Murders of a Feather: A Veterinarian Cozy Mystery (Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries Book 3), by Eileen Brady

 

Publication October 3, 2023

If you've ever had a pet, it's quite likely you've made a few trips to your local veterinarian clinic. Very few of us, however, have any real clue what vets do on a daily basis when they aren't explaining the selected treatment for your own pet. This book will go a long way toward giving you a better understanding of what goes on besides the receptionist making appointments as they field calls or the vet tech holding your squirming pet for the vet exam. Author Eileen Brady was a practicing vet for some thirty years, so it's no wonder these interactions we rarely see ring true. 

I realized at some point how comfortable I felt with these characters, not to mention the menagerie of critters. All felt like someone or some animal you have met and/or could be friends with. Heck, I even found myself warming up to Babs. That was impressive because I wasn't too fond of her initially. The addition of a romantic interest this go-round was another plus, especially since he is a big-animal vet as opposed to main character Kate's largely small animal focus. It was also a clever use of a feathered friend, so to speak, in the title and to help move the plot along. In other words, I was thoroughly enjoying my read.

The murder? Who'd kill engaged couple Jose and Alicia? Who's this Bruce character and why does he lie about Kate and Mari to the press? And, hey, why is Mari, usually so cool and controlled under such a situation, suddenly obviously uneasy when they discover a second body? Is Babs involved? She does seem to know the female victim after all. Will Kate ever find time to really get to know the intriguing new vet? Or, wait, is he married? Uh, oh. Well, that's assuming she even lives long enough.  

And, hey, who....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. This series is proving addictive for me and it's one I definitely recommend if you're into small towns, animals of all kinds, friends and family, and, hmm, maybe romance. The third in the series, it works well as a standalone, even resolving a lingering issue, but you'd enjoy the first two, too, I'm betting. Thanks #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for inviting me along to ride along with Kate and Mari. I'm already looking forward to seeing what happens next.

The Power of Snow, by, Robert Raczka, Bryony Clarkson (Illustrator)

 

Publication Oct. 3, 2023

I live in Alaska so, oh, yes, I know how quickly one or two tiny snowflakes can multiply. This book shows that in lovely illustrations showing the pages and settings slowly being covered by a sea of white while teaching us the math concept of exponents. 

Now, true, math isn't my strength and I was drawn to this book more by the cover than the idea, but it's an intriguing approach. I didn't take the time to count but supposedly there are the exact number of snowflakes on each page as the answer to each mathematical step. I cannot imagine the self discipline and time it must have taken the artist to create the beautifully done photos, which are largely in, well, whites and browns with burst of color from birds, swing sets, buildings, and such. You just know some hardy soul will be counting. 

Even this non-mathematical soul enjoyed browsing through the book and nodding knowingly at the answers. The author explains the process in an easy to understand manner, giving both the answer and "showing the work" done to get to that answer. It suddenly seemed so simple. Even better, it's done in a lyrical, poetic way, making for an interesting read. Thanks #NetGalley and #LernerPublishingGroup - #MillbrookPress for letting me flex my mathematical brain cells a bit.

Overdue or Die (The Haunted Library Mysteries, #7), by Allison Brook

 

Publication October 3, 2023

After a slow build, we find ourselves in the midst of not just pressing wedding planning but murder, organized crime, and art forgery. While art issues seem more husband-to-be Dylan's forte, Carrie finds herself right in the middle of not just one but, whoa, three murder investigations. And, oh, poor Dylan is whacked over the head and an inherited painting stolen, too, not to mention they're dealing with Uncle Otto's hospitalization for a heart attack. No wonder Carrie's finding it difficult to focus of wedding plans.

The blurb does an excellent job sharing the plot, so won't get into that here. I'll note, however, that I missed library ghost Evelyn, who doesn't seem to have any real part to play in this story other than encouraging Carrie to investigate the death of her old friend Martha, who was killed in her family's art gallery. The art talk was interesting, but it's the characters that always draw me back, so missed Evelyn. Actually, maybe it was the stress, but Carrie didn't appear her usual rather focused self. She seemed almost happy to shove aside wedding plans to look into the murder, jumps to several conclusions, then insists she isn't investigating when pressed by several others. 

One of her worries is art based, however, as she fears her extraordinary library staff member, Susan, may be being lured away by the art world. Friends and family are important. Carrie's dad, a retired, uh, criminal, or should I say reformed criminal now working for the right side of the law, gets involved in the main investigation, well, sorta, but is a help to Dylan as they try to sort through the art forgery ring. In other words, there are a great deal things going on, some seemingly related, some seemingly not. There are several suspects and, oh, yeah, many, many red herrings. 

Bottom line, although I wasn't quite as tuned into this one as usual, I did enjoy the read and recommend it to others. While it works as a standalone, if you've read other books in the series it'll help you sort out the relationships and connections more quickly, I think. Dementia is involved in one situation, btw, so be aware. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me to the opening of the library extension. It's been a long time coming! Now, let's get those wedding plans solidified, Carrie, now that you've found a perfect setting.

Only in New York, by Heather Alexander , Joseph Moffat-Peña (Illustrator)

 

Publication Sept. 26, 2023

Wait! What? Whoa! Do you know what Einstein related item is stored in a safe-deposit box in NYC? Answer at end.

What a fun, fascinating read. As I often do, I found myself idly flipping through twice, enjoying the illustrations and any odd facts that seemed to leap to my eyes. That was fun but so was actually reading the book. I've never been to New York, alas, so this was a bit of a perfectly guided virtual tour for me. Beautifully illustrated with info provided in an easy to read format, usually in individual boxes near the related illustration. There's a map, too, at the beginning of our journey that gives you a perspective on locations. Index at the end, too.

I was fascinated. Let's face it, even those of us who've never been to the state know bits and pieces of its storied history and sites. Even so, I found myself taking endless notes as I flipped and then read through more carefully, notes for me to keep, not for this review. Oh, okay, I'll share a few things. Did you know New York is the only state to border both an ocean and Great Lake? Or, and this one will come as a surprise to those who assume if you've seen NYC you know the entire state, 61% of the state is covered by forests? How about the lion statues guarding the entrance to the NY Public Library? Do you know their names? Or how many states you can see from the 102nd floor viewing platform of the Empire State Building? What museum is on a ship? 

Nope, not telling. You're going to have to read this one to find out the answer to that one and so many, many others. For a book targeting children as an audience, it's amazingly well-researched and full of information on everything from the state's history and culture, to its trees and flowers, people, both famous and otherwise, food, and, well, so much more. I definitely appreciated that the people showcased as notable were diverse and covered a wide range of contributions, from political to the accidental "invention" of soft serve ice cream. And, oh, a fact I appreciated living in Alaska, which is prone to earthquakes. New York's strongest quake was in 1944, a 5.9 one. That's nothing to shrug off, trust me.

Bottom line, loved this and will be looking for more on the rest of our diverse, vast nation. Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #WideEyedEditions for giving me this fascinating virtual tour. And, oh, for those who scrolled down to the answer to my opening question: Einstein's eyeballs!!!

Daytime and Nighttime: Explore the earth's habitats during the day and night, by Michael Bright, Nic Jones (Illustrator)

 

Publication Sept. 26, 2023

Fascinating. Wonderfully done. Beautiful book. 

I finished last night and was thinking about it as the last light (still past midnight here in Alaska right now) slipped away. My dog had jumped up on her back-of-couch perch to survey the yard and I wondered what she might be seeing. Here in Alaska, you just never know. In the same streets that children ride bikes up and down and people walk their dogs, not to mention working in their yards, wildlife cams have been known to show up everything from bears to moose to lynx and rabbits and, well, who knows. In any case, it made me all the more intrigued by the author's look at what comes out in the daylight and dark in the same place daily around the world. 

I'm not going to share many details because that was part of the delight of going through this book. It takes us from city streets to the European woodlands to Australia to....well, too many to list. The illustrations are both colorful and beautifully done, giving us a peek at life in places most of us will never see with our eyes. I've got to admit, this is one of those books I found myself flipping through initially simply to enjoy the illustrations before going back to soak up the info shared. You'll recognize some of the wildlife shown but perhaps meet something new to you. As a fan of the ol' Monkees tv show where Mike Nesmith frequently wore a shirt urging us to "Save the Prairie Chicken", I laughed outloud to find it profiled here. Past life, meet scientific observation. 

While this is aimed at children, all age groups can and should enjoy this book. The info is at once intriguing while also being presented in an easy to read/understand manner and, of course, you'll spend a good bit of time marveling at the illustrations. I'd suggest a hard bound copy of this, however, as I found it a trifle awkward when I wanted to flip back from the same daylight and dusk/dark scenes via my Kindle copy. Doable but slowed me down. That said, many thanks to #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #words&pictures for allowing me to soak up this wonderful book. As noted, it made me think and, more importantly, taught me something new. I'm still digesting that both humans and snakes are diurnal creatures, however. 

Lesson Plan for Murder, by Lori Robbins

 

Having written more than a few lesson plans in my past, including for a stint as an English teacher, I have to admit to being drawn in by the title. Boy, the teachers at Liz's school didn't much like each other, that's for sure. I'm glad my teaching days weren't quite as, well, murderous. 

Murder victim Marcia Deaver most definitely isn't well liked. Maybe not even well tolerated? Surely a missing office chair didn't lead to her murder? Do people kill over such frivolous things? Of course they do. That said, oh, my, Marcia's murder suspect list isn't a short one. It was interesting to see so much of the mystery set in a school setting as we got to know both the victim and accidental sleuth, as well as those about her. Is anyone sad Marcia is dead? Um, maybe? Maybe not? Makes finding her killer all the harder, which is maybe why the police don't turn away Liz as she rather bumbles her way along looking into things. As she discovers, murder investigations aren't as tidy as lesson plans, however. In addition, they can put not just Liz in danger but those she cares about. 

To be honest, I didn't much care about Liz initially. She seemed insecure and a bit envious of Marcia's place in the school hierarchy. She also has a healthy respect for education, however, even while hating wasting time in meetings, a trait which made me warm up to as the story went along. She's bemused and intrigued by Marcia's substitute lesson plans, however. Heck, Marcia didn't even believe Shakespeare wrote his plays, probably a bit much for many to accept. As for the teachers, while I'm happy to say I never encountered any as unfriendly, catty, and selfish as those Liz worked with, they still mostly came across as qualified and well-meaning ... sorta. As a teacher, too, I noted the nod to the importance of the administrative staff and how the principal was given a bit of humanness when Liz noted his usual nervousness at public speaking. Yes, there is humor in the story, too.

Bottom line, this was a promising start to what appears to be a new series. I'm not quite hooked yet but will definitely give the next book out a read. Thanks #BookSirens and author #LoriRobbins for reminding me all I'm missing -- not -- by not being in the classroom anymore. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas, by Mary Kay Andrews

 

Publication Sept. 26, 2023

This book made me smile. It made me feel good. It made me want to hug the world. How much did I like this book? I made my dog wait outside longer than she'd like while I hurriedly finished the last few pages. To be honest, I didn't expect to be that taken with the book but found myself not just enjoying the back-and-forth between Kerry and her brother Murphy, but all the characters that we were formally introduced. Note, I said formally, hence leaving out the guys who tried to horn in on the Tolliver's Christmas tree sales. 

In other words, expect to fall in love with these characters, from the hesitant but strong willed Kerry to adorable Austin (and his handsome, kind father, never mind he was known in Kerry's mind as the arrogant Mercedes guy initially) and all the rest. And, oh, don't put your dog out until you're done reading. Grin.

Bottom line, this is a Christmas story, with all the heartwarming feels you would imagine. Hey, there's even an adorable dog and cantankerous old guy who, well, I won't say more about him. He's an important part of the story, however. Reality tells me that NYC isn't quite as charming as depicted but, hey, as I said, this is a Christmas story. Think Hallmark. Think happily ever after. Think...well, whatever makes you smile when you think of Christmas. Christmas trees? Oh, boy, does it have Christmas trees. So, Christmas trees, romance, plural at that, an adorable kid and dog, snow, and all the starry eyed hope and wonder that the Christmas season can muster. Read the blurb for more detail. 

Thank you so much for this much needed dose of joy, #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress. My Daisy dog sends Queenie a doggie kiss, btw, even if her humans' story did mean she had to practice her patience waiting to come back inside.

Dead on Target (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, 34), by M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green

 

Publication Sept. 19, 2023

This was the first Agatha Raisin title I've read since the death of her creator, MC Beaton, so I must admit to being a bit wary. Fortunately, I had nothing to be wary over. Green has admirably managed to pick up where Beaton stopped and created a lively, if still prickly, blunt, and in-your-face Agatha. As I discovered, Green had worked with Beaton in the past to help her finish previous works, so it's no wonder he knows the character almost as well as her creator. Be sure to read Green's Foreword, btw, as it is quite revealing of both Beaton and Agatha, not to mention his own role.

Agatha has never suffered fools and that has definitely not changed. In her world, the biggest fool would probably be Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes. She has no patience with his self-important, quick to judgment calls, especially when he names her as a primary suspect. She didn't kill Sir. Godfrey, however, so who did? The suspects are numerous and most seem to have real reasons to want him dead, although, ironically, there are some whose lives are made much more difficult now that he's gone. And, oh, so many secrets and family turmoil. I won't detail the plot, it's both crafty and, well, rather impulsive, but it's a great deal of fun to watch play out with several humorous moments. All your ol' favorites are there, from James and Charles to neighbor Mrs. Bloxby, so I thoroughly enjoyed becoming reacquainted with them. 

I will note that Agatha seemed to be much more insightful about herself than I recall, admitting to herself that she's aging, anxious about it, and still indecisive about the men in her life. I rather like John, so that was a fun one to watch, even if Agatha's impulsive need to push Wilkes buttons creates problems. Bottom line, lots of action, plotting, sub-plots, and both cats and dogs this go-round. Let's face it, Agatha isn't a dog person but, well, she seems to be warming up to them thanks to the wayward Ossian, the lab. I'm looking forward to seeing if that goes anywhere, not to mention seeing how her end-of-the-book plan works out. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for re-introducing me to the world of Agatha Raisin. I'm thinking I need to make a library run soon and read the books I've skipped, bad me. Kudos to RW Green for making Agatha live for me again.

Christmas Mittens Murder, by Lee Hollis , Lynn Cahoon , Maddie Day

 

Publication Sept. 26, 2023

Who knew mittens could be so murderous? In this three story collection from three of my "go-to" authors, the common thread is mittens. Innocent ones, cursed ones, and murder weapon ones. I won't detail the stories as the blub does an excellent job but will say they were quick, easy reads and made you think. I was most taken by Maddie Day's "Murderous Mittens" which is the introduction of a new character/series for Day starring Cece as the new sleuth in town. This novella gives us her background and explains how she got to where she is in the series, which was great. As it happens I have the first of that series, "Murder Uncorked", in my "to be reviewed" pile. Looking forward to it all the more now.

Lee Hollis' "Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter" was quite quick paced and features a favorite character of mine, Hayley Powell. I couldn't help but chuckle aloud as she lamented in one of her regular columns how she almost failed home ec in high school. Not being very domestic oriented, I definitely could related to that one. She's great at solving crimes, however. 

"Two Christmas Mittens" by Lynn Cahoon, quite frankly, made me heave a sigh of relief when I realized I definitely don't own a pair of red gloves. Set in the magical Magic Springs, Idaho, it involves witches and food, not to mention family dynamics and Mia's struggles to keep her business alive. She's also a bit of a "witch-in-training" for lack of a better term although, quite frankly, she'd prefer to be cooking. Her best friend has been cursed by those seemingly innocuous red mittens, however, and the rush is on to both break the curse and find a murderer.

Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for allowing me to sate my appetite for Christmas spirits in such a fun way.

Bitter Brew, by GA McKevett

Another old review from Facebook, July 21, 2020

 

I've just finished a cozy mystery that I really liked, all the more surprising as it took me a bit to get into it. GA McKevett's "Bitter Brew". Part of the Savannah Reid series for those who follow that one and dealt with two timely issues, pain med addiction and genetic diseases that are ultimately fatal. She used a fictional one but lots of info on various legit info/support groups for real ones and a deft handling of the main character's brother's addition to pain meds after an accident. I know I was way past wary of the pain meds they usually prescribe when I was dealing with my broken arm, pretty much relying on good ol' Tylenol most of the time, but could definitely see why those in severe pain, which I never was, could lean to heavily on prescription pain meds. Hence, could see how someone, albeit a fictional guy this time, could fall into the trap of taking more of them if the prescribed dose didn't do the job. 

 

So, anyway, bummer themes aside, what are you reading? Right now I'm reading "Theater Nights Are Murder" by Libby Klein.