Until I Find You by Rea Frey (thoughts)

 

Summary from Goodreads:

"2 floors. 55 steps to go up. 40 more to the crib.

Since Rebecca Gray was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, everything in her life consists of numbers. Each day her world grows a little darker and each step becomes a little more dangerous.

Following days of feeling like someone’s watching her, Bec awakes at home to the cries of her son in his nursery. When it’s clear he’s not going to settle, Bec goes to check on him.
She reaches in. Picks him up.
But he’s not her son.
And no one believes her.

One woman’s desperate search for her son . . .

In a world where seeing is believing, Bec must rely on her own conviction and a mother’s instinct to uncover the truth about what happened to her baby and bring him home for good."

My Thoughts:

Until I Find You was one of those tense reads that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could.  The premise of this book is unique as it features Bec who is now considered to be legally blind.  She has had a difficult life with both her husband and then mother recently dying so she is on her own raising her baby boy.  I cannot speak on the portrayal of what it is like to lose your sight or to be blind but I felt like this author really handled it well. She voiced the struggles and fears that Bec faced with raising a young child on her own and not being able to see.  The book felt almost claustrophobic at times especially as the author takes the reader through some of Bec's own experiences with not being able to see.  The idea of not knowing who is behind you, how far you have until you reach something like stairs....it's all a bit terrifying to think about which really added to the suspense that was present throughout this book.  It was sad to see how Bec was treated because of her inability to see by others who had their vision.  I felt like it was a realistic portrayal though because often people with disabilities are listened to less than someone without disabilities.  It made me mad for her though because her friends really weren't there for her like they should have been.  This book was a true page turner and literally had me on the edge of my seat at times.  I NEEDED to know how everything was going to end and if Bec was going to find her baby.  I finished this book reading fast and furiously between pitches at my son's baseball game.  Completely worth it!

Overall, I'm excited to have found this author and am looking forward to reading more by her in the future.  This book really made me think about my own vision and what it would be like to slowly lose that vision.  I also connected with it strongly as there is such a focus on motherhood and being the best mother possible despite the circumstances.  Bec had her doubts and insecurities but that's what it is like being a mother.  I don't think that there is a mother out there that doesn't experience their own insecurities and doubts relating to being a mother and how well they are doing.  I think that readers who enjoy a suspenseful read, those who enjoy page turning books that keep them hooked until the very end, and those readers who want a mystery featuring a main character with a disability should definitely pick this book up.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A suspenseful read that has moved this author on to my must read list!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a PICT book tour.  Honest thoughts are my own.

CW:  Kidnapping, death, grief, blindness, mental illness

Book Details: Genre: Domestic Suspense Published by: St. Martin's Press Publication Date: August 11th 2020 Number of Pages: 320 ISBN: 1250241588 (ISBN13: 9781250241580) Series: Until I Find You is not a part of a series. Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Goodreads Author Bio: REA FREY is the multi-published, award-winning bestselling author of three suspense novels and four nonfiction books. She’s been featured in US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Popsugar, Hello Sunshine, Marie Claire, Parade, Shape, Hello Giggles, CrimeReads, Writer’s Digest, WGN, Fox News, Today in Nashville, Talk of the Town, and more. She is also the CEO and Founder of Writeway, where aspiring writers become published authors. To learn more, visit reafrey.com or writewayco.com. Catch Up With Rea Frey: ReaFrey.com Goodreads BookBub - @ReaFreyAuthor Instagram - @reafrey Twitter - #ReaFrey Facebook - @reafrey

Closer Than She Knows by Kelly Irvin (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Teagan O’Rourke has always loved murder mysteries. In her job as a court reporter, she has written official records for dozens of real-life murders. She’s slapped evidence stickers on crime scene photos. She’s listened to hours of chilling testimony. But she’s never known the smell of death. And she never thought she might be a victim. 

Until now. 

A young police officer is murdered just inches away from her, and then a man calling himself a serial killer starts leaving Teagan notes, signing each with the name of a different murderer from her favorite mystery novels. 

Panicked, Teagan turns to her friend Max Kennedy. Max longs for more than friendship with Teagan, but he fears she’ll never trust someone with a past like his. He wonders how much of God’s “tough love” he can take before he gives up on love completely. And he wonders if he’ll be able to keep Teagan alive long enough to find out. 

As Teagan, Max, and Teagan’s police officer father race to track down the elusive killer, they each know they could be the next victim. Desperate to save those she loves, Teagan battles fears that once haunted her in childhood. Nothing seems to stop this obsessed murderer. No matter what she does, he seems to be getting closer . . ."

My Thoughts:

Closer Than She Knows is a suspenseful read that kept me guessing.  This book would be considered Christian fiction which is something that some readers would definitely want to know beforehand in case that isn't their thing.  The characters beliefs do play a major part of this book at times which is why I felt like it was important to mention.  I found myself instantly intrigued by the setup of this book.  Teagan finds herself in the sights of a serial killer at the very beginning of this book which really started this book off with a bang.  I found myself trying to figure out who the killer could be right along with all of the other characters.  I liked that the author also hit on some other heavier issues within this book.  For example, Max is a former alcoholic.  This isn't something that is just glossed over but is something that he deals with throughout the book.  The need for foster parents is another issue that was also brought up within the pages of this book.  I thought that the way that the author brought these things into this book added to the mystery without distracting from it.  It made the book feel more like real life as these are issues that are faced by so many all of the time.  I spent the entirety of this book trying to figure out who the killer was and the why's behind it all.  While I did end up suspecting the correct person at one point, I wasn't for sure until the very end when everything is revealed.  I thought that this book was a page turner - especially with that ending!

Overall, I liked this one and would be open to reading more by this author in the future.  I thought that the author did a good job of writing a suspenseful read that kept me guessing.  I really liked Teagan's family and would love to read more of them in future books.  I also enjoyed the fact that the author's love of mysteries was interspersed throughout this book.  The killer would leave Teagan notes signed as the killer from different mystery novels that Teagan had read and loved.  I just thought it was a fun way to pay homage to the mystery genre and the author's love of books.  I think that readers who enjoy suspenseful reads, Christian fiction, or just mysteries in general would enjoy this book.

Bottom Line:  A suspenseful read that kept me turning the pages.

Disclosure:   I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher as part of a PICT book tour.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Book Details: Genre: Romantic Suspense Published by: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: June 9th 2020 Number of Pages: 352 ISBN: 0785231862 (ISBN13: 9780785231868) Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads Author Bio: Kelly Irvin is a bestselling author and two-time Carol Award finalist. She is a former newspaper reporter and retired public relations professional. Kelly lives in Texas with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin. They have two children, three grandchildren, and two cats.  Visit her Online: KellyIrvin.com Goodreads BookBub Instagram Twitter Facebook  Here is an excerpt from the book: “We’re almost there, Ms. O’Rourke.” Officer Moreno came to a full stop at the corner of Park and Academic Court, where the glass-covered police department recruitment center and property room facilities glinted in the late-afternoon sun. A smile brought out dimples on Moreno’s cherub-cheeked face. Her assignment to escort a court reporter and the evidence to the property room was almost to the halfway point. Teagan had told Moreno to call her by her first name, but the patrolwoman couldn’t seem to manage it. “I’ll get us through security, we’ll stow the evidence, and I’ll have you back to your car in a jiffy.” Did people still say “in a jiffy”? Teagan’s grandma might, but this woman was no more than twenty-four. A couple of years younger than Teagan. She studied the officer’s face as she turned onto Academic Court and accelerated. The woman was for real. A straight shooter determined to be successful in a man’s world. Teagan smiled, but Moreno had already returned her gaze to the road, hands at the proper ten and two positions on the wheel. “I know there’s plenty of other things you’d rather do than babysit evidence—” The driver’s side window exploded. The force knocked Teagan’s head against her window. Sudden pain pricked her face. Fragments of glass pierced her cheeks and forehead. The car swerved, jumped the curb, and crashed into the wrought-iron fence that protected the academy. Was this what Mom felt the day she died? The inevitability of it? Air bags ballooned. Teagan slammed back against her seat. I’m sorry, Max. I’m sorry I never said it. A second later the bag deflated. The smell of nitrogen gases gagged her. Powder coated her face. The skin on the back of her hands burned. Time sped up in an odd, off-kilter tick-tock. Teagan struggled to open her eyes. Pain pulsed in her temple. Her stomach heaved. Waves of adrenaline shook her body as if she’d grasped a live electrical wire. I’m alive. Today’s not my day to die. The evidence. Protect the evidence."

One Night Gone by Tara Laskowski (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"It was the perfect place to disappear...

One sultry summer, Maureen Haddaway arrives in the wealthy town of Opal Beach to start her life anew—to achieve her destiny. There, she finds herself lured by the promise of friendship, love, starry skies, and wild parties. But Maureen’s new life just might be too good to be true, and before the summer is up, she vanishes.

Decades later, when Allison Simpson is offered the opportunity to house-sit in Opal Beach during the off-season, it seems like the perfect chance to begin fresh after a messy divorce. But when she becomes drawn into the mysterious disappearance of a girl thirty years before, Allison realizes the gorgeous homes of Opal Beach hide dark secrets. And the truth of that long-ago summer is not even the most shocking part of all..."

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed my time with this book!  I was in the mood for an atmospheric read and this one really fit what I was looking for.  The story begins with Allison getting the opportunity to house sit in this gorgeous house for a few months while she works on figuring her life out.  As the reader, we know that something major has happened to Allison in regards to her work and marriage that she is now dealing with the aftereffects of.  She moves into this house which is situated in this almost deserted beach town due to it being offseason.  Before too long, Allison is pulled into the mystery of a missing young girl and what happened to her so many years before.  This book just totally sucked me in from the very beginning.  Who knew that a deserted beach town with hints of mystery would be so intriguing?  Add in the fact that the weather (and especially the winter storms) added another element of almost darkness to the book and I was completely hooked!  I tried to take my time with this one but the pages just flew on by.  And if all of that wasn't enough for you, there were these hints of paranormal where just maybe Maureen's spirit was trying to get Allison's help as well.  It all added up to one very solid read that I wasn't ready to see end.  I especially enjoyed the fact that I thought that I had all of the answers at one point only to realize that I didn't.  I also really liked seeing Allison coming in to her own and getting stronger.  Allison's past also plays an important role in this book so it was good to see her come into her own and find both her confidence and strength.  I'm really eager to see what other readers think about this book as it was one that I enjoyed immensely!

Overall, I'm so excited to see what this author comes up with next because I thought that this was an really great read!  It was just so atmospheric and perfect for this time of year!  I loved the way that the author used the weather to build up the suspense in this book.  And I also really just loved the story that she was telling.  The book is told from both Allison's viewpoint and also from Maureen's viewpoint and it switches between the two so perfectly.  I came to care about Maureen just as much as Allison even though we the reader know that something bad has happened to Maureen.  I just wanted Allison to find the answers and to finally get some closure on the entire situation.  I obviously can't say enough good things about this one.  An easy book for me to recommend!

Bottom Line:  An atmospheric read perfect for the colder temps that are coming around the corner!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a PICT Book Tour.  Honest thoughts are my own.

Book Details: Genre: Mystery,Suspense Published by: Graydon House Books (Harlequin) Publication Date: October 1, 2019 Number of Pages: 352 ISBN: 1525832190 (ISBN13: 9781525832192) Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads Author Bio: TARA LASKOWSKI is the award-winning author of two short story collections, Modern Manners for Your Inner Demons and Bystanders, which was named a best book of 2017 by Jennifer Egan in The Guardian. She has had stories published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Mid-American Review, and the Norton anthology New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction, among others. Her Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine story, “States of Matter,” was selected by Amy Hempel for the 2017 Best Small Fictions anthology, and her short story “The Case of the Vanishing Professor” is a finalist for the 2019 Agatha Award. Tara was the winner of the 2010 Santa Fe Writers Project’s Literary Awards Prize, has been the editor of the popular online flash fiction journal SmokeLong Quarterly since 2010, and is a member of Sisters in Crime. She earned a BA in English with a minor in writing from Susquehanna University and an MFA in creative writing from George Mason University. Tara grew up in Pennsylvania and lives in Virginia. One Night Gone is her first novel.  Visit Tara at: TaraLaskowski.com, Goodreads, BookBub, @TaraLWrites, Instagram, & Facebook!

Look For Her by Emily Winslow (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Just outside of Cambridge, Lilling seems like an unassuming idyllic English village, but it’s home to a dark history. In 1976, a teenage girl named Annalise Wood disappeared while riding her bike home from school. Though her body was later discovered in a shallow grave, the culprit was never found. Decades later, Annalise maintains a perverse kind of celebrity in the small town, and is still the focus of grief, speculation, and for one young woman, a disturbing, escalating jealousy.

When DNA linked to the Annalise murder unexpectedly surfaces, cold case investigator Morris Keene realizes he may now have the chance of his career. Morris and his former partner, Chloe Frohmann, hope to finally solve this perplexing mystery, and bring closure to a traumatized community. But the new evidence that should be the simple solution instead undoes the case's only certainty: the buried body that had long ago been confidently identified as Annalise may be someone else entirely, and instead of answers, the investigators face only new puzzles.

Whose body was unearthed all those years ago, and what happened to the real Annalise? Could she have had a secret child? Is someone interfering with the investigation? And is there a link to a present-day drowning with eerie connections? 

With piercing insight and fascinating twists, Emily Winslow explores the dark side of sensationalized crime in this haunting psychological thriller."

My Thoughts:

I read the above summary and just knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as possible so I jumped at the chance when I received an email about a blog tour for it.  I didn't realize that it was part of a series though and honestly it didn't effect my enjoyment in the slightest.  I found myself just so intrigued by this cold case that was being worked again thanks to new evidence.  I did find that that I was slightly thrown off at the beginning of this book because each chapter was told by a certain character.  It took me a little bit to catch on to the rhythm (and also get to know each character) but by the halfway point I was hooked.  I then really appreciated the different viewpoints as I felt that it added to the overall story line.  I also felt like the way that this book was set up added to the suspense.  The author pulled me in and I didn't want to stop reading after that.  I would think that I had an idea of what was going on only to find that I was completely wrong not long after.  There were some particularly tense moments featuring the story line told by the psychologist that had me unable to set this book down.  I just had to see what was going to happen next!  There were all of these threads in this book and I loved that the author was able to tie them together in a way at the end that felt like a satisfying but unexpected conclusion.  I am now really excited to go back to the beginning of this series and see how it all started!

Overall I am very excited about this series and really enjoyed my time with this book.  The way that this book is set up and the fact that it was based around a cold case made it really stand out to me.  It's different from what is out there and I really appreciated that fact.  I also really enjoyed the main characters and am excited that I have more books with them to look forward to.  I wanted to say that this was a quieter mystery but there were just enough of those fast paced moments where that wouldn't be a valid statement.  It was a great mystery though and I'm eager to read more by this author.  I would recommend this book to fans of both suspense and mysteries alike.  It's definitely a four star read for me!

Bottom Line:  A really great mystery that kept me engrossed throughout!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a PICT Book Tour.

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: February 13th 2018
Number of Pages: 304
ISBN: 006257258X (ISBN13: 9780062572585)
Series: Keene and Frohmann #4 | Each is a stand alone novel
Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

Author Bio:

Emily Winslow is an American living in Cambridge, England. She trained as an actor at Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious drama conservatory and earned a master’s degree in museum studies from Seton Hall University. For six years she wrote for Games magazine, creating increasingly elaborate and lavishly illustrated logic puzzles. She lives with her husband and two sons. She is the author of four novels and a memoir.

Catch Up With Our Author On: Website 🔗, Goodreads 🔗, Twitter 🔗, & Facebook 🔗!

Stolen by Carey Baldwin (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

Is she missing…or a murderer?

When Laura Chaucer, daughter of a U.S. senator, vanishes from her college campus, celebrated FBI profilers Special Agent Atticus Spenser and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Caitlin Cassidy are called in. Thirteen years ago, Laura and her nanny disappeared from her family’s Denver home. Laura was found alive, but her nanny wasn’t so lucky… and the killer was never caught. Laura could identify him—if only she didn’t have a deep, dark hole in her memory.

Now she’s missing again. Did the troubled young woman run away or has the kidnapper returned? As women who look eerily similar to Laura’s nanny begin turning up dead, the Chaucer family psychiatrist renders a disturbing opinion: Laura is unstable, a danger to herself and others. Who knows what terrible secrets lurk in the shadowy recesses of her mind? Cassidy and Spenser must solve one of the most infamous cold cases ever to uncover the answer: Is Laura a killer, or is a monster still out there, waiting to claim another victim?

My Thoughts:

I am loving this series so much!!  I'm only two books in and it has already become a fast favorite of mine.  One of the reasons that I'm enjoying these books so much is because they are such page turners.  With both books that I've read, I'm just been able to sink into the mystery from the very first page.  These are books that I couldn't put down- and wouldn't want to even if I could.  LOL!  But seriously, I knew as soon as I read that description that I wanted to read this book.  The idea of Laura having holes in her memory on what happened to her so long ago combined with the possibility that she is dangerous herself was something that I just couldn't resist.  I'm such a sucker for books where you can't trust one of the characters.  It is one of those things that will make me want to read a book instantly.  I loved how the author used what happened so long ago and tied it into the present.  The mystery had me guessing from the very beginning which is always a good thing.  The best part though was even though I spent the majority of the book thinking that I had the killer figured out....I was completely wrong.  I've got to say how much I love when that happens.  

One of the other things that I really love about these books is the main characters of Caitlin Cassidy and Atticus Spenser.  I love that with each book (at least the ones that I've read) we get to see their relationship grow and develop.  They are a really great team and it is fun "watching" them work.  With each book I find that I'm more and more invested in their characters and their relationship.  I want to see everything work out the way that I want it too.  I like that the author isn't afraid to put their relationship to the test at times even if it makes me nervous while reading.  The ending of this book was really intense which is just the way I like it.  I found myself reading this book in a matter of days because I just didn't want to stop.  I loved the way that the story was set up from Laura's point of view at times and other times it was focused on Cassidy and Spencer's investigation.  It worked out really well and this seemed to add to the tension that was present throughout the book.  

Overall this was a really great read and I'm eager for more!  I really, really need to go back and read the first two books in this series since I've loved books three and four so much.  At least I have those two books to look forward to while I wait for the next book in this series to release.  This author and this series has definitely jumped on to my favorites list so I can't recommend them enough!  You obviously don't have to read the books in order because I sure haven't and I still love them.  I do think that parts from previous investigations and books are referred to at times but since I haven't read them yet it doesn't really affect my enjoyment.  I would recommend these books to both mystery and thriller fans alike.  Highly, highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A great addition to one of my favorite mystery series!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a PICT book tour.

Book Details: Genre: Suspense, Thriller Published by: Witness Impulse Publication Date: February 14th 2017 Number of Pages: 352 ISBN: 0062495542 (ISBN13: 9780062495549) Series: Cassidy & Spenser #4 Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

Author Bio: Carey Baldwin is a mild-mannered doctor by day and an award-winning author of edgy suspense by night. She holds two doctoral degrees, one in medicine and one in psychology. She loves reading and writing stories that keep you off balance and on the edge of your seat. Carey lives in the southwestern United States with her amazing family. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and chasing wildflowers. Catch Up With Ms. Baldwin On: Website 🔗, Goodreads, Twitter 🔗, & Facebook 🔗!

Feliz Navidead by Ann Meyers (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Holly, jolly, and downright deadly—the third Santa Fe Café mystery unwraps surprises both naughty and nice . . . It’s the most picturesque time of theyear in Santa Fe, and Chef Rita Lafitte of Tres Amigas Café hopes the twinkling lights and tasty holiday treats will charm her visiting mom. Rita is also planning fun activities, such as watching her teenage daughter, Celia, perform in an outdoor Christmas play.

What she doesn’t plan for is murder.

Rita discovers a dead actor during the premier performance but vows to keep clear of the case. Sleuthing would upset her mom. Besides, there’s already a prime suspect, caught red-handed in his bloodied Santa suit. However, when the accused Santa’s wife begs for assistance—and points out that Celia and other performers could be in danger—Rita can’t say no. With the help of her elderly boss, Flori, and her coterie of rogue knitters, Rita strives to salvage her mother’s vacation, unmask a murderer, and stop this festive season from turning even more fatal."

My Thoughts:

I adore this cozy mystery series so as soon as I heard about this book I couldn't resist the chance to read it!  There aren't very many series that I am completely caught up on but this is one of them because it is just so good (and the books are such fun reads).  Feliz Navidead was such a great addition to this series and the perfect read for this time of year!  In this book Rita finds herself drawn yet again into another murder investigation but with added stresses since her mother is visiting for the holidays.  I loved reading about Rita trying to juggle everything that was going on especially as it seemed that her mother had some secrets of her own.  I enjoyed the mystery portion of this story as it had me guessing throughout the entire book.  It is the characters though that make this series so great for me.  Reading this book was like chatting with old friends again- there is just something about these characters that I absolutely adore!  

In this book we also had the chance to see some of Flori's new antics which included "rogue knitting".  Flori is hilarious and I love all of the trouble that she gets herself into.  If your curious as to what rogue knitting is, it is knitting things in the night onto/covering public property (like statues or park benches).  It cracks me up with the crazy things that she comes up with.  I also liked that we got to see more of Rita and Jake's relationship.  I'm a fan of that one so it was nice to see this book focus on it a bit more.  Without spoiling anything, the author did set up a possible story line for a future book that I am very curious about.  It didn't have anything to do with the ending of this book though which I felt like tied up everything very nicely.  In fact, this was probably one of the more suspenseful endings in this series so far.  I was actually sad to see this book end as I just enjoy this series so much!

Overall, this was another great addition to one of my favorite cozy mystery series!  The added bonus was the holiday theme that just made reading this book in December absolutely perfect.  I don't always read holiday themed books during this time of year but I'm really glad that I did with this one.  It helped to put me in the holiday spirit especially when the snow was falling outside while I was reading.  I'm a huge fan of this series (obviously) and have read them all, but I do think that you could read this book on its' own or out of order if you haven't read the other two.  I would recommend reading the entire series though as this is only book three and they are all definitely worth it.  I highly recommend this book especially at this time of year!

Bottom Line:  A really great cozy holiday read!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a PICT tour.  

 

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Christmas
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: October 25th 2016
Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 0062382322 (ISBN13: 9780062382320)
Series: Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #3

Feliz Navidead Can Be Found on: HarperCollins 🔗, Amazon 🔗, Barnes & Noble 🔗, and Goodreads 🔗.

 

Author Bio:

More About Ann:

Ann Myers writes the Santa Fe Café Mysteries. The first book in the series, Bread of the Dead (2015), introduced café chef and reluctant amateur sleuth, Rita Lafitte. Rita and her friends stir up more trouble in Cinco de Mayhem (March 2016) and Feliz Navidead (October 25, 2016). Ann lives with her husband and extra-large house cat in southern Colorado, where she enjoys cooking, crafts, and cozy mysteries.

You can find Ann online on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnnMyers.writer/ and her website http://www.annmyersbooks.com/

The Body in the Wardrobe by Katherine Hall Page (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Minster’s wife, caterer, and part-time sleuth Faith Fairchild pairs up with Sophie Maxwell, last seen in Body in the Birches and now a newlywed living in historic Savannah, Georgia, where Sophie crosses paths with murder. Another delightful entry in the beloved mystery series, complete with delectable recipes.

Attorney Sophie Maxwell has come to Savannah to be with her new husband, Will. But nothing throws cold water on a hot relationship faster than a dead body. Worse for Sophie, no one believes the body she knows she saw is real. Will is spending an awful lot of time in Atlanta on a case he claims is urgent, and she’s been tasked with house hunting for them with his former sweetheart, who Sophie can’t help but suspect wishes Sophie would return to her Yankee roots!

Fortunately, Sophie has a good friend in Faith Fairchild. With teenage Amy being bullied by mean girls and husband Tom contemplating a major life change that will affect all the Fairchilds, Faith is eager for distraction in the form of some sleuthing. In between discussions of newlywed agita, surprising Savannah customs and, of course, fabulous low country food, Faith and Sophie will pair up to unmask a killer!"

My Thoughts:

I am currently two books into this series and I've enjoyed both of them.  I read (and adored) the first book in this series titled The Body In the Belfry last year.  I've been meaning to continue on with this series since then but we all know by now how awful I can be when it comes to doing just that.  This is the twenty-third book in this long standing mystery series- you can probably already imagine how thrilled I was to realize how many more books I now have to look forward to!  I love when I find long standing mystery series with huge backlists to explore!  Even though I read this book completely out of order, I found that it didn't affect my enjoyment of this book in the slightest.  Partly this was because the main story line was about Sophie and her new life with her new husband. I'm sure that this really helped but the secondary story line was focused on Faith's family and I enjoyed that as well despite having missed so much of the back story.  It just made me more excited to continue on with this series and to get my hands on the second book!

One of the things that I liked about this book so much (and really the series in general) is the main characters.  In this book really the mystery felt secondary to the characters and what they were going through in life.  I loved every minute of it!  This was a quiet mystery but it still had just enough suspense to make me unable to stop reading.  I just loved the author's attention to detail and the way that she brings the characters to life on the pages.  The descriptions of Savannah which is Sophie's new home and all of the delicious food- it is no wonder that I was hungry half of the time while I was reading this book!  I just found myself completely immersed within the pages of this story and was almost sad to see it end.  These characters just felt like old friends and I enjoyed my time with them.  The mystery portion was tied up nicely and I loved that the author was able to bring Sophie and Faith's story lines both to a satisfying close.  I really don't plan on waiting as long to get back to this series and I've already checked my library system for the second book.  

Overall, this book was another great read in this mystery series.  I've come to really adore the characters and as I've only read two books in this series I feel like that is a really great accomplishment.  Don't feel like you can't read this book out or order- I did and it didn't bother me in the slightest.  I think what I loved about this book the most was that I just let the author take me on the ride that she intended.  I didn't rush, I just enjoyed my time reading this book.  Fans of cozy mysteries should really check this series out as it does have a cozy feel to it.  Plus, the way that the author describes and brings the story to life are very reminiscent of other cozy series that I love.  I can easily recommend both this book and this series in general.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A perfect way to spend a few days just immersed in this book!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a PICT tour.

The Murder That Never Was by Andrea Kane (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Given the opportunity, would you assume someone else's identity and leave your old life behind? A serendipitous crossing of paths between Lisa Barnes, a down-on-her-luck job seeker, and Julie Forman, a personal trainer to an Olympic hopeful, forever changes the course of both women's lives. One winds up dead and the other finds herself a fugitive, hiding behind one lie after another as a cold-blooded killer methodically hunts her. Desperately trying to stay alive, the terrified woman enlists the help of Forensic Instincts, a rogue investigative team that clandestinely operates in the gray area between legal and illegal. Safeguarding their client's deception, Forensic Instincts digs into dangerous territory as they try to find out who's after their client and why. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in Chicago, New Jersey, and Vermont as a megalomaniacal genius will stop at nothing to eradicate anyone who threatens the success of his medical breakthrough. With an unhinged client and a monstrous criminal enterprise as its adversary, Forensic Instincts is forced into uncharted territory to protect their client and save one of their own from becoming the next corpse. Forensic Instincts is an unorthodox, criminal investigative team that carefully navigates the fine line between legal and illegal. The team consists of a behaviorist, a former Navy SEAL, a techo-wiz, an intuitive, a pickpocket, a retired FBI agent, and a human scent evidence dog."

My Thoughts:

This book reminded me once again what I love about this series!  Even though I've read this series completely out of order (I think I started with book three and then went back to book one before reading this one) I have enjoyed each book.  What I love about this series is the great cast of characters and of course the mysteries that suck me in each and every time.  I found the story line of this book to be so interesting because Forensic Instinct's client has basically taken over the life of a woman that she barely knew and then finds herself in deep danger because of it.  At first I wasn't sure how this was all going to work but the author did a really great job with making it feel believable and especially with the motivations of why Lisa does what she does.  It made the book that much more intense while reading it for me because I didn't want anything to happen to Lisa.  Her character wasn't even the focus of the book for the entire time but I really liked her and wanted everything to work out.  

Each of the books in this series has pulled me in while reading and this book was no different.  I love how each of the members of Forensic Instincts has an important role that they play in each investigation.  I don't think that it is easy for an author to include so many character's lives in one story but Kane does a really great job of it.  I feel like with each book I get to know more about the characters and I enjoy the series that much more because of it.  I especially like reading about Ryan's different gadgets and gizmos that he comes up with to use during their investigations.  The ending of this book was especially intense and I found myself reading as quickly as possible by that point.  I liked the way that this book ended and felt that it fit in realistically with everything that had happened.  I've got to say that this is really becoming a favorite series of mine and one that I will happily continue to read as it goes on (and yes, probably out of order still).

All in all, this book was just as good as I had hoped that it would be.  Obviously I don't have a problem reading the series out of order but I do recommend reading the earlier books as well.  The series has such a great cast of characters and the author does an amazing job of bringing each one of them to life.  I love how they aren't afraid to do things that are outside of the law in order to make sure that their clients lives are safe.  It makes the books just a bit more intense and suspenseful as we wait to make sure that everything works out.  The premise of this book is really what made this book stand out for me and I'm eager for more.  Looks like I need to get my hands on a copy of book two soon!  Easily recommended to mystery and suspense fans!

Bottom Line:  Another great addition to a series that I've come to love.

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a PICT book tour.

Here is a link to the author's website if you are interested:

http://www.andreakane.com/
https://twitter.com/Andrea_Kane