Reviews: Mind Games, and The Doctor Makes a Dollhouse Call

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Title: Mind Games

Author: Heather W. Petty

Publication Date: December 6, 2016

Genre: Mystery

Recommended If You Like: Sherlock Holmes, young adult reads, unique twists on the Sherlock Holmes' canon

The Book:

Picking up where the first book in the series left off (I'm going to avoid spoilers in this review), Mori is reeling from the revelations, and trying to put her life back together. But a new mystery has sprung up, one that directly involves her, her family, and Sherlock Holmes.

What I Liked:

I love what Petty has done with Lock and Mori. They are complex characters that I have come to care deeply about, and to root for.

The mystery is another good one, lots of twists and turns, lots of unexpected revelations. That cliffhanger at the end is amazing!! 

Anything I Didn't Like?

I have a hard time finding anything not to like about this series. If anything, the ending felt a little rushed.

So...?

Thanks to that crazy cliffhanger at the end, I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Title: The Doctor Makes a Dollhouse Call

Author: Robin Hathaway

Publication Date: January 24, 2000

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Recommended If You Like: creative and fast-paced cozy mysteries

The Book:

A physician gets involved in solving a series of murders that are all accompanied by exact replicas of the crime scenes in an elaborate dollhouse.

What I Liked:

I love how fast-paced this cozy mystery is! Things start happening right away, and don't let up. But Hathaway still manages to create interesting characters, and a mystery with good clues and a clever resolution.

Anything I Didn't Like?

I felt when the doctor's possible paramour came into play, things slowed down a little. Her addition didn't really seem necessary--the doctor was already a humanized and likable character.

So...

This has been sitting on my shelf for a while, and I'm really glad I finally picked it up. This is a clever, fun mystery that manages to never really drag.

Top Ten Tuesday, and Rebecca's Tale

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and The Bookish!

This Top Ten Tuesday is Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to in the First Half of 2017!

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Title: Rebecca's Tale

Author: Sally Beauman

Publication Date: January 30, 2007

Genre: Gothic/Mystery

Recommend If You Like: Rebecca, Wide Sargasso Sea, continuations of literary classics

The Book:

Everyone thinks they know Rebecca's story. But when a mysterious person starts sending Rebecca's notebooks to her old friend, the cracks in the tale begin to show.

What I Liked:

I am automatically intrigued by a book that promises a continuation on a story I really enjoyed, and Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier is a great Gothic classic.

Beauman puts an intriguing spin on the mystery behind what truly happened to Rebecca all those years ago, and utilizes some excellent and surprising twists to keep this an intriguing mystery.

Anything I Didn't Like?

The book feels too long. I love a good, epic tale, but Rebecca's Tale felt like it contained too much filler.

So...?

I wouldn't say drop everything and read this book, but if you liked Rebecca, I would recommend giving Rebecca's Tale a chance.

Reviews: First Degree Mudder, and The House of Silk

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.

Title: First Degree Mudder
Author: Kate Dyer-Seeley
Publication Date: November 29, 2016
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Recommended If You Like: cozy mysteries, extreme sports, settings that are essentially another character

The Book:

Meg, a journalist in Portland, is excited to have her pitch for her next story accepted. She will be training for, and then completing, a mud marathon.

But when she finds her trainer murdered, suddenly Meg has even more to contend with then painful runs and aching muscles.

What I Liked:

My brother and I love watching the more out there sports, and I loved reading a cozy mystery set within the world of an extreme sport.

The setting of Portland is described so well, it makes me want to go visit there--and eat from the food carts!

This is a clever mystery, with a lot of unique characters, and some good twists. I didn't see the ending coming, which made for an exciting, gripping read. There is also an overarching mystery that appears to be planned to run through more entries in the series, which is really intriguing.

Anything I Didn't Like?

While the solution to the mystery is a good, surprising one, it does feel a little rushed. I would have liked a few more pages devoted to it.

So...?

This is a cozy mystery series I would definitely like to read more of!

Title: The House of Silk

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Genre: Mystery

Recommended If You Like: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, twisty mysteries, London as its own character

The Book:

Hidden away by Dr. Watson until the salacious details were safe to print, The House of Silk tells the tale of a Holmes' case that started with a seemingly innocuous robbery, and progressed to murder and far-reaching conspiracy.

What I Liked:

It's easy to see why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate approved this book. It reads in Watson's voice so beautifully, and the characters ring so true to Doyle's originals.

The mystery is expertly built, layers upon layers that become a twisted tale much bigger than it originally appears. 

I also really like the nods to Watson and Holmes' friendship, my favorite friendship in fiction.

Anything I Didn't Like?

Honestly, no. This was such a good take on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

So...?

If you are a Sherlock Holmes' fan, I definitely recommend this book.

Read for the Semi-Charmed Winter Book Challenge 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Authors I Read (and Liked!) for the First Time in 2016

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the fabulous The Broke and The Bookish!


This week's theme is Ten Authors I Read (and Liked!) for the First Time in 2016!

1) Dawn Kurtagich



2) Laurie Faria Stolarz

3) Paul Tremblay

4) William Ritter

5) Ruth Ware

6) Celeste Ng

7) Mary Kubica

8) Alexandra Oliva

9) Michelle Krys

10) Brittany Cavallaro

Review: The Kite Runner

This is one of those books I find myself struggling to write a coherent review for, because it packed such an emotional punch. Having just finished it, I'm still reeling from just how emotional a read it truly was.

I went into reading this knowing very little about the plot, just that this was a book so many people (including my parents) had raved about when it first was published. I'd heard it was a tough read, not because of particularly dense language or a hard-to-follow writing style, but because of the subject matter--and I think subconsciously this influenced me to keep putting off picking the book up off my to-be-read shelf.

I'm so glad I finally have read this book. It's haunting, and heartbreaking, and written so beautifully. I frequently find with books surrounding very difficult subjects, that I have to read them in pieces, and step away from them for breaks, but I could not put The Kite Runner down.

This is an important, and extremely well-written, read. The Kite Runner is about history, country, culture, family, friendship, honesty, and the choices we make every second of every day. It's a read that will make you think, and feel, and remember the power that a great book can truly have.

Read for the Semi-Charmed Winter Book Challenge 2016

Review: The Science of Sherlock Holmes

I love Sherlock Holmes. As I've mentioned on this blog before, my dog is even named Sherlock! I will pretty much read absolutely anything about the Great Detective, from canon to modernized fictional takes to non-fiction analysis. And I always have high hopes for every book on Holmes I read, that it can do justice to my favorite fictional character and the world Doyle created around him.

Luckily, The Science of Sherlock Holmes is a unique and well-written addition to the multitudes of Sherlock Holmes' books out there. Wagner takes a non-fiction approach to analysis of the canon, specifically through the lens of science and forensics.

Using both Holmes' cases and true crime from around the world, Wagner explores the history and development of forensic science throughout the ages. Everything from fingerprints to blood analysis is covered, and Wagner expertly weaves in Holmes' quotes and true crime tales to highlight and explain.

This is a book for fans of Sherlock Holmes, forensics, true crime, and just really interesting non-fiction reads.

Read for the Semi-Charmed Winter Book Challenge 2016

Reviews: Stone Coffin, and A Study in Terror

Title: Stone Coffin
Author: Kjell Eriksson
Publication Date: November 22, 2016
Genre: Psychological Suspense/Mystery
Recommended If You Like: dark crime stories, complex mysteries

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.

The Book:

Ann Lindell is a detective in Sweden, who is called in on the case of a hit and run. A mother and her young daughter were killed, and the husband has disappeared.

What I Liked:

Eriksson has a writing style I really enjoyed. It's straightforward, but also detailed. The character of Lindell is complex and rings true.

The mystery was interesting as well, and had quite a few twists and turns.

Anything I Didn't Like?

For me, the book got somewhat confusing as it progressed. There were so many characters that I had trouble keeping track of who was who. I also found the solution to the mystery itself somewhat confusing, and somewhat abrupt.

So...?

I didn't love this book, and I didn't hate this book. To me, it was an okay read. I wanted more from it than I feel like I got. I won't be hurrying to read any more of the series.

Title: A Study in Terror

Author: Ellery Queen

Publication Date: 1966

Genre: Mystery

Recommend If You Like: Sherlock Holmes, reading about Jack the Ripper, Ellery Queen

The Book:

Ellery Queen is delivered a lost manuscript purporting to be the true story of Sherlock Holmes taking on the case of Jack the Ripper.

What I Liked:

It's Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper! Plus Ellery Queen! And there are some nice friendship moments between Holmes and Watson as well.

Anything I Didn't Like?

The ending was a bit abrupt, and felt a little rushed.

So...?

You can't go wrong when Ellery Queen tells the story of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper.