Deadly Ghost by Carla Simpson

Deadly Ghost (Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe Murder Mystery Book 12)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe #12
Publication Date: 4/22/25
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 205

A Captivating and Fast-Paced Mystery! Carla Simpson’s Deadly Ghost is a thrilling ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story takes us deeper into Mikaela’s life, revealing important elements of her past while she and Brodie tackle a mysterious case that is both personal and dangerous. As Brodie and Mikaela navigate through the unexpected twists and turns, the stakes get higher, and the suspense becomes almost unbearable.

Simpson does a brilliant job of balancing a gripping plot with strong character development. The fast-paced narrative never loses its momentum, making this book impossible to put down. Each chapter leaves you eager to uncover the next clue, and Simpson’s knack for crafting compelling suspense is on full display here.

Mikaela, Brodie, and the rest of their crew have spent the last few months in Scotland while London is in the grip of a deadly influenza outbreak, but their normal life slams in full force upon their return. It seems there is a woman about town who looks just like Mikaela – and makes family claims. Is she truly just a lonely woman seeking family where she thought she had none? Or is there something more sinister going on? When strange things happen, Mikaela and Brodie know they must solve the puzzle before something happens. Does Mikaela have a new family member, or is there a villain in the mix? Could both be true?

This is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery—packed with excitement, rich storytelling, and the perfect mix of thrills and character insight. Simpson continues to prove why she’s a standout voice in the genre. Highly recommended!

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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One Hot Scot by Suzanne Enoch

One Hot Scot (Scandalous Highlanders, #0.5)One Hot Scot by Suzanne Enoch

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Scandalous Highlanders, #0.5

Release Date: October 1, 2013

While attending her aunt’s wedding in Inverness, Julia Prentiss is literally swept off her feet by a man who kidnaps her for her fortune. Julia manages to escape from his estate in the Highlands, only to find herself alone, lost, and hunted in a strange land. When she stumbles across a naked man in a lake, she thinks her luck has gone from bad to worse…or has it?

Duncan Lenox lives surrounded by enemies, a MacLawry in a land of Campbells. With three sisters at home who rely on him, he’s become a very cautious man. But when an auburn-haired English beauty has nowhere else to turn, he feels obligated to help. When the two are forced to spend the night in an abandoned cottage while a storm rages and enemies circle, they find a mutual passion that could save — or doom — them both.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this novella, and I hope we see more of Duncan and Julia in the series.

This story was a quick read, and you really have to believe in love at first sight to enjoy it.

It was well written, and both the characters were likable. I am not usually a fan of love at first sight – but I have to say, in this story I was a believer. There was something between them that the reader could feel.

As I said I hope we see more of Duncan and Julia, because this story moved so quickly that I felt a little cheated – I didn’t really get to know them and then it ended as quickly as it started, leaving me feeling a bit unsatisfied.  I wanted more, but it was a novella, so I knew it would be short – I just didn’t know I would be getting a condensed story – not bad – just a bit cut to the chase.

I recommend this novella and am looking forward to the rest of this series.