Tag: Mystery

Books, Reading

Special Feature: Mocha, She Wrote (A Bakeshop Mystery #13) by Ellie Alexander

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: Mocha, She Wrote (A Bakeshop Mystery #13) by Ellie Alexander

If you are looking for a cozy mystery series, you really don’t need to look any further than Ellie Alexander! In my mind there are few better than Alexander when it comes to small town mysteries featuring food. She has such a talent for writing interesting characters and readers will surly get a feel for life in Ashland Oregon!

As an Oregonian myself it’s so great to see cities and towns in books that I am familiar with! I love supporting local authors and Alexander is no exception. I have read a few of the books in this series as well as her other series featuring Sloan Krause. Alexander live in the PacNW and clearly has a lot of love for our area and I simply adore how this series is set in Ashland as I have visited there a few times and find that it’s uniqueness shines under Alexander’s pen!

I have jumped around in this series and have not felt too lost or disconnected from the characters or larger storyline so if you are worried about jumping around, I think you will find yourself right at home after a few pages. Naturally there are established relationships and history within the larger narrative, but I think Alexander does a good job orientating readers in the story and I see no reason for that to stop at this point in the series. If you are a cozy fan you will no doubt know who Ellie Alexander is and if you haven’t tried one of her books, the Bake Shop Mysteries are a wonderful place to start!

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Books, Reading

Special Feature and Excerpt: A McKenzie Sisters Mystery Series

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Special Feature and Excerpt: A McKenzie Sisters Mystery Series

I have really enjoyed  MK McClintock’s books that I have read in the past and seeing her new McKenzie Sisters mystery series is coming out soon, I just knew I had to participate in the book tour! Sadly I couldn’t fit in the books to read but I was able to secure a post about each of the books as well as an excerpt from them to share with you guys!

If you enjoy historical fiction but are wanting to try an author that’s off the beaten path, then McClintock is it! This series features strong heroines and is set in the American West! McClintock has written other novels set in England but this setting really appealed to me! I think the setting will give readers a new setting to really explore and appreciate.

Plus reading a mystery set in the American West feels different and new to me while still having McClintock’s historical knowledge and practiced hand at the forefront of the story! Check out the excerpts below and read a little about each book and see if this is something that you might enjoy! I know I am looking forward to checking them out!

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Re-Share Review: We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Re-Share Review: We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin

Last year my book club picked up this unique book. I had seen a lot of praise for it and it was often called ‘THE thriller to read if you only read one this year’. What I loved about it was that each character was so impossibly flawed and damaged. Not just emotionally but physically too and I loved watching how that unfolded and impacted the story.

It wasn’t a perfect read for me and it earned a three star review from me which puts it firmly in the ‘good’ category when people ask me if I liked it. But what I think is so important about this book and why you would want to read it is because there is so much to discuss! Of all the books I read this last year, this one has consistently stood out to me. I recall the story and characters so well and I think we had one of our best book club discussions about the characters and their flaws.

It’s memorable and unique and now that it’s out in paperback, I thought I would re-share my original review with you guys so you could see what we thought of this one! Even if it’s not perfect, I think that’s the whole point and spirit of the book itself. If you are a fan of thrillers this is one you should have on your list!

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Books, Reading

Special Feature: A Rogue’s Company (Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #3) by Allison Montclair

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: A Rogue’s Company (Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #3) by Allison Montclair

The Sparks and Bainbridge series is relatively young in its inception. I read the first two books but couldn’t get this one in this month—though I do plan on reading it later on this year. The series, overall, has been solid with loads of four and five star reviews flooding Amazon and Goodreads (mine among them!). Montclair is a talented writer when it comes to murder mysteries but one of the things I enjoy most about her books is the way that the mystery unfolds.

It’s always thought out and polished. Since this series is still new, the author does a great job catching new readers up to speed with characters and other side plots while still maintaining the focus on the mystery itself. Since this is only the third book, it’s easy for readers to go back and catch up on other books in the series if they are so inclined.

I feel confident recommending this new installment, as the other two have been solid and wonderful to read! If you are unsure if you should pick this one up mid series, I feel confident that readers will quickly find their bearings and become invested in the series. If you love historical mysteries with smart lady detectives, you don’t want to miss this one! It’s a wonderful new series and this installment promises to give readers something to enjoy over the summer!

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: A Peculiar Combination (Electra McDonnell #1) by Ashley Weaver

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: A Peculiar Combination (Electra McDonnell #1) by Ashley Weaver

I have really enjoyed Ashley Weaver’s Amory Ames books so when I saw she was coming out with a new lady detective series and with a heroine by the name of Electra (Ellie for short), I knew this was going to be a great, great read! Clearing my schedule, I added this one to my early summer reading list and I am so glad that I did!

The Amory Ames series has been fun and I have liked the books I have read, but this book felt so much more complete for some reason (I will get to my thoughts on that in a minute!). Historical mysteries are my favorites, especially when it includes a little romance between the murder and investigating. But as many historical fiction/mystery readers know, WWII and the Victorian era are saturated with books.

So the question becomes how does an author distinguish their new lady detective series? It’s a tough question, for me the thing that caught my eye about this one was the name of the heroine. I loved her flashy and memorable name, it conjured images of a brazen, bold heroine that I just couldn’t get out of my head. That was what made me pick this one up in the sea of WWII historical mysteries!

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