Spring Reading 2018 The Naked Nuns (A Flaxborough Mystery)

Things are heating up in the quiet town of Flaxborough. Arnold Hatch, owner of the Floradora Club, and his wife Sophie have a "friendly" competition going on with Harry Crispin and his housekeeper, Millicent Spain. Crispin puts in a large swimming pool, so the Hatch household extends their own pool to keep up. Mr. and Mrs. Hatch put in a light sensitive remote control to close their bedroom drapes at night, so Crispin flashes his car's high beams at the windows to open the drapes after bedtime. Small town life can be like that, right? 

But when authorities in America contact the constable's office with a warning that a hitman may be on his way to take out an unknown target, it seems the rivalry may be heating up. Inspector Purbright and his staff make inquiries, but no one seems to know who the target might be. When a strange American arrives, it seems he may have some answers, but he's not sharing. And what in the world are the telegrams about naked nuns referring to? Nothing is adding up and someone could soon be dead.

As usual, Purbright plugs away at the investigation until he finally makes sense of it all. With the help of Sid and the other constables, and even some assistance from the ever busy Mrs. Teatime, he does find out what it all means and amuses readers along the way with his humor and his gentle teasing of his supervisor. The various personalities in the town are stereotypical while still having some individuality to keep things interesting. 

This is not the "little grey cells" approach of Poirot, but police procedure mixed with small town society and foibles. Perfect for mystery lovers who are looking for a more leisurely pace to reaching the solution and enjoying the journey.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Spring Reading 2018 Furyborn

There isn't much to add that hasn't already been said about this book. The two strong female protagonists will appeal to readers who enjoy female-centric stories, while the alternating timelines will keep you guessing about how it all ties together. The story of Eliana reminds me of Kate Elliott's Court of Fives with an empire building by conquest over another civilization, the ruins and traditions buried beneath them. The world building in Rielle's story is interesting- the humans, the angels, the marques (a mix of both), and the way they all interact will hook you in during the brief interlude before Chapter 1 even begins. 

If you enjoy fantasy, strong female characters, plots and mysteries, supernatural or superhuman abilities, and some swords and sorcery action - then give Furyborn a try. I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Spring Reading 2018 A u 7 9

Like fast-paced investigative thrillers? Enjoy the ins and outs of working a case full of false leads and dead ends? You should try A u 7 9. This case has everything an adrenaline junkie or police procedural fan could want. There is a missing ATF agent, a homicide detective bending all the rules, a couple of local gangs that might be involved, the theft of explosives, and a nosy cub reporter making allegations. In come members of the FBI's Tracker unit, a new group that has already solved a crucial case to the satisfaction of the agency and the President. But can they find the right clues and resolve this situation in time?

The characters are interesting and the scenes are full of action. Each member of the Trackers has special skills that all work together - investigation, computer analysis, bomb disposal, sharp shooting, etc. And the plot keeps readers guessing about just who the bad guy is, or if there could be more than one. The trust that the unit members have for each other throws the doubts about the other characters into sharp relief as signs point to a possible leak inside one of the Texas law enforcement branches.

Fans of shows featuring federal and police detectives, or books like the FBI novels by Catherine Coulter, should give the Trackers a try. The author's former career in law enforcement and her familiarity with all the details of that profession give the book a strong sense of realism.

Spring Reading 2018 Broomsticks Over Flaxborough

A local folklore society turns out to be the cover for a coven of witches. After a recent celebration at the home of a coven member, an empty car is found and the owner is missing. Where has the driver gone? And where is the owner of a local store, who also hasn't been seen since that night? As the missing person investigations begin, police discover that members of the coven are not willing to discuss any helpful details of the celebration and even act as if being questioned is a persecution rather than an investigation.

The missing woman was a coven member, but the store owner was part of a local philanthropic group. Could there possible be any connection between the two disappearances? Everyone tries to help - the local pastor, the energetic Miss Teatime, and all the constables. But the town has also been overrun by a group of young ladies in white costumes doing a door-to-door campaign for a detergent and there will even be some commercials filmed with local folks participating. Could any of the people working on the add campaign have something to do with one or both of the missing persons? As usual, Purbright keeps working the case from all angles until he finally sees how the pieces fit together.

Those familiar with Flaxborough from previous installments in the series will recognize Purbright and other recurring characters, including Miss Lucy Teatime. Set in an English village in the mid-twentieth century, the novels all deal with crimes investigated by Purbright and the rest of the Flaxborough constabulary in a methodical and respectful way. There are no computers or rogue agents picking locks to find evidence, just a patient gathering of facts and fitting them together.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Spring Reading 2018 The Flaxborough Crab

Inspector Purbright is hard at work again as a rash of odd assaults plague Flaxborough. Women of all ages and descriptions are being grabbed, peeped at through windows, and even having their undergarments stolen off the clothesline! And every time the suspect runs off in a strange sideways scuttle like a crab. But can there be more than one culprit? And what is causing the behavior? After a suspect accidentally drowns while pursuing a woman, the autopsy reveals some abnormalities. The inquest also finds that the man had been taking medication prescribed by his doctor as well as herbal remedies he obtained by mail order. Could any of those have caused the strange attacks?

The number of reported assaults mount, patrols are stepped up, vigilante groups begin to form, and still there are no answers. Purbright and his faithful constables follow up on leads concerning the medication and herbal remedies, learning that the herbs come from a nearby farm that has recently changed hands. The deceased suspect's doctor is known to participate in drug trials, but maintains that he has never prescribed anything dangerous. When will it all end?

Those familiar with Flaxborough from previous installments in the series will recognize Purbright and other recurring characters, including Miss Lucy Teatime. Set in an English village in the mid-twentieth century, the novels all deal with crimes investigated by Purbright and the rest of the Flaxborough constabulary in a methodical and respectful way. There are no computers or rogue agents picking locks to find evidence, just a patient gathering of facts and fitting them together.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.