mystery - No Apology Book Reviews

Murder at an Irish Castle by Ellie Brannigan

January 31, 2023

Title: Murder at an Irish Castle Author: Ellie Brannigan Series: An Irish Castle Mystery #1 Poorly written Much thanks to Ellie Brannigan, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review. If you’re looking for a juicy mystery, you won’t find it here. This is primarily a women’s fiction story about a woman who not only loses everything but who also has to move to Ireland or she’ll destroy hundreds …

Don’t Open the Door by Allison Brennan

January 19, 2023

Title: Don’t Open the Door Author: Allison Brennan Series: Regan Merritt #2 Loved this installment Much thanks to Allison Brennan, Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA, and Netgalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Justine Sha for providing the link to the galley. I’m relieved to say I greatly enjoyed this book! I’ve only read a handful of Brennan’s work, but so far it seems to be hit or miss—there’ll be a …

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

January 19, 2023

Title: Hotel of Secrets Author: Diana Biller Series: n/a Loose ends but overall great Much thanks to Diana Biller, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a great book! I liked it better than Brightest Star in Paris. Just a few small issues with it: 1. It got long and could have been slimmed and trimmed (e.g., their sex scene was waaaay too long, I skipped …

Interview with Amanda Flower (Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous)

January 14, 2023

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower is a fabulous cozy mystery that takes place in Harvest Ohio. The duo of Millie Fisher and Lois Henry are back. They are the Odd Couple since Millie is Amish and Lois is English and very flamboyant. Beyond this, readers also learn a bit about the Amish culture, beliefs, and problems. In this story Flower delves into the drug problem among the Amish. As in all the …

Review Roundup Fall/Late 2022

January 5, 2023

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in late 2022. Beware of spoilers! Title: A Sinister Revenge Author: Deanna Raybourn Series: Veronica Speedwell #8 Great thanks to Deanna Raybourn, Berkley, and Edelweiss for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Overall this was a good addition to the series. Not exceptional, but good. I love that Veronica and Tiberious have developed a deep fraternal bond, and I loved the interesting dinosaur …

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

January 5, 2023

Title: Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six Author: Lisa Unger Series: n/a Slow, too much head-hopping Much thanks to Lisa Unger, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Boo to Harper Audio for denying me the audio edition. *raspberry* This book is a slow burn for sure; the only thing intriguing in the beginning was the DNA tests from Santa in the prologue. Scratch that, the book’s just slow …

The Winter Garden by Nicola Cornick

January 5, 2023

Title: The Winter Garden Author: Nicola Cornick Series: n/a Needs an urgent pace and relevant past POV Much thanks to Nicola Cornick, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I liked this book, but there were aspects to it that made it easy to put down. I loved the ghost and paranormal and mystery aspects, and I loved the archaeological aspects. There was plenty of the former (though …

The Twisted Dead by Darcy Coates

January 5, 2023

Title: The Twisted Dead Author: Darcy Coates Series: Gravekeeper #3 Much thanks to Darcy Coates, Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I ADORE this series. So far I like each book better than the last. I listened to the first two before reading Twisted just to refresh my memory. While Coates does an excellent job recapping and briefly explaining anything you need to know from previous books, …

Interview with Sara Driscoll (Still Waters)

December 9, 2022

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Still Waters by Sara Driscoll is an entertaining story. Sara Driscoll is the pseudonym for authors Jen J. Danna and Ann Vanderlaan. This story combines training, competition, and murder. The FBI K-9 team gets approval for a water-search training weekend in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. This training is combined with a three-part search and rescue timed competition. The first morning the handler and their canine partner …

Interview with Korina Moss (Gone for Gouda)

November 6, 2022

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss is the second installment in her cheese shop mysteries. As with the first book, readers are treated to a riveting cozy mystery and great banter between the characters. The French-inspired cheese shop is playing host to celebrity vegan chef Phoebe Winston. But when photos surface that prove this vegan influencer is, in fact, a carnivore, things crumble. Phoebe is murdered. Willa’s employee, the affable Archie, was the last …