Mystery – Page 7 – Baskerville Book Reviews

Review: Black Jade

Could an old-fashioned ballgown be used to commit murder?

Daiyu Wu is aware that fear of the Yellow Terror has made her nationality a rare breed in the Lone Star State. Being Chinese and blind makes her doubly unique in 1930 Dallas. Despite these impediments, anyone who dismisses her for either fact does so at their peril.

One day, at her family-owned laundry business, Dai detects the scent of burned garlic. With the help of her companion, Jacques, the source is soon discovered. It is a green ballgown. The gown has money pinned inside it to pay for the cleaning, but oddly, it came with no address label to identify its owner. Her extensive knowledge leads Dai to believe someone has committed murder using arsenic. The perpetrator is trying to use White Laundry to hide the evidence. But no mention of foul play turns up in the newspapers, and there’s not enough proof to convince the police there’s been a crime.

Her curiosity and intellect stimulated like never before; Dai ignores the possible consequences and sets out to solve the mystery with the help of her canine companion, Prince Razor, and her confidant, Jacques Haskins. It’s either that or let the killer get away with it – assuming a spoiled popinjay, his jealous self-appointed girlfriend, and Dai’s overprotective parents don’t get in her way.

Review: A French Quarter Violet

Officer Violet Babineaux is called to the scene of a suicide where she finds her childhood friend Charlotte Labarre lying on a blood-soaked couch with a gun in her hand. Violet believes she could have prevented her suicide with a simple call. While placed on administrative leave, guilt drives her to investigate on her own, starting with Psychology Professor Daniel Russo who had an inappropriate relationship with Charlotte, his student. Violet portrays a vulnerable facade to entice his interest, however she falls for his charms. And Dr. Russo’s news of Charlotte’s secret diary threatens to blow the case wide open.

Unsure about Dr. Russo’s involvement, Violet presents a bold conspiracy theory involving cops to her partner Lenny Blake, but he and Homicide Detective Walter Wild dismiss her despite the evidence. When Violet finally acquires an elusive piece to the puzzle, the answers are far worse than not knowing.

Review: An Unkindness of Ravens

A serial killer from her past; an FBI agent with a personal agenda, and an investigative journalist determined to get the story at any cost.

While she was out enjoying her senior prom, Sarah Brighwater’s mother was murdered in their home. The serial killer was known to the police but never caught. Now, 15 years later, Sarah is an FBI agent in the Behavioral Science Unit tracking down killers like the one who killed her mother.

When a new string of murders begins and bodies are dumped near her old home town, Sarah wonders about the reemergence of her lifelong tormentor. Could it be him?

Tyler Ford is a respected investigative journalist working for a less than respected newspaper. He too sees the links to Sarah’s past and wonders. He knows he has to keep close to her to find out the real story. But when the killer contacts him, Tyler finds that she needs him more than he needs her.

The pair races against time to find the killer before he disappears once more into the dark underworld that hides him so well.

Can two people with opposing goals work together well enough to bring down a serial killer? Listen to find out!

Review: Auditory Viewpoint

Gloria Rank has lived her entire life in the dark. Blind since birth, she has made a name for herself as a respected talk radio show host in New Jersey. When her younger sister, Anna, has her identity stolen and a man is murdered outside her apartment, Anna becomes the prime suspect in an FBI investigation. But when bodies begin piling up around her, the FBI has to admit that she is being stalked by a murderer.

With the FBI focused in the wrong direction, it is up to Gloria to teach Anna to use her other senses – hearing, touch, taste, and smell – which she never really had to completely rely on before to help uncover a ring of identity thieves and stop the killer from taking her life, and perhaps Gloria’s as well! Their only hope for survival is an experiment in perception that will unearth heartbreaking secrets and catapult Gloria into a darkness of the heart beyond any that she has ever known

Review: Blood Parish

How does the disappearance of 19 high school baseball players remain a mystery for 30 years?

Angel Blondeaux had been taught since birth to never betray family, only to escape the clutches of home to become an FBI agent. For generations, Blondeaux has been the name to respect in Moreau Parish and the name to fear. Crime is no longer a part of life, but a lifestyle woven into the fabric of the parish. So, when Angel Blondeaux had graduated Quantico, she was rejected by the family like a bad organ.

The matriarch of the Blondeaux clan is Angel’s grandmother Paulette. Paulette’s successor was to be Angel’s aunt Lorna, until her mysterious death places the role of heir up for grabs. The FBI forces Angel to return home for her aunt’s funeral, only to discover a new will has been drafted, leaving Angel the house and an immense plot of land, along with the buried secrets of the missing baseball players.

Review: Chloe After Dark

Moving on from a painful breakup with her boyfriend, beautiful Chloe Milano takes a job as a radio host at a steamy late night erotic radio station to pay off her debts and make ends meet. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when she becomes entangled in the salacious fantasies of after-hours callers…

Review: Fires that Forge

Murder. Betrayal. Magic? One knight takes up his hammer to hunt a killer concealed. When dark arts and faith face off, will sorcery or swordsmanship win out? What chance can a mere mortal have against vampires and demonic forces? Is King’s Inquisitor Dunewell prepared to break the laws he has sworn to serve to discover and defeat a master of shrouded evil? Where is the line between hero and villain, saint and sinner?

Kingdom of Lethanor, 1648. Inquisitor Dunewell stands strong in a city scarred by corruption. A true warrior for justice, the newly assigned investigator jumps into the fray when a close physician friend is accused of murder. Vowing to find the real monster, he enters a deadly race against time and the tip of the executioner’s blade.

Ordered by superiors to wrap up the case quickly, the honorable man-at-arms digs deeply into clues pointing to demons and forbidden powers. But as more aristocrats are found brutally slain and vampire attacks foment mayhem, Dunewell must hunt down a magical foe before his city falls into violent madness.

Fires that Forge is the first book in the gripping Lords of Order & Chaos epic fantasy series, one of four series in the Bloodlines Reforged Saga. If you like thrilling mysteries, hidden enemies, and fast-paced action, then you’ll love R. J. Hanson’s sword and sorcery tale.

Review: Second Chance

When a second chance turns into something much more…

Piper Happ’s dead-end life turns into the ultimate nightmare when her roommate and upstairs neighbor are both murdered.

To further complicate things, Piper’s former best friend Nicolas is back in town. In high school, Piper would have done anything for him — until he moved across the country without warning or explanation. Against Piper’s better judgment, she seeks comfort and support from Nicolas, as she might be the killer’s next target.

He wants a second chance, but she isn’t sure she wants to risk a second heartbreak.

With a murderer on the loose, and danger lurking in every corner, is she putting just her heart in jeopardy — or her life as well?

Review: Dead in the Water

When Maisie Mitchell sold her restaurant and retired to sunny Florida, she couldn’t wait to get out of the kitchen and do absolutely nothing except enjoy lazy days by the pool.

Thirty-five years with the Chicago Police Department was enough for detective Donna “Dot” Pinetta. She was ready to escape the daily stress of big city crime and retire under a palm tree with a tall glass of something cold and a little paper umbrella.

But, as these two friends soon find out, retirement can get a little, shall we say, tiring? Sometimes you just need a vacation from your vacation. Maisie and Dot concoct an exciting plan of hitting all the destinations on their bucket lists, but when the dead body of handsome recreation director, Mason Jacobs is discovered floating in their own little piece of paradise, chaos ensues. Maisie and Dot’s plan for adventure gets shoved to the back burner when a good friend tops the suspect list and Dot jumps back into detective mode dragging Maisie along with her.

With a millionaire, an aging beauty queen and a jealous husband among the long list of suspects, can they expose the real killer and clear their friend’s name? Or will their first road trip be to the prison on visitor’s day?

Dead in the Water is the first book in a brand, new series by cozy author, S.C. Merritt. Join Maisie and Dot on their travels in the Bucket List Mysteries.

Review: What Ianthe Knew

Five years ago, Arielle’s dream life with Caleb was derailed when he left for Boston in search of work. Only, he never made it and turned up dead. Now, Arielle struggles to piece together what happened, while raising their daughter Ianthe alone.

A mysterious stranger shows up and suggests that Ianthe might know what happened to Caleb. Only, Ianthe has never met her father. Caleb’s secrets begin to come to light, and it’s all Arielle can do to keep her and her daughter safe.

But how can she, when Ianthe holds the key to the truth but is too frightened to talk about what she knows? What really happened to Caleb? All Arielle knows is that she’d better figure it out – and fast.