March Review Roundup

 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.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto 

Vera Wong runs a down on its luck tea shop, and her life is extremely regimented and void of people. Until one day she finds a dead man on the floor of her shop.

Vera immediately throws herself into the investigation, even drawing a sharpie outline of the body to help the police out. Desperately wanting to solve the crime, Vera finds herself growing closer to each of the suspects, forming a found family that may just break when the murderer is discovered.

I loved this book. I’ve recently been reading more of Sutanto’s books, and I love her work. Vera Wong has so much going on-found family, romance, humor, mystery, and a surprise twist ending. I highly recommend this book.

How I’ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano

This is one dark and twisted book. Sissy, our main character, is a triplet, and her two sisters are serial killers. Now they are insisting Sissy join them, find her own man to love her who she can kill. The only problem is Sissy finds herself falling in love. 

This was such a tense book. The way the story is set up makes you feel like you’re racing along to a terrifying finish line. I was very impressed with how the author played with my expectations to keep me engaged, especially with the ending. I would recommend this book.

Play the Fool: A Mystery by Lina Chern

Katie sees Marley as her best friend, someone who helps her through her life of constantly losing jobs, her parents’ and sister’s never ending pressure, and her general dissatisfaction. But when Katie sees a picture on a customer’s phone of Marley shot through the head, her whole world upends. Suddenly Katie is trying to solve a crime, with the help of her tarot cards, her brother, and a police officer, and she is putting herself into more danger than she realizes. 

This was a fun read, with a main character you really root for, and a great supporting cast. The ending was really well done. I recommend this book, and hope it becomes a series. 

ARC Review: Lemon Curd Killer

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

This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. In this entry, Theodosia and her compatriots host a tea during a fashion show. But when she stumbles upon the dead body of a fashion designer, she finds herself promising the murdered woman’s daughter that she will solve the crime. Throwing herself into the world of fashion, and a whole lot of danger, Theodosia is determined to keep her promise.

This is the definition of cozy, particularly the setting, a tea shop full of warm tea and delicious scones and little sandwiches. Coming back to the main characters is always a joy, and the supporting cast is colorful and engaging. I definitely recommend this book. 

February #2 ARC Review Roundup

 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.

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones

Clarissa Campbell vanished without a trace from a party twenty four years ago. She was never found, and if anyone knew what happened to her, they weren’t talking. 

In the present, best friends Blair and Cameron decide to tackle this mystery as their junior year journalism project. They start a podcast about Clarissa, and attempt to discover the truth about what really happened to her.

I love books that incorporate true crime podcasts, so I was automatically into this book. There are a lot of twists and turns, and the characters of Blair, Cameron, and Clarissa are compelling. I did not see the ending coming, which is always exciting for me with a mystery book. 

This is a quick, gripping read that I would recommend.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay

A group of adults, who knew each from a traumatic children’s home, are brought back together by the fact that someone is trying to kill them. Readers learn about their dark childhood secret as they attempt to figure out who is after them and why.

This is not my favorite Alex Finlay book, but it’s still a good reas, as all Alex Finlay books are. It’s very suspenseful, with compelling characters, and a lot of drama. If you’ve never read Alex Finlay before, start with a different book first, but if you’re an Alex Finlay fan, definitely check out this book.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles

Gareth Inglis has never known the love of a family, and has always felt left behind. So when the stranger he is falling in love with has to leave, he feels he is just being abandoned again.

Until his father dies, he inherits a title and a house on the Marsh, and finds his stranger again, one Joss Doomsday, a smuggler. Joss and Gareth don’t ever want to be apart again, but they must contend with their different societal positions, societies views, and family ties-along with an unknown threat to Gareth that could turn deadly.

Joss and Gareth are absolutely a couple to root for, and this makes the readers really invested in their lives and the drama surrounding them. Plus the threat lends an air of mystery to the story that I really enjoyed. I would recommend this book.