86) Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss

The Blurb :

Perfectly pressed. Perfectly proper. Perfectly deadly.

Paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski thinks she has the perfect paranormal exhibit for the harvest festival—a haunted grape press. But before she can open the exhibit, she’s accused of stealing the antique press. And when her accuser is found murdered, all eyes turn to Maddie.

Solving the crime is the last thing on Maddie’s mind, but her mother insists she investigate. Does her mother have a secret agenda? And why has the local charity, Ladies Aid, seemingly gone gangster?

In this light, cozy mystery, haunted houses, runaway wine barrels, and murder combine in a perfect storm of chaos. Facing down danger and her own over-active imagination, Maddie must unearth the killer before she becomes the next ghost to haunt her museum.

My Thoughts :

Sorry for the silence.  I had to go on a business trip and it was all very short notice and not a lot of internet.  Also didn't get to read much either!  However I did finish this book before I left but I just didn't get a chance to write about it.  So after nearly two weeks I am finally able to write a little about the book. Not much though, because I realised now that this one doesn't release until next year!  For some reason I thought it released this month so I was a little premature with reading this and don't want to give anything away!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and was really looking forward to the next installment.  However I have to say straight away that this sequel, although good, wasn't as good as the debut.  I can't really put my finger on why but there was something that didn't sit right the whole time I was reading it.

Once again there was an interesting enough mystery.  It was a little far fetched but the plot was ok and kept me interested.  The whole Ladies Aid angle seemed a little unnecessary but it gave the reader a chance to get to know some of the characters better and added some strength to the story.  I really was annoyed with the Mason plot.  It may have added another mystery to the story but in my honest opinion it was too soon in the series to go that route already.

While the paranormal aspect of the series is still a little 'up in the air' I found that this time it wasn't as well written.  I liked the whole idea but there wasn't much of the paranormal to deal with and it was all circumstance.  The murder mystery was readable and nice and cozy but I expected something better after the debut book.  This one seemed like it was patch worked together from many ideas without having a clear decision on how it would look in the end.

I still want to keep reading this series.  There are some great cozies out there and there are always room for more.  Especially paranormal ones.  I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with for book three and hope that she finds another interesting story to base a murder mystery and paranormal mystery on.  Maybe less drama and more stability is needed but for now I am happy and will keep reading.

74) Death by Pumpkin Spice by Alex Erickson

The Blurb :

Bookstore café owner Krissy Hancock would rather spend Halloween serving pumpkin goodies than wearing costumes with Pine Hills’ wealthiest at Yarborough mansion, especially when the soiree shapes up to be more trick than treat . . .

As if a run-in with an old flame and a failed marriage proposal weren’t enough to horrify Krissy for one night, a woman is found strangled to death in a room filled with ominous jack-o’-lanterns. All signs suggest a crime of passion—but when the hostess’s jewelry disappears, malevolent intentions seem way more likely . . .

With the estate on lockdown and a killer roaming the halls, Krissy must help Officer Paul Dalton investigate each nook, cranny, and guest for answers—while also confronting a few demons of her own. Someone has lots of skeletons in the closet, and Krissy better tread lightly to expose them . . .

My Thoughts :

Well it seems my reading slump is over and my reading is back on track again...if not a little behind.  So it was only natural that instead of picking up one of the many books that have been on my to be read pile for ages that I went to the review books and picked up the one that releases next.  Death by Pumpkin Spice is the third book in the Bookstore Cafe Mysteries and I was looking forward to reading the new installment after enjoying the first two so much.

Unfortunately while this was nice, easy and quick read I have to say it wasn't as good as the previous two books in the series.  While the story was set in the right time of year and fits into the whole Halloween holiday that is soon upon us, that was one of the only things Death by Pumpkin Spice really had going for it.  Actually I felt a little disappointed by this one.

While the murder mystery plot wasn't a bad one and kept me guessing, the majority of the book took place at a party in a house that I had a hard time visualizing and had nothing to do with the bookstore cafe.  The idea wasn't a bad one but it was totally different to the previous books in the series and felt wrong from the beginning.  The rushing around, being allowed to help and the relationship woes were all a little over the top sometimes and I couldn't keep track of the time frame of the story and wasn't completely convinced that the other guests wouldn't have made more of a ruckus.

I didn't enjoy Death by Pumpkin Spice as much as the previous books but I am still hopeful for the series.  Maybe the author thought it would be good to have a change of scenery or she wanted to try something a little different.  However I missed the Bookstore and Cafe setting, I was sad that Krissy's cat wasn't around as much and I was hoping to get to know the regular characters a bit better.  Also the love triangle was bleh and Krissy putting herself down all the time was annoying.

All this said, I want to read more.  Every series has its ups and downs and despite having some problems with this installment I still liked it enough to keep reading and I still want to read more.    This is a nice cozy series that is still finding its feet but has a lot to offer.  Worth trying and giving a chance to!

67) A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett

The Blurb :

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra has been faltering-but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Katie can find the answer.

My Thoughts :

Well August is nearly over and I haven't made much progress reading wise.  Apologies to authors who are waiting for me to review their books!  Maybe don't release in Summer when there are so many other things to do and holidays to be enjoyed!  I did however manage to squeeze in another audio book and because I didn't have any Audible credits I took one from my library that has been waiting for my attention!

I have enjoyed many a book by this author.  Lorraine Barlett's Booktown Mysteries (written under the name Lorna Barrett) is a favourite of mine and I am eagerly awaiting a sequel in the Lotus Bay series.  She has always had some great characters lined up and a great mystery.  So naturally I wanted to try the Victoria Square series and have to say I kept putting it off and this is why I ended up with the audio version.

Now while I love the two series I already mentioned I have to say I am left with mixed feelings about this debut in the series.  I had a very hard time envisioning what Victoria Square and Artisans Alley are supposed to look like.  Despite the descriptions I was left confused about the whole set up and couldn't place everything where it should be.  Which didn't help when following the plot.  This was strange for me because the author has left me with a very vivid idea of how her Booktown location would look and even, after only one installment, the Lotus Bay location.

Another problem I had with this first in the series was the amount of characters involved.  I found it really hard to keep track of the many people who were involved in the story.  I managed to keep the main few characters in check but I couldn't tell you who the others were, why they were involved and where they fit into the Artisan's Alley/Victoria Square concept.

The plot was actually mediocre and not very compelling.  I found I could follow it will no problem despite the location and character confusion.  However it wasn't the most exciting or interesting.  It wasn't bad enough to make me give up but I guess my expectations were higher or I am just used to a different style where this author is concerned.  It didn't feel like the same writer that I have come to like so much.

Despite my less than glowing review I am going to give the second book a chance.  Why?  Because I did actually like the main character and I think the concept shows a lot of promise.  The strength and determination Katie shows to get Victoria Square up to scratch is inspiring and I want to know how she does.  What I am not sure about is if I will listen to the next book.  This means it could take a long time for me to get around to the next installment but the narrator sounded like she had a blocked nose.  This made it sound like Katie was ill with a cold all the time and the other characters too.  It was pretty weird sometimes.  Not at all the quality of audio book I am used to.

In conclusion...not bad but not that good either.  This author has many other great books out there and I guess if you are a fan of her work and love cozies then you won't be able to stay away from this one.  However be aware that this first book in the series isn't totally on par with her other work.  That isn't to say it won't get better.  Who knows, the second part could surprise me!  Only time will tell.

53) Decaffeinated Corpse by Cleo Coyle

The Blurb :

When an old friend of her ex-husband develops the world's first botanically decaffeinated coffee bean and smuggles it into the country, Clare Cosi, manager of Village Blend, believes it's a business opportunity she needs to investigate...at least until the first dead body shows up.

My Thoughts :

Sorry for the radio silence here but it is Summer and I have been away enjoying a little time off.  Hopefully things will get back to normal now that I am home again.

I actually finished listening to this fifth book in the Coffeehouse Mysteries about a week ago but didn't get around to posting about it before my little trip.  I have to admit it is now, a week later, hard to remember exactly what happened in the story but I do remember how annoying this series is.

Clare is so aggravating!  Her know it all attitude, the way she treats her daughter, the constant coffee snobbishness and her bad detective skills all make me want to smack her.  However there is something about this series that keeps me going back for more.  It obviously appeals to many readers because there are sixteen books in the series and it doesn't seem to be over.

The plot this time around was very weak, confusing and also quite boring.  I had no idea what was going on most of the time but I still managed to finish this one and wonder why I had bothered. Though I am sure at some point in the near future you will see a review here for the sixth book because there is something that makes me want to come back for more.  Maybe I am hoping Clare changes?  Maybe that her daughter disowns her?   To see how things go with her detective? or maybe I am just hopeful for a nice big 'fall'.

44) Murder Most Frothy by Cleo Coyle

The Blurb :

Clare Cosi’s new friend, millionaire David Mintzer, has an offer no New York barista could turn down: an all-expenses-paid summer away from the sticky city. At his Hamptons mansion, she’ll relax, soak up the sun, and, oh yes, train the staff of his new restaurant. So Clare packs up her daughter, her former mother-in-law, and her special recipe for iced coffee—for what she hopes will be one de-latte-ful summer…

Soon, Clare tends the coffee bar at her first Hamptons gala. But the festivities come to a bitter end when an employee turns up dead in David’s bathroom—a botched attempt on the millionaire’s life. Thanks to the Fourth of July fireworks no one heard any gunshots, and the police are stuck in holiday traffic. Concerned for everyone’s safety, Clare begins to investigate. What she finds will keep her up at night—and it’s not the java jitters....

My Thoughts :

I am having a difficult love/hate relationship with the Coffeehouse Mystery series and fear that it will continue.  This fourth book in the series didn't do much for the love side of the relationship but for some reason I can't stop myself from being interested in the next installment.

Clare is a highly annoying character with conflicting views on so many things and she constantly manages to get on my nerves with her condescending manner.  This combined with her snobby attitude about everything coffee related makes her really hard to like.  Don't even started on her investigations with she stumbles through like an elephant in a minefield.   How she hasn't gotten herself killed or even badly hurt is beyond me.

This is a series that really makes me wonder if the author likes the main character or if she really wants her to come across as this annoying woman who I wouldn't usually give the time of day to.  However I really have to wonder why the series is already so long and doing so well.  There is obviously something about it because I don't think I can keep away either.

Listening to this series definitely helps because I am very sure that I wouldn't have finished reading this if I had read the physical version.  I will be checking out more of the series even though I don't know why I would want to.  There isn't anything very positive I can say about any of it but I still find myself wanting to listen to more of the series.  It is a true mystery!

43) Ink & Bone by Rachel Caine

The Blurb :

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…

My Thoughts :

I don't know what I expected from Ink & Bone but it definitely wasn't what I got.  A follower of Rachel Caine, I couldn't miss the beginning of a new series but the blurb was already slightly off putting.  However I got a copy and I finally got around to reading it this weekend.

Everything was confusing from the beginning.  It was hard to follow how the world that Caine has invented really works.  Books are good? Bad?  I wasn't sure what the point was but after about a fifth of the book I started to understand what this world was like but I still didn't quite understand everything.

There is a lot of new jargon that was lost on me for most of the book and I didn't feel like everything was explained to a high enough level to really enjoy the obviously brilliant concept that the author has come up with.  Despite my problems following every single piece of the puzzle I did find myself quite engrossed in the story and eager to see what happened.

You can tell when an author has put substantial effort and research into a book when you realise that one of her characters names actually translates to 'Writer' which fits to the story extremely well.  However it made me wonder if I should take things personally as a Welsh person living in Vienna when in this world the Welsh are hated (or loved? another thing I wasn't sure of) and Austria doesn't exist anymore.

All in all this was a nice strong start to a series that is more complicated than it is enjoyable.  I won't say I will not continue the series but I do know that this is definitely a series that needs to be read close together.  I think the longer you leave between installments, the harder it will be to keep the facts straight and understand everything that has happened and is happening.

37) War Horse by Micheal Morpurgo

The Blurb :

A powerful tale of war, redemption, and a hero's journey.

In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?

My Thoughts :

I guess the first thing you are wondering when you see this book is why on Earth did she read this?  Yes it isn't my usual style of book but I am taking part in a Book Club and this was the book that was picked.  So it was read!

War Horse was a quick read and doesn't even reach two hundred pages.  It is a young adult book which has also been made into a film.  This story is very historical and somewhat educational.
It was a nice story, well thought out and interesting but it was also a little slow, somehow cliche and somewhat weird due to the horse perspective.  I managed to keep my feelings in check but I can imagine it being a really sad and emotional film to watch.

Not a bad book but definitely not something I would have picked to read myself.  Maybe when I was younger I would have appreciated this one more.

35) Final Catcall by Sofie Kelly

The Blurb :

Small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson gets plenty of entertainment from her extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules. But when a theatre troupe stumbles into more tragedy than it bargained for, it’s up to Kathleen to play detective....

With her sort-of boyfriend Marcus calling it quits and her ex-boyfriend Andrew showing up out of the blue, Kathleen has more than enough drama to deal with—and that’s before a local theatre festival relocates to Mayville Heights. Now the town is buzzing with theatre folk, and many of them have their own private dramas with the director, Hugh Davis.

When Davis is found shot to death by the marina, he leaves behind evidence of blackmail and fraud, as well as an ensemble of suspects. Now Kathleen, with a little help from her feline friends Owen and Hercules, will have to catch the real killer before another victim takes a final curtain call.

My Thoughts :

Final Catcall is the fifth installment in the Magical Cats Mysteries.  While the fourth book wasn't my favourite of the bunch, I have to say that this one was even worse.  Now it wasn't bad, should have given up and I am writing a bad review but the series started off better, the plot this time around was boring and I kept losing interest.

As this series continues I have to wonder why this is labeled with the series name 'Magical Cats' because despite there being two cats that are a little magical, they are absent most of the story and hardly do anything.  The whole magical cat angle hasn't been explored, in my opinion, to its full potential and the series title is slightly misleading.  There are two things that have kept me coming back for more, one being the 'will they or won't they' in regards to Kathleen and Marcus and the other is the expectation regarding the Magical Cats.

This time around the murder mystery plot was slightly boring but it was nice to have Kathleen's mother come visit.  Although I felt the story ended without closing that aspect of the story.  Also the appearance of someone from Kathleen's past was interesting, especially with her decision of whether she wants to stay Mayville Heights or not still not decided.  There was enough in the story to keep me going but Final Catcall was weak plot wise

I will keep up with the series, I do enjoy listening to this one,  However I think I will take a little break and come back in a few months.

25) Shards of Murder of Cheryl Hollon

The Blurb :

When a glass-making competition turns deadly, glass shop owner Savannah Webb must search for a window into a criminal's mind…

As the new proprietor of Webb's Glass Shop, Savannah has been appointed to fill her late father's shoes as a judge for the Spinnaker Arts Festival, held in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. With her innovative glass works, the clear winner is Megan Loyola, a student of Savannah's former mentor.

But when Megan doesn't show up to accept her $25,000 award, rumors start flying. And when Savannah discovers the woman's dead body on festival grounds, the police immediately suspect her of murder. To keep from appearing before a judge herself, Savannah sorts through the broken pieces of glass scattered around the victim for clues as to who took this killer competition too far…

My Thoughts :

I enjoyed the debut book in this series, Pane and Suffering, and was excited to get a hold of this second installment, Shards of Murder.  However I felt this newest book in the series wasn't as exciting and interesting as the first.  Or at least I remember being more impressed by the series the first time around.

At least one chapter was spent on Savannah training her dog and long explanations of glass techniques took up pages of space.  Now the concept and theme is the glass angle but this time around it just didn't feel as interesting as the first time around.  Also the one chapter from the Detective's perspective was nice but it was just a one time thing.  I found this a little peculiar and was always waiting for more.

The characters are nice enough and the author has definitely tried hard to make them all different and have a lot of variety.  Although some people may find she has tried too hard.  The location comes across as a small arty town but I constantly feel like it is bigger.  I am confused about how it should look and always get a surprised when I realise this is supposed to be based Florida.  The author just isn't convincing me.

As plots go, this was pretty poor.  The murder mystery was slightly boring and uninteresting.  I figured out who it was straight away but just didn't know why.  Actually the whole reveal was over so quickly you could have missed it if you blinked.  The motive a last minute paragraph not long before the book ended.  It was all quite anti-climatic and easy.

I am not sure if I will visit this series again.  If I see a third installment I may check it out but there are many other good cozies out there and I need more reading time for them.  I may be tempted...you never know.  This could be a nice series but there seems to be a few kinks to work out here and there.

10) Extra Credit by Maggie Barbieri

The Blurb :

Alison Bergeron has her doubts about hosting a birthday party for her twin stepdaughters, seeing as it'll include all of her new husband's ex-in-laws. Still, she's a good sport, and everyone has a great time, especially the girls, who receive $10,000 from their estranged uncle, Chick.

The girls' father, NYPD Detective Bobby Crawford, and Christine, his ex, think the gift is too much. When Crawford swings by Chick's apartment to return it, he finds Chick dead, with roughly $250,000 stuffed in his mattress. The death is ruled a suicide, but Christine isn't convinced, and even Alison can't help but admit that there must be a lot more to Chick's death than meets the eye.

My Thoughts :

Well I am finally finished with this series and I am really glad to see the back of it.  The first couple of books were good and the middle of the series wasn't bad but the last couple were really over the top, repetitive and slightly annoying.  While there were some nice characters and an interesting setting, this series wasn't one of the better cozy mysteries I have read and I only finished up the series because I was already so far in and hoped things would improve.

This time around the plot was very thin and definitely not any of Allison's problem.  She still managed to play a huge roll though and it was a very thin piece of a connection that left me very annoyed at the author.  The usual kidnapping angle, a connection to Allison's place of work and of course another fight with her best friend were included once again.  With the typical 'I know where this is going' in relation to Max's behaviour and Allison's new student which of course the leading sleuth doesn't seem to notice even though it is starring her right in the face.

A slightly frustrating series that I wouldn't have finished if it didn't have something good about it.  I don't think I will be recommending it but if you see any of this series in a bargain bin somewhere or pick up a copy in a second hand store, then you may want to give it a try and see what you think.

83) Picking up the Pieces by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

While Rose might be reeling from the news that Joe’s ex-girlfriend is pregnant, she’s got bigger issues to deal with. One, putting her business back together albeit with a new partner and into two separate entities; and two, trying to keep the Fenton County Sheriff’s Department from figuring out the true identity of the Lady in Black.

My Thoughts :

While the Rose Gardner series is one of my favourite audio series and I refuse to waste an Audible credit on a novella.  This short story follows the fifth book and as the title suggests, it is all about Picking up the Pieces.  Anyone who has ready Thirty-Two and a Half Complications will know that the title has a lot of meaning.

I really like the concept of this series but this short story doesn't embrace Rose and her visions of the future at all.  If anything the novella is a rehash of past stories with a little piece of new information thrown in now and again to keep it from going stale.  There are some revelations that any fan of the series will want to know but this isn't the right short story to read to get a feel for the series or just to give it a try.  This short story will ruin the whole series if you don't read it in the proper place.

There is no mystery in this book, just an extended epilogue to the fifth installment.  What makes this one worth reading is the change in POV with not only Rose telling the story but also Joe and Violet sharing their side of things.  While I thought this would help me understand these two characters better and maybe like them more (I have been slowly building up some major dislike for them both for the last couple of books) I actually found myself liking them even less.  If the author was attempting to get them some sympathy votes or explain their actions better then she failed in my view.  I may have liked Joe's decision at the end but Violet is my least favourite character at the moment.

So if you are a fan and are following this series then you really need to give this one a read.  Don't go into hoping for too much but go into it knowing that you already know a lot of the content and there are some interesting developments here and there and some vital information to store away for the next books in the series.

I will be heading back to see what happens next with Rose as soon as possible.  I am really enjoying this series and the audio books are well worth checking out.

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70) Dressed to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

The Blurb :

Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More in the tucked-away town of South Cove, California—is not particularly thrilled to be portraying a twenties flapper for the dinner theater murder mystery. Though it is for charity…

Of course everyone is expecting a “dead” body at the dress rehearsal…but this one isn’t acting! It turns out the main suspect is the late actor’s conniving girlfriend Sherry…who also happens to be the ex-wife of Jill’s main squeeze. Sherry is definitely a master manipulator…but is she a killer? Jill may discover the truth only when the curtain comes up on the final act…and by then, it may be far too late.

My Thoughts :

It is way too hot to do anything here in Vienna.  Even too hot to read!  However I have managed to concentrate and keep cool enough to read this fourth book in the Tourist Trap Mysteries.  I actually planned on reading this book weeks ago before it actually released but as I mentioned before, with the end of the school year comes a lot of work and things have been busy.

Anyway, Dressed to Kill is the fourth and latest installment in the Tourist Trap Mysteries but I have to say from the get go that it wasn't the best of the bunch so far.  It was a good read and the ongoing plot saw some development but all in all the mystery wasn't as exciting as the previous books in the series.

I am not sure what made me enjoy this book less than the previous ones but maybe it was a combination of little things.  For instance things started off a little confusing.  I actually though I had missed a book because things seemed to jump to a whole new shop being opened.  Which led to the whole Sherry thing which is seriously getting old.  So Jill's guy has an ex-wife who is a royal pain in the backside? Have to say I don't really care about any of it.  There was too many characters to keep track of this time around.  In fact I am still not sure who 'did it' and why.  I lost track of that person and the plot by the end.

The Tourist Trap Mysteries (still unsure on why the books have been given this title) is a great cozy series with a hint of the supernatural hanging around in the air.  I like the location and characters but this time around I didn't find them to be as inviting as in the previous books.

Every series has a 'meh' book and I am hoping that Dressed to Kill is that book for this series.  I already have a copy of the fifth book and will be reading it as soon as possible.  Dressed to Kill hasn't put me off this nice cozy mystery series but it has got me wondering if the author will shine brighter in the next installment.

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66) Final Exam by Maggie Barbieri

The Blurb :

St. Thomas, the college north of New York City where Alison teaches, has had its share of scandals involving its students, staff, and Alison herself, so when a Resident Director goes missing they keep it quiet by tapping Alison as a replacement. A stay in the dorms is like hard time and she will do anything to avoid it. Her way out: Find the reluctant resident and drag him back. Luckily, she doesn’t have to look further than the drugs he’s hidden to get her boyfriend, Detective Bobby Crawford, on the case.

My Thoughts :

The Murder 101 Mysteries is another series I am trying to catch-up on/finish.  I switched to listening to the series because I wasn't making much progress on the books and they were hard to get/expensive in other formats.  Audible has all of the series and I am slowly but surely making my way through them and I think there are two or three more in the series.

As themes for cozy mysteries go this one isn't a bad one.  I have enjoyed the series since the beginning and despite sometimes finding Alison a little annoying, I do find her to be funny and interesting.  However this fourth book in the series was not as good as the previous books and unless the next books in the series are really bad then I will be naming Final Exam the worst in the series.

I still give this book three stars because it wasn't bad enough for me to give up.  I just found the story to be a little all over the place, repetitive and sometimes boring.  From the beginning I just couldn't get my head around Alison's situation.  I just couldn't believe that her boss could make her move onto campus and take over a students job.  Of course it set the scene for the mystery but it wasn't plausible enough.  But then again the mystery itself wasn't very exciting.

Then there was times in the story where I felt like Alison was repeating herself.  Sometimes I am pretty sure she was finding new information that she actually already knew.  Although on saying that maybe I just made the connections quicker than she did because I have to say Alison comes across as a little stupid in this installment and definitely doesn't seem like a professor.  There were other things that bothered me in this book.  Alison's Detective boyfriend was very uninteresting and her best friend Max was just annoying.

Despite these little moans and groans I did finish listening to the book and will be continuing with the series.  However if the next book doesn't have something special going on it may make me quit while I am ahead.  Also I hope the narrator improves herself as the series continues.  I like her voice but now and again her pronunciation seems wrong.  Maybe it is the American vs. British English (which has never been a problem for me before) but it comes across to often for me to believe that.

A nice series so far despite this not so good Final Exam.  Will be interesting to see what the next book has to offer and what developments the regular characters make after the problems that occurred in this book.

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57) A Killer Collection by Ellery Adams

The Blurb :

In the world of antiques and collectibles, it helps to have a sharp eye for quality, a good ear for gossip, and a nose for murder.

Molly Appleby is a young writer for Collector’s Weekly, and when the attractive reporter isn’t covering auctions and antique shows all over the South, she’s trying to get her new relationship with a coworker off the ground. When her latest assignment takes her to North Carolina pottery country to cover an exclusive kiln opening, she’s certain the show promises surprising offerings and rare finds. What she doesn’t expect to find is a dead body.

George-Bradley Staunton is known throughout the antiques world as a very wealthy and very ruthless collector, and when he drops dead just after the opening, there are all too few mourners and a seemingly endless list of suspects. When the local police are stumped, Molly steps in to put her journalist’s nose to work sniffing out the culprit. But no sooner does she start collecting clues than another dead body falls into her lap.

As Molly digs beneath the genteel surface of antiques and collectibles, she finds a world filled with backstabbing and competition, and what started as a story about rare collections might leave Molly with nothing more than a collection of corpses.

My Thoughts :

When some authors finally make a name for themselves their previous books will often get re-released. This is what seems to be happening for Ellery Adams.  Her Hope Street Mysteries have already been released again and now her Collectable Mysteries are also back out. So J.B. Stanley is just a blast from the past and the name Ellery Adams is showing up on more books.

Even though Killer Collection was originally released nearly ten years ago this new edition released just after Christmas and I will admit it has taken me a while to get around to reading it. I was looking forward to trying another series by this author and was interested to see if this is as good as her other works.  She has proven to me that she used to write great cozies before changing her pen name but would this series also hold the same tantalizing twists and turns that make a good mystery.  Would the amateur sleuth manage to be as likable as the other characters I have had the pleasure of solving mysteries with?

While Killer Collection was a fascinating read it didn't manage to rise up to the heights of my previous encounters with the author.  I am not saying this was bad but it isn't the best offering I have read by this author.  I found it hard to keep track of the characters and was confused by some of the time frame.  Also the storytelling wasn't as fluid and well thought out as I am used to.  The characters were ok and I did enjoy the mystery. The pottery theme was interesting enough but I hope the next book isn't just about those kinds of antiques/collectibles.

All in all it wasn't a bad read but it came across as not quite as polished as I am used to.  A good start to the series but one that could put off people from reading further into the series.  Now that there are so many cozies out there to choose from this one seems of low standard.  If people realise this is a re-release then they will hopefully understand the slight amateur feeling to this one but I fear anyone trying Ellery Adams for the first time may not continue to read her books and will miss out on the really amazing mysteries she has written.

I will check out the next in the series at some point.  I am intrigued to see how this series develops and if it manages to find its feet.

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