Montecito by Michael Cox

Hollis is a very messed up man. He has been fired three times, always because he never could keep quiet and spoke up for what he felt was right but was not considered right by the big boss. Now in an affluent neighbourhood with fancy house neighbours, he is trying to do right by his very supportive family. Keeping up with the Joneses is not going to be easy.

A chance encounter turns out into what is supposedly a lucrative business offer, but what is too good to be true is really just that. Obvious from the word go, Hollis is taken for a ride from the word go, and unfortunately because he never disclosed the nitty gritty to his astute wife, he sailed on more and more towards disaster. How unsuspecting a manager could be is astounding in this story. Almost stupid.

It does get sorted in the end with murder, international money laundering, the Soviets getting involved and the FBI. That Hollis escaped with his life is a miracle.

The story is based on a real life experience, which makes it rather depressing. But it is a tense story nevertheless.

Sent by Inveniam Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

 

Lost in the Dark by Debra Webb

 

Dr C J Patterson made it out of Huntville. Her sister did not. Remorse hits CJ for not taking her sisters call and she returns to a childhood home that she detested to wind up stuff that needed to be done. In the light of what she feels no progress in the investigation, as to who killed her sister, CJ takes matters into her own hands, which puts her right as a target for the local crime boss who does not like attention, or what he feels is interference.

The romance part of this story comes from Detective Kevin who has lost his niece and now CJ’s sister in a similar scenario. CJ,s sister was his informant and he feels that he is inadvertently responsible for her death. The twist comes when the main suspect is found murdered in the most brutal way possible which opens the enquiry wide open, in an unexpected way.

Murder with a touch of romance with a lot of exposure to the seamier side of life.

Sent by Thomas & Mercer for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair by Kelly Oliver

 

Set in 1930 on the Island of Skye, the setting was bleak for a joyous event. In secret to avoid the Press and because the Church of Scotland was kinder to divorcees, Agatha Christie was getting the banns for her wedding announced in Skye. With her are her friends from the Detection Club. 

The quietness of the occasion is shattered by the disappearance of Lord Blackwood who is part of a hunting party, sharing the lodge. His disappearance is strange because it is apparent that both the vicar and ghillie in charge are hiding grave secrets. When it is apparent that the Lady Blackwood and the general factotum of the lodge are also acting weirdly, Eliza and Theo start their own detection till a constable gets there. What is unearthed is a tale of brutality, cheating and sexual coercion going back decades which multiplies the suspects. Lord Blackwood was not a likeable character.

Very engaging with the romance of Eliza and Theo also very much on the scene, the story is very descriptive of the Island of Skye which adds to the starkness of the background. A cozy with a touch of historical fiction as well.

Sent by Boldwood Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Death was not on the guest list by

 

Twenty top socialites gather for a glittering evening. Many of them dislike each other intensely but on the surface it is all full of camaraderie, but the knives are out. During the evening, one of them is dead, and with a snowstorm on, there is no escape for anyone. It also means that someone within the household is the killer. 

With the detectives trying his best to get to the bottom of the mystery - there are many suspects. One has conveniently got rid of four husbands and one is well versed in poisons. The others have secrets they do not want to share. When a second body is discovered, the need for survival is paramount and everyone wonders who is next.

The ending was a good one. A good cozy.

Sent by Thomas & Mercer for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

Not My Job Anymore by Margie Benedict

 

Viola lost her mother unexpectedly and this hits her hard. She thought she was close to her mother but going through stuff she has revelations that changes her world. She questions her mothers ethics, her secrecy and then questions herself - realising that she herself is guilty of not facing the unpleasant facts in her own relationships.

Coming back to her late mother’s home opens a new vista for Viola. What could be and the vista is exciting. Her earlier desire to be an artist, find a lover, ignore and later divorce her selfish husband, and finally live for herself. Reaching that goal came with hiccups on the way but Viola didn’t it all.

The elements of grief, lost dreams and new starts are very well expressed in this read. Gives a lot of hope that it is never too late for anything. 

A very enjoyable read.

Sent by Riveting Reads Inc for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Wasp In The Beehive by Mary Logue

 

Set in Salt Lake City this has the setting of a Mormon household. Brigid has just got her dream job, working in a bookstore and Mr Cutter has offered her accommodation in his own household. Mr Cutter already has five wives and is trying for a fifth. This is not going down well in the household as Amelia is his step daughter, and no one is happy with the idea.

When Mr Cutter is found murdered in his house, Brigid’s detective eye becomes keener to find out by a process of elimination, who was responsible.  Doctor Kohler is the city coroner and he is anxious too, to get to the actual murderer.

The book is a short one, but it gives one an insight into a typical Mormon household, especially one with plural wives, who somehow live in more or less harmony! 

Sent by University of Minnesota Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.

A Botanist’s Guide to Tradition and Treachery by Kate Khavari

 

Part of a series but does well as a stand alone. The covers are always colorful and relate to Saffron Everleigh who is a botanist and in this episode is part of an expedition to Egypt. The only working woman in the group, ridiculed at every point, her fiancé Ashton has his hands tied because he cannot show favour and because Saffron herself demands it.

The pranking seems to have gone too far with rumours of Saffron having a relationship with a young man, and when tge man is found dead, poisoned in fact, Saffron becomes the first suspect and is arrested on suspicion of murder. The Inspector despite any evidence is determined to pin the murder on her and tge death penalty looms large. Investigations behind the detectives back involves large scale smuggling of antiquities, involving people at the top, espionage and a very surprising murderer.

The garbage Saffron had to face was enough to make anyone angry, and the story for one third was about this and how she had to overcome this to get to the job she was assigned to do. Very descriptive of an archaeological site, and the work involved was another dimension. Further enhanced by the relationship between Saffron and Ashton and their sudden marriage and return home. A fair amount of different threads woven into the story.

Interesting read.

Sent by Crooked Lane Books for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley