THE CHASE

5 stars out of 5

I was a fan of legendary steeplechase jockey turned horse racing focused author Dick Francis for many, many years, and since his death, I’ve continued that enthusiasm for books written by his son Felix. This one, I’m happy to say, continues that tradition of excellence in fine fettle – another good one in the books, so to speak.

One thing, however, left me wondering if I’d missed something. The description on Goodreads, where I always post my reviews, says the book features investigator Sid Halley (e.g., “Sid Halley is back to investigate”) – a familiar character. But for the life of me, I don’t recall ever even reading his name on any of the pages here. Oh well, no matter. If I somehow skipped over those mentions, so be it – honestly, in the end I didn’t miss him a whit.

The story finds Westminster art gallery owner Fabian Tulley in a bit of a bind; he’s just sold a painting by Alfred Munnings, and now the police are at his door because he’s been accused of fraud; the buyer, it seems, claims the painting is a copy and insists Fabian was well aware of it. Problem is, Fabian is certain he sold an original, authentic work – but especially since the police have confiscated the painting, how on earth will he prove its provenance? And if he doesn’t, it’s likely his entire business – already in a somewhat difficult financial state – would cease to exist (in fact, several seem to have already flown the customer coop).

As if that weren’t enough, Fabian’s landlord has issued him an eviction notice, claiming he now needs the building for a different type of development. To help with that, Fabian “hires” a retired barrister who agrees to a big discount on a painting he wants in exchange for helping Fabian get to the truth behind his lease (not knowing, of course, exactly where that will lead).

The buyer of the suspected fake Munning is billionaire Jack Lofthouse from Yorkshire, who subsequently filed a lawsuit against Tulley. But the question is, why would he want to discredit Fabian? Getting to the truth requires Fabian and a couple of friends to venture to (surprise!) the racetrack at Cheltenham, where he’s also a frequent vendor. There, he encounters even more serious attacks – one that ends with the ruin of several of the paintings he was displaying for sale there, thus adding to his financial woes and hopes for the future.

Needless to say, either the fraud or the eviction could cost Fabian his livelihood at the very least – so he’s eager to get both issues resolved. The eviction is mostly up to his attorney, but unless he gets to the bottom of the fraud accusation and puts it to rest, he won’t be able to afford his lease anyway, making that issue moot. So off he goes to get to the bottom of things, with a little help from some friends and employees. Details, of course, I cannot reveal, but suffice it to say it’s nonstop action right up to the end (which I also won’t reveal). Getting there, though, is exciting and fun, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for letting me in on the adventure by way of a pre-release copy. Another one well done!

The Chase by Felix Francis (Crooked Lane Books, September 2026); 304 pp.

FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE

4 stars out of 5

Golly, I love this series!

If you “get” that, it means you’re well acquainted with the delightful antics of Lady Georgiana Rannoch – just as I have been for quite some time now (this is the 19^th in the “Royal Spyness” series). If you don’t, I suggest you waste no time learning about it for yourself, especially if you like historical fiction with a mystery twist and a cozy flavor (just a titch; Georgie is not your typical cozy mystery heroine, but like most cozies, the blood and gore of other mysteries is noticeably absent).

At this point, Georgie is married to an heir to Irish royalty – Darcy O’Mara, and they have a not-yet-year-old son James and live in a good-sized mansion courtesy of an elderly relative who’s happy to share (and lives elsewhere, even though he’s welcome to live with them). Darcy is some kind of agent with Scotland Yard, often disappearing for days at a time on an assignment he can’t share with his wife. Georgie’s mother, a rather flighty character, lives the good life in Germany. That shouldn’t be much of an issue, except it’s the late 1930s, when Hitler was just getting revved up. Despite warnings from Georgie and her husband, she refuses to leave; Hitler, she says, is a friend who admires her (Georgie and Darcy, though, have very different opinion of the guy).

Such is the setting at the start of this installment; Georgie, who is a bit of a detective (both unwittingly and willingly), is for the most part a stay-at-home mom. Bucking most of the “rules” for aristocracy at the time, she’s loves interacting with her son as often as possible. While they’re far from wealthy, both she and Darcy will one day inherit tidy sums; for now, they’ve got servants courtesy of the homeowner so Georgie doesn’t need to do dishes, laundry or cook. When she goes to visit a couple of old friends (who will be familiar to regular readers).  In part, Georgie was happy to escape the uber-rigid nanny her very annoying sister-in-law hired without her knowledge to underscore Georgie’s lack of all things regal – and one of those friends asks for help with the suspicious death of her friend’s son. Despite Georgie’s begging when she gets back home, given the official declaration that the death was an accident, Darcy hesitates to get involved.

Not long thereafter, other suspicious deaths come to light; Georgie once again escapes her awful nanny (as well as Fig, the uppity sister-in-law who invited herself to occupy a room at Georgie’s home and takes great pleasure in ordering the servants around) to do more sleuthing in hopes of finding some kind of connection among all the deaths. That, she reasons, will force Darcy to take notice.

Over the course of the book, readers will follow Georgie as she tries to solve what she’s sure are murders, find a nanny who’s willing to share James with his mother and father and give Fig the boot – the latter hopefully for good. Sprinkled in between are details that make this series so interesting, such as the abdication of King Edward VII when he opted to marry divorced commoner Wallis Simpson. As a relative of Edward’s who has met “Mrs. Simpson” several times, Georgie has no shortage of opinions on that subject, by golly.

The ending, of course, ties up almost all the loose ends, leaving a bit of a teaser for the next installment. If I have a concern, it’s that Darcy, usually extremely supportive of his wife’s interests and opinions when they differ from what’s expected of “upper class” society folks, was a bit more critical than usual. And I’m still wondering how Georgie, a nursing mother, was able to leave her child for days at a time without being super-uncomfortable (to say the least).  All told, though, it’s rousing good fun once again, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

From Cradle to Grave by Rhys Bowen (Berkley, November 2025); 328 pp.

DARK HORSE

5 stars out of 5

Honestly, I'm not sure how many books this prolific author (the son of another prolific author) has written featuring former champion steeplechase jockey Sid Halley, nor am I sure how many I've read. I do know I'd bet on any one of them to be a winner because I know that's a sure thing.

This one is no exception - and it's got two additional selling points: First, Sid - who lost a hand in a nasty fight and was fighting with a prosthetic model last time I tapped into his life - has had a hand transplant and once again has the real thing. Second, this one casts aside any notion that a female jockey can't hold her own with the big [little] guys.

In fact, the first half or so of the book focuses on the life of Irish professional jocket Imogen Duffy, who's trying to win her way up the ranks to become a top performer (meaning in demand and well paid). She's reined in, though, by an ex-boyfriend who's also a jockey - and one who took it way too personally when she dumped him. In retalliation, he's stalking her, making her life miserable and, many times, afraid for her life.

Then, just as she got her sights on the pinnacle of success, said boyfriend turns up very dead - with a knife bearing her fingerprints on it sticking out of his chest. Needless to say, the police aren't wont to disregard the evidence, and she's charged with the murder.

The setting now jumps to Sid, now a private investigator who would much rather spend his time with his wife Marina and their daughter Saskia. He's approached by an old friend who just happens to be Imogen's father - a man to whom Sid owes a favor. And it's not hard to guess what that favor might be: Investigate his daughter's case in the fervent hope of getting her off.

The rest of the book, of course, follows the investigation by Sid and his team as well as Imogen's trial. That, too, was interesting to me - I love to read about courtroom proceedings, even more so when they differ a bit from the rules and regulations of U.S. venues (here, it's in England). All told, it's another great romp - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to ride along by way of a pre-release copy.

Dark Horse by Felix Francis (Crooked Lane Books, September 2025); 336 pp.

WE THREE QUEENS

5 stars out of 5

I came very late to this series, as far as my records show having read only the most recent three (this is No. 18) - but better late than never, as the old saying goes. I've found the books fascinating, which says a lot because I'm a fan of neither historical novels nor, for the most part, cozy mysteries. This one, I'm happy to say, is delightful as well.

The star of the show, Lady Georiana Rannoch, is a cousin of the King of England - who happens to be that guy who abandoned the throne to marry the [older] woman of his dreams. Perhaps that's partly the attraction for me; I was born roughly four years after he abdicated and remember hearing the story later from my parents, who of course lived through it all (probably listening to the news on the upright radio on which my dad and I also listened to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights). Anyway, I remember what a scandal it caused here in the States, so it was extra fun to learn that the woman in question - Wallace Simpson - plays a role here when King Edward asks Georgie and her hunky husband, agent Darcy O'Mara, to keep her hidden at Eynsleigh, the huge estate that will one day belong to Georgie.

What Georgie and Darcy learn after the fact, though, is that Sir Hubert, the current owner of the estate, has offered up the grounds as a setting for some scenes of a Hollywood movie. Needless to say, Wallis is frantic because she doesn't want to be found (and also because all the servants will not be at her beck and call), the servants are frantic because they're being commandeered into unbargained-for service and Georgie is frantic because all the house routines are being turned upside down just as she's trying to deal with a still-nursing infant son. On top of that, she's worried about her mother, who's in Germany making google eyes at one of Hitler's top officers and refuses to believe that either of them are anything other than nice guys.

Just as it seems they may achieve some semblance of order, things take a turn for the worse; Georgie's sister, her husband and two kids come for a long visit and the child-star actress in the film suddenly goes missing. The search for the young girl takes up a good bit of the book until yet another tragedy strikes - one of the cast of characters is murdered. This time, Darcy turns to his government employer for professional assistance, while Georgie puts some of her own investigative talents to work.

All told, it's another fun look at life in mid-1930s England. Since it's closing in on the start of World War II - and Georgie's mother has just gone back to Germany - I'm wondering how the next installment can avoid taking a darker turn. Well, guess I'll have to wait and see. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a copy of this one.

We Three Queens by Rhys Bowen (Berkley, November 2025); 331 pp.

LETHAL VENGEANCE

5 stars out of 5

Another year (well, give or take a few months), another installment of a favorite series. And as always, it doesn't disappoint. This time out, Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster is out and about with her main squeeze, Igor, for a rare posh dinner. Worried about why he set up such a special occasion, she takes a time out at the loo and returns by way of a wrong door that puts her up close and personal with a dead body that's been left in a, shall we say, compromising position. Of course, Erika's not one to tiptoe away from a scene like that - but maybe she should have. Turns out the dead dude is a Conservative member of Parliament. Quicker than you can say trussed up, another top cop moves in, claiming the case for himself.

And it's downhill from there. Despite Erika's keen interest in pursuing what clearly was a murder, she's shut out at just about every level; clearly, someone high in the pecking order wants this case squelched. Facing obstacles at every turn, what's a DCI to do? She backs off - mostly - but her interest reignites with the discovery of another well-known body - and then another - both done in with the exact same M.O. Now, it's harder for the powers-that-be to shove things under the rug, although Erika must remain vigilant since she suspects her department has been infiltrated by a puppet whose strings are controlled by the aforementioned powers.

Besides some important clues found (left) at each crime scene, the best the investigation can turn up is a group of five females, dressed identically in all black, who appear to have been present at or around the time of the murders. But who they are, where they are now and whether they have any real connection to the deaths remains a mystery. With the higher-ups still insisting that Erika and her team back off, finding answers becomes a real challenge. And in between all this, Erika must deal with a boyfriend who isn't terribly happy with taking a back seat to the investigation for a variety of reasons.

It's a scramble to the finish, which leaves an intriguing cliffhanger that likely will carry over to the next one up (at least I hope so). I'll be waiting - and meantime I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done!

Lethal Vengeance by Robert Bryndza (Raven Street Publishing, February 2024); 407 pp.

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING

4 stars out of 5

Despite being royalty (Lady Georgiana Rannoch is the King of England's cousin, don't you know - he who's at the moment off galavanting with some woman named Simpson) - she's like most first-time mothers in being apprehensive about giving birth. And that big event is imminent in this, the 17th installment of the "Her Royal Spyness" series. She and hunky hubby Darcy O'Mara are close to penniless (not sure why since he has a job as some kind of investigator, but hey), so she has yet to hire a nanny or even buy enough nappies for the nursery. Some of the feet dragging, though, comes because - based on her own past experiences with an off-putting mother - she wants to be more involved with her own child. For now, they're living quite well at the estate of Sir Hubert in Eynsleigh, which comes with more rooms than Buckingham Palace and a slew of people to cook and clean.

But alas, there's no chef; and Sir Hubert, an explorer readying to return home, will expect to be fed in his usual custom. So, Georgie hires a Frenchman named Pierre she met on one of their trips - a man who claims to be a chef but who's an almost total stranger. Happily, when she throws a welcome back dinner party for Sir Hubert, it's a hit - and so is Pierre. So much, in fact, that one of the guests, Gothic horror writer Sir Mortimer Mordred, wants to "borrow" him to cook up a feast for a party he's hosting at his manor - a rather spectacular residence that includes a "poison" garden.

That dinner, too, is a culinary success - that is, until several guests become quite ill and one dies. But how could that be? Everyone ate the same things (perhaps some ate more than others), and most of the guests felt no ill effects. Beyond that, no one seemed to have been alone with the pre-served food, at least not long enough to doctor up a dish or two. That is, with one exception: Chef Pierre.

Georgie, though, is certain her chef is innocent, even though he's an avowed Communist who isn't fond of an "upper class." But most of the guests (and more importantly, the police) are ready to truss him up like a Christmas goose, so she's got her work cut out for her if she wants to prove that he's not the culprit. Solving the mystery becomes more of a treat for readers once Georgie meets none other than mystery writer Agatha Christie (who's at Mordred's party with her husband, who was one of the guests who became ill). Georgie and Agatha hit it off at once, bouncing ideas off one another until the end (after which they pledge to remain friends, so methinks we may see the indominable Agatha again soon).

On the other hand, Darcy, a favorite character of mine, was barely there; even when he was present, he was, shall I say, rather lackluster. And Georgie? I know she's trying to stop saying "golly" so much, but I sure wish she'd hurry it up. Overall, though, this is another great romp back in time as always, and I'm already looking forward to the next adventure. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this one.

The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen (Berkley, November 2023); 295 pp.

PERIL IN PARIS

5 stars out of 5

Golly - another stellar installment of this wonderful "Royal Spyness" series set in 1930s England (more accurately, Paris, where Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her husband, Darcy O'Mara, are visiting - he on spy business, she, at least at the outset, on holiday). Of note in this one is that Georgie, as her friends call her, is pregnant - finally moving past the morning sickness that made her early months miserable.

When they arrive in Paris, Georgie is content to visit friends and see the sights, providing readers with one of the most interesting elements of the series (well, at least to me): descriptions of the period in which the stories are set and her "connections" to the rich and famous (would you believe her cousin is the King of England and she's well acquainted with Wallis Simpson, who has a somewhat prominent role in the plot)? Georgie's friend works for noted designer Coco Chanel, who is preparing for the latest fashion show, and Georgie gets tapped to model a Chanel-created maternity dress (albeit rather outlandish). Georgie also goes to a party in one famous writer of the day's apartment, where another famous writer drops by, and her mother currently lives in Germany and runs in the same social circles as Adolf Hitler.

But of course, best-laid plans aren't meant to go smoothly, and Darcy asks for Georgie's help with his secret mission. Then comes Chanel's fashion show, where an unlucky guest turns up rather dead - and Georgie is a suspect (French policemen, it seems, have very little respect for British aristocracy). Readers, of course, know she's not guilty, but it's great fun to find out the lengths to which she'll go to prove her innocence and, in the process, find the real killer. Overall, it's another truly enjoyable adventure - many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to ride along on a pre-release journey. Well done!

Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen (Berkley, November 2022); 300 pp.

A HEART FULL OF HEADSTONES

4 stars out of 5

Having read another in this series featuring Inspector John Rebus, I was looking forward to this one. And alas, I felt lost almost from the beginning and struggled to get through it. There were just too many characters and scenes that shifted far too often for me to keep it all straight. That said, my bet is that long-time readers of this popular series will enjoy it thoroughly.

Retired and not in the best of health, Rebus finds himself on the wrong side of the law - on trial for committing an undisclosed crime. From that beginning, the rest of the book goes back in time - to his old stomping grounds at Tynecastle, where "dirty" cops were the order of the day - to piece together what happened. Although he doesn't deny that he may have participated in more than a few shady operations himself, he can't quite make himself believe his actions were all that serious - mostly, they consisted of simply looking the other way. When one of the cops from back then ends up murdered, readers get to see Rebus's former protoge, now Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke, do her thing amid colleagues, some of whom still think women really don't belong in the police department.

The ending is a cliffhanger that suggests there will be a follow-up - and I'll be waiting for that one. For those new to this series, I must say this isn't the place to start - back up a bit and get more of a feel for some of the characters from an earlier time. Rebus is an interesting character who's time may be up, and I'm curious as to how it all will end for him. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin (Little, Brown and Co., October 2022); 353 pp.

NEXT IN LINE

4 stars out of 5

This is the second book I've read - and thoroughly enjoyed - in this series (this is the fifth), and the same thing happened both times: I found them difficult to "get into" for the first several chapters. They're very well written, so it must be that I'm just not used to the style (and the number of characters to keep straight). But when the lightbulb of understanding finally turns on, from that point in both books I didn't want to put them down.

One of the themes of this one, as it turns out, is kind of sad because it focuses on England's Royal Family, more specifically the late Princess Diana (it's set around 1988, when she was one of the most recognized and loved women on earth). Needless to say, her life must be protected at all times; but the detail of officers charged with that responsibility are thought to be corrupt. Enter Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his capable team - most notably Inspector Ross Hogan - who get assigned to the protection detail not only to do that job but unearth the illegal activities of the existing detail. It gets quite exciting, but I daresay the real Royal Family may not be too fond of the details (nope, can't explain - you'll just have to read it for yourself).

There's a concurrent theme as well, this one set in the art world; Warwick's wife, Beth, works in a prominent art gallery. But a prisoner they've put in jail has a duplicitous attorney, Booth Watson (who for whatever reason is always referred to by both his first and last name) more intent on stealing his client's money than defending him and an ex-wife, Christina, who doesn't care about the money but wants the artwork he's accumulated over the years. She's also friends with Beth - or so she's trying to make Beth believe. This one's not a case of determining which one is the "bad guy," but rather which one will end up outfoxing the others.

Both plots are quite complex, woven with detail and, on occasion, a bit of humor. As always, an interesting, entertaining read that makes me eager for the next installment. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. Excellent!

Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer (HarperCollins, September 2022); 385 pp.

THE RISING TIDE

5 stars out of 5

Vera Stanhope isn't the most glamorous of police detectives anywhere, let alone in Northumberland, England, but she's a woman after my own heart. More than a little overweight and far from a fashion icon, her investigative skills are more than sufficient to lead a competent team of detectives as she deals with the toughest of cases. For the record, this is the 10th book in the series; I've read only one other as well as a couple of other books by this prolific, and very talented, author - and as the happy recipient of a pre-release copy of this one, I was looking forward to starting it.

As well I should have been; it certainly didn't disappoint. Holy Island has been the setting for every-five-year reunions of a tightly knit group of school friends who bonded some 50 years earlier on a sort of Outward Bound experience here organized by a former teacher. They come from varied backgrounds and professions - Annie, Daniel, Lou, Ken, Rich and Philip - and a couple have been married, divorced and married to another in the original group. They commune with nature, each other and try to avoid discussing the death that happened on their very first five-year-reunion many years earlier. One member, it seems, drove off in a huff and was caught in the incoming tide that makes the causeway to the island impassible during specified times. 

This year's meeting is much like all the others, with blustery Rick - who just lost his TV journalist job amid allegations of inappropriate behavior (how timely is that??) but is touting the book he plans to write. Annie's husband Ken is in the throes of dementia, and Annie - part owner of a deli on the mainland - oversees the food. All is well, in fact, until it isn't; Annie finds Rick in his room - the most pretentious and well-appointed one in the place, of course - quite dead.

Enter Vera and her team of investigators, Joe Ashworth and Holly Clarke, who conclude early on that the murderer - and yes, Rick's death was murder - most likely is a member of the reunion group. But who? And why? The rest of the book focuses on the deliciously involved backgrounds of and interactions among the characters and their significant others (both former and current). There's plenty of description of the island and its background as well, plus detailed outlines of the progress of Vera's investigation. The ending? Well, I wasn't terribly surprised at the identity of the murderer, but something else that happened blew my mind (and not in a good way).

If this is a series you're following, I think you'll like this entry; if not, it stands well on its own (but I always advise starting at the beginning if possible - these books really are worth it). As for me, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for once again allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves (Minotaur Books, September 2022); 384 pp.

FATAL WITNESS

5 stars out of 5

This is a favorite series, and I must say I enjoyed this latest entry (the seventh). It checked all the boxes for a great crime story, put the star of the show, Chief Detective Erika Foster, in all kinds of situations in which she doesn't want to be (including possibly dead) and kept me turning the pages right up to the end. The only downside is that it was four long years in the making.

The story begins as Erika makes her way back to her new fixer-upper home in Blackheath after fetching fish and chips and hears blood-curdling screams. Coming from a flat near her home, she learns the screams are coming from a woman who has just found her brutally murdered sister inside the flat. The woman, named Vicky Clarke, was a true-crime podcaster, making Erica and her team suspect that the victim had stumbled onto something her attacker didn't want broadcast for all the world to hear.

From that point on, things quickly become complicated - and revealing much more wouldn't be prudent. I'll just say that relationships dominate the story - those of the victim and her circle of friends and neighbors and those of Erika herself. Her old fling and coworker Detective Inspector James Peterson, for instance, is no longer the former but still the latter (with a new main squeeze, no less), which creates a few moments that are awkward at best. A couple of sets of sisters bring out the worst in sibling rivalry, and a prime suspect must be treated with kid gloves because of his ties to department powers-that-be and an old friend makes a surprise appearance.

All told, it's an engaging page-turner that brings Erika back into action after a four-year-or-so hiatus; I'm happy to see her, and I'm sure other readers will be as well. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get to know her again through a pre-release review copy. And to the author, please, pretty please, don't wait so long to write the next installment!

Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza (Raven Street Publishing, July 2022); 373 pp.

LOCAL GONE MISSING

4 stars out of 5

Call me crazy, but I'm sniffing the start of a new series "starring" detective Elise King. If I'm right, I'm certainly interested in reading the next one - even though this one is a bit too close to a cozy mystery to suit me (more on that later).

Set in the small by-the-sea town of Ebbing, England, Elise lives is on medical leave from the police Major Crime Team following cancer surgery, but she stays in touch with her capable partner, Caro Brennan. One evening, in the middle of a town festival that a town bigwig forced on the locals against their will, two teenagers overdose on drugs and a local man - Charlie Perry - goes missing. Elise isn't supposed to be on the job, but she gets roped in by way of friends (in particular, her neighbor Ronnie). She soon learns that although Charlie is quite popular in the community and has an almost middle-aged daughter, Birdie, in a full-time care facility, he has more than a few secrets that he's trying hard for years to hide.

Readers meet other characters along the way, including community house cleaner Dee Eastwood, who because of her work is privy to all kinds of secrets (and, not surprisingly, has a few of her own). Chapters move from the present to the past and back again - constantly - a technique of which I'm not fond but which the author does very well in this instance (well, I'm not any fonder of it than I used to be, but in this case it was far less confusing than it too-often is). 

For her part, Elise tries hard to investigate and avoid ruffling feathers of those who insist she shouldn't be back on the job - most of the time successfully. Near the end, she feels well enough to convince her supervisor that she can handle a return, by which time she and Ronnie have a pretty good handle on what's really going on - and the ending brings a bit of a surprise as well as "outs" a bunch of secrets and wraps things up nicely.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it, but I must say it tromps on the edges between being a police procedural and a cozy. Mostly, that's because Elise's neighbor Ronnie is obnoxious, pushy and won't take no for an answer (nor can Elise bring herself to utter that word to her friend) - a hallmark of just about every cozy I've ever read. I can't, for instance, imagine any professional police officer, even one off duty, allowing a civilian to be so fully involved in a department investigation except in a cozy. On the other hand, I will give the author kudos for her handling of the cancer issue; readers and the story's characters certainly feel empathy  toward Elise and what she's going through, but at no time is she treated like a victim (nor does she behave like one except for the occasional - and totally understandable - lapse into a temporary blue funk). Bottom line? An entertaining read - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton (Berkley, June 2022); 383 pp.

BLUE BLOODED

4 stars out of 5

I've been hooked on this series through four books, and of course, I was looking forward to reading this, the fifth. Now that I'm done, I'll call it okay, but it's my least favorite so far. In part, that's because the action crossed over almost to unbelievable; the rest of the turn-off came because I can't imagine living amid that kind of personal-life turmoil and don't much care for reading about someone else's - no matter how much I love the main characters.

They are, for the record, Lord Tony and Lady Kate Hetheridge, who have had to relocate while Tony's ancestral home, Wellegrave, is being renovated (part of the above-mentioned turmoil that I won't specify). Tony has just taken leave of his job as chief superintendent for New Scotland Yard and is trying his hand at private investigation while Kate, once his Yard subordinate, is dealing with a not-so-friendly new boss. At least she still has her best friend and co-worker,  Detective Sergeant Paul Bhar, for professional comfort (he's pretty much the same old, same old as in previous books, much to my delight).

For now, Tony and Kate have moved to a three-story condo in Westminster's newest high-rise; Kate isn't delighted, but her son, who appears to be somewhere on the autism spectrum, and Henry, the young son of her mostly estranged sister, Maura (whom Kate and Tony hope to adopt despite Maura's lawsuit to gain full custody) are having the times of their lives. Trying to drum up some business, Tony takes on a missing person case; it's for Mark, the son of wealthy acquaintances, who went missing when his twin sister Mariah took a supposedly intentional nosedive off the roof of a nearby high-rise. Meanwhile, Kate is heading up the investigation of the murder of a high-profile politician - an investigation that smacks of involvement of Tony and Kate's old nemesis and sworn enemy, Sir Duncan Godington.

The rest of the book intricately weaves all these characters and events together in a dark web that threatens lives, takes a couple of them and has a bang-up ending (for the most part implausible, but it gets the job done). All in all, it's a series entry I'd say at best is okay. But it does set the stage for the next one, which I hope to begin reading soon.

Blue Blooded by Emma Jameson (Lyonnesse Books, February 2018); 298 pp.

THE WIDOW

5 stars out of 5

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed many books by this prolific author- so much so that I keep coming back for more. No disappointment this time around, either; she's whipped up another winner in my book.

Kate and Michael are the happy parents of 6-year-old Tansy; their daughter is best friends with Kate and Michael's best friends Donna and Paul (the latter of whom is something of a philanderer). For several years, Michael has worked as the property manager for major landowner Irene Waldbridge, an elderly widow in her 70s with health issues. New to the village is a Polish immigrant Suzy Baros, a single mom who is glamorous and secretive. One tragic day, Michael - who's been acting a bit strangely of late - jumps in front of a lorry and is killed.

Needless to say, Kate is devastated, especially since Michael's death is ruled a suicide. What on earth would prompt him to take his own life? In short order, Kate learns that he may have had even more secrets than Suzy; in fact, he's been tied to her sudden disappearance. The local police, led by Detective Inspector Helena Price, begin to investigate, bringing even more implications that Michael wasn't the upstanding, loving husband and father Kate knew and loved.

But although Kate has many questions that remain unanswered, she vows to get to the bottom of the situation - if for no other reason than she doesn't want her young daughter to remember her dad as some kind of monster. That poses quite a challenge, though, especially since Suzy still hasn't been found and just about everyone else in the town has started shunning Kate in the belief that she somehow knew what kind of person he was all along. There's even speculation that he somehow was involved with the disappearance of Donna's younger sister several years earlier and another male Polish immigrant who's also suddenly gone missing. Mix in questions over the roles, if any, that the nefarious Paul and seemingly innocent Irene play in everything that happened and it makes for an exciting adventure I really hated to put down come bedtime (and in the end, I stayed up another half-hour or so just to get it finished). Thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Loved it!

The Widow by K.L. Slater (Bookouture, November 2021); 182 pp.

DARKNESS FALLS

5 stars out of 5

After thoroughly enjoying the first two books in this series, I was chomping at the bit at the opportunity to dive into this one (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the advance review copy). And once again, I wasn't disappointed. Kate Marshall, who recently started a private investigation business in England, is in her best sleuthing mode, with lots of help from her personable partner, Tristan Harper. Business isn't exactly booming, so they're both delighted when they get a call from Bev Ellis asking them to tackle a cold case: the disappearance of her journalist daughter, Joanna Duncan, a dozen years earlier.

Kate also owns a bunch of caravans - which if I'm correct is what we across the Pond call trailers (as in trailer park) - that bring in some money but need to be cleaned regularly. For that, she's hoping her grown son, Jake, will take charge when he comes home from college in a couple of weeks. For now, though, she and Tristan concentrate on their new case and start looking for clues, beginning with people who might be holding a grudge after Joanna did an expose on a local government official that resulted in losing his seat. It was, after all, just a couple of weeks after that when Joanna went missing. Willing to pay for the search is Bill, Bev's rather wealthy partner for many years, with whom she's now living.

Eventually, clues - some found in evidence boxes Kate has obtained from the police from their early-on investigation - turn up some names that lead to connections to the gay community, which seems to proliferate locally, both publicly and in secret (the latter mostly among married men who frequent gay bars and hire "rent boys" on the sly). As their investigation continues, though, it takes an even more sinister direction: the possibility that Joanna's disappearance isn't a one-off, but rather another in a string of serial killings by someone who isn't a stranger to the local community.

All in all, another entertaining adventure from beginning to end with very likable characters who are easy to "root" for. Bring on the next one - I'm ready already!

Darkness Falls by Robert Bryndza (Thomas & Mercer, December 2021); 304 pp.

THE LAST TIME SHE DIED

5 stars out of 5

Quirky, intriguing characters with more baggage than a small airport and a plot with more curves than the Le Mans Grand Prix. Together, that makes for a dandy start to a new series.

This is billed as a "Blake & Byron Thriller," for the record; the male half of that combo is John Byron, who's been on leave from his detective job because of, well, some things I can't reveal here. Now, he's been asked to investigate the auto "accident" that ended the life of former London political bigwig Gideon Fitzroy. With his first wife, Gideon had a daughter Blake; with his second, Virginia, he has a daughter and son, Lily and Tom, all of whom live at the family mansion called Claremont. Blake disappeared a decade ago and mysteriously, was never reported missing and is presumed dead. But surprise - shortly before Fitzroy's will is to be read, a young woman shows up claiming to be his long-gone daughter.

Ah, but is she for real? Needless to say, the remaining family, including Virginia's brother and Gideon's close buddy Roger Flint, are flummoxed, although they're not too worried about an inheritance. Even Blake herself expresses certainty that Gideon's Last Will and Testament - which she's seen - doesn't include her. So if it's really her, why did she come back at all?

The answer is beyond complex and involves a childhood friend of Blake's as well as a suspected gangster who continues to befriend the woman who now claims to be Blake. Byron, who is dealing with his own demons from the past, is intrigued by the young woman (read into that what you will), who remains mysterious but clearly doesn't trust anyone. He wants to believe what she says, but his detective instincts are screaming that there's far more to her story than she's willing to reveal.

Slowly, working with local police, Byron begins to follow threads he hopes will lead to the truth; but more than once, they unravel right before his eyes (and those of readers). The ending clears most things up but also drops hints of what's to come in the next installment. I'm already up for it - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

The Last Time She Died by Zoe Sharp (Bookouture, October 2021); 337 pp.

THE HERON'S CRY

4 stars out of 5

After reading the first book in this series, "The Long Call," a couple of years ago, I've been eager for more about the star of the show, North Devon Detective Matthew Venn. He has an intriguing background, leaving the cult-like religious life of his parents and getting married to the love of his life, Jonathan (no doubt distancing himself even farther from his already disapproving parents). Out on his own, he's become an exceptionally competent investigator, and he's back with a new adventure that has his entire department scratching their heads and puts his relationship with Jonathan to the test.

One of his most trusted underlings, Jenn Rafferty, gets a call from Venn way too early the morning after she drank way too much at a local party - one at which a local physician and patient advocate, Dr. Nigel Yeo, had indicated he had something to discuss with her. Apparently, he gave up trying and left; so when Venn tells her the good doctor has been murdered - by a shard of glass from one of his daughter's works of art - she's both disturbed and mortified that her inebriation got in the way. The body was found within a community of artists at which his daughter has a studio that's owned and run by a very wealthy man - and where Jonathan manages a group that caters to people with disabilities (in fact, Jonathan is a good friend of Eve, the dead man's daughter)

Needless to say, several in the artistic commune are suspects, including the rich guy - and the story weaves its way through the possible connections that hopefully will lead to identifying the killer. But then, another body turns up - a man who was murdered in a similar fashion with a similar weapon. With this one, the possible motive is even more elusive than the first. But slowly and methodically, Venn and his team unearth clues that lead in an unexpected direction - leading up to an exciting end (and a couple of causes for optimism in Venn's personal life). All told, it's another entertaining adventure, for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Bring on the next!

The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves (Minotaur Books, September 2021); 400 pp.

THE OTHER PASSENGER

4 stars out of 5

This is my first book by this author, and it certainly won't be my last. It kept me swiping through Kindle pages from beginning to end, with twists (some predictable, others not) at just about every flip. At the heart of the story are four characters: unmarried partners Jamie and Clare and Christopher ("Kit") and Melia. The first two live in a sumptuous home owned by Clare, who's also the primary breadwinner. The second couple are ensconced in somewhat of a dump, heavily in debt and nearly living hand-to-mouth. 
 

Jamie works in a coffee shop, commuting back and forth each weekday day on a ferry boat. One day he meets Kit there, they strike up a conversation and soon a friendship. Meantime, Melia joins the realty firm at which Clare works, and a similar friendship is born. When they discover that they don't live that far from each other, the friendship blossoms and spreads to after-work hours.

But one not-so-fine morning, Kit isn't on the ferry; Melia, sick with worry, calls Jamie, Clare and the police to report him missing. That anything bad happened to Kit is, to Jamie, unfathomable; after all, Kit rode the ferry with Jamie the previous night. But the next night, as Jamie debarks for the walk home, he's greeted by two police officers; he was, they tell him, the last person to see Kit alive - and what's more, a passenger on that same ride insists that Jamie had a reason to kill his so-called friend.

Chapters switch in time from Jamie and Kit's first meeting to the present - roughly spanning a year. Readers see what each character is thinking, how he or she is coping and what really happened that led up to Kit's sudden disappearance. Throughout it all, Jamie, who swears innocence, keeps trying to find out the identity of the ferry "snitch" - the mysterious other passenger. On the surface, it's just another puzzle the police need to solve. But my advice to readers? Don't get complacent (or, put another way, keep in mind that people and recollections aren't always what they seem).

All told, this is a very entertaining and well written book. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish (Atria Books, July 2021); 396 pp.

THE NIGHT HAWKS

5 stars out of 5

Archeologist and University of North Norfolk professor Dr. Ruth Galloway seems like such an old friend that I was surprised to learn I've read only one other book in this series - and after reading this one, I know I don't want to miss any more. As it opens, a group of local metal detectorists who call themselves the Night Hawks find a dead body on a North Norfolk beach. Ruth wants to learn more about the suspected Bronze Age weapons found near the body, but detective inspector Harry Nelson - Ruth's former paramour and the father of their young daughter Katie, who lives with Ruth - leans toward determining whether the young man's death actually is a murder.

Later, the same group of Night Hawks find two more bodies - this time at the remote Black Dog Farm, also the site that spawned the legend of Black Shuck, a huge dog that is believed by some to be sighted by people right before they die. The dead bodies, though, are a man and wife - and it appears to have been a murder-suicide. 

The investigation, understandably, includes looking into a connection between the dead bodies, members of the Night Hawks and that mythical (or not!) pooch. All the while, Ruth must deal with her feelings for the still-married Nelson and her distaste for the new guy in the Archeology Department - the one she hired to replace her when she was named department head. Not only is he a know-it-all pain in the you-know-what, but his behavior makes her suspicious of what he's really up to.

I never really bought into the Black Shuck notion (a little too other-worldly for me, I guess), but on the other hand, it added some interest, albeit offbeat. The end brought at least one surprise and wrapped up loose ends - except one: A cliffhanger that has the potential to change the course of books to come. I, for one, will be waiting. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, June 2021); 368 pp.

THE BLAME

4.5 stars out of 5

If I could pick an overarching theme for this intriguing book, it's a line that's repeated a few times throughout: "People change, and then they change again." It's certainly true in real life, and it's manifested in several of the characters herein. The story is narrated by Harry Curtis, who left his small hometown of Mackleberry, England, to live and work in Canada a couple of decades ago. It's his first time back, and he's more than a little reluctant to return. But an old school chum - Richard - has been arrested for the murder of one of their teachers; another friend, Paige, called to beg Harry to help her find out what really happened and help Richard's case. Since Harry and his wife are separated, he decides to head across the Pond and give it a go.

Harry soon finds he's surprised at the changes in the still-insular community he once loved - some of them for the better, others not. Paige herself certainly isn't her former self; among other things, she's in the midst of a divorce from Richard's elder brother, Oliver. Harry's sister, Evie, lives in their old family home; while she's not enthused to see her younger brother, she allows him to stay with her for the duration of his stay.

Early on, readers learn of a long-ago incident involving another of their school friends, Graham. Almost as quickly, it appears the local police are trying to tie that incident to the current murder. That, both Harry and Paige agree, simply isn't the case. But then again, Harry's memory of how things happened back then aren't exactly clear; and as their investigation - and that of the police - gets more serious, some of the relationships Harry once thought were rock solid begin to crumble.

The ending brings everything - well, almost everything - to closure, though not necessarily with a "God's in his heaven, all's right with the world" feel. A well done, insightful and thought-provoking read that I definitely recommend. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Blame by Kerry Wilkinson (Bookouture, February 2021); 317 pp.