Books
Hi! I can't believe it is already Thursday. This week has passed by slowly during the day but then we have had something every evening, so it has also felt very fast. I am really looking forward to this weekend and being able to sleep in. Ever since we went away for a week on vacation my black cat Cas has been very clingy. Now Cas even before we were gone for six days was affectionate but was never a lap cat she would instead sit next to you. Now though:
Look at her being such a sweetheart. Every time I sit down, she comes and sits in my lap. I am not complaining I love it.
This week I read: 2 historical mysteries, 1 paranormal romance, and 1 TV series mystery.
The Infidel Stain by M.J. Carter
This is the second book in the Avery & Blake series. I absolutely loved the previous book, The Strangler Vine. So, I had high expectations for The Infidel Stain, and although I don't think it was as stellar as the first book it was still a five-star for me. This book opens three years after the end of the last one and instead of taking place in India Avery and Blake meet again in London. I thought the mystery was interesting, with a few twists I did not see coming. You can tell the author did their research because they brought 1800s London to life throughout the novel. I love Blake and Avery's interactions and their relationship. They have a unique friendship (with definite Sherlock Watson vibes), and I was kind of bummed that they once again went their separate ways at the end of the story. But never fear there is at least one more book in the series, which I can't wait to read.
By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie
When Tommy and Tuppence visit an elderly aunt in her gothic nursing home, they think nothing of her mistrust of the doctors; after all, Ada is a very difficult old lady.
But when Mrs. Lockett mentions a poisoned mushroom stew and Mrs. Lancaster talks about "something behind the fireplace," Tommy and Tuppence find themselves caught up in a spine-chilling adventure that could spell death for either of them. ~Goodreads Description
Tommy and Tuppence are some of my favorite Christie characters. I enjoy their relationship and how they interact with each other. The mystery is a good one with plenty of twists and turns. I also loved getting to see Tuppence take the lead for most of it. I thought the side characters were well done and entertaining. The ending was a bit of a surprise but made sense once you put all the pieces together. All in all, another good Agatha Christie mystery.
The Silent Partner by Lee Goldberg
This was a great beginning to a good series. I greatly enjoyed the plot of a copycat serial killer that goes undetected until Mark discovers a similarity between the cases. I was surprised and fairly happy that Jack made an appearance. I always liked Jack in the first two seasons of the show and was a little sad when he left although his replacement Jesse was a sweetheart. It was nice we got to see Mark, Amanda, Steve, and Jack get closure in their relationships and I hope Jack makes another appearance later in the series. I can't wait to read another one in the series.
Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall
On a whim, I picked up Darkness Dawns because I was in the mood for a vampire romance and the blurb sounded interesting. Unfortunately, this book mostly didn't work for me but wasn't awful hence rating two stars rather than one. Roland and Sarah were the main couple in the book, but they weren't super dynamic or compelling they were just okay, and their chemistry was kind of lackluster. Also, since this book is the first one in the series, we get a lot of worldbuilding with the secondary characters who I wasn't interested in and mainly wanted to get back to the main story. Plus, the author for some reason felt the need to make her vampires able to eat food but only organic food, so every time they ate, she had to point out it was organic lettuce or organic chicken, it was a weird detail to keep going on about. This is my second book by Dianne Duvall, and I am starting to think that maybe she her writing style isn't for me. I don't see myself continuing this series.
Reading Challenges 2023:
Mount TBR: The Silent Partner, The Infidel Stain
Cloak & Dagger Challenge: The Infidel Stain, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Silent Partner
50 State Challenge: Wonderland Creek (Kentucky)
Read the Quote 2021: Darkness Dawns, They Silent Partner, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Infidel Stain
How has your week been?
Look at her being such a sweetheart. Every time I sit down, she comes and sits in my lap. I am not complaining I love it.
This week I read: 2 historical mysteries, 1 paranormal romance, and 1 TV series mystery.
The Infidel Stain by M.J. Carter
This is the second book in the Avery & Blake series. I absolutely loved the previous book, The Strangler Vine. So, I had high expectations for The Infidel Stain, and although I don't think it was as stellar as the first book it was still a five-star for me. This book opens three years after the end of the last one and instead of taking place in India Avery and Blake meet again in London. I thought the mystery was interesting, with a few twists I did not see coming. You can tell the author did their research because they brought 1800s London to life throughout the novel. I love Blake and Avery's interactions and their relationship. They have a unique friendship (with definite Sherlock Watson vibes), and I was kind of bummed that they once again went their separate ways at the end of the story. But never fear there is at least one more book in the series, which I can't wait to read.
By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie
When Tommy and Tuppence visit an elderly aunt in her gothic nursing home, they think nothing of her mistrust of the doctors; after all, Ada is a very difficult old lady.
But when Mrs. Lockett mentions a poisoned mushroom stew and Mrs. Lancaster talks about "something behind the fireplace," Tommy and Tuppence find themselves caught up in a spine-chilling adventure that could spell death for either of them. ~Goodreads Description
Tommy and Tuppence are some of my favorite Christie characters. I enjoy their relationship and how they interact with each other. The mystery is a good one with plenty of twists and turns. I also loved getting to see Tuppence take the lead for most of it. I thought the side characters were well done and entertaining. The ending was a bit of a surprise but made sense once you put all the pieces together. All in all, another good Agatha Christie mystery.
The Silent Partner by Lee Goldberg
This was a great beginning to a good series. I greatly enjoyed the plot of a copycat serial killer that goes undetected until Mark discovers a similarity between the cases. I was surprised and fairly happy that Jack made an appearance. I always liked Jack in the first two seasons of the show and was a little sad when he left although his replacement Jesse was a sweetheart. It was nice we got to see Mark, Amanda, Steve, and Jack get closure in their relationships and I hope Jack makes another appearance later in the series. I can't wait to read another one in the series.
Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall
On a whim, I picked up Darkness Dawns because I was in the mood for a vampire romance and the blurb sounded interesting. Unfortunately, this book mostly didn't work for me but wasn't awful hence rating two stars rather than one. Roland and Sarah were the main couple in the book, but they weren't super dynamic or compelling they were just okay, and their chemistry was kind of lackluster. Also, since this book is the first one in the series, we get a lot of worldbuilding with the secondary characters who I wasn't interested in and mainly wanted to get back to the main story. Plus, the author for some reason felt the need to make her vampires able to eat food but only organic food, so every time they ate, she had to point out it was organic lettuce or organic chicken, it was a weird detail to keep going on about. This is my second book by Dianne Duvall, and I am starting to think that maybe she her writing style isn't for me. I don't see myself continuing this series.
Reading Challenges 2023:
Mount TBR: The Silent Partner, The Infidel Stain
Cloak & Dagger Challenge: The Infidel Stain, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Silent Partner
50 State Challenge: Wonderland Creek (Kentucky)
Read the Quote 2021: Darkness Dawns, They Silent Partner, By the Pricking of My Thumbs, The Infidel Stain
How has your week been?