rebeccasreadingrambles's Reviews (3.06k)

This is a delightful series. I am getting more and more connected with Caroline and how her mind works.  Despite everything she has been through, she is more honorable than most of the other characters in the book and caring of others. Though it's frustrating, I love the way she treats her younger sister, allowing her to make her own (bad bad bad) decisions.  Also I love how this mystery centered around a possible new will from her father and the different consequences. As usual her partnership with Mrs. Frogerton was so enjoyable; I love their relationship and banter (and do I forsee a romance with her son?) I was shocked by how everything shook out and how cool, calm, and collected the smart Caroline can be in the face of danger.

Note: I have listened to this entire series on audiobook and I highly recommend that format!

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

I love this series.  It is the coziest feeling series and I have come to really love these characters and fictional Oxford.  And this one had a holiday market - perfect for a wintertime read! I love reading about the knitting vampires, the witchy relatives, and Lucy's own forays into magic.  Plus the mystery was so intriguing and captivating. I enjoy how Lucy will help others no matter what sneaky tactics she needs to employ. I love her partnership with Rafe and also the budding romance with Ian. Overall I loved everything about this super cozy book.

Note: I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audiobooks, they are wonderful and soothing.

YES! This is the book we've been waiting for.  Emotion, stunning, hilarious and also tearful, the best characters and the best village and the best writing. I devoured this book and can only hope we will get more (especially after that ending because I cannot wait to see how Flavia goes from there). I loved seeing more of Undine (even thou she irked Flavia) because she provided much-needed comic relief.  This book was equal parts so very cozy and so very heart-pounding.  Flavia is my all-time favorite fictional character and sleuth and so this book was so fun. I was fascinated by the chemical processes and how they were vital to the investigation (also the reference to the mass spec - a flashback to my college days). I love how she works with Dogger and how he treats her as an equal. I don't want to even give one thing away, so suffice it to say that this book is perfection especially if you are a fan of the series.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and I HIGHLY recommend that format for this whole series; the narration is perfection.

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

I so enjoyed this book even though it was dark and frustrating and tense. I love how the author ramped up the tension and emotions throughout the book; it gripped me the ENTIRE time. Maggie is a great protagonist; she is damaged, hurting, brilliant, so caring, irreverent and unbelievably strong. I love reading mysteries with a non-law enforcement / non-official person leading the charge and I so enjoyed how Maggie stood her ground even to those who doubted her.  This book made me want to scream and cry at times; sometimes I just wanted to be there and help Maggie, but I loved the dynamic shifts that occur and how Maggie gets her power back.  No matter what she's been through, she is still determined to help strangers and whoever she can.  I did guess the culprit (because I trust NO ONE) but seeing Maggie and Jackson figure it out was fascinating and felt so true. 

I am REALLY hoping this becomes a series especially with that ending (prettyyyyy please!)

Warning, it is dark and as with most books (especially mysteries) make sure you check the content warnings. 

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was fabulous - highly recommend!

I loved this book! Though I really miss the plaza of Asia Village, I loved seeing Lana and her sleuthing on the road. I think because it was wonderful to see her and her sister working together (or if not fully together, then not apart) for once away from all the other distractions.  I was thoroughly invested in this mystery and though I guessed it before Lana I loved watching her sleuthing abilities and seeing how she could really read people.  And of course it still made me very hungry.

Note: I LOVED the audiobook version!

Wow this book was not what I expected. What a wild ride.  A unique and confusing story that makes you feel like you are going a bit crazy, while being completely fascinating and compelling. After just a short while into the book, I didn't want to stop reading because I had to know what was going on (in both the past and what was going to happen). The storytelling was SO well done! I loved the vivid characters and this made me want to visit these gorgeous places.  It was an interesting look into travel especially as a female traveler and also made me a bit mad that it's harder to exist in this world safely as a female presenting person just trying to experience travel.  The last half was heart-pounding and made this a truly great book.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was lovely and so well done!

What an amazing book. Even after 16 installments this series never misses and it hits all the cozy vibes and is one of my happy places. I love how this series is classic cozy, but also does not shy away from really tough topics.  The way that Kathleen will fiercely protect her friends and family is the best; she does not scare easily and will not back down.  Reading about her bridal shower and wedding and all the loving people she has surrounded herself with made me SO HAPPY and tear up.  I loved the dramatic and gasp-worthy ending to the mystery (which in itself was so fascinating).  And the magical cats are THE BEST. I love Hercules and Owen (and Micah) and love how they help out with the investigation.

I had tears in my eyes at the ending of this book and I desperately hope this series never ends!

What a lovely and nostalgic last Nantucket book. I loooooved seeing so many characters from previous books and just the vibes of Nantucket were so great. I love returning to this fictional version of Nantucket every summer and this was a great and dramatic way to end my summer reading.  I love characters that are easy to hate, when surrounded by others that I love and the author really hit that balance here.  Ridiculously petty social dynamics at play in this wealthy community that are easy to get wrapped up in and a great escape to listen to. The ending had me yelling and I loved how it all turned out.

Note: I listened to this audiobook as I have with all of the previous EH books I've read and as always the narrator is fantastic and does an amazing job bringing the exact right voices for these characters.

Love love love. I have been saving this book, thinking it was going to be the last. But now that I know there will be another one, I greedily grabbed this one and it was the PERFECT cozy book to lift my mood.  Flavia de Luce is now a very dear friend and I was ecstatic to be back with her and Dogger and Bishop's Lacey.  The setting and small town and close knit community (even if they don't always get along) is my comfort cozy place and this book absolutely lived up to that.  Seeing Flavia and Dogger working together was so much fun and I just love their partnership.  They have been through so much and it makes me so happy that Flavia has some wonderful adults to look after her that treat her like the mature kid she is without trying to sniffle her curiosity. I love all the chemistry involved in this mystery. 

My own complaint is there wasn't enough Daphne and Ophelia.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it! I've experienced this series both listening and reading and I recommend either way.

I have NEVER felt about a book the way I felt about this book. I did not stop, I did not pause, I put my headphones in through lunch and ignored my coworkers. I could not severe myself from this story for even a moment.  Wow. Compelling, addictive, fascinating, thrilling, beautiful. The writing was absolutely perfection. The author knew when to draw things out and when to make it snappy. They knew how to tug our heartstrings, to string us along by our emotions and never let go. Even now at the end I am not okay because I feel like I need to see these characters for myself.  The emotions were INSANE, fear, hope, loss, sadness, more hope, despair, round and round and round.  I cannot remember the last time I felt this way for characters in such a quick time - that is AMAZING writing. I think I cried dozens of times (how dare you!)

Don't let a fear of planes keep you from reading this book; that's not the focus and honestly you will be moved by the rest of the story. If you, like me, were horrified and fascinated by the show Chernobyl then you will LOVE this book.