On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

 

Title: On Spine of Death

Author: Tamara Berry

Publication: 29 November 2022

Format: Kindle eARC via Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley

Amazon Description: 

"In 'Keystone Kops'–style scenes set around the morgue, a muddy mountain, and the hardware store, bones and books disappear and reappear…[On Spine of Death] is a quirky story for those who enjoy funny cozies."―Library Journal

Bestselling author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertrude have decided to make Winthrop their home. Their cabin is fixed up and now they're turning to the family hardware store that Tess inherited from her late grandfather into the town's first independent bookstore.

But when renovations unearth bones from a cold case and send them toppling―literally―onto Tess's head, the work comes to a grinding halt. With the whole town convinced that her grandfather was a serial killer, Tess has to call in a fellow horror author for reinforcements. Together, they'll come up with a perfect story to make all the clues fit…and solve a mystery more than thirty years in the making.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

I'm only a third of the way through the follow-up to Buried in a Good Book (which I absolutely loved, by the way), but it's release date is today and I already know that it's going to be just as good as its predecessor. It may very well even end up being better since the main characters have already been introduced and the relationships between them underway.

Yes, this is where I tell you to go read the first one first.

It's like I'm a broken record or something.

It's cozy. It's gritty. It's hilarious. 

It's going to be far too long until the next installment is released in May 2023!

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two

of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two
from anywhere in the book currently being read.

I'll Sleep When I've Read... The Whispering Tongues by Beth Andrews

Title: The Whispering Tongues

Author: Beth Andrews

Publication: 28 November 2022

Format: Kindle eARC via Joffe Books & NetGalley

Amazon Description

Anthea Halliwell’s once-bright future is cruelly taken from her the moment she is accused of stealing a necklace dripping with rubies and diamonds and attempting to sell it.

Her beloved Captain Crispin breaks off their engagement at the first hint of scandal and marries her friend instead. Then to make matters worse, her father gambles away their fortune.

Heartbroken and penniless, Anthea is forced to beg handsome Gideon Rodrigo for help. But she never expects him to propose.

It may be a marriage of convenience for Anthea, but Gideon will do anything to clear his wife’s name.

Gideon enlists the help of John and Lydia Savidge, who have their own reputation for solving crimes.

While tongues wag and suspicions mount, John and Lydia suspect more than theft and slander are at play.

And someone is killing to keep their secrets hidden . . .

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

To be completely honest, I'm kind of stuck at the beginning of Chapter 20 (out of 27) because my brain is a bit livid over a conversation about religion near the end of Chapter 19.

I loved the first book in the series and quite enjoyed the second, but I'm going to need some time for my brain to cool down and stop telling my fist to punch Thea in the jugular before I finish this one. It's really too bad because I thought it was well on its way to being even better than the first, but the Kindle I'm reading on is brand new and I would hate to become so irate that I damage it somehow.

Three stars, though, for the first 63% ... which could easily have been 5 stars had it not been for flowers and mushrooms.

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If you want to share whatever has kept you up past your bedtime because you just needed one more chapter ... or the entire book ... please comment! My TBR pile is already toppling, but I can always add more.

The Unforgiving Eye by Beth Andrews (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

 

Title: The Unforgiving Eye

Author: Beth Andrews

Publication: 2 March 2021

Format: Kindle ebook

Amazon Description

Returning from their honeymoon, John and Lydia Savidge have another mystery on their hands.

As a favour to an old friend, they agree to help uncover who killed Sir Benedict Stanbury, master of Fallowfield.

Could the hapless stable hand accused of the crime really be guilty? Or could it have been the suspicious solicitor or the frightened governess?

Someone knows something. Someone is lying.

With a surplus of suspects and an absence of alibis, the newlyweds must untangle this web of confusion and catch the killer in just three days.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

In case you missed it on Tuesday, I am trying to play catch up on Beth Andrews' "Sussex Regency Romance Series" (which should still be called "Sussex Regency Humorous Romantic Mystery Series") before the third is officially released this coming Monday. It could still happen ... but my kid is home and there is Pokémon to be caught and good tv to watch and sleep to try and get. I had figured that it being a holiday week would mean lots of reading time at work but that has definitely not been the case. I am just about half-way through The Unforgiving Eye at the time of this typing and hoping to have at least a couple of hours of solid reading time before my shift ends in 5 hours. 

So far I love it as much -- if not more -- as I loved Hidden in the Heart. I'm not loving the book titles as they are really rather generic for very ungeneric reads, but that's not enough to keep me from reading whatever other mysteries Beth Andrews (whose real name is Paul Bethel -- which somehow makes it even more fun) ends up throwing my way.

And, yes, read them in order. They're too delightful not to. 

[Bonus : they're on Kindle Unlimited if you have that.]

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Friday 56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader

Hidden in the Heart by Beth Andrews (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

 

Title: Hidden in the Heart

Author: Beth Andrews

Publication: 2 March 2021 (originally 1 October 2006)

Format: Kindle ebook

Amazon Description: 

While her older sister is being presented to London Society for the season, Lydia Bramwell is sent to her Aunt Camilla in the Sussex countryside. High-spirited Lydia expects a very dull visit, but her sojourn to the village of Diddlington is not as idyllic as she anticipates . . .

A charred and bludgeoned corpse is found in the woods, and suspicion falls on Lydia’s aunt’s suitor, an intriguing Frenchman. Convinced of his innocence, Lydia enlists the help of her new friend, John Savidge, to catch the real killer. But before their dangerous adventure ends there will be more than one unexpected discovery.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

Once again, I grabbed a book from NetGalley that is the third in a series. Luckily for me, Kindle Unlimited has the first two and there may actually be enough time to get them all read before the third is released .... in six days. They're all fairly short -- the third being the longest at a whopping 208 pages. I've flown through single books longer than the three put together, so .... 

It could happen. 

Granted, the way life has been going it will be a near miracle, but I haven't been sleeping much lately so I'll binge a little less mindless and try to read a little bit more.

It's the "Sussex Regency Romance Series" and that's all well and good and there is romance, so I suppose it's accurate. What has kept me hooked thus far, though, has been the mystery and the humor. I guess "Sussex Regency Humorous Romantic Mystery Series" is just too much of a mouthful. Or earful. Eyeful? Whatever. 

I have 40% to go and at least one murder to solve and then on to the next.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two

of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two
from anywhere in the book currently being read.

All the Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

 

Title: All the Blood We Share

Author: Camilla Bruce

Publication: 22 November 2022

Format: Kindle eARC via Berkley and NetGalley 

Amazon Description

A sinister novel based on the real Bloody Benders, a family of serial killers in the old West bound by butchery and obscured by the shadows of American history.

The winds shift nervously on the Kansas plain whispering of travelers lost and buried, whispering of witches. Something dark and twisted has taken root at the Bender Inn.

At first the townspeople of Cherryvale welcome the rising medium Kate Bender and her family. Kate's messages from the Beyond give their tedious dreams hope and her mother's potions cure their little ills—for a price. No one knows about their other business, the shortcut to a better life. And why shouldn’t their family prosper? They’re careful. It’s only from those who are marked, those who travel alone and can easily disappear, that the Benders demand their pound of flesh.
 
But even a gifted seer like Kate can make a misstep. Now as the secrets festering beneath the soil of the family orchard threaten to bring them all to ruin, the Benders must sharpen their craft—or vanish themselves.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

I decided to take a little break from the glorious beast of a book I picked out from my shelves at home in order to play some catch-up with my NetGalley shelf instead. Work has been crazy, this weekend will be crazier, and next week between work and the holiday and life will be absolutely exhaustingly insane ... so why not lead up to it with some serial killing? Even better? It's a true story ... or, at least, based on a true story. It is highly unlikely that Camilla Bruce was in Kansas in 1871 so the odds of it being a first-hand account are pretty much nil. I almost wish that I hadn't already known quite a bit about the Bloody Benders. I suppose there might be a downside to being a fan of gore and serial killers. 

Might be.

Still, even with what I knew -- maybe especially with what I knew -- this is a compelling read and Camilla Bruce succeeds in bringing the family, their neighbors, and the poor unfortunate folks who ended up crossing their paths to life. She also succeeded in me wanting to find more of her books to add to the neverending TBR.

(the "56" is actually from 54% because it was just too perfect)

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Friday 56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader

Dark of Night by Barbara Nickless (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

 

Title: Dark of Night

Author: Barbara Nickless

Publication: 15 November 2022

Format: Kindle eARC via Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley

Amazon Description: 

What an exotic way to die in Chicago.

When esteemed historian Elizabeth Lawrence is found in her car, killed by a cobra’s bite, only a brilliant professor of semiotics, Dr. Evan Wilding, can see the signs around her strange death. As he helps homicide detective Addie Bisset decipher the scene, the puzzles left behind offer Evan chilling passage into the mind of a killer.

Evan’s investigation merges with that of an Israeli agent, who claims Elizabeth was close to acquiring an invaluable artifact. She was also drawing the attention of unsavory treasure hunters, forgers, and thieves. Was someone desperate to expose the truth of Elizabeth’s astonishing discovery?

The deeper Evan and Addie delve into the case, the darker it gets. A murderer’s archaic crimes are just the beginning. In a race where there can be only one winner, the final victim might be Evan.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

I was talking about Game of Thrones & House of the Dragon with a guest last week and our great mutual love for certain characters and actors and other things that they have done.

Them: "What's your favorite non-GoT Peter Dinklage role?"

Me: "Evan Wilding in At First Light."

Them: "Is that a movie? TV series? "

Me: "Neither. It's a book, but I can only picture him as the main character."

I pointed him in the proper direction of the blog post and the book itself and the next in line -- Dark of Night. He checked back in tonight with rave reviews of his own about the first and by the time he wakes up this morning the second should already be waiting on his Kindle. It's been on mine thanks to NetGalley since early June and I just started reading it a few days ago. 

While Evan Wilding is still my favorite literary semiotics professor, so far this hasn't grabbed me the way the first book did. There hasn't been nearly enough Addie and Diana and I'm not overly enthralled with the addition of certain other characters ... and there are a lot of characters to try and keep track of this time. At least we get some good quality time with Diana's corgi, Perro. I'm only about a third of the way through right now but, so far, Perro has been a definite highlight in an otherwise "eh" read so far.

The "Intro" for today is from the Prologue-ish bit before the story begins. The "Teaser" is from 31%. We may see it again on Friday for Book Beginnings & Friday 56 and I'll give an update to the eh-ness if we do! Either way, I still highly recommend going back and reading the first book. 

 

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two

of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two
from anywhere in the book currently being read.

Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

 

Title: Peach Pies and Alibis

Author: Ellery Adams

Publication: 5 March 2013

Format: Kindle ebook

Amazon Description

Ella Mae LeFaye’s Charmed Pie Shoppe is wildly popular in Havenwood, Georgia—which is not surprising since Ella Mae can lace her baked goods with enchantments. The shop’s extraordinary success seems destined to continue when Ella Mae meets an engaged couple who hire her to handle the dessert buffet at their wedding.

But Ella Mae has a lot on her plate. She is also searching for the origin of her magical powers—and hoping to determine if the spark of attraction she feels for the handsome Hugh Dylan is authentic or just her new abilities gone awry.

Then Ella Mae discovers a high-standing member of the community dead, and a wedding guest becomes seriously ill at the event she’s catering. Now she’ll have to use all her sleuthing skills and culinary talents to prove her pies don’t contain a killer ingredient . . .

 Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

I used this book on Tuesday for my Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday post and thought that I would be well into another book by today, but I've barely made a dent thanks to work and exhaustion and life and whatever. 

I'm not really complaining because the more time spent with Ellery the better ... though I do have, literally, dozens of her books still on my TBR and reading at the pace of a snail with narcolepsy isn't going to help anything ... but it does, at least, mean that I have a good excuse to share more blips with you.

Tuesday I used the very beginning of the first chapter, of course, so today for Book Beginnings I'm going with a bit from the end of the first chapter. It's still part of the beginning, right?

The "56" is from the 56% mark ... which I am nowheres close to as of yet but I am so looking forward to finding out why Reba might be packing heat!

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Friday 56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice 

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader

Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

 

Title: Peach Pies and Alibis

Author: Ellery Adams

Publication: 5 March 2013

Format: Kindle ebook

Amazon Description

Ella Mae LeFaye’s Charmed Pie Shoppe is wildly popular in Havenwood, Georgia—which is not surprising since Ella Mae can lace her baked goods with enchantments. The shop’s extraordinary success seems destined to continue when Ella Mae meets an engaged couple who hire her to handle the dessert buffet at their wedding.

But Ella Mae has a lot on her plate. She is also searching for the origin of her magical powers—and hoping to determine if the spark of attraction she feels for the handsome Hugh Dylan is authentic or just her new abilities gone awry.

Then Ella Mae discovers a high-standing member of the community dead, and a wedding guest becomes seriously ill at the event she’s catering. Now she’ll have to use all her sleuthing skills and culinary talents to prove her pies don’t contain a killer ingredient . . .

 Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

I've had several "eh" books in a row the past week or so -- hence the lack of posts since October 28th. Thankfully, the Alphabet Soup group on Facebook was given it's mini-challenge for November : to read a book with a fruit, nut or vegetable in the title. 

I immediately thought of Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams. 

Sure, I have far too many books on my NetGalley shelf that should be read soon, but the burnout is real kids .... and Ellery has never failed me in times of "I just don't wanna."

I just downloaded it so all I really know about the book at this point is from the Amazon description, the first two paragraphs, and the random blurb from the randomly chosen 40% mark ... which, eerily enough, fits perfectly with the intro. 

It's like .... magic or something. 

I also know that I loved the first one in the series so I'm very much looking forward to diving in to this one. I may even pick up a small peach pie after work to celebrate the temporary freedom from the "should" list.

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"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.