The Skeleton Makes a Friend (2018) Leigh Perry (Family Skeleton Mystery #5) Another semester, another college, but this time Georgia is teaching at a summer program for high school students. If I’d been able to afford it, I would have tried to talk Madison into signing up for the program. She’d just finished her sophomore […]
The Skeleton Paints a Picture (2017) Leigh Perry (Family Skeleton Mystery #4) This premise of this series is a little silly–one of the two main characters is an animated skeleton. But once you accept that, it’s a fun cozy mystery. Georgia Thackery is an adjunct professor, seeking the magical grail of a tenured position. “Why […]
Love Language (2024) Jax Calder Dominic and Ashton have shared an office for three-and-a-half years. Despite the fact that much of their conversation consists of insults and griping, all of Ash’s friends insist he has a crush on Dominic. “You must be the most annoying person on the planet,” Dominic says. I ignore him. Because […]
Black Arts, Audio Book (2014) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock #7) It’s still annoying that Angie is written both older and younger than her age of 7. Characters: Jane Yellowrock, Beast, Eli Younger, Alex Younger, Leo Pellissier, Molly Trueblood, Evan Trueblood, Angelina Trueblood, Little Evan Trueblood, Rick LeFleur, George Bruiser Dumas, Aggie […]
Not So Cookie Cutter (2019) Aidan Wayne He clasped his hands behind his back, at-ease stance so he wouldn’t cross his arms. He’d been told enough times that it made him look like a thug, so he tried to avoid doing it. He tended to hyper focus when it came to certain subjects, and to […]
Off the Grid, Audio Book (2015) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock #7.5) Security was so much easier in the modern day, with access to so many public records protected by such poor security. (B)est of all, she knew where the armaments were stored. “They keep ’em here”— she tapped the uneven rectangle […]
Blood Trade, Audio Book (2013) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock #6) I hacked in amusement. I am bigger. I like bigger. Would like to be a holy hellcat too. Characters: Jane Yellowrock, Beast, Leo Pellissier, Eli Younger, Alex Younger, Soul, Sylvia Turpin, George Bruiser Dumas, Rick LeFleur, Reach, Bobby, Misha, Charlie, Evan […]
The Mystery of the Spirits (2021) C.S. Poe (Snow & Winter #5) I looked at Ferguson and offered a saccharine smile. “I guess I’m used to people telling me to shut up and therefore have to consolidate an entire religious movement that lasted nearly a century, heavily influenced by sensationalism and the mass casualties seen […]
Interlude (2021) C.S. Poe (Snow & Winter) “What brings you out to humble Durango?” “I was told we needed a vacation.” “He tries very hard to make it sound like a punishment.” Maybe it’d been selfish of me, but I’d appreciated her refusal to say there was anything deeper but the statement on the surface. […]
The Mystery of the Bones (2019) C.S. Poe (Snow & Winter #4) “Life isn’t all about money, Seb.” “You can say that. You don’t have a hospital bill the length of a CVS receipt.” I’d been shot in May. That batshit crazy Pete White had nearly taken me out with an antique revolver, and all […]
The Mystery of the Moving Image (2018) C.S. Poe (Snow & Winter #3) “I’m ignoring the sarcasm only because I’m incredibly turned on by you spouting random facts at me,” I answered. Calvin smirked. “I’ll remember that.” He’d been seeing a therapist for a few months now, but let’s be honest. It could take years […]
The Mystery of the Curiosities (2017) C.S. Poe (Snow & Winter #2) I liked old black-and-white movies. They were easier to watch, what with never being overwhelmed by the mess of tones and colors blending into one another that represented modern cinema. “Sebastian. I can’t decide if you’re purposefully trying to get yourself killed, or […]
The Mystery of Nevermore (2016) C.S. Poe (Snow & Winter #1) I was born with achromatopsia, which means I can’t see color. … Cones see color in bright light, rods see black and white in low light. My cones don’t work. At all. The world to me exists only in varying shades of gray, and […]
Raven Cursed, Audio Book (2012) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock #4) Listening to it all made me wonder why no blood-meal ever tasted like bacon or shrimp or a really good beer. I do my best thinking when I’m not actively pursuing a thought. Ideas are like small prey, scuttling into corners […]
Agents of Winter (2022) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency #2) “I’m sorry, which one is B-837?” “Romantic or sexual involvement with another agency employee or contractor.” “I… um…” Arthur felt his cheeks flush and didn’t know what to say. It had never crossed his mind to fill out the “Fucking Form” as it was referred […]
Merlin in the Library (2018) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency #1.5) Martin wanted to reassure Arthur that he was fine and send him back to bed, except his therapist reminded him every session that there was nothing wrong in asking for help and he should do so whenever he felt the need. This advice was […]
His Quiet Agent (2017) Ada Maria Soto (The Agency #1) It was seven when he walked into Martin’s room and found him tying his tie. “Wes hAl,” he greeted him with one of the dozen phrases the children had managed to teach him. Martin’s face had yet to retreat fully back into the silent blankness […]
Not Your Valentine (2023) Jackie Lau Helen is done with romance. And not unreasonably so. Charlie Kung broke up with me at a restaurant last Valentine’s Day, a break-up that practically everyone in the world witnessed. But everyone keeps asking her if she’s moved on, and it’s annoying, so the obvious solution is to create […]
Mercy Blade, Audio Book (2011) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock #3) Here we meet Gee, see Reach for the first time, learn of the vampire-witch negotiations, become suspicious of Evangeline, and, yeah, the were-creatures come out to the public. Pretty much all of this is bad for Jane. “You are goddess born,” […]
Next of Kin (2022) Hannah Bonam-Young Chloe is on her own with her college degree and the desire to prove she can make it as a self-employed graphic designer. But all that is thrown into chaos when she receives a call from Child Protective Services. “The baby was premature. The doctor who called us earlier […]
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association (2025) Caitlin Rozakis Vivian discovered magic existed when her daughter was attacked and changed into a werewolf. Now they’ve moved to Veilport and Aria has a scholarship to The Grimoire Grammar School and Vivian is even more overwhelmed. She wasn’t weeping. That was appropriate. It meant the medicine […]
Burn Bright (2018) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #5) Knowing Asil, he probably had C-4 stashed in sealed containers along with detonators somewhere in the car. But no one but Asil would be able to find it. “Really,” said Anna, amused despite herself. “That’s your defense? ‘If it had been me, I’d have done it […]
Skinwalker, Audio Book (2009) Faith Hunter narrated by Khristine Hvam (Jane Yellowrock #1) It’s been several years since I read or listened to this series. I’d mean to finish the last books then, but life happened and I just couldn’t deal with the bad things that happened in the last couple books and were likely […]
Dead Heat (2015) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #4) The Arabians might not suit you; they don’t suit everyone. They are like cats: vain, beautiful, and intelligent. But you deal well enough with Asil, who is also vain, beautiful, and intelligent. “Shut your piehole, punk kid,” Max said, thumping her on the head with the […]
Fair Game (2012) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #3) Leslie learned two valuable things about the fae that day. They were powerful and charming—and they ate children and puppies. Asil bowed his head to Bran’s anger. “That’s why you are the Alpha and I will do anything I can to never be Alpha again.” His […]
Dominoes, Danzón, and Death, Audio Book (2025) Raquel V. Reyes narrated by Frankie Corzo (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #4) My husband was a recent convert to Miami’s craft brewery scene. Our recycling bin had never been so colorful. The more Marjory talked, the looser she got. The museum that she (and Senior) had ‘paid for’ […]
Hunting Ground (2009) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #2) His grandfather had often told him that he tried too hard to move trees when a wiser man would walk around them. So often people got it wrong, treating their elders like children, people to be coddled and ignored. He knew better, and so did the […]
Cry Wolf (2008) Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #1) “Bran, the Marrok, is going to bring the werewolves out to the public?” Her voice was hushed as if she could never imagine such a thing. “He thinks that too many of the wrong people already know,” he told her. “Science and computers have made it […]
Where Foxes Say Goodnight (2023) Sam Burns (Sleeping Foxes #1) Max has won awards and accolades for the semi-biographical story he wrote about his life with his grandmother, so it’s a bit of an unpleasant surprise to awakened the very next day by a lawyer on his doorstep with an NDA from the guy he […]
In My Dreams (2020) Elin Annalise (Aces in Love #1) The problem with a lot of ace stories, is they spend a lot of time defining and explaining asexuality. If it’s not done well, it’s a lot of “well, Bob” and gets boring really quickly. Polly and her best friend Brooke work at a nature […]
Execution in E (2020) Alexia Gordon (A Gethsemane Brown Mystery #5) “If you don’t want me to see your fingers crossed behind your back,” she pointed to his semi-transparent hand visible through his semi-transparent torso, “you should dial up your density.” “Ms. Markham’s parents’ money buys a great deal of tolerance of Ms. Markham. The […]
Fatality in F (2019) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #4) He’d hybridized the rose himself and christened it the ‘Sandra Sechrest’ in honor of the librarian who’d given him a biography of Pythagoras when he was seven and sparked his lifelong love of math. Gethsemane winced. Dunmullach’s murder rate had tripled after she arrived. Some […]
Killing in C Sharp (2018) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #3) Ghost Hunting Adventures reigned notorious for both its physicality and the amount of profanity that had to be bleeped out. “Some versions say Maja was the choice from the jump. Long and short of it, the baroness tricked Maja into going to the construction […]
Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal, Audio Book (2023) Raquel V. Reyes narrated by Frankie Corzo (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery, #3) (M)y Cuban family stayed up on Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, cooked a whole pig, had a delicious meal, danced and sang, played games, and opened presents. Then twelve days later, the Three Kings came to give the […]
Blank Spaces (2016) Cass Lennox (Toronto Connections #1) “It’s not that I don’t like you. It’s more like I don’t know you.” “You’ve glared at me for most of lunch. That’s what I meant.” “Oh.” He went red again. “I thought you were being all pretentious and coming on to me or something, so I […]
Death in D Minor (2017) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #2) “Thank you, Miss Brown,” Hank said. “Doctor Brown,” she corrected. “Oh, that’s right, you do have some sort of degree in, what is it, music?” “A Ph.D. From Yale.” “You must forgive me, Doctor Brown. I believe I mentioned before I don’t pay much […]
The Tattered Cover (2025) Ellery Adams (Secret, Book, & Scone Society #8) There is a good deal of excitement for Nora and her friends in Miracle Springs. First for Nora, she is holding her live event with an author, and has a second event lined up for Halloween. “A medium?” Betty cried. “Count me in! […]
Murder in G Major (2016) Alexia Gordon (Gethsemane Brown #1) Teaching teenaged schoolboys was going to be almost as much fun as defending her dissertation to a hungover committee head who’d lost his tenure and his wife in the same week. Almost. “My friends call me Frankie.” “And what should I call you?” Gethsemane asked. […]
Broadway Butchery (2023) C. S. Poe (Memento Mori #3) It hasn’t been that long since Everett resolved the issue of the subway killer, and his Cold Case Department is getting great press, but things are difficult, and someone with knowledge of the cases continues to send anonymous notes and evidence to Larkin. “Did you watch […]
Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking, Audio Book (2022) Raquel V. Reyes narrated by Frankie Corzo (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #2) I am very much enjoying the narration. I don’t speak Spanish, but the story is perfectly understandable despite that, and, honestly, I think the Spanish is lovely to listen to. This series is about an archaeologist […]
The Mistletoe Motive (2021) Chloe Liese There is a lot I love about this story: the ace rep, the female lead with ASD, the single point-of-view. Jonathan glances up and meets my eyes, his gaze speaking some cryptic language that I don’t. I hate that feeling. It’s old and familiar, and it never fails to […]
Mystery on the Menu: A Three-Course Collection of Cozy Mysteries (2023) Nicole Kimberling “This is Andrew,” Evelyn announced, waving her hand back as though I were some stray dog that had followed her home. “He’s the chef at the murder restaurant.” I pivoted and strode briskly into the walk-in refrigerator all the way to the […]
The Impossible Fortune (2025) Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #5) A year has passed since the last adventure of the Thursday Murder Club–and since Stephen’s death. And Joyce’s daughter is getting married. It’s at the wedding that the best man (having heard about the Thursday Murder Club from Paul) goes to Elizabeth for help. “So […]
Mango, Mambo, and Murder, Audio Book (2021) Raquel V. Reyes narrated by Frankie Corzo (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #1) “Ooh, what have you been reading? I love books.” Jorge clapped prayer hands. “Believe it or not, I read a lot of YA—young adult. The rainbow is brighter there, if you know what I mean.” Alma […]
Help Wanted (2018) J. Emery (Ashveil Academy #1) Em wants to get her best friend the best gift this year for her birthday. Except that she’s broke, and her alchemy skills are terrible. So she decides to get a job, so she can buy Thaian the gift she wants to get her. Calpurnia West, sister […]
Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD (2025) Keith R. A. Decandido Monsters are real, and the NYPD has to deal with the ones who break the law. Thus was born the SCU, or Supernatural Crimes Unit. The SCU had been formed after a vampire named Bogdan Albescu killed a City Hall employee named John Rosario on the […]
The Severed Streets, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police #2) Trigger Warnings: there are not detailed descriptions, but if a bad thing can happen, it likely happens in this series. You despair about making accurate judgements about anyone. Well, I’m here to tell you, boy, it was always thus. […]
Upside Down (2019) N.R. Walker “There has to be a reason you picked Sisko.” He smiled at me and seemed to relax before launching into a spiel on consistency and compassion and how Sisko’s being a father in the show made him more relatable. She inhaled deeply, her eyes shooting daggers at me. “Siri, what’s […]
The Game Is Afoot (2025) Elise Bryant (Mavis Miller #2) I’m not rating this book. I had a very difficult time reading and finishing it (it took me more than a month) so I don’t think I can clearly judge it. Why? Because for most of the book Mavis is in denial about her anxiety […]