Elementary, She Read

Title: Elementary, She Read

Author: Vicki Delaney [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Eva Gates [Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781683310969

Obtained: NetGalley

Why this book?:

I loved the cover, the Shelock Holmes Bookstore idea was appealing, and I've read and enjoyed Vicki Delany's books before.

Comments:

I enjoyed this book.  I liked Gemma, despite that manner that likens her to Sherlock.  The setting was fun (I've always liked the idea of owning a bookstore, and the Sherlock bit was particularly interesting to contemplate).  And while I did not have good feelings about the bad guy, I also didn't guess that he/she was the bad guy; I thought he/she was just not a likable character.

I look forward to reading more in this series.

Death by Chocolate Lab

Title: Death by Chocolate Lab

Author: Bethany Blake [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Kensington Books

Series: Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781496707383

Obtained: NetGalley

Why this book?:

I was drawn first to the title, then to the description, and the cover is cute too.

Comments:

Daphne Templeton has a deep love for animals and a pretty laissez faire attitude about life.  She lives (mostly rent free) with her sister, has a beat down van on its last legs with painted side panels advertising her business (kinda - painting vehicles isn't her friend's forte), and a junky phone that isn't always charged or functioning.  She also has a doctorate in philosophy and a vegetarian lifestyle.  Her vet sister has placed a cap on how many dogs/animals she can have in the house at a time, and she's only allowed to keep one - her basset hound, Socrates.

I find animal cozy mysteries enjoyable to start with, though they can sometimes get a little "preachy" - this one didn't feel preachy at all.  I was also strangely envious of how Daphne could be strapped for cash and yet calm and not stressed.  She's obviously intelligent and yet doesn't feel pressured to "succeed" even when her mother and sister both fuss at her.  And then there was the humor which kept me going strong, reading into the night and not reading my book discussion book when I ought to have been.

With all that, the mystery didn't even matter as much, but fortunately, I found that interesting too.  Daphne's sister's ex has been murdered, and while he was basically not well liked by anyone, her sister is the prime suspect.  So Daphne pokes around, causing trouble and showing that she can be determined when she wants.

Some people don't like romance in their mysteries.  I do, as long as it doesn't overtake the rest of the story, so I found the interaction between Daphne and Detective Jonathan Black interesting and fun.

Anyway, I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Dial Meow for Murder... I've already requested my library purchase both books.

Untimely Death

Title: Untimely Death

Author: Elizabeth J. Duncan [Website][Twitter][Facebook]

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Series: Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781629531915

Length: 278 pages

Obtained: NetGalley.  This is the 2nd NetGalley book I've gotten.

Why this book?:

It's a cozy mystery.  I just LOVE the cover.  I liked the Shakespeare production idea.

Additional context:

Before I comment on the book itself, I have to give some context.  Usually the "Why this book?" field fills that function, but this needs more.

I was approved for the advance review copy of this title with the request that it be reviewed in the month it was published...November (though my memory is saying October).  So I was delaying to time it right, then at the beginning of October, I went to start it and... my Kindle Keyboard that a lovely former-blogger friend sent me was ruined! The screen had been placed under too much pressure and now I couldn't read anything in the display.  So I was left reading the book on a PC screen or my iPhone.  Which I did, but slowed things down, because I love the eInk Kindle so much more and I needed time to mope.

I gave myself an extra week or two before finally starting the book.  And my thoughts (what I remember of them) can be found in the "Comments" below.  But even once I finished the book (before the deadline), I was being a horrible blogger and didn't post.  So I've had a 2 month gap since reading this, and some memories are foggy.  Keeping that in mind...

Comments:

What made the most impact on me as I read this story was the protagonist.

Because Charlotte Fairfax is a tad off-putting with her condescension.  She's British (despite an extended period residing in the States) and middle aged.  Therefore, she has a much better grasp of etiquette and her experience has made her much more knowledgeable than the silly young Americans she works with.  And apparently she feels as if not being technologically proficient is somehow the better position?

It's great that she overcame troubled times and is content with her role as costume mistress for a Shakespearean theater in a small town.  She certainly has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with her new intern.  She generally seems like a nice enough person, and I like that she is an animal lover (or at least a dog lover).

As far as the mystery was concerned, I did notice some of Charlotte's investigation methods seemed off (such as the incredibly stupid stunt she pulls - breaking the law and jeopardizing the trust of a friend - partway into the story), but those can easily be fixed as she becomes more experienced at investigating.

Overall, the story was nice, and I'd continue with the series.

The Lost Prince (Seaborne, Bk 1)

Title: The Lost Prince (Seaborne, Bk 1)

Author: Matt Myklusch

Publisher: Egmont USA

ISBN: 9781606845264 (Advance Reader Copy)

Obtained: NetGalley

This is the first book I've ever received through NetGalley.

I enjoyed it, especially Dean Seaborne (though the name Dean just doesn't strike me as very pirate ... or spy).  He was resourceful and didn't give up on life when he very easily could have.  Also, he was relatively honorable and loyal, considering his "profession".

I look forward to seeing more of his adventures.  But while I wait for the bk 2 in the Seaborne series to come out, I think I may try Matt Myklusch's Jack Blank series.  It sounds interesting, with a common orphan theme.