Kate Tietjen has written a really interesting debut mystery novel. Set in a post WWII small town, the main character, Maple, finds herself questioning the local police department’s ruling of a suicide. Armed with her ability to create miniature houses and people, she sets out to prove the authorities wrong by recreating the death scene. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out who might have been responsible for the crime, and was pleasantly surprised that I had not guessed by the end. Always a good sign when reading a murder mystery. I look forward to further adventures of Maple in small town Vermont. Tons of quirky characters that are sure to show up more in future books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eArc.

Another gorgeous embroidery book from Yumiko Higuchi that makes me want to break out my embroidery needles and thread. Yumiko’s stitching is unbelievably perfect, but they make you believe you can embroider that way too, The projects are presented in the front of the book and then the stitch directions and project instructions are in the back, All in all a lovely book with plenty of different repeat patterns to satisfy every crafter.
Thank you to Net Galley, Shambhala Publications, Inc., and Roost Books for the eARC.

DNF

Anyone who reads knows you can be transported anywhere through a book, but what if a book could actually open a door and put you somewhere else or someplace else in time. Cassie, the main character, has been given a book, not any book, but the Book of Doors. This book is so special that numerous people will do anything to have it. Enter the friends and enemies.
I think Gareth Brown has come up with a unique twist on time travel and other bits of magic with this novel. I will admit I felt it moved a bit slow in the beginning, while setting up the story and introducing numerous characters. Also, Cassie learning to use the book was a chapter of flowery words and place dropping. After all of that was out of the way, it did pick up the pace and give more than one or two twists that in the end made for a highly satisfying read.

Thanks to Net Galley and
William Morrow for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Finally a mystery that I throughly enjoyed and did not guess the culprit way before the big reveal!

The main character, Annie, has been tasked with figuring out who murdered her Great Aunt Frances and she does a bang up job of doing it. The book switches between present day and the diary of Aunt Frances. In some books this becomes a tedious chore to read, but Kristen Perrin has done a marvelous job giving voice to both characters.

My only complaint is that it took a bit for the story to get rolling, but soon I was invested and needed to know what the heck was going on.

Thank you to NetGalley and
PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.