Murder Under Cover ★★★½ by Kate Carlisle

Brooklyn's BFF, Robin, returns from her travels and a visit with her mother in the Far East bringing Brooklyn a copy of the Kuma Sutra for repair.  But before Brooklyn can even start her work, Robin suddenly returns covered in blood, hysterical.

Determining that Robin has been involved with the murder of a man she just met, Brooklyn sets out with her Security hunk of a boyfriend, Derek, to find out what happened and whether Robin is safe or not.

The story has many twists and turns carrying the reader along with a combination of numerous mysterious characters that somehow lead Robin home to the safe haven of Dharma and Brooklyn's family.

[
Series/ Progress: Bibliophile Mystery 4/11
DATE READ: January 23 - January 26
NO. OF PAGES: 291
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile

Thread and Gone ★★★½ by Lea Wait

While Gram and Reverend Tom are off on their honeymoon, Angie is contacted by a young woman about an old piece of needlepoint that she found in her attic.  Investigation leads to suspecting that it has a connection to either Mary Queen of Scots or Marie Antoinette or both.

Angie entrusts the piece to her lawyer who is later found murdered and the needlepoint gone.  Feeling responsible for the lost of something with a questionable value, Angie sets out to recover the missing piece and at the same time the murderer.

I love the setting and the characters and the background and historical information kept his reader glued to the pages.

Certainly hope there will be another soon.


Series/ Progress: Mainely Needlepoint Mystery 3/3
DATE READ: January 20 - January 23
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

The Diva Digs Up the Dirt ★★★½ by Krista Davis

Sophie finally has some down time between jobs, but her plans awry when Natasha, without Sophie's knowledge or approval, decides that Sophie needs a backyard renovation and enlists a TV crew to tear up her yard and build a much needed garage.

To stay out of the way of the construction, Sophie tries  to surprise her boyfriend, Wolf, with a new rosebush in his yard to replace the one that died.  However, while digging away, she uncovers more than what she expects and causes problems that need to be addressed.

At the same time Sophie is also drawn into a problem with one of her family clients.  How it all weaves together kept this reader engaged so that I couldn't put it down.


Series/ Progress: Diva Domestic 6/10
DATE READ: January 19 - January 20
NO. OF PAGES: 270
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook stockpile

The Golden Egg ★★★ by Donna Leon

A young man is found dead apparently suicide but was it all it seemed?  Paola is concerned because the man worked at the dry cleaners the Brunettis frequent but when Guido tries to found out more about him, there is nothing, really nothing - no papers, no certainty of who the man was.  As Guido delves deeper into the background of this "victim" he uncovers the sinister side of some of the wealthy families of Venice.  


Series/ Progress: Guido Brunetti 22/24
DATE READ: January 13 - January 18
NO. OF PAGES: 395
Type of Book Audiobook
SOURCE: Public Library

Death Overdue★★★ by Mary Lou Kirwin

Karen has taken a trip to London to spend time with her boyfriend, Caldwell,  and see if she is ready to move permanently from her job as a librarian in Minnesota to a book shop dealer in London.  But before she can concentrate on that decision, her boyfriend's ex returns turning the situation problematic but then turns up dead. Caldwell seems to be the prime suspect, so Karen feels the need to investigate herself which tends to prove dangerous.

I liked the story and the characters but am wondering how they will progress in the future.


Series/ Progress: Librarian mysteries   2/2
DATE READ: January 16 - January 18
NO. OF PAGES: 245
Type of Book ARD
SOURCE: Public Library

The Deep End★★★★½ by Julie Mulhern

My husband and I belong to a local country club and so when I saw this series, I thought What Fun!  As I read the description, I worried because it was set back in the 70's and I didn't know if I could go there after reading books that have incorporated the newest technologies - cell phones, computers, etc.

I needn't have worried.  This a magnificent mystery that doesn't require the newest technology because the characters are so well-written and the mystery so absorbing that it is never missed.

Ellison Russell goes to the Country Club pool at the crack of dawn everyday for the solitude but this morning she finds it occupied by the body of her husband's mistress.  And things don't get any better.  In trying to prove her innocence, Ellison finds herself in several amusing situations that I was forced to laugh out loud.

Loved this story and the writing so I had to go and buy the next one in the series and I will be reading it next month!  A different change of pace I highly recommend.

Series/ Progress: Country Club Murders  1/2
DATE READ: January 12 - January 17
NO. OF PAGES: 245
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook 2015

Beastly Things★★★½ by Donna Leon

I have been "reading" the Guido Brunetti series for several years and never tire of hearing the Italian accent while being read Ms. Leon's books.  I think that I've heard everyone of the 21 I've read.

In this story, a man is found dead with no identification except for an unusual malady.  So first the Venice police must discover who the victim is before they can investigate why he died.

The twists and turns that are uncovered relating to the Italian food supply and how it could be manipulated, was shocking, well-written in the extreme showing that ethics have a vital place in any society.

Series/ Progress: Guido Brunetti  21/25
DATE READ: January 6 - January 12
NO. OF PAGES: 296
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: Audio stockpile

The Diva Haunts the House★★★ by Krista Davis

Sophie is in charge of the local haunted house for the Halloween season, but when she  discovers a dead pirate with bite marks on his neck and a "vampire" standing over him, she's determine to find out who and what really killed him.

This book would be sensational any time, but at Halloween a bullseye.  The characters are quirky enough to make you laugh, and the mystery sensational for season depicted.

I'm reading the next one very soon!


Series/ Progress: Domestic Diva Mystery 5/ 10
DATE READ: January 8 - January 11
NO. OF PAGES: 257
Type of Book ebook
SOURCE: Nook  2015

Monument to the Dead★★★½ by Sheila Connolly

Nell Pratt, the president of a historical society reads the paper on the train heading into the city to work and notices that one of the former board members has died.  When her FBI boyfriend calls that day for information on the dead board, Nell gets involve in an unofficial investigation where apparently board members of one of the society 's foundation are being targeted for death. 

Using resources of the society, Nell is able to determine who's a target and the motive.  But who's the murderer?

This book had great characters and the mystery was well-written and thoroughly engrossing.

Series/ Progress: Museum Mysteries 5/8
DATE READ: January 4 - January 8
NO. OF PAGES: 256
Type of Book ebook
SOURCE: Nook  2015

The Wright Brothers★★★ by David McCullough

I always knew that the Wright Brothers were the first in powered flight, however, I didn't know that they had to create their own engines and propellers, nor did I know that the US Government of the time was so stupid that they didn't see any benefit in manned flight.  It is satisfying to know that the Wright Brothers were very family oriented as well as extremely patriotic and that they worked tirelessly to get the US to be the buyer of their invention rather than a European power.

DATE READ: January 4 - January 5
NO. OF PAGES: 585
Type of Book: audiobook
SOURCE: Audio stockpile

Mary's Christmas★★★ by Laurie R. King

This was a short story which showed our heroine when she was still a child and revealed some of the background we were unaware from other books in the series.  It was lighht, it was fun, a great way to start 2016!

Series/ Progress: Mary Russell 16/17
DATE READ: January 4
NO. OF PAGES: 23
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook