Looking at back at my Goodreads account where I track my books, I read one novel, two short books and listened to one novel- not even a mystery. Hmpf.
Murder at Sea Captain's Inn is the 2nd in the Book Magic Mystery series by Melissa Bourbon. I received it as an ARC. I had read the first book and like it a lot. I like to read something fun after some serious mysteries.
About: "Pippin Lane Hawthorne’s grand opening of Sea Captain’s Inn is tainted when a scholar studying the Lost Colony of Roanoke is brutally murdered. Like the black crow that hangs around the old house, could the untimely death be a harbinger of dark things to come? When her twin brother, Grey, begins bucking the curse by risking his life in the waters of the Outer Banks, Pippin lives in terror that he’ll be the next Lane male to be swallowed by the sea. Now she must use her gift of bibliomancy to save her brother, solve the murder, and end a two thousand year old pact."
I like the underlying thread of a family curse. The Lane's are an old Irish fishing family with some interesting folklore. I love the idea of bibliomancy. It is a real thing, not really like how it is portrayed in this series.
Wiki: Bibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses) for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world.
My thoughts: Everything is looking up for Pippin and Grey (after book 1). The Sea Captain's Inn renovation as a B&B is complete and the first guests are expected any minute. Grey has ventured out on his own and is starting up a wood working business. Pippin has found a great employee in Zoe, to help with the day to day running of the Inn. And the best is Pippin's rescue of Sailor the dog. The opening coincides with an archaeological dig in the area for things associated with Sir Walter Raleigh's quest to colonize. One of her guests is in town for the dig. Dr. Baxter is quite odd with several "demands" for her stay. A married couple also at the Inn, is interesting and quite busy site seeing. One other single man rounds out the first guests. He keeps to himself. The story progresses with someone being murdered at the Inn. A significant archaeological item find in Pippin's safe, and a strange man with clear eyes showing up and disappearing. He is quite unnerving. Someone has broken into Pippin's private room and she seems to be in danger. An ongoing thread from book one is Pippin using her gift of bibliomancy to try to find out how to stop the curse of the Lane family. We learn more about the locals in Devils's Cove. Jamie the bookstore owner and his family. Ruby the owner of the local winery. We also learn more about the very interesting family history of the Lane family. Sneak peek at book three looks to be very interesting.
Kindle Vella is a new Amazon platform, "a new way to read serialized stories by your favorite authors. Kindle Vella short episodes go with the breaks in your day." You unlock each episode with "tokens". 200 tokens cost $1.99. I can't remember how many episodes or tokens it took to read The Ghost Circus. Maybe because I was a first time user of the product, I had 150 free tokens and then had to purchase more at the end. But the fee was nominal.
Anyhoo, I was happy to read more about Onyx.
About: A ragtag traveling circus sits outside a small California town. 200 miles to the north, the myth of the ghost woman, Onyx Webb, is alive and well in the seaside hamlet of Crimson Cove, Oregon. After mysterious deaths occur in both places, the FBI gets involved. When the circus relocates to Crimson Cove, FBI agent Newt Drystad arrives just as the entire town is starting to unravel. It's one thing to stop people from committing crimes, but how do you stop a ghost?"
What I said: Everyone loves a circus. Problem with this circus is, the performers are all ghosts? Familiar characters from the original series are back; Onyx and Noah, Newt, Pippi, the Sheriff and even Ulrich "makes an appearance". I love how the story is paranormal but throws in real, contemporary things, computer technology, and the FBI (better look closely there).
I don't want to say too much and spoil anything. If you like quirky paranormal and quick reads, try the Onyx Webb series. Good time of year for it. :)
About: As Christmas approaches in Candy Cane Hollow, it's time for the annual Claus Family ice fishing trip.
Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is a ball of nerves about meeting all of Nick Claus' relatives, until the trip ends in disaster.
One Claus doesn't return home, and as everyone begins to fear the worst, an old grudge between the Lost Claus and Nick makes his actions look suspicious.
Can Holly get to the truth, before anyone else is hurt?"
My thoughts: A Lost Claus is a fun holiday book to read but with a mystery. As Holly and Nick get more serious into their relationship, it is time to meet the Claus family. Father Christmas, Mrs. Claus, uncles and nieces and nephews. The large family gathering brings out the good and bad in the family. Yes even the Claus family has its ups and downs. An annual fishing trip turns deadly. Holly once again investigates and has some doubts if this is the family for her to join.
And finally I listened to:
About: "Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.
In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the stunningly beautiful instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II."
This is not a mystery and was recommended by a friend. It is good story about survival during terrible times: WWII. Parts of it are not easy and I suspect they really happened. It didn't really end like I wanted but again, that's how things probably went. I call these stories Oregon Trail books. Do you remember that computer game from the 90's? The character/pioneers s were traveling the Oregon Trail and one thing after the other happened to them and you wondered how anyone ever made it.
Tomorrow our Mystery Book Club meets again in a park. We read The Girl From Widow Hills by Megan Miranda. I will let you know how we liked it.
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