Frank Mackey, head of one of the undercover units in the Dublin force is thrown back to his youth and he returns to Faithful Place, the neighborhood where he grew up and his family still lives. His teenage sweetheart had disappeared on the night they were to elope and suddenly years later, her skeleton is found in an abandoned building.
Part of Frank still loves Rosie Daley, but returning to Faithful Place brings back hard feelings since he has never returned to visit his family. The recriminations from family and old friends make the investigation tense as the murder squad search for answers. The solution will rock the area.
Learning more about Frank and his past - family, marriage, divorce, daughter - intermingled with this mystery was fascinating.
★★★★
GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Frank Mackey, Rosie Daly, Holly Mackey, Kevin Mackey
Series/ Progress: Dublin Murder Squad 3/5
DATE READ: April 8 - May 27
NO. OF PAGES: 679
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, RandomKit
SOURCE: Audio MCL
Karen's excited about her trip to England with her boyfriend but just before the flight, Dave calls and tells her that their relationship is over. Determined to see England, Karen goes alone and spots Dave with a new girlfriend on the same flight.
Arriving at the scheduled B&B, Karen is charmed by the owner and decides that Dave and she really wouldn't have made it. However, having had a pint or two too many she had told a stranger that she wanted to kill Dave.
The cute little mystery that follows was fun and entertaining.
★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Karen Nash, Dave Richter, Caldwell Perkins, Howard Worth, Annette Worth, Guy Wilkins
Series/ Progress: Librarian mysteries 1/2
DATE READ: May 17 - May 19
NO. OF PAGES: 308
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook stockpile
Suddenly, Ozma is missing! And not only is Ozma no where to be found, but the Wizard's bag of magical items, Ozma's magic picture, and Glenda's Book of Records and enchanted objects are gone too.
The inhabitants of the Emerald City divide into search parties and head out to all areas of the land of Oz.
Dorothy and her companions head into the land of the Winkies, discover that they are looking for an angry wizard, Ugu the Shoemaker. The adventures are worthy of Oz!
★★★
GENRE: Classic
CHARACTERS: Dorothy, Scraps, Wizard, Glenda, Ozma, Frogman, Ugu the shoemaker
Series/ Progress: Oz 11/15
DATE READ: May 15 - May 17
NO. OF PAGES: 96
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook stockpile
Jill, owner of the Coffee Shop/bookstore, is participating in a mystery theater charity event with her policeman/boyfriend. At rehearsal one night she discovers a real body. Unable to say out of the investigation, Jill gets drawn in even more when the victim's girlfriend turns out to be her boyfriend's ex.
The characters keep getting better and the situations are entertaining. Glad I found this series!
★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS:
Series/ Progress: Tourist Trap 4/4
DATE READ: May 13 - May 14
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: NetGalley/Kindle
Marcy Singer, owner of the Embroidery shop in Tallulah Falls, is approached by Cassandra Wainwright about her antique wedding dress. Cassandra wants some embroidery and jewels added to areas that have yellowed. Marcy accepts the commission but is startled when the following day she is confronted by the body of he future mother-in-law outside her shop. The police inform her that the jewels she was given to attach to the dress were not fakes but worth close to $100, 000.
Worried that the jewels were the reason for the murder and that the murderer may think she has more, Marcy sets out to find the murderer.
The mystery was fun, but I wish there had been more needlework involvement.
★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Marcy Singer, Ted Nash, Cassandra Wainwright, Frederic Ortega, David Frist, Francesa Ortega, Caleb Santiago, Harriet Sloan
Series/ Progress: Embroidery mystery 3/7
DATE READ: May 12 - May 12
NO. OF PAGES: 187
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook stockpile
The island of Pinagree is a peaceful, happy place which produces a huge number of beautiful pearls. The King of Pinagree has special pearls that he can use to protect this kingdom but when attacked by Regos and Coregos he is unable to reach the special pearls and he, the queen, and all the inhabitants are taken away to slavery.
But wait, Prince Inga and visiting King Rinkitink escape discovery. Prince Inga retrieves the special pearls and heads off to rescue his parents and the people of his kingdom.
★★★
GENRE: Classic
CHARACTERS: Prince Inga of Pinagree, King Rinkitink, Bilbil the goat, Zella
Series/ Progress: Oz 10/15
DATE READ: May 11 - May 11
NO. OF PAGES: 100
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook stockpile
The latest of the Tea Shoppe mysteries has Theodosia trying to help her beau after he was suspended from his job following a murder of a major contributor at the museum.
Theo and her staff set out to find out who was responsible. Numerous events carry the story forward keeping the reader thoroughly involved while visiting with old friends.
★★★½
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Theodosia Browning, Max Scofield, Edgar Webster, Percy Capers, Charlotte Webster, Harlan Duke, Det. Tidwell
Series/ Progress: Tea Shoppe Mysteries 16/16
DATE READ: May 8 - May 10
NO. OF PAGES: 301
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: ARC from the Author
Marty Nickerson, Attorney at law, has two cases keeping her busy - a Public Defender case of a thug charged with the murder of a priest on Christmas Eve and a case of representing a Senator implicated in the murder of an aide.
Having to design a defense for the murder charges, Marty is reluctant to tear apart the reputation of the priest and having to control the Senator and his exposure proves tricky.
This was a great finish for the series.
★★★
GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Marty Nickerson, Geraldine Schilling, Harry Madigan, Michelle Forrester, Derrick Holliston, Sen. Charles Kendrick
Series/ Progress: Marty Nickerson series 4/4
DATE READ: May 9 - May 9
NO. OF PAGES: 241
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: MCL Audio
Armand Gamache has settled into his retirement with Rein-Marie in the quaint village of Three Pines bu after a year Clara Morrow throws a kink into his free time by persauding him to find her missing husband, Peter.
Using his contacts at the Sureté, Gamache gets a timeline of Peter's moves but then nothing. With Clara leading the way while Rein-Marie does research about what they do know, finding Peter becomes a process of following gut feelings - will they find him in time?
Peter wasn't one of my favorite characters from Three Pines being self-centered and selfish - but with what was revealed in this book, I'm glad that Ms. Penny made Peter the focus of this book.
★★★★
GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Armande Gamache, Clara Morrow, Myrna Landers, Paul Massey, Peter Morrow
Series/ Progress: Three Pines 10/10
DATE READ: May 6 - May 9
NO. OF PAGES: 373
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: MCL Audio
The newest Charmed Pie Shoppe mystery continues the tale of the LeFaye sisters and Ella Mae, the Clover Queen. An extremely large storm is reeking havoc in the areas of numerous magical groves. Ella Mae has to combat another witch to prevent further damage for other magical groups as well as her own family.
★★★½
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Ella Mae LeFaye, Fiona Drever, Nimue, Hugh Dylan
Series/ Progress: Charmed Pie Shoppe 4/4
DATE READ: May 3 - May 7
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
Nichelle Clarke is the crime reporter in Richmond. Covering a story related to multiple murders of drug dealers, Clarke gets herself in even deeper when she discovers the reason for the death of a Commonwealth District Attorney is connected and how.
This was a great start of a new series for me and I will most definitely be continuing. The writing was good and the characters captivating.
★★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Nichelle Clarke, Grant Parker, Jenna Rowe, Gavin Neal, Chief Nash
Series/ Progress: Headline in Heels 1/4
DATE READ: April 28 - May 3
NO. OF PAGES: 246
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
