It’s the season of grape harvest in Tuscany. Dan and Oscar, the cutest Lab, are surviving the summer heat somehow. Soon, Dan is asked to help the police investigate a dead body they found near a retired American rockstar’s winery. Seems his hotel has some interesting guests, who may or may not have connections to the Italian mafia. 

As more deaths occur, Dan has to connect the dots and find the killer. It doesn’t help that he also has to deal with some personal situations. 

The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts:  

Well, we are back in Tuscany. The September here is brutal with no rain. Naturally, the farmers are worried about the yield (fewer grapes = less wine). The criminals don’t care, of course. They commit crimes no matter how annoying the heat is! 

The tenth book can be a standalone, though it’ll help if you read at least one book (any) in the series. Someone from Dan’s past makes a reentry, and this does create some tension. Poor Dan has to think and overthink everything. He is a good man, so this also complicates things, lol. 

The mystery is very well done. If you are a fan of the genre, you’ll guess the reason much before the MC and the police. The details are provided. How we bring them together depends on us. 

It’s no longer a surprise that Oscar is a terrific judge of character and a competent assistant. He finds clues, identifies unsavory people, and ensures his human is safe. He is the hero! 

We have a new sergeant Dini since Innocenti got a promotion. I like this new addition. She is smart, composed, and brave. Hoping to see her in more books. 

The pace is steady. Since the book is less than 250 pages, you can easily finish it in a couple of hours or so. 

To summarize, Murder in the Tuscan Hills is an entertaining addition to the series and discusses a few important issues that affect the global consumer market. As always, I enjoyed the descriptions of the region. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 4 Stars

It took just one second for a three-year-old Rosie Logan to vanish when her mother, Maria, turned the other side. 

PC Lucy Halliday (with police dogs Moss and Iggy) and DCI Jack Ellis are on the case. Jack is determined to save Rose as this reminds him of his childhood best friend who disappeared one day without a trace. 

However, the Logan family is unwilling to share its secrets, hampering the investigation at every point. Can Lucy and Jack little Rose before it’s too late? 

The story comes in Maria, Lucy, and Jack’s third-person POVs in the present tense. 

This is the second book in the series that has a standalone mystery but it will be much better if you read the previous book (if I say this, then you know you can’t ignore it). 

The story is dark like the first book and has more than one case in parallel. Despite the fear and heavy atmosphere, the content is not graphic. It seems like the author took great care to mention only what is necessary for the plot. I appreciate this since the plotline is around a missing child. 

The mystery is layered with many reveals and twists. These happen periodically to keep the reader hooked and the plot moving. It makes the narration steady if not fast-paced. Also, there’s enough internal dialogue to continue with character development for Lucy and Jack. 

Given that the FMC is a dog handler, the police dogs play a vital role in the book. Moss and Iggy take turns doing their jobs and are such adorable cuties. Iggy takes the spotlight this time though Moss is not far behind. 

So far, I like the development between the main characters. They are friends now but still annoy each other often. I am curious to see how things will change as the series continues but no complaints for now. 

Most questions are answered well. The themes are as dark as the plot but handled with care. Revealing them could be spoilers but know that there might be a few triggers. 

There’s a short author’s note about the places mentioned in the book. I understand what she means when she says it is easier to make up new places than to use real ones. That’s how I prefer to write too. 

To summarize, Memorial Park is a fairly intense read but doesn’t get overwhelming. It tackles important themes and makes the reader think. The writing style is really good. Looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Canelo Crime, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MemorialPark 

 4 Stars

One Liner: Pretty entertaining and thoughtful

 

Three women – Anouska, Ellie, and Jess are in different stages but seem to have an issue in their personal/ love lives. Anouska and Zach are happy but can her surprise pregnancy fit into their high-flying careers? Ellie has been with Scott for six years with no progress in her relationship. With a potential promotion on the horizon, she needs to decide what’s best for her. Jess has been in love with Mark forever. They even live like an old couple sans the marriage part. 

When Jess decides to take matters into her own hands and propose to Mark on the leap year day (29th Feb), it inspires Ellie and Anouska to take action about their love. But the road to HEA is filled with doubts and decisions. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Anouska, Ellie, and Jess. 

Based on the premise, you might have guessed correctly that this is more of women’s fiction and less of romance. Though we have three couples, the focus is on the various aspects of a relationship, the intricacies, the missing red flags, the passivity, doubts, fears, etc. There are some lovey-dovey scenes but the steam is 0.5 at the most. Nothing explicit or detailed. 

The three main characters are different in many ways. The age ranges from 24-35, their careers are different, the family dynamics are different, and the relationship troubles are also different despite the common factor. 

Though it may seem like marriage is the ultimate goal, it’s the intention behind this that is emphasized. The characters want worthy, reliable, and loving partners who are not afraid to commit to them (especially after being together for many years).  

The main characters are not friends from first but bond quickly. Their scenes together gradually shift from surface-level friendship to becoming each other’s found families. I really loved this progress. 

Naturally, there is drama in each track but nowhere does it get confusing. The conflicts are different enough to prevent overlap but too dramatic. 

The story takes place in a couple of months, so some aspects are put on a fast track. This may or may not fully work for everyone. I didn’t particularly mind since I guessed that’s how they would proceed. 

We get an epilogue to tie up the loose ends and close the story on a happy and hopeful note. The pacing is a bit slow in the first quarter but gets better in the second half. 

To summarize, The Leap Year Proposal is an entertaining read with some thoughtful themes and ideas about relationships. Though it is about love, the book celebrates female friendships. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and the author, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 3.2 Stars

Eliza Baker has previously worked with the police. However, now she is forced to get a job as an assistant to Dorothy Sayers, the secretary of the Detection Club. Christie is a popular and regular attendee of the Detection Club, a place where mystery writers share ideas, swap notes, and enjoy their drinks. However, a writer falls dead during a meeting, and Christie disappears the next day. With too many clues and suspects, Eliza decides to solve the case and find the killer. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Eliza and Theo. 

Well, Christie’s eleven-day disappearance has been a thing of fascination for writers, readers, and the general public. There have been quite a few books based on this, and quite many conspiracy theories. 

This book too uses the same event but tries to make it a part of the central plot. While using Christie’s name in the title and blurb is a good marketing strategy, the book, as such belongs to the main character, Eliza Baker. 

There are various real-life persons in this one to the point where I decided not to bother cross-checking the details. Use them the way you want. I won’t complain for now. 

I like and dislike the FMC. The positives are that she is not a silly fan wanting attention from her favorite author(s). In fact, she dislikes mystery novels and thinks the writers are annoying. The not-so-positive part is the so-called lack of social cues. It’s a wonder people actually answer her questions considering how she interrogates them as if they are hardcore criminals. It is supposed to be a part of her arc, which means it is a deliberate choice. I can only hope, she finds a balance at some point soon. 

The mystery is pretty decent or as much as it can be with OTT suspects. However, I don’t think people would be so eager to answer the questions. Eliza only has to ask, and they tell her. Maybe make her work a little more. 

Chess is another major element in the book. Eliza and Theo are both great chess players. It’s not necessary to know the game to enjoy the book. While there’s some talk about pawns and strategic moves, it is limited to what’s necessary for the plot. 

The social conditions are also touched upon. We get a brief peek into the backstories of both main characters. There will be a love track too as it often happens in a cozy mystery series. The foundation has been laid with a good dose of suspicion, so the next book should be interesting. 

While it hasn’t been promoted as a series yet, the way it ends makes the intentions clear. The cover does say A Detection Club Mystery at the bottom (in red), something I saw after writing this point. 

The author’s note is informative and talks about the real-life events and people used in the book. 

To summarize, The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a decent new cozy mystery set between the World Wars. It’s a fast read and works as a palate cleanser. Nothing great but not boring either. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheCaseOfTheChristieConspiracy 

 3.8 Stars

Frankie Turner has always loved mathematics more than everything else. When her family’s finances force her and her younger sister to find employment, she does her best to keep things going. 

However, Frankie’s sister is missing and the search leads her to a disturbing pattern among the ton. Seems confident and rich ladies are being found in compromising situations and are married off to men with heavy debts. The common element is the membership to Rockford, the famous gambling den run by Jasper Jones. 

Frankie joins Jasper’s house as a governess to his fifteen-year-old niece, Cecelia. She is determined to uncover the truth and prevent more such weddings (and find her sister). Dealing with Jasper is not easy but looks like both will get more than what they bargained for! 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Jasper and Frankie, with a few chapters from the Dove’s POV. 

This is a standalone second book in the series though it may have minor spoilers for the first one. I didn’t read the previous book but had no issues following this. 

I like to call this genre a contemporary historical romance since the stories are abundant in anachronisms. That’s okay since I read these for entertainment. Still, I was a little annoyed by the repeated ‘Holy Queen V!’ exclamations by the FMC. 

Though we have secret services, a mystery, and dangerous men, the book is predominantly romance. The other elements are present but support the romantic track. 

It has insta-lust and some scenes get hot and heavy. However, the act doesn’t occur until the last quarter which is a good move. There’s quite a bit of banter. Some of it is hilarious. While the main characters aren’t wow, they deliver what’s expected of them. 

Cecelia, the fifteen-year-old niece, deserves an entire point. She is easily the highlight of the book. I wouldn’t have enjoyed the story this much if not for her and her antics. Gosh, she never stops! 

Despite the descriptions and internal dialogues, the pacing is pretty decent. The dual POV helps too as we get a few insights into running gambling dens as well as the hidden lives of the ton (and their duplicity). 

While the book is mostly in a lighter vein, it deals with some heavy themes like gender bias, societal bias, bullying by the ton, parental expectations, snobbery, and the general inequality (hypocrisy) seen in the then society. 

There’s some danger as well but it doesn’t change the book’s tone. The situation is handled well with some (comic) relief immediately. 

There’s an epilogue which is not an epilogue. It is a teaser for book three. The only way it can be called an epilogue is why declaring it belongs to the overarching plot. I wish the MCs of this book also had a small role in the epilogue. 

The author’s note talks about the inspiration for the main characters and the plotline. 

To summarize, Never Gamble Your Heart is an easy and lighthearted read with thoughtful themes. It works well as a breather between heavy reads. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #NeverGambleYourHeart 

*** 

At one point, a carpet in a library was described to have the gods and goddesses of pagan religions on it (including Lakshmi Devi). My first instinct was anger (you do not walk over gods) but then I realized this suits the period. Heck, even today, we see brands printing our gods on innerwear and doormats. We have to run campaigns for them to withdraw the products only for another brand to do it a few months later. 

 3.5 Stars

Anne Murray is almost the co-owner of the Secret Bookcase Bookshop and is hopeful about her future. It’s Valentine's Day, and the bookstore is ready to celebrate lovers. When local philanthropist, George, asks Anne to host an event for a matchmaking company, she is excited.  

The D-day arrives and brings crowds as well a mystery package and a death. Anne now has to solve a murder instead of spending the day on a dinner date with Liam. And what about the case that has been haunting her for years? 

The story comes in Anne’s first-person POV. 

This is the fourth book in the series and may not work that well as a standalone. The overarching plot takes more space in the previous book and this one, so having some prior knowledge about the story will help. 

Since is this an easy cozy series (yeah, I came up with a new subgenre), the mystery is pretty straightforward despite the presence of multiple suspects. 

The characters are quite interesting, and the descriptions of the setting are beautiful to read. The pacing is great too (nothing like a short mystery with a quick pace). I like the growth in the main characters. It’s subtle but there. 

There’s a slight development in the personal/ love track, which is nice to see. We meet the side characters again. I do wonder if 90% of Indians have arranged marriages, that too in 2025? I think not! 

And oh, there’s a bit of danger in this one. As the MC gets closer to the truth, the threats seem to be increasing. Makes sense, right? 

I have to mention the crows here, especially Jekyll and Hyde. Flecther’s idea certainly has merit (even if it is not entirely legal, lol). In fact, a Telugu comedy movie has a similar scene. 

To summarize, A Victim at Valentine's is a quick and light read with a murder in a romantic bookish setting. The next book will be the last in the series, so I’m curious to know how the main case (the overarching mystery) will be solved. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AVictimAtValentines 

 3.8 Stars

One Liner: Quite a bit of funny drama and OTT moments

Nella meets Nick, an intriguing man she rates 9 before she ends up in the A&E. Too bad they live in different regions. However, when Nella loses her job, she takes up Nick’s offer to join his company, a Cotswolds holiday retreat. However, can she risk everything to explore their attraction?

Lizzie, a Hollywood star on the verge of burnout, arrives at the holiday retreat to unwind. She has sworn off men but may flirt with Nick. She also loves to hate the grumpy Matthew but hey, things are hardly that straightforward.

As more people arrive and meet each other, the retreat becomes the place for endings and new beginnings.

The story comes in Nella, Lizzie, Mauve, Nick, Matthew, and other character’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:

As you might have guessed by now, this is a fun-filled read with many characters and multiple tracks. We have not one but multiple pairings that happen throughout the book. Naturally, there are breakups and new bonds, leading to more drama.

Though the POV shifts between different characters, it is easy to follow the plot. It might help to make note of the names and relationships, though.

The 430+ pages are used fully to develop the subplots. However, the distribution is uneven. I expected Nella to get more space, which she did but also didn’t. Lizzie ends up in the limelight, true to her role as a film star. A couple of them get limited space but manage to make an impact. Others do what they are supposed to do for the plot. Nella was easy to like. Lizzie is a bit extra (she is a celeb, after all) but a genuine person and someone easy to like.

Though this is romance, it is not steady. For example, one track is a super slow burn. Another is pretty fast-paced. It shines brighter as women’s fiction since the characters make some worthy friendships (found family vibes). There are no descriptions either (totally closed-door).

Of course, we have some annoying characters as well. Thankfully, these traits have been distributed between men and women, so the scales are not entirely one-sided.

The pacing is on the slower side due to the constant drama and developments. There are many funny moments as well. The overall effect is lighthearted with a sprinkle of bittersweet moments.

To summarize, Almost Perfect Summer is an entertaining book with some OTT moments and a great choice for summer beach reading.

My thanks to the author and Random Things Tours for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 3.7 Stars

Elegy Thorne is a twenty-five-year-old woman living at her family estate, Thorne Hall, and its resident fourteen spirits. Nestled in the Berkshires, the estate has been home to fewer humans and more spirits than necessary for decades. Now, with her father’s illness and impending death, the responsibility of managing the place is on Elegy. 

She has long given up the desire for a life of her own. But when sabotage by a ghost results in renovation work, she meets Atticus, the son of the contractor (and her father’s friend). Elegy’s yearning for more and the weight on her shoulders suffocate her. It’s time to find a way to send the spirits back to the afterworld if she wants a chance at a normal life. However, the process will not be easy! 

The story comes in Elegy’s third-person POV. 

So… this has a contemporary setting. Everything gives a historical vibe but there’s a proper reason for it. Even the writing style feels historical, with those long-winded sentences and the narrator’s voice dominating Elegy’s POV often. 

The paranormal part is the highlight. Since the story relies on spirits and ghosts in a house, the gothic element needs to be strong. The writing does justice to this. I could feel the creepy house, the stinky ghosts (who look like zombies), the dead garden, the oppressive weight on FMC, etc. 

However, this one needs patience. It is very slow. The beginning 30% was at a snail’s pace but I understood why. The stage was being set. Things improved after that but the last section was slow again. 

The FMC’s characterization was great. She’s a 25yo from this century living her life in the past because it’s her inheritance. She gradually becomes stronger but without losing her sense of goodness. NGL, I was annoyed at her a few times for giving in easily but the change in her arc is steady and believable. 

The side characters don’t get the same depth. That’s okay because there are fourteen ghosts and a whole bunch of humans. While it doesn’t matter for most of them, even the MMC ends up as a lever for FMC’s growth. He should have been more than that given the love track and romance. 

This is insta love but works from the FMC’s side. Since we don’t get much info about the guy, it’s hard to see why he fell as fast. There’s some steam but not much. The interaction between the two could have been better. The punch is lacking and so is the banter. 

There’s a twist or two in the climax. One of them was easy to guess due to the clues provided earlier. The other was a surprise; sad too! 

The detailed epilogue is quite satisfying to read. I like it when everything gets sorted and we get HEA. This does dim the atmospheric effect a little but by then I was ready for it to move to the background. 

To summarize, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a slow-paced atmospheric read with some chilly moments and a bit of romance. The writing style could take some time to get used to. High chances of zoning out if you aren’t focused. Still, a nice read. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Alcove Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheSpiritCollectionOfThorneHall 

 2.7 Stars

One Liner: Nice!

Pippa runs her bakery in Brittany and spends her evenings with her gendarme boyfriend. She has a few friends like Jennifer, Meredith, and Gwen. As per her habit, Pippa goes to Derek’s house to drop a basket of fresh baguettes only to find him dead on the piano with blood and breadcrumbs around him.

Derek is a retired GP from Britain offering physical fitness training in his new home. Who could have killed him and why? Pippa joins hands with Jennifer to solve the case.

The story comes in the third-person POV of multiple characters.


My Thoughts:

Though this is the third book in the series, it can work as a standalone (I didn’t read the previous books). However, the town politics might be a bit confusing (even if it is easy enough to follow).

The murder happens fairly early so we are pretty much into the mystery from the beginning. Pippa and Jennifer are the sleuths, though the police (gendarme) have some role. However, neither lady follows the sleuthing template, so I was confused for a while.

The story moves quickly and is a short book (250-odd pages) that works in its favor. There’s an overarching plot with the local politics and dramas as well as the developments in the characters’ personal lives.

The writing is simple and easy to follow. There’s a fair sprinkling of French words and sentences that I didn’t bother to translate. I went with the flow.

There’s a list of suspects and more deaths happen. The case is easy to solve once the clues are in place. However, the reason I couldn’t enjoy the book more was my inability to connect with Pippa. She just doesn’t seem like someone who solves crimes. Cozy mystery is my go-to genre, so I read dozens of such books every year. She didn’t click for me. I think the book will work for those who already enjoy the series or can connect with Pippa.

Despite everything, I’m glad to read a book that discusses the impact of Britishers relocating to other European countries and disturbing the local infrastructure, pricing, etc. It’s not something I’ve read in fiction though I did see quite a few articles on the internet.

To summarize, The Baguette Murders is a quick and easy mystery with a large cast set in a French town. How you enjoy the book will depend on how much you like the main characters.

My thanks to the author, publisher Joffe Books, and Zooloo’s Book Tours for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 4.2 Stars

Indrani is a friend and a fellow poet I’ve met on social media. I’ve read many of her poems shared in writing groups and enjoy her style. So when she asked if I could read her latest release, I didn’t have to think twice. 

Brown Gal in the Rain (my brain is still autocorrecting it to Brown Girl in the Ring by Boney M) is a collection of around 82 poems neatly categorized into different themes/ topics. Each section has a varying number of poems (which is expected when we collect poems from everywhere and compile an anthology). 

The categorization is also beautiful (wish I could name my stories with such poetic titles): 

The poems are of varied length and some are written in different poetic styles. I like that the style is mentioned with the title even if we don’t get an explanation of it. Poets are likely to know some/ most of these, but other readers might have to do a bit of googling (or you can wing it). 

The writing is lyrical, alluring, soothing at times, melancholic the other times, and magical most of the time. The imagery is just as strong and appealing, be it moonlight nights, rainy afternoons, or fantasy lands. Great vocab too! 

Usually, there are two types of poets – one who writes personal poems and the other who writes poems for prompts. We belong to the latter group where personal poems are written if the prompt demands one. This book has a few personal poems, which were likely created the same way. 

My favorites are The Werewolf and the Princess (narrative poem ending in a cliffhanger), I Wish a Writer Loved Me, Dear Life, Paper Boats, Maa, Ode to Spring, Ode to Sparrow, What You Want to Be?.
 
To summarize, Brown Gal in the Rain is a beautiful collection of poems that invoke a plethora of emotions. Even if you feel nothing, you can enjoy the play of words and the poet’s command over her craft. 

My thanks to the author for an electronic copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.