Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory

Gia Morelli has fled New York City and her scambag ex-husband (awaiting sentencing for investment fraud) and takes refuge in a small Florida town with her best friend.  Opening up her own Breakfast cafe, the first day wasn't perfect (she didn't have grits and the newly hired cook was worthless) but it gets worse when she discovers her ex  dead in her own dumpster.

Apparently, some people were not happy with him and now they're after Gia believing that she has something they want.

I loved the setting, characters and the special little somethings that were added.  This was a great first book in a new series.

I SEE RUDE PEOPLE: One woman's battle to beat some manners into impolite society by Amy Alkon

I was extremely disappointed by this book.  I thought that there would be some really constructive ideas of how to handle rudeness, especially Cell phone users, parents who let their children run wild and even telemarketers.  Her actions as identified in this book are just as rude as those people that she is complaining about.  Maybe she should take a look at herself.

Vespers Rising by Rick Riordan

I was excited when I realized that the 39 Clues continued in a new series with the Cahills vs. the Vespers.  However, I realize now that this first book is just a bridge between the old series and the new series - giving background of how the Cahill branches separated and what they're fighting for now.

Good bridge, not great book.

Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King

Mary Russell is asked by her university friend to try to find an aunt that has gone missing after visiting the family estate while on leave from Bedlam.  Yes, Bedlam - the asylum for the insane.  Mary manages to infiltrate the establishment and deduces that Aunt Vivian, apparently sane all along, has now opted to escape her prison to live a reclusive existence elsewhere - presumably Venice. Planning her travels, Holmes is reluctant to accompany her until Mycroft persuades him to look into the "Fascist" situation while in Italy.  Their efforts to uncover the truth had some interesting links to historical figures, I'm not sure they were true or not.

I have adored the Mary Russell series since it first was published in 1994 and have faithfully awaited each new installment of the adventures of Mary Russell with the mature Sherlock Holmes.  However, this one fell a bit flat for me.  It seem to lack the tension that all the other stories have elicited when danger seem to be in the offing.  It seemed a bit too predictable.  The situations and characters seemed a bit stale this time.

Shadow Dancing by Julie Mulhern

Ellison has stopped finding bodies, now Frances has started.  Frances urgently calls Ellison because she has found an urn with ashes in the back of her hall closet and doesn't know what to do. If helping her mother discover who the ashes are isn't enough, Ellison embroils herself into a dangerous situation when she hits a young girl in the street and then she is later found murdered.  Detective Anarchy Jones sees Ellison in danger because of the young girl's profession(a prostitute) and Ellison's efforts to help another young girl in the same situation.

I look forward to everyone of the Country Club Murders because of the spectacular writing, the full-blooded characters, and the humor that is woven so skillfully throughout.   Sad that I now have to wait for the next one. But they are well worth the wait!  A great #50 for the year and best so far for me in 2018!