Not Home Along - Kayley Loring

 She just walked into her dream Christmas rental… and found her worst enemy already unpacked.

Eternal optimist Merrily Tucker is excited to spend Christmas in the most beautiful house in town; a twinkly, tinsel-lined rental that’s just hers for the holidays. But inside is one big problem… the man who once turned her down in front of the whole of Holly Grove, irritatingly handsome, certified Grinch Grant Moody. He says he’s the owner. And he’s planning to spend Christmas here too.

The town might think he’s a playboy, but Grant Moody is determined to spend his Christmas nights alone. Zero decorations, a ban on baked goods, and definitely no holiday spirit. A mix-up with the rental company isn’t going to get in his way. Even if the woman at his door is the irresistibly gorgeous one-who-got-away Merrily Tucker…

Merrily and Grant are both too stubborn to leave.

Battling for control over what music plays on the speakers and heaving Christmas trees in and out of the house, they find themselves all tangled in tinsel. But Merrily’s “when I think about you, I touch my elf” t-shirt has Grant’s candy cane tingling in a way that begs the question…

Secretly, do they actually want to be home alone together this Christmas…?

An enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity Christmas romance perfect for fans of Meghan Quinn, Lucy Score and Ali Hazelwood. Holiday cheer in female fo

rm + the six-foot grump she loves to hate = the perfect festive read.

TROPES:
Forced proximity

Enemies-to-lovers

Fake dating
Spice levels 🌶️ 🌶️

My Review

I was worried when I started this that it might be just a bit too much 'Christmas' after all; our heroine's name is Merrily! Fortunately, as soon as I got into the story and the blossoming relationship between Merrily and Grant, I really didn't care. Merrily loves Christmas; her father owns a Christmas shop in the small town she grew up in and coming back to visit after years away, she rents a house very much like the famous Home Alone house from the film to stay in, as she can't stay with her Dad. Her plans are to have some time to herself there, but she finds herself sharing it with her nemesis, Grant Moody. He's the man who humiliated her when she was in her late teens in front of the whole town and the reason she has stayed away since.

I loved the chemistry between this pair and how they came to eventually accept one another as they understood more about each other. When the humiliation is revealed, I have to admit, I thought she was being a bit dramatic, but it worked for the plot. They make a great couple and although there are some things to work through, there isn't the big misunderstanding you often get with books like this.

This IS a Christmas story; it would be great to read curled in front of a fire with a mulled wine and snow falling softly outside the window. Sadly for me, when I read it yesterday, it was an unseasonably hot October day and not at all festive. I still really enjoyed it, though. 

A Wedding Date with Death - Maeve Haran

 Something old, something new, something borrowed… someone dead?!

When Sadie Sutton swapped four walls for the four wheels of her trusty orange VW campervan, she didn’t realise that it would come with a new career as a super sleuth! But when a wedding at local beauty spot Winching Priory Hotel is halted because the father of the groom has been found fatally poisoned, Sadie drops everything to take on her next case!

As the wedding grinds to a halt, Sadie soon learns that the victim, gifted local artist Benedict Lawrence, also had a talent for making enemies, from the snooty hotel owners to his long-suffering ex-wife. With an ever-growing list of possible suspects, Sadie is stumped. Until she finds a crumpled, threatening note sent to Benedict hours before he died.

The note leads Sadie deep into Benedict’s past, to a secret love affair, a bitter feud and a long-buried grudge. And when she finds a faded newspaper article about him and his artist friends in their youth, she’s stunned at who else she recognises in the photo…

With secrets and lies at every turn, Sadie knows no guests are safe. Can she crack the case before the nearly wed become newly dead?

My Review

A Wedding Date with Death is the second book in the campervan detective series. This time Sadie and her gang of campervan-living detectives find themselves investigating the murder of a famous artist, who may have been popular for his art, but doesn't seem to be popular in person. 

I do enjoy the way in this series we have a whole cast of people who get involved in solving the mystery, each bringing their own skills. Being the second book, I'm starting to get my head around who is who, as much as I like having a few people involved, it was confusing at first as to who was who.

This was an entertaining read (always feels funny to say about a murder story) and one that kept me turning the pages until the end.

Murder at the Manor House - Katie Gayle

 Julia Bird is as keen as anyone in Berrywick to see inside the famous Greystone Manor. But when she does, the last thing she expects to find is a body!

When Julia Bird is asked to clear out the gatehouse at Greystone Manor after the sudden death of Colonel Loxton’s sister, she is intrigued to finally see inside the impressive house. But when she discovers the body of the Colonel, who greeted her only hours before, dead behind the sofa with a bruise on his forehead, Julia believes his death is no accident.

Once forensics confirm it was murder, Julia tries to piece together what happened. On the day the Colonel died, she saw an unknown man getting into a car outside the manor. The butler Garforth and the housekeeper Biddy claim there were no visitors that day, so who was this mysterious man? Or is someone in the Colonel’s family not telling the truth, with tensions running high over the inheritance?

Days later, Julia finds another body dead among the rhododendrons and knows the deaths must be connected. At the Colonel’s funeral she heard his friends talking about a long-buried secret. Had the second victim discovered it, and is it motive enough to kill? With time running out, can Julia solve the case before there’s another murder at the manor?

An addictive and totally charming cozy mystery set in the English countryside. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and J. R. Ellis.

My Review

I do love these Julia Bird murder mysteries. I don't think they are all that believable (at least I hope they're not; I don't think I'd want to come across nearly as many dead bodies as she seems to manage to), but they're very entertaining.

This time, Julia finds herself at a local manor house, helping to clear out the belongings of a woman who has died. It's not this woman who has been murdered, though, but while there, the woman's brother and owner of the house is killed.

I'd like to think that in Julia's shoes I'd be just as inquisitive and help the local police get to the bottom of things, but if I'm being honest, I'd probably be too scared. Julia isn't, though, and soon is snooping here and there and discovering all kinds of things that escape the police's notice.

I didn't figure this one out before Julia, sadly, but it didn't matter as it was still very entertaining and a really good read. I'm looking forward to more from Julia soon.

Readers are loving the Julia Bird Mysteries:

‘Fantastic… had me hook, line and sinker!!!… Stunning… I absolutely love reading these fantastic books in this amazing series… devoured the whole book in just a few hours… absolutely addictive… absolutely page-turning!!!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Terrifically entertaining… So much fun!… I devoured in one sitting… Delicious and delightful read with a terrific sleuth that I absolutely loved. Funny, fabulous and far too good to miss.’ Bookish Jottings, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A great whodunnit… I was laughing out loud and was in complete quandary of who the killer was… Charming and extremely entertaining… Wonderful.’ PageTurners Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my, I loved Julia Bird… She is a delight! I can’t wait for the next one! Please don’t let it be long!’ MoongloTexas, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was hooked on the mystery immediately… If you haven’t read this series you are missing out! Pure entertainment… A fabulous read and I can’t wait for the next one.’ Onceuponatimebookreviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Kept me engrossed and I completed the book within a day… I would highly recommend this cosy crime page-turner as the perfect indulgent summer evening escape.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Wedding Favor - Sharon M.Peterson

 She needs a plus one for her ex’s wedding. He’s the perfect fake date.

Iris can’t believe she’s agreed to be her ex’s best woman at his wedding—as if the humiliation of still being hung up on him isn’t bad enough. If only she had a hot boyfriend to bring as her plus one…

So when her gorgeous neighbor, single dad Abe, offers to be her date in return for being his cute daughter’s nanny for the summer, she leaps at the deal. With his tattoos, ear piercings and thirteen years on her, Abe is the exact opposite of her ex. The idea of turning up with him is perfection.

Iris once swore off love for good. Never mind that being on Abe’s arm as they twirl around the dance floor starts to feel so right… and so does daydreaming about being a real family with Abe and his daughter, instead of playing fake.

Abe is settled in their small town. And Iris has no idea what her future holds.

But with her hand in his, and her cheek on his chest, Iris secretly wonders: what if this fake wedding date could turn into an oh-so-real love story?

A totally uplifting, heart-stealing age-gap single-dad romance full of true laugh-out-loud moments. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sarah Adams and Abby Jimenez.

My Review

With a title like The Wedding Favor, you might be excused for thinking that this is a story that revolves around or culminates in a wedding. The wedding in question happens midway through the book and although it does form part of the plot, it really is quite a small bit. Instead this is a story of someone finding their way in life, other people not always knowing what's best for someone and most of all, Love.

I fell in love with the characters in this book. Iris herself was brilliant; she was feisty, fun but had such a good heart. Then there was Abe, how could you not fall for him? His daughter Hallie was such fun and best of all was old starlet Gloria. 

I loved every second of this fun romance; it might not have been the spiciest and it took Abe and Iris quite a while to find their way to one another and accept what was going on between them. I think that added to the enjoyment of this story. What a fantastic and satisfying read!

Readers are falling hard for The Wedding Favor:

“This book is pure sunshine… Melted me… Warm and slow-burn… Made me kick my feet… Adorable… How it made me feel: cozy, smitten, and a little weepy… Uplifting and swoony… Charming… Gave me a full-body grin… A hug in book form.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I adored this… Made me cry (in all the right places). Laugh out loud, giggle with toe wiggles, and snort your soda laughter all happened.” kelsomath, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Ooft, this was GOOD! I *loved* this… Laugh-out-loud… The slowest burn romance… Witty, light and a pleasure to read.” selliereads, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I absolutely loved… Captivating… Made me laugh… Heartwarming, and simply beautiful… Really special… Truly stole my heart from beginning to end… Such a sweet, entertaining, and heartwarming read.” mich.entrepag, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Made me laugh, cry, and feel all the feels… Their slow-burn chemistry was EVERYTHING… Full of heart… Had me laughing one minute and reaching for tissues the next… Beautiful!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Omg I ADORED this!… Charming small-town romance, I loved it!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Brought out all the emotions—I laughed so much… I also cried big tears… Carries so much heart… Warmed my heart.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I devoured this!… Had me laughing out loud, sobbing, and feeling all the feels… This book was just what I needed… I am obsessed… I am a fan for life.” nicolereadsalot96, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“SO sweet… Adorable… Made me happy… Sharon, THANK YOU… loved this!” readerrambling, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Oh my god this was soooooo hilarious and emotional!… I LOVE… Beautiful… Wholesome… I had such a good time.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Wow, wow, wow! I loved everything about this… I laughed, cried… Sweet… Such a great read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Will put a big smile on your face, and maybe shed a tear or two… Funny and sassy… Will touch your heart.” Riffle Books, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I can’t wait for this to come out and for y’all to lose your minds… I raced through it… Twisty, romantic… Deserves to be such a hit.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Oh my gosh… Absolutely adorable… A winning book!… Kept me laughing and crying.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Work Husband - Sophie Ranald

ou’re just friends that work together. Nothing more. Riiiiiiiiight?

When Georgia’s boyfriend Sam tells her he’s meeting up with his ex, she’s living every girlfriend’s worst nightmare. Because it’s not just any ex, it’s his first love – the relationship everyone thought would last forever. Convinced she’s one pinot-grigio-fuelled evening away from having to argue custody of their beloved cat, she turns to her work husband for help.

Jamie fixes all Georgia’s work crises (like that time she jammed the printer so badly it started smoking…) so when he suggests faking a romance to make Sam jealous, she’s all ears. After all, he’s already her work husband, how hard can it be to pretend he’s something more?

From flirty texts to a dangerous number of G&Ts in the local pub, Jamie’s declarations of love soon start to get out of hand. Suddenly, Georgia’s not sure her work husband was the best choice to help her keep hold of her (hopefully) future husband.

Georgia has watched enough romcoms to know office romances are not a good idea and, as she soon finds out, even fake ones can be dangerous… Is she prepared for what happens when fake dating turns out to be not so fake after all?

A warm and fabulous romantic comedy, perfect for anyone who has ever thought about crossing the line at work. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane.

My review

It's no surprise that many of the reviews of this book are quite low; it's a hard book to review. From the title, blurb and cover, I was expecting something completely different. It's a bit of a shame, as I can see that might put off a lot of people, but if you put aside those first expectations, it is an enjoyable read. 

This isn't a fun romantic comedy between workmates. This is more about what makes a relationship, the trust that builds it and how sometimes a good relationship is less about the good times and more to do with how you handle the bad ones.

The main issue I have with this book is Georgia's boyfriend, Sam. I don't want to give away spoilers, but I found his behaviour to be so annoying and wrong, but that is never addressed. In all honesty, everyone seems to behave badly, one way or another, but there was something about it that felt a bit more real than most romances.

If you go into this wanting a fun romcom, then there's a good chance you'll be disappointed and not find what you're looking for. If you don't expect that and instead want to read a story of less-than-perfect people trying to find their way in a relationship, then you might get a bit more out of it.

Revenge Puck - Sara Ney

 

When I catch my girl with my hockey teammate and best friend—scratch that, ex-best friend—I’m done playing nice.

Declan betrayed me. But I have the perfect way to get even: his sister.

Juliette is sweet, bookish, gorgeous… and completely off-limits.

Fake dating her should be easy. A little wining and dining, a little harmless flirting, and I’ll get revenge on the guy who wrecked my life.

But Juliette throws me completely off my game.

Beneath her button-up shirts and wide eyes is the sexiest and most fascinating woman I’ve ever met. All good-girl by day, lacy underwear by night.

She sees right through my bad attitude… and somehow likes me anyway.

Suddenly the one thing worse than losing my best friend, would be losing her.

I’m desperate for revenge. But hurting Juliette? That’s a penalty I just can’t take…

My Review

This is one of those books that you just can't help but 'greedy read'. I only started it yesterday, and by this morning I'd already got to the end. I loved the relationship between Aaron and Juliet. They seemed so good for one another, even though they are complete opposites. I didn't even mind the way they got together; obviously, it was all going to blow up in Aaron's face at some point, but he comes to realise how he feels about Juliet pretty quickly.

Having said all of that, this wasn't a perfect read. There were a few things that were introduced as though they might be a key plot point and then never mentioned again. Why did Bailey cheat on Aaron? What did Declan know that led to it all? Perhaps some of that will come out in the next book, because that features Declan and he's really going to have to do something special, as at this stage he's pretty unlikeable.

What really stopped this book from getting another star was the end. It seemed incredibly rushed, and although I could see we were heading towards a conclusion, the ending was sudden and didn't give you that nice tie-up of everything that you usually expect at the end of a romance like this. It's a bit of a shame, but I still really enjoyed the book overall.

The Campervan Detectives - Maeve Haran

 Fearless, feisty and at the wheel of her bright orange campervan, newly-single Sadie is about to enter a new era… as a detective?!

It’s never too late for a second chance, and when Sadie Sutton’s marriage implodes spectacularly, she jumps into her vintage VW campervan and heads for the twisty cobbled streets and sea views of her childhood in the little seaside town of Winching. But her fresh start comes to an abrupt stop when she trips over a dead body, turning an ordinary walk with her faithful dog Sam Spade into a murder investigation!

Having failed to stop a balaclava-wearing suspect disappearing from the scene into the night, Sadie can’t help but take matters into her own hands. The victim, retired headmistress Charlotte Woolf, was well known around Winching for her sharp tongue – rumours suggest she was particularly disliked by her own husband! But he swears he doesn’t even like killing snails by mistake…

With the enthusiastic help of three women at the campsite who have all embraced Van Life, Sadie starts sleuthing. Who was sending Charlotte anonymous bunches of flowers that had her rattled? Do the members of the local sea swimming club hold a vital clue? Sadie and her friends are on the right track… until their prime suspect ends up dead in his garden shed!

Can Sadie get to the root of the problem and stop the killer before the next person is buried? Or will her fresh new chapter end with her driving her campervan back the way she came?

First in a brilliant new series from bestselling author Maeve Haran, this warm, witty and absolutely unputdownable cosy crime novel is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Robert Thorogood.

My Review

I love the idea of this murder mystery. After finding her husband and best friend in bed together, Sadie sells her car, buys a camper van and disappears off to the small town she used to visit when she was a child. Who wouldn't want to just give up on everything like that and escape? It all goes a bit wrong when she stumbles across a dead body on her first night there.

I loved the way that Sadie meets up with and befriends a group of women who all live in their campervans. Not only does she have a whole group of women she can rely on, but they work together to solve the mystery. I loved that. 

This is the first book in the series and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Sadie and her friends. 

Murder at the Cornish Book Club - Fliss Chester

 Join Maddie Penrose, scone baker, book lover and amateur sleuth, in her new home by the Cornish seaside. A member of her local book club has been murdered, and she’s on the case!

Maddie Penrose is settling into Cornish life with her fun and feisty grandmother, Nor. She throws herself into getting to know the locals, helping out at the village book club and enjoying the occasional G&T in the pub with handsome police officer DI Tom Trevelyan. But one sunny morning, her newfound peace is shattered when she spots Quentin, a member of the book club… dead, with a knife in his back.

To Maddie’s surprise, it transpires that almost all the other members of the book club have a motive to murder Quentin. Quentin’s own wife, a fellow reader, seems to be hiding something. The local romance author isn’t all sweetness and light, and another writer is keeping secrets. But is one of the book lovers in the sleepy seaside village really responsible for Quentin’s untimely death?

No sooner has the ink dried on the page of the first killing, another takes place – and the second victim is also a member of the book club! As Maddie frantically scrambles to get her clues down in black and white, she unearths a discovery connected to Nor. Is her gran the next victim on the list?

Can Maddie rescue Nor before her story ends in murder too? Or will the killer have the last word?

My Review

This may only be the second in the Maddie Penrose series, but I already feel as though we know Maddie, her gran and 'her' policeman quite well. This is a great series, set in beautiful Cornwall. Maddie herself is both intuitive and chaotic, and that adds to her charm and likability.

This time, Maddie finds herself thrown into another murder investigation after the discovery of a body at a dawn swim. It seems that many people have reason to want the dead man out of the way, but it's not immediately obvious if any of them would want it enough to actually commit murder.

I love Maddie's less-than-perfect approach to trying to figure out what happened. She scribbles notes in her grandmother's recipe books in a way that I'm sure only she might be able to make sense of them.

This is a great series, and I'm looking forward to finding out what might be next for this cook and amateur sleuth.

The Book Club Murders - Maggie Allswell

What Judy’s book club doesn’t know about murder mysteries isn’t worth writing about. Nothing beats cracking a fictional case over some wine and salt and vinegar crisps. But can they put their puzzle-solving skills to the test when the local librarian dies in a real-life murder?

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens at a charity murder mystery night held at Nigel’s tavern. Suddenly more murders come to light, both real and very badly staged. And when Nigel makes an astonishing revelation, the book club agree it’s a plot twist no-one saw coming. Can Judy and her book club solve the mystery before they too fall victim to a killer plot?

My Review

Playing for Keeps - Bella North

It’s all fun and games until fake starts to feel like forever…

My life revolves around two things: football and family. Romance? Not so much. But my fans have other ideas. And they’ve turned my easy-going life into a nightmare with their campaign to find me a wife…

My childhood best friend Serena thinks it’s hilarious. She’s always wanted the big, swoony love story, but instead, she has a controlling ex she can’t shake breathing down her neck. And then the solution to both our problems hits me: a fake romance. ‘Settling down’ with Serena will get the fans off my back, and having a muscly football player on her arm should be enough to warn off her ex. Plus, we’re best friends, so what could go wrong?

Our first date is set for the city’s annual charity ball. I’m smug as I imagine how easy my life will be after tonight. Except, when my lips touch Serena’s in front of the flashing cameras, when I hear her soft sigh as I dip her lower, something like panic creeps through my chest. I’m not meant for love—letting people down runs in my genes. I can’t do that to Serena. I won’t.

As the story we’re spinning gets bigger, so do the feelings I’ve worked so hard to chase away. We want completely different things. But I can’t stop wondering: do we both want the one thing that counts—each other?

Playing for Keeps is a fun, steamy, friends-to-lovers sports romance, perfect for fans of Liz Tomforde, Stephanie Archer and Elsie Silver. The third in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.

My Review

I love a good fake dating storyline. We all know where they're really going, and usually they are quite far-fetched, but they are still enormous fun. This time around, there was at least some reason behind the fake dating idea, and it worked really well. It probably helped that one of my other favourite romance genres is Friends to Lovers, and Playing for Keeps fits that as well.

Serena has been in love with Chase for years, but after he made it clear they were just friends, she's been determined not to step outside that role. When they start to fake date, her feelings all come rushing to the surface, and she's not the only one who is affected in that way.
This was a really fun read, and although there are some weighty issues for both Chase and Serena to deal with, it's still quite lighthearted and enjoyable. I really liked these two as a couple, and although they have been friends for years, best friends at that, there was still plenty to discover about one another.

I'm enjoying this Oakwood Ranch series. I'm hoping there's another one coming soon (I know who I think it might be about too), but we'll have to wait and see if that actually eventuates...

The Fatal Flotilla at Sea Oats Beach - Karen C.Whalen

 If you are looking for a quirky amateur sleuth with a knack for comedy, The Fatal Flotilla at Sea Oats Beach is right for you. This mystery is filled with laughs, twists, and an unforgettable lead character.

The dazzling lights of the Christmas Flotilla shimmer across Sea Oats Beach, transforming the December night into a twinkling wonderland. But for Breanna Hart, the brilliance dims when she discovers a gunshot fatality on an abandoned boat. The victim, known for his generosity in the animal welfare community, seems an unlikely target, making the suspicion cast upon one of Bree’s own neighbors all the more perplexing.

Driven by a connection to the victim’s love for animals and her own pursuit of truth, Bree begins a fact-finding mission. As an animal shelter volunteer, she sees a chance not only to solve the case but also to help a bloodhound named Tracker. If he can pick up overlooked clues, Bree hopes the police will train him as a K-9 detection dog and give him the forever home he deserves.

As Christmas Day approaches, Bree’s holiday plans compete with her investigation. Every question she asks edges her closer to a vicious killer who is definitely not feeling the holiday vibe.

My Review

Who doesn't love a good cosy mystery? The Fatal Flotilla certainly fits into that category. Our heroine, Bree, might not intend to be a sleuth, but when she finds a body on board a seemingly abandoned boat, she can't help but try to figure out what had happened.

One of the joys of this kind of story is trying to figure out whodunnit yourself. This time around I was completely barking up the wrong tree. I'd convinced myself that there were clues throughout the story that pointed to one particular person; to be fair, there were, but I just picked up the wrong clues and the wrong person. That didn't stop me from really enjoying this read, though.

This is the second book I've read in the Sea Oats Beach mystery series, and I'm sure that it won't be the last. I'm really enjoying them and look forward to reading more in the future.

Death in a Scottish Tower - Lydia Travers

One body falling from a tower could be considered an accident, but two is definitely murder… And Lady Poppy Proudfoot is determined to find the culprit!

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot is invited to Glasgow University to celebrate a scholarship she generously established, she’s excited to return to her old stomping grounds. But the delightful champagne reception is interrupted by screams when a body plunges from the tower to the ground below…

While everyone exclaims at the tragic death of the young student, Poppy is instantly suspicious. Just moments before the body fell, tutor Mary Christie told her a student died falling from the very same tower eighteen years ago. Convinced another death is no accident, Poppy and the distractingly handsome Inspector MacKenzie begin to investigate.

As they do, they discover the murderer left behind clues – a threatening note referring to the death eighteen years ago, and a replica of the previous victim’s dress. Could it be Malcolm Kennedy, the porter with a grudge against privileged students? Or Mrs Lorimer, the jealous wife of a professor, who has a deft hand with a needle and thread? Or perhaps Mary Christie, who told Poppy about the first death, and might know more than she’s letting on?

When another young female student is found dead, Poppy knows that time is running out. And when she receives an anonymous note, asking her to climb the tower at midnight, she is terrified of what she might find. Can Poppy unveil the murderer before she, too, plunges to her certain death?

A gripping and page-turning whodunnit, this historical cozy crime novel is perfect for fans of the mysteries of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.

My Review

Death in a Scottish Tower is the third book in the Lady Poppy Proudfoot mystery series. This time, Poppy finds herself with another dead body while visiting Glasgow University, where she has set up a scholarship for women. She quickly throws herself into investigating and assists the charming and handsome Inspector MacKenzie, whom she is quickly falling for.

I like the balance of murder, historical setting and romance in these books. It's obvious that eventually something is going to happen between Lady Poppy and her Inspector (who asks her to call him James), and I enjoy this element of the story as well as the mystery side.

I didn't think that this one was too hard to solve, and I got to the bottom of things before either Poppy or Inspector MacKenzie. That's half the fun with these kinds of reads, though. I much prefer those that I can at least try to solve. 

I'm sure that we'll be back with Poppy and her handsome inspector before long, and I'll be interested to see what she has to solve next and if she manages to progress her romance with the inspector. I'm sure that anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery would enjoy Death in a Scottish Tower. 

The Last One Alive - H.K. Christie

She glances in the rearview mirror as the stranger walks towards her broken-down car. The wicked look on his face sends a chill up her spine and she knows he’s not here to help. She doesn’t have time to scream before she falls to the ground, and the darkening sky goes black.

When the lifeless body of a young girl is discovered at an abandoned warehouse close to Red Rose County, FBI Agent Val Costa races to investigate. Setting eyes on the victim, Val’s heart stops as she spots the jagged letter S carved into her ice-cold chest. Slowly, she runs her fingers across her own identical scar. She’s been waiting for the Bear to leave his mark again, and now he finally has.

Determined to catch the man who’s haunted her dreams for years, Val promises to end his killing spree once and for all, but when more bodies are found bearing the same deadly carving, she fears she may already be too late. And then Val receives a call that turns her blood to ice—her best friend Sally is missing, and the killer has left a note addressed to her. Follow these rules and she lives.

Desperate to find Sally, Val faces her biggest challenge yet. Will she need to defy orders and track down the Bear alone before it’s too late?

Fans of Lisa Regan, L.T. Ryan and Mary Stone won’t be able to put down this totally heart-racing crime thriller.

My Review

Last One Alive is the third book in the Val Costa series and I think the best so far. From the first page I was on the edge of my seat. Through the other four books, we have followed Val as she has helped the local police department solve murders, but all the time the shadow of the bear, the serial killer she was chasing and who abducted her before she left the FBI.

In this fourth (and final?) book, Val is once again face-to-face with the bear. He's been following her all this time and is now completely obsessed. It's clear that this is a final showdown and that only one of them is going to come out of this alive.

I loved this final conclusion to Val's story. I couldn't put it down and devoured the whole thing in just a couple of sittings. (Had I had more time, it would have been just one sitting.) A fantastic conclusion to a really great series. 

H.K. Christie

H.K. Christie is an Amazon bestselling crime novelist best known for her Martina Monroe crime thriller series. H.K.’s writing style is a gripping blend of suspense and pace. Her ability to craft complex plots creates a dynamic ebb and flow of tension that keeps readers captivated and eager for more. Inspired by true crime and social justice, she develops realistic, multidimensional characters that bridge the gap between fiction and reality. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and feisty pup, Charlie.