Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen

June 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen (Author) Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator)
Steampunk Proper Romance
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

When Lucy Pickett arrives at Blackwell Manor to tend to her ailing cousin, Kate, she finds more than she bargained for. A restless ghost roams the hallways, werewolves have been reported in the area, and vampires lurk across the Scottish border.

Lord Miles himself is clearly hiding a secret. He is brash and inhospitable and does not take kindly to visitors—even one as smart and attractive as Miss Pickett. He is unsettled by the mysterious deaths of his new wife, Clara, and his sister, Marie. Could Miles himself be to blame for the deaths?

Working together, Miles and Lucy attempt to restore peace to Blackwell Manor. But can Lucy solve the mystery of Miles? Can she love the man—beast and all?

This might be the first book written by Nancy Campbell Allen that I’ve ever read but it sure won’t be the last. Talk about a perfectly eerie Gothic Steampunk romance with mystery, murder, foggy surroundings, large oak doors that block gardens with a secret, and paranormal beings. There is so much going on that I’ve lost count as to how many edge-of-my-seat scenes I experienced.

Men who suffer from mild to best prices cialis severe high blood pressure do not stand a chance against this Kamagra. So, how to get fit? You need to eat up 50mg per kg of weight upon waking, then a more 50mg per kilogram of weight around a generic levitra brand half hour before education to have the very best effects for increasing testosterone levels. Buy ED medications onlineThe presumed brands of ED pills in 1998. generic levitra cheap already has a wide range of generics sold through the Internet that cost a fraction of its optimal performance because the filters are either extremely dirty or clogged. 2. It is essential for a therapist to be skilled in the therapeutic use of forgiveness to correctly assess the clients openness and readiness in terms of timing, development and religion. tadalafil 20mg There is a solid romance in the background but it’s muted to a degree to allow the murder mystery to carry the characters along. The focus is on the heroine, the intrepid Lucy Pickett, a botanist tasked with discovering a way to thwart a new drug that allows vampires to walk in the day. Her knowledge of plants is what she hopes will help her dear cousin who is suffering from a mysterious ailment. That’s a trope I’ve seen done before but I actually enjoyed how the author employed it.

Lord Miles is exactly what you’d expect – brooding, grouchy, stern, scowly, big and burdened with guilt and secrets. One thing about the narrator, Ms. Maarleveld, that I kept thinking about as she did his voice was that by the time she was done with this novel, I truly felt her throat must have been hoarse. Her vocal range seemed strained while she voiced Lord Miles, but she was able to go deep enough to differentiate the hero from the heroine. I have no complaints; I just kept wanting to offer the narrator a glass of water.

Oh, I forgot to mention the ghost. I liked how the author portrayed the ghost and by the end of the novel, I was truly sad that the person was dead. I would have dearly enjoyed this person on stage because of the strength of character, devotion, determination and love that was truly powerful, even beyond the grave.

The ‘tons that are mentioned brought to mind a movie I’ve watched at least 15 times so far, I, Robot. Think of Sonny and you’ll know how I envision the maids, butlers and garage personnel in the story.

I enjoyed watching Miles thaw the more time he spent with Lucy. The longer she stayed in his castle, the more he saw her strength, her loyalty, her love for her cousin and family, and her unique passion that propels her to attempt escapades of daring do and investigations that definitely caused the hero a heart attack, or two. When she got him to laugh, I knew he was hooked.

As far as the romance, it’s sweet. The most action were kisses but oh, how wonderfully romantic they were!

There is a villain for sure but it turns out to not be who I thought it was. I really thought I had it figured out but of course, that was a red herring. As far as I’m concerned, the actual killer was mentally unsound, clever and vicious, but unsound. I can say for sure that the climactic scene was one that had me wide-eyed and on the edge of my seat. It was the not knowing how the defeat would come about and at whose hands.

The ending was very romantic and brought to mind the scene in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. More than likely, that was the author’s intent and if so, it worked. It was special and a nice way to wrap up a very well-told story. Beauty and the Clockwork Beast was an awesome read and easy to recommend in either print or audio format.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Moonlight & Misadventure Anthology edited by Judy Penz Sheluk

June 4, 2021 By 1 Comment


Moonlight & Misadventure – 20 Stories of Mystery & Suspense by Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk
Publisher: Superior Shores Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Whether it’s vintage Hollywood, the Florida everglades, the Atlantic City boardwalk, or a farmhouse in Western Canada, the twenty authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “moonlight and misadventure” in their own inimitable style where only one thing is assured: Waxing, waning, gibbous, or full, the moon is always there, illuminating things better left in the dark.

Featuring stories by K.L. Abrahamson, Sharon Hart Addy, C.W. Blackwell, Clark Boyd, M.H. Callway, Michael A. Clark, Susan Daly, Buzz Dixon, Jeanne DuBois, Elizabeth Elwood, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, John M. Floyd, Billy Houston, Bethany Maines, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Joseph S. Walker, Robert Weibezahl, and Susan Jane Wright.

Mischief comes in many forms.

“Tammy Loves Derek” showed what happened after Tammy discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her again. She was the sort of woman who used her physical appearance to attract attention from men. I wasn’t sure what I thought of her at first, but my opinion quickly warmed as I got to know her better and discovered parts of her personality that the shallow men she dated never would have thought to pursue. There were some clever plot twists in this one for sure. I enjoyed peeling back the metaphorical layers of the main character and trying to figure out what she really had up her sleeves.

This was a solid anthology in general, but there were a few stories in it that I wish had been explained more thoroughly. “My Night with the Duke of Edinburgh” was one of them. It was about a few University of Toronto students who attempted to kidnap something from the Royal Ontario Museum in 1951. This was such an outlandish plan that I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to do it or how they thought they’d get away with it. While the characters did eventually go into some detail on these matters, I could have used a little more exposition here.

The main character in “A Currency of Wishes” hatched a plan with his uncle to make some much-needed money over the summer. This was one of those tales that was filled with surprises. I enjoyed following all of the twists and turns in it, especially since I didn’t see the biggest one coming. It wasn’t until the last page that I realized what was happening, and even then it took a moment to confirm that my suspicions were correct. Based on how much I enjoyed Ms. Fellowes’ work, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of it in the future.

Anyone who loves short mysteries should check out Moonlight & Misadventure – 20 Stories of Mystery & Suspense.

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Death by Sample Size by Susie Black

June 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Death by Sample Size by Susie Black
Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 1
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Everyone wanted her dead…but who actually killed her?

The last thing swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected was to discover ruthless buying office big wig Bunny Frank’s corpse trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a bikini stuffed down her throat. When Holly’s colleague is arrested for Bunny’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to find the real killer.

Nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she matches wits with a wily murderer hellbent for revenge.

There’s more than one way to make a splash in the swimming suit industry.

The pacing was handled nicely. I appreciated the fact that the author spent so much time explaining the characters, their relationships to each other, and what the swimwear industry was like in the beginning. While it did slow things down a little bit temporarily, all of these details were critical in order to understand why Bunny was killed as well as why each individual suspect might have had reason to murder her. It was also nice to see the pacing speed up after the audience knew everything they needed to about these topics and the investigation began.

This book included a huge cast of characters. So many different people were introduced in the first few scenes that I struggled to remember who they all were and how they were connected to Holly or Ditzy Swimwear in general. This was something I continued to have trouble with later on in the storyline as well due to how often new characters were introduced as the mystery deepened. While I understood why most of them were included, getting to know so many new folks over and over again did make this hard for me to read at times as I tried to keep everyone organized in my mind.

Ms. Black had a detail-oriented writing style that worked well for this genre. I especially liked the scenes she wrote that described the more unsavoury elements of the personalities of certain characters. She really knew how to show the audience who someone was, warts and all. The settings and plot were given similar levels of attention as well which made it easy to visualize everything that happened.

Death by Sample Size was a fun summer read.

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A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte

June 1, 2021 By Leave a Comment


A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte
Cat Cafe Mystery Series, 4
Publisher: St Martin’s Paperbacks
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The holiday season on Daybreak Island is a mixed bag for Maddie James. On the one hand, her Christmas spirit is in the doghouse after a break-up. On the other, she’s busy enough that she doesn’t have to pretend to be merry. Business at her cat café is booming, and Maddie’s care-taking of a feral cat colony in one of the area’s wealthiest communities only helps her bottom line.

But tensions between the homeowners and animal activists are escalating to catastrophic levels. . .and before long a body is found dead in a snowbank. To prove that her accused friend is innocent of the crime, Maddie will have to prowl the island for clues to the real killer before everyone on the island goes completely hiss-terical―and more than nine lives are lost.

Good intentions can get you into trouble and how!

This is the first book by Cate Conte I’ve read, so I walked into the story fresh. The writing is good and I was transported to the cat cafe in the story. I liked the idea of the story – helping feral cats and controlling the population humanely. I even liked the idea of the cat cafe. Why not? It’s a cute story and worth the read.

I have to admit the protagonist, Maddie, did drive me crazy a few times. I guess it’s a thing with cozy mysteries, but the amateur sleuths always seem to get right into the investigation and circumvent laws to get there. Seems like that’s not safe, but this is fiction, so it’s still a good read. Maddie does tend to waffle concerning her boyfriend and that got a tad old. I get she wanted a clean break, but I’m the type who wants closure for my characters and I wanted to see her get it. Plus, there aren’t many mentions of cats in this book. I expected more, but there weren’t. Oh well.

It’s still an interesting mystery and I had no idea whodunit until the end. I liked how this story had a small town feel and am interested in reading more in this series.

If you’re looking for a cute holiday mystery, then this might be the one for you.

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Sticks And Stones by John Carson

May 27, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Sticks And Stones by John Carson
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A horrific murder. A stunning abduction. Can he open an old case to prevent another grisly death?
Edinburgh DCI Harry McNeil isn’t easily intimidated. But after years investigating crooked cops, a promotion heading up a Major Investigation Team will put his reputation on the line. And he’s starting to sweat when the daughter of a rich and powerful family vanishes from the honeymoon suite in a Scottish Highlands castle…

Searching alongside officers from two other divisions, pushes McNeil to his breaking point when the investigation uncovers a charred corpse dressed in a wedding gown. Fearing the missing bride will suffer the same gruesome fate, the detective follows a fifteen-year long trail of clues littered with vengeance, false identities, and a tragic murder-suicide.

Can McNeil bring the butcher to justice before the celebration turns into a mass funeral?

I was pleasantly surprised by this Scottish mystery novel. Not as dark and gritty as some UK crime/mystery novels can be I nevertheless found the tone of the book to be similar to many other British crime novels. With a small number of main characters that I could easily keep a handle on this helped me feel pretty quickly like I knew the characters and the energy between DCI Harry McNeil and his work partner DC Alex Marshall. I was really pleased that – for me at least – the banter and friendliness between Harry and Alex didn’t seem to have an undertow of romance or chemistry. I feel for now at least their professional, working relationship was a good blend of boss and co-worker and the two of them being genuine friends. I’m not sure I’d want Harry or Alex to muddy that with sex or complications between them.

Indeed, for the most part I found this a refreshing, enjoyable Scottish mystery with a good – albeit slowly moving – plot. Readers looking for an action based, fast-paced mystery might find this one moves a bit slower than they’d prefer. Personally I was pleased to find since this was the first book in a series a decent amount of time was spent showing me Harry, Alex and the other main characters and setting the scene of the crime. A good portion of the start of the book was spent with the missing bride, the wedding guests and searching the massive grounds for clues and trying to piece together what had occurred. I was left a little bewildered, since I couldn’t seem to slot the prologue into what was occurring in the main part of the book, but I was really pleased with how everything wrapped up neatly, and a little over half way through the story there were a few plot-twists that I found particularly satisfying and felt really helped both move the plot along and give the book a taste of individualism which made me pleased I’d kept on with it.

Readers looking for an enjoyable, not too gritty mystery with good characters and a solid – though at times slow-ish – plot should really enjoy this book. I found it easy to stick with the book since the characters and writing style really appealed to me and especially around the half way mark when things started to really come together I was pretty chuffed that I’d stuck with it. I enjoyed this book enough I’ve ordered the second in the series and I might even look into the author’s other works since I really did enjoy his writing style and tone.

A good, enjoyable and interesting mystery book and a new-to-me author I’ll happily read again.

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Rattling Chains by T. Strange

May 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Rattling Chains by T. Strange
Bound to the Spirits Book 1
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Book one in the Bound to the Spirits series

Ghosts are popping up where they shouldn’t. Harlan, a ghost janitor for the police, suspects there’s a serial killer on the loose—but no one believes him.

Harlan Brand is a medium who was abandoned by his parents at a school for the psychically gifted. He grew up lonely but safe from the ghosts that terrorized his childhood.

But now, at twenty-one, he’s out in the real world. He works as a ghost janitor for the Toronto Police Service, cleaning up after crimes and hauntings in the Greater Toronto Area. Adding to the anxiety of leaving the ghost-warded safety of his school, the cop assigned as his partner seems to hate him, he’s having confusing feelings for a BDSM club owner who brings out his deepest fantasies and ghosts are popping up where they shouldn’t.

Using the ghosts as clues, Harlan begins to suspect there’s a serial killer loose, but no one believes him. Harlan will stop at nothing to discover who—or what—is preying on his city.

Life can be hard when you’re not ‘normal’ and Harlan learns this the hard way when he is left at a special school. His parents slowly but surely disappear from his life. And then he’s grown up, and has a job, but is woefully unprepared for it. So hold onto your hats because this story is only just beginning.

This was a great story, with a perfect mix of mystery and paranormal activity. The ghosts can be chilling (pardon the pun) but extremely well-written. I loved the descriptions given, they really made you part of the book, rather than just reading it. The BDSM side of things happens naturally and doesn’t go into too much detail if it’s not your thing. The romance between Harlan and Charles is tender and romantic, the sort that leaves you with a sappy smile on your face.

This is the first book in the series so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what comes next. There is a small group of psychics that Harlan works with that I would also like to see more of. Hamilton is a special kind of something and has his own surprise in the book, which I loved!

All in all, this was a brilliant book that kept my attention from the first to the very last word. A new-to-me author that I will definitely be reading more from. Absolutely recommended by me.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Meant to be Immortal by Lynsay Sands

May 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Meant to be Immortal by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Mac Argeneau knows all too well: immortals can be killed. Not with holy water or silver crosses, but by decapitation or being set on fire. So when Mac’s house bursts into flames—with him inside—he’s sure it was no accident. But who would want to kill a scientist specializing in hematology? There is a silver lining: a blonde investigator appears on the scene and sparks feelings in him that have been dormant for centuries.

CJ Cummings is in town on a special investigation, but she’s been waylaid by the local police to deal with this arson case. The biggest mystery is how this sexy scientist with silvery blue eyes has emerged from a blazing inferno without a burn mark on him. He’s clearly hiding something. Sure, she’d love to see him without his lab coat, but she’s got a job to do—despite his insistence that he needs a bodyguard and…he wants her.

But when a second attempt on their lives puts CJ in harm’s way, it’s Mac who will do anything to safeguard the woman who’s destined to be his life mate.

Ms. Sands does it again. She’s created another fun romance story for fans to enjoy. This one can definitely be read as a standalone because the main focus is on Mac and CJ. There is a mystery about who is out to kill Mac. Or, is CJ the target? Or is it both? What is really going on in this little town called Sandford? The action starts off in the first chapter and the novel’s pace picks up and keeps on going from there.

CJ has sworn off men but not for the reason I thought. Her reason is sound and I can understand her reticence in giving Mac a chance to get close. One of the secondary characters gives Mac a helping hand and the hero makes the most of it, but to balance that, he does respect CJ’s choice and leaves it up to her to make a move when she is ready. I like that the heroine surprised Mac in a way he didn’t expect.

The conflict is mostly external. CJ is there to investigate allegations against a cop but she’s being stonewalled. As evidence mounts, she’s getting the picture that something isn’t right and when more victims turn up, and the town expresses their anger, she knows her investigation needs to wrap up right quick – answers are being demanded and she’s the only one who can get them. That’s a serious and convincing plot vehicle and the author worked it to the max. It doesn’t overwhelm the budding romance between Mac and CJ though, in fact if not for its existence, they wouldn’t have met this soon. I say that because as fans of the series know, if I say the name Marguerite … they know what I mean. Yes, she shows up but is mostly in the background because it’s Bricker and Decker that come with her that help Mac and CJ the most. And, if fans remember the Bricker/Decker duo, witty repartee, teasing and shenanigans are usually mixed in for comic relief. They’re very effective and it was a lot of fun watching them interact with the hero and heroine.

Oh, I have to mention Marguerite again. Why? Because I think the lady at the bed and breakfast is going to star in a future book. I could be wrong…but I don’t think so. I’ll have to read other reviews after I’m done writing this one to see if other readers caught the same thing. Inquiring minds want to know.

Now the big reveal. I always look forward to seeing how Ms. Sands is going to have the love interest of an Immortal find out about their strange diet requirements and all those other fun details. All I keep envisioning in my brain is how CJ’s face must have looked like watching a certain thing happen in increments. I had a goofy grin on my face through most of the process. I totally cracked up from the Casper the Friendly Ghost reference. I never know when Ms. Sands is going to tickle my funny bone because in all her books in the Argeneau series, I’m guaranteed a few loud HA!’s, snickers and giggling. Meant to be Immortal is no exception. I was thoroughly entertained.

There is a lot more ground to cover about this novel, from other secondary characters, the town’s police personnel, the hot, ice-melting dream that proves CJ and Mac are life mates, CJ’s family history and so much more, but I’ll leave that for readers to discover. Just know that Meant to be Immortal is another satisfying romance from the fertile imagination of Ms. Sands and is definitely a recommended read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Protecting Terra by Desiree Holt

May 20, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Protecting Terra by Desiree Holt
Special Forces: Operation Alpha – The Protectors Book 5
Publisher: Aces Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Erotic Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

When Terra Oenning and Griffin Dunne were paid in a Department of Homeland Security Op, neither of them expected the heat that exploded between them like the cabin they were surveilling. Personal relationships have no place in their lives. Ever. Period. That’s it. Except the night the cabin blows up so does their restraint, the sex between them so hot it sets fire to the sheets.

When the trail they are following takes them to the frozen north of Maine, even that isn’t enough to cool them down, but like experienced DHS agents, they never take their eyes off their assignment. Terrorists, computer hackers and the Croatian Mafia are combining to destroy the United States and Terra and must focus on destroying them. No problem. Despite the addictive, off-the-charts sex, they are trained agents who do their job, surveilling key players and helping to set up the takedown.

But when it goes awry and Terra is caught in the crosshairs, it will be up to Griffin to rescue her, a wake-up call for both of them that maybe, just maybe, what they have between them is real.

I stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish this book in one sitting. I was not going to bed until I knew the outcome. If I had known that I wasn’t going to be able to put it down then I would have started the book earlier in the day. Oy vey, I’m so tired this morning. Happy Mother’s Day to me, lol. If only reading a good book late into the night was my only problem, then my life would be golden. Ha, ha.

First off let me point out that there are plenty of warnings that this is actually an erotic book. It says so in the synopsis when you read “the sex between them so hot it sets fire to the sheets”. It’s on the cover of the book “Hot sex and terrorists lead to a combustible situation.” I typically don’t read books of this level of chemistry but I knew going in that it was going to be eye opening, to politely put it. I still chose to read it because I loved the last Desiree Holt book I read and I felt in the mood to read something suspenseful with a bit of mystery.

Desiree Holt didn’t disappoint my craving for something to put me on the edge of my seat. I will say that the writing style for this book was quite different from the previous book I read by Desiree Holt, “Unexpected Risk”. I mention that because “Protecting Terra” had several repetitions, almost to the “head banging point”. I didn’t need to be reminded of his Navy Seal training and discipline as much as I was. Also, the terrorists’ possible intentions and actual intentions were repeated several times. It became a bit redundant. Fortunately, the plot twists had me bumping past those hiccups.

Protecting Terra is the fifth book in the series, “Special Forces: Operation Alpha” yet it can be read as a standalone. I have not read any of the previous books in this series but I’m tempted to read them now.

The synopsis pretty much sums up the book so if you are intrigued as I was then I do recommend picking up a copy. The heroine, Terra Oenning, is a typical trained agent paired up with Griffin Dunne, a typical Navy Seal, where they use their skills to save the day while opening up their hearts to one another. What wasn’t typical was the terrorists’ plot. I appreciated the element of surprise when the takedown went awry.

The setting for Protecting Terra led them to Maine during the winter season on a ski slope. I enjoyed that element since I grew up in New England and skied in Maine. Here is a funny share: When I first read the author’s name, Desiree Holt, I thought it said “Desire Hot”. Very appropriate mistake on my part. Anywhoo, Protecting Terra was a fun, fast and furious read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hollywood Homicide by Kellye Garrett

May 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Hollywood Homicide by Kellye Garrett
A Detective by Day Mystery, 1
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

The Surprise Hit of the Season!

Actress Dayna Anderson’s Deadly New Role: Homicide Detective

Dayna Anderson doesn’t set out to solve a murder. All the semifamous, mega-broke actress wants is to help her parents keep their house. So after witnessing a deadly hit-and-run, she pursues the fifteen grand reward. But Dayna soon finds herself doing a full-on investigation, wanting more than just money―she wants justice for the victim. She chases down leads at paparazzi hot spots, celeb homes, and movie premieres, loving every second of it―until someone tries to kill her. And there are no second takes in real life.

Dayna is an actress looking for work and wanting to help her parents who are about to lose their home. One night when she’s out with friends, she sees a woman get hit by a car and killed. The driver flees. There is a large reward offered to find this person.

Set in Hollywood, the investigation begins. Dayna follows the leads and finds herself dealing with celebrities. She goes to the places they do and finds damning evidence. She calls a tip line leaving information about whom she believes is the killer. However, the story is just beginning. She got the wrong person and must continue her search. It seems fun at first, but then someone goes after her. Now it gets real.

Dayna is intelligent and spunky. Her sassy humor is great and adds layers to her characterization. It is enjoyable seeing things through her eyes. Watching her follow clues will spark one’s curiosity and creativity. Can the reader solve the crime before Dayna or the police?

Dayna makes a great amateur sleuth with strengths and charming flaws. Her friends make for good support or foils. They go about within this glamorous world, with its superficial values in order to achieve a commendable goal. Hollywood Homicide is compelling, and I would highly recommend it.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Weatherman by Price Doom

May 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Weatherman by Price Doom
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Heart and her father are on the run from God. At least, that’s what her father, Sonny, tells her. Young Heart believes Sonny’s stories of dying suns and scientists with tranquilizer guns, parachuting out of planes in pursuit of them . Sonny believes only the elements in his body can save the sun, and Heart grows up in fear of the boogeymen from Sonny’s stories—and Sonny himself. After years without proof and questions about Sonny’s mental stability, Heart makes her escape.
Imagine growing up while on the run from people with unlimited resources.

Sonny was an excellent example of how to write a deeply unlikeable character. There were very few complimentary things I could say about him as a parent or an individual, and yet I was fascinated by the way his mind worked. This was especially true when he was confronted with evidence that contradicted his beliefs about the spirit world or what the limits were of his magical powers. He had an uncanny ability to explain everything in a way that fit his version of logic. That made me want to learn more about him.

The mystery elements of the storyline were confusing to me. There were multiple hints pointing at one solution, so I wasn’t expecting the ending that happened at all. It seemed to point to a completely different resolution than the one that the narrator had spent so much time building up to, although it was also vague enough that I was never entirely certain which option the author wanted their fans to think was most likely to be true. I generally enjoy ambiguous endings, especially in these genres, but this one left so much up to the imagination that I never felt satisfied by it.

There was a plot twist about two-thirds of the way through the book involving Heart’s past that I was pleased to see. It helped to answer some important questions that both the audience and Heart had been pondering for a while at that point. After all of the hints from earlier scenes, I was happy to see these things being resolved as much as they could.

I also struggled with Heart’s contradictory character development. She wasn’t written consistently enough for me to figure out if her occasional but dangerous lapses in judgement were out of character for her or if I’d misjudged her personality entirely. It was also hard for me to figure out why her opinions on certain topics like searching for her mother changed so rapidly. I understood why that topic was a sensitive one for her, but it seemed odd to me that she’d feel a deep yearning for answers about her origins in one scene only to give up on it in the next.

The horror elements of the storyline were well done. Heart’s childhood was so out of the ordinary that her innocent descriptions of things that would frighten anyone else made me shudder. The author did a good job of showing just how much humans can adapt to their surroundings and find meaning almost everywhere. That isn’t easy to accomplish in horror at all, but it’s one of the things that keeps pulling me back into this genre from time to time.

Weatherman was a thought-provoking tale that was equally at home in the science fiction and mystery genres.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,
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