"Our Marriage Is Murder by Carol Goodman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







"Our Marriage Is Murder" by Carol Goodman is an engaging locked-room mystery about a husband-and-wife author team who find themselves entangled in a real-life murder case. After reading several fantasy books in a row, I was in the mood for a mystery, and this one fit the bill perfectly.

Fred and Thea Morgan-Lane are partners in both life and writing, coauthoring the successful Death Takes a Holiday mystery series. When their novel Death Takes the Castle is nominated —along with several others—for the prestigious Poirot Prize for Best Mystery Series, they are invited to the Italian castle Castellarosa to attend a mystery conference called Murdercon, where one book will ultimately be chosen. One of the highlights of the conference is a treasure hunt designed by the organizer and based on the Morgan-Lanes’ book. However, after twenty years of marriage and collaboration, Thea wants out—of both the marriage and the writing partnership.

Things take a darker turn when the conference organizer is poisoned in a manner that mirrors the Morgan-Lanes’ book. As deaths among the attendees continue, Thea quickly becomes the prime suspect. Yet the treasure hunt goes on, each clue drawn from their novel and supposedly leading to a buried treasure tied to a local legend. With a killer on the loose and the police breathing down their necks, the unhappy couple must solve the mystery—and perhaps save their marriage—before it's too late.

With mysterious deaths, intriguing clues, and plenty of red herrings, the book kept me turning the pages. The pacing is occasionally slow, but it didn’t significantly affect my enjoyment. The story is told from Thea’s first-person point of view, which helped me connect with her. I was less fond of Fred, though that may have been influenced by the narration.

I appreciated the many nods to Agatha Christie and other classic mystery authors. I enjoyed the literary references, the glamorous Italian setting, and, of course, the mystery itself. A particularly fun detail was that the cats mentioned in the tale were named Tommy and Tuppence, after Christie’s protagonists. That said, the slow start and the repetitive tidbits of local legend and backstory sometimes pulled me out of the story.

The plot could have benefited from some tightening, and because of that, I deducted a star, rating the book 4 out of 5 stars. Still, I enjoyed it and would recommend it. Our Marriage Is Murder is a standalone (as far as I know, it isn’t part of a series), though I would be happy to meet these characters again. This book should appeal to mystery and suspense fans, as well as to readers looking for an entertaining, light read with a classic mystery feel.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Our Marriage Is Murder by Carol Goodman

"Tyler Green Will Never Be Free" by Nicci French

 

"Tyler Green Will Never Be Free" by Nicci French is a cleverly constructed psychological thriller and the third in the Maud O’Connor Mysteries. I didn’t realize it was the third in the series, nor had I read the previous books, but that didn’t impact my enjoyment. It stands well on its own, and I had no issues following along.

The book follows the reunion of a group of old university friends and its aftermath. When they were students, one of them—Leo—was murdered, and another—Tyler Green—was convicted of his murder. He always claimed he was innocent. Now, almost thirty years later, Tyler is out of jail and asks his friends to reconnect, which they reluctantly agree to.

The reunion starts off as planned, but wine and accusations soon dampen the atmosphere and tensions rise. When another member of the group is found dead in the same manner as the first murder, suspicion falls on Tyler. After all, he is a convicted murderer. Detective Maud O’Connor is called to investigate, but she isn’t convinced Tyler is guilty. As the investigation unfolds, long-buried secrets and old wounds resurface.
 
The novel is a concoction of intrigue, psychological character study, and drama. The authors seamlessly weave themes of fallible human nature, morality, relationships, friendship, caring, abuse, bullying, justice—or the lack thereof—crime, and its consequences.

The story is told in third person, alternating between characters, and divided into two parts. The first part introduces the friends, giving us their backstories and psychological profiles, while the second focuses on Maud and the investigation.

The pacing of the mystery is somewhat slow, although it didn’t dampen my enjoyment. You won’t find any breathtaking tension here—the plot moves steadily, with limited action, focusing instead on the characters and atmosphere, which isn’t a bad thing.

I enjoyed the mix of psychological insight and suspense. It’s well-plotted, and what truly shines is the portrayal of the characters—their mindsets and the way their feelings of anger, fear, sadness, camaraderie, and pain feel so palpable. The authors excel at revealing character through both physical description and acute psychological observation.

I didn’t guess the identity of the perpetrator, and the curveballs thrown me back. I liked that Maud didn’t bow to outside pressures and insisted on conducting the investigation her own way, without prejudice. The writing is sharp and compelling, though it could use a bit of tightening, as the repetitions of the interrogations and the inclusion of some minor characters slowed down the pace.
 
Nicci French is the pen name of the husband-and-wife writing team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, and the writing is so seamless that I couldn’t distinguish who wrote which parts. This is an exciting psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. I enjoyed the book and its psychological depth, but the slow pacing and some repetitive scenes kept me from giving it five stars. I’m now eager to read the other two books in the series.

"Old friends, new secrets, one deadly reunion." Just what the doctor ordered.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book:  "Tyler Green Will Never Be Free" by Nicci French

"The Astral Library" by Kate Quinn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever wished to live inside a book? And what book would you pick? That's the premise of this enchanting story. Which book lover hasn’t dreamed of stepping inside their favorite book and living the dream? The Astral Library by Kate Quinn revolves around a magical library whose doors lead to new lives inside books.

The book follows twenty-six-year-old Alexandra Watson, or Alix. Abandoned by her mother at an early age and moving from one foster home to another, her life wasn’t exactly a bed of roses. Her refuge from reality was the library and its books that carried her to new horizons. Now working three dead-end jobs, she’s trying to make ends meet, having given up her dream of going to college. With only $36.82 to her name, she thought her life couldn’t get worse. When she’s fired from her job and kicked out of her apartment on the same day, she’s desperate. And to top it all off, someone has stolen her identity and changed the name on her bank account. What’s a woman to do? 

Taking refuge in her favorite place, the Boston Public Library, she stumbles through a door into the Astral Library and meets the Librarian — the guardian of the library who helps the desperate and the lost escape to new lives inside their favorite books. The only catch: it must be a book whose copyright has expired. Before she can start her new life, an unknown enemy threatens the Astral Library and its patrons (those in need of shelter). Aided by Beau, a costume-shop owner, and a couple of others, Alix and the librarian, and later on Beau, jump from one book to another, trying to save the day.

I enjoyed the book immensely. It started a bit slow, with too many descriptions of clothes and too much whining from the heroine about her lot in life, but the pace picked up after a while. They visited different books — such as the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen, the world of Sherlock Holmes, the parties of The Great Gatsby, the halls of Jane Eyre’s Thornfield, and the moors of Wuthering Heights, to name a few. I loved the exact descriptions of each book they visited, which made them come to life.

The idea of stepping through doors to other worlds or magically traveling into books isn’t new, but the execution here certainly was. The author expands on that theme by adding other kinds of magical libraries, such as the Art Library (led by the Gallerist) and the Computer Games Library (led by the Programmer). The book explores themes of grief, abandonment, found family, belonging, courage, friendship, the evils of corporations that think only of the bottom line, and the merits of public libraries. And there’s a book dragon! How cool is that?

While we don’t get an in-depth view of every character, there’s enough personality to make it work. I have to admit, I didn’t relate to the heroine at first, finding her too whiny, talkative, and thoughtless (running after a mirage in a strange world and risking her life was silly beyond words). And it wasn’t just once — she made several foolish decisions. But she grew on me, and I came to admire her spirit and bravery. She wasn’t the loser she thought she was, and I rooted for her as she grew.

Kate Quinn is an excellent storyteller who kept me engaged with gripping scenes and a creative plot that built suspense. She breaks the fourth wall by letting the narrator speak to us directly a couple of times, which I loved. I also liked the way the author inserted her name into the story when a side character referred to her as their boss. It was a nice touch. 

Overall, I loved the book, so I rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to five. I enjoyed visiting the pages of my favorite books and meeting old friends. I recommend the book to lovers of books, magical doors, and adventures. Known for her historical fiction, Kate Quinn takes her first step into the fantasy genre — and I hope more will follow, because for anyone who’s ever dreamed of living inside their favorite story, this book is pure magic.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Astral Library" by Kate Quinn

"The Last Death of the Year" by Sophie Hannah

 

"The Last Death of the Year" by Sophie Hannah is the sixth book in her new Hercule Poirot Mysteries, and by far the best of them. Yes, I have read them all. As a devoted Agatha Christie fan, I couldn't resist this new addition to the series.

Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool are back in a complex murder investigation that takes place on a Greek island. The time is New Year’s Eve, 1932. Poirot and Catchpool from Scotland Yard arrive on the tiny island of Lamperos, supposedly for a vacation among the eccentric locals living at the House of Perpetual Welcome.

Soon, Catchpool begins to suspect Poirot had another reason for inviting him. During a New Year’s Resolutions party, one written note—threatening to perform “the last and first death of the year”—overshadows the holiday spirit. The tension escalates when, only hours later, one of the residents is found dead on the terrace. The pair must find the culprit to ensure the first murder will indeed be the last

I enjoyed the book immensely. Although it pays homage to Christie and has shades of the Dame herself, it is not Agatha Christie—admittedly, those are very difficult shoes to fill. That doesn’t mean the book isn’t good. It’s suspenseful and fun, just not Christie. Once I stopped treating it as such, I enjoyed it even more.

The writing is tight, and the book conveys a suspenseful atmosphere as well as the detective’s methodical way of investigating and solving problems. I didn’t foresee the twists, and the mix of deceptions and red herrings kept me engaged throughout.

The plot unfolds at a slow pace, as befits a detective story. Not all the cards are revealed, and not all the moves are clear in advance. Unfortunately, Catchpool isn’t Captain Arthur Hastings. He is more needy, lacks confidence, and despite being a Scotland Yard detective, is less brilliant, continually requiring Poirot’s guidance. Still, I liked him.

Overall, I loved the book and highly recommend it to fans of Agatha Christie or simply fans of an excellent mystery. It may not be quite the original, but it comes very close. Sophie Hannah manages to capture Poirot’s mannerisms and deliver an intriguing tale while doing so. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Last Death of the Year" by Sophie Hannah

"A Killer Wedding" by Joan O'Leary

 

A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary is a slow-burn mystery following Christine Russo, an ambitious junior editor at Bespoke Weddings Magazine, sent to cover the glamorous wedding of a beauty empire tycoon’s grandson at a luxe Irish castle. Told from multiple perspectives and jumping between timelines, the book blends mystery, family drama, and the toxic dynamics of the glitzy elite.

Christine is thrilled when Gloria Beaufort—the formidable matriarch of the Ripton family and founder of the global beauty empire Glo—asks her to cover her grandson’s wedding for Bespoke. But when Gloria is found dead and the family wants it hushed up until after the wedding, Christine realizes she’s walked into more than just another wedding feature. She’s warned to stay silent—or face the music.

As she starts digging into the past, secrets are revealed and tensions run high. Everyone has something to hide—be it the incompetent entrepreneur, the alcoholic and hot-tempered grandchild, the unfaithful wife, or the wedding planner. Not all that glitters sparkles, as Christine will come to learn.

On paper, the book had everything: a luxurious setting, a murder, secret passageways, a dysfunctional family, toxic dynamics, and an outsider caught in the middle of it all. The writing is good, the multiple perspectives are easy to follow, and the mystery unfolds with several well-placed twists. I particularly liked the flashbacks, which helped flesh out the characters’ backgrounds. The interstitials between chapters added a nice stylistic touch (though some were hard to read due to tiny font).

Despite the intriguing premise, the book dragged. The pacing is very slow, and the story takes its time getting to the heart of the mystery. The abundance of wedding-related details weighed the narrative down, and the characters—while interesting—often leaned too heavily into familiar archetypes. I didn’t connect with any of them, which made it harder to stay invested. Still, I was curious enough to stick with it and see how it played out.

In the end, I’m giving A Killer Wedding 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a well-constructed story with a strong atmosphere and thoughtful plotting, but it didn’t fully engage me the way I’d hoped. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy slow-burning mysteries with a heavy dose of toxic family and unlikable characters, and who don’t mind a very leisurely pace with lots of descriptive detail.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "A Killer Wedding" by Joan O'Leary
   

"I Did Warn Her" by Sian Gilbert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love locked-room mysteries and tales set at sea, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. Who can resist a below-deck setting, dark secrets, and murder?! Written from multiple POVs, the story follows the crew of the super yacht Ophelia on her voyage to New York.

The book opens with murder, no less, and then introduces us to the working crew. We meet Sasha, a last-minute hire for a week-long Atlantic crossing after a former stewardess was abruptly dismissed. Then there’s Jade, the rigid chief stewardess, and the three other stewardesses — Imogen, Euphemia, and Lola — blonde, model-gorgeous, and nearly indistinguishable in appearance.

The crew also includes a couple of deckhands, a cook, the ship’s engineer, the bosun, the captain, and the first mate. Since a stewardess from the previous charter disappeared, the atmosphere is tense, emotions run high, and dangerous undercurrents swirl just beneath the surface.

The plot thickens when billionaire guests Benjamin and Digby join the cruise with their glamorous companions, Eva and Jasmine. The cruise takes a lethal turn when expensive jewelry starts disappearing, and a crew member turns up dead. Trust becomes a luxury no one can afford. Everyone harbors secrets — some deadlier than others.

Join the crew on this perilous voyage filled with unpredictable twists and turns. The suspense kept me turning pages, and I never lost interest. Themes of trust, loss, friendship, betrayal, sexual harassment, and flawed human nature are intricately woven into the story.

Life aboard a luxury yacht isn’t all flowers and roses for the crew. The work is exhausting, the demands endless, and they must cater to the guests' every whim while maintaining a polished facade. Rivalries, petty fights, and simmering resentments run rampant.

I didn’t like most of the characters, as they were portrayed in an unflattering light. Sasha and Jasmine were far more likable and less petty than the rest. The rest of the stewardesses were catty and competitive, each thinking she was superior. Their dynamics made me cringe. The men weren’t much better — some treated the women as disposable objects.

The book is divided into five parts. The first part felt slow, reminiscent of a telenovela with its melodramatic plots and exaggerated emotions. But things picked up in the second part, and once a body was discovered, I couldn’t stop reading. The multiple perspectives offered a fascinating glimpse into the characters’ minds. Some even evolved by the end, earning a bit of my sympathy, though I still didn’t like them much.

The ending was breathlessly intense and tied everything together, though I wasn’t entirely satisfied with it. I’m tired of seeing people get away with their misdeeds. Because of that and the slow start, I deducted one star from my rating.

Overall, this is a well-crafted story that keeps you turning the pages with its unpredictable twists and vivid character portrayals. Despite my reservations about the conclusion, the excellent writing and gripping mystery make it well worth the read.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "I Did Warn Her" by Sian Gilbert

 

"What the Wife Knew" by Darby Kane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have read another book by this author, so I knew I was in for a good ride. And boy, was I right! "What the Wife Knew" by Darby Kan is a twisty family drama that won't let you even consider putting the book down.

The book follows Addison, who married Dr. Richmond Dougherty, a renowned pediatric surgeon, for her own agenda. The story takes place in Rye, New York. Pretty soon, the reader becomes aware that their marriage is a sham, and the reasons appear as the story unfolds. Dr. Richmond Dougherty is considered a hero due to an infamous childhood tragedy. When he is found suddenly dead, the town suspects Addison is the one who killed him, and she becomes the town pariah.

The first wife does her best to encourage the rumors about Addison and to kick her out of town. The irony is Addison did intend to kill Dr. Dougherty, but someone beat her to the punch. Or so she claims... The plot thickens as Richmond’s legacy starts to unravel, causing upheaval in the lives of the people around him. Dr. Richmond Dougherty was a narcissistic, deceitful, infidel, controlling man with many skeletons in his closet, and someone will go to any lengths to conceal it, even murder.

The story is told in the first person and alternates between the perspectives of the two main characters, Addison and Richmond, with flashbacks to the past. The more we learn about Addison's history and her toxic relationship with her mother, the more I felt for her and liked her, though she was irritating at times. I am not convinced she couldn't have made other choices, contrary to what she claims, but that is neither here nor there.

The author managed to explore the reach and power of dysfunctional family and mother-daughter relationships without losing the edge of the thriller. It is a revenge story unlike any you've seen, and one you must read to find out more about. I liked the dynamics between the characters and the cynical retorts of the heroine. The tension was palpable from the first page until the conclusion of the book.

The story is captivating, thrilling, and totally engrossing. It could have been tightened up a bit, especially the chapters from Richmond's perspective, but it didn't hurt my enjoyment of the book. The combination of unexpected plot twists, colorful characters, and a twisty ending has made this book a really enjoyable read for me. I loved the book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys revenge tales with a bite.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "What the Wife Knew" by Darby Kane

"The Midnight Feast" by Lucy Foley

 

I've read a couple of Lucy Foley's books before, so I was excited to get my hands on her latest release. I'm a sucker for locked-room murder mysteries, and this one piqued my interest right away. Set at the seaside Manor in Dorset, the story unfolds through the perspectives of several key characters:

* Francesca Woodland: the founder and owner of the manor, a posh resort.
* Owen, her husband, is an architect.
* Bella - a guest at the hotel with an agenda.
* Eddie, a nineteen-year-old kitchen helper.

The book alternates between the present and the past, beginning before the events at the Manor and then shifting to its opening night, where Francesca is determined to ensure its success. However, things quickly go awry. The locals, unhappy with the Manor’s encroachment into the local woods and its attempts to privatize the public beach, are disrupting the guests' peace with their actions. Add the appearance of crows, black feathers stuck on doors and people, and a guest determined to wake sleepy dogs, and the stage is set. Thus, a chain of events is set in motion that can end only one way. 

While 'The Midnight Feast' is an enjoyable and interesting read, I must admit that the pace felt rather slow, and the suspense didn't truly kick in until halfway through. Nonetheless, the main characters are well-fleshed out and interesting, although not all are likable. Each harbors secrets that gradually unravel as the narrative unfolds, compelling readers to eagerly turn the pages to uncover what is going on.

Narrated from multiple perspectives in the first person, the story seamlessly weaves between characters and timelines, including events from fifteen years prior recounted through diary entries. I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of folklore surrounding the woods and the Birds, as well as the subtle nod to Hitchcock's iconic film "The Birds," which I found delightful. Foley's writing flows smoothly, providing insightful glimpses into the characters' minds. I appreciated how their narratives intertwined and converged as the plot progressed.

Overall, "The Midnight Feast" is a solid read, albeit a tad slow-paced, earning it four out of five stars from me. While it may not keep you on the edge of your seat, the story remains compelling enough to maintain interest throughout. With its enchanting twists on ancient myths and atmospheric storytelling, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a peek into the complexities of human nature.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Midnight Feast" by Lucy Foley