rebeccasreadingrambles's Reviews (3.06k)

I hate to say this, but this book just didn't capture me. I enjoy Lady Petra as a fun detective and the feminist vibes that she displays, but the plot just was too jumbled and slow for me. I felt like many of the twists were obvious and a bit circuitous. The big twist at the end was a true shocker, but by that point I had lost a lot of interest.  I think that this was more my expectations for this series than the series itself, but I just was left wanting more from the characters.  There were a LOT to keep track of, and they were referred to so many different ways (title, first, last, nicknames) that it did become confusing especially listening to the audio.  That also made the twists a little less impactful when you're trying to remember who is who and related to whom. I was also confused about the spy plot, because it seemed like everyone knew about the double agents, but also it was a deadly  secret? I don't know, maybe we as the readers knew too much at the start and then the story lagged a lot up until the end.

I think lovers of historical mystery will enjoy this, if they enjoy mysteries involving the upper classes.

Note: The audiobook narration is good, though most of the male character narration wasn't my favorite.

Another fabulous book. I have a thing for mysteries that happen on boats (and I have no idea why because I really don't like boats at all). I think it just adds another awesome layer to the locked-room mystery.... everyone is stuck together on a floating vessel with no where to run or hide or go about their normal lives.  It really ramps up the tension and drama in the best ways.  This book was extra fun and eccentric because it was full of female writers who are ready for drama and boy do they get it!  This author writes incredible and vivid characters that you can't help but enjoy reading about.  Everyone is flawed, even the narrator MC (who I adore) who acknowledges this and is trying to become less of a loner, someone afraid to make true connections in fear of being left behind, because this is just so relatable.
 I was completely ensnared and did not want to put this book down.  I also love the conversation about how romance books are sneered at by so many because they are something that are mostly loved by women. I feel this is very similar with cozy mysteries as well.
Because I am an extremely untrusting person, I had an idea about the reveal, mostly because I suspect literally everyone, but it definitely still shocked me when it all came out.  I love the way this mystery was woven together by the author.

I already cannot wait for more!

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and my review are my own.

Holy wow this was amazing.  I felt like an entire book, I cannot believe I just went through that insane rollercoaster of emotions.  The writing is perfect and brings the atmosphere completely out of the book, I felt the emotions on HIGH alert and could not even listen after dark because I was completely freaked out (in a good way). The ending was amazing and I loved every second of this story.

The narration was fabulous and I think this would be a great novella to get people into listened to audiobooks more.

I love this series so much and it just gets better and better. This one deals with politicians (I know I know it's a tough time for that), but focuses on the awesome things being done for the community.  I also really appreciated how this book focused on the friendship between Lila, Adeena, and Elena.  It makes them all examine how they treat each other and sometimes put their own feelings / priorities above the needs of the person they are trying to help.  This is so unique to a cozy mystery and I loved the internal work they are tying to do and how they are learning to communicate these things even when it's hard. Also I am hoping Lila and Elena's relationship will grow stronger and not be in a subconscious competition over who knows Adeena better.
The mystery was fabulous and I love how each of the trio approached the investigation and the dramatics it revealed. The ending was heart-pounding and fabulous as usual and OF COURSE this book made me soooo hungry. I love love love the entrepreneurial spirit always embodied in these books.

Note: I listened to this audiobook (as I have the entire series) and it was fabulous as usual!

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy and a free audiobook copy; my review and my thoughts are my own.

This series is my happy place and spending this book with Emily and her friends was just a balm for me. Even though we did not see as much of Misty and Samantha in this one (understandably) I still enjoyed this cozy town and appreciated the focus on a newer setting of the cabin and the lake/trails.  This was a lovely autumnal read that made me want to get outside in the last of our fall weather here as well. I am happy to see Emily and Brent as snuggly newlyweds (one of my gripes in the past was not enough cute interactions with them and this was wonderful). Deb of course stole the show (a cat in an adorable tiny life vest on a kayak?!) I was shocked by the reveals and love ho everything wrapped up.

I already cannot wait for more!

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts are my own.

I love a good family drama and this one was a lot of fun to read. The characters are all a bit eccentric and I never really had a good idea of what was going on (in a good way). I love the tricks Hercule Poirot had up his sleeve to figure out first of all what crime was going on (if any) and what had happened. I was shocked by the ending!

Note: I adored this audiobook.

This is the perfect book for anyone who loves a gothic, dark academia, but also coming of age type of story. I am not usually a huge horror fan, but this was the perfect amount and not hard to read at all.  It has bits of everything, horror and fantasy and mystery presented with beautiful, descriptive writing. It felt kind of like a fever dream, only waking during scenes with other students. I fell in love with the characters of Andrew and Thomas, so vivid but also mysterious.  This book expresses the beauty of art (both visual and written) and how much power it holds. The pain and confusion of not only trying to figure your own self out, but also trying to explain yourself to people who mean so much. To grapple with trying to save others, while forgetting to save yourself.

Also the twists OH MY GOD. Literally stopped me in my tracks. I am not okay. The ending was gorgeous and emotional and I had to sit in my car at the end to stop the sobbing (it's been a while since a book did that to me). I have not stopped thinking about it in the days since I finished and I will be tempted to re-read this book sometime.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it's fabulous!

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.

SO GOOD! What a fabulous start to a great new series. I loved it from the start (who isn't a sucker for ghosts) and enjoyed both Ruby and Cordelia.  I love how different they are and yet they were frequently on the same page with their thinking and investigating. I enjoyed watching them try to communicate and hope that maybe they figure a way to make that easier on both of them as the series goes. A ghost + breather investigative team is so unique and the author did a great job of making it as believable as possible and a lot of fun. I was SHOCKED by the both the reveal and the ending cliff hanger.... I cannot wait for more!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and HIGHLY recommend that format.

This perfect Christmas book! Yes I said it - even though it's a murder mystery. I loved the fun "clue advent calendar door" at the end of each chapter leading up to the reveal. This book was absolutely as perfectly planned to confuse the heck out of you, but also keep you trying to guess the entire time. The reveal set up was *chefskiss* (just wait until you read it). I cannot get enough of Ernest (even though he is such a goof and maybe not the best with human relationships, at least he is very caring).  If you enjoy the series, you will love this one!

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. This was everything I wanted and needed. I could not hold back starting this book so many months before release when I saw that THE TRANSCRIBER RETURNS TO BLACK HARBOR.

I have no chill about this book, none at all.  It was perfect. Buy it, read it, obsess with me.

Seeing all the major characters from the previous BH books was a reunion I didn't know I needed.  The references to past cases, the bonds between the characters, the unspoken and unfinished business. YES. Okay yes the story was bleak and awful and kept unraveling to reveal the deepest darkest secrets, which is what made it amazing.  The pacing was perfect, the back and forth between Hazel (her past, her motivation, her determination to be strong and savy) and Kole (broken and determined, caught between so many different webs of secrets and crimes). No spoilers but it was shocking in the best ways and ensnares the reader right away.

I NEED MORE OF BLACK HARBOR PLEASSSSSSE. Who do I bribe to make this happen?!

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.