I mentioned that this was one of my favorites of September but I wanted to post my @goodreads review also to encourage more people to read it. It’s so good!
Here’s the text of the review in case it’s too small in the picture:
Eighty-four-year-old Martin Maxwell is temporarily staying in a seaside nursing home while recovering from hip surgery. His daughter (a police officer) drops by often, but it’s Martin who starts noticing something suspicious: the number of “natural” deaths in the home seems unusually high. With the help of his sharp-witted, wheelchair-bound neighbor, he decides to do a little sleuthing of his own.
This story is an absolute delight: equal parts funny, heartwarming, and cleverly plotted. I especially loved the uncertainty of whether Martin’s memories are reliable or if age has begun to blur the edges of truth. The humor lands perfectly, and the cast of residents is both quirky and endearing.
John Hopkins’ narration adds even more charm, capturing the dry British wit and warmth of the characters beautifully. I truly hope this is the first in a series. I’d happily follow Martin and his fellow “armchair detectives” through many more adventures.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
25 books this month: A mix of cozy whodunnits, historical sleuthing, thrillers, and a dash of Egyptian adventure.
🏰 High society & golden-age style mysteries: Murder at Blackburn Hall, The Egyptian Antiquities Murder, Murder in Black Tie, Murder in Mayfair, Murder at the Mansions, Murder on a Midnight Clear, Murder in the Alps, Murder at Archly Manor, Murder Among the Pyramids, Murder on the S.S. Cleopatra, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express 🍸🔎⛷️⛴️🚂
🌴 Amelia Peabody’s Egyptian escapades: Crocodile on the Sandbank, The Curse of the Pharaohs, The Mummy Case, Lion in the Valley, The Deeds of the Disturber, The Last Camel Died at Noon 🐪🏺☀️🐊🦁
🕵️ Modern mysteries & thrillers: The Devil’s Advocate & The Cross (Steve Cavanagh) ⚖️ Sharp Force (Patricia Cornwell) 🐒 Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing 🔍🎨🖼️ An Excellent Thing in a Woman 🕵️♀️ The Game is Murder 🎲🧩🃏 The End of the World As We Know It 🌍🔥 Murderland 🏭💨🔪
Favorite: The Devil’s Advocate Least favorite: The Game is Murder
An Excellent Thing in a Woman (The Sparks & Bainbridge Mysteries, 7) Allison Montclair ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers Caroline Fraser ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand Christopher Golden ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody, #1) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, #2) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Mummy Case (Amelia Peabody, #3) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Lion in the Valley (Amelia Peabody, #4) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, #6) Elizabeth Peters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Game Is Murder Hazell Ward ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Case of the Body on the Orient Express: The Detection Club, Book 2 Kelly Oliver ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing Nicholas Meyer ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ A suspenseful return to classic Scarpetta! This one delivers a gripping mystery, real danger, and a smart resolution, all with timely tech twists woven in. January LaVoy’s narration is spot-on, keeping me hooked the whole way. I can’t wait to see where Cornwell takes Scarpetta next. 🔬🔎🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ London is frozen ❄️ solid, Holmes & Watson are bored… until a woman arrives seeking her missing artist tenant. Nicholas Meyer’s Sherlock Holmes and The Real Thing 🎨🕵️♂️ blends mystery with questions of authenticity: What’s real vs. imitation, and why does it matter? Easter eggs, Mycroft at the Diogenes Club, and narration that feels straight from Doyle. A must for Sherlock fans! 🔍 #sherlockholmesandtherealthing#netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve been trying to get my hands on this novella for nearly five years, ever since I read Thirteen and became hooked on the Eddie Flynn series. The Cross wasn’t available in the U.S. for the longest time, and I even looked into ways to bypass regional restrictions just to read it. Nothing ever worked. So imagine my surprise and delight when I spotted it on NetGalley’s audiobook list this week!
I’ve read the series completely out of order, always jumping at whichever title I could get in the U.S. Eventually I’d love to revisit the whole series from the beginning, and now that I’ve finally listened to this prequel, I can say it was absolutely worth the wait.
Despite its short length, The Cross tackles a weighty and timely subject: police brutality and the excessive use of force in America. In the author’s note, Cavanagh reveals that the story was inspired by the 2014 death of Eric Garner in New York City. The note moved me to tears, which hasn’t ever happened before.
I’m still amazed at how well Steve Cavanagh, an Irish author, captures the tone and cadence of American (especially New York) dialogue. If I ever make it to one of his author events, that’s the first question I’ll ask.
🎧 Adam Sims did a fantastic job with the narration, adding to the intensity and pacing of the story.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
14 books in July 🎧 13 audiobooks, 1 Kindle 📲 ❤️ Best: Welcome to Murder Week 🗻 Meh: Death in the Air 🐚 Short & sweet: Beach Hut 512 👽 Big beast: Under the Dome 🆕 Read early thanks to @netgalley: 🔎 The Killer Question & 💄The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold 🔁 Re-read faves: 👻 You Like It Darker & 🕵️♀️ The Blonde Identity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Janice Hallett returns with another cleverly constructed mystery told through her signature format (emails, voicemails, and assorted documents), inviting the reader to become the detective. This time, the story kicks off with an email to Netflix from a curious nephew suggesting they adapt the unbelievable events that took place at a sleepy rural pub, where weekly trivia nights are the biggest attraction.
At the heart of it all are Sue and Mal Eastwood, a seemingly unremarkable married couple who run the pub, but with a hidden past. Both are former police officers, something they go to great lengths to keep under wraps. When a man is found dead near the pub following a very public altercation with Mal, the layers of deception begin to unravel. Interspersed flashbacks reveal a shadowy police operation from their past that may hold the key to everything.
The title, The Killer Question, is a nod to a final tie-breaking trivia question that Mal saves for the most competitive quiz nights, though it soon takes on a much more sinister meaning.
Hallett’s epistolary style once again proves perfect for this kind of slow-burn mystery, keeping readers piecing together the truth right up to the final page.
📚 Special thanks to @netgalley and Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ A perfect follow-up to The Blonde Identity! This sequel fills in the gaps from the first book by diving into the story from the other twin sister’s perspective. It sheds light on why the sisters aren’t as close as you might expect, adding emotional depth to the fast-paced, spy-filled plot. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed flawlessly; fun, flirty, and just the right amount of tension.
I even re-listened to The Blonde Identity before starting this one, and I’m glad I did. I usually shy away from romance with much spice, but Ally Carter writes such charming, likable characters that I was fully invested from start to finish.
Narrators Andrew Eiden and Emily Ellet are pitch-perfect, bringing both the action and the chemistry to life.
Special thanks to @netgalley and HarperAudio Adult for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
🌟 Top picks (tie): The Lantern’s Dance and A Case of Mice and Murder. I did a review on both already. The Lantern’s Dance is the 18th book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series that starts with A Beekeepers Apprentice.
🙅♀️ Biggest letdown: The Maze — definitely not for me. It was advertised as a book about the Gilgo Beach murders, but it barely mentioned them. It was the last book in the series and was a big letdown.
🔁 I revisited If It Bleeds to re-read The Life of Chuck before watching the film adaptation — and they absolutely nailed it.
🤖 Started The Murderbot Diaries thanks to the show, and I’m happy to report he’s just as adorable (and emotionally avoidant) in the books.
The First Gentleman Bill Clinton ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Murder at Hambledon Hall (Cleopatra Fox Mysteries Book 10) C.J. Archer ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Busybodies: There’s a Mystery Around Every Corner (Busybodies Collection, #1-6) Elle Cosimano ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Knave of Diamonds (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #19) Laurie R. King ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Lantern’s Dance (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #18) Laurie R. King ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Holly Reads Too Much 