tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43565469776002577622024-03-18T08:55:55.596-07:00The Bookkeeper's ApprenticeThe Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.comBlogger740125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-42303309255045806302024-03-18T08:54:00.000-07:002024-03-18T08:54:58.103-07:00ARC Review: The Other Lola<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><b>The Other Lola by Ripley Jones </b></p><p>Their true crime podcast solved a mystery, but also threw their lives into chaos. Blair and Cam have no intentions of ever getting involved in a mystery again, but then Mattie shows up. Mattie’s sister, Lola, disappeared years ago, and seems to have now reappeared. But Mattie swears that the new Lola isn’t truly her sister, and is desperate for help as no one else believes her. </p><p>I really loved the author’s book <i>Missing Clarissa, </i>and the sequel was very good too. Jones makes readers care so much about the characters, and the mystery is so unique and compelling. I was disappointed there was no podcast aspect, but that made total sense within the context of the story. I would recommend this book. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-62958926927346326612024-03-06T08:18:00.000-08:002024-03-06T08:18:38.206-08:00ARC Review: Murder in the Tea Leaves<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs </b></p><p>A movie is filming in Theodosia’s town, but a murder on set is brewing. When the director is killed, Theodosia and her friend (and tea sommelier) Drayton are on the case, whether the police want them there or not.</p><p>This is such a warm, cozy mystery series, one I’m always happy to curl up with. The characters are fantastic, the mystery is always a good one, there’s friendships and romance, and you will absolutely want to visit that tea shop. I definitely recommend this book. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-4035301917725617702024-02-29T10:04:00.000-08:002024-02-29T10:04:43.924-08:00ARC Review: Murder Road<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Murder Road by Simone St. James </b></p><p>April and Eddie are just trying to get to their honeymoon spot. But then they pick up a hitchhiker and everything changes in an instant. Soon, they realize the hitchhiker is bleeding, and a mysterious truck is following them. </p><p>The Coldlake Falls police immediately suspect April and Eddie, but the couple knows there must be more going on here. There’s a legend surrounding that road, and they are determined to figure out the truth. </p><p>I always enjoy St. James’ books-she does a great job of mixing human nature, mystery, and the supernatural and paranormal. This is definitely a creepy eerie read, with a powerful ending. I would recommend this book, and St. James’ other books as well. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-10383861203792701962024-02-23T09:01:00.000-08:002024-02-23T09:01:46.395-08:00ARC Review: Listen for the Lie<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera </b></p><p>Everyone in her small town seems to believe that Lucy murdered her best friend Savvy, even though Lucy can’t remember what truly happened. Years after moving to L.A., Lucy is brought back to her town by the second season of a very popular podcast, “Listen for the Lie”, as the podcaster, Ben, has decided to cover her case.</p><p>Lucy is determined to see this through to the end, even if it reveals that she is the murderer. </p><p>Gah, this was a good book! I could not put it down. I love mysteries and thrillers with podcast elements, such as interviews and transcripts, and this book uses them so well. The mystery is a really twisty, surprising one, and manages to be both heartbreaking and uplifting in the reveal. This book is funny too, especially Lucy and Ben. I would highly recommend this book. </p><p><b><br /></b></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-14849368715594663022024-02-21T08:27:00.000-08:002024-02-21T08:27:40.634-08:00ARC Review: A Smoking Bun <p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><b>A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander</b></p><p>With family visiting from Spain, Jules is very excited to explore Mount A with them and introduce them to the wonderful lodge that accompanies it. There is even a Downhill Dummy competition that promises lots of entertainment-until it ends in a fatality. </p><p>I really enjoy this cozy mystery series, and this entry was no exception. Jules is a fantastic main character and amateur detective, and her relationships with the great supporting characters ring true and are lots of fun. The mystery was a good one with a big twist, and I definitely didn’t guess the ending. I would recommend this book, and this series. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-55913818188605474802024-02-20T07:57:00.000-08:002024-02-20T07:57:14.471-08:00ARC Review: Keep Your Friends Close <p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen</b></p><p>Mary and Willa meet seemingly by chance at a playground, and form a fast intense friendship. For Mary, a mother going through a very rough divorce, Willa appears to be exactly what she needs.</p><p>Then Willa ghosts her-and shows up later in a different town under a different name, with a whole different family.</p><p>Konen explores some really important topics here-gender roles, toxic masculinity, power dynamics, and wealth. The only thing is that the book moved a little slow for me, and was somewhat more predictable. This was by no means a bad book, just not a favorite for me. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-4874625055288497072024-02-16T15:42:00.000-08:002024-02-16T15:42:50.979-08:00ARC Review: Nowhere Like Home<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard</b></p><p>Lenna has been enticed to an off the grid women’s community by her former friend Rhiannon, who out of nowhere gets back in touch. But this community soon reveals its intense set of rules, and its connections to Lenna’s past.</p><p>This book was slow starting out, and kind of kept being slow to the very end. I never really got as invested in the characters as I wanted to. The ending really picked up and got me invested, which upped the rating of the book for me. I would recommend other Shepard books, but not this one. </p><p><b><br /></b></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-88549122700710512472024-02-12T08:16:00.000-08:002024-02-13T03:50:41.741-08:00ARC Review: Village in the Dark <p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita</b></p><p>While I have not yet read the book preceding this one, this book sounded intriguing enough that when it was offered to me, I really wanted to read it. It definitely lived up to my hopes. </p><p>Detective Cara Kennedy is a strong female protagonist who is facing a heartbreaking prospect. Her husband and son’s bodies are being exhumed, because the proposed cause of death may not actually be true. </p><p>Cara is connected somehow to all the residents of Point Mettier, most especially J.B., a police officer in a relationship with Cara. Together, they will end up on a dangerous mission linked to Unity, a village where women and children can go to escape abusive situations. </p><p>I really liked this book. It felt fast-paced, with lots of major twists and turns. I also loved getting to know more about the towns and villages in Alaska as a part of the story. I especially loved Cara and J.B., whose relationship I was definitely rooting for. I would recommend this book-I didn’t feel lost at all not having read the first one, but now I want to read the first one. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-60218534757399456372024-02-02T11:04:00.000-08:002024-02-02T11:04:44.800-08:00ARC Review: The Resort<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><b>The Resort by Sara Ochs</b></p><p>Cass has come to Koh Sang to completely leave her past behind. While there, she befriends a group of ex pats called the Permanents, who provide her with the family she is craving. But a tragic death occurs, followed by another, and soon everything the Permanents have built threatens to come crashing down around them.</p><p>First, let me say that last chapter got me and got me good! I’m still thinking about it hours after I finished the book, and I really think it’s one that will stay with me for a long time. </p><p>The story is a good one, filled with lots of tension and secrets, and some nail biting terrifying moments near the end. Ochs is a good writer, able to nail writing from two different character perspectives, and keep the suspense up. I would recommend this book. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-18278821525810214162024-01-30T09:23:00.000-08:002024-01-30T09:23:20.460-08:00ARC Review: Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead<p> <i>I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander</b></p><p>The title packs a punch and so does the story. </p><p>Charlie is a survivor of the infamous “Scarlett Christmas”. Once the media hype stopped, she was able to start her life anew and completely reinvent herself. But now that another of the survivors is planning on producing a film about the Scarlett Christmas, Charlie fears her old life, and her past secrets, will come roaring back.</p><p>Hollander is an excellent writer, who really makes readers feel like they are inside Charlie’s head, which can sometimes be a frightening place. The Now and Then format works really well in this instance, building a ton of suspense and letting out just enough information at one time to keep you hooked. I would recommend this book. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-8754964572230797422024-01-29T11:53:00.000-08:002024-01-29T11:53:22.097-08:00ARC Review: Twenty-Seven Minutes <p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate </b></p><p>Ten years ago, Grant took twenty-seven minutes to call for help the night of the car accident, minutes that cost his sister Phoebe her life. Now, on the ten year anniversary, someone is ready to reveal all that really happened that night.</p><p>This wasn’t always the easiest book to read. I think it’s because a few of the characters were so unlikeable, which I think was the point. One of the twists at the end felt like it came out of left field, but looking back, it worked. The other twist was also surprising, and I do think Tate set up these twists well.</p><p>This is a read it or don’t for me. It’s certainly not bad, but there are a lot of other, better books out there in this genre.</p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-68210375261852482492024-01-24T08:30:00.000-08:002024-01-24T08:30:57.325-08:00ARC Review: One of the Good Guys<p> <i>I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall</b></p><p>This is a wild ride. I’m honestly not sure what I can say without giving anything away-and trust me, you don’t want the surprises ruined. The beginning was a little sluggish and sometimes irritating, but that is the point, so just push through, because it’s worth it. The one plot point I can say is a man and a woman meet when they both move to the countryside. Now go read it!</p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-9208335489147678582024-01-19T11:14:00.000-08:002024-01-19T11:14:19.283-08:00ARC Review: The Search Party<p> <i>I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>The Search Party by Hannah Richell</b></p><p>Max and Annie have moved from London to start a glamping retreat, and invite their oldest friends and their families to come join them for a weekend. But a series of events unfolds that leads to fractured friendships, broken relationships, and a whole lot of danger.</p><p>I really enjoyed this book. The technique of jumping backwards and forwards in time really upped the suspense and kept me guessing. The characters feel really real, as do the relationships among the characters. The setting really fits the plot. I would recommend this book. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-30355640883640666132024-01-18T09:27:00.000-08:002024-01-18T09:27:01.704-08:00ARC Review: The Night of the Storm<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh</b></p><p>Jia feels like her life is falling apart. First her divorce, then her son getting into trouble at school. Now a massive storm has descended upon her hometown, and she and her son go to take refuge in her sister’s house.</p><p>But there are complications amongst the family. As the water rises, someone dies, and Jia worries it might have been murder. She must somehow stay above the riding tides and keep her son and herself safe, while figuring out just what is going on.</p><p>Parekh does an amazing job of making the book feel claustrophobic, taking what is essentially a mansion and making it feel like the tiniest apartment. She does this through her beautiful use of language, and also through the sheer amount of characters trapped in the house, and the increasingly terrible storm right outside the massive glass panes. </p><p>The mystery is also an excellent one. I did not call any part of it, it was like the rug was pulled right out from under me. I would recommend this book. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-27634467897293308392024-01-11T09:12:00.000-08:002024-01-11T09:12:42.690-08:00ARC Review: Rabbit Hole<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody </b></p><p>Teddy’s sister, Angie, has been missing for a decade. Now her father has killed himself. These two events lead Teddy to Reddit, down a rabbit hole (hence the title) of conspiracy theories, harsh commentary, and someone who seems to know more than they’re willing to tell. Characters surround Teddy, from her new much older boyfriend, to her mother who is holding on to Angie’s aged dog, to Mickey, a nineteen year old who is more than eager to help Teddy.</p><p>This book is dark and twisted from the start. There is essentially no light. Even the dog is dying. I struggled to get through this for that reason, but kept going because the book is definitely well written. There are a ton of trigger warnings needed, and I’m hard pressed to think who I would recommend this book to because it is so dark. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-66629740407036077902024-01-09T08:46:00.000-08:002024-01-09T08:46:27.776-08:00ARC Review: The Clinic <p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><b>The Clinic by Cate Quinn</b></p><p>Meg, an addict herself, decides to go undercover in the luxury rehab clinic her sister died in. She doesn’t believe the story of suicide she’s being sold. While there, she encounters more and more mysterious people and events, and realizes that the situation may be far bigger than she ever imagined.</p><p>So here’s the thing. This book is really intriguing and mysterious to start. But then it seems to go completely off the rails. However, in her author’s note, Quinn explains how a lot of it is actually from her real experiences in rehab. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get her newsletter to work which would have given me even more info on this. So this book may be far less off the rails than I originally thought. </p><p>While I liked this book, I didn’t love it, for the reason described above. I was definitely invested in the characters though. I would say give this book a try and form your own opinion (just know there are a lot of trigger warnings). </p><p><br /></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-35850634228758446972024-01-03T09:33:00.000-08:002024-01-03T09:33:58.363-08:00ARC Review: The Fury<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><b>The Fury by Alex Michaelides</b></p><p>This story has it all-a (fictional) celebrity, an isolated island, love, obsession, betrayal, and murder. Our narrator, Elliot Chase, promises to guide us through it all as he tells us the true story of what happened. But just how reliable is he? </p><p>I absolutely loved this book. I was disappointed by Michaelides <i>The Maidens</i>, but there was absolutely no disappointment here. This book is brilliant. Every time you think you have a grasp on what’s going on, Michaelides pulls the rug right out from under you. All the while, he’s playing with the ideas of nature versus nature, celebrity, and what it truly means to love. Michaelides is a genius with the unreliable narrator, and he plays with that to such perfection here. I highly recommend this book. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-83410651749199884182023-12-31T09:17:00.000-08:002023-12-31T09:17:53.505-08:00ARC Review: The Heiress<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b>The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins</b></p><p>Ruby is perhaps the nation’s most infamous heiress, having been kidnapped as a child and then found, as well as having been married to four husbands who all died in different ways. Her adopted son Camden wants nothing to do with the family after she dies, starting a new life with a wife and a teaching job. But Camden and his wife, Jules, find themselves pulled back in to the McTavish empire, with consequences far beyond what they could have imagined. </p><p>This book was so good, as is everything Hawkins writes. The mysteries around Ruby’s life are so intriguing, and so well laid out. And the twists! One actually had me gasping out loud. I would definitely recommend this book, and all of Hawkins’ works. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-88280807856654208902023-12-28T16:16:00.000-08:002023-12-28T16:16:20.771-08:00ARC Review: Holmes, Miss Marple and Poe Investigations <p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><b>Holmes. Miss Marple and Poe Investigations by James Patterson and Brian Sitts</b></p><p>Three detectives with famous last names and unknowable pasts. A plethora of cases for them to solve. Patterson and Sitts have created a fun new series with great unique, complex characters, and good mysteries for them to solve. I flew through this book, finding myself really invested and really enjoying it. I’m hopeful that this series continues. </p><p><b><br /></b></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-88916196963696440872023-12-24T11:45:00.000-08:002023-12-24T11:45:57.183-08:00ARC Review: Coconut Drop Dead<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews </b></p><p>Spice Isle Bakery is thriving, and is lined up to be a vendor at the Caribbean American Heritage Festival. Lyndsay Murray, who owns the bakery with her family, has also earned a reputation as a bit of a Nancy Drew, who has solved two previous murder cases. So when the lead singer of a popular band dies, Lyndsay begins working with the police, including her crush Detective Bryce, to solve the crime.</p><p>This is a great cozy mystery series. The descriptions of food and drink alone are amazing. The family is such a strong, loving, resourceful group of characters, each unique. Lyndsay is a very strong main female character. The mystery is a great one as well, with lots of suspects and possibilities. I would recommend this series, and this book. </p><p><br /></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-1384772376175216602023-12-19T09:17:00.000-08:002023-12-19T09:17:49.994-08:00Cozy ARC Reviews: The Twelve Books of Christmas, and Public Anchovy #1<p> <i>I received an ARC of these books from the publishers in exchange for honest reviews. These did not affect my opinions of the books or my reviews themselves. </i></p><p><b>The Twelve Books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle</b></p><p>When Brooklyn, a rare book restorer, and her husband Derek are called to Scotland to celebrate their dear friends’ wedding, they jump at the chance. Brooklyn also may be able to help solve the mystery of the missing books, but she’ll have to contend with murder as well.</p><p>This was an okay cozy mystery. My biggest complaint was that the ostentatious wealth of everyone involved got to be a little much. The characters were fun and engaging, but them being just so casually rich took some of the fun out of it. </p><p>The mystery was a good one, but the solution was a little predictable-not the why, but the who. I seem to remember liking this series, so maybe it’s just this particular entry that was merely okay for me. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley </b></p><p>Delilah and her staff at her pizza restaurant have been hired to cater a large fancy party. But during the evening events, a death occurs-accident or murder? Delilah and Detective Capone must once again team up to solve the crime before there’s more death during the night. </p><p>I loved this book. The reoccurring characters are so great, and the steps ahead in the romance department finally happened, which made me very happy. The setting of an isolated party, which no one could leave due to weather circumstances, where everyone is trapped with the unknown killer, is one of my favorites, and Quigley does a great job with it. I would recommend this book, and this series. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-59234509031543491782023-12-11T08:54:00.000-08:002023-12-11T08:54:26.472-08:00ARC Review: Finding My Elf<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Finding My Elf by David Valdes</b></p><p>Cameron’s life isn’t going the way he always planned. He’s not succeeding in theater at NYU, and is in danger of losing his scholarship. So he finds himself back in his hometown for Christmas, working as an elf at Santaland in the mall in an attempt to make enough money to help out with college. But little does he know becoming an elf may just be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.</p><p>I loved this book-found family, romance (and oh, the romance! I shipped Cameron and his true paramour so hard!), the magic of the holidays, finding your true self…this is a perfect read for the holiday season. It will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. I definitely recommend this book, especially during this month. </p><p><b><br /></b></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-27861895018426230882023-12-06T11:09:00.000-08:002023-12-06T11:09:52.976-08:00ARC Review: Sniffing Out Murder<p> <i>I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. </i></p><p><b>Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin</b></p><p>Pris has decided to focus her full attention on her children’s book series, featuring her beloved bloodhound as a detective. What she hadn’t counted on was some romance, and even murder!</p><p>This is a fun cozy series. Bailey the bloodhound is a great character in his own right, and reads as a very sweet and realistic dog. Pris has some great bonds with some of the townspeople, and I was a big fan of the developing romance. The mystery was also a good one, with a lot of twists, and a final twist I didn’t call until right before it happened. I would recommend this book.</p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-13167274838334533352023-12-01T15:55:00.000-08:002023-12-01T15:55:40.164-08:00ARC Review: Death in the Dark Woods <p> <i>I received an ARC of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.</i></p><p><b>Death in the Darks Woods by Annelise Ryan</b></p><p>This is the second book in a new mystery series following a cryptozoologist investigating possible sightings tied to murders. The cryptozoologist, Morgan, also has a fabulous dog and a fascinating bookstore. In this entry in the series, Morgan is called in to investigate some brutal attacks that some have attributed to Bigfoot. </p><p>I am really enjoying this series. The books are a little darker than a cozy mystery, but still much lighter fare than a psychological thriller. Morgan is a great, strong character with a complex background, and the supporting characters are strong as well. I am especially enjoying the hint of romance sprinkled throughout. It’s also fascinating to have a cryptozoologist as a main character and learn about that world. I would recommend this book and this series. </p><p><br /></p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4356546977600257762.post-87037430302613982912023-11-30T15:06:00.000-08:002023-11-30T15:06:02.533-08:00Reviews: The Turnout, and Chasing the Boogeyman<p> <b>The Turnout by Megan Abbott</b></p><p>This is a story about sisters, Dara and Marie, who run the dancing school, once owned by their parents, along with Dara’s husband Charlie. Dara and Marie are dancers practically since birth, while Charlie was a dancer who became too injured to continue. </p><p>The annual <i>The Nutcracker </i>is approaching, a huge event for the school, when a man arrives, and upsets the careful balance the sisters have carefully maintained. </p><p>Abbot is a genius writer-she’s absolutely an auto buy author for me. This book is beautifully and brilliantly unsettling, leaving readers feeling off kilter as the sisters do. As always, Abbot deftly explores femininity and female roles, and what happens when men enter the picture. I highly recommend this book.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar </b></p><p>Chizmar does something very impressive and clever here. He takes moments and facts from his real life, but inserts a series of fictional murders, writing as if the book is true crime and the murders really happened. There are even photographs included to make it feel even more like a true crime story. </p><p>This creepy book had me totally hooked. The reveal of who the killer is was a twist I never saw coming. I highly recommend this book. </p>The Bookkeeper's Apprenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078501638449951856noreply@blogger.com0