Category: Mystery

Our Dear Miss H is on the Case by Violet Marsh

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Rom-Com, Mystery, Part of a Series, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Our Dear Miss H. Is on the CaseOur Dear Miss H. Is on the Case by Violet Marsh

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: Unnamed, #2

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Miss Georgina Harrington is a talented archeologist and runs a successful antiquity appraisal business, but as a woman, she is not able to take credit for her work and has her cousin, Lord Percy Pendergrast to act as the face of her achievements. When she makes an extraordinary find of a golden helmet on her father’s lands, she gives to Percy to share with the Antiquarians of England Society. But when Percy disappears along with her helmet, she will need help to find him and her treasure. In London with her half-brother, she visits the Black Swan Coffeehouse – one of Percy’s haunts, in hopes that his friends have heard from him. But what she finds is an unusual group of people, including Alexander Lovett, Marquess of Heathford and heir to the Duke of Falcondale, the man that her brother has decided she must wed. They haven’t seen Percy, but are more than willing to help her, especially Alexander. But when they begin looking, they uncover much more than they were expecting, including an attraction that neither of them wants to admit to and a plot that could topple the monarchy!

Alexander Lovett was born with a clubfoot and has endured unimaginable pain enduring “treatments” his father insisted on putting him through, but despite the torture he has borne, his father still treats him with distain. His father is so obsessed with Alexander’s perceived disability that he has found a bride for him with impeccable lineage. This presents Alexander with problem, because he is falling in love with Georgina but has vowed to never do anything his father demands and that includes marrying Georgina. But the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that she is the key to his happiness, and he can’t let her go, but can he convince her that they are perfect for each other.

This was an interesting somewhat farfetched story that started out well but devolved into the absurd. I tried to just ignore the ridiculousness and just enjoy the story, but it was just too much and moved too slow. I did enjoy the secondary characters, and felt a lot of empathy for Alexander, but the romance was lacking, and the plot was difficult to believe. Overall, this story didn’t work for me – don’t get me started on the chickens – but I am looking forward to the next book and hope that it is a bit more realistic and romantic.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb

On By BarbaraIn Audiobook, Barb's Reviews, Futuristic, Mystery, Part of a Series2 Comments

Bonded in Death (In Death, #60)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #60
Publication Date: 2/4/25
Period: Future New York 2061
Number of Pages: 368

Sixty books!!! I fell in love with this series with the first book – was that about 30 years ago (OMGoodness)? Each book since has been filled with exciting, breath-holding action, outstanding plots (this writer has an exceptional imagination), wonderful and formidable characters, wit and humor, and yes – a romance for the ages. No, this isn’t a romance book, but the relationship between Eve and Roarke outshines any romance book I have ever read.

Listening to the audiobooks is always a MUST for me because the narrator, Susan Ericksen, nails it every time. Her unique voice for each character brings them to life in a way no one else could – and she has narrated every book in the series. She IS Eve Dallas; She IS Roarke; She IS Peabody; She IS Feeney; She IS Mavis; Well, you get it – and the way she says “Darlin’ Eve” as Roarke will curl your toes and send shivers down your spine. I hope Susan Ericksen and J.D. Robb continue this series for at least another 60 books!

One of the things I love about the series is the character development – no cardboard, caricature characters to be found. We’ve always known there were many things hidden in Summerset’s past because we’ve seen glimpses of them. Bonded In Death gives us a closer look at Summerset during the Urban Wars when he was young. Those times have come back to haunt Summerset and the group of twelve patriots with whom he served – and it is up to Eve to find the enemy who is determined to pick them off one by one.

Robb quickly pulls us into the story with the murder of Giovanni Rossi who was a warm, loving, family man. Rossi was falsely lured to the US and was then murdered with a nasty, old-fashioned weapon from wars past. As the investigation continues, Eve realizes this particular murderer is determined to take out all of his targets – and he doesn’t care how much collateral damage he inflicts to do so. Eve is equally determined to protect the citizens of New York, Summerset and his group, and apprehend a very nasty villain.

This is one of my favorite books of the series – and I can easily say that because I have just re-listened to the first 59 books and they are all fresh in my mind. Overall, it is an exciting, breath-holding, tale filled with twists and action-filled turns that will keep you Flippin’ Pages as fast as you can read! This is a long series and to thoroughly enjoy the characters and their growth, you must read from the beginning. However! I fully believe you can jump in at any point in the series – but – you’ll quickly realize you WANT to go back and read all of those earlier books. So, if you haven’t tried the series (WHAT!!) jump in – and then you can use the time between this book and the 61st (coming in September) to read the first books in the series.

The publisher provided a complimentary digital copy of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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