The Queen's Accomplice ★★★½ by Susan Elia MacNeal

Maggie Hope is back in London and working at the SOE where new female recruits seem to be disappearing.  She is also waiting for her half-sister Elise to be rescued from Nazi Germany.

MI6 recruits her to help with tracking and stopping the "Blackout Beast" who is copying Jack the Ripper's murders - the victims are the missing SOE agents.

Maggie's intelligence and determination carry through the book reacquainting us with old friends and old enemies.

I love the way that Maggie is drawn into different areas of the war effort through this series but in this one, it's the first time I didn't understand the title.

Series/ Progress: Maggie Hope 6/6
DATE READ: Sept 12 - October 1
NO. OF PAGES: 368
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Killer Look ★★★½ by Linda Fairstein

Alex is still recovering from the PTSD of her kidnapping but she gets involved unofficially with a case of the murder of a famous dress designer. Her knowledge of the garment district and the fashion houses is vital as Mike and Mercer work to find the murderer.

I continue to marvel at the depth of knowledge that is transmitted over the pages in his series that always centers on a particular area of NYC and yet creates a great mystery. The ending was a stunner!

Series/ Progress: Alexandra Cooper 18/18
DATE READ: July 13 - July 16
NO. OF PAGES: 400
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Corridors of the Night ★★★½ by Anne Perry

In this 21st installment of the William Monk series, Hester Monk takes front and center when she agrees to fill in for a nursing associate from the Crimea at a private hospital.  Being on the night shift, she unexpectedly meets a small girl in the corridor saying that her brother is dying.  What Hester finds is a small boy who has been used for a blood donor excessively and is now extremely dehydrated.  Taking the responsibility of nursing this child instead of the main ward where she was assigned, Hester gets herself caught in a web of secrecy and eventually is kidnapped.  Realizing that the only way to protect the children used in an unauthorized medical experiment is to participate, Hester is caught up in the intrigue.

Monk, in the meantime, is determined to find his wife when she doesn't return home and no one at the hospital can tell him where she is.

The medical aspects of this tale were interesting, relating the out of date procedures of over 100 years ago for the treatment of Leukemia.  Using transfusions at this time were a hit or miss event since the discovery of the current blood types wasn't made until 1901.

Series/ Progress: William Monk 21/21
DATE READ: April 27 - May 31
NO. OF PAGES: 473
Type of Book AUDIOBOOK
SOURCE: audio stockpile

The Murder of Mary Russell ★★★½ by Laurie R. King

Mrs. Hudson returns from her shopping excursion to find no Mary and pools of blood on the floor.  Sending and emergency message to Holmes and Billy, she then contacts the police and Inspector Lestrade comes to help the local constable who destroy valuable clues before Holmes can arrive.

What's behind what's happened?  We are given he details of Mrs. Hudson's early life and how she came to be in the employ of Sherlock Holmes.

As much as I love this series, and I was happy to get some of details about Mrs.. Hudson, I thought that the parts about her early life dragged on but once we got into the current timeline and figuring out what really happened, I loved it.

Series/ Progress: 14/14
DATE READ: March 20 - March 31
NO. OF PAGES: 355
Type of Book ARD
SOURCE: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Waters of Eternal Youth ★★★½ by Donna Leon

After attending a dinner party at his mother-in-law's home, Commissario Brunetti is enlisted to scrutinize a likely assault and near drowning of a teenage girl that happened 15 years ago. The girl, Manuela, has grown up but because of the time she was without oxygen, mentally she is only a child without a memory what happened. Her aging grandmother wants to know the truth.

Brunetti cannot re-open the case, which was ruled an accident but starts a private investigation delving into this long ago event.  The twists and turns of what happened and who had information, why the police didn't, and how eventually everything came to light was cleverly crafted keeping the reader searching along with Brunetti.

I have read every one of the books in this series, so far, I'm hoping that a new one will be coming in the future.  I would be terribly disappointed if this was the end of Commissario Brunetti and his adventures in Venice.


Series/ Progress: 25/25
DATE READ: March 24 - March 30
NO. OF PAGES: 256
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

By Its Cover ★★★ by Donna Leon

How horrifying to any reader to read of the defacement and theft of rare books even if it is only fiction.  This mystery relates how a special library has discovered that numerous rare books are missing or have had pages cut out.  As Guido Brunetti, a classical reader, endeavors to find the culprit, he uncovers a former priest at the center of the trouble.

Commissario Guido Brunetti continues to enchant this reader, not just with the Venetian flavor of his endeavors against wrong, but his personality which warmly embodies the Venetian culture.

Series/ Progress: Commissario Brunetti  23/25
DATE READ: March 7 - March 8
NO. OF PAGES: 288
Type of Book Audio book
SOURCE: Audio stockpile

Blood on the Water ★★★★ by Anne Perry

Inspector William Monk, head of the Thames River police witnesses an explosion which sinks the Princess Mary and try as they can nearly 200 passengers and crew drown.  The investigation into the explosion, strangely, is taken away from the River Police.  The Metropolitan Police quickly arrest and convict an Egyptian but further undercover work by Monk detects that the conviction may be an error.

The characters are old friends by now and yet they still hold a few surprises for this reader.

Series/ Progress: William Monk 20/21
DATE READ: February 20 - February 27
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

The Body Under the Bridge ★★★★ by Paul McCusker

Father Gilbert (FG), a former Scotland Yard detective, is sitting in his office when he is summoned by a staff member because a man is planning to jump off the church tower.  Climbing to the top, FG is met by a young man and try as he might cannot prevent the man's actions but before the man does, he throws a medallion at Father Gilbert, slits his throat and jumps.

When Father Gilbert looks over the edge, there is no body and when he questions the staff member, he is met by quizzical eyes and no knowledge of the man.   Believing he has had a spiritual dream, FG cannot explain the medallion.  But FG is quickly summoned to an excavation on land of his parishioner, Lord Haysham, where they workers have found a buried foot under the bridge and the medallion had been on the body when it was found.

The body was apparently murdered which reignites a feud between the Todds and Hayshams.  During the investigation, including the medallion, Father Gilbert has another "dream" of a man hanging which prophetically brings him to the home of Colin Doyle - the man he saw in his dream of the tower suicide.

Murders abound as Father Gilbert delves deeper into what appears to be an ancient cult which is related to the medallion.  Father Gilbert needs all his spiritual strength to fight the evil and discover the murderer.

I was fascinated by this mystery because I couldn't figure out the ending until it actually happened, there were great characters and the plot was so tightly woven.  Definitely looking forward to another Father Gilbert mystery,

Series/ Progress: Father Gilbert Mystery 1/2
DATE READ: February 8 - February 15
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

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

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

A Christmas Escape by Anne Perry

176 pages  Net Galley


Every Christmas Anne Perry delights us with a new adventure for a minor character from her mysteries series and this year was a grand surprise where the reader meets Hester Monk's brother, Charles Latterly while he is on a vacation to Italy.  Murder is evident but the settings and characters are new and unknown  - great change of pace.

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

TITLE: [The Nature of the Beast]★★★½
AUTHOR: Louise Penny
GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Armand Gamache, Isabelle Lacoste, Jean Guy Beauvoor, Laurent LePage, 
Series/ Progress: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache 11/11
DATE READ: November 2 - November 4
NO. OF PAGES: 384
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Overdrive E book Public Library

I love Armand Gamache and the village of Three Pines but this time the visit with them was unsatisfactory.  Somehow or other the story (taken from true life) of the finding of a old rocket launcher by a small boy who normally cried wolf, did not engage me with the feelings that have previously been evoked.

The death of the 9 year old supposedly  effects all the village residents but the reactions of the villagers seem to be more toward the massive threat from the rocket launcher than anything else.

I really didn't enjoy this one as much as the other Three Pines novels because the personal interactions didn't seem to be the same.

★★★½

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Armand Gamache, Isabelle Lacoste, Jean Guy Beauvoor, Laurent LePage, 
Series/ Progress: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache 11/11
DATE READ: November 2 - November 4
NO. OF PAGES: 384
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Overdrive E book Public Library

The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

The Arthur Conan Doyle Estate  officially authorized this Sherlock Holmes novel but somehow Anthony Horowitz’s attempt to mimic  Doyle's Sherlock novels falls flat leaving the reader without the complexity of Doyle's Holmes.

Similarities are apparent - Watson as the narrator, Holmes' deductions that have to be explained and the back stories of Doyle's but the story itself was not spectacular and in comparison with other non-authorized stories with Holmes , I prefer the ones by Laurie R. King.  Here, Holmes was 2 dimensional, he never really came alive.

★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Edmund Carstairs, Catherine Carstairs
Series/ Progress: Anthony Horowitz's Sherlock Holmes 1/3
DATE READ: October 26 - October 31
NO. OF PAGES: 392
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Audio public library

No Lesser Plea by Robert K. Tanenbaum

I was really worried when I started this book because being set in the 1980's when it was written, I thought that it might show age in  missing technology (computers and cell phones, etc.) but was very pleasantly surprised that it really wasn't an issue.

The story is of a young Asst DA trying to get justice for 2 murder victims and having to deal with a murderer who plays against the system by faking mental disorders.

The writing was crisp and the story well-told keeping this reader on the edge of her seat while characters worked to find enough evidence for conviction along with proof of the mental illness deception.

★★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Butch Karp, Marlene Ciampi,Mandeville Louis, Donald Walker, Preston Elvis
Series/ Progress: Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi 1/28
DATE READ: October 23 - October 31
NO. OF PAGES: 316
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Nook

A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch

Charles Lenox and Lady Jane Grey have been friends since childhood so when the death of one of her former servants doesn't seem right, Lady Jane asks her friend to check into the circumstances for her.

Inspector Exeter doesn't want to offend George Barnard, the employer of the victim so he's perfectly happy to call the death a suicide until Charles convinces him that the death may be more than that and be critical to saving a major government problem from occurring.

The story was entertaining and the characters were well-developed.  I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more in this series.

★★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Charles Lenox, Lady Jane Grey, George Barnard, Dr. Thomas McConnell, Inspector Exeter
Series/ Progress: Charles Lenox Mysteries 1/10
DATE READ: October 20 - October 22
NO. OF PAGES: 324
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Kindle/NetGalley

Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal

America has joined the war and Maggie Hope as secretarial staff accompanies Winston Churchill to Washington.  At the same time, one of Mrs. Roosevelt's secretary is missing in action so Maggie is recruited to aid Mrs. R and goes with her when they discover the missing secretary dead.  Maggie knows how important the Americans are to the war effort and works in the background to protect Mrs. R as well as uncover the apparent conspiracy which could destroy the American war cooperation.

The conspiracy and historical events are, as usual, cleverly woven together leaving the anticipation of continued adventures for Maggie and her friends.

Love this series!  Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an advanced e-copy to read.

★★★½

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Maggie Hope, Winston Churchill, FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, Byrd Prentiss
Series/ Progress: Maggie Hope series 5/5
DATE READ: August 19 - August 21
NO. OF PAGES: 352
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , AlphaKit
SOURCE: NetGalley

Blind Justice by Anne Perry

This "William Monk" novel really centered more around Sir Oliver Rathbone picking up with the aftermath of the trial of his father-in-law and how that man's death effected his life.  No longer prosecuting or defending Rathbone is now a judge and during a trial he realizes that one of the witnesses was a client of his father-in-law.  When he supplies evidence to the prosecution which causes the case to take an about-face, he learns to rue the day when afterward he is arrested for being unjust.

An interesting change for this series but really would prefer to see more of Monk and Hester.

★★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: William Monk, Hester Monk, Sir Oliver Rathbone, Rufus Brancaster
Series/ Progress: William Monk  19/21
DATE READ: August 9 - August 18
NO. OF PAGES: 571
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , AlphaKit
SOURCE: Audio  Stockpile

Murder on the Mind by L.L. Bartlett

Jeff Resnick, an out-of-work insurance investigator is brutally mugged and when he awakens he has only his half-brother to depend on and a strange feeling that keeps getting stranger - he sees a man murdered in his mind.

Jeff's brother Richard takes him home to Buffalo where  Jeff confronts his memories and works to uncover the murderer of the man who as a child help him at a low point in his life.  His psychic abilities are reaching deeper and deeper into the murder and showing not only who did it but who was the witness.

Turning to the police with his "feelings" does get him the help he needs until he can give evidence to convince the detective in charge.  Will it be in time?

I was blown away by this story.  First, the author writes great cozies so I was prepared for something totally different.  Second, I don't usually go in for those "psychic" things but the way the story unravels, the reader is right there with the character trying to understand what's happening to him.  It seemed so real.

★★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Jeff Resnick, Richard Alpert, Brenda Stanley, Matthew Sumner, Sharon Walker
Series/ Progress: Jeff Resnick mysteries 1/5
DATE READ: August 9 - August 18
NO. OF PAGES: 567
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile

Devil's Bridge by Linda Fairstein

In this latest installment of the Alex Cooper series, the reader is given a jolt when Alex is apparently kidnapped and the story is reported through Mike Chapman's eyes.  

The bad guys are all still there and the good guys (Mike, Mercer and Vickee) are joined by others that have had smaller parts in the past.  Highlighted is the possibility of corruption around the DA's office but the big question is who has Alex?

Really enjoyed this as a change of pace for this series.

★★★½

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Alexandra Cooper, Mike Chapman, Mercer Wallace
Series/ Progress: Alexandra Cooper  17/17
DATE READ: July 25 - July 29
NO. OF PAGES: 406
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon

As usual in the Commissario Brunetti series, the reader is taken on a ride through Venice while investigations are underway into the death of Signora Altavilla, an elderly woman found dead in her apartment by her neighbor.  The coroner rules the death by heart attack but Brunetti is alarmed by bruises on her body that don't seem to fit with a fall.  Delving into the woman's activities, along the help of Signorina Elettra, Brunetti finds the hidden world surrounding domestic violence and steps that often are taken to save those women who cannot protect themselves.

 ★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Guido Brunetti, Signorina Elettra Zozzi, Anna Maria Guisti, Signora Constanza Alavilla
Series/ Progress: Commissario Brunetti  20/24
DATE READ: June 18 - June 23
NO. OF PAGES: 407
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: audio stockpile