Murder Takes a Vacation

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman
6/17/25; 272 pages
William Morrow

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman is a recommended cozy mystery featuring widow Muriel Blossom, 68, on a Parisian river cruise.

Mrs. Blossom found a lottery ticket in a parking lot that resulted in an $8 million dollar win. She decides to see the world, starting with a trip to France and a river cruise with her best friend, Elinor. She meets Allan at the airport and he helps her negotiate her way to the transatlantic flight. He continues to assist her in London when she misses her connecting flight and the two enjoy each other's company for a day. The next day she continues on to Paris. 

Mrs. Blossom ends up meeting a man who was following her, Danny Johnson, and he becomes a part of her trip, for better of for worse. In Paris someone searches her room and Allan turns up dead there when he was supposed to have meetings in London. Danny, who may be FBI or a PI, warns Mrs. Blossom that she might be in danger. Mrs. Blossom continues on to meet her friend Elinor and go on their cruise, finding Danny is also on the trip.

This novel had potential. The quality of the writing is good. Muriel Blossom is a charming character and there were many details that were appealing in this mystery, including her love of art and details about places. It works as a cozy because nothing is graphic. She reflects on her deceased husband and her life. She ponders her daughter and family moving overseas, leaving her on her own. She's starting a new chapter of her life and now has the money to do it.

On the other hand, there were several elements that were overwhelmingly problematic. First and most notably is the fact that there is no real mystery. It is abundantly clear throughout the novel exactly what is going on but Muriel remains utterly clueless. She talks about her weight and being old incessantly. Finally, she is too trusting and has no ability to read people. Being pleasant does not equate being gullible. Lippman has written better novels.

Murder Takes a Vacation is a good selection for those who like cozy mysteries without a lot of suspense. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Hazel Says No

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross
6/17/25; 352 pages
Hanover Square Press

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross is a recommended coming-of-age novel tackling topical issues including the me too movement and cancelling people.

Gus Blum, an American studies professor, accepted a tenured position as department head at a college in Riverburg, Maine.  His wife Claire is a clothing designer, daughter Hazel is an eighteen-year-old high school senior and son Wolf is eleven-year-old sixth grader in middle school. His family moves from Brooklyn to the small town and try to find their place where they are one of the few Jewish families in town.

On the first day of school Hazel has the principal of her new high school call her to his office and proposition her. He also threatens her future college acceptances. The fall out from this impacts everyone in the family. Adding to the turmoil is the poorly planned first lecture her father gives, which was based on one he gave many years earlier. It results in a petition to fire him.

The narrative unfolds through the point-of-view of each family member in alternating chapters. Each of the members of the Blum family is struggling and experiencing stress from several different directions and sources. Obviously the harassment looms large, but the resulting fallout causes guilt, victim-blaming, and trauma among the family members. Additionally, it captures the struggles associated with moving to a small town and finding a way to try to fit in.

While the first half of this new adult novel is excellent, starts strong, and gives all the family members compelling, credible voices, in the second half it then evades the realistic direction it was taking. First the narrative suddenly loses track of what was making it successful and begins to takes on the author's voice rather than that of the characters. It becomes lecturing rather than leaving room for thoughtful reflection upon all the events. The unrealistic turn in the plot feels affected which totally changes the tone. I started out totally engrossed in the novel and was tempted to set it aside in the second half.

Hazel Says No is recommended for the right readers. It could be a good book club selection. Thanks to Hanover Square Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Question of Guilt

Question of Guilt by Sally Rigby
6/12/25; 246 pages
Storm Publishing
Sebastian Clifford #7

Question of Guilt by Sally Rigby is a recommended procedural/cozy mystery and the seventh book in the Sebastian Clifford series. In this outing private investigators Sebastian (Seb) Clifford and Lucinda 'Birdie' Bird take on investigating a cold case. It can be read as a stand alone novel.

Thirty-six years ago Daryl Brackstone's mother Helen was murdered. Her father, who was convicted for the crime, recently died while still in prison. Daryl never believed her father was guilty. When a true crime podcaster  contacted her about her mother's murder, Daryl decided to hire a private investigator to look into the case, which brought her in contact with Seb and Birdie. 

The duo decide to take on the case and discover that the police didn't look at anyone but her father and her mother Helen was part of a secretive activist group investigating high-level corruption. Soon the investigators are being targeted which clearly indicates someone has something to hide.

This an even-paced investigative mystery. Clues and information are logically followed as more facts are uncovered in their inquiry, leading the two to further areas to examine. Admittedly, the plot is also very predictable this time. When the opening scene shows the reader that the father was not involved in the murder, it removed the question of guilt and thus some of the tension from the investigation. It might have been a better choice to not start with that scene.

It was entertaining to follow Seb and Birdie looking into the case and see their partnership develop further. Seb's college-aged daughter makes an appearance and is great at assisting with research. The inclusion of Birdie going on a date was a pointless addition to the story and felt like pandering. Personally, I have enjoyed Rigby's other mysteries more. Thanks to Storm for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Deep Water

Deep Water by Paul Heatley
6/8/25; 306 pages
Inkubator Books
Tom Rollins #17

Deep Water by Paul Heatley is a highly recommended action-packed thriller. This is the seventeenth book featuring Tom Rollins, a former black ops specialist who is known for vigilantism and seeking justice by what ever means possible. This is another intense action/adventure page-turner.

Tom Rollins is working a construction job in Newark, NJ, when Dennis, a young man who he works with, witnesses a brutal crime and sees the perpetrators. Tom accompanies him to the police to report it, but it quickly becomes clear to Tom that the police know who did it and are being paid off by them. When the two crooked officers come to their job site to take Dennis and Tom in for questioning, Tom secretly prepares for what he knows will be their demise. He's right, but his preparation means they escape. Now they are on the run being ruthlessly hunted by a security force representing the Penneys and their pharmaceutical empire.

Expect non-stop action, constant threats, and a credible adversary in this suspenseful thriller. The pages will fly by following the mysteries, murders, violence, and henchmen galore. Sure, you'll have to set disbelief aside, but that is easily done while following the actions of Rollins, an intelligent, observant, and, above all else, lethal one-man-demolition-crew seeking justice.

Even though this is the seventeenth book in the series, Deep Water can easily be read as a stand alone novel. There is enough background information seamlessly included in the plot to understand Tom Rollins and his background. Those new to the series could always go back and read previous titles if you enjoy this fast-paced, gripping thriller.

Deep Water is a perfect choice for those who want a thriller featuring an action-hero plot. Thanks to Inkubator Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Death at the White Hart

Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall
6/10/25; 352 pages
Penguin Group

Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall is a highly recommended procedural set in the English village of Fleetcombe. This is the debut novel of the creator of TV's Broadchurch series.

A man is found dead in the middle of the road tied to a chair with a stag’s antlers attached to his head. The victim is well known and immediately identified at the scene as Jim Tiernan, who ran the White Hart pub. Called to the scene is Detective Nicola Bridge, 38, who has recently come to Fleetcombe, a small West Dorset village, from Liverpool. She thought a slower pace would be good for her marriage. Also called is rookie DC Harry Ward. He is ten years younger and a newcomer too. Nicola has years of experience and Harry is eager to assist and learn.

The department has no real experience with a crime of this sort so all of Nicola's experience is desperately needed, as well as her observation skills. Harry is surprising with how much he steps up to assist. As with any small town, there are plenty of secrets and history between everyone. Not all those questioned are forthcoming or open with the information they know

This well written, intelligent procedural features a complex investigation, an even pace, and fully realized characters. All the clues are logically followed and as a pub owner, the list of local people who need to be questioned, and re-questioned, includes people who knew Jim or had interactions with him the night of the crime. The characters all feel like unique, real people which makes it very easy to follow the investigation and piece together clues along the way. These characters deserves a sequel.

Death at the White Hart is a prefect choice for anyone who enjoys British police procedurals. Thanks to the Penguin Group for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Plays Well with Others

Plays Well with Others by Lauren Myracle
6/10/25; 288 pages
Blackstone Publishing

Plays Well with Others by Lauren Myracle is a very highly recommended character based domestic thriller/suburban noir. The whole is much more than the parts when everything comes together for an engaging, compelling thriller. This debut adult fiction novel is a success.

Jake (Jacquelyn) Nolan lost her husband, baby, and best friend in one fell swoop. She was pregnant, gave birth early, lost her son, and then discovered her husband, Adam, was having an affair with her best friend, Shelby, and he was leaving her. She wrote an angry comment on social media and then wrote an angry private response to Shelby, who immediately edited Jake's comments to make her look bad and posted their private correspondence on social media. It exploded online and made Jake a social pariah.

Now Jake has moved to a bungalow on Sweetwater Lane in Fort Collins, Colorado. She keeps to herself as she is still recognized after the social media scandal, but her neighbor Mabel welcomes her to the neighborhood and the two become best friends. Mabel has her own issues, past and present, bothering her. There are also some children in the neighborhood who have their stories told. including Bethany, Mabel's 10-year old stepdaughter, Billy, with an abusive mother, and siblings Delilah and Wendell, who are living with their aunt.

This is well-written, fast-paced novel is really a character study with a plot that explores betrayal, deceit, friendship, toxic social media, and revenge. The narrative is an engrossing page-turner that is full of twists and secrets along with some humor. It is a novel that will hold your complete attention and just becomes more compelling with each chapter. It was surprising how much I enjoyed this novel.

The chapters all are from either Jake, Mabel, Billy, and Wendell's point-of-view, with Jake's story the initial main focus. At first readers may wonder why the children's viewpoints, but it all comes together at the end. The characters, including the children, are all fully realized individuals and realistically developed with strengths and weaknesses.

Plays Well with Others is a great choice for those who like a character based thriller set in the age of social media. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Jill Is Not Happy

Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda
6/10/25; 256 pages
Penzler Publishers

Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda is a highly recommended domestic thriller featuring a very flawed couple in a toxic marriage.

Jack and Jill Tingley met in college and have been married for over twenty years. With their daughter Maggie now away at college, Jill has planned a road trip to Utah for her and Jack to reconnect. Jack, on the other hand wants nothing more to do with Jill. He has a mistress and is planning to divorce Jill as soon as they return. The only reason he has stayed with her for so long is due to a tragic secret the two share. Jill is not happy; she is not going to allow Jack to leave and she has it all in writing.

With each chapter the fast-paced narrative switches between the point-of-view of Jack and Jill. As more secrets are revealed, the toxicity, scheming, and tension explode off the page along with the new twists in the plot. Jill is presented as especially cunning and obsessive, but the deviousness and duplicity of both characters is revealed along the way. Ultimately none of the characters are trustworthy or likable, but following their drama is deliciously entertaining.

Jill Is Not Happy is a perfect choice for those who enjoy reading fast-paced domestic thrillers with devious characters. Thanks to Penzler Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.