Review: The Anatomy of Death (Dr Dody McCleland #1) by Felicity Young

This book caught my eye right after Christmas. I was coming off of a historical mysteries binge and I was eager for another new heroine. I was so excited to read this one but I had to get through a couple of other books on my review calendar before I indulged.

Then the urge disappeared and I didn’t pick it up again for a couple of months. I was finally ready for something new and was eager to get to know Dr Dody McCleland. Not only is this book based in the Edwardian era (my favorite) but Dody is also a medical examiner and I thought that would be an interesting angle for the series.

At the turn of the twentieth century, London’s political climate is in turmoil, as women fight for the right to vote. Dody McCleland has her own battles to fight. As England’s first female autopsy surgeon, not only must she prove herself, she must prove that murder treats everyone equally… Continue reading “Review: The Anatomy of Death (Dr Dody McCleland #1) by Felicity Young”

Review: Why Kill the Innocent (Sebastian St. Cyr #13) by C.S. Harris

I’ve kind of jumped around in this series. I was first introduced to this series when the twelfth book came across my desk for review. I had never heard of the series before but I was intrigued. So much so that I picked up the first book in the series to read before I jumped in so late in the series.

Yes there are a lot of things that happen between book 1 and book 12 as one might expect and yes I was a little disorientated reading the 12th book after basically missing a lot of character development and plot points. However I love Sebastian St Cyr as a character so much that I was willing to be a little lost within the series.

London, 1814. As a cruel winter holds the city in its icy grip, the bloody body of a beautiful young musician is found half-buried in a snowdrift. Jane Ambrose’s ties to Princess Charlotte, the only child of the Prince Regent and heir presumptive to the throne, panic the palace, which moves quickly to shut down any investigation into the death of the talented pianist. Continue reading “Review: Why Kill the Innocent (Sebastian St. Cyr #13) by C.S. Harris”

Review: Lost Books and Old Bones (Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3) by Paige Shelton

Full disclosure….I read this one simply because I liked the title and cover. Yes I was lured in by a pretty cover with the word ‘books’ in the title and I loved the sweet dog. I can never resist a book with a cute dog on the cover. I’m terrible. I didn’t care if it was the third book in a series, or if it an over the top cozy. I just saw the cover and title and I just had to read it!

Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at The Cracked Spine in the heart of town. She’s recently befriended a few medical school students after they came into the shop to sell some antique medical tomes. But when one of the students’ friends is found murdered outside in the alley, Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice.

During her investigation, Delaney finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse—she finds out that they belonged to a long-dead doctor, whose story might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in danger herself (summary from Goodreads).  Continue reading “Review: Lost Books and Old Bones (Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3) by Paige Shelton”

Review: The Italian Party by Christina Lynch

Sometimes I feel adventurous and I read books outside of my traditional review genres. I do this for a couple of reasons……sometimes its for my own pleasure, meaning something sounded interesting.

Other times it’s for my readers (and me too) so they are exposed to other books besides the normal preference. Then there are times when I’ve been deep in my usual review genre that I just need a break.

That’s what happened with this book. I had been reading so many historical mysteries and cozies that I felt like I needed something different with a little more meat.

Newly married, Scottie and Michael are seduced by Tuscany’s famous beauty. But the secrets they are keeping from each other force them beneath the splendid surface to a more complex view of ltaly, America and each other. Continue reading “Review: The Italian Party by Christina Lynch”

Review: Death of an Unsung Hero (Lady Montfort Mystery #4) by Tessa Arlen

I’ve had the pleasure of reading all but one of the books in the Lady Montford Mystery series and they have all been wonderful reads. I love watching how Arlen’s writing has evolved over the series so far and this book was such a pleasure to read!

This book really stood out to me as the best in the series thus far though. Maybe it’s my love of WWI that really made this one stand out or maybe it was seeing the progression of Lady Montford and seeing her family, but either way this was a lovely read and I loved it on many levels!

In 1916, the world is at war and the energetic Lady Montfort has persuaded her husband to offer the dower house to the War Office as an auxiliary hospital for officers recovering from shell-shock with their redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jackson contributing to the war effort as the hospital’s quartermaster. Continue reading “Review: Death of an Unsung Hero (Lady Montfort Mystery #4) by Tessa Arlen”