Category: Mystery

Bamburgh by L.J. Ross

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Bamburgh (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #19)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: A DCI Ryan Mystery #19
Publication Date: 3/31/22
Period: Contemporary, Northumberland, UK
Number of Pages: 312

This author excels at creating an excellently convoluted mystery while still allowing you to spend time with and get to know the members of the investigative team. This book is an excellent example of that talent. If you have read other books in the series, you’ll already know about the tragic event that shaped Melanie Yates’s life. If you haven’t read other books in the series, you’ll get enough background to easily follow the story. The author does an excellent job of weaving the events from 2007 into the contemporary story of 2022 and enabling us to better understand what is driving Melanie as an adult.

Woven into the background of several books we’ve seen there is a serial killer stalking England. This murderer has gotten much more clever over time and while the police know there are more victims, they never find the bodies. Melanie’s (Mel) sister Gemma was one of this sadistic killer’s earliest victims and Mel has blamed herself for what happened. It is why she joined the force and why she spends all of her off-time working the case. In the last book, one of the victims managed to escape – and miracle-of-miracles – there was trace DNA evidence found on her body. Sadly, the authorities haven’t found any matches in the system, so they’ve not been able to identify the killer – yet. Finding that DNA was enough to get the powers-that-be to agree to form a task team to concentrate on finding the dastard. However, that team has to exclude Melanie or risk being challenged in court.

We learn early on – almost at the beginning – who the serial killer is. The story is spent watching the team work toward identifying him – and watching him plot his course to thwart the team. It is quite interesting to see the inner workings of such a twisted mind, and you have to wonder how he can seem so normal and engaging.

While they are working on the serial killer case, they are also working on the case of a very wealthy older lady who is murdered in her home. It almost – almost – looked like an accident, but sharp eyes noticed that all was not as it seemed. We learn what a delightful lady she was and mourn her loss. It was a pleasure to see her murderer identified.

However, the very best part is watching the serial killer gloat and plan and – get caught. I will say, though, that the ending was a bit abrupt without a real build-up to it. Also, the aftermath with Mel, her family, and DC Lowerson was left sort of up in the air. I can hardly wait for the next entry into the series so I can, hopefully, see how it all worked out.

I definitely can – and do – recommend this book. It is well-written, excellently plotted, and excellently paced. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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Murder in Immunity by Anne Cleeland

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Murder in Immunity (Doyle & Acton, #15)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Doyle & Acton #15
Publication Date: 3/10/22
Period: Contemporary London
Number of Pages: 236

I’m not sure why I am addicted to this series, but I am. The male lead – Acton – is flawed (big time) and I honestly don’t care. The female lead (Doyle) is a bit over the top with the uneducated Irish vernacular – still, I honestly don’t care. The plots are convoluted and you really need to have read the whole series in order to understand what is going on – and yet I still don’t care. It just all works for me – all of it – from the fey, angelic Doyle, to the scheming Acton and all of the cohorts who support him. You’d think Acton would have learned by now – Doyle will always figure out what plot he has going and she’ll throw a wrench in the works – for his own good of course.

There is a LOT going on in this book, and I’m still not sure I followed all of it – at least not to the appropriate conclusion. We have murders being staged so that police would think they were open and shut cases – but they aren’t. We have Acton’s half-sister being deceived by a con artist even though Acton specifically warned her. We have those involved in the money-skimming plot from the last book trying to scramble and cover their rears. We have Acton and Savoie at odds with each other (aren’t they always?) Goodness – it keeps your head spinning and your fingers flippin’ pages so you can see what happens next. In the end, two people were supposed to die. One did die but the other was still alive and well when the book ended. The ending HINTED their impending demise – but – did it really happen? I guess we’ll learn in the next book.

If you love quirky characters, twisted mysteries, and an obsessive romance, this is the book and series for you. Frankly, I didn’t think I was the kind who would love those things in a book, but – I’ve found I LOVE them, but only in this series. It is really well written and well delivered. I hope you’ll give the series a try and that you’ll love it as much as I have. Remember though, if you start in the middle of the series, you’ll only end up confused and not liking it. Happy Reading!

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