Death Threads by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

  
   
 ★★★½
  
GENRE:    Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT:    town pride, historical accuracy
Setting:    Sweet Briar, SC
CHARACTERS:    Tori Sinclair, Colby Calhoun, Leona Elkin, Margaret Louise Davis, Ella May Vetter
DATE READ:    March 20 - March 25
NO. OF PAGES:    288
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, Nook stockpile
   
PLOT:.........................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.............................3.50
TOPICS:....................................................3.50
STYLE:......................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:...........................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:....................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:...........................................3.00
THRESHOLD QUALITY:...........................3.50
Average................................................................................3.25
   
Tori Sinclair,Victoria for the elderly Southern ladies, is still settling in as the town librarian and with the help of the sewing circle she is making Sweet Briar her home.  But when a news article upsets the townsfolk, she has a hard time seeing the attitude by these same women who embraced her when she was in trouble, turn on one of their own. 
   
The ladies realize their error when the author of the article disappears leaving a bloody trail and their friend is left with no answers and need for support.
   
This story was so fun, the southern ladies were a hoot, and the mystery had enough twists and turns to make it interesting until the end.

Top Ten Tuesday

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is looking at Top Ten  Books I Recommend The Most.  TTT is a meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.  Will I manage to keep it to ten?

Harry Potter  - all of them!  (does that count as 7 or 1?)
There is a Season by Joan Chittister
Caroline by Cynthia Wright
Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Still Life by Louise Penny    

They're all sensational!

What about you?  
 

 




 

Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon

 
   
  ★★★¼
 
GENRE:    Mystery
SUBJECT:    prejudice, racism, conspiracy diamonds
Setting:    Venice Italy
CHARACTERS:    Commissario Guido Brunetti, Sgt Vianello, Vie Questro Patta
DATE READ:    March 18 - March 20
NO. OF PAGES:    224
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, audio stockpile
   
PLOT:........................................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.............................3.00
TOPICS:....................................................3.50
STYLE:......................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:...........................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:.....................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:............................................3.00
THRESHOLD QUALITY:............................3.50
Average.............................................................................3.13
   
Campo San Stefano is the location in Venice where street vendors are trying to sell their wares to the tourists.  Suddenly shots  ring out and a black African vendor is gunned down.  Because of his probable illegal status, no one will identify the victim.  Commissario Brunetti has to try to determine who the man is as well as why he was murdered.
   
Having little evidence to lead him to the killer, Brunetti attempts identification by contacting other Africans.  Trying not to scare them off because he is with the police is a difficult effort, but by finding their living quarters, the Commissario finds a possible motive when he discovers millions in conspiracy diamonds in the salt tin.
   
This installment in this series has a strong presence - prejudices not only shown in the main storyline but also in the home arena with Chiara's Muslim  friend as well as governmental interference in favor of the  rich. Again Brunetti has to fight the rich for justice.

A Deadly Dealer by J.B. Stanley

  
   
 ★★★¼

GENRE:    Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT:    antiques, proof of purchase
Setting:    Nashville, TN
CHARACTERS:    Molly Appleby, Clara Appleby, Grayson Montgomery, Tom Barnett, Charity Barnett, Dennis Frazier, Howard Rose
DATE READ:    March 18 - March 20
NO. OF PAGES:    224
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, Nook stockpile
   
PLOT:.................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:......................3.00
TOPICS:.............................................3.50
STYLE:...............................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:....................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................3.00
OWNERSHIP:.....................................3.00
THRESHOLD QUALITY:.....................3.50
Average..........................................................................3.19
   
Molly Appleby, reporter for Collector's Weekly, has been assigned to cover the Heart of Dixie Antique Show in Nashville.  Clara, Molly's mother, has come along because as an auctioneer, she loves to appraise antiques.  However, Molly and Clara get caught in a spiral of murder revolving around an antique chest and old medical devices.  Before they know it they're in danger from the killer themselves.
   
The story is fun, filled with information regarding antiques and especially medicinal canes and walking sticks.
   
The background info from he descriptions of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to the antiques themselves was truly fascinating.  Sorry to hear that this is the last in the series

Dead Men Don't Crochet by Betty Hechtman

   
   
 ★★★½
 
GENRE:    Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT:    fake antiques
Setting:    Tarzana CA
CHARACTERS:    Molly Pink, Sheila Altman, Dinah Lyons, Kevin Brooks, Patricia Bradford, Barry Greenberg, Heather Gilmore
DATE READ:    March 17 - March 18
NO. OF PAGES:    288
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, Nook stockpile
   
PLOT:..........................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:...............................4.00
TOPICS:......................................................3.50
STYLE:........................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.............................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:.......................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:..............................................3.00
THRESHOLD QUALITY:..............................3.50
Average.....................................................................................3.50
   
"Crime Scene Groupie" Molly Pink (bookstore manager) seems to frequently be in the wrong place at the wrong time but mainly because she's just trying to help a friend.  In this second installment of the Crochet mysteries, Molly goes to the Cottage Shoppe to support her friend Sheila who is having troubles with the new owner of the consignment shop that handles her scarves and blankets.  When that owner turns up drown in his tomato bisque soup shortly after a private confrontation between Sheila and the deceased, Molly sets out to  find the true murderer before Sheila is slapped in jail by Molly's rival Detective GIlmore.
   
The murder mystery is fun and entertaining as well as the characters getting into hilarious predicaments. The subplot rivalries/family-dating issues definitely give you a good chuckle.  This series could get to be addicting!

Sweet Tea Revenge by Laura Childs

   
   
 ★★★¾

GENRE:    Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT:    Cigar Smuggling, Ghost hunters
Setting:    Charleston, SC USA
CHARACTERS:    Theodosia Browning, Delaine Dish, Drayton Conneley, Hayley Parker, Det. Tidwell
DATE READ:    March 14 - March 16
NO. OF PAGES:    305
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, ARC from author
   
PLOT:........................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.............................3.50
TOPICS:....................................................4.50
STYLE:......................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:...........................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:.....................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:............................................3.50
THRESHOLD QUALITY:............................4.00
Average.......................................................................................3.75
   
Theodosia Browning's friend Delaine Dish is getting ready to be married to Dougan Granville, and when the bride is looking for her groom, Theo discovers him dead.
   
Because of her penchant for solving mysteries, Delaine convinces Theo to run her own investigation at the same time as she is being wooed by ghost hunters.
   
The story was entertaining, the events that carried the mystery engaging, and the characters (old friends) were cheering.
   
I always feel so special when I receive the new books from Laura Childs asking for my opinion about her new books.  This one definitely didn't disappoint.

Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke

   
 ★★★
:   
GENRE:    Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT:    lies, false identity
Setting:    Lake Eden, MN
CHARACTERS:    Hannah Swensen, Buddy Neiman, Michelle Swensen, Delores Swensen, Doc Knight, Ben Matson
DATE READ:    March 12 - March 13
NO. OF PAGES:    304
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, Nook STOCKPILE
   
PLOT:..........................................................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:...............................................3.00
TOPICS:..................................................................... 3.50
STYLE:........................................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.............................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:......................................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:.............................................................3.00
THRESHOLD QUALITY:.............................................3.00
Average........................................................................................3.06
   
Hannah Swensen is still baking delicious confections at her little shop in Lake Eden, MN aptly named The Cookie Jar. 
   
While driving to make a delivery in a snowstorm Hannah and her sister Michelle see a massive  multi-vehicle accident and get out to trudge through the snow to help the victims.  After helping the minor injuries to the local hospital, Hannah is confronted my her mother telling her that Sprained wrist patient is dead!
   
The twists and turns are entertaining, the mystery, not so difficult to figure out, but still funny.  I really  liked the way that all her friends and family gathered around her and gave a a good shove in the right direction.

Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

   
   
★★★

GENRE:    Classic
SUBJECT:    time travel
Setting:    England
CHARACTERS:    The Boss, Arthur, Lancelot, Clarence
DATE READ:    February 28 - March 12
NO. OF PAGES:    336, 12 hours
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, AUDIO STOCKPILE
   
PLOT:..............................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:...................................2.00
TOPICS:..........................................................3.00
STYLE:............................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:...........................................2.50
OWNERSHIP:..................................................3.00
THRESHOLD QUALITY:..................................3.00
Average..................................................................................3.06
   
Mark Twain was  considered a humorist during his lifetime and this book definitely shows his talent in that area.  As the reader progresses through the adventure of Hank also known as "The Boss"  we see items from the "future" being incorporated into the 6th century environment - knight's armor used as advertising billboards, newspaper (when most residents couldn't read), schools and factories.
   
Slavery was a blatant issue throughout with both the Boss and Arthur ending the Slave market at one time.  But the amusing details that Twain adds - Child's Name being HelloCentral, cycling knights instead of riding horses, pipe smoking seeming to be a dragon, actions that are impossible to do in armor - all has the reader laughing and smiling throughout. 
   
I'm usually not a big fan of Classics, but this one was fun!

The Shifting Tide by Anne Perry

  
   
  ★★★★½
 
GENRE:    Mystery
SUBJECT:    Black death, piracy
Setting:    London, England USA
CHARACTERS:    William Monk, Hester Monk, Clemen Louvain, Mercy Louvain, Margaret Ballinger, Squeaky Robinson, Inspector Durban
DATE READ:    March 8 - March 12
NO. OF PAGES:    336, 12 hours
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:      Yes, AUDIO STOCKPILE
   
PLOT:...................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:........................................5.00
TOPICS:...............................................................4.50
STYLE:.................................................................4.50
ORIGINALITY:......................................................4.50
ADDICTIVENESS:................................................4.50
OWNERSHIP:.......................................................4.50
THRESHOLD QUALITY:.......................................4.50
Average...........................................................................................4.56
   
   
    William and Hester Monk continue to struggle financially - Monk trying to earn enough for their living expenses while Hester donates her talents and efforts to a women's clinic for sick prostitutes.  As the story opens, Monk is accepting a job, unlike his normal inquiries into murder but instead trying to recover a stole cargo.  Meantime, Hester and her fellow volunteers are put into a precarious position by non-other than the same man as Monk is working for.
   
The plot twists and intricacies along side the moral issues of the evets unfolding take the reader on a emotional roller coaster, first with Monk in trouble, then Hester, then the entire clinic.
   
The story was fantastic!

Top Ten Tuesday

 

  

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is looking at Top Ten Books on My Spring 2013 TBR list.  TTT is a meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish.  Will I manage to keep it to ten?

 1. Sweet Tea Revenge - ARC received from the author.  The book was just released on March 5th.
2. Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - a group read in March - hopefully a Classic I'll be able to enjoy.
3. The invention of Hugo Cabret - my first graphic novel - not sure what to expect
4. Manifest Injustice - ER book from LibraryThing
5. Dream Eyes - ER book from LibraryThing
6. Time and Chance - quarterly group read of Sharon Kay Penman's second book in the trilogy
7. Game of Thrones - heard so many people enjoy this one - giving it a read
8. The Enchantress - last in the Nicholas Flamel series - been waiting for this one!
9. Fountainhead - another Classic for a Group Read
10. The Golden Door - first book in a Young Adult trilogy

These are also on the top of my list!

Saturday Night Widows
Severed Threads
The Widow of Port Seaton
Cinnamon Roll Murder
Blood from a Stone
Book, Line, and Sinker
Dead Men Don't Crochet
Deadly Dealer
Death Threads
Diva Takes the Cake
Let's Play Dead
Lost and Fondue
Night Watch
Rope
Stitch me Deadly
Beyond Seduction
Threaded for Trouble
Horse Whisperer
Catching Fire