leandrathetbrzero's Reviews (412)

*BOOK RATING CATCH UP #14/54 😳*

 *BOOK RATING CATCH UP #13/54 😳*

Thank you so much Pegasus for sending me an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I am willing to acknowledge that my reading of this book may have occurred at an inopportune time, as I had read a book with similar mystery tropes/plotting just before reading The Bangalore Detectives Club. With that said, I was willing to stay in this world because the sleuthing couple is just so lovely to follow and get to know as they continue to get to know each other. Kaveri and her husband Ramu have an arranged marriage, so the two characters learn so much about each other as they support one another's passions and begin to fall in love. I am 100% continuing the series with book 2, Murder Under a Red Moon, because I do attribute my rating to the bad timing! 

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING TO ME WHEN I READ IT. I just had so much fun following Tavi and Torran as they and the rest of their crews learned to set differenced aside from the war and work together to solve the mystery at hand. A fun, fast-paced space opera with a great enemies to lovers romance.

 *BOOK REVIEW CATCH UP #7/54 😳*

I'm going to declare it here and now: I gave the first book 5 stars, and I think this somehow found a way to top it! I continue to love the LGBTQ+ rep with the bi Daisy as our amateur sleuth. Her magical abilities and to-die-for (sometimes literally) baking concoctions are super cool. And, the sense of community by the end of this book, during a baking competition the likes of Great British Bake Off, was so heart-warming. Highly recommend the audiobook! It is a must listen (and read)! 

 *BOOK CATCH UP #6/54 😳* 

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an e-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review.

This is a cozy series that I can 100% see myself rereading. I love Tamara Berry's writing style, the humor and playful absurdity that find their way into each plot, and the consistent character development. With that said, this particular title was my least favorite in the By the Book mystery series to date. I think it strongly has to do with how many new characters arrived on the scene in order to make the plotting work, not only Tess's mother but the many podcast/journalism-related characters as well. It made the setting very busy, just as I felt like I was feeling familiar with the town and its characters with books 1 and 2. 

I can very much understand the author's choice to use podcasting as a narrative device because that is a platform growing ever more popular in true crime/thriller circles. As Tess is a thriller writer, it fits that she would have a mystery that might mix her up in one. It just wasn't as well-executed as I would have liked it to be, and compared to how strong Buried in a Good Book (book (#1) and On Spine of Death (book #2) which both received 5 stars from me.

On that note, this remains a strong cozy mystery series, and I will definitely be reading more books published by Tamara Berry in the future whether it be part of the By the Book series or a new one!

*BOOK REVIEW CATCH UP #5/54 😳*

Such a fun historical mystery in a brand new series!

I paired the e-book with the audiobook for an immersive experience, often times neglecting the e-book and listening along as I completed a puzzle. I entered A Novel Disguise knowing nothing about the plot beyond the fact that it is a historical mystery set in late 18th-century England and our sleuth is, as the series name suggests, a woman librarian.

Little did I know that this would involve disguises and misidentification the likes of Shakespeare (in the best way). Miss Tiffany Woodall lives a solitary life under the roof of her half-brother, Uriah. She is relies upon him financially, and her social standing as a single woman in her thirties marks her as an "undesirable" dependent. Uriah works as a librarian for the Duke of Beaufort, and he is a brute to his half-sister. One day, Tiffany discovers Uriah dead in his bed. Thinking he died in his sleep, she immediately fears for her future security. So, she elects to dress as Uriah and pretend to be the Duke's librarian in order to keep her home. She realizes her half-brother's death is far more suspicious that first-assumed, and now she must find the killer before they strike again...killing her this time.

I thoroughly enjoyed my listening experience, and I already plan on reading book 2, Once Upon a Murder. The ease in which Samantha Larsen provides diversity, and the amount of research she proves to have performed by her notes in the back of the book, demonstrate the historical fiction narratives do not need to be restricted to an all-white cast of characters. I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the e-ARC in exchange for this honest review!