The gist: Otherworldly forces call a group of siblings back to their haunted childhood home to uncover what happened to their missing little brother, Ben. What caused him to vanish while playing a game of hide‑and‑seek? What is this strange veil of darkness that seems to shroud the town of Fell, New York? Is Ben’s disappearance tied to other strange happenings, like the girl who went missing on the railroad tracks? All of this sounds deliciously spooky, doesn’t it?
What I liked: Honestly, the only thing I truly enjoyed was the faint tie‑in to The Sundown Motel, which added a nice sense of impending dread.
Thoughts on the MC: Sadly, this book doesn’t really have a main character, as it’s told through multiple narratives. We begin with Violet, whom I initially found fascinating. She sees dead people and has been haunted all her life by a dark presence named Lily. Plus, she has a cool job: cleaning out the homes of the recently deceased. If the book had been told solely from her perspective, I think I’d be writing a very different review. The problem is that we never get to know any of the characters on a deeper level. They all come across as whiny and unlikable, constantly bickering. And bickering characters are a huge pet peeve of mine. A little goes a loooooong way.
What irked me: I just couldn’t get into this book. It was far too easy to set down and pick up something else. I needed breaks from the nonstop arguing, and the ghost story itself felt rather silly. The big showdown was a mess—more like a scene from a horror‑movie parody. I don’t know, y’all. This really didn’t feel like a Simone St. James book. I’ve always loved her work, even the ones with mixed reviews. Surprisingly, this one has high ratings on Goodreads, so I guess I’m the outlier.
Overall: If you enjoy a multiple‑narrative paranormal drama/thriller with over‑the‑top ghostly antics, go for it. I prefer my ghost stories a bit more subtle. If you’re looking for a strong haunted‑homecoming tale, try Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi or Home Before Dark by Riley Sager.
Hello and happy Caturday!!! It’s been a looooooong time since my last post. Life is just way too busy with freelancing, my full-time gig, dog walking, dad stuff, etcetera, etcetera. But nevermind all that! I am here and ready to share my latest cozy mystery recommendation for all my cat-loving, HGTV-watching readers. A big thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this free ARC. This book comes out on March 26th, so get ready for a good time with this latest installment of the House Flipper Mystery Series!
The gist: House renovator/flipper Whitney Whitaker Flynn is caught up in another mystery—and this time it’s the case of a dead exposé reporter in a soon‑to‑be‑remodeled barn! With so many people holding motives for murdering a nosy reporter, our intrepid sleuth must track down the clues, clear her own name, and get back to spiffing up that rustic ol’ barn.
The setting: In true cozy fashion, this story is set in a small rural community on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. My first thought: Ewwww—MAGA! But thankfully, Whitney seems to lean left with her views on veganism and the environment. Yay, Whitney! A few scenes take place in a plant‑based specialty restaurant with a backyard crew of cows, pigs, and critters. Diners can even spy on the resident cow through the restaurant’s surveillance camera setup. Love it.
Thoughts on the MC: Unlike many cozy‑mystery sleuths who are TSTL (too stupid to live), Whitney knows how to close a case without wandering into an abandoned building alone to interrogate the killer. She has excellent sleuthing instincts and knows when to call in the big dogs when things get dicey. She’s also passionate about preserving a barn that once served as part of the Underground Railroad, which is truly commendable. Oh, and she’s a cat lady to boot! I adored the little chapters narrated by her kitty, Sawdust—such a delightful treat for us crazy cat lovers.
What irked me: Everything about this mystery is great—but I don’t really enjoy reading about pregnancies. I get it: Whitney’s in a loving relationship with her detective husband, and babies often come with the territory of a happy marriage. But it’s just super uninteresting to me, and all the baby‑kicking commentary is distracting. It’s like listening to a friend moan about indigestion nonstop. Bleck.
Overall thoughts: This is a solid mystery with red herrings and interesting suspects, including sketchy churchgoers, a money‑grubbing real‑estate tycoon, and even the plant‑based restaurateurs. Noooo—please don’t let it be them
I love, love, love the Sloan Krausemystery series—not so much for the puzzling whodunits, but more for the small Bavarian town surrounded by snow-topped mountains and German-themed breweries! Be still, my heart! Here in Texas, I jump at any chance to visit our very own little German town in the Hill Country called Fredericksburg. It’s just too much fun shopping at cutesy stores and dining at my favorite German-themed microbrewery. Oh, how I love the Enchanted Rock Ale… sigh.
Anyhoo, this mystery was a little weak. The killer reveal was kind of a no-brainer, but whatevs. I enjoyed accompanying Sloan and her fellow microbrewing partner/love interest as they puzzled over the mystery whilst visiting with his family, who, of course, are as charming and lovely as Sloan’s in-laws. Naturally, it would be boring if everything worked out perfectly, so Garrett has to come clean with a secret he’s been withholding for silly reasons. This is why romance books drive me nuts—too much secrecy and miscommunication! At least this time, Sloan chose to actually communicate with him instead of holding it all in. Way to go, girl! This might be the first time she’s gotten out of her own way, and I love this for her.
Overall, this book gave me all the wintry, Bavarian village vibes that made my cozy little heart brim with joy. However, die-hard mystery lovers may feel it’s lacking, so please note that this is more of a 100-piece children’s jigsaw puzzle than a 1,000-piece brain-scratcher. In this case, we’re dealing with a rather shady group of doctors and researchers at the local hospital who are about to announce a “breakthrough” medical miracle study that will rock the entire world off its axis. How this is happening in a tiny tourist town of two thousand residents is beyond me, but let’s not overthink it. As it happens, one of the researchers loses her mind when a flash drive goes missing, and she makes a big scene at Nitro while frantically searching for this thing that apparently will be the death of her. Oops… wrong choice of words. Anyhoo… a murder happens—on the ski slopes, of course—and all signs point to the shady doctors.
Again, I wasn’t too thrilled with the mystery in this installment, but I enjoyed the entire experience nonetheless. There’s a lot to be said for interesting characters, a romance you really want to root for, and a cozy Bavarian town that just brims with holiday charm in the wintertime. So grab yourself a hoppy winter ale—or a hot toddy—and curl up with this book for a cozy night in, away from the madness and crowds.
I loved this author’s previous book, Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, but this one just didn’t really sing to my peppermint mocha-loving soul. It’s a cute story about a teenage couple who grew up together and eventually… what do the kids say these days? Oh yes, they caught feelings for each other—yet were incapable of saying the words out loud. Ugh. Not to go off on a tangent here, but this might be the main reason I don’t love romance. These reasonably intelligent people are always jumping to conclusions and suffering in silence when all their problems could be solved with a single conversation!
Sorry, I digressed. So yeah, this is a case of “it is what it is.” I can’t get too upset with a book that follows the same old romance tropes: miscommunication, friends-to-lovers, annoying internal tantrums, passive-aggressive behaviors, etcetera, etcetera. I think this book could have been exponentially improved with a subplot outside of the romance. It needs a mystery to solve, or a mom-and-pop store to be saved, or perhaps a big peppermint mocha barista challenge in the town square! I just needed something else to move the story along.
Also, I’m just wondering why these two think they could ever make it work. Our protagonist, Emma, has a zest for travel and adventure. She can’t get out of that small town fast enough and yearns to attend a college as far away as possible. Aiden, on the other hand, loves his life in Briar Glen and has no desire to move—which is TOTALLY FAIR! I don’t know if the moral of the story is to accept change and leave everything that makes you happy just for the sake of progress. But I don’t think these two should be together. As the kids say, that’s my “hot take.”
Maybe I’m just not a big Emma fan. She brought her new boyfriend to her hometown without even giving Aiden a heads-up? I mean… who does that? Rude. It would be best for everyone if she went back to her fancy boarding school and pursued her path so Aiden can live his best life in Briar Glen.
Although I didn’t love the romance, I did enjoy the Christmassy sights of Briar Glen and the little cameos from characters in the previous book. I would love another book about the coffee shop. Just putting that out there, Miss Katie Cicatelli-Kuc!
Summed Up: Spanning generations from the Civil War through the 1940s, this sweeping saga follows a sprawling family tree entangled in tragedy. Dozens of interconnected lives unravel through wave after wave of misfortune—brief moments of light dimmed by relentless darkness. At the heart of it all lurks a malevolent force, vengeful and unseen, pulling the strings from the shadows. Spooooooky stuff, eh? Well…sort of.
What’s Missing: After an unforgettable book talk with the author—joined by her fiddlin’ and friends from the Dixie Chicks (cousins, maybe?)—I was all in on the Southern Gothic allure: ghosts, legends, and that thick, haunted humidity of lore. But the malevolent shadow lurking in the woods? It felt more like a footnote than a threat. The dark presence made only a handful of fleeting appearances, easy to forget amid the ceaseless stream of sorrows. And when it did show up, it slipped away just as fast—like a mosquito you swat without thinking, while trying to enjoy a cold Shiner on the porch swing.
What I Liked: While the book is short on ghosts, it is heavy on atmosphere and intrigue. I wasn’t too keen on most of the highly flawed characters (particularly the milquetoast women), and oh—don’t even get me started on Luke and his father, who apparently embraced the “gentle parenting” trend way back in the day. Yet despite all that, I was heavily invested in their stories and anxiously watched the impending trainwreck unfold. Most of all, I loved the descriptions of historic Bandera, my favorite vacation spot in all of Texas! There’s even a group of characters from Pipe Creek—a tiny spot near Boerne where my husband and I stay at least twice a year.
Thoughts on the Characters: In this sprawling, multi-generational saga, you’ll encounter a whole cast of characters grappling with more than their fair share of… personal challenges. Unfortunately, the women in this tale feel shortchanged. Many come across as one-dimensional, lacking the grit, depth, and moral backbone you’d expect—even hope for. Sure, the setting nods to a time when women were often sidelined in favor of their rugged, boot-stompin’ cowboy counterparts—but history’s full of exceptions. It would’ve been nice to have at least one kick-ass woman fighting the forces of evil, but oh well.
The Pacing: Grab your Dramamine because the choppiness might make you seasick! Just when I get hit with a wallop of sadness, the next chapter picks up at another time and place. I don’t get to process the tragedy that just happened because the author has already moved on to the next unfortunate event. My unsolicited advice is to take it down a notch and pay homage to the beloved character you just knocked off. I know readers have short attention spans, but dang! Give this girl a chance to grieve!
Overall: Despite my grievances, I would be lying if I said this wasn’t an interesting story. It was worth every penny of the $20 I forked over for a paperback, and I certainly will read another book by this new author. This was a big undertaking for a debut novel, so I give her props for pulling it off. I just hope she can give us some better characters in her next novel.
Ho ho ho! Merry New Year! This post is a tad late now that we’re in January, but I will share my seasonal reads with you all nonetheless! Seriously, how did Christmas come and go so quickly?! It’s hard to believe the holidays are over and the stores are all peddling their Valentine’s goods. I suppose time flies even when you’re not having fun…and totally dreading what’s to come after January 20th. Wow, that got dark fast.! To lighten the mood, here are my light and fluffy holiday reads:
Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop, edited by Otto Penzler
I saw this collection of short stories at Barnes and Noble and just had to pluck it off the shelf! How could I resist 12 short stories about crimes surrounding a bookshop during the Christmas season? As with most short story collections, I had to weed through some duds to get to the good stuff, but It was well worth my while. Here are my faves:
“Snowflake Time” by Laura LIppman: This story is told by a typical white male Fox News enthusiast who bemoans the “snowflakes” in his newspaper columns. I despised him right from the jump, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the karma unfold. This story had the most satisfying ending, and I loved every bit of it.
“The Gift of the Wiseguy” by Rob Hart: This is a bittersweet crime story about a former mob boss making amends with his son. He pays a visit to the Mysterious Bookshop, where his son is giving a reading. Bad things happen when a rival mob discovers their nemesis came out of hiding, and I’ll stop right there to save you from spoilers. I will say that this is a true Christmas story about love and atonement.
“The Christmas Party” by Jeffrey Deaver: This is a twisty little suspense story about a nurse who offers to put a geriatric patient out of his misery—but only after he gets to enjoy his last Christmas party at the old folks’ home. I must admit I didn’t see the plot twist coming—well done!
“A Christmas Puzzle” by Ragnar Jónasson: This is, in my humble opinion, the best story in the entire book! An 80-year-old woman makes a special trip to the Mysterious Bookshop to ask the bookseller to help her solve a puzzle. Together, they solve the literary-themed word riddles, leading to an unbelievable outcome. Wowza—I didn’t see that one coming!
It Happened One Christmas Eve by Jenn McKinlay
This little novella was just fun! If you love a good, silly Hallmark Christmas movie full of hijinks and over-the-top characters, this book is for you. We’re dealing with a reverse Cinderella situation: a woman running away from her Prince Charming (in a glittering ball gown and heels, no less) and hijacking a carriage to get out of dodge. Turns out, she’s stolen Santa’s ride, but this is no ordinary fat man in a red suit. Nope, he’s an undercover reporter with washboard abs looking for a juicy story about the runaway fiancée. Together they make a pact: he helps her get to her hideaway cottage, and she promises him an exclusive story. Hijinks ensue as they run amok in Manhattan, and the romance gets steamier with every misadventure. Love it! This was the perfect escape for all my post-election day woes. A big thanks to the author for giving me a nice little break from reality.
The Scary Book of Christmas Lore: 50 Terrifying Yuletide Tales from Around the World by Tim Rayborn
I’m giving this three stars on Goodreads for the amazing artwork alone. The illustrations are both horrifying and stunning, including the cover art! I just wish I could say the same for the content, which was quite underwhelming. Instead of fireside storytelling, which is what I was hoping for, these little chapters read more like encyclopedia articles, just dry facts about the ghoulish monsters with a few snarky remarks. This would have been better if the author had picked just a few really good, scary stories and fleshed them out more instead of cramming 50 entries into the book. Many of the factoids were repetitive, with each monster punishing naughty children with a switch….blah, blah, blah. I grew rather bored and ended up skimming most of the book. The art, however, is amazing, so I will revisit this little book every holiday season just to scare myself silly by looking at these ghoulish holiday beasts! What can I say? I love a good scare on a cold winter’s night!
Shock and Paw: Cat Cafe Mystery Book 8 by Cate Conte
Let me start off by saying I FREAKING LOVE THIS SERIES! I always look forward to visiting Maddie’s cat café on Daybreak Island. Oh, how I wish this were my life! I mean, yeah, her cute little touristy town has an unusually high murder rate, but other than that, it’s so peaceful and charming. This time around, Maddie’s juggling a lot of plates amidst the busy holiday season. In addition to dealing with her injured grandfather (he really should leave the rooftop decorating to the professionals), she must solve the mystery of the murdered newspaper owner to get her best friend off the hook! Amidst all the madness, there’s a shady cat breeder in town, and Maddie isn’t about to let these poor, helpless kitties get exploited. And this right here is why I love this book series so much. Maddie is passionate about rescuing the kitties, and she hates breeders as much as I do! This was a fun, festive read that delivered all the cozy Christmas vibes for cat rescue enthusiasts. It’s the cat’s meow! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
How Snowball Stole Christmas by Kristen McKanagh
This fun little holiday romance is the cat’s meow! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in this series and highly recommend them to cat ladies like me who need something light and fluffy to read during the stressful holiday season. This time around, little Snowball is playing matchmaker with two of her newest friends, Lara (the local toy shop owner) and Peter (bookshop owner and Grinch). He’s salty about her securing a coveted storefront location, so he pens an anonymous online column bemoaning this new toy shop interloper’s alleged “corporate agenda.” Gee, what a charmer. I’m really rooting for this guy to win over the girl…not. Thankfully, Snowball is on the beat, and she’s maximizing all of her white, fluffy cute charms to bring these reluctant lovers together. The plot thickens when Lara’s repugnant sister-in-law guilts her into taking care of her little kid—an impossible task for someone who’s burning the candle at both ends to run a brand-new business. Let this be a lesson to all of us: we need to use the word “NO!” more often! Wouldn’t you know it, Peter’s frosty attitude melts away as he swoops in to save the day and, well, you can only guess what happens next. Despite the basic plot and predictable ending, this was the purrfect antidote for my holiday/post-election stress, and I’m a little sad this is the last book in the series. Oh well, that’s why I always have my “Chet and Bernie” mysteries to turn to when life gets too stressful!
Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews
First, I must ask: Mary Kay Andrews, are you okay? I mean…what was this story even? A fully employed woman and her dog are left homeless after a nasty divorce, so she ends up squatting at a vacation rental handled by her real estate company/place of employment? How does this even happen? Then, the romance begins when the hunky nephew of the deceased homeowner comes to handle the affairs? What? This was strange, yet mildly entertaining, so I’m going to give it two generous stars on Goodreads. I’d add another star if this had more holiday vibes, which I think the author forgot about while penning one of the world’s most awkward holiday romance novellas. Seriously, so odd.
DNFs
Snowed In at the Cat Cafe by Rachel Rowlands
I could not DNF this book fast enough when I read that most of the cat cafe kitties come from BREEDERS!!! Maybe this is just me being an ignorant American, but do cats not need rescuing in jolly ol’ England? We have a homeless pet explosion crisis all across the nation, so the thought of a cat cafe adopting out (or selling, I guess?) breeder cats is atrocious. It was actually a relief to have a solid reason for giving up on this book early because the beginning chapters were soooooo boring. No thanks.
Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict
I tried. I really did. I came for the “Murder on the Orient Express” thrill ride, but it turned out to be a slow-moving story with a HUGE cast of characters. I couldn’t keep track of everyone amidst the rapid-fire dialogue, so I gave up the ghost very early on. If you choose to read this, I highly advise putting pen to paper and keeping a glossary of all the characters.
A Christmas Ghost Story by Kim Newman
I was hoping this would be a gothic Christmastime ghost story, but this novella didn’t cut it. The plot didn’t seem to go anywhere, and the atmosphere just felt grim and dismal. I’m sorry to say this was not my cup of Christmas tea.
The gist: Told in alternating narratives (the “girl boss,” the husband, the mystery guest, the kitchen helper, the detective), this story revolves around a highfalutin, new-agey luxury resort called “The Manor.” Nestled deep in the English countryside, the resort is built on sacred ground rumored to be haunted by vengeful birds. The townsfolk hate it, yet they’re too busy enjoying the sweet life filled with lavish food and complicated cocktails (all gluten and tannin-free, of course). There’s a lot of bad blood between the Manor’s “girl boss” owner (think Gwyneth Paltrow meets Cruella De Vil) and a mysterious ghost from her past. Things escalate VERY QUICKLY, and I’m here to watch it all come crashing down!
The Plot: When I read the dust cover, I was sold. Lucy Foley had me at “haunted resort.” This was a fun ride with all my favorite elements: spooky lore, haunted woods, a super evil villain and vengeance–YES! With the multiple narratives and occasional time-skipping chapters, the book kept me glued to the pages, making me question everything about everyone! No one–not even the husband–is off the suspect list because the resort owner, Francesca, is EVIL AF! We soon learn that a dead body washed shore below the seaside cliffs, but the author doesn’t reveal the name until the very end. Way to dangle that carrot, Miss Foley! I had so many question marks, but thankfully, everything was answered at the end. And let me tell you, it was such a satisfying conclusion!
The atmosphere: There’s a reason why I’m always down to read a Lucy Foley book. She delivers on the atmosphere and weaves in elements of foreboding that give me the chills in the best possible ways. I felt like I was right there at the exclusive retreat surrounded by spooky trees and flocks of birds soaring through the dark clouds. I loved the creepy feeling of tree branches brushing against the windows in the guest cabin, where a mysterious guest had good reason to be afraid. Oh, how this would make such a fantastic movie. Why can’t Hollywood take a break from all the unoriginal superhero movies and turn these books into blockbuster hits?
Overall: If you are a fan of suspense and don’t mind the multiple narrator/time-kipping format, I highly recommend this one. This $30 hardback was worth every penny!
October is here, and I’m excited to embark on my lofty 31 Books of Halloween reading extravaganza! First up is my most recent read, “The House that Horror Built.” The premise and the cover drew me in, so why not give this author one more chance? I DNFed “The Horseman” because it was the silliest version of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that I’ve ever encountered, but perhaps it could’ve been a fluke, right? Not so much. This one was a supreme dud as well. Let’s get into it:
The Gist: A downtrodden single mom, Harry, takes a job as house cleaner for a famous horror movie director. Imagine a disgraced Wes Craven who stopped making slashers due to a scandal involving a missing wife and son. Ooooh—intrigue! His house if full of movie props that torment Harry while she’s dusting and mopping.
What I liked: I really wanted to like this book because the setup is just so creepy cool for us horror movie fans who would love to have a peek inside a legendary director’s creepy mansion. So, the one and only aspect of this book that won me over was the spooky haunted mansion atmosphere.
What irked me: This book is a slow burn, and not in a good way. The burn was more of a spark that fizzled out almost immediately. Most of it had to do with Harry’s backstory, which seemed like a lot of filler that had little to do with her situation in the haunted mansion. Then, when the plot starts cooking toward the tail end of the book, I was hit with such a silly ending that was, quite frankly, unimaginative. I was hoping for some sort of resolution for Harry and her precocious 14-year-old son, Gabe (seriously, no kid talks like this), but it all came to a screeching halt. Rude!
What confused me: Okay, I’m no mathematician, but I’m pretty good at adding single digits. When Harry and Gabe moved into the director’s sprawling mansion, they had to put a twin bed in the library for the kid. Umm…how is this a mansion? Another thing that perplexed me was Harry’s financial predicament. She spotted the well-to-do biological father in town, so she can easily find him and sue him for child support. Why was this not a thought, especially when they were teetering on the verge of homelessness?
Overall thoughts: This book was a complete waste of time. If you want an atmospheric haunted house book, check out “Naomi’s Room” by Jonathan Aycliffe or “Woman in Black” by Susan Hill. Plus, you can never go wrong with the classics by Shirley Jackson and E.F. Benson.
Wowza—it’s been a minute since my last post. I’ve had a rough go of it lately with the whole job-loss thing and equally depressing job-search thing. Life sure can throw some curveballs, eh? Either way, we’re here to have fun, so let’s talk five-star reads! Here are some highlights from my spring 2024 reading list:
Nimbus by Jan Eldredge
Cat lovers, you’re in for a treat! This is such a cute book with magical felines, a kind-hearted witch, and the cutest little sweater-wearing, Shakespeare-quoting rat sidekick! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was completely invested in little Nimbus’s homeward-bound journey. Fantasies aren’t really my cup of tea, but I made an exception for this one. The cover alone sold me. I mean, how could I turn away from those adorable little faces? The evil dream demons were terrible, but the worst characters were the cruel humans dumping their pets. Nimbus’s newfound friends have tragic backstories involving human cruelty, which can be hard to read, but the kind-hearted witch, Agatha, renewed my faith in humanity, reminding me that there’s a lot of good in this world. I loved getting to know each of the resident cats–even the grumpy ones–through Nimbus’ magical dream-walking escapades. They’re all quite fascinating, and I’m rather fond of the tubby calico, Fern, and her stuffed squirrel toy. This story is just too cute and the ending was the cat’s meow!
Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
This book was a fun—and much-needed—surprise that arrived at my doorstep, thanks to my sister! She even sent me a Disney cats throw blanket so I could cozy up with a good book during my dark days of sudden unemployment. Isn’t that the nicest thing? Anyhoo, this book proved to be the perfect distraction with its cast of vampire-slaying Southern women. Judging by the cover, I was expecting more of a light paranormal romance, but this book was SCARY!!! Yo! I was not expecting grisly scenes of vampires/zombies (a hybrid, I guess?) tearing people apart. This is NOT a cozy little Southern romantasy, people! Lucky for me, I absolutely love gross horror stories with feral, non-sparkling vampires terrorizing the town. I also loved that this story centered around four generations of vampire-slaying women. One of whom has a dark secret that comes out later in the book…when things get real. Whilst protecting the town from the newly-turned vampire/zombies, they sort out their family drama issues, and boy does it get messy. Think Steel Magnolias meets 30 Days of Night meets Six Feet Under. Loved it!!!
Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowman
Once again, I’ve realized I can never go wrong with a Royal Spyness mystery. I only “read” these books via Audible because the narrator cracks me up with the characters’ voices. Since watching “Emily in Paris” (please don’t judge me!), I’ve been drawn to books that transport me to this fascinating city with streetside cafes, dazzling cityscapes, and croissants galore. Naturally, this story surrounds a fashion show by none other than Cocoa Chanel! Hijinks ensue when Lady Georgianna stumbles upon a dead body at a VIP runway show and soon becomes suspect number one! Seriously, the detectives in these books are always so clueless. I mean really…why would a pregnant British woman come to Paris to kill a complete stranger? Is it terrible that I was happy the murder victim turned out to be a pushy, entitled, “new money” woman who thought she could buy her way into everything? Ugh…Americans! Anyways…I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical whodunnits that are heavy on comedy and light on mystery.
Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
I love, love, love a slow-burn horror story, but only if it’s done well. It could be ruined with an underwhelming ending or turn into a convoluted, confusing mess. Lucky for me, this book delivered a dark, creepy ending that left me wanting more. The premise alone gives me the willies! Imagine going to a sparsely populated island with secretive townsfolk who are all living in a time warp. There are just SO MANY QUESTIONS! Why don’t the townsfolk ever leave the island? Why did an outsider’s dead son scribble “Clifford Island” on the floorboards of his bedroom right before he died? Why do the islanders participate in strange daily rituals? And why is it so scary for them to deviate from their routines? What’s out there in the woods peeking inside of windows??? All these questions had me glued to the pages—and boy was I creeped out. We’re dealing with different narrators throughout the book: Willow, the interloping woman trying to solve the puzzle of her dead son’s cryptic note; and Harper, Willow’s brother searching for his missing sister—a quest that gets darker and stranger by the day. Slow-burns aren’t for everyone, but I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with creepy, ghostly stalkers lurking in the woods.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Kakaweeeeeee! Oh my goodness, y’all, this book was a hoot! With his mix of comedy and horror, Grady Hendrix is an acquired taste. For the most part, I avoid horror satire, but Grady Hendrix is an exception because his characters and storylines are just so entertaining. This one revolves around a divorced single mom who’s summoned back to her dreaded family home to take care of her dead parents’ affairs. To make matters worse, she must deal with her deadbeat brother who is a real piece of work. He carries some deep-seated disdain for his sister, and we soon learn why as the memories of their bizarre childhood start to unfold. Something is VERY WRONG with that house, and it all boils back to their eccentric mother’s love of puppets. One puppet in particular is Pupkin, a demonic toy that tends to take control of its handlers! Think Slappy from Goodbumps meets the Exorcist. Things escalate very quickly—power tools are involved. Seriously, this book would make one heck of a movie. Despite the comedy aspect, this book has some very creepy parts, especially the childhood flashback of Pupkin whispering in ears and forcing people to do some bad things. Trust me, it’s intense!
Reading slumps are never fun. 😦 That’s why I’m starting this off with some good news! I have added a new editorial assistant to my staff. Meet Princess Belle! She comes to the Bubble Bubble Books and Trouble Publishing House by way of Pflugerville Pets Alive. Adopt, don’t shop, folks!
Now for the bad news…it’s been a year of DNFs and one-star books. There’s been a few stellar reads sprinkled in the mix, which I’ll get into in a later post, but for now I must bring you my biggest flops of 2024 thus far.
The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb
I read this all the way through because Wendy Webb’s characters are always interesting, and her atmospheric descriptions of Wharton, Minnesota transport me to such a lovely place. I’ve been to Duluth (Wharton’s neighboring town) a couple of times to run the Grandma’s marathon (well, half marathon for me since I’m only half crazy…har har har), and I just fell in love with the idea of living in such a beautiful, yet sometimes spooky town right on Lake Superior. Anyhoo, I enjoyed the escape, but the story left much to be desired.
The mystery of the haunted artist studio took a backseat (we’re talking waaaaay in the back of a bus) to the romance between Tess and her new boyfriend. Apparently, he can do a little bit of everything, including assisting the resident ghost hunters next door. How convenient! So yeah, this is a sloooooooow, meandering read, yet I didn’t hate it. I did. However, the big reveal was vastly underwhelming. It was tacked on at the very end of the book in an info dump. Clearly, Miss Webb had a deadline and needed to hastily wrap things up!
If you’re looking for a gothic ghost story with a twist, give this a pass. But this might be a good read for someone who needs an escape to a quaint, wintery town full of kindly neighbors, good food and ice skating parks!
The House on Royal Street by Karen White
Karen White has quite the following for her “Tradd Street” series and hundreds (maybe thousands?) of glowing reviews. Clearly, she appeals to many readers who enjoy her meandering writing style. Me? Not so much.
Yeesh…this was bad, guys. I mean, where do I begin? We’re dealing with a cast of white-bread characters; the only people of color are construction workers who are nicknamed “the two stooges.” I don’t know if I’m being overly sensitive here, but that left a bad taste in my mouth. The ghostly mystery plot goes on all thesase meandering twists and turns that have nothing to do with the cold case mystery that needs solving to send the ghosts to the beeamign white light! Somebody, please call the Ghost Whisperer already!
And then there’s the antiquated “Southern Belle” attitude that harkens back to the bygone era when women were trained to sit up straight and act like “ladies.” A plucky, feisty Southern Belle side character keeps dropping patriarchal bits of wisdom like, “women should wear clothes tight enough to show off their figures, but not tight enough to no longer look like a lady.” And then there’s the main character…sigh.
Nola, has a lot going on. She’s an architectural engineer, a home renovator, a recovering alcoholic, a lover of spreadsheets, and a vegan living in the Big Easy—land of sausage jambalaya and crawfish boils. Readers will continuously be reminded of her vegan diet because she’s constantly picking food out of her plate, ordering tofu or avoiding eating altogether. I fully support veganism, but do her dietary restrictions need to be drilled into our heads in every chapter?
The author also wants to make it very clear that Nola is thin, beautiful and the object of desire for every man who crosses her path. I don’t have much to say about the haunted historic cottage because there’s not much to that cold case mystery. But I will say that this series is a one-and-done for me. Nola really got under my skin, especially when she micromanaged her contractors on her stupid spreadsheet by scheduling potty breaks. No wonder she couldn’t keep anyone on staff. Woof.
All Hollows by Christopher Golden
This was my second ho-hum Christopher Golden horror novel, and sadly it is my last. The man comes up with some great concepts but can’t deliver a good, campy horror story. This one checks all the boxes: Halloweenie book cover with a glowing jack-o-lantern: check! Halloween night slash-and-stalk horrors: check! Good old-fashioned 1980s trick-or-treating vibes: check! But yet, nothing about this book worked.
Here’s what went wrong: The book is 80% domestic drama (cheating spouses, money troubles, teenage crushes, etc.). Adding to the ick-factor is some pedophilia. Yuck. I could’ve done without that bit of grossness.
The characters weren’t very likeable or relatable, probably because there are too many narrators. I just couldn’t root for any of them, so it wasn’t a big deal when the “Cunning Man” and the evil costumed ghost children started knocking them off. If you’re looking for something spooky for Halloween, pick up a classic like “Something Wicked This Way Comes” or “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
The Haunting by Natasha Preston
WTH? I thought this would be a slam dunk five-star read because “The Lake” was such a fun thriller, and surely I found a new favorite YA horror author. Nope! I’m failing to understand why this is titled “The Haunting.” Someone—anyone—please explain! There are no ghosts or paranormal happenings, just a gaggle of teenagers running around from one place to the next with a masked killer on the loose.
This is “Scream,” but without the snappy dialogue and interesting characters. With all the frenetic scenes of car crashes and fires, I’m still bored. The main character constantly gets scolded by her sort-of boyfriend for not eating. Why is this a constant thing throughout the book? We get it; she’s not good at self-care and throws herself in danger with reckless abandon. I wish I cared for her welfare, but nope.
I enjoyed a few atmospheric Halloweenie scenes, like being stalked by a killer in a haunted forest, but those thrills were few and far between. If you’re looking for a ghost story, this isn’t it. Don’t be fooled by that title!
Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban
I must confess, I had to DNF this at the 40% mark, so I have no idea how it all ended. There could very well be a very meticulously plotted twist, but I just couldn’t waste any more of my time on this turkey. I’m a good three hours into this audiobook, and nothing important is happening on this dang cruise ship. It’s just middle school-level drama with a lot of “he said, she said” drivel. Jade, the MC, is stuck on a “semester abroad” cruise ship with her cheating BFF and BF. Oh boo hoo, how horrible it must be to explore Western Europe on a luxury liner while getting academic credit.
Anyhoo, she has been mysteriously shunned by the two lovebirds, and throughout the cruise, they all cast each other dirty looks. Jade is confused as to why they hate her with a burning passion. Clearly, she did something terrible, and maybe we’ve got ourselves an unreliable narrator. Who knows? I guess they couldn’t stand her incessant whining. There’s an equally annoying cast of secondary characters who all have their own little gimmicks. One is trying to be a YouTube star (insert eye-roll emoji here), another is a glamorous, wealthy influencer, and then you’ve got the brooding bad boy with mysterious secrets.
They’re all supposed to be in college, but they seemed very middle-grade to me. I guess I’ll never know who killed Jade’s former bestie and why, but that’s cool. There are plenty of whodunnits on my TBR that might actually follow a cohesive plot! So there you have it! If you’re looking for a good YA mystery on the high seas, skip this and try “Death Sets Sail” by Robin Stevens.
BUBBLE BUBBLE BOOKS & TROUBLE 