Hallmark Mysteries, PBS, Woman in the Window, and virtual More Than Malice Domestic

 I hope you caught the recent Hallmark Mysteries this month. There is one more on Sunday 5/23/21 and one in June coming up.

Morning Show Mysteries: Murder Ever After Sunday 5/23/21 7 p.m. central

TV host Billie Blessings finds bones in the basement of an old friend's house, unearthing a dark secret that threatens to unravel the lives of the most powerful people in her city. Starring Holly Robinson Peete, Colin Lawrence and Karen Robinson.

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Till Death Do Us Part 6/13/21 7 p.m. central

Just days before Aurora's wedding, a body is discovered, and she fears her father may be a suspect. She and Nick race to solve the cold case before they walk down the aisle. Starring Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter and Marilu Henner.

Good news from Masterpiece on PBS. Filming of the next seasons of Endeavor, Grantchester and Unforgotten are underway!

Last but not least, The Woman in the Window the movie is now  on Netflix. We read this book in out book club and I think most liked it.

Have you ever been to the Malice Domestic conference in the D.C. area? I have never been and probably wouldn't get a chance to go. But our Mystery Book Club leader has gone several times and keeps up with it. Well, they had to cancel last summer of course because of the pandemic and still could not plan it for this summer, so they are doing a virtual conference. That means more of us can attend virtually. While I am sure it would be more fun to attend in person, I am going to take advantage of this opportunity. Here's the info.

https://www.malicedomestic.org/

July 14-17, 2021

More Than Malice is a crime fiction festival designed to fill the void left when the 2021 live Malice Domestic had to be cancelled. More Than Malice is not intended to be a recreation of the standard Malice Domestic in virtual format; rather it is a new entity designed to bring together a unique collection of invited authors exploring every avenue on the crime fiction map.

We will be revealing more confirmed invited authors each week. We are so pleased to welcome (so far):"

I have read books by several of these authors and think it will be great. You can register at the link above. If it is like a genealogy conference I attended online, you can probably choose from a schedule, who you want to "see" and join at that time. 

(Disclaimer: sorry for the irregular fonts etc. Blogger "upgraded" at some point and has a mind of it's own sometimes.)

Zero Island, Malice in Miami, Blind Secrets, Angel Falls, A View Across the Rooftops...

 Gosh, I haven't posted in 15 days. Truthfully, I have been thinking of taking an extended break but will see if I can get back on track. Seems I have been so busy (work is so crazy, that they are actually going to hire another person, very unusual) and I have been so distracted for whatever reason. I have read some books and listened to some books other than what I have posted. Several were ARCs and others recommendations. So I will just list them here and maybe you read some of these authors too and will be interested in them. It is quite a variety of mysteries  and a non mystery thrown in.

First books I read. I received free copies for them.

Zero Island by Chris Bauer - suspense, reminded me of the recent Hawaii  Five-O t.v. show. Fast paced, quick to read because it is pretty exciting but some gruesome parts.

 About: 

"Take a Hawaiian vacation, they told Philo.
Relax. Maybe keep a runaway mob cleaner alive while you’re there, they said.
Try not to get killed while doing it, they said…

The Hawaiian mob isn’t dead; they moved to Philly. And now one of their own has fled.

Hawaiian mob fixer Kaipo Mawpaw is incognito somewhere in the South Pacific, and she wants to stay that way.

A mobster wants her back and is willing to buy a small Hawaiian island that isn’t for sale to make it happen: Miakamii, Kaipo’s birthplace, where seashell jewelry made by the island’s indigenous people are worth small fortunes, where there might be a cure for dementia, and where its inhabitants have been sheltered from outsiders since the 1860s.

But the island’s quiet native citizenry is now under siege as bodies of current and former inhabitants start piling up.

Philo Trout, retired Navy SEAL, current crime scene cleaning business owner, and reluctant tourist, is about to get the vacation of a lifetime."

Blind Secrets by Shawn McGuire - book 12 in the Whispering Pine series - good, a little darker than the other books in this series if you have read others

About: 

"It’s been almost a year since Sheriff Jayne O’Shea arrived in Whispering Pines. Deciding to stay was the best decision she ever made, but the closer the anniversary gets, the gloomier she feels..

It doesn’t help that she and Tripp have been arguing. Neither does the dense fog blanketing the village. Or the group of cranky wedding planners staying at the B&B. Trying to organize an outdoor event when the weather won’t cooperate is understandably stressful, but their constant bickering is pushing everyone to the edge.

It doesn’t help that she and Tripp have been arguing. Neither does the dense fog blanketing the village. Or the group of cranky wedding planners staying at the B&B. Trying to organize an outdoor event when the weather won’t cooperate is understandably stressful, but their constant bickering is pushing everyone to the edge."

Dead in the Water by Jeannette de Beauvior: A Provincetown Mystery. Very good, quick paced mystery with clever use of previous characters. I love the writing of the main character, Sydney - the way Sydney thinks and her dry humor/sarcastic wit. Her mother is a hoot and her dad could be anyone's dad. Great mystery with interesting historical information. 

About: 

"Sydney Riley's parents, ensconced at the Race Point Inn, expect her to play tour guide. Wealthy adventurer Guy Husband has reappeared, seeking help regaining the affections of her best friend, Mirela. And the body of a kidnapped businessman has washed up under MacMillan Wharf.

Sydney is literally at sea (not her favorite place), juggling friends and family to indulge her supersized curiosity. Is the murder the work of a regional gang led by the infamous "Codfather" or the result of a feud within an influential Provincetown family? What's Guy Husband's connection? And why does Sydney's boyfriend Ali suddenly insist on visiting—especially while her mother is in town?"

Here is what I listed to in audio books. 

Malice in Miami by Barbara Venkataraman - Jamie Quinn mystery 6: I like Jamie's character and all the antics that take place. I received a free audio code for this book.

About: 

"Reluctant family law attorney Jamie Quinn is loving life--and why wouldn't she? Her boyfriend Kip is back from Australia, her long-lost dad finally has his visa and she's about to start her dream job at an art foundation. But it all falls apart when Jamie is accused of stealing priceless art from a rare book collection. If she can't find out who framed her, she can kiss her dream job good-bye--and her law license too. Meanwhile, Kip has problems of his own. Now an environmental activist, he uncovers a deadly secret--one that just might get him killed. Jamie's in trouble, Kip's in danger, and Duke Broussard has gone AWOL. How could Jamie's favorite P.I. abandon her at a time like this?"

Angel Falls by Colleen Helme - Sand and Shadows #1.  This is a spin off from Colleen's Shelby Nichols series. Ella was introduced as a nurse in NY in the last Shelby book. She has a real gift to heal. I liked it once it got going.  A few of the characters from the Shelby books made an appearance too. I received a free audio code for this book.

About: 

"Sent away because she let someone die, her burgeoning powers leave her with more questions than answers. Now her only chance for redemption comes at a price... one she may not survive.

As a trauma nurse in a New York City hospital, Ella St. John had no idea that refusing to help a known killer would have such dire consequences. Being sent to the middle of nowhere is bad enough, but when she crosses paths with a handsome stranger, everything changes. She can't deny the attraction blossoming between them, but that is nothing compared to the trouble he brings to her door. Helping him could be the biggest mistake of her life... if she manages to live long enough to regret it.

From the author of the Shelby Nichols Adventures, comes a new series that will plunge a woman with growing powers into the dark world of mystery, murder, and death.

Perfect for fans of Shannon Mayer, Annette Marie, K.F. Breene, and Jennifer Estep."

A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman - historical novel. This is not a mystery. It was very good, mesmerizing. 

About: 

"1941, Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. An unforgettable story of love, hope and betrayal, and a testament to the courage of humanity in history’s darkest days.

As Nazis occupy his beloved city, Professor Josef Held feels helpless. So when he discovers his former pupil Michael Blum is trying to escape the Gestapo, he offers Michael a place to hide in his attic.

In the quiet gloom of the secret room, Michael talks of his beautiful, fearless girlfriend, Elke. Michael insists that not even the Nazis will come between them. But Elke is a non-Jewish Dutch girl, and their relationship is strictly forbidden.

Josef sees the passionate determination in his young friend’s eyes. Furious with the rules of the cruel German soldiers and remembering his own heartbreak, Josef feels desperate to give Michael and Elke’s love a chance. But then tragedy strikes, and Josef is faced with an impossible choice.

In the dark days of war, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted. If Michael is to survive and get back to the woman he loves, it will be down to Josef – to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep Michael alive.

Even if it means putting his own life in mortal danger.

A heartbreakingly beautiful story about courage against the odds, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, All The Light We Cannot See, and The Nightingale."

I currently am reading two books and listening to another while I work for part of the day. So I will talk about those soon...I hope.

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

 Like Agatha Christie, I guess I have been missing from here for a couple of weeks. Unlike her, I was just overwhelmed with work and trying to put away winter things, sort and get rid of things. Took a few days off from work to, as I said to someone, spring clean the house and my mind.

For our May Mystery Book Club, we read The Mystery of Mrs. Christie. You probably knew about her mysterious disappearance in 1926. There is still speculation about it and at least one movie made about it.

About: 

"In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Investigators find her empty car on the edge of a deep, gloomy pond, the only clues some tire tracks nearby and a fur coat left in the car—strange for a frigid night. Her husband and daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away.

The puzzle of those missing eleven days has persisted. With her trademark exploration into the shadows of history, acclaimed author Marie Benedict brings us into the world of Agatha Christie, imagining why such a brilliant woman would find herself at the center of such a murky story.

What is real, and what is mystery? What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators? 

A master storyteller whose clever mind may never be matched, Agatha Christie’s untold history offers perhaps her greatest mystery of all." 

I really liked this book. It really is hard to put down. The author, Marie Benedict, has taken facts about Ms. Christie and woven in a story about what maybe happened. The story does go back and forth in time periods, from when Agatha meets her future husband, Col. Christie, to the day she disappears and the investigation.

The book also deals with social mores of the time and the role of women. Families still tried to arrange "good" marriages for their children for what they thought would be appropriate for all. Women were expected to live for their husbands and not dabble in their own "work". 

All in all, it was a great story.

I am interested in reading other books by Marie Benedict. She has written other works of fiction based on famous people; The Other Einstein (Albert Einstein's wife)  Carnegie's Maid (maid for Andrew Carnegie), Lady Clementine (Winston Churchill's wife), and The Only Woman in the Room (Hedy Lamar. They all sound very intriguing.

Mysteries set in India!

 For our April Mystery Book club, we read mysteries set in India. We do this once a year with a different country each year. Kind of travelling by books. 

First I will tell you about the book I read then will give you the list of what the other members read.

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra (Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation #1) by Vaseem Khan

About: "On the day he retires, Inspector Ashwin Chopra inherits two unexpected mysteries. 

The first is the case of a drowned boy, whose suspicious death no one seems to want solved. And the second is a baby elephant. As his search for clues takes him across the teeming city of Mumbai, from its grand high rises to its sprawling slums and deep into its murky underworld, Chopra begins to suspect that there may be a great deal more to both his last case and his new ward than he thought. And he soon learns that when the going gets tough, a determined elephant may be exactly what an honest man needs."

I enjoyed this book. Inspector Chopra is forced into early retirement due to suffering a heart attack. On his last day, he hears about the case of a young man found dead, pronounced drowned, end of story. But Chopra finds the circumstances suspicious. He tries to make sure his replacement will investigate the case but when Chopra realizes he will not, he investigates on his own. 

When he returns home, he finds a baby elephant has been delivered to his apartment building. A letter was also received from his uncle telling Chopra he must take care of the elephant, that he is special. 

The story is about the investigation, Chopra trying to figure out what to do with an elephant in an urban area, Chopra's wife trying to get Chopra to sit and do nothing all day so he doesn't have another heart attack and his mother  in  law. Chopra and his mother in law do not get along. There is very funny banter between the two. The elephant ends up in the living room of the apartment during the monsoons, and Chopra's wife thinks he is having an affair because he is gone so much. 

I liked the descriptions of Mumbai, the people and information about India, as I know nothing about it. There are eight books in this series. I would read more books in the series. 

Here is the list of what other read.

Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the books they chose. They enjoyed reading about the different cities, culture and food! We even had some restaurant recommendations. 

The Namesake and The White Tiger have also been made into movies.

Enjoy!

Ronda George Thrillers by Janet Pywell

 I read a new series by Janet Pywell. She also writes the Mikky Dos Santos thrillers that I have mentioned.

Book One: The Concealers

Talented kickboxer and Masterchef turns detective. Betrayed, bankrupt and broken – Can Ronda get back in the game? 

After her ex-boyfriend’s stolen her savings and confidence, Ronda George is desperate to get back in the game. When she’s employed to cater for a private 50th birthday party at a Castle in Scotland, she also agrees to be the ‘eyes and ears’ for Inspector Joachin García Abascal from Europol. But the family have their secrets and are concealing truths involving an unsolved murder and a stolen rare blue diamond. What should be a simple catering job turns into a nightmare as enemies are bent on revenge. Ronda must use all the skills from her military career to stay alive. The Concealers is the first book in the Ronda George series of thrillers which can be read and enjoyed in any order, although it’s exciting to watch Ronda’s personal development with each book in the series and it’s preferable to read them in sequence. 

For fans of female sleuths and aficionados of Lucy Foley, Catherine Cooper, Allie Reynolds, Shari Lapena, Riley Sager and Lisa Jewell. This series will have you hooked. 

Book Two: The Influencers

Charismatic TV personality Daniel Clarkson employs Ronda George to cater at an exclusive function in his well-known Kent country pub. She’s shocked to find her ex, James Frampton, who stole her savings, is launching a new cryptocurrency. With the help of eight wealthy, social influencers it will take the Internet by storm. But Ronda discovers that the business deal is a scam. James and his business partners will stop at nothing to launch the venture - even if it means silencing her forever. Ronda’s intuition and instincts kick in and she calls on her army and martial arts skills in order to survive and get back what’s rightfully hers.

Book Three: The Manipulators

Ronda agrees to be the ‘eyes and ears’ for Inspector Joachin García Abascal from Europol, whilst catering for an international convention of ‘Religious, Spiritual Minds and Bodies’. At a remote monastery in Wales, the conference is thrown into disarray when tragedy strikes and a body is washed up on the beach. But Ronda believes this is all a cover-up for a more serious crime - a sophisticated wine fraud. As the truth is revealed Ronda must act quickly. She must use all her military training to succeed. But is she strong enough to stop an illegal and profitable crime when there’s so much to lose?

I enjoyed all three books. They are not terribly long and read quickly as there is lots of action. The story lines are different: stolen diamond, cryptocurrency, wine fraud. We see Ronda grow from being insecure after a really bad break up, to being physically and emotionally strong. There are recurring characters that are likeable - Inspector Joachin and Hugo, that becomes Ronda's partner. Tina is Ronda's best friend that looks after Molly, Ronda's loveable dog. 

You can purchase them separately or as a set on Amazon.

If you would like to read more about Janet and her books, here is her website.

http://janetpywell.com/

I received a ARCs and voluntarily provided reviews.

The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan

 I just finished listening to The Spies of Shilling Lane. A mystery book club member recommended it. 

About: "Mrs. Braithwaite, self-appointed queen of her English village, finds herself dethroned, despised, and dismissed following her husband’s selfish divorce petition. Never deterred, the threat of a family secret being revealed sets her hot-foot to London to find the only person she has left—her clever daughter Betty, who took work there at the first rumbles of war. But when she arrives, Betty’s landlord, the timid Mr. Norris, informs her that Betty hasn’t been home in days--with the chaos of the bombs, there’s no telling what might have befallen her. Aghast, Mrs. Braithwaite sets her bullish determination to the task of finding her only daughter. Storming into the London Blitz, Mrs. Braithwaite drags the reluctant Mr. Norris along as an unwitting sidekick as they piece together Betty’s unexpectedly chaotic life. As she is thrown into the midst of danger and death, Mrs. Braithwaite is forced to rethink her old-fashioned notions of status, class, and reputation, and to reconsider the question that’s been puzzling her since her world overturned: How do you measure the success of your life? Readers will be charmed by the unforgettable Mrs. Braithwaite and her plucky, ruthless optimism, and find in The Spies of Shilling Lane a novel with surprising twists and turns, quiet humor, and a poignant examination of mothers and daughters and the secrets we keep."

I enjoyed this book. It is a historical fiction/mystery. I do like historical fiction. As the description says, the story takes place during WWII. We get a peek into what life in England was like at that time; the food rationing, the blackouts, the bomb shelters, the Spam (which I love by the way) and not knowing if the person you had known your whole life could be trusted...

It is a good story about people trying to do their best to survive during these trying times while going through the other things that people routinely go through, as if that isn't enough. There is suspense but also humor. Mrs. Braithwaite reminded me of Hyacinth Bucket (or do you say bouquet) in the British series Keeping Up Appearances. Mrs. Braithwaite is bossy, head strong and self sufficient like Hyacinth but underneath is really very soft. She bosses Mr. Norris around as Hyacinth did her husband. That all is pretty funny. And of course she gets into several spots because of her CHARGE! attitude.

A very good ending makes for an enjoyable listen.

April Hallmark Mysteries and Joe Pickett

 Two new Hallmark mysteries coming up in April

Crossword Mysteries: Riddle Me Dead - First Clue premieres Sunday April 11th 

"Tess (a crossword puzzle editor) gets invited to be a part of a popular game show, but when the host is unexpectedly murdered, she and Detective Logan O'Connor seek to uncover who was behind it all. Starring Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott and Barbara Niven.

Matchmaker Mysteries: The Art of the Kill premieres Sunday April 18th

"Angie Dove gets Det. Carter's attention by stumbling on a murder at an art museum. Angie's father Nick is on his own case, trying to solve a series of petty thefts at the museum. Starring Danica McKellar, Victor Webster and Bruce Boxleitner."

I always enjoy the mystery movies on Hallmark.

April Fool! Oh I think that is me. I incorrectly mentioned here and to one of my friends that Netflix was working on a series based on C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series. It is Spectrum Originals that is doing that. 

March 21, 2021 "EXCLUSIVE: Spectrum Originals has given a 10-episode order to Joe Pickett, an hourlong drama series based on C.J. Box’s bestselling novels. Michael Dorman (Patriot, For All Mankind) has been tapped for the title role in the project from Waco creators John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, Paramount Television Studios and Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher’s Red Wagon Entertainment.

Joe Pickett follows a game warden (Dorman) and his family as they navigate the changing political and socio-economic climate in a small rural town in Wyoming. Surrounded by rich history and vast wildlife, the township hides decades of schemes and secrets that are yet to be uncovered. The series will air for a nine-month exclusive run on Spectrum."

Disclaimer: in searching for a potential date for this series, I found another article that says C.J. Box pulled the series, but there is no date on the article, although it looks like it is 2021. So I guess we will just wait and see. I know several C.J. Box fans and we weren't happy with Big Sky. I was looking forward to seeing a Joe Pickett series though.