mystery - No Apology Book Reviews

Review Roundup Spring 2022 – Perilous Perspective, Lighthouse Witches, Last Duke Standing, Needless Street, and more

April 27, 2022

I haven’t done any of my usual big reviews yet this spring, but I’ve done some smaller ones. I’ve rounded them up into one post below. Title: A Perilous Perspective Author: Anna Lee Huber Series: Lady Darby Mysteries #10 I would like to thank Anna Lee Huber, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this installment of Lady Darby! It’s so nice to see her happy and in …

Interview with J. A. Jance (Nothing to Lose)

March 25, 2022

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Nothing to Lose by J. A. Jance is a riveting story of love, murder, family, evil, and human nature. As with many of her books the author blends in humor within the plot to put smiles on the readers’ faces. This plot continues the story of Sue Danielson’s family. Sue was J. P. Beaumont’s (Beau), Seattle PD partner who was killed by her ex-husband. Now, almost twenty years later, Jared reappears in Beau’s life …

Interview with Roy Johansen (Killer View)

March 19, 2022

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Killer View by Roy Johansen is a spinoff from the bestselling Kendra Michaels series he writes with the legendary author, Iris Johansen, who happens to be his mom. He has gone solo in writing Jessie Mercado’s story, a private investigator who is a friend and colleague of Kendra. Kendra Michaels is a San Diego music therapist who uses her powers of observation and deduction to help law enforcement investigators solve cases. In the Michaels’ …

Interview with Alexis Morgan (Death by the Finish Line)

February 26, 2022

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Death by the Finish Line by Alexis Morgan is a cozy mystery. Its characters include former military with a female heroine deciding to stay in the community of the small town in Seattle, Snow Berry Creek. The main character Abby McCree has been roped into helping with a 5K charity race on Founder’s Day. Her partner, Gil, has a motorcycle repair and customization shop, but he was in the military and has great organizational …

Interview with Stephanie Graves (Olive Bright, Pigeoneer and A Valiant Deceit)

February 11, 2022

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Olive Bright, Pigeoneer and A Valiant Deceit by Stephanie Graves are the latest books in her new historical mystery series. It features Olive Bright, a spirited young pigeon fancier who finds herself working for a secret British intelligence agency, while in her spare time solving mysteries. These books are set in England during World War II where the reader gets a close look at life in a small English town. The first book has …

Interview with Sasscer Hill (Shooting Star)

February 5, 2022

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Shooting Star by Sasscer Hill is another one of her “edgy cozies.” As with all her books her plot combines greed, evil, and courage into a mystery thriller. In this book readers are back in the saddle with the main character, Nikki Latrelle. The plot has horse racing but from a Hollywood film angle, showing how Hollywood treats the animals used in a film. Nikki’s ex-lover Will hires her to protect the horses used …

The Mitford Vanishing by Jessica Fellowes

January 19, 2022

Title: The Mitford Vanishing Author: Jessica Fellowes Series: Mitford Murders #5 Best of series to date I would like to thank Jessica Fellowes, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Of the five Mitford books, I liked this one most, and it’s probably because it contained the Mitfords the least. I’d never heard of the Mitfords before venturing into this series, and now that I’ve learned about …

Buried Cold Case Secrets by Sami A. Abrams

January 6, 2022January 4, 2022

Title: Buried Cold Case Secrets Author: Sami A. Abrams Series: n/a Amateurish but better than expected I would like to thank Sami A. Abrams, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Lisa Wray for inviting me on the blog tour. This book was a solid piece of work and better than I expected, though still amateurish. The writing style lacked personality but wasn’t off-putting or bad …

Interview with Elizabeth Penney (Chapter and Curse)

December 31, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Chapter and Curse by Elizabeth Penney brings to life a fabulous cozy mystery. This first of the series has a community readers will care about, detailed descriptions of the town, and an engaging mystery with blackmail, deceit, and murder. Beyond that the author chose the historic town of Cambridge England set in a 400-year-old bookshop. After the death of her father Molly Kimball realizes her mother Nina needs a change of scenery. When a …

Interview with Rosemary Simpson (The Dead Cry Justice)

December 25, 2021

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Dead Cry Justice by Rosemary Simpson always involves a mystery, returning characters, and a social issue during the Gilded Age. This historical novel delves into a very tough and disturbing topic. But Simpson is such a gifted author and writes in a manner that does not go over the top. She realizes a line should not be crossed, leaving the subject matter up to the reader’s imagination. The story opens with the main …