Tag: Mystery

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

Review: Naughty in Nice (Royal Spyness #5) by Rhys Bowen

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: Naughty in Nice (Royal Spyness #5) by Rhys Bowen

Slowly I am binging this entire series and I hope you have been following along with my reviews on each book. I have no stranger to Rhys Bowen’s books, but this series was one that just kept flying under my radar.

My mom gifted me the first book in this series at least 4 times and I did give in and read the last book in the series—-first, like an idiot. But I decided to finally remedy the situation and started this series from the beginning.

As I said, I am slowly binging the series so that I can be nice and caught up for the new book being released later this summer.

The books are super quick reads and I can usually hammer out one a week in between my other reading commitments, so here we are with number 5! Continue reading “Review: Naughty in Nice (Royal Spyness #5) by Rhys Bowen” →

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

Review: Royal Blood (Royal Spyness #4) by Rhys Bowen

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Royal Blood (Royal Spyness #4) by Rhys Bowen

As promised, I have been making my way through the Royal Spyness Mystery series these last few weeks.

I actually started this one at the end and then decided to go back and read the other books. There are 12 so far and I am sadly only on book 4. But I am making my way as fast as I can through the books and enjoying each one as I go.

They are quick reads and delightfully light and yet entertaining enough to keep me reading into the late hours (especially on the weekends!).

If you have been following along with my reviews of this series, then you know that I have been gifted the first book in this series, by my mom on at least four occasions. It is giving her a rather large head now that she knows I am finally reading this series and loving every minute of it! Continue reading “Review: Royal Blood (Royal Spyness #4) by Rhys Bowen” →

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

Review: The Missing Years by Lexie Elliott

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Missing Years by Lexie Elliott

The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the cover. It’s not everyday that I see a thriller cover with bright pink lettering and I thought it was unique and eye-catching!

Beyond the cover that I couldn’t take my eyes off of….I also liked the sound of the setting. An old manor house nestled in the craggy Scottish highlands…..yes please! You all know how much I love books that are atmospheric and haunting!

So I was instantly drawn to this book and wanted to see if it would be something that I would love. Elliot has written another book, The French Girl, which I seem to recall hearing about and thinking that maybe this would be a fun new author to check out. So when this one came up for review, I thought ‘why not?’ Continue reading “Review: The Missing Years by Lexie Elliott” →

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Special Feature: The Alchemist of Lost Souls (Bianca Goddard Mysteries #4) by Mary Lawrence

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Special Feature: The Alchemist of Lost Souls (Bianca Goddard Mysteries #4) by Mary Lawrence

The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the title. I love the mystical and scientific world of alchemy and I thing it makes for an interesting backdrop for a murder mystery. Also the time period. So so so many historical mysteries are set from the Victorian era thru WWII and while I love all those periods, there are times when it feels a little stale. This time period is ripe with superstition and I think it will do nicely for a series such as this.

When I saw this book, I didn’t even care that it was 4th in a series, the time period alone sounded refreshing (it’s set in 1544!) and I’ve also been assured that each book reads as a standalone. I will have it up for official review in June, but I’ve gotta say, I’ve already peaked the first chapter and already loving it!

I also have a copy up for giveaway this week over on my Instagram page so be sure to check that out as well! The book is available today so I wanted to make sure it was on all of your radar! I am eager to discover this new and exciting heroine who does all her sleuthing in a very unique period!

Summary

A dangerous element discovered by Bianca Goddard’s father falls into the wrong hands . . . leading to a chain of murders.

Spring 1544 Now that she is with child, Bianca is more determined than ever to distance herself from her unstable father. Desperate to win back the favor of King Henry VIII, disgraced alchemist Albern Goddard plans to reveal a powerful new element he’s discovered–one with deadly potential. But when the substance is stolen, he implores his daughter to help.

Soon after, a woman’s body is found behind the Dim Dragon Inn, an eerie green vapor rising from her mouth. Bianca has reason to suspect her own mother may be involved in the theft and the murder. When her husband John is conscripted into King Henry’s army to subdue Scottish resistance, finding the stone becomes a matter of life and death. Bianca must unravel the interests of alchemists, apothecaries, chandlers, and scoundrels–to find out who among them is willing to kill to possess the element known as lapis mortem, the stone of death (summary from Goodreads).

About the Author

The Bianca Goddard Mysteries are set in Tudor London during the final years of King Henry VIII’s reign. Bianca is the daughter of an infamous alchemist who uses her ‘wits’ and sometimes alchemy to solve murders. The series consists of (in order) THE ALCHEMIST’S DAUGHTER, DEATH OF AN ALCHEMIST, and DEATH AT ST. VEDAST. THE ALCHEMIST OF LOST SOULS will release in May 2019, with one more book to follow from Kensington.

I grew up in Indiana but I’ve spent most of my life living in Maine. I’ve also spent most of my life working in hospitals and labs. On the side, I began writing mostly to escape boredom. It’s taken me years to learn how to craft a decent novel. (Or what I term decent). I supplemented my income by writing indexes for publishers. Occasionally I will pen an article and I have been published by the national news blog, The Daily Beast.

I love Tudor England and I focus on the lower classes. My Bianca Goddard mysteries are meant to entertain and I hope they will engage readers who might not pick up period historicals as a first choice. It is an intriguing period, full of superstition, and the makings for interesting characters.

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Special Feature: A Good Enough Mother by Bev Thomas

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: A Good Enough Mother by Bev Thomas

I always love reading debut authors, especially when the story sounds personal and cleaver. This title caught my eye mostly because I am a mother, so I was drawn to at least reading the summary.

The summary sounds crazy, and in a good way. I will let you judge for yourself if it sounds interesting or not, but for me, it was definitely an intriguing summary and plot. I am going to try and fit it in later this summer because it sounds like a crazy plot that will keep me reading late into the night.

But until then, I want this book to be on your radar! I will also be hosting a giveaway for this book over on my Instagram page this week so be watching for that!

Summary

A riveting page-turner that lets us inside the secret world of therapist and patient, where boundaries get crossed, and events spiral out of control. . .

Ruth Hartland is a psychotherapist with years of experience. But professional skill is no guard against private grief. The mother of grown twins, she is haunted by the fact that her beautiful, difficult, fragile son Tom, a boy who never “fit in,” disappeared a year and a half earlier. She cannot give up hope of finding him, but feels she is living a kind of half-life, waiting for him to return.

Enter a new patient, Dan–unstable and traumatized–who looks exactly like her missing son. She is determined to help him, but soon, her own complicated feelings, about how she has failed her own boy, cloud her professional judgement. And before long, the unthinkable becomes a shattering reality….

An utterly compelling drama with a timebomb at its core, A Good Enough Mother is a brilliant, beautiful story of mothering, and how to let go of the ones we love when we must (summary from Goodreads)

About the Author

Bev Thomas was a clinical psychologist in the NHS for many years. She currently works as an organizational consultant in mental health and other services. She lives in London with her family.

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