidney are still very much in love, besotted knowing how easily they could’ve lost each other. They’ve got mixed up and then solved several murders, and continue to hunt the nefarious Lord Ardmore, a British Intelligence higher-up they believe played both sides during and after the war.

This is a series that should very much be read in order. A Certain Darkness would not make a good jump-in point since the history of Verity and Sidney’s romance, interactions with family and friends and the ongoing arc of the villainous Lord Ardmore wouldn’t make sense otherwise.  

The war may be over, but Verity and Sidney are dragged into another situation where the sins committed during the war are coming back to haunt certain individuals and countries. Sins they want to keep hidden, but these things have a way of coming out. I had to wonder how much of the storyline was rooted in the actual events of WWI. It would be extremely sad if so. What an unnecessary loss of life! These discoveries cut Sidney deeply, and my heart hurt for him and Verity.

Verity and Sidney had to tread carefully! Things got edgy a few times! The murder and mystery were solved, but the ending left a character dangling in a dangerous situation with Verity and Sidney poised to make the next move. I’m looking forward to it!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Set in Downton Abbey-era post-World War I England, this action-packed series from the USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries is a treat for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Susan Ella MacNeal.

March 1920: Life has turned unsettlingly quiet for former British Intelligence agent Verity Kent and her husband, Sidney. But even that false calm is about to end. As threats remain, the French authorities soon request Sidney’s help with a suspect who claims to have proof of treason—shortly before she is assassinated. And Verity, too, is called to investigate a mystery.

The murder of a Belgian lawyer aboard a train seems at first to be a simple case of revenge. But the victim was connected to British Intelligence, and possessed papers detailing the sinking of a gold-laden German ship during the war.

As Verity and Sidney dig deeper, they discover their cases are intertwined—and a lethal adversary persists. Officially, the Great War may be over, but this is a battle of nerves and wits they cannot afford to lose…

Audio Review: The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

 

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Publication Date: March 1st 2022 by St.Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 11 hrs 4 min

Narrator: Karissa Vacker & Marin Ireland

Source: Libro.fm & St.Martin's Press

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads | Libro.fm 

My Thoughts:

Avery Chambers is an unconventional therapist who claims to be able to fix your issues in ten sessions. Her skills are put to the test when she takes on “The Golden Couple”, Marissa and Matthew Bishop. Marissa arranges to meet with Avery to confess her cheating with the hopes of repairing the damage, however not all the details are forthcoming, and Avery suspects her clients are withholding truths.

I loved Avery! She was one smart cookie and fast thinker, which was a good thing since she’s being targeted by fallout from another client, or two…

The story was told from two POV’s: Avery and Marissa’s and I enjoyed both. Even though I don’t condone cheating as the details were revealed I could understand why Marissa ended up straying and I thought she was a very likable and sympathetic character.

With the cliffhanger-type chapters, The Golden Couple is one that had me riveted! I finished it in one day because I had to know how it all turned out! There’s a few surprising twists and a couple I saw coming, and I loved how it all worked out. This is the second story I’ve read/listened to by Greer Hendrick and Sarah Pekkanen that I’ve loved. I need to check out their backlist.

I alternately listened and read The Golden Couple. The audio was fantastic! Karissa Vacker had a sort of soft-spoken quality that I think fit Marissa perfectly, and Marin Ireland sounded matter-of-fact, which I think suited Avery brilliantly.  I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

5 Stars

Book Description:

Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers.

Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate.

When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

Audio Review: Widow Falls by Kiersten Modglin

 

Widow Falls by Kiersten Modglin

Publication Date: December 14th 2021 by Dreamscape Media

Pages: 307

Audio Book Length: 7 hrs 56 min

Narrator: Jess Nahikian

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Sloane has taken a job at Widow Falls as a rapids guide needing a change after some painful events in her life. She’s a mid-season replacement to another guide, Landry, that went missing and the secrecy around her disappearance raises red flags. Odd living arrangements, shifty fellow guides and the missing girl’s journey makes Sloane suspicious of everyone’s motives. What happened to Landry and why is everyone so cagey about the circumstances? As Sloane reads more of Landry’s journal and compares it with the versions of “truth” given by her guide-mates, and things don’t add up.

I felt drawn in as if Sloane was telling her story directly to me, her discomfort in the living/working situation and immediate suspicions gave an edge to her story right away. Short, suspenseful chapters made it imperative to get through the story to find out what the heck was going on. I will say that after the buildup finding out what was going on was a bit of a letdown, and the ending was a little odd and confusing. Still, Widow Falls was a fast, entertaining listen.

I thought Jess Nahikian did a nice job conveying Sloane's distress and she did a wonderful job with both the male and female voices. 

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

The last girl went missing…
Someone doesn’t want her to be found.

When Sloane takes a job at the infamous whitewater rafting camp, Widow Falls, she quickly learns that the camp has a reputation for more than just summer fun.

People go missing at Widow Falls.

The guide she’s replacing was just one of many. As Sloane settles into her new home—a one-room apartment she’ll be sharing with the five other guides—she can’t help asking questions and digging into the disappearances she’s heard about. Her new roommates tell her stories of dark legends and dangerous folklore surrounding the secluded camp but assure her there’s nothing to worry about. It’s all just superstition.

When Sloane stumbles upon a clue and a secret message hidden beneath the floorboards of their loft, she begins to realize there may be more to the myths than she’s been told.

The message gets her attention: Don’t trust anyone at Widow Falls.

As she follows clues to better understand the missing guide she replaced, Sloane can’t help noticing the similarities between the two of them.

What happened to the other girl?
Why won’t the others help her search?
Are they all in danger?

Whatever’s happening at Widow Falls, it’s clear someone doesn’t want her digging into it. As the seams of her reality are torn apart, making her question everything she sees, feels, and believes, Sloane will have to uncover the truth about the camp—and its occupants—before someone else goes missing.

Because this time…it might be her.

Review: Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell

 

Autopsy (Well Met #25) by Patricia Cornwell

Publication Date: November 30th 2021 by William Morrow

Pages: 400

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Kay Scarpetta is back in Virginia as Chief Medica Examiner in her old stomping grounds and I like the return to her roots. However, she’s left with a mess of an office with much of the staff still loyal to the previous Chief, Elvin Reddy, a slimy ladder climber, from Kay’s past. The office secretary, Maggie, undermines Kay’s every move, and seems to be plotting against her at every turn. It doesn’t help that Kay re-opens a past case that was categorized as an accidental death when details point to it being connected with a new murder. Adding to an already busy caseload is an investigation into the deaths of two astronauts in an outer space lab. A lot going on here.

 It’s been years since I picked up a Kay Scarpetta novel, but the series was a favorite long before Goodreads, so I was excited to hear there’d be a new Scarpetta novel. I really enjoyed catching up with an old favorite character, seeing her happy with Benton and all the gang back together again. Didn’t know that Marino married Kay’s sister. Not sure if that happened in one of the books I missed, but I was a bit surprised. I foresee a bumpy road there. Lucy’s had some sad blows personally, but professionally she’s doing well. Covid is part of the story as well, not that it’s a central focus, just that the characters are dealing with the pandemic like we all are in real life.

Got to the end and I thought maybe the story would be continued in another book because so many things were still up in the air. The overall plot threads were wrapped up (mostly) in the epilogue and it felt abrupt. The solution came out of nowhere with no breadcrumbs or foundation, IMO, and I think that’s the part that was most disappointing. I didn’t feel part of the process. Up until then, Autopsy was a solid 4 stars for me. I did feel like it set up for future books and I’m looking forward to Kay bringing the Medical Examiner’s office back into shape, helping bring criminals to justice.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

Scarpetta is back! In this twenty-fifth in the electrifying, landmark #1 bestselling thriller series chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta hunts an ingenious killer who has mastered cutting-edge science for the most nefarious ends.

Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has returned to Virginia as the chief medical examiner. Finding herself the new girl in town once again after being away for many years, she’s inherited an overbearing secretary and a legacy of neglect and possible corruption.

She and her husband Benton Wesley, now a forensic psychologist with the U.S. Secret Service, have relocated to Old Town Alexandria where she’s headquartered five miles from the Pentagon in a post-pandemic world that’s been torn by civil and political unrest. Just weeks on the job, she’s called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman’s body has been shockingly displayed, her throat cut down to the spine, and as Scarpetta begins to follow the trail, it leads unnervingly close to her own historic neighborhood.

At the same time, a catastrophe occurs in a top secret private laboratory in outer space, and at least two scientists aboard are found dead. Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases, Scarpetta is summoned to the White House Situation Room and tasked with finding out what happened. But even as she works the first crime scene in space remotely, an apparent serial killer strikes again. And this time, Scarpetta could be in greater danger than ever before.

In this latest novel in her groundbreaking Kay Scarpetta series, Patricia Cornwell captivates readers with the shocking twists, high-wire tension, and forensic detail that she is famous for, proving once again why she’s the world’s #1 bestselling crime writer.