With Her Baby on Her Back by Suzette D. Harrison

October 13, 2026 By Leave a Comment


With Her Baby on Her Back by Suzette D. Harrison
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Will she ever see freedom for her babies?

Mississippi, 1848. Enslaved midwife Zinnie is forced to walk two thousand miles behind the slavers’ wagons, her newborn strapped to her back and her two little girls clinging to her hands. Through pain, cruelty and unimaginable hardship, she holds on to one hope: keeping her children safe. And when they cross state lines, Zinnie sees a chance to fight for her family’s freedom…

Texas, present day. Like generations of women before her, Lynette is trying to build a better future for her child. Then she discovers a sapphire brooch hidden in her grandmother’s attic… As she uncovers the extraordinary story of an ancestor she never knew about, can Lynette unlock the strength she needs now more than ever?

Inspired by the remarkable true story of Biddy Mason, an African American woman and midwife, this sweeping, emotional novel celebrates the courage of a woman who fought for her family’s freedom and saved countless lives.

With Her Baby on Her Back offers a powerful dual‑timeline story rooted in the real life courage of Biddy Mason. The historical storyline following Zinnie is compelling, emotional, and often heavy, filled with hardship, pain, and moments that are uncomfortable but important to know. Her determination, resilience, and commitment to her children make her journey unforgettable, and the ending, centered on legal freedom and strength, is truly inspiring. The blend of historical fact with fiction is one of the book’s strongest elements.

However, the modern-day storyline with Lynette didn’t work as well for me. While her search for the truth about her family was interesting, her personal struggles pulled me away from the historical narrative I was most invested in. I wasn’t as drawn to keep reading during her chapters, even though I appreciated the connection between past and present.

I’m not sure whether the book ever clarified the level of education available to the enslaved characters, but some of the dialogue didn’t fully align with what felt authentic for the time period. Lines such as “A dead snake’s the only good snake. But you walloped those eggs like they were proxy for something,” or descriptions like “My youngest raced toward me, indignant,” occasionally pulled me out of the historical setting and made certain moments feel slightly inconsistent with the character as portrayed.

Still, the novel highlights strong women, motherhood, and generational resilience. I enjoy historical fiction, and although this one wasn’t quite for me, I’m glad I read about their strength and the adversities they overcame. For someone else, this style may be perfect. Just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you won’t.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Bruised Bud by Jody Chaffin

October 12, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Bruised Bud by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, Book 6
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Two hundred and fifty years of history. Twenty minutes nobody can account for.
Larkspur Hollow has been waiting a long time for this spring. The village turns two hundred and fifty years old, and the Garden Club has poured everything it has into an anniversary Flower Show worth the number.

Then Margot Hartwell — the last of the Hartwells, the woman whose money was quietly remaking the valley — walks out to hundreds of people on the green, says something no two witnesses will ever agree on, and dies on the grass in front of all of them.

Six people had a reason. Only one had the twenty minutes.

Retired schoolteacher, master gardener, and reluctant detective Nell Ashworth has worked five of these now. She has never had one where the whole village was watching and nobody saw a thing.

Feelings aren’t facts, right?

Some of my favorite passages were the ones that showed how Larkpur Hollow had grown as a community since it was first introduced in The Buried Bloom. This included everything from buildings that had recently been upgraded to new people who had moved into this area and so much more. While all of the books in this series do work perfectly well as standalone stories, I’d recommend reading them in publication order because of how much I enjoyed not only getting to know the characters but also reaching this point in their lives where the events of the past coalesce together to make their permanent mark on this town. It was satisfying to nod along and reminisce a little as I compared the beginning to what I assume is the final instalment.

It would have been helpful to have more development of the mystery itself. As much as I enjoyed the subplots, the main storyline felt a little underwhelming to me due to the murderer’s motivation for their crime and what happened to them after they were discovered. This is something I’m saying as a reader who had a good time with this series in general and was hoping for a little bit more conflict before saying goodbye to the characters.

I liked what this book had to say about why some people resist change and why that resistance doesn’t always have the effect one might hope it will. Change isn’t always a good thing, of course, but it tends to happen whether or not a community feels ready for it. The philosophical trend of these portions suited the storyline well, especially as the murder investigation deepened and characters began sharing some of the most important clues about what happened.

The Bruised Bud was thoughtful.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Love by the Book by Jessica George

October 9, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Love by the Book by Jessica George
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Friendship is the love story you can count on.

Remy is lucky. Her debut novel, based on her three best friends, became an instant bestseller when it was released, and her agent and publisher are clamoring for a follow-up. But just as Remy’s creative inspiration seems to leave her, so too do her friends: one moves to New York, one gets pregnant, and one gets back together with her (awful) boyfriend. After an ill-advised one-night stand complicates matters further, Remy is left deeply alone—and unable to find her next book idea.

Simone is successful. A Kindergarten teacher with a passion for kids, and a well-paying side hustle that affords her all the material comforts she desires, she doesn’t have time for a robust social life. All Simone needs is her close-knit family—but after the true nature of her work is revealed, they cut her off, and she realizes for the first time just how isolated she is.

When Simone and Remy bump into each other (literally) in a bookstore, it isn’t exactly soulmates at first sight. Simone is guarded and prickly, Remy is insecure and heartbroken, and each woman is harboring a secret. And yet they might just be the missing piece the other has been searching for—if only they can let each other in.

Can Simone help Remy make one of the most important decisions of her life—and can Remy help Simone recover all that she’s lost? In Jessica George’s heartwarming, funny, and soulful second novel, she explores the restorative nature of female friendship and the life-changing power of platonic love.

Love by the Book by Jessica George is a soulful exploration of the seasons of life. The story follows Remy, a bestselling author struggling with writer’s block and the shifting dynamics of her core friend group, and Simone, a guarded teacher dealing with isolation after a family fallout. Their chance meeting sparks a unique platonic bond that helps them navigate secrets and major life transitions.

The novel’s greatest strength is its focus on platonic love. George does a beautiful job depicting how female friendships morph over time how some people drift away while others become vital anchors. The dynamic between Remy and Simone, despite being total opposites, is refreshing. They offer each other a judgment free space to process their respective secrets. While the themes of feminism and self-love are strong, the execution felt a bit uneven for me. The book felt slightly long, and there were stretches where I had to push myself to keep reading. Additionally, I found Remy’s character to be a bit overly dramatic. Her reaction to her friends moving away felt like an “end of the world” scenario, which became frustrating since they weren’t actually cutting ties. Finally, the big secrets both women were harboring, which drove much of the plot, felt glossed over at the end. After so much build-up, I wanted more detail and weight given to their final decisions rather than the brief mentions they received.

Overall, this is a good read for anyone who enjoys stories centered on the restorative power of friendship. It’s an decent book that offers insight into modern womanhood, even if the pacing and character reactions occasionally missed the mark.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Bad Seeds by Mary Monroe

October 8, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Bad Seeds by Mary Monroe
Book 6 of A Lexington, Alabama Novel
Publisher: Dafina
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

The daughter of a hardworking restaurant owner, Louise Brooks always sees the best in people—and in helping them no matter how difficult her own life gets. She’s lived through tragic loss and working in the family business, even after enduring a failed marriage and raising a child. So she’s delighted when she finds a best friend in Della Thornton, a woman struggling with bad breaks and unlucky romances. Many years later, when Louise’s father and her prosperous second husband pass away, Louise takes Della in and gives her a role in the restaurant as it grows more successful than ever . . .

Louise is now convinced lasting love is not in the cards for her—until she runs into handsome Malcolm Purdy. He’s everything she could want—outgoing, charming, and attentive. Soon they become engaged. And although Louise is dismayed that Della and Malcolm hate each other from the start, she does her best to keep the peace between the two people she cares about and trusts the most . . .

But a chance encounter from the past shows Louise that neither Della nor Malcolm is quite who they say they are—and their deceit runs deeper and deadlier than she imagined. With her illusions in ruins, how far will she go to see justice served? And will her final shocking move cost her more than she’s willing to lose?

Mary Monroe returns to the scandal-filled streets of Lexington, Alabama, with Bad Seeds, a gripping tale of envy and betrayal. The story follows Louise Brooks, a generous businesswoman who has weathered personal tragedy only to find herself ensnared in a web of deceit.
Monroe remains a master of character development. Louise is kind and giving but when those around her aren’t who they appear to be, she knows how to adapt. I appreciated how Monroe transformed Louise from a warm-hearted daughter and friend to a woman driven by her circumstances. I was definitely cheering her on. The historical backdrop of Lexington is always, rich with drama, and suspense that fans have come to crave. Monroe’s creativity shines, providing a shocking conclusion that I didn’t see coming.

If you are familiar with Mary’s writing, you know she takes her time to lay down essential details, giving her readers a full picture. While I sometimes find this frustrating with other authors, I am a fan of Mary’s writing style. While the storytelling is top-tier, there are moments where the pacing drags. However, I enjoyed following the breadcrumbs, engaging in the character development, and getting acquainted with the era and townsfolk. I always look forward to Mary’s endings, as her storytelling keeps you guessing and never disappoints. With her talent for storytelling, you may not know how it’ll end, I just know it’ll be a strong ending where her creativity consistently impresses.

This was a very good read and a fantastic addition to the Lexington series. To be honest, I enjoyed her previous book slightly more, but Bad Seeds still stands as a testament to Monroe’s talent for creating depth and dimension in her characters. Even though it’s a standalone, it carries that familiar energy that makes this world so addictive. If you’re a fan of historical suspense and strong female leads, this is a journey worth taking.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Straw In The Wind by Carol Cole

October 7, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Straw In The Wind by Carol Cole
Publisher: The Book Folks
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A suspicious death, a missing girl, and very few leads… New Forest police are grasping at straws

Whilst Detective Inspector Callum MacLean is settling into his new role in rural Hampshire, a young woman is found dead in the neighbourhood, her identity unknown.

For a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone else, this seems very odd, but when a local child goes missing shortly afterwards, panic sets in.

It’s not the first such case for the Scottish inspector, yet the last one in Glasgow ended in tragedy. This is personal. And when Callum’s team don’t share his sense of urgency, he will have to put his foot down.

It doesn’t help that Sergeant Daisy Donaldson, with whom Callum had developed a rapport, has doubts about his theories. Like the weather, relations are becoming stormy.

As the search gets underway to find the little girl, last seen feeding her ponies, all potential suspects have rock solid alibis. The only lead is a white van seen near the area in both cases.

Yet Callum begins to fear they might not be the only ones looking for the missing girl. Will they find her before tragedy strikes again?

DI Callum MacLean is settling well into his new life in rural Hampshire. With a small but friendly team of police colleagues and a comfortable place to live while his new house is being built, he feels quietly settled despite still deeply missing his recently deceased wife. When a young woman is found dead in New Forest, his peace is brought to an abrupt end. When this is followed shortly by a young missing girl things quickly begin to spiral out of control. Can MacLean and his team get to the bottom of these mysteries?

While this is the second book by this author about DI MacLean I strongly feel this can be read by itself as a stand alone, British police procedural mystery. The story and most of the characters are well encapsulated in this book and while a little of MacLean’s history – mostly his grief and loss still being processed after his wife died naturally previous to the first book – does need to be explained, the vast majority of this book hold very well just inside these pages.

I feel the two mysteries themselves were very well plotted and paced. Indeed, I feel this is written well enough I even questioned whether the kidnapped child and murdered young woman were linked or not. Coincidences do occur and there was enough doubt for me that I did wonder and had to learn more along with the characters. It wasn’t an easily guessable resolution to the plot and that was quite wonderful to me.

With two solid plots, some really layered and interesting characters and some realistic and relatable secondary characters I found this to be vastly enjoyable and an easy book to pick up and read. I am definitely eager for more by this author and can happily recommend it to mystery readers of all ages. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Borrowed Bouquet by Jody Chaffin

October 6, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Borrowed Bouquet by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, Book 5
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A bouquet nobody sent. Forty-eight puzzles to the truth.

All week, the Larkspur Hollow Garden Club has been selling Valentine’s parcels — a bouquet and a card to every house in the valley — to save a grand old Vermont house from falling down. On the night of the benefit, quiet, kind Winnie Talbot receives the most beautiful flowers anyone has ever sent her, and a card asking her to meet.

By morning she has been pulled from Larkspur Creek. The whole Hollow agrees she slipped on the ice. Retired schoolteacher Eleanor “Nell” Ashworth does not.

And nobody can say who sent those flowers. There is no order form, no payment, and no shop in the county that could have grown a rose like that in February.

But this time, the detective is you.

Each chapter hands you a scene and a word search. Solve the puzzle, and the leftover letters reveal a hidden clue — a suspect cleared, a motive exposed, a secret the Hollow would rather keep buried. Track them across forty-eight puzzles and you’ll be ready to name the killer, the motive, the weapon, and the place before Nell does.

Six suspects. One bouquet nobody can account for. A verdict only you can reach.

Valentine’s Day is a terrible time to be alone.

I’m thrilled to finally be able to give a five star rating to one of the Larkspur Hollow Garden Club mysteries. Including love in this tale was what ultimately propelled me into making this decision, although I can’t say what type of love it was without giving away spoilers. What I can say is that even thought this was about a murder it was heartwarming as well. The main characters felt more well-rounded than ever, and I deeply enjoyed getting to once again explore their complex relationships with one another.

As I originally mentioned in my review of The Buried Bloom, this series does an excellent job of exploring small town politics. It’s something that was present in that very first book but also continued to be included later on in the series in all sorts of memorable ways. This time around, it centered on the complex relationships that can develop between people who have mixed feelings about each other but are forced to interact more than is emotionally healthy for them due to the limited opportunities for socializing in such a tiny community. While I don’t want to share any spoilers about how that sort of relationship can turn out, I adored what the author did with it and am excited to see what he comes up with next.

The rose analogy worked quite well for me even though I do not grow flowers or garden in my spare time. It will be interesting to see if readers who are more familiar with gardening feel the same way, but I thought those scenes describing how roses can be grown at times of the year when plants in general do not typically bloom not only added some beauty to the storyline but also complemented the life of the victim nicely. They always felt like natural additions to the plot, and I would have happily read even more of them had this been a longer piece.

The Borrowed Bouquet immensely satisfied me.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Liar’s Creek by Matt Goldman

October 5, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Liar’s Creek by Matt Goldman
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Riverwood, Minnesota is a scenic town threaded with trout streams carving their way through limestone bluffs. But beneath its picturesque facade, danger runs rampant.

Clay Hawkins isn’t a stranger to the secrets of his hometown. After twenty years away, Clay has recently returned home from abroad with his twelve-year-old son, and his relationship with his father, the recently replaced sheriff, is as strained as ever.

But when Clay’s beloved uncle disappears, the three generations of Hawkinses must overturn every stone in Riverwood and confront deep familial wounds to find the one person who brings them together. As danger looms, Clay worries that it might be too late to save his uncle―and that the rest of the family might be next.

In “Liar’s Creek,” the author creates a vivid atmosphere in Riverwood, Minnesota, where the limestone bluffs and trout streams feel like characters themselves. If you enjoy mysteries with a strong sense of place, the beautiful scenery is a standout feature.

At its heart, the novel is a raw exploration of multi-generational friction and the deep-seated wounds that define the Hawkins family. The strained relationships between Clay Hawkins, his 12-year-old son Braedon, and Clay’s father, former sheriff Judd Hawkins, feel real and emotional. As they search for their missing uncle, Teddy, they confront past wounds, adding depth to the suspense.

Clay’s relationship with his father is especially complex. They join forces to find Teddy, a charming but unreliable man who has gone missing before. This time, however, he hasn’t reached out to his wife or Judd. As the plot unfolds, Judd is hesitant to involve the new sheriff, Chief Zoey Jensen. Clay has his own secrets, which Judd suspects and Zoey will soon discover, but for now, their priority is finding Teddy. Braedon is an intelligent and intuitive boy who shares a close bond with his Grandpa Judd, as readers will find out, a connection Clay never had. Judd seems to be trying to make up for his past shortcomings as a father by nurturing his relationship with Braedon. Will the connection with his grandson help bridge the gap between him and Clay?

The backstory reveals that Clay and Judd’s relationship has always been troubled. After Clay’s mother passed away from breast cancer when he was young, Judd blamed Clay for her death. As they confront their shared past, Clay realizes he wants to break the cycle of dysfunction, especially since Braedon’s mother left when he was just a baby, never to be heard from again.

Overall, “Liar’s Creek” presents a captivating, easy-to-read storyline, even if some sections feel slow. The transition from a mystery to a heartfelt story about forgiveness and redemption is satisfying, even if the interpersonal drama sometimes overshadows the plot of finding Uncle Teddy.

Ultimately, “Liar’s Creek” masterfully blends slow-burn mystery with family dynamics. It goes beyond tackling the darkness of the past and offers a hopeful vision for the future, making it a rewarding read for those who appreciate stories filled with suspense, redemption, and the complex bonds of family.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Blood Rising by Markus Redmond

October 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Blood Rising by Markus Redmond
Blood Slaves Series, Book 2
Publisher: Dafina
Genre: Historical, Horror, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Kwadzo Okoro never believed the bloody legend of Ramanga was real. Now, he stands as the leader of a new Ramanga Tribe, one that sieged the Barrow plantation in a storm of righteous carnage, liberating its formerly enslaved Africans. Reclaimed as the Crimson Plantation, it is now also home to the wronged Natives who fearlessly aligned with the Ramangans.

But Kwadzo knows that freedom is not secure. Bartholomew and Constance Crabtree, the most influential slaveholders in the region since the demise of Big Jim Barrow, are galvanizing the Lakeside community to strike back—violently. The threat they pose, however, pales in comparison to the insidious menace of Penelope Knudsen. Her white-hot hatred, now fueled by Ramangan blood, and an ability to survive the sunlight—a power Kwadzo doesn’t have—threatens to upend Kwadzo’s advancement of Ramangan might throughout the colonies to free his people.

But the gravest threat comes from within: Rafazi. His blood fathered the rebellion, but he will not take orders from his own creation. And when Rafazi makes a deadly deal with the Crabtrees, Kwadzo is forced into a battle with his maker that he may not survive, while the everlasting freedom of every enslaved person in the colonies hangs in the balance.

In Carolina and beyond, a reckoning is coming that will change the colonies forever.

Blood Rising is a brilliantly terrifying blend of supernatural horror and alternate history. In this second installment, a vengeful Ramanga vampire tribe, formed of formerly enslaved Africans, wages war across the Southern colonies in an ultimate battle for land, freedom, and rights. This book focuses on the liberated Ramangans and local Native tribes as they try to establish a new society while facing violent, relentless backlash from surrounding white plantation owners.

While it wasn’t quite as action-packed or exciting as the first book, I did struggle with some parts. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the aftermath of the rebellion and observing how life progressed after the initial emancipation of the enslaved. Following Kwadzo Okoro as he leads the new Ramanga Tribe, now established at the reclaimed Crimson Plantation alongside allied Native tribes, provides a compelling continuation of the story.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was seeing Gertie’s maturity since book one and her support for Kwadzo. The introduction of new, highly influential slaveholders Bartholomew and Constance Crabtree added a layer of anxiety to the plot. They were incredibly easy to dislike and constantly made me wonder if Kwadzo and his people would be able to continue their fight against such evil opposition. Another new character introduced is Jenue, whose relevance I’m unsure of. They seem to follow a similar path as Rafazi, showing less concern for the freedom of the people or the fight for it, focusing instead on their own happiness and pleasures.

What I appreciate most about Redmond’s writing is his commitment to historical accuracy. He addresses the brutal mistreatment of enslaved people and Native tribes with honesty, which adds significant weight to the story. This alternate history is driven by passion and justified anger, transforming a dark chapter of pre-colonial America into an empowering narrative. I particularly admire that it serves as a fascinating study of power, achieved through a brilliant reimagining of both history and vampire lore.

The suspense surrounding Penelope Knudsen was another highlight. Driven by hatred and fueled by Ramangan blood, her ability to survive sunlight creates a massive threat to Kwadzo. Watching her character unfold leaves me guessing whether she will choose to maintain her malevolent spirit or ultimately work for the greater good. With the dire threat of the blood-father Rafazi making deadly deals with the Crabtrees, the stakes are incredibly high. I’m anxiously waiting for the next installment in the book series to see how this reckoning in the colonies concludes!

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Kin by Tayari Jones

October 1, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Kin by Tayari Jones
Publisher: Knopf
Genre: Historical, Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Vernice and Annie, two motherless daughters raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, have been best friends and neighbors since earliest childhood but are fated to live starkly different lives. Raised by a fierce aunt determined to give her a stable home in the wake of her mother’s death, Vernice leaves Honeysuckle at eighteen for Spelman College, where she joins a sisterhood of powerfully connected Black women and discovers a world of affluence, manners, aspiration, and inequality. Annie, abandoned by her mother as a child and fixated on the idea of finding her and filling the bottomless hole left by her absence, sets off on a journey that will take her into a world of peril and adversity, as well as love and adventure, culminating in a battle for her life.

“Kin” is a heart-wrenching exploration of what it means to find “kin” when growing up without a mother. Tayari Jones’s writing is both descriptive and soulful, particularly in how she handles the different ways Annie and Niecy deal with their shared grief. The characters, Annie and Niecy, are unforgettable. Their desperation for connection is very evident. I fell in love with these two young women as they navigated different paths toward adulthood, searching for belonging. Their bond, maintained through letters, felt incredibly authentic, and Jones’s well-crafted, lyrical writing made them come alive as real people.

The themes in the book, focusing on motherhood, surrogate mothers, and the unique experiences of being a black woman in the South, are handled with immense care. Jones’s writing style is simply gorgeous, enriching the narrative with depth and emotion. However, I found some aspects that held it back. The pacing felt uneven, and it took me a long time to finish the book. Despite the quality of the writing, my engagement wasn’t consistent, and I struggled to stay invested.

The ending felt rushed and somewhat choppy. I understood the message about how different choices lead to varied outcomes, but the conclusion needed more room to breathe to truly resonate. Overall, “Kin” is a beautiful rendering of friendship and hardship that left me with heavy thoughts to ponder. It’s a very good read, and I’m grateful for the experience.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Murder Now And Then by Faith Martin

September 30, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Murder Now And Then by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Cozy Mystery
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Former Detective Hillary Greene and her cold case team are taking a fresh look at the unsolved murder of Michael Beck, found bludgeoned over the head and dead in a river near his home in 2012.

Just twenty-two at the time, he’d recently finished a history degree and had his whole life ahead of him. Everyone said he was a pleasant sort of lad with a passion for the past, quietly living with his parents until he could afford a place of his own. But it quickly turned out that there were at least two people who might have wanted him dead.

The first, his recently-jilted girlfriend Mia de Salle, hadn’t taken the break-up well. The second, his former tutor Dr Timothy Durning, had been accused of sexual harassment by Michael. But the original team could find no forensic evidence linking either of their prime suspects to the crime, nor witnesses placing them in the area when Michael was killed.

Hillary, however, is determined to find fresh leads. But while she and her team get to work, in the city of Oxford two men from the city’s criminal underbelly have been viciously murdered in the last six months.

Are the recent murders and her own cold case linked? More than a decade later, has the same killer struck again? And if so, what’s the connection between the mild-mannered young man and the underworld criminals?

It’s up to Hillary to stop a killer getting away with murder — both now and then.

Ex-DI Hillary Greene and her small team are given the decade old murder of a young historian to investigate. With no forensics and no real leads pointing to anyone who disliked the friendly young man Hillary knew this would be a hard case to get a handle on. Can she and her team bring justice to the young man’s family?

I found this to be a fun and enjoyable British police procedural style of mystery book. While the murder plot was well written and layered, I felt that for this particular book it was a number of the longer running story arcs revolving around Hillary and her team’s personal lives that really stood out here. Readers who enjoy a well paces mystery should find this a good read. I found the various plots were very well explained though do admit a better emotional connection to the private stories – especially Gareth’s – might resonate deeper with readers who have read one of two of the more recent books in this series.

With interesting characters and not your usual police detectives more regularly found in British police novels, this is a fun and vibrant series that I am finding is a real go-to when I need something a little different to read and enjoy. For the most part the books are linked but still quite independent – I do love how they don’t necessarily need to be read in order to be enjoyed. And always with a solid mystery and good investigation work they’re a real pleasure to read.

A fun and character driven mystery, this is an enjoyable book I can easily recommend.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
Next Page »