Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake

Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake, 323 pages

From the MARC: "...it's Halloween in Hitching Post, Alabama, and potion shop owner Carly Bell Hartwell has an especially spooky customer to handle... With all the ghosts that haunt her at this time of year, Carly doesn't exactly rush to celebrate Halloween. Even a costume ball organized by her boyfriend Dylan's mother, Patricia Davis Jackson, holds little allure. But to please Dylan, who wants peace between the two women, Carly reluctantly agrees to go. Gossip around town is that architect Haywood Dodd plans to make a big announcement at the party. But before he can address the crowd, he's found dead with Patricia standing over him, holding the murder weapon. Anxious to clear Patricia's name and perhaps broker a truce with her, Carly would love to use her snooping skills to find the real killer. Only she has bigger problems to deal with-ghosts are flocking to her for help, including a very persistent Haywood Dodd..."

This third installment of the Magic Potion Mysteries might be my favorite. Blake's approach to ghosts felt novel, the mystery was well woven, and the Dylan reveal was actually surprising. I sincerely wish Blake hadn't abandonded this mystery series, because while this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, it does end in a way that tantalizes me with what-could-happen. 

 

One Potion In the Grave by Heather Blake

One Potion In the Grave by Heather Blake, 325 pages

From the MARC: "When Katie Sue Perrywinkle walks into the Little Shop of Potions, Carly is surprised and delighted to see her old childhood friend. Katie Sue fled her hometown and a troubled family over a decade ago. But she’s not back for a social visit. She’s come to settle a score with Senator Warren Calhoun, who is in town for his son’s high-profile wedding.

 

But before Katie Sue has a chance to voice any objections, she’s forced to forever hold her peace. After finding her friend dead, Carly vows to find her murderer. Were the corrupt Calhouns willing to go to any lengths to avoid a scandal? Did Katie Sue’s family take the term “bad blood” to a whole new level? And why did the bride-to-be come to Carly for a love potion? As Carly gets closer to the truth, a killer is planning a very chilly reception.…"

Unusually for a second-in-series, I enjoyed this book as well, if not more, than the first.  Slipping back into the world of Hitching Post was comfortable and comforting. 

 

Mary Blair Treasury of Golden Books by Mary Blair

 

Mary Blair Treasury of Golden Books by Mary Blair -- 145 pages

I read this book after finding out that the artist Mary Blair had illustrated several Little Golden Books.  I love her artwork so wanted to see what the books were like.  While the text was not all that exciting for me I did enjoy her artwork for the stories.  I especially enjoyed seeing how she interpreted the songs in the Golden Song Book.  

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

 

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum -370 pages

Suburbia. Shady, tree-lined streets, well-tended lawns and cozy homes. A nice, quiet place to grow up. Unless you are teenage Meg or her crippled sister, Susan. On a dead-end street, in the dark, damp basement of the Chandler house, Meg and Susan are left captive to the savage whims and rages of a distant aunt who is rapidly descending into madness. It is a madness that infects all three of her sons and finally the entire neighborhood. Only one troubled boy stands hesitantly between Meg and Susan and their cruel, torturous deaths. A boy with a very adult decision to make.

Surprisingly as a horror fan this is only the second book by this author I've read.  I'd heard this on was great, and boy was it.  I just could not put this down, I finished it all on one rainy day.  What was done to Meg was hard to read at times and was definitely harsher than I'd expected, but, it is a horror book after all.  Fans of horror, if you haven't read this one yet, pick it up and give it a spin.

Crown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas | 420 pages | 2013

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Absolute Superman, Vol. 2: Son of the Demon by Jason Aaron

Absolute Superman, Vol. 2: Son of the Demon by Jason Aaron

Absolute Superman #7-14, 206 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Absolute Superman Vol. 2: Son of the Demon continues Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval’s bold reimagining of the Man of Steel in a world that fears his power—and may soon feel its wrath. Collecting issues #7–14 of the hit series, this volume plunges Superman into a brutal conflict with the Lazarus Corporation, led by the immortal Ra’s al Ghul. As Kal-El is hunted, manipulated, and pushed to the edge, the mysterious Omega Men arrive with a terrifying proposition: unleash your full power, or watch the world burn. With Smallville under siege and his past haunting him, Superman must decide what kind of god he will become.

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

 Never Lie by Freida McFadden-296 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis: Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.

But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.

In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.

Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.

And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.

The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.

Thoughts: This one is a good read. I can't give it a full 5 stars because of a couple plot points, but it's still a good one. I guessed part of the plot twist, but was still surprised by some of it. I like the ending, but I'm not sure if the main characters get what they really deserve.