Danger On the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 3)

 

Publication Date:

March 29, 2022

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length: 304 pages

Series: Jane Wunderly Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

For young American widow Jane Wunderly, there are worse fates than adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. Unfortunately, her first-class itinerary has an unexpected, and deadly, addition waiting just below deck.

Atlantic Ocean, 1926: Voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship--even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa Fitz Simmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea.

Miles Van de Meter, the man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo, has allegedly vanished into thin air along with his luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn't convinced, not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land, or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination.

My Thoughts:

I had been reading this series out of order (not something I like to do anymore) so going back to books 2 and 3 was very helpful and I'm glad I did. Although this definitely wasn't my favorite of the series so far, it does tie up loose ends that book 4 (the one I read first because of the cover and location!) had in it. Jane and Redvers relationship is clearer for me now and I can just go straight to book 5 and pick up from there. This book was a nice addition, just not terribly exciting.

When it opens they are taking the ship to America, where Jane lives, and are posing as husband and wife to find a spy Redvers is looking for. Jane is happy to be sharing time and a room with Redvers although still conflicted about her feelings for him. This being the 1920's and all, it is highly unusual and she is careful about opening up to him, modesty especially important, even though she is a widow. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber (A Lady Darby Mystery Book 13)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, A Tarnished Canvas, by Anna Lee Huber. This is the latest book in the series and although I haven't read it yet, I have read one from her other series, Verity Kent, and thought it was unique and well written. I have the first book from this Lady Darby series so I probably should start it soon. It's called, The Anatomist's Wife. Set in Scotland it is a series that interests me even more. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery

Historical Mystery

 June 24, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Lady Kiera Darby had planned to spend the winter practicing her painting, but instead, she must find the flaw in a killer’s masterpiece when an art auction results in one participant’s final bid.…

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She’s thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin’s coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit’s aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage’s assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer’s intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they’re on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter’s repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Rose Apple Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu (Su Lin Series Book 9)

 

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For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, I'm featuring, The Rose Apple Tree Mystery, by Ovidia Yu. I was drawn in by the cover and the title. All nine books have a tree name for the title which I thought was fun. And it just looked interesting to me! I downloaded the sample of the first book in the series and read it so quickly I knew I wanted to continue with this series. This is the author's latest book and I want to start at the beginning first. But it is so unique that I am already hooked.

The books are set in 1940's Singapore, and this story is in a place there called the Cameron Highlands. The author really knows her sense of setting as she is from the area. I know almost nothing about the country so I'm looking forward to learning new things. The reviews are good for this series and although you might not have heard of this author, she is well known in her native country for being a great writer. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery

Historical Mystery

 June 5, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

'Til death do us part...

Singapore, 1947. Newlyweds Su Lin and LeFroy are in the Cameron Highlands, an idyllic pocket of countryside on the tropical Malay Peninsula. But this is no honeymoon ... LeFroy is on a protection assignment for powerful businessman Max Moreno and his wife Elfrieda, whose associates have been brutally murdered.

But the hideaway cannot protect the Morenos from vicious threats and ghostly sightings, and when Elfrieda vanishes with a stash of precious emeralds, Su Lin and LeFroy fear the worst. The only clue to Elfrieda's disappearance is rotting fruit from a rose apple tree, piled outside her lodge.

When monsoon floods make escape from the Highlands impossible, Su Lin is determined to find Elfrieda with time to spare to get to know her new husband. But when Max's body is discovered surrounded by rose apples, Su Lin and LeFroy must work together try to prevent further deaths, including their own.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Mydworth Mysteries- Lost in the City of Light (Book 18)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, I'm featuring, Lost in the City of Light, Mydworth Mysteries Book 18, by authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. They are a friend duo who have been writing together and working on projects for many years. I have not read this series yet and there are a lot of books to go through but I wanted to share anyway. It is rare to find male cozy mystery writers so I wanted to promote them. 

The main characters are a husband and wife team which is also less common in these 1920's historical cozies. In this story they travel to Paris and one of them goes missing and it's up to the other one to find them without being taken too. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week! Happy reading ya'll!

 

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

 June 1, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

When Sir Harry is asked to go to Paris for a Secret Intelligence Service meeting, he of course asks Kat to come along. After all, it's Paris in the summer and fun awaits! But the getaway a deux quickly turns dangerous when Harry goes missing. 

Suddenly, with both their lives in danger, it's up to Kat to find out what's really going on. As the trail takes her from grand hotels to the late-night bars of Place Pigalle, it soon becomes clear that treachery has a murderous price in the City of Light.

The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 6)

 

Publication Date:

September 1, 1991

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 448 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Amazon books:

If Indiana Jones were female, a wife and mother who lived in Victorian times, he would be Amelia Peabody Emerson, an archaeologist whose extraordinary adventures are guaranteed entertainment. This time Amelia, her handsome, fearless husband, Radcliffe, and their precocious 11-year-old son, Ramses, are in the Sudan, searching for archaeologist Willoughby Forth, who disappeared 14 years earlier with his new wife. Rescued in the desert after every camel in their caravan dies, the Emersons are taken to a lost city where ancient Egyptian customs have been carried into modern times. 

There, entangled in two half-brothers' battle for the throne, Amelia and family fight for the freedom of the slave class while ferreting out the fate of Forth and his bride, and arranging to escape with their lives. 

Peters ( The Deeds of the Disturber ), who also writes as Barbara Michaels, laces her usual intricate plotting with Amelia's commonsense approach to hygiene and manners, and coyly delicate references to vigorously enjoyed connubial pleasures. Combining a fierce affection for her family with indefatigable independence, stalwart Amelia proves once again an immensely likable heroine.

My Thoughts:

Having finished the previous book in the series in which the family is in England, I was anxious to get back to their usual pyramid digs in exotic places. This time the Peabodys go to Sudan on an epic adventure. They are looking for a man and his wife who have disappeared into the desert 14 years ago and only have a map and their wits to guide them. Facing heat, lack of water and supplies and dying camels the odds are really against them. When they stumble upon an ancient society that has maintained Egyptian customs they are intrigued but soon realize they are also prisoners. The civilization does not want to be discovered and the Peabodys, along with their son Ramses are now coming to understand this is not just a fun history re-enactment but a kidnapping. 

This was truly a wild ride! I honestly enjoyed the first half of the book more, the part where they are asked to search for the Willoughbys, the clues, and just the amazing authentic details that Peters includes as they prepare for the journey and make their way through the desert. I was so excited to know where the map would lead them and was really invested in what they would find. Add to that Amelia and Radcliffe and Ramses banter and it was very entertaining. 

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (Superintendent Battle Book Two) Read Christie Selection April

 

Publication Date:

January 24, 1929

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 282 pages

Series: Superintendent Battle Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie’s classic detective story, The Seven Dials Mystery.

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences.

For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance.

My Thoughts:

I try to be as honest as I can with my blog and reviews but without being harsh or finding nothing positive to add. I admit this wasn't my favorite Christie story, not even close and I gave up on it twice! But then I decided to stick with it as I'd already invested time in over half the book at that point. I'm glad I did (always glad to finish books!) but it was definitely a strange one. I read that it didn't receive positive reviews when it was released and that is lacked her usual efforts. I guess when you are as prolific a writer as Christie you are bound to have some misses sometimes. 

The "prank" pulled at the very beginning seemed very silly and juvenile to me. But I'm not a practical joker type person and especially noting they do this while someone is sleeping which I find very creepy. Gerry Wade, the victim of the joke is subjected to eight alarm clocks ringing at different intervals and ends up dead (not giving away particulars) so the joke goes horribly wrong. 

There were a lot of characters to keep up with and I just didn't connect with them much so I struggled to pay attention. As the story progressed it got more interesting though and by the time I was ready to quit I was getting intrigued. It changed from just the joke, deaths, and odd secret club mystery to more in depth of a plot involving  scientists and secret formulas. I had to know more. 

"Bundle" the nickname for one of the main characters is actually Lady Eileen Brent and she figures prominently throughout along with her Father and love interest as trying to solve the mystery of the Seven Dials Club, who the members are, and especially who "number 7" is. This is the shady character who might be the key to it all. At this point the story was intriguing and started to have that espionage feel to it that is fun in these types of stories. This occurs about halfway through as does the heavier involvement of Superintendent Battle. The behind it all unfolds very slowly but is a fun reveal and I enjoyed the justice that happens to the murderer. 

While not my favorite, I am glad I stuck with it. Read Christie each month is a reading challenge goal of mine and I try to complete it. I don't always get it done but I give it my best shot! 

The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 5)

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1988

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

389 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Can fear kill? There are those who believe so but Amelia Peabody is skeptical. A respected Egyptologist and amateur sleuth, Amelia has foiled felonious schemes from Victoria's England to the Middle East. And she doubts that it was a Nineteenth-Dynasty mummy's curse that caused the death of a night watchman in the British Museum. The corpse was found sprawled in the mummy's shadow, a look of terror frozen on the guard's face. 

What or who killed the unfortunate man is a mystery that seems too intriguingly delicious for Amelia to pass up, especially now that she, her dashing archaeologist husband, Emerson, and their precocious son, Ramses, are back on Britain's shores. 

But a contemporary curse can be as lethal as one centuries old and the foggy London thoroughfares can be as treacherous as the narrow, twisting alleyways of Cairo after dark when a perpetrator of evil deeds sets his murderous sights on his relentless pursuer... Amelia Peabody!

My Thoughts:

I seem to be on an Egypt kick this year! I wanted something to listen to besides Agatha Christie books and thought I'd finish this Amelia Peabody I'd started last winter. I prefer reading her books and am reading the next book in the series alongside listening to this one. It's strange because when I finished book 4 I thought I'd take a break from this series but something drew me back in. I am enjoying catching up with Amelia, Emerson, and Ramses again.

I've read this is the only book in the series that takes place in England. I confess that was disappointing because part of the draw is the exotic locations and the explorations of the Peabodys in the pyramids. But I just know that these books can be complex at times and I needed to make sure I read this one to fill in any gaps Also, I like the characters of Walter and Evelyn (Emerson's brother and his wife) and since they are in England with their brood of children, I knew this might be one of the few that included them going forward.

In addition to the mystery of the guard's death, the Peabody's have been saddled with Amelia's brother James' very odd children. They seem to act innocent but get into all kinds of weird situations with Ramses. I began to actually feel sorry for him early in the book. It's a good peek into Amelia's family and her strange upbringing.

S.S. Murder by Q.Patrick

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1933

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

223 pages

Series: No

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

It’s homicide on the high seas in this mystery by the Edgar Award winning author who wrote the Peter Duluth Mysteries as Patrick Quentin.

Cub reporter Mary Llewellyn is on a soothing sea cruise to help her recover after a minor operation. Her fellow passengers are pleasant enough, gathering to play a friendly game of bridge to pass the time. But the game turns considerably less so when a wealthy businessman samples a cocktail—and ends up dead at the table.  

The news that someone on board dumped a fatal dose of strychnine into the man’s drink sends a ripple of panic through the voyagers. All too soon, it becomes clear that the murder was not an isolated incident when another passenger is shoved overboard during a storm. 

Determined to stop a murderer, Mary decides to do some snooping above and below deck to get to the truth. If she doesn’t figure out the mystery of the seagoing slayer, she might not make it back to land alive.  

My Thoughts

I had heard of the Peter Duluth mysteries but this book was entirely unknown to me when I saw it. It's a stand alone mystery and so you won't miss anything if you read this one only.  The setting drew me in and the cover. I love all things set on the ocean. When I did a little research this is a combination of several people writing these different books. It was a bit confusing so I consulted with Fantastic Fiction's website to get the authors names all correct with the different books. Anyway, this one written by "Q Patrick" seems to be one of just a handful under this pseudonym. 

It started off strong and interesting. The main character, Mary Llewellyn is writing to her fiance in a journal about the events on the ship. She is recovering from surgery and headed home to be married to Davy, and as two murders unfold and the investigation begins she recounts all that involves her and the passengers she has come to know. I liked the style of writing in the diary format and it made her personality come to life. Throughout the book I didn't tire of that. 

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (A Royal Spyness Mystery Book Three )

 

Publication Date: 

July 7, 2009

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Series: 

A Royal Spyness Mystery

Length:    

306 pages

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and-theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scandal, Georgie's shipped home to Castle Rannoch, where her summer plans include honoring a promise to Her Majesty to keep Castle Rannoch's divorcée houseguest from seducing the Prince of Wales. She's also been coerced into helping Scotland Yard with a top-secret mission - namely keeping an eye on the shooting party at Balmoral and preventing someone from shooting the Prince. And Georgie must manage all this without strangling her odious sister-in-law Fig or spineless brother Binky.

My Thoughts:

I have actually been reading this series in order and I'm pretty proud of myself as I've been known to skip around way too much! This is book three and I'm getting to know the characters better now. Lady Georgie is disheartened by her lack of steady employment. She naively decides to start an "escort" service thinking she will be a dinner companion for men in need of a date. When she is approached by the authorities she agrees it might be best for everyone if she takes a small hiatus and heads to her ancestral castle home in Scotland until things blow over. They also are aware of her knack for solving cases and ask her to keep an eye on who might be trying to target the royal family. Set on hanging at neaby Balmoral, spying, and relaxing with royalty she is instead caught up in murder and mayhem again.

I always enjoy Bowen's wit and this one had plenty. Her two unruly Scottish cousins are entertaining and her Grandfather who is not royal in any way is endearing and simple compared to the stuffy royals and Georgie's brother and sister in law. Her brother, "Binky" who is the current Lord of the manor is laid up in bed with an injury that seems suspicious. Was he deliberately targeted? Is someone trying to pick off the royals at Balmoral? And Wallis Simpson, the American and the young Elizabeth II even make an appearance.

It was a fun read although I honestly found the ending to be a bit much. Too far fetched and the actual reason behind the murders was interesting but not too convincing. I thought the action scenes in the last couple of chapters were over the top and very coincidental too but it all worked out in the end. Bowen did draw on historical rumors for the outcome which was fascinating. I also didn't guess the total "why" behind it all so it was well hidden. It's a fun series and I'll keep reading it going forward. I'm pretty loyal to series books, I just wish I had more time!

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Penford Manor Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith (Miss Clara Vale Mysteries Book 4)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Penford Manor Murders, by Fiona Veitch Smith. I've read the one set in Egypt but this is the latest in the series. I have books one and two on Kindle and it is yet another series I need to read. There are just too many cozy mysteries out there! In this story Miss Clara Vale investigates blackmail and murder while staying at a friend's country house.  

I hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Historical Mystery

April 15, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

It's open season at Penford Manor - and someone has murder in their sights...

At Penford Manor, the guests are arriving to celebrate the start of the grouse-hunting. Lords and ladies, barons and baronesses, a Member of Parliament - and chemistry graduate turned detective, Miss Clara Vale, an old friend of the family. But Clara is no ordinary lady. She's secretly investigating a blackmail plot against Lady Penford herself.

Someone in the house is already up to no good, but when the body of a local trade unionist is found on the grounds, Clara's case gets even more complicated. A clue left by the body links it to the blackmail note.

Who has discovered Lady Penford's secret? Can Clara and her trusted assistant Bella work together to find the murderer? And what do the cornflowers which keep popping up everywhere mean?

Amidst the glittering dresses and sparkling conversation of society, Clara must find the truth - before the killer acts again!

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book 11) Read Christie Selection March 2025

 

Publication Date: 

1934

Genre:

Mystery

Series: Hercule Poirot Book 11

Length:   279 pages

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Who wouldn't be pleased to attend a small dinner party being held by Sir Charles Cartwright, once the leading star of the London stage? At his "Crow's Nest" home in Loomouth, Cornwall.

Unfortunately, thirteen guests arrived at the actor's house, most unlucky. One of them was a vicar. It was to be a particularly unlucky evening for the mild-mannered Reverend Stephen Babbington, who choked on his cocktail, went into convulsions and died. But when his martini glass was sent for chemical analysis, there was no trace of poison -- just as Hercule Poirot, also in attendance, had predicted. Even more troubling for the great detective, there was absolutely no motive!

My Thoughts:

This book was the Read Christie March Selection and I listened to it on audiobook.  It was called Murder in Three Acts originally when first published. I and read that this is the only novel where the two characters of Poirot and Satterthwaite work together to solve a murder. 

Sir Charles Cartwright, a famous London actor and friend of Poirot,hosts a dinner party with thirteen guests. During the party, Reverend Stephen Babbington dies after ingesting his cocktail. Although everyone attending suspects foul play, it can't be proven. There is no poison to be found in the drink. Poirot and Satterthwaite, who were attending the party, find this frustratingly odd of course. They cannot work out a motive either. Who would want the Reverend dead? When they hear about another, similar death not long after they are extremely suspicious given that most of the exact same guests attended the second party. Coincidence? Poirot thinks that highly unlikely. 

It was fun to see the challenge presented here. No real motive or means, and most of the guests seemingly harmless bystanders. Poirot eventually interviews the relevant ones and seems to take a liking to one in particular, "Egg" the nickname for Miss Lytton Gore. We see a softer side of him and he also eventually tells us some things about himself personally that are interesting, towards the end, one in particular relating to the way he speaks. I found it all kind of endearing.

I didn't guess the relationship between the two crimes so the mystery was well done. It wasn't the strongest of her books in terms of character development and I wouldn't say I walked away really excited about the plot, but it is still a good read, or listen. Her books usually are a great escape!

 

Death Down the Aisle by Verity Bright (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 11)

 

Publication Date: August 31, 2022

Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery

Series: Lady Eleanor Swift

Length: 319 pages

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

The society wedding of the decade has the blushing bride, beautiful flowers… and the groom arrested before he can walk down the aisle? Thank goodness Lady Swift is on the guest list!

Lady Eleanor Swift isn’t normally one for grand social occasions, but who can resist a wedding? Especially when it’s her old friend, Constance Grainger, marrying the most eligible bachelor in town, Lord Peregrine Davencourt. Eleanor is taking Gladstone the bulldog as her plus one, with a smart new bowtie to match her bridesmaid’s dress.

But the big day is ruined when the groom is arrested for murder before he makes it to the altar. In a baffling twist, it turns out he was already engaged to the lovely Daisy Balforth, who has been found dead at the local inn with Lord Davencourt kneeling over her. The gossip pages will have a field day!

The distraught bride-to-be asks Eleanor to clear her fiancé’s name, as she’s certain he wouldn’t hurt a fly. With help from handsome Detective Seldon, Eleanor examines the evidence. But she’s barely had time to write down her suspect list before Constance’s father is set upon by a bearded stranger on the golf course. Clearly there is more to this story than Eleanor first thought, but can she catch the real killer before the wedding turns into her wake?

My Thoughts:

I wasn't really looking forward to this particular book as much as the others in the series because it takes place in England and I love the books that have Eleanor visiting other locations. So I kind of stalled getting on with reading it. I'm glad I finally did though because it turned out to be really cute and also moved Eleanor and Hugh's relationship a little further. I'd probably be a bit lost if I'd skipped it! So I'm pleasantly surprised and had fun reading it.

In this story, Eleanor is preparing to be a bridesmaid in her dear friend Constance's wedding. But before she can walk down the aisle her fiance, Lord Peregrine Davencourt is accused of murdering his former love interest, Daisy. It's a race against time to clear his name, if he is even innocent, and save the wedding. Peregrine insists he's not guilty and Constance believes him. Eleanor sets out with her butler Clifford and Detective Hugh Seldon to try to help. 

It didn't sound all that exciting when I started but this book held my interest well. I just need cozies to be authentic to the times, have some red herrings to navigate, and wrap things up neatly. This one did just that and included a cast of characters wtih colorful and shady backgrounds. There was the ladies society also of which Eleanor is a part of promoting women police officers (an interesting topic for the time) and the attempt to throw us off with the backstory of a town decimated by the war. I enjoyed the addition of a little boy, Bertie, who is clearly autistic but since at that time people were less aware of it, is presented as an intense, loveable child who ultimately helps with solving the murders in his own unique way.

The person responsible for the murders and mayhem was hidden well until the end and I enjoyed how they were revealed. It was exciting and throughout the book I kept changing my mind as each new clue was revealed. All in all an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next adventure in the series.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Death On the Rhine by Vivian Conroy (Miss Ashford Investigates Book 5)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Death On the Rhine, by Vivian Conroy. I have read the first two books in the series and while the second wasn't as strong on atmosphere as I'd have liked depicting the area of Santorini, the book was interesting enough to keep along with this series. Such gorgeous covers and exotic locations that make me want to keep reading them. In this book, Atalanta Ashford goes on a luxury river cruise down the Rhine and encounters a murder to solve. I will need to read books 3 and 4 first but this one looks good too. 

I hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Historical Mystery

April 4, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A luxury cruise

Hidden family secrets

A body on board…

A birthday trip to Bonn sees amateur detective Atalanta Ashford drawn into the scandalous will of a wealthy grandmother during a scenic cruise down along the Rhine.

But growing tensions lead to a sudden and shocking death. Facing suspicion all around, Atalanta must unravel a deadly web of family secrets as treacherous as the river they voyage on, to find the killer.

Murder at Wedgefield Manor by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Book Two: A Jane Wunderly Mystery)

 

Publication Date:  March 31, 2021

Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery

Series: Jane Wunderly

Length: 304 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

In the wake of World War I, Jane Wunderly- a thoroughly modern young American widow-is traveling abroad, enjoying the hospitality of an English lord and a perfectly proper manor house, until murder makes an unwelcome appearance . . . 

England, 1926: Wedgefield Manor, deep in the tranquil Essex countryside, provides a welcome rest stop for Jane and her matchmaking Aunt Millie before their return to America. While Millie spends time with her long-lost daughter, Lillian, and their host, Lord Hughes, Jane fills the hours devouring mystery novels and taking flying lessons-much to Millie's disapproval. 

But any danger in the air is eclipsed by tragedy on the ground when one of the estate's mechanics, Air Force veteran Simon Marshall, is killed in a motorcar collision. The sliced brake cables prove this was no accident, yet was the intended victim someone other than Simon? The house is full of suspects-visiting relations, secretive servants, strangers prowling the grounds at night-and also full of targets. 

The enigmatic Mr. Redvers, who helped Jane solve a murder in Egypt, arrives on the scene to once more offer his assistance. It seems that everyone at Wedgefield wants Jane to help protect the Hughes family. But while she searches for answers, is she overlooking a killer hiding in plain sight?

My Thoughts:

I have read books one and four in this series and went back to see how book two unfolds. It was good that I did because the relationship between Jane and her love interest, Redvers, really blossoms in this book. The plot wasn't terribly involved and I felt the narration was a little forced in that there weren't enough red herrings and suspects as well as crimes to warrant some of the lengthy musings of Jane. It also didn't take place in an exotic location like the other books, which is the appeal of this series. But I still enjoyed the story.

Lord Hughes, their host at Wedgefield Manor, is suspected of cutting the brakes on his handyman's car, which results in his death.  Jane just doesn't buy it. She smells a rat elsewhere but has a hard time convincing the local inspector. She and her fiance set out to find another alternative, and in the midst of investigating consider his daughter, niece, and the other few guests and staff of the mansion. Most of the book is your typical cozy mystery, them searching for clues, wondering who could be guilty, and in the end wrapping things up neatly. 

I consider this book a transition to the next book three more than an extra exciting sequel. But I wouldn't skip it if you want to continue with this series as I do. It fills in gaps about the characters and I think Neubauer has done a good job making me care about them. I am really looking forward to book three, Danger On the Atlantic, in which Jane and Redvers travel back to her home in America. Then the other books take place in different countries again. It should be a fun time!

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon (Book One of The Secret Detective Agency)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Secret Detective Agency, by Helena Dixon. I have enjoyed her other long running cozy mystery series with Kitty Underhay as the heroine, set in the 1930's. This book is the start of a brand new series which is something I've been looking for to read and feature on my blog. I always seem to never get to start new with series books.

This one is set in the 1940's during WWII and feature a Miss Jane Treen and her cat (a definite draw!) and code breaker Arthur who use their secret sleuthing skills to find a killer. I am excited because book two is already set to release in April. I am looking forward to being in from the beginning this time! 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Historical Mystery

March 27, 2025

Book Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Meet Miss Jane Treen – the coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed, who just happens to be a secret super sleuth!

London, 1941: Miss Jane Treen is at her desk, strong black coffee in hand and fluffy ginger cat by her side, when her top-secret government work is interrupted by an urgent call to Devon. A woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn’t have been. Jane needs to gather the clues and find the killer before someone else from the agency gets hurt…

Shy and handsome code-breaker Arthur Cilento is bewildered by the arrival of the efficient Miss Treen and her cat Marmaduke. She bursts into his life unexpectedly, forcing him out of his comfort zone. The reluctant colleagues huddle near the warmth of a crackling fire in Arthur's country home, working to piece together the murderous puzzle at hand.

In the sleepy Devon village, someone is hiding something: but is it the busybody vicar and his sister, the dutiful housekeeper and her secretive son, the stern librarian, or someone else altogether? And who were the people with the woman in the lake on the day she died?

No sooner have Arthur and Jane have drawn up a list of suspects, than a parcel reveals a clue that sends them in hot pursuit of a coded diary stashed in a village church. But as the heavy wooden door slams behind them and a key turns in the lock, one thing is they need to unravel the truth and crack this code before the killer decides their number is up…

But if they can catch the culprit in time, might this unusual pair become the finest crime-solving partnership since Holmes and Watson hung up their hats…?