39 Winks by Kathleen Valenti and House of Clues

I participated in the first ever House of Clues Facebook group book club this weekend. The selection was 39 Winks by Kathleen Valenti. 39 Winks is the second Maggie O'Malley mystery. 



About: "Former pharmaceutical researcher Maggie O’Malley is losing sleep. Her boyfriend Constantine’s aunt is a multitasking sleepwalker who, in addition to wandering her stately home, prepares meals, folds laundry and, one winter night, stumbles across her husband with his throat slit.

It’s a rude and gruesome awakening that’s upsetting to Aunt Polly. And interesting to the police.

Maggie and Constantine work to uncover who killed the cosmetic surgery mogul and why. As they dig into the lives of those who knew him best, they discover that the truth is only skin deep and doctoring perception is a treatment with deadly side effects.

A gripping page-turner with more twists than a surgeon’s suture, 39 Winks is a tale of lies, betrayals and greed that will keep you up at night. And looking over your shoulder. "

I really enjoyed the book (and the group). The book starts right off with Aunt Polly finding her husband in the kitchen, murdered. The police want to blame Aunt Polly right away and be done with it. The thing about Aunt Polly, is that she has Parkinson's and sleep walks. One of her episodes looks like it will seal her guilt. BUT, Howard has lots of people that don't like him. Maggie and Constantine work to prove Polly's innocence. In the process, Maggie has several near misses with her life. 

The story has many layers, leaving room for  additional books . The characters are complex and well developed. Maggie is a little impulsive. Constantine is a little funny in  a goofy way, sometimes at the wrong time. There is a romantic thread with Maggie and Constantine but there is also an ex-boyfriend of Maggie's to add to the interest in that story. The story has mystery, "look out" moments, and it is also peppered with humor. 

Example: " At first Polly wasn't sure what was more surprising: that her husband had been murdered or that he had been eating Life cereal. Howard was gluten free."

There is a really good twist at the end. That's all I will say about that. :)

Protocol is the first book in the series which I will go back and read.


I am ready for book three.

Kathleen Valenti:



Kathleen Valenti has been writing for more than 20 years, first as a nationally award-winning copywriter and now as the author of the Maggie O'Malley Mystery Series. A firm believer that deadpan can be dead-on, she combines funny with frightening to craft page-turners of mystery and suspense.

​In Kathleen's debut novel, Agatha and Lefty Award-nominated Protocol, Maggie O'Malley examines the flaws of technology and the depths of greed to uncover what happens when the invisible among us disappear. In her second book, 39 Winks, Maggie works to help her best friend's aunt, who discovered her husband's body during a sleepwalking episode. Her third book, highly anticipated As Directed, follows Maggie as she embarks on a new career in a small town drugstore where the specter of poisoning arises, conjuring old grudges, past sins, buried secrets, and new suspicions from which no one is immune.

When Kathleen isn't making nouns and verbs play nice, she reads, camps, snowmobiles, drinks far too much coffee, and pretends to enjoy running. Kathleen lives in Oregon with her family.
 "Kathleen Valenti has been writing for more than 20 years, first as a nationally award-winning copywriter and now as the author of the Maggie O'Malley Mystery Series. A firm believer that deadpan can be dead-on, she combines funny with frightening to craft page-turners of mystery and suspense.

​In Kathleen's debut novel, Agatha and Lefty Award-nominated Protocol, Maggie O'Malley examines the flaws of technology and the depths of greed to uncover what happens when the invisible among us disappear. In her second book, 39 Winks, Maggie works to help her best friend's aunt, who discovered her husband's body during a sleepwalking episode. Her third book, highly anticipated As Directed, follows Maggie as she embarks on a new career in a small town drugstore where the specter of poisoning arises, conjuring old grudges, past sins, buried secrets, and new suspicions from which no one is immune.

When Kathleen isn't making nouns and verbs play nice, she reads, camps, snowmobiles, drinks far too much coffee, and pretends to enjoy running. Kathleen lives in Oregon with her family."

House of Clues is a Facebook group you may be interested in. 

About: "House of Clues is a new author-reader group brought to you by writers connected through Henery Press. A different author will host the conversation daily." It looks like there are 25+ authors participating. One author hosts for the day or week, introducing their books and some fun quick trivia. There are some giveaways sometimes also. The book club is something they just started although there was a month or more notice of what book would be discussed. Kathleen Valenti hosted the hour. She led a discussion of the book and had a Q&A. She then drew for a giveaway. Should I mention that I won? Yay me. It's a fun group. If you are looking to expanding your mystery reading and "do Facebook", check it out.

New Hallmark Mystery Movies

Real quick....
Four new Hallmark Mystery Movies with one starting tonight!
I will just give you the links so you can check them out yourself.

1. Mystery 101: 1/27/19 8 p.m. central

About: When a college student is found dead, English professor Amy uses her crime fiction expertise to unravel the case faster than detective Travis, who ends up working with Amy to catch the killer. Stars Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha.

https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/mystery-101


2. Emma Fields Mysteries: More Bitter Than Death: 2/10/19 8 p.m. central

About:  While hosting the annual gathering of the Association for the Study of American Archaeology at Kenzer College, Emma Fielding is thrust into the midst of a murder mystery when the President of her organization is poisoned on the eve of announcing her successor. With many of the leading archaeologists present having expressed their entitlement to the presidency prior to the murder, Emma and FBI pal Jim Conner have plenty of likely suspects from which to choose.
Starring Courtney Thorne-Smith, James Tupper, Mark Valley.

https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/emma-fielding-mysteries-more-bitter-than-death

I have seen other Emma Fields mysteries and they are really good.

3. Chronicle Mysteries: Recovered: 2/17/19 8 p.m. central

About: Alex McPherson (Sweeney) returns to the small town in Pennsylvania where she spent her summers as a girl to record the next episode of her true crime podcast, about the disappearance of a childhood friend 20 years prior. However, after teaming up with the local newspaper editor (Ayres), who reluctantly agrees to help her retrace the girl’s last steps, Alex not only uncovers the shocking truth behind the girl’s disappearance, but also a decades-old murder and its cover-up. 
Starring Alison Sweeney, Benjamin Ayres

https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/chronicle-mysteries-recovered


4. Chronical Mysteries: The Wrong Man: 2/24/19 8 p.m. central

About: Podcaster Alex McPherson seeks the truth behind the tragic death of a young lawyer, while partner Drew finds himself diving into the shady mishaps of a shipping company.
Starring Alison Sweeney, Benjamin Ayres

https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/chronicle-mysteries-the-wrong-man/about-chronicle-mysteries-the-wrong-man

Trust Me by Hank Phillipi Ryan

I just finished Trust Me by Hank Phillipi Ryan. I read it as my selection for our February Mystery Book Club selection. We are reading any book or books by the authors that our part of the Jungle Red Writers. Since our meeting is a couple of weeks away, I wanted to share while it is still fresh in my mind. I'll give you a synopsis of the club members choices, after we meet.



About:
"An accused killer insists she's innocent of a heinous murder.

A grieving journalist surfaces from the wreckage of her shattered life.

Their unlikely alliance leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game that will leave you breathless.

Who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?"


This is an excellent psychological thriller. Mercer has lost her husband and child in a car accident and barely making it through each day. She is asked to follow and write a book on the trial of Ashlyn, who is accused of murdering her own child. This may be just the thing to get her back on her feet, take her mind off what can't be changed, move her forward. After the trial, she is asked to continue the book, interviewing Ashlyn. During the interviews, Ashlyn tells pieces of her story one day, and the the next day she says that wasn't true. She then gives more information, and the next day will say she made it up. She suggests things, people and situations, that makes Mercer doubt everything she knows, even about her own family.

So many twists and turns, you will find yourself doubting what you thought to be true. It so engrossing, you may even fill a little off, twingy, creepy. It is worthy of an all night read.

Trust me.

The Tiger's Tale by Kelle Z Riley

This was my second book I read for the Cozy Mystery Review Crew. I am enjoying being a part of this group. If you want to check it out, here is the link to their web page. They also have a Face Book Group of the same name. cozymysteryreview.wixsite.com/home



About: " Fresh from a successful undercover operation, scientist/spy-in-training Bree Watson should feel on top of the world. Instead, the ground is shifting under her feet. When her handler abandons her to follow a lead with his sexy ex-partner, Bree must choose between a normal life, or proving her worth as a spy. Not an easy choice, when she factors in:

• A police detective’s amorous intentions
• Her handler’s mixed signals
• A teaching post at a university filled with intrigue
• A dead administrator with a sordid past
• A timid tiger and her tenacious trainer—both being framed for murder

Combined with fanatic football fans, beatnik poets, an orphaned monkey, a demanding boss, quirky colleagues, and her angry cat, the result may be a recipe for disaster.

Can she take the heat? Or will she get burned? "

This is the third book in this series. I have not read the first two books. I don't think you would have to read the first two first, but there were some parts of the back story that I didn't know. 

The main character, Bree, is interesting as she is in "spy training", and working undercover at a university. The story kept my attention, and moves at a good pace. I love the animals: Sherlock her cat, Lucky the tiger cub and Miss Peepers the capuchin monkey. The antics between Sherlock and Miss Peepers are funny and made me laugh. Bree has a couple of love interests that add to the ongoing story; James the local police detective and Matthew, her spy boss. You will really feel for Ning, the student from Thailand, who is Lucky's handler and trainer and Lucky as they are blamed for the murder of one of the professors. Bree tries to find the real murderer, protect Ning and Lucky, and find out what else is going on at the college with the football team and other professors. Lots of strange things seem to be happening. I also found the technology that was described interesting. The ending is very exciting, a "oh no, hurry" ending. Bonus recipes at the end. 

I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.

Fields's Guide to Assassins by Julie Mulhern

"There have been four attempts on your life since you came to Paris?"

Had it been that many? " I suppose so."

"And how long have you been here?"

"Three days."

We all thought about that for a minute.

This was such a good book. Lot's of suspense right from the start.

About: "  Poppy Fields, Hollywood IT girl extraordinaire, accompanies her A-list mother to Paris, and why not? It’s PARIS!

What her mother doesn’t know is Poppy’s on assignment. Her mission? To help bankrupt a drug cartel. To do that, she must access encrypted account numbers, evade a drug lord with a grudge, dodge a Russian oligarch, and align herself with a man who looks like a Norse god. Oh, and there’s that plot—the one to launch a massive attack on the City of Lights.

If Poppy’s not careful, La Vie en Rose might just turn funereal black."

Poppy is assigned a body guard after the first attempt on her life, by the agency she is working for. She describes him as looking like Chris Hemsworth and in her mind, calls him Thor. Well sometimes she slips and calls him Thor out loud.

The problem with Poppy, is she doesn't really like being told what to do even if it's to keep her out of trouble. So with the drug lord's men after her, and after uncovering information on possible terrorist attacks, Poppy is once again in deep trouble.  Jake, her ex boyfriend who also works for the agency, keeps popping in and out to help her. She doesn't seem to want his help. There is an unidentified person that rescues her several times. She never sees his face, as it is always covered in some way. No one can tell her who it is. They all say they don't know. Hmmm. 

The story is very fast paced, lots of interesting characters, and lots of humor. I love how the author inserts humor in the most unlikely situations. I really did laugh out loud several times.

We are left with wanting to know more about what is going to happen with "Thor", Jake and the unidentified guardian angel.

Great ending which will lead us into the next book..I hope.

Upcoming Mystery Movies on television!

Yay! Mark your calendars and set up your DVR's. There are some new mystery movies coming this first quarter of 2019 on television.

PBS
Mrs. Wilson:  a three part drama, premieres on January 31 at 8c. 



Is it a mystery? Well it sounds like it to me. 

About: 

"Starring Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre), Mrs. Wilson is a powerful three-part drama inspired by the memoir of Ms. Wilson’s grandmother and family history. Set in 1940s and 1960s London and 1930s India, the series follows Alison Wilson, who thinks she is happily married until her husband, Alec, dies and a woman turns up on the doorstep claiming that she is the real Mrs. Wilson. Alison is determined to prove the validity of her own marriage – and Alec’s love for her – but is instead led into a world of disturbing secrets."

But there is more: 

"Inspiration for the drama came from the book that her grandmother wrote about her experience, which was later passed down to her children and grandchildren when Ruth was growing up. But there are some gaps in the story, which Ruth and her family were only able to fill in after her grandmother died in 2005.

Ready for another curveball? Ruth’s grandfather, Alec, was a spy. He met Alison in the last few years of the second world war when she took a job as his secretary in the British intelligence agency. They eventually fell in love, moved in, married, had kids and built a life together. However, his inherently shady career made the puzzle of the multiple lives he was leading even more difficult to piece together. Ruth explained that her grandmother had destroyed anything that had any mention of Alec. All they had to go on was the memoir that was written poignantly from her one perspective, and was passed on to the family in two parts – one half to be read while Alison was still alive, the other only to be read after her death."

Here is the link to read the full story:  https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/mrs-wilson-bbc-one

Hallmark Mysteries and Movies

Ruby Herring Mysteries: Silent Witness starts January 20 at 8c.

About: "When consumer news reporter, Ruby Herring stumbles onto a murder, the intrepid redhead inadvertently discovers a knack for crime solving. With the reluctant help of a handsome detective, Ruby finds a new career covering crime. Starring Taylor Cole and Stephen Huszar. " 

Emma Fielding Mysteries: More Bitter than Death February 10, 8c

About: "While hosting the annual gathering of the Association for the Study of American Archaeology at Kenzer College, Emma Fielding is thrust into the midst of a murder mystery when the President of her organization is poisoned on the eve of announcing her successor. With many of the leading archaeologists present having expressed their entitlement to the presidency prior to the murder, Emma and FBI pal Jim Conner have plenty of likely suspects from which to choose. Starring Courtney Thorne-Smith, James Tupper, Mark Valley. 

I did see the first of the Emma Fielding Mysteries last year and really liked it.

These movies are usually shown three or four times. Take a look for a time convenient for you. Here is Hallmark's web page: http://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/

I guess that will get us started for the year. Hopefully there are more coming up!

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and maybe a break from your usual day to day routine.

Do you have any New Year's resolutions? Some book resolutions perhaps? I acquired several books over my holiday break. My book resolution would be to read them all in addition to the books I acquired during the year. December was very busy with holiday things. While that is fun (for awhile), I am looking forward to more book time.

For our January Mystery Book Club, we read The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. It is apparently a very popular book based on the hold time at my library. I know that some never were able to get the book in time.  Lucky me, I had a "free" Audible credit and was able to use it to listen to The Alice Network.



About:

"In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption. 1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.
1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.
Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads."

Sounds pretty good doesn't it? I like the cover. I like historical fiction set in the 1930's and 1940's. As I mentioned, I listened to this book. The narrator was very good. She was able to do several accents; American, Scottish, French, German, and to my ear, spoke French very well.

The book chapters go back and forth between Charlie in 1947 and Eve in 1915-1916. I like that in books. I find it can be intriguing as you find out about the background of characters and then their stories come together.

The book started out interesting but then it got a little slow for me. Not sure if it was because I was listening to it, (I probably read faster than a book is narrated, as we all probably do, skimming parts?) or not. But the end was satisfying.

Here is what the members of the MBC thought.

Everyone liked the book. Several mentioned that because it has some difficult parts with descriptions of various events and things that happen, they had to put it down for awhile. (Maybe that is what I was feeling about the book.) But they all agreed they really wanted to know what happened to each of the characters. We had a good discussion about life in Europe during the wars, spies, women, things that happened that people don't even know about. We looked up the "Alice Network" which was real and found some of the characters/events in the book were based on real people and events.

If you like historical fiction, particularly if you are interested in women spies and life during and after WWI and WWII, you will probably like The Alice Network .

About the author:

"Kate Quinn is a New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. She attended Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Classical Voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written seven historical novels, including the bestselling "The Alice Network," the Empress of Rome Saga, and the Borgia Chronicle. All have been translated into multiple languages.

Kate and her husband now live in San Diego with two black dogs named Caesar and Calpurnia, and her interests include opera, action movies, cooking, and the Boston Red Sox."