Watching You by Lisa Jewell

Title: Watching You

Author: Lisa Jewell

Publisher: Atria Books 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 324

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Popsugar - Two Word Title; Women Authors

Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Bristol, England; home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you.

As the headmaster credited with turning around the local school, Tom Fitzwilliam is beloved by one and all—including Joey Mullen, his new neighbor, who quickly develops an intense infatuation with this thoroughly charming yet unavailable man. Joey thinks her crush is a secret, but Tom’s teenaged son Freddie—a prodigy with aspirations of becoming a spy for MI5—excels in observing people and has witnessed Joey behaving strangely around his father.

One of Tom’s students, Jenna Tripp, also lives on the same street, and she’s not convinced her teacher is as squeaky clean as he seems. For one thing, he has taken a particular liking to her best friend and fellow classmate, and Jenna’s mother—whose mental health has admittedly been deteriorating in recent years—is convinced that Mr. Fitzwilliam is stalking her.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, a schoolgirl writes in her diary, charting her doomed obsession with a handsome young English teacher named Mr. Fitzwilliam…

Picked this one up on recommendation from Anne Bogel at What Should I Read Next podcast and Modern Mrs. Darcy. Thrillers are not usually my go-to genre, but I was wanting something a little different and hopefully fast-paced. This one was definitely fast-paced. We got lots of intersting and intersecting characters. We got lots of secrets behind doors. We got terrible coincidences. It was that last point that made me not love this book. I enjoyed it and read quickly wanting to find out the secrets and the whodunit, but I wasn’t that invested in the characters. Decent thriller. Probably won’t pick up any more of this kind in awhile.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen

Title: Naughty in Nice (Royal Spyness #5)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2011

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 354

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Finishing the Series; Women Authors

London, 1933. Her Majesty the Queen is sending Georgie off to Nice with a secret assignment—to recover her priceless, stolen snuff box from the disreputable Sir Toby Groper. Her Majesty’s trust is an honor, but an even greater honor is bestowed upon Georgie in Nice when none other than Coco Chanel asks her to model the latest fashions.

Unfortunately, things go disastrously wrong on the catwalk and before Georgie can snatch the snuff box, someone’s life is snuffed out in a very dastardly way. With a murderer on the loose—and Georgie's beau Darcy seen in the company of another woman—how’s a girl to find any time to go to the casino?

I always enjoy this series. I love the change of scenery to the Riveria full of glamorous and slightly sinister characters. I’ve never been a fan of Georgie’s mother, but it was interesting to see her in this environment and even see a bit warming toward her daughter. The mystery was thoroughly intriguing and the murders dastardly. My only issue with this book was that there was a significant lack of Darcy.

Her Royal Spyness:

#0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
#1 Her Royal Spyness
#2 A Royal Pain
#3 Royal Flush
#4 Royal Blood
#5 Naughty in Nice
#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas
#7 Heirs and Graces
#8 Queen of Hearts
#9 Malice at the Palace
#10 Crowned and Dangerous
#11 On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service
#12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

Next up on the TBR pile:

Tales of Mystery and the Macabre by Elizabeth Gaskell

Title: Tales of Mystery and the Macabre

Author: Elizabeth Gaskell

Publisher: Wordsworth 2008

Genre: Classics - horror

Pages: 305

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Women Authors; Horror

In the great mirror opposite I saw myself, and right behind, another wicked fearful self, so like me my soul seemed to quiver within me, as though not knowing to which similitude of body it belonged... Elizabeth Gaskell is better known today for her pioneering social novels such as Mary Barton (1848) but she also wrote some fascinating tales of the supernatural and the macabre, which are collected here in this volume. The real charm of this dark anthology is its variety. Unlike so many writers of this kind of material, Gaskell allows the story to fit the style rather than the other way around and as result there is a charming freshness to each tale. This remarkable author uses different voices, tones and topics to engage her readers and as you turn from one story to the next you cannot be quite sure what to expect.

I’ve read Gaskell’s North and South and Cranford, but didn’t realize that she had also wrote gothic horror stories. Overall, this volume was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed some of the stories especially those that focused on a specific character. I wasn’t as much of a fan of some stories that just seemed to meander instead of heading to a point. I also couldn’t get behind many of the rambling sentences and asides.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Tulle Death Do Us Part by Annette Blair

Title: Tulle Death Do Us Part (Vintage Magic Mystery #6)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley 2013

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Monthly Motif - Mystery; Cloak and Dagger

Maddie’s love of classic fashion has made her Vintage Magic boutique a success—even if the visions she experiences when touching certain items often lead her into trouble. Decades ago, at a Mystic Country Club costume ball, a secret scavenger hunt ended in an unexplained death, hastily concealed.

Now, Maddie's invited to participate in a similar anniversary event: but one touch of the vintage petticoat used to hide evidence of the original crime hurtles Maddie into a scavenger hunt of her own. She must find missing petticoat pieces and re-stitch the clues it reveals...to expose a killer!

The last in Madeira Cutler’s story of sleuthing and fumbling at romance. Thankfully the series ended the way that I hoped it would. I was very concerned at the end of the last book, and thought about not finishing the series. But I persevered and am glad to see that this volume pulled out a good romance and a good mystery. I loved the Fiftieth Jubilee scavenger hunt. I only wish that the series had a bit more of a definite ending.

Vintage Magic Mystery:

Next up on the TBR pile:

Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair

Title: Cloaked in Malice (Vintage Magic Mystery #5)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher:

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 284

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Women Authors; Literary Escapes - Connecticut

There's nothing Maddie loves more than fabulous vintage clothes, but the visions she gets while touching them are starting to wear her down. Even so, when a beautifully dressed girl comes to Vintage Magic in search of her past, Maddie isn't about to turn her away, especially since she bears a striking resemblance to her good friend Dolly Sweet.

When Maddie touches Paisley Skye's exquisitely crafted child's cloak, the vision she receives is of the ugliest sort: a decades-old case of kidnapping and murder. To give herself more time to investigate, Maddie enlists the help of her FBI Agent boyfriend Nick and takes Paisley into her home. But when Dolly suddenly skips town, Maddie realizes that uncovering the folds of Paisley's past will reveal more than one vintage crime...

Up until this book, I had really enjoyed this series. I need a little cozy mystery every now and then. But this one really made me confused and the mad. It seemed poorly edited. The dialogue didn’t make sense at times. The characters all seemed to be not-quite-themselves. And the mystery was strange and very very far-fetched (even for this series). I just didn’t dive in like I wanted to. Plus, I’m still upset that Maddie chose Nick over Lytton in the last book. Doesn’t make any sense to me… I’m really going to be upset if Maddie and Nick get engaged and/or married in the last book…

Vintage Magic Mystery:

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas

Title: The Hollow of Fear (Lady Sherlock #3)

Author: Sherry Thomas

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 335

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Popsugar- Amateur Detective; Cloak and Dagger

Under the cover of "Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective," Charlotte Holmes puts her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. Aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, Charlotte draws those in need to her and makes it her business to know what other people don't.

Moriarty's shadow looms large. First, Charlotte's half brother disappears. Then, Lady Ingram, the estranged wife of Charlotte's close friend Lord Ingram, turns up dead on his estate. And all signs point to Lord Ingram as the murderer.

With Scotland Yard closing in, Charlotte goes under disguise to seek out the truth. But uncovering the truth could mean getting too close to Lord Ingram--and a number of malevolent forces...

This volume was such a thrill ride! The prologue sucked me in with the reveal of who Charlotte met in the carriage. And then Lady Ingram’s misfortune was revealed and the story picked up speed. I loved more story from Livia and Lord Ingram’s points of view. A nice change of pace from just Charlotte. And we get more insight into the inner works of the agents of the Crown and those of Moriarty’s crew. The resolution to the mystery was very satisfying, but I must say I was disappointed in Lord Ingram and Charlotte. The tension between those two could set fires roaring without any kindling.

Lady Sherlock

Next up on the TBR pile:

Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair

Title: Skirting the Grave (Vintage Magic Mystery #4)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley 2011

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library Love; Finishing the Series; Seasonal Series - Cold Hearted Character

Maddie Cutler thought she was taking on a new design intern for her boutique. But instead she finds her dead at the train station under suspicious circumstances. Now, Maddie is determined to iron out the wrinkles of this mystery.

Another fun cozy mystery. I loved adding another great character into the mix. Isabel is fun and very knowledgable when it comes to clothes. I’ve never loved Eve as a character and counterpoint for Mad, so Isabel is a much better choice. The big mystery was amazing and I was a bit disappointed at the reveal. (I’ve read some of Blair’s other books and it felt a bit like a rip-off.) I’m a bit disappointed as to the resolution of the Nick-Mad-Wener situation. I hope the last two books change the situation.

Vintage Magic Mystery:

#1 A Veiled Deception
#2 Larceny and Lace
#3 Death by Diamonds
#4 Skirting the Grave
#5 Cloaked in Malice
#6 Tulle Death Do Us Part

Next up on the TBR pile:

Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

Title: Guidebook to Murder (Tourist Trap Mystery #1)

Author: Lynn Cahoon

Publisher: Kensington 2014

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 208

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Monthly Motif - New to Me Author; Cloak and Dagger

In the gentle coastal town of South Cove, California, all Jill Gardner wants is to keep her store--Coffee, Books, and More--open and running. So why is she caught up in the business of murder?

When Jill's elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her dilapidated old house. But Emily's gumption goes for naught when she dies unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill--along with all of her problems. . .and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is determined to uncover the culprit--especially if it gets her closer to South Cove's finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she's on the case--and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently. . .

I picked this volume up on a whim at the library and I’m so glad I did. This is a very cute cozy mystery full of red herrings, twists, secrets, and ultimately a good conclusion. Jill is a great main character and amateur detective. And South Cove is a great little setting for murder. I can just see the main street full of old cottages serving as business locales. And all the great random side characters. I’ll definitely keep reading this series.

Tourist Trap Mystery:

#1 Guidebook to Murder
#2 Mission to Murder
#3 If the Shoe Kills
#3.25 Rockets’ Dead Glare
#4 Dressed to Kill
#5 Killer Run
#6 Murder on Wheels
#7 Tea Cups and Carnage
#8 Hospitality and Homicide
#9 Killer Party
#9.5 A Deadly Brew
#9.75 Santa Puppy
#10 Corned Beef and Casulties
#10.5 Mother’s Day Mayhem

Next up on the TBR pile:

RC 2019: Cloak and Dagger

From Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!:

I can’t believe it’s time for another sign up! I hope everyone who participated this year read a lot of great mystery, suspense, and thrillers. I know I did and I found a lot of new series!

I don’t know about you but I have plans to real lots of mysteries, especially cozies because I made a list of all the series I have going in the cozy mystery genre and OMG! I need to widdle that list down and catch up on some series! It may just be the YEAR OF THE COZY! Can’t wait to see what sort of mystery/thriller plans you have for 2019!

We still have our facebook group so if you haven’t joined we would love for you too! Here is the groups link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/350512171977943/ It’s a closed group so just ask to join and we shall let you in.

Challenge Rules:

You can read any book that is from the mystery/suspense/thriller/crime genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of these genres.
You don’t need a blog to participate but you do need a place to post your reviews to link up. (blog, goodreads, booklikes, shelfari, etc.)
Make a goal post and link it back here with your goal for this challenge.
Books need to be novellas or novels, please no short stories. (At least 100 pages +)
Crossovers into other challenges are fine.
The Challenge will be from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st. (Sign up ends March 15th)

This year we are doing the link up a little different. Both Barb and I keep forgetting to do the link ups each month so I thought it would be easier on us if we did Quarterly link ups, so there will be four review link-ups. (Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept and Oct-Dec)

There will be a monthly link up so that others can check out your progress and look at your reviews. At the halfway mark and at the end we will have a giveaway for those participating.

If you tweet about your progress or reviews please use the hashtag #CloakDaggerChal so others can see it.

Levels:

5-15 books – Amateur sleuth

16-25 books – Detective

26-35 books – Inspector

36 – 55 – Special agent

56+ books – Sherlock Holmes

I’m going to sign up for the Detective Level and set a goal of 25 mysteries for myself this year!

Death by Diamonds by Annette Blair

Title: Death by Diamonds (Vintage Magic Mystery #3)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley 2010

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 270

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal Series - Not YA

Madeira Cutler loves her Vintage Magic boutique, but the 'visions' she gets from the garments can be hard to handle, especially when she knows the owner. At first she's thrilled to receive a package containing the beautifully bejeweled dress she designed for actress and old friend Dominique Delong while in fashion school. But the dress comes with a disturbing message from Dominique, who it seems took her last bow under very mysterious circumstances.

Oh that Madeira Cutler! Always getting into the thick of a murder investigation. I think I enjoyed this volume even more than the last one. I loved the mystery of Dom’s death and the ensuing whirlwind of designer clothes and visions. It was nice to see a bit more of Mad’s life in New York before she returned home. The only thing that bugged me about this one: the love triangle between Mad, Nick, and Lytton. I really really really don’t like Nick and wish Mad kick him to the curb. I get the sex appeal, but his jealousy without actual emotional commitment drives me bonkers. I want to see Mad explore a relationship with Lytton and soon!

Vintage Magic Mystery:

#1 A Veiled Deception
#2 Larceny and Lace
#3 Death by Diamonds
#4 Skirting the Grave
#5 Cloaked in Malice
#6 Tulle Death Do Us Part

Next up on the TBR pile:

Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen

Title: Royal Blood (Royal Spyness #4)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2010

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 318

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal Series - Wearing a Sweater

London, 1932. With her hateful brother Binky in town, Georgie has been desperately seeking an escape. So when an invitation from the Queen of England arrives asking her to represent the royals at a wedding in Transylvania—legendary home of vampires—she's delighted to accept. But when the bride starts acting a little batty and a prominent wedding guest is poisoned, something must be done lest the couple's vows become "till undeath do they part..."

Another fun romp with Georgiana and her random cast of realties and friends. it was a nice change of pace to to shift the action from England to Transylvania. And I loved meeting even more of Georgie’s royal relatives across the continent. The murder mystery was a bit silly, but at least we get a dramatic death this time. And we get to see more of Darcy. Yeah!

Her Royal Spyness:

#0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
#1 Her Royal Spyness
#2 A Royal Pain
#3 Royal Flush
#4 Royal Blood
#5 Naughty in Nice
#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas
#7 Heirs and Graces
#8 Queen of Hearts
#9 Malice at the Palace
#10 Crowned and Dangerous
#11 On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service
#12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Magical Match by Juliet Blackwell

Title: A Magical Match (Witchcraft Mystery #9)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 327

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Seasonal Series - Catch-up

Lily Ivory and her friends are planning a 1950s-themed brunch to benefit the local women's shelter. When a figure from her past shows up unannounced, threatening her unless she returns something that belonged to him, Lily's fiancé, Sailor, steps in to defend her. After the same man is found dead later that day, Sailor is the primary suspect. He swears he's innocent, but multiple witnesses ID him as the perpetrator of the assault. Lily vows to clear his name...only she's not sure where to start with the mounting evidence against him.

Finally I got ahold of this latest Witchcraft Mystery volume! I was so excited to get back into Lily’s story and world. I really enjoyed this volume much more than the last one. I loved the murder mystery, but even more I loved the interactions between all our main characters. And we finally get to meet Graciela and Lily’s mother in this volume. So great! And the reveal of info at the end of the book has got me thinking about what’s coming next for our band of San Franciscans!

Witchcraft Mystery

Next up on the TBR pile:

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen

Title: Royal Flush (Royal Spyness #3)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2009

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 332

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal Series - Eating Soup

Scotland, 1932. Back home until a little London scandal blows over, minor royal Lady Georgiana Rannoch has two equally important objectives. Queen Mary wants Georgie to keep the divorced, American, and entirely unsuitable Wallis Simpson from seducing the Prince of Wales, while Scotland Yard wants her to stop one of the members of the shooting party at Balmoral from turning their sights from the quails to His Royal Highness...

Another fun mystery featuring the misadventures of Georgie and the royal set. I loved the change of scenery to Scotland and the reintroduction of Binky and Fig. This mystery was tons of fun to figure out. I didn’t quite catch the connection until right before the reveal, but it was fun following the clues with Georgie.

Her Royal Spyness:

#0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
#1 Her Royal Spyness
#2 A Royal Pain
#3 Royal Flush
#4 Royal Blood
#5 Naughty in Nice
#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas
#7 Heirs and Graces
#8 Queen of Hearts
#9 Malice at the Palace
#10 Crowned and Dangerous
#11 On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service
#12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen

Title: A Royal Pain (Royal Spyness #2)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2008

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 332

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal Series - Set in real world

London, 1932. Poor Lady Georgiana--thirty-fourth in line to the throne--has nothing to serve her Bavarian princess houseguest, even though the Queen of England has requested that she entertain her. Then there's the matter of the body in the bookshop and the princess's unwitting involvement with the Communist party. It's enough to drive a girl mad...

A fun little cozy mystery for this week. It started out slow, but once the killings started, we were off! I loved Georgie’s attempts to fake a rich household for the visiting princess complete with imposter butler, cook, and maid. But what I really want to know is who is Darcy? Or more to the point, who is he working for? Plus, what’s up with the Inspector? Very annoying man!

Her Royal Spyness:

#0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
#1 Her Royal Spyness
#2 A Royal Pain
#3 Royal Flush
#4 Royal Blood
#5 Naughty in Nice
#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas
#7 Heirs and Graces
#8 Queen of Hearts
#9 Malice at the Palace
#10 Crowned and Dangerous
#11 On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service
#12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

Next up on the TBR pile:

Larceny and Lace by Annette Blair

Title: Larceny and Lace (Vintage Magic Mystery #2)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley 2009

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 276

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Eating Candy

Madeira Cutler is busy opening her new vintage clothing store in what was once the town's morgue when she discovers an intruder snooping around a bunch of bones in a body drawer. Now, she'll have to dig up more than the past to solve a crime.

Another fun cozy mystery to bid my time here in Indiana. I really do feel like I read the first book in this series at some point in the past, but the details of this second book really are not familiar. So yeah, I was went into this one with a completely open mind and really enjoyed it. I loved falling back into the hijacks of Maddie and crew. This murder mystery was extra creepy and I was really confused about the whodunit until the big reveal. I think I’ll be putting this series on my official “To Read” pile.

Vintage Magic Mystery:

#1 A Veiled Deception
#2 Larceny and Lace
#3 Death by Diamonds
#4 Skirting the Grave
#5 Cloaked in Malice
#6 Tulle Death Do Us Part

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair

Title: A Veiled Deception (Vintage Magic Mystery #1)

Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley 2009

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 246

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - V; I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - First Book in Series

The right dress can be magic; the wrong one, murder! From the national bestselling author of Sensation’s Witch series comes the new Vintage Magic mystery series, featuring Madeira Cutler. While opening her own vintage clothing shop, Maddie must clear her family’s name when her sister’s wedding festivities hit a snag: murder.

For some reason, I feel like I’ve started this book before, but I definitely don’t remember finishing it. A cute little cozy mystery featuring a murder and even a dapper ghost. I hope to have more ghostly appearances in subsequent books, but this one was a good start. Maddie is a fun protagonist and I really love the rest of the residents of Mystic Falls. I will have to pick up the next volume while still here in Indiana.

Vintage Magic Mystery:

#1 A Veiled Deception
#2 Larceny and Lace
#3 Death by Diamonds
#4 Skirting the Grave
#5 Cloaked in Malice
#6 Tulle Death Do Us Part

Next up on the TBR pile:

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor by Rhys Bowen

Title: Masked Ball at Broxley Manor (Royal Spyness #0.5)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2012

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 41

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

At the end of her first unsuccessful season out in society, Lady Georgiana has all but given up on attracting a suitable man—until she receives an invitation to a masked Halloween ball at Broxley Manor. Georgie is uncertain why she was invited, until she learns that the royal family intends to marry her off to a foreign prince, one reputed to be mad.

When the prince, dressed as the devil, rescues her from an embarrassing situation at the ball, Georgie is surprised to find her unwanted suitor to be a dashing, charming man—especially when he pulls her aside and gives her the kiss of a lifetime. But as the time comes for the unmasking, Georgie’s rescuer vanishes and the party is thrown into chaos, making it clear that everything at Broxley Manor is not as it appears…

A quick little prequel to Her Royal Spyness. I loved seeing Georgie’s first meeting with Darcy and the hijinks involved. I can’t wait to read more from this series!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Title: Her Royal Spyness (Royal Spyness #1)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2007

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 324

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Free Space

London, 1932. Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, 34th in line for the English throne, is flat broke. She's bolted Scotland, her greedy brother, and her fish-faced betrothed. London is a place where she'll experience freedom, learn life lessons aplenty, do a bit of spying for HRH—oh, and find a dead Frenchman in her tub. Now her new job is to clear her long family name...

Our book club selection for September. Unfortunately due to moving, I won't be able to attend the meeting, but I did pick up the book and dove in. This a cute fun mystery series set in the 1930s. I immediately fell for Georgie and her cast of friends and relatives. I figured out who-dun-it fairly early on, but still loved reading the progression of the mystery and ultimate reveal. Plus we get the makings of an interesting series and a possible love interest. I will definitely have to continue this series.

Royal Spyness

#0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
#1 Her Royal Spyness
#2 A Royal Pain
#3 Royal Flush
#4 Royal Blood
#5 Naughty in Nice
#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas
#7 Heirs and Graces
#8 Queen of Hearts
#9 Malice at the Palace
#10 Crowned and Dangerous
#11 On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service
#12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Ghostly Light by Juliet Blackwell

Title: A Ghostly Light (Haunted Home Renovation #7)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Berkley 2017

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 315

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Read a book you're sure you'll love

When her friend Alicia hires Turner Construction to renovate a historic lighthouse in the San Francisco Bay, Mel Turner can’t wait to get her hands dirty. Alicia plans to transform the island property into a welcoming inn, and while Mel has never attempted a project so ambitious—or so tall—before, she’s definitely up for the challenge.

But trouble soon arises when Alicia’s abusive ex-husband shows up to threaten both her and Mel, and later turns up dead at the base of the lighthouse stairs. With no other suspects in sight, things start looking choppy for Alicia. Now, if Mel wants to clear her friend’s name, she’ll need the help of the lighthouse’s resident ghosts to shine a light on the real culprit...

Another great cozy mystery. I love that this one was set on an island in a lighthouse. Such a great setting. And Alicia has become a great side character. In fact, one of the reasons that I really love this series is all the great side characters. Love this story. Can't wait until Blackwell writes another one.

Haunted Home Renovation

Next up on the TBR pile:

Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Give Up the Ghost (Haunted Home Renovation #6)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2015

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 320

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Yellow on cover

San Francisco millionaire Andrew Flynt wants to sell his Victorian mansion, but ghostly music, the squeaking of a long-disappeared weathervane, and an angry ghost keep running off potential buyers. After a famous psychic is called in, she informs the Flynts that their multi-million-dollar renovations to “update” the home have left its resident ghost extremely agitated. So contractor Mel Turner is engaged to track down and replace some of the original features of the house.

But when the beautiful psychic is found stabbed, it appears someone had a very human motive for murder. Now Mel must use her ghost whispering gift to uncover the secrets of the haunted house on the hill, and her sleuthing skills to catch a killer.

Another fun mystery! I really love Mel and this story was a good one. The mystery of Flora and Chantelle had some interesting twists. And the subplot involving the housewife added another fun layer. I loved checking back in with Caleb and Stan and Luz and all the rest of the fun characters. The only thing I didn't enjoy: Mel and Graham's relationship. Blergh.

Haunted Home Renovation

Next up on the TBR pile: