Category: Contemporary

Escapes Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton

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Escapes Can Be Murder: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery (Charlie Parker Mysteries Book 18)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Charlie Parker Mysteries #18
Publication Date: 6/23/19
Number of Pages: 234

Another great addition to the Charlie Parker series – I think it is one of my favorites so far. I would like to see more of Drake in the investigations – he’s very laid back with his wife getting arrested and having guns pointed at her. No, that isn’t a sexist comment – I’d feel the same way if Charlie were a male. I also hated that there wasn’t a complete resolution to the case – I hope that maybe we’ll see that resolution in the next book, but at the end of this book, it was mostly left hanging.

During a flying job in a remote area of Maine, Charlie and Drake are approached by a very frail old man who wants them to fly him to his son’s cabin just north of where their helicopter is currently based. After the old man explains that the cabin doesn’t have any access by vehicle and that his son has to hike out several miles before he can reach any kind of road. The old man is very ill and couldn’t make the hike, so they agree to take him up there – and then return to pick him up.

The old man ends up wanting to hire Charlie’s investigative agency to find evidence to clear his son of a ten-year-old charge of jury tampering. It is his dying wish to have his son cleared of those charges and Charlie just can’t refuse.

As Charlie begins to investigate, she suspects there is more to the case than just jury tampering. Then, there is a murder of a high-profile judge, are the two cases related? Why would someone want to frame her client? Who really tampered with the jury? Why? Was it politically motivated?

This story is filled with lots of twists and turns and a good mystery. The writing is excellent and the descriptions are so vivid you feel as if you could drive around in Albuquerque and find your way.

I will say that I have a complaint about the ebook formatting. There is no table of contents included so that I can easily move back and forth between chapters. It has nothing to do with the excellent writing in the book, but it is annoying nonetheless.

Murder In The Blood by Anne Cleeland

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Murder in the Blood: A Doyle & Acton Murder Mystery (The Doyle & Acton Murder Series Book 10)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: New Scotland Yard/Doyle and Acton #10
Publication Date: 9/10/19
Number of Pages: 219

I always look forward to each new release in this series. It has captured me even though it is totally different than anything else I prefer to read. Once I get a new book, I can’t put it down until I am done. Acton is a dark force with which to be reckoned. He is a peer of the realm, and a high ranking member of Scotland Yard – he’s also not above manipulation and a bit of lawbreaking himself when it comes to seeing his version of justice done. Meaning, he’s a bit of a vigilante. He’s incredibly smart and very, very cunning. So, it is always a delight when the ‘dull’ but ‘fey’ Doyle thwarts his best-laid plans. There are usually a couple of ‘mysteries’ going on in each book – one a police case and one involving some machination that Acton has cooked up. Sometimes the two are related and sometimes they are not.

The fallout from the last case is still impacting the Metropolitan Police Force. They are grossly short-handed because of all of the corrupt members of the force that have been removed and everyone is carrying a double workload. So, imagine the surprise of Williams and Doyle when Acton shows up at the scene of a murder they’ve been assigned to investigate. Then, Acton interviews the witnesses/suspects and he’s – gasp – polite and subservient to them.

As the investigation continues and they learn more and more about the case, they determine that the murder is connected to a series of vengeance murders stemming from the last big case. Somebody is pulling the strings, but it cannot be the one that it so obviously appears to be. So, if not him – who – and more importantly – why! The case takes many twists and turns before all is finally revealed and the real mastermind is identified and the reason revealed.

At the same time, Doyle has become more and more convinced that Acton has something else going on and she has to figure out what it is – and stop it – before something worse happens. This time it is a doozie – and Acton is actually relieved to have Doyle discover his plot so he doesn’t have to carry it out – but it was a near thing.

As I said above, I love this series, but I will suggest that you not read this book as a standalone. At least read the first book or the first couple of books to learn about Doyle and her ‘gift’, Acton’s obsession and protectiveness, and their relationship. Understanding those things will really help you appreciate how far they have come – and will help you understand some of the nuances in this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read and hope you will as well!