Book Report~ The Cracked Spine

The Cracked Spine (Scottish Bookshop Mystery #1)
by Paige Shelton

*I was given an eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In short, I loved this book. I am already ready for more.
I found it so enjoyable because, while I read about 100 of this type of book (cozy, mystery, set in the UK, female protagonist) every year, it was a refreshing take.
The main character was believable and flawed, but not overtly so; she was smart without being technical; she was funny without being even slightly campy; she was interested in finding the truth without being all amateur-sleuth-ish- and didn’t annoy the police as is so often the case with these types of stories. The hint of romance was very subtle, which I appreciated.
I enjoyed her “special power”, and found it to be a subtle device, rather than the point of the story.
I loved the voice of the first person narration. It just felt authentic to me, where so often this is what spoils an otherwise excellent story.
As to the story, its pace was good, the tone was enjoyable and it included every single thing I enjoy in this type of story. As a bookshop owner, I always love stories set in bookshops. But this bookshop is special. There is a lot more to enjoy than simply the books. The family of people working there is wonderful and the characters multi-dimensional.
The murder itself was portrayed in a singularly unspectacular way, which is, in itself, refreshing.
The addition of ghosts and historically accurate discussion of how Edinburgh dealt with witches in its past was a treat, as well.
The only thing I could possibly have wanted from this story, that wasn’t there, was a cat. But, this in no way diminished my enjoyment of this solid mystery.
Highly recommend for fans of the genre.
5 stars

Book Report~ Lost & Found: Witherwood Reform School

Lost and Found (Witherwood Reform School #2)

by Obert Skye, Keith Thompson (Illustrations)

* I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, I really, really loved the style, characters, setting, narration…almost everything.
Almost.
I did not love this was always meant to be a tiny piece of a larger story.If I had known, before I read this, how much I was going to love it, I would have waited and read the whole series, once it has been published, one after another like crack cocaine.
If you haven’t read either of these, and you feel like you might need an NA meeting to get over not having your next “fix” right away, you may also want to wait until the series is finished, to start.

If not, read on. It is GREAT!
4 stars (not 5) only because I am already jonesing for more.

Book Report~ Death In The Tunnel

Death in the Tunnel
by Miles Burton

* I received an ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying, I love the entire British Library Crime Classics series. It is such a treat to be able to read so many long-out-of-print stories from my favorite genre, The Golden Age of Mystery, or the time between World Wars.
Miles Burton’s Death In The Tunnel was a classic police procedural. His contemporaries, such as Dame Agatha was writing about the psychology behind the crimes, but Burton wrote here, not about “why it was done”, but how and by whom it was done. His detectives have no back story, and almost no specific personality, but to be curious and ingenious. His suspects lives and personalities (while present) are not the focus.
His formula is flawless. Every clue is presented in an entirely “fair” format, and in great detail. Every clue is given. The mystery is solid.
I enjoyed this story a great deal, despite it missing one of my favorite elements often present in the genre, humor.
There is no wry smile to be had, no chuckle at a play on words, or cleverness. It is simply a straightforward tale. Dry as they come, which is not to say unenjoyable. It was just his style.
I recommend this to fans of the British mystery genre, with emphasis on fans of the police procedural. A must for Dorothy Simpson fans.
4 stars

Book Reports~ The Body Under The Bridge and Mug Shot

On those rare and glorious occasions where I am out of the shop, and have some time to myself, I read. (I know. Shocking!)

Here are my reviews of the last two books I read over my day off.

The Body Under the Bridge (Father Gilbert Mystery #1)

by Paul McCusker

*I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

I almost loved this book.
I am a huge fan of the genre of British-set mysteries. I enjoy both police procedurals, and stories of amateur sleuths. I also lean toward supernatural and paranormal stories.
This book fulfilled the majority of my “needs” in a story of this kind.

With a couple of notable exceptions.
When reading a British-set mystery, one is immersed in the British-ness of it. One expects the restroom to be called the loo and the trucks to be lorries. In 95% of this book, the phrasing is perfect. But there is a line where an English church curate says to the British law-enforcement officer, “Don’t worry, Sheriff, I’ll make sure the varmint doesn’t skip town”. My brain actually read that in an “Old West” American accent.
British mysteries do not contain Sheriffs, nor do they refer to “baddies” as varmints.
*There is plenty of time to fix that line, and find other places where the author inadvertently breaks character.*

My other beef, if you will, is where a character goes to America, to Salem, Mass. and comes into contact with “Witches” who are involved in Black masses and all manner of dark magic.
No self-respecting witch from any side of the pond would be involved in either.
Please do some real research on witchcraft (not church sponsored research, if you please, reality-based), before writing about it as part of a plot device.
Besides these two things, I very much enjoyed the story, its pacing, the mystery and the characters.
But this review is about honesty, and here is mine.
A good choice for readers who enjoy a solid mystery.
Fascinating information regarding Bog Bodies.
4 stars.

Mug Shot (A Java Jive Mystery #2)

by Caroline Fardig

*I received a digital ARC from netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Java Jive mysteries! I read so many cozies, but in each of Fardig’s stories, the characters shine through. The mysteries are solid and the pace brisk.
She is funny and clever and entirely enjoyable to read.
For the cozy-lover, coffee-lover or anyone who enjoys a gentle who-dunnit will find an afternoon of pleasure, here.
5 stars.