Bye Bye Baby by Ace Atkins

October 22, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Bye Bye Baby by Ace Atkins
Publisher: G. P. Putman’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Carolina Garcia-Ramirez is a rising star in national politics, taking on the establishment with her progressive agenda. Tough, outspoken, and driven, the young congresswoman has ignited a new conversation in Boston about race, poverty, health care, and the environment. Now facing her second campaign, she finds herself not only fighting a tight primary with an old guard challenger but also contending with numerous death threats coming from hundreds of suspects.

When her chief of staff reaches out to Spenser for security and help finding the culprits of what he believes to be the most credible threats, Garcia-Ramirez is less than thrilled. Since her first grassroots run, she’s used to the antipathy and intimidation women of color often face when seeking power. To her, it’s all noise. But it turns out an FBI agent disagrees, warning Spenser that Garcia-Ramirez might be in real danger this time.

It doesn’t take long for Spenser to cross paths with an extremist group called The Minutemen, led by a wealthy Harvard grad named Bishop Graves. Although Graves is a social media sensation, pushing an agenda of white supremacy and toxic masculinity, he denies he’s behind the attacks. As the primary nears and threats become a deadly plot, it’s up to Spenser, Hawk, and a surprise trusted ally to ensure the congresswoman is safe. This is Spenser doing what he does best, living by a personal code and moral compass that can’t ever be broken.

Spenser is hired by political candidate Carolina Garcia-Ramirez’s team to keep her safe when some of her more colorful threatening letters appear to be getting out of hand. Bur Carolina isn’t keen for Spenser’s protection, and he quickly realizes that there are more than a few people who don’t want to see Carolina and her progressive views have any sort of success. Can Spenser keep up with everything being thrown at him?

Spenser is a long running series and while I feel some of the older style of this hard boiled detective series has stayed true to Robert Parker’s original script, I do feel that Ace Atkins has been able to realistically and sensitively added some far more modern elements into the story. The fact that this book blends those older and newer worlds so well together is a big part of the reason I enjoyed this so much.

On the one hand the plotline of “hard boiled detective protects mouthy politician” is a tried and true older style of storyline. And both Spenser and the author rise wonderfully to this occasion. But that would be over-simplifying the plot and story I feel. The current political climate is possibly more polarized than ever before and this story really highlights just how volatile this situation is. The extremes many people feel and are experiencing makes compelling reading to my mind – and the opinions that used to seem like hyperbole and caricatures really do ring as rather honest and current to my mind.

All this is rolled up very neatly into this book along with a healthy dose of snappy come backs and sarcasm which is par for the course with Spenser. But I do feel the author has managed to walk a very fine line between keeping much of the old Spenser novels and feeling alive while thoroughly modernizing it and keeping it current with today’s climate and experiences.

Readers who like a slightly more hard-boiled detective/PI story along with plenty of witty replies and banter between the characters should find this to be as good a read as I did. An enjoyable and well plotted book I shall happily read again in the future.

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

Smart Phone by Josh Eber

October 20, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Smart Phone by Josh Eber
Publisher: Peter Goldberger
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary, Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

A California Mystery Adventure

It started with a text —
a time, a place, then…

———————–

A mystery set in 2009 Los Angeles — when cell phones seemed innocent.

On his first trip to California, Jeffrey is getting the grand tour of Los Angeles from his cousin and a new friend.

Sun-kissed beaches. A mansion in Brentwood. Hollywood studios. Horseback adventures and moonlight swims. Limo rides. A secret cave in Malibu…

Until things go sideways.

And his new phone suddenly changes everything.

Blending danger, fun, and brain teasers, Smart Phone is a page-turner with a message more relevant today than ever — and one that lingers long past its final page.

Sometimes, right when you feel like a misfit, you meet a person or two who seem to make you feel like you fit in somewhere. That’s what happened to Jeffrey, Diana, and M. Two of them were new and awkward cousins, the other a goddess from the heavens, or at least a beautiful girl who smiles at you. Somehow it all worked out until Jeffrey’s phone started texting them.

This was a neat mix of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and AI technology. What a hoot. Some of the things that happened to the kids were things we’d all have thought were dreams when we were schoolkids.

Somehow, Josh Eber mixed adults, kids, mystery, technology, Cadillacs, and teenage crushes and made an interesting read that would keep anyone turning the pages.

I did think there were a few places that slowed down while the team tried to figure out the analytics of the source of all the clues, but it sure would not keep me from buying this book for any Young Adult or even pre-teen. This is truly a fun mystery, and yet it brings up some of the hurt many of us had to handle growing up. At the same time, it is also clean and nice. Hard to find today, and that makes it a good read in my mind.

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Beneath The Grove by L.T. Ryan

October 14, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Beneath The Grove by L.T. Ryan
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

She walked away from her life…

But what did she walk into?

Maddie Castle is about to find out.

Maddie Castle has taken on plenty of tough cases as a private investigator, but nothing could prepare her for this. When a desperate mother begs Maddie to find her missing daughter, she expects to track down a runaway. Instead, she uncovers the dark heart of Willow Grove—a secluded community tucked deep in rural Pennsylvania.

Jasmine Armstrong had a bright future: a promising career, a loving family, and everything to live for. Then she vanished, leaving it all behind for Willow Grove, a place known for its self-sufficient lifestyle and promises of enlightenment. But Maddie quickly learns that Willow Grove’s surface charm hides chilling secrets. Beneath its idyllic facade lie whispers of disappearances, mysterious rituals, and a community bound by an unspoken allegiance to something—or someone—powerful.

The deeper Maddie digs, the more dangerous the search becomes. Jasmine isn’t missing, but she’s no longer the woman her family remembers. Something in Willow Grove has its claws in her, and getting her out might come at a deadly cost. With time running out, Maddie must decide how far she’s willing to go to uncover the truth—and if she’s prepared to face what she finds.

A desperate mother begs Maddie Castle to find her missing daughter Maddie expects the case to be fairly straightforward. When she realizes the young woman has willingly joined a small commune in rural Pennsylvania it quickly becomes apparent to Maddie that the tiny community is far more complicated than Maddie could ever have guessed. Can Maddie safely extract herself from her most dangerous case yet?

I have been enjoying this series and while there is an overall arc of Maddie and her friends and family this book is an interesting case and addition to the series. I really thought the author did a good job of explaining the main character movements of the previous few books without lessening the pace or impact of the current case. I strongly feel this book can be picked up by itself and thoroughly enjoyed by readers, but I have to admit I’m glad I’ve read the previous installments so I didn’t feel the need to catch up on the history between the characters.

This book is just a well paced and has the same sort of emotional plotline as the other books in the series. I feel this series – and Maddie’s character in particular – is very good at straddling the balance between a realistic and modern outlook but still showing the grey areas in day to day life. In this case, where do the boundaries begin between a young adult woman being able to make decisions for herself and her own life – like taking drugs or living in a commune/cult – verses where her mother or brother should be allowed to step in for her own safety. These are not clear cut or black and white issues to my mind – but riddled in grey and I feel this series deals with those sort of ambiguous and difficult decisions really well.

There are some grey or sensitive topics, like cults and drugs and violence, but I really feel they are tastefully handled and also very realistic on what the real world is currently like. This is a bit of a stretch for many mystery/suspense readers and a little outside the usual PI or police procedural style of book, but I found it gripping reading and the writing and characters kept me eagerly turning the pages. While not always a comfortable read, this was an excellent and well plotted book and I gobbled it right up. Recommended.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Brittle Blossom by Jody Chaffin

September 29, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Brittle Blossom by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, Book 4
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

One snowbound Christmas. One body in the ice house. Forty-eight puzzles to the truth.

The grandest gala in forty years fills the Hartwell manor with light and garland — until a blizzard seals the covered bridge and traps the whole party inside for the night. By first light, old Amos Greer is found frozen in the ice house. Everyone calls it a terrible accident: a difficult old man, a wild storm, one careless step into the cold. Retired schoolteacher Eleanor “Nell” Ashworth is the only one still asking who walked him out there.

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 snow was never meant to give up. Track them across forty-eight puzzles and you’ll be ready to name the killer, the motive, the means, and the place before Nell does.

Winter is no time to take risks outdoors.

This was the perfect setting for such a mysterious death. I found it especially interesting to see how many people were trapped in the Hartwell manor after the blizzard. That’s not as common now as it was a few generations ago, and it gave this tale a slightly eerie and old-fashioned vibe that worked well with the cozy mystery genre in general.

What struck me as a little odd was the lack of technology in this story given its contemporary setting. I would have expected more characters to, say, check a weather app before the party and be better prepared for terrible weather or for someone to have a SUV or other method of travelling that could possibly power through the snowbanks. My assumption was that this must have been a storm of the century to prevent such a large crowd from using modern conveniences to either send for help or head into town, but it would have been nice for the narrator to go into a little more detail about why these things didn’t occur.

The character development was even stronger this time around than it was in The Blighted Bough. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored conflicts among the recurring characters whether they were mild, serious, or somewhere in-between. This is a perfectly normal part of belonging to any community, of course, and it was only amplified given the recent death and the storm that prevented anyone from going home or even spending much time at all outside when they were trying to better manage their emotions. Here’s hoping this trend will continue as I’m really getting to know these characters well.

The Brittle Blossom made me yearn for a sensible amount of snow for Christmas.

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

The Bitter Berry by Jody Chaffin

September 25, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Bitter Berry by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, Book 2
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Preston Hartwell came home to Larkspur Hollow the golden boy everyone remembered. By the week of the Strawberry Social, he’d made an enemy of nearly everyone. By the end of it, he was dead.

Everyone calls it a tragedy — a good heart giving out in the summer heat. Retired schoolteacher Nell Ashworth calls it murder, and she means to name who’s behind it. But this time, the detective is you.

Solve each chapter’s word search, and the leftover letters reveal a hidden clue: a suspect cleared, a motive exposed, a secret long buried. Across forty-eight puzzles, you’ll gather everything you need to name the killer, the motive, the means, and the place — then find out whether you’ve cracked the case.

Six suspects. One sweet summer social, one bitter secret. A verdict only you can reach.

Nothing can conceal the truth forever.

While these can be read as standalone works, readers who stick to their publishing order will get to learn a little more about the recurring characters over time. I know I was pleased to meet up again with some familiar faces and figure things out about them that weren’t shared in the first instalment. This struck a good balance between encouraging new fans to join in on the fun while also rewarding its existing audience with some information that makes more sense to people who have already visited Larkspur Hollow in their imaginations before.

In my earlier review of “The Buried Bloom,” I mentioned wanting more plot and character development from these books, and I was happy to see the former be given more time to shine in the sequel. There were hints shared about aspects of this community that are such deeply concealed secrets I wondered if anyone outside of that particular family was actually aware of it. Had the recurring characters been given an equal amount of attention, this would have been an easy five-star read for me for sure. My fingers are crossed that I will be able to cross that threshold with a future review.

I adored the bittersweet mystery this time around, especially when it came to how differently a society might treat various members based on how much money or social standing they have. That topic is an especially good one for the cozy mystery genre due to how many different ways it can be explored. While I don’t want to accidentally give away any spoilers, other readers should take close note of how the various characters in this small town behave around each other and well as around outsiders. It’s something that I can only hope will explored more in future instalments of this series.

The Bitter Berry has only increased my desire to experience this entire series!

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