Author: marybeth

The Last Party

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The latest offering by Clare Macintosh opens with a murder of a local man on New Year’s Eve in Cym Coed, Wales. Rhys Lloyd is co-owner of “The Shore,” an upscale resort on the boundary between Wales and England, but he is reported missing and soon after his body is found washed up on the shore of the lake. The novel jumps from present to past, and back again, and each chapter is a different narrator, so one has to pay close attention to the chapter headings. Detective Ffion Morgan of Wales is investigating the case with Leo Brady, a British detective, and together they must sift through the lengthy list of suspects to discover the murderer. It is a bit lengthy, but all in all I found it to be a good read.

The Rising Tide

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I’ve read a few Vera Stanhope novels before and enjoyed them; this is the latest one. Vera is an older Detective Inspector who dresses quite frumpy, but underneath it all lies a very keen mind. She has a current murder to solve: a man is found hanging in his room on Holy Island. Several singles and couples meet every 5 years on Holy Island to reconnect, after having crossed paths as teenagers on a retreat here. One of the singles, Rick Kensall, is the victim. Vera doesn’t agree with an initial verdict of suicide, and it quickly becomes a murder case. Her two right hand detectives are Joe and Holly, and they are both called in to help. Spoiler alert: the ending is a SHOCKER for anyone who has read previous novels written by Cleeves. It’s a bit slow at times, but still worth a read.

Libraries circulating bikes

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Besides books and dvd’s, patrons can also check out electric bikes in any of the nine libraries in Madison, Wisconsin. A growing trend, bikes of all kinds are available in various libraries across the country: road bikes, mountain bikes, recumbent and electric bikes, as well as other gear. New York or New Jersey libraries are not yet lending, however, but you can access the full listing here.

For Whom the Book Tolls

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If you are looking for a good cozy mystery, this book is for you. It is the first title in the “Antique Bookshop Mystery” series, where Jenna, the protagonist, is traveling from Charlotte, NC to her uncle’s Paul’s house in Hokes Folly. She is jobless, and he’s offered her a place to stay. But she arrives there to find her uncle has died from a suspicious fall down a staircase. It quickly becomes a murder case, and since Jenna is the sole heir of his estate, she is the chief suspect. Jenna is determined to find the killer to clear herself, while keeping out of the criminal’s crosshairs. Tune in to find out what happens. I liked this title, there are 2 more in the series if you become hooked like I did.

Blood Sugar

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This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, but it definitely held my interest. Ruby Simon is accused of murdering her husband, but she is innocent. Yet she has had a hand in three other murders, so proving her innocence in this case is quite difficult. Can she manage to clear herself when the evidence is stacked against her? You’ll have to read it and find out…