Category: Contemporary

Old Bones Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery, NovellaLeave a comment

Old Bones Can Be Murder: Charlie Parker Mysteries: A Between-the-Numbers Novella (Charlie Parker Mysteries, Book 18.5)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Charlie Parker Mysteries 18.5
Publication Date: 3/23/20
Number of Pages: 114

I am so glad to have had another fast-paced, interesting, and exciting Charlie Parker Mystery to read. I was disappointed that Drake didn’t get more page time, but what he had was quality stuff. Charlie’s free-spirited Aunt Louisa, who conducts ghost tours in Bury St. Edmunds, England, is there to entertain us in Drake’s absence.

Our adventure all began with a message in a fortune cookie – “A Close Relative Needs Your Help.” Charlie normally doesn’t pay any attention to those messages, but this one is so different from the standard messages about coming into a fortune – well – she just can’t get it out of her mind. She calls her brothers and they are all hale and hardy and not in need of her help. Drake is right there with her and he doesn’t need her help. Who else is left? Ahhh – when she gets home, she has a phone message from her Aunt Louisa in England. Could it be Aunt Louisa who needs her help? After speaking with her aunt, who says she definitely doesn’t need any help, Charlie still decides to go for a visit – because it will be fun even if her aunt doesn’t need help.

Charlie and Louisa have several fun-filled days in London before heading on to Louisa’s home in Bury St. Edmunds. Louisa has to get back to work, so Charlie has days free to explore the picturesque little town. She explores until a skeleton is found during an excavation at a quaint little tea shop where Charlie is enjoying a break. Ever curious, Charlie can’t let the mystery rest. There is nothing to identify the body – nothing – how did the poor man come to be where he was? Where is his family? Who is he? Was he there because of an accident or foul means?

Charlie tells herself she’s only digging into it because the police are otherwise occupied and this case is at the bottom of their list. Then, she finds the clues that surely identify the body – and – that person has ties to her Aunt Louisa. Charlie is sure she has to solve the case and find who murdered the man before she leaves England or Aunt Louisa could become the prime suspect. However, Aunt Louisa isn’t exactly forthcoming about the man nor their relationship. Oh! My!

It seems nobody wants to talk about the man who was found. He was an American, a drifter, a ne’er-do-well, a womanizer, a – well a great many other things. Can Charlie find the clues to solve this thirty-year-old case?

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, even though the solution just sort of popped out of thin air.

Murder In Revelation by Anne Cleeland

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, MysteryLeave a comment

Murder in Revelation (The Doyle & Acton Mystery Series Book 12)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Doyle & Acton Mystery Series #12
Publication Date: 9/1/20
Number of Pages: 268

I always look forward to the next Doyle & Acton mystery because they are always exciting, interesting, and you just never know what Acton has been up to. Then, it is always fun to watch Doyle figure out his latest plot and foil it. If you’ve ever thought of opposites attracting, this is the poster child for it – they are as different as night and day. Doyle is straight-laced, introverted, religious – and just a tad fey. Acton is handsome, smart, diabolical, plays by his own set of rules, he doesn’t mind bending the laws if it suits him to do so, and he is absolutely obsessed with Doyle.

Doyle is expecting their second child and Acton has become hyper-vigilant in assuring she is taking care of herself. Yet, she still manages to stumble into an investigation with strange vibes. A volunteer doctor at a charity clinic is attacked – and she has a strange tale to tale to tell. She keeps telling Doyle “the evil ones are eating the souls of the children.” Oh! My! Is the woman a nut or is something more sinister afoot?

We don’t have new villains in this book, so you’ll have to figure out which of the previous villains are committing the crime(s) – and who might be victims. With multiple unrelated victims, you’ll have a good time figuring out if any are related and whodunit. You’ll remember Martina Betancourt and her wayward husband Antonio, as well as Mr. Javid from previous books. What a motley crew of villains to untangle along with all of Acton’s behind-the-scenes machinations.

I’m not sure what it is about this series that intrigues me – I certainly shouldn’t like the characters, but I do. If I read Acton in any other book, I’d cringe – but – there is something endearing about him in this series and I just love him. With Doyle, I’d just disbelieve that anyone with her upbringing and beliefs could have any respect for or love for someone like Acton – but again – with this series – I can see her loving him. I’d say it is a testament to the excellent writing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent read and I hope you will as well. If you enjoy unusual characters and pairings, this series will be right down your alley. I love it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.