TH1RT3EN by Steve Cavanagh

(Book 4 of the Eddy Flynn series)

323 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Summary (Goodreads):

The serial killer isn't on trial.
He's on the jury...
They were Hollywood's hottest power couple. They had the world at their feet. Now one of them is dead and Hollywood star Robert Solomon is charged with the brutal murder of his beautiful wife.
This is the celebrity murder trial of the century and the defence want one man on their team: con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn.
All the evidence points to Robert's guilt, but as the trial begins a series of sinister incidents in the court room start to raise doubts in Eddie's mind.
What if there's more than one actor in the courtroom?
What if the killer isn't on trial? What if the killer is on the jury?

My thoughts: This book was really hard to put down. I was entertained and captivated the entire time. There are so many twists and turns; it was an incredible read. I'm glad I didn't put it down after reading the first chapter of the serial killer. It was worth it!

This is part of a series - the books can be read out of order. This was my first one. I will keep reading books from this series.

What Are Taylor Swift's Eras? by Niki Catherine

What Are Taylor Swift's Eras? by Niki Catherine - 107 pages

I listened to the audiobook of this.  It was interesting how the author broke down the eras into styles of music, symbols, and colors.  I thought it interesting that seemed to focus more on music that wasn't necessarily played on the radio as I didn't recognize a lot of the song titles.  This would definitely be a book for a Swiftie fan.

When the Crow's Away by Auralee Wallace

 When the Crow's Away by Auralee Wallace, 291 pages

This visit to Evenfall finds Brynn Warren attempting to corral the recently deceased Mort Sweete long to solve the mystery of his murder.

The first book was so good, and the second only continued to get better.  It was interesting to see how life with magic worked, since in the first book Brynn largely tried to ignore it. I was truly enjoying this book it drove off a cliff and left us hanging for a book three that may or may not be forthcoming. 

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace, 330 pages

From the MARC: "When a guest dies in the B&B she helps her aunts run, a young witch must rely on some good old-fashioned investigating to clear her aunt's name in this magical and charming cozy mystery."

Cozy mysteries are some of my very favorite reads to curl up with! I found Wallace's witching world of Evenfall delightfully enjoyable. The characters are strange in an endearing way without being cloying or cookie cutter.  If you're looking for an enchanting palate cleanser between heavier reads, In the Company of Witches just might fit the bill

 

Babylon's Ashes by James S.A. Corey

Babylon's Ashes by James S.A. Corey, 566 pages

Earth is dying but that's not good enough for Marco Inaros. Soon Earth, Mars, and even the OPA will have to band together to defeat him so that humanity has a chance of survival. 

This book seems to mark the end of the television series. I'm excited that there's such a large stretch of undiscovered county before me! My favorite part of the book is the official expansion of the Roci's crew, but I admit I'm completely biased because I will always love Bobbie Draper. 

 

Cibola Burn by James S.A. Corey

Cibola Burn by James S.A. Corey, 581 pages

From GoodReads: "The gates have opened the way to a thousand new worlds and the rush to colonise has begun. Settlers looking for a new life stream out from humanity's home planets. Illus, the first human colony on this vast new frontier, is being born in blood and fire. Independent settlers stand against the overwhelming power of a corporate colony ship with only their determination, courage and the skills learned in the long wars of home. Innocent scientists are slaughtered as they try to survey a new and alien world.

James Holden and the crew of his one small ship are sent to make peace in the midst of war and sense in the heart of chaos. But the more he looks at it, the more Holden thinks the mission was meant to fail. And the whispers of a dead man remind him that the great galactic civilisation which once stood on this land is gone. And that something killed them."

This book started out pretty slowly for me. The first couple narratives are callback characters that took some time to get used to. The scope of this book and the focus on what killed the protomolecule creators created a weird headspace. Not bad, just simultaneously chilling and wonderous. The "Miller" chapters made me feel as though my head was unspooling into atavistic abyss. 

 

Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey

Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey, 566 pages

From GoodReads: "For generations, the solar system - Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt - was humanity's great frontier. Until now. The alien artefact working through its program under the clouds of Venus has emerged to build a massive structure outside the orbit of Uranus: a gate that leads into a starless dark.

Jim Holden and the crew of the Rocinante are part of a vast flotilla of scientific and military ships going out to examine the artefact. But behind the scenes, a complex plot is unfolding, with the destruction of Holden at its core. As the emissaries of the human race try to find whether the gate is an opportunity or a threat, the greatest danger is the one they brought with them."

This book was so intense. The corresponding season of The Expanse was also intense, but being in people's heads made it feel much more raw. I got to know Anna much better, and I really enjoyed the glimpses into Melba's psyche.  Observing the protomolecule threat grow and warp and twist and change has been engaging. 

 

Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey

Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey, 611 pages

From GoodReads: "On Ganymede, the station that represents the main food source for exoplanets, a Martian marine sergeant watches her entire platoon being slaughtered before her eyes by a supernatural monster. On Earth, a high-ranking politician struggles to defuse an interplanetary war. Meanwhile, an alien protomolecule sweeps across Venus, causing profound and mysterious changes and threatening to spread and sweep across the solar system.

In the vastness of space, James Holden and the crew of the Rocinante maintain the stability of the exoplanetary alliance. When he and his crew agree to help a scientist search for his missing daughter on war-torn Ganymede, the fate of humanity hinges on whether one craft can prevent an alien invasion that may already be underway." 

I read this book so quickly that had it been fried food, I'd've been chugging Tums. It was a quick, wild ride. We got to meet Bobbie in this book, and as much as I loved her on the show, I love her textual counterpart even more. 

 

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, 582 pages

From The Expanse, "Dulcinea": "In the 23rd century, humans have colonized the Solar System. The UN controls Earth. Mars is an independent military power. The inner planets depend on the resources of the asteroid belt. Belters live and work in space. In the Belt, air and water are more precious than gold. For decades, tensions have been rising - Earth, Mars and the Belt are now on the brink of war. All it will take is a single spark…"

This is my first time reading this book series and it is fascinating. Generally the futuristic scifi I consume is more like Star Trek, where humanity's future is mostly positive even if still fraught with the problems imperfect beings are plagued with.  Leviathan Wakes is not like that: the future is grimy and grim. The best AND the worst of humanity has been flung into the solar system, creating vast canyons of moral grayness, raw hope, and desperate actions.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman, 452 pages

From the MARC: "A high society amateur detective at the heart of Regency London uses her wits and invisibility as an 'old maid' to protect other women in a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman."

One of the biggest selling points of this novel was the fact the heroines are middle-aged women, and it's a refreshing change of pace, especially for historical fiction novels. Goodman did a wonderful job building the world of the Colebrook sisters--not just the trappings of the aristocracy but also the humdrum life details that are so removed from our own--without making it feel alien or too unfamiliar to understand and enjoy.  I also appreciated that the covert details of the shennanigans were never quite predictable. 

I can't wait to read the next installment, and I'm hoping there will be more to this series. I have questions that need answers! 

 

A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn

 A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn, 336 pages

When a famous crafter is murdered, Sammy Kane and her S.H.E.s are on the case, but get the surprise of their lives when they realize the murder is closely linked to another death that hits closer to home.

When I picked this book up, I didn't realize it was the second of a series; however, it wasn't hard to parse the characters, their relationships, etc. The story and many of its elements were distressingly generic, and often times problematic (the main character is subconsiously obsessed with the size of every one she meets). I wanted to love this book because I loved the idea of a cozy murder mystery based on various fiber arts but I couldn't.

In the end what kept me goingg was Alan Moore's advice to "read terrible books... because they can be more inspiring by analyzing why they are doing so badly."

 

If I Run by Terri Blackstock

 

If I Run  by Terri Blackstock  305 pages

Casey Cox has blood on the bottom of her shoes, in her car, on her clothes. But there's no point in trying to defend herself. She just has to run. Casey didn't kill her friend Brent. She discovered his body, but she'd never try to hurt him. He's the only person she's ever trusted enough to tell the truth about what happened to her father and there's no doubt in her mind that Brent was killed trying to help her prove it. She has to run before they get to her too. Dylan Roberts was hired to find Casey and bring her back so that justice can be served. As a former Criminal Investigator for the Army, he can't imagine that tracking down one girl will be that difficult. But the more elusive Casey turns out to be, the more Dylan digs into her past to try to determine what she might be thinking. What he finds there doesn't fit the profile of a killer at all. She's unlike any other fugitive he's ever seen. The police refuse to discuss any other possibilities. There's something more going on here. Something more to this fugitive who has captured his attention. Now he just has to figure out what it is and Casey just has to stay one step ahead of everyone who's after her

This book was recommended by a friend, but my daughter read it first.  She kept telling me about it so I had to read it myself.  It is the first in a series, so now I must finish the series. Very much a page turner.  A mystery, but Christian based. Very much recommend to anyone.

The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray

The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray, 322 pages

Claudia Gray's Mr. Darcy and Miss Tillney books have been a lovely series and a satisfying return to Austen's world. The newest installment involves the murder of Mansfield Park's own Mr. Rushworth and the ensuing chaos amongst the social season in London.  The books in this series keep getting better. I devoured this tale and anxiously await the next installment!

 

Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans

 Miles to Go  by Richard Paul Evans  320 pages

Alan Christoffersen, a once-successful advertising executive, wakes one morning to find himself injured, alone, and confined to a hospital bed in Spokane, Washington. Sixteen days earlier, reeling from the sudden loss of his wife, his home, and his business, Alan left everything he knew behind and set off on the cross-country journey of a lifetime. But a vicious roadside stabbing interrupted Alan's trek and robbed him of his one source of solace: the ability to walk. Homeless and facing months of difficult recovery, Alan has nowhere to turn--until a mysterious woman enters his life and invites him into her home.

An astonishing tale of life and death, suffering and healing, love and second chances, Miles to Go picks up the story of The Walk, continuing this unforgettable bestselling series about one man's unrelenting search for hope.

I read The Walk, not knowing it was a series.  When the book ended I was sad because I wanted to know what happened to him. So I was very excited to find the next book and now know that it is a series.  This story picks up after Alex has decided to walk across America after losing everything.  He was attacked and assumed for dead.  This book tells of his story of recovery and where he picks up on his walk, the people he meets along and the way and how he helps them and they help him. Very easy read and a page turned to find out what he will encounter next.

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. 

 

A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake

A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake, 327 pages

From the MARC: "As the owner of Little Shop of Potions, a magic potion shop specializing in love potions, Carly Bell Hartwell finds her product more in demand than ever. A local soothsayer has predicted that a couple in town will soon divorce -- and now it seems every married person in Hitching Post, Alabama, wants a little extra matrimonial magic to make sure they stay hitched. But when Carly finds a dead man in her shop, clutching one of her potion bottles, she goes from most popular potion person to public enemy number one."

I really enjoy magical realism, witchy comfy reads, and Blake's world was a comfortable, entertaining place to be. 

 

Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart

Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart, 304 pages

From the MARC: "Among the countless revelers at the town's much-anticipated Halloween parade, a woman dressed as Little Bo Peep is the only one making people scream bloody murder. In a scene straight out of a horror movie, the Knit and Nibblers find the nursery rhyme character dead with thick strands of yarn looped around her neck. Pamela and her best friend, Bettina, are set on pinning down who wanted the woman gone forever, but it'll take every trick they can muster to catch the culprit without becoming the next poor souls to join Little Bo Peep's dark, endless sleep."

This was a quintessential cozy murder, complete with small town, knitting, and cats. It was a fun read. 

 

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicky Delany

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicky Delany, 294 pages

From the MARC: "As the owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures, Merry Wilkinson knows how to decorate homes for the holidays. That's why she thinks her float in the semi-annual Santa Claus parade is a shoe-in for best in show. But when the tractor pulling Merry's float is sabotaged, she has to face facts: there's a Scrooge in Christmas Town. Merry isn't ready to point fingers, especially with a journalist in town writing a puff piece about Rudolph's Christmas spirit. But when she stumbles upon the reporter's body on a late night dog walk - and police suspect he was poisoned by a gingerbread cookie crafted by her best friend, Vicky - Merry will have to put down the jingle bells and figure out who's really been grinching about town, before Vicky ends up on Santa's naughty list."

 

Urn Burial by Kerry Greenwood

Urn Burial by Kerry Greenwood, 187 pages

From the MARC: "Vacationing at a Gothic mansion in Australia's Victorian mountain country, Phryne Fisher becomes embroiled in a mystery involving death threats to her host, the strangling murder of a parlor maid, and the presence of mysterious funerary urns."