Book Review | The Barrister and the Letter of Marque

Bethany House, Books Review, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, NetGalley, Novels, Writing Spot

Today’s book review features

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson.

Reading Wednesday | Untimely Death

Books Review, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Writing Spot

One of the reasons I enjoy writing book reviews is the chance to read authors I might not have otherwise discovered. Untimely Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan is one such case. The first book in the Shakespeare in the Castskills mystery series, it is written in the gentle pace of an Agatha Christie novel, which slowly draws the reader in while keeping them guessing until the end. 

Reading Wednesday: A Killer Plot

Books Review, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Novels, Writing Spot

If a book cover has a lighthouse, a big front porch, and a dog, it’s a book I pick up. A Killer Plot has been on my want-to-read pile for a while and I finally got it from the library. The setting is located on the North Carolina coast and Ellery Adams fills the tale with the sights, sounds, and feels of the ocean. Definitely my kind of book.

Reading Wednesday: The Cat of the Baskervilles

Books Review, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Novels, Writing Spot

I have enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes stories for as long as I remember. I’ve read The Complete Novels and Stories – both volumes – and have watched many of the incarnations of Holmes on screen. In short, I would enjoy visiting a Sherlock Holmes themed bookstore, such as the one owned by Gemma Doyle in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series by Vicki Delany.

The Other Woman by Hank Ryan: a book review

Books Review, Mystery, Novels, Suspense/Thriller, Writing Spot

When I had the opportunity to meet Hank Phillippi Ryan during a book signing, I jumped at the chance. I hadn’t read one of her books yet, but as a writer, I enjoy hearing from other successful writers. She was delightful to listen to and I had to read one of her books. I chose The Other Woman, first in her Jane Ryland series.

Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay: a book review

Books Review, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Novels, Writing Spot

Re-reading books is like visiting with an old friend. That’s why, whenever I have a new book to read in a series, I always go back re-read the series from the beginning. This week, the latest in Jenn McKinlay‘s Cupcake Bakery Mystery series was released. What better way to await the arrival of the new book? Start from book one: Sprinkle with Murder.

Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering – a book review

Bethany House, Books Review, Thoughts on Writing, Writing Spot

Written in the classic style of Agatha Christie, Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering is the fifth book in her Drew Farthering Mystery series. It follows Drew Farthering and his wife Madeline to Bunting’s Nest, England, a quaint country town in the 1930s. Drew’s old pal from school days asked for Drew’s help solving a series of strange happenings on the moor outside Bunting’s Nest.

Mystery, Suspense, and their Definitions

Novels, Storytelling, Thoughts on Writing, Writing Spot

The past few weeks, I’ve been doing research on genres. Specifically the difference between mysteries, suspense, and thrillers. All of these are often found under the greater umbrella of crime fiction, but lately, mysteries have come to stand on their own. Thrillers can also be tied to horror and suspense is often left in the dark. So, what is the best way to define these genres?

A Gathering of Authors this Saturday!

Novels, Storytelling, The Vanishing Kidnapper, Updates, Writing Spot

As promised, here are the finer details for the Gathering of Authors this Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. come to the Wisconsin Downtown Open House. In Plymouth, there will be a variety of events, including a gathering of several local authors who will share their books with visitors.