2.5 Stars (outliner)

Lili Gray is a ten-year-old with a secret superpower. However, this superpower is so embarrassing that she doesn’t know what to do with it. But with Lili’s dad vanishing and her stepmother looking like a supervillain, Lili knows she needs to solve the case, especially since no one is willing to believe her. With her best friend Ale, Lili now has to figure out how to navigate the new complications in her life. 

The story comes in Lili’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

I wish I loved this one, but it was not to be. The premise is highly appealing, exactly the kind kids would enjoy. However, the content doesn’t hit the mark in many aspects. 

Firstly, I love the friendship between Lili and Ale. It is the highlight of the book and the best part of the story. 

The pacing is decent. Since there’s no proper backstory or explanation, the story moves ahead quickly. 

The superpower is easily guessable and does result in a lot of humor, even if 60% of the comedy feels flat. Kids might enjoy it more, so consider it a plus point (to an extent). 

The book also deals with bullying, along with a bunch of other things. 

Now, the issues are with Lili and her relationship with her family. I still can’t understand the dynamics. Her hatred for Bella (stepmom) doesn’t, even seem to have any basis (the excuse used later on is ridiculous). Just coz her dad read her fairytales about stepmothers doesn't make her a villain. Makes no sense at all! 

Then, there are many pieces missing to create a picture of her family. There’s no info about how the mother died. And if it was two years ago, how did her dad meet Bella, and when did they marry? How did the mom die? While resenting the new parent is not uncommon, Lili’s case seems to go a bit too far. Of course, she realizes her mistakes, which is good, but the direct first-person POV doesn’t help in this case. 

We have the same question again – why is it so easy for Lili to trust outsiders than her family? If there was something to trigger this, the context would have made more sense. Even in kiddo books, we need some structure. Kids can ask a lot of questions (and they won’t find answers here). 

There’s another question about… let’s say, certain wearable aspect that hasn’t been dealt with. It could be an embarrassing scenario, not to mention risky for children. 

While the ending is rounded, there’s also an opening for a sequel or to extend this into a series. It’s an ambitious idea and will work if the next books focus on providing a proper backstory to understand the characters, their relationships, and the setting. 

What works on the screen doesn’t work in books due to the inherent difference in the medium. Books need more detail and better characterization. This one could have been terrific with another 30-50 pages focusing on developing the characters and the plot. 

To summarize, Lili Gray and the World’s Most Embarrassing Superpower could have been a blockbuster but ended up underwhelming. Of course, this is an outliner review. It might work better if you go with the flow and not bother with the details. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #LiliGray 

 2 Stars

Theodosia Benton drops out of law studies in Australia and travels to Lawrence in the US to stay with her older brother Gus (a lawyer). She wants to become a writer and aspires to publish a book. Gus encourages her to go ahead, and soon, Theo is not only writing her debut novel but also getting deeper into the literary world. 

However, when a famous author is killed, Theo and Gus end up in a bigger mess. As more deaths occur and the police have no clue, the brother-sister duo, with some help, have to get to the bottom of things. This is easier said than done since those behind the screens will do anything to keep the secrets safe. 

The story comes in Theo and Caleb’s third-person POV with snippets of online chat conversations at the beginning of each chapter. 

An advantage of reading the book late is that I have no fear of being an outliner. In fact, I could start the book with zero expectations and knew it would be slow-paced. 

Theo starts okay but soon ends up melodramatic. Though I felt sad that she could be so easily groomed, I couldn’t empathize with her as the story progressed. She went from being vulnerable to an idiot in quick time. Some of her actions and decisions were incredibly stupid. Dropping out of law school was one good thing she did. Imagine having someone like that to represent you! *shudder*
 
Thankfully, Gus and Mac were much better. I liked them a lot more and enjoyed their scenes. Gus is adorable and the kind of big brother anyone would want to have. Wish we got his POV, too. And oh, he has a dog named Horse, who is a big softy. 

Mac’s family is eccentric and what you’d call the doomsday preppers. Still, I quite liked the mother and some brothers despite the limited presence.  

Now, the blurb makes it clear that conspiracy theories play a vital role in the plot. That’s true. We get this track in snippets, which add to the intrigue (to an extent). I admit I was curious to see how it would come together. Well, let’s say it wasn’t worth it. Also, makes me wonder if the last section was rewritten after feedback to make it OTT. If yes, it’s the worst move ever. Think of Ekta Kapoor’s daily soaps to guess the mess (IYKYK).
 
I knew the last section of the book was the weakest, but didn’t expect it to go kaput to this extent. And to think Gus at one point said Theo wasn’t an idiot to make stupid decisions. Dude, you have no idea how much you underestimate her stupidity. Moreover, the patterns in Theo’s life are worrying. 

Despite everything, I can see the potential in the original premise. If only it was properly structured!
 
To summarize, The Mystery Writer has too much going on with a weak main character and fails to bring it all together cohesively. It may work for readers who like ‘shocking’ twists, but I’d still recommend you to go with low expectations. 

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

#NetGalley #TheMysteryWriter 

 4 Stars

Mabel Canning has settled into her job at the Useful Women Agency. She takes up a range of tasks, though murders haven’t been included for a while. When Mabel is tasked with accompanying Roxy, a fun American heiress, she knows it won’t be an easy job. However, she doesn’t expect to end up in a murder investigation. 

Mabel, with help from Park (her beau) and the other two members of the unofficial club, starts to investigate the case. There seem to be too many suspects as she digs deeper. Soon, Roxy is in danger, and Mabel has to find the killer before it is too late. 

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

The book works as a standalone, though you can read book one and jump to this if you want. 

The pacing is decent, neither fast nor slow (better than book #2, which was slow). This works well to keep the reader hooked on the plot. It also helps that the prologue has murder, and the first couple of chapters are kind of like flashbacks. 

The setting is well done as with the previous books, be it the period, the lifestyle, the restrictions, social aspects, etc. All these add to the narrative and make it better. 

The mystery starts out well and becomes intricate as new information is revealed. There are enough suspects and secrets to keep guessing the reasons and the killer's identity. However, the reader won’t feel cheated because the character and the reader get to know the information at the same time. The reveal does make sense (since my instinct zoned on that character even if I couldn’t understand why), though I wouldn’t mind if we got a wee bit more detail. 

Roxy is an entertaining character. She is eighteen and has all the drama of a teen. However, she is also sweet and can make friends with anyone. I like her resilience (even if it’s lucky that she is safe) and easy acceptance of tough situations. 

MaryLou, Roxy’s mother, is almost impossible to like. The more we get to know her, the more we admire Roxy. The other characters are also easy to read. Little Augustus doesn’t make an entry in this one, but Gladys (Park’s doggy) has plentiful space. 

The book ends on a humorous and hopeful note, so we can be sure that Mabel will have many more adventures (personal and professional). 

To summarize, A Body at the Dance Hall is an entertaining and light-hearted read with some emotional scenes. Looking forward to the next! 

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

#NetGalley #ABodyAtTheDanceHall 

*** 

PS: Based on cozy mysteries I read, taking a dog with you will make people more amicable and helpful (don’t blame me if it doesn’t work in real life). 

 3 Stars

She is the granddaughter of a forgotten Scottish king. As a young girl of fifteen, she is married off to the Mormaer of Moray, a man known for his violence, something she experiences in person. His death sets her free, but she is determined to safeguard her son. So what if the witch’s prophecy was terrifying? She would do everything to prevent it from coming true. 

He has been a mamma’s boy since a child. But that didn’t stop him from being impressed by his father’s brutality. He watches his mother fall in love with Thane Macbeth and become Lady Macbeth. She is no longer just his mother. She is the Lady of the castle. 

As the coronation of King Duncan nears, it sets in motion a chain of events that would alter her and the boy’s lives forever. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of the Lady and the third-person POV of the Boy. 

I was quite impressed by Lady Macbeth when I first read the play Macbeth as a young girl. There was something compelling about her presence. However, I never read any retelling with her. This seemed like a good way to give it a try, especially since it is not a direct retelling but a supposed prequel to Macbeth with events from a decade earlier. 

The narrative is divided into five parts – the four seasons and the title. The chapters alternate between the Lady and the Boy. They are not named throughout the book. Lady= Lady Macbeth, and Boy= her son. This is an advantage and a disadvantage. It works to distance the reader from the violence on the page. However, it also prevents the reader from fully connecting with the characters. 

The chapters are uneven in length. While I don’t usually mind this, here, some chapters are way too long. This makes it hard to take a break (I don’t like to stop unless there’s a scene break or the chapter ends). 

The pacing is also uneven. It moves fast in some places and goes on and on in others. That means some scenes are great, while others are bland. The beginning is actually strong but hasn’t been sustained. 

There’s a touch of paranormal (or an attempt) with the talk of witches, ghosts, specters, superstition, etc. Not all of it adds to the atmosphere when it should have elevated the setting and the brooding mood of the characters. 

Lady Macbeth’s character is well-etched. She is not flawless or perfect. She is vulnerable but learns to become strong. She is opinionated and loses her cool but can be kind and considerate. She is not Shakespeare’s character, though. This Lady loves her son too much, even if she doesn’t show it in a way he would understand. 

The Boy has promise but ends up underwhelming. I can’t call his character sensitive since he has an evil streak (even if he doesn’t understand it himself). I could call him weak; not in the masculine sense but character-wise. I thought there would be something dramatic from him that would establish the Boy’s character, but nope. 

The section saved the book. I had pretty much given up on it and was reading just to reach the end. Thankfully, everything comes together just enough to lead to the major events in the original play. But that I had to wait until the last 15% - 18% for this is not a good sign. 

The book deals with many themes; some went over my head (no idea about Kings being God-touched or something like that). Do check for triggers. It has quite a few. 

To summarize, All Our Yesterdays is a worthy attempt at presenting a backstory to a popular play, even if it doesn’t make the desired impact (at least for me). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group (G.P. Putnam's Sons), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AllOurYesterdays 

*** 

TW: Domestic abuse, violence, beheading, miscarriage, sexual abuse, death during childbirth, child abuse, starvation, classism, animal violence, and death 

*** 

PS: After reading the book, I feel the cover doesn’t quite suit the contents or the tone. 

 3 Stars

Esther Hamilton is getting her life back together after splitting with a horrible ex. She works as a nurse at the Cornish Country Hospital, where her best friend Danni is a doctor. She loves her new job and new life and has no intention of falling in love. Danni’s brother Joe Carter is newly single and arrives in the town. He is a friend Esther wouldn’t want to lose. But with Joe being there for her at the hospital and when navigating her parent’s troubled marriage, Esther has to make some tough decisions. 

Caroline, Esther’s mom, is going through a difficult phase. She wants to make the most of her life, but her reliable and rock-solid husband has other ideas. Moreover, Caroline can’t help but think their marriage has fizzled out. Soon, she finds her life and marriage spiraling out of control. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Esther and Caroline. 

Here’s another new author I wanted to tick off my list. The premise (the official blurb doesn’t mention Caroline’s POV) felt like a feel-good novel with romance, so I gave it a shot. 

I didn’t expect the book to have two full-fledged stories and the mother and daughter’s tracks in parallel. Though it could be off-guard, I managed to adjust my expectations and see where it would lead. 

The info dump on Caroline’s POV (second chapter) didn’t help either. And the very instant the other (third-party) character was introduced, my brain screamed a red flag. It only got worse. Moreover, there’s too much repetition (about her thoughts, her wants, her desires, etc.). I empathized more with her situation when I wasn’t reading her POV. Go figure! 

Esther’s track also has repetition. Still, it involves other characters and has some decent banter. Esther’s friendship with Danni is really well done. Oh, this book possibly has spoilers for the first in the series. I didn’t read that, so can’t say for sure. 

There really isn’t much romance in this one. I would classify it as contemporary fiction. Esther and Joe’s relationship doesn’t come alive on the page. There is too much focus on Caroline, and each time I get a little into Esther’s track, there’s a POV shift, taking me back to what Caroline wants. Not that I support Patrick (I don’t agree with it). His arc wasn’t compelling, either. 

Another issue was how the other character pretty much vanished after the crucial incident. We never know their intentions or how the whole thing affected that person (if it did). I don’t want to wait for another book to know that (if it will even be tackled). The same goes for Lucas, though at least there’s a single-line brush-off to justify his sudden absence. 

The major good thing about the book is how Esther cared for her patients. That also got into her trouble, but she refused to treat them as mere patients. She’s the kind of nurse one would want to have if they went into a hospital in an emergency. 

The book also deals with dementia, personal loss, misunderstandings, mental health issues, taking chances, aspects of infidelity, second chances, etc. 

To summarize, Finding Friends at the Cornish Country Hospital has its moments, though it didn’t work for me. It should have, but somehow, it didn’t. Do check the other reviews before you decide. 

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

#NetGalley #FindingFriendsattheCornishCountryHospital 

One Liner: Such a fun read!
 

Julia Bird is delighted that her ex-husband Peter and his partner Christopher are marrying in her village, Berrywick. However, Christopher turns out to be a groom-zilla! Nevertheless, the wedding goes well until there’s a spat with the caterer, Desmond. 

Everything seemed fine the next morning. However, Julia finds Desmond’s dead body, and it is clearly a murder. With Christopher on the suspect list, she has to put on her sleuthing hat again and find the killer. 

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

The book should work as a standalone, but I recommend reading book #1 to get a better idea. It will also help you see the character growth in Julia and understand her relationship and dynamic with her ex-husband. It is refreshing to read non-toxic relationships between exes. 

Christopher is a typical groom-zilla but still comes across as a sweetie. The poor guy wants his wedding to be perfect. Who can say no? 

Jess, Julia’s daughter, is visiting for the first time since Julia moved to Berrywick. Must say that I like Jess very much. She is the right mix of fun and serious, childish and mature, which makes her easy to connect with. 

Now, Jake, our adorable chocolate lab, should get a special mention. He is turning out to be a lover boy! In the last book, Jake gives all his attention to Henny Penny, the boss chicken. Now, he is mesmerized by Jess and can’t take his eyes off her. And with Jess pampering her Jakey boy, there’s no stopping him! 

Little Sebastian also makes a guest entry. I love this tail-less monkey who asks Jake if he is a good boy, lol. Leave the two alone for a few minutes, and there will be loads of cleaning up to do! 

Julia and Hayley are becoming closer friends, even if Hayley wouldn’t admit it. Sean is a perfect partner, as always, being there for Julia without crowding her space and offering support without being loud. 

The mystery is solid. I like that Julia and the readers get the clues at the same time. This does make it tough when Julia takes time to connect the dots, but hey, readers have more sleuthing experience. The reveal, when it comes, seems a natural progression of the case and not something that appears out of nowhere. 

To summarize, A Country Wedding Murder is an entertaining and delightful mystery with dead bodies, food, sleuthing, suspects, laughter, and a touch of contemplation. The pacing is steady, which makes this a breezy read. Can’t wait for the next one! 

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

#NetGalley #ACountryWeddingMurder 

 3 Stars

When two strangers, Amanda and Wendy, meet by chance, they discover they have a lot in common. Their lives have been ruined by men who escaped justice in the hands of law. Soon, they make a pact – one kills for the other, and neither gets caught. 

In another part of the city, Ruth and her husband Scott have a routine life until that night when an intruder with startling blue eyes changes it forever. Can Ruth ever feel safe and get back to her life with the intruder still running free? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Amanda and Ruth, with a couple of chapters from Scott and Farrow. 

It’s been a while since I read a thriller, and this book has great reviews. Seemed like a good idea to read it. Well, the results are mixed. 

Using a popular premise requires additional twists and shocks to keep the readers hooked. While some of it works here, the rest feels a bit too unbelievable. Yeah this is fiction, but you can’t leave those gaps open. 

There’s no timeline for both tracks, which is a way to retain suspense. Of course, readers can still figure it out. But there’s a ‘reveal’ that negates the theory, which makes readers wonder what’s going on. I was fooled for a minute but decided to stick to my original theory. 

Things start to come together after 70%, followed by some action and more reveals and twists. Again, some of it worked, but the rest didn’t make me go wow! I was still hopeful, only to realize that some questions would not be answered. I should accept what’s being told and move on. Not done! 

The pacing is uneven due to the filler content. It gets better in the last quarter, where things need to happen fast. The filler should have helped in relating to the main characters. Yet, that doesn’t happen. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t connect with any of them. I did feel sad for Amanda and Ruth, but I wasn’t able to empathize with their situation (I blame it on the writing). 

The detective pair has some character development, which is surprising in a standalone. Maybe this will become a series (what’s the point in all that back pain if it goes nowhere). 

Still, the book highlights important themes like injustice, moral dilemmas, victim trauma, etc. It would offer quite a bit for book club discussions. 

To summarize, Kill for Me, Kill for You is an average thriller with some moments. How you like it will depend on what kind of thrillers you prefer. This will work great for some readers, so check out other reviews before you decide. 

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

#NetGalley #KillForMeKillForYou 

 4.5 Stars

The three Pallava captains have completed the first stage of their missions, driven by King Narasimhavaraman’s vow. The Chalukya King Pulikeshi, with his brother’s help, launches a counterattack. 

The Chalukyas will stop at nothing to destroy the Pallava army. Things just got a lot worse for people and the soldiers. Can the Pallava army survive and fight back, or will the dynasty succumb to the Chalukya force? 

The story comes in the omnipresent third-person POV.

This book takes off where Nandi’s Charge ended (a few weeks later). It is not a standalone and should not be read out of order. 

NGL, I was excited and wary of reading this one. What if it wasn’t as good as the previous book? Fortunately, I could set my worries aside once the story began. 

The book has a steady pace and sustains the momentum throughout. At no point will you feel bored, not even when different batches of soldiers from different kingdoms sit and wait for action. There’s action even when there’s no action. 

As the title suggests, this one has the Chalukya kingdom out for revenge. Given its extensive army and near-unlimited supply of resources, you can guess how tense the situation would be. 

Apart from pure warcraft and statecraft, we also see betrayal, backstabbing, moral dilemmas, ethical debates, and much more. What does one do when the lines blur? 

Like book one, there’s a list of characters at the beginning neatly categorized according to their kingdoms and roles. Apart from the basic map, we also get two little illustrations detailing the tricky settings. Of course, the descriptions are clear enough to visualize the events, even without the illustrations. 

My favorite captains – Elango, Kanan, and Muthuvel are right in the middle of the action and danger. The ladies (love) do their bit (Indumati’s arc is terrific) and stand out strong. I’m not happy with the stereotypical portrayal of the queens (pampered dramatic women), but since they have very minor roles, I wasn’t too annoyed. 

We have some new characters like Thaamarai (she is a firebrand), Venkata, Anjeneya, Jabali, etc. Each of them asserts their presence with definite characterizations. Of course, we see incompetence, arrogance, and slimness in some. That makes the characters quite realistic. 

I really want to see the author’s murder board… oops, storyboard. Keeping so many tracks straight is not easy! It needs a dozen color-coded threads and a huge bunch of sticky notes. Still, once you get into the flow, nothing matters. You keep turning the pages to see what happens. 

The chapter titles are mild spoilers, which I don’t mind. Those are necessary to keep the details straight. 

We have more battle scenes in this one (book #3 might have a lot more). I like how they felt similar to the scenes from Mahabharata. I’ve been reading the Yudha (war) Parvas for the last few months, so the whole thing feels familiar and just as exciting. However, what I love the most are the scenes where captains follow the rules of yudha dharma and teach their soldiers the importance of abiding by these. 

One teeny thing that struck me as odd was the presence of tomatoes in the 7th-century Bharat. From what I know, tomatoes didn’t arrive on the land until after the 15th century, and even then, these weren’t a favorite. Many people from my grandparents’ generation don’t use tomatoes much, and some don’t eat them at all. Anyhoo, that’s a minor issue and has nothing to do with the major plot. 

The book ends on a serious cliffhanger. Gasp! I hope book #3 doesn’t take too much time. The title is mentioned, so hopefully, it won’t take a year. On that note, I hope the last book has an orange or brown cover. It would go well with the title. 

To summarize, Varaha's Vengeance is a fast-paced and worthy continuation of the previous book. It has action, humor, romance, drama, and a bit of everything to keep you hooked from the first page. 

 3.7 Stars

Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a party in the Highcliffe House on the Dorset Coast. Though her father claims he doesn’t know any of the invitees and this is a business trip, Pearl knows it is not true. 

As an introvert with an emotionless and strict father, Pearl finds solace in water. She escapes to the sky and nearby cove, feeling intimidated by everyone at the party. However, she accidentally handles a mysterious clock that somehow tinkers with time and leaves Pearl in a loop, forcing her to live the last few hours of her life again and again. 

There’s something she needs to do to change the outcome and get on with her life. But what? Can Pearl figure it out? 

The story comes in Pearl’s third-person POV (sometimes blurs the lines with third-person omnipresent). 

This is my third book with the Groundhog Day trope. It doesn’t seem boring since the executions are different. Here, the setting is historical and has a mystery with a touch of romance. 

Pearl’s introduction is well done. It establishes her character and takes things from there, allowing her to grow and change throughout the book. 

The other characters are not necessarily developed, but some have surprises up their sleeves. 

There’s a mystery within a mystery; solve one, and you can solve the other. I guessed the other one, which helped me figure out the bigger mystery. 

The time loop starts before 20%, which is good and not good. Good, because you don’t have to wait long for it. Not so good because there’s over 80% of the book left. Moreover, the initial couple of loops pass quickly. 

That’s where we get a nice development to make things interesting. It is necessary since Pearl being Pearl, needs an incentive to come out of her shell. 

Humor and light-hearted scenes are scattered here and there to keep the mood light. However, mystery takes a back seat in the middle and slows down the pacing. Lucky that it doesn’t happen for long. 

The mystery is decent. With so many secrets and no one willing to reveal them, it gets difficult for our amateur sleuth to connect the dots. The repetition dims the impact of the climax a bit. Of course, new information is revealed, so that makes up for it. 

I like the concept behind the time loop in this one. It is an integral part of the plot and has an explanation. There should be some logic to it, after all! 

There’s romance, too (clean), and it is believable. A sort of third-act breakup as well, though I guessed it would happen. 

A few questions remain unanswered despite the epilogue of sorts. I’d have liked a little more detail and another proper epilogue for a more rounded ending. 

To summarize, At the Stroke of Midnight is an enjoyable and light read despite the uneven pacing. The setting is beautiful and enhances the narrative. 

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

#NetGalley #AtTheStrokeOfMidnight 

 2.5 Stars

One Liner: Ugh! 

Eliza, aka Elizabeth Mace, is sixteen+, an age her mother says is when she becomes a woman and is no longer a child. Her parents’ marriage and the crumbling house stifle Eliza. She longs to free herself and become independent. However, her father goes missing (and is drowning in debt), and Eliza decides to dig deeper to find out what happened. She works with her new friend, a police constable, Dafydd Pritchard, and realizes that the truth could have devastating consequences. 

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

Well, this is exactly why I do not consider the book comparisons in the blurb. However, I have a thing for historical mysteries, and when I saw ‘Enola Holmes’ mentioned, I decided to try this book. Sadly, this is nothing like Enola. 

I am okay with dark cozy mysteries, but there has to be something to keep me hooked on the plot. Here, almost every character feels off. While I appreciate the attempt to make them layered, the characters end up even more superficial and unlikeable. 

We have a toxic dysfunctional family, which should make me care for poor Eliza. Yet, I couldn’t feel for any of them. The side characters aren’t better either (except for little Jevan, maybe). 

There is no humor (zero) or a lighthearted scene. That’s okay. Not mandatory for me. However, the mystery isn’t great either. I did expect it to start late, so I wasn’t too annoyed. The investigation is okay, but nothing to elevate the book or cover up the flaws. 

Somehow, all characters call each other using their first names (irrespective of the status/ position). Also, we have a constable acting like an FBI (or UK equivalent) in disguise while the Sergeant is happy to let him handle the case. 

Though I like the friendship between the constable and Eliza, I can’t help but feel something off. For one, he is nine years older and has policing experience in the city. His approach and dedication cannot be faulted, but would a constable constantly seek a young girl (no matter how smart she is) to help solve the crime? Moreover, he shares his entire past with her on the second meeting. Huh… why? 

I understand Eliza’s need for independence and her frustration with adults who want her to act like a grownup but treat her like a child. That part comes out clearly, which is a plus (thank god). 

After the initial slowness, the book picks up speed. A few scenes with the investigation are well done and kept me interested enough to finish the book. The ending is a sort of cliffhanger (with the mystery fully solved), but I say goodbye here. 

To summarize, Eliza Mace reads like a below-average play where I had the front-row seats. That’s sad because the plot had the potential to be an intense mystery (if not a cozy). 

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

#NetGalley #ElizaMace