Pallas Poppies

I want to read and love a drag queen cozy but no luck yet.

Reads like an early draft, lots of repetitions and some pointless parts. Feels about as exciting as the carousel for kids… I want a roller coaster.

Still love the idea…

I don’t know how I ended up reading book seven instead of the first one but when I realized it was too late.

I felt a bit detached from the characters but if they have already been introduced in other books maybe that’s not that strange?

The love interest took me a moment to realize he was the love interest and he felt to thin and absent from the story. All in all it felt a bit thin.

Better than some of the more recent books but was it good? I did know who the killer was very early one because of X, if you read a few cozies how could you miss it? But there was a certain charm and I like the narrator so I might give the second a try, might get better.

I thought it would be more about humor in ancient Rome but it went a lot deeper than that. I don’t know much about the time or era and I’m sure it’s more interesting if you are more familiar with the times and people mentioned.

It’s also not written in a funny and entertaining way like some none fiction but is of the dryer variety.

I did like it because it made me think of why we laugh and how humor in many ways is thought, cultural and very individual. But I’m sure the subject could be interesting and funny at the same time, not really happening here.

No… I disliked the best friend, she was just lying and stupid, why were they friend? Well both characters were pretty terrible so maybe not that strange.

I still don’t full understand the opening thing, if you read it you know. I read it like three times and I don’t understand what the plan was.

I thought the first one was kind of fun, this one was less fun. I wanted an adventure and this wasn’t that. We are also introduced to Ellies brother and her friend from the first book and they are given POVs and some kind of love story. Apparently this is common in romance stories but the romance isn’t that good and I struggled to tell Constance and Ellie apart, very similar characters. I wasn’t that investing in Neil and Constance and their story was taking over from Ellie and especially Adam, they were basically side characters in this one.

Every woman is some kind of badass rebel and it’s a little much, the theme could be handled a bit better as here I felt hit over the head with it.

Also, what was with the über hot bedouin? It was mentioned every time and it felt a bit awkward.

They are off to India next and not sure I will join them on that “adventure”.

PS. Drink every time the word "foggiest" shows up

Another meh book for me, didn’t really do much for me. Doesn’t entertain, doesn’t get deep enough into life in New Orleans at the time, doesn’t give me a proper psychological profile of the possible killer. Feels a little thin.

Easy going and short chapters, a quick read without anything extra.

There was mention of two users on a message board having a conversation… not sure I would add that to a book, feels so random and not something to use to "prove a point" in a non fiction... but maybe that's just me.

Interesting distraction and I want to explore more about folklore in general.

I read another book by the author, “Murder on Lake Garda” that I thought was kind of fun but this was not fun. Apparently this is his debut, maybe he tried to do to much too soon? The historical murder mystery on a boat is a classic and maybe he needed more practice and experience before doing it?

Despite the body showing up before the first chapter even starts it’s slow and dull. Characters are also boring and I struggled to get through this.

I read another book by the author, “Murder on Lake Garda” that I thought was kind of fun but this was not fun. Apparently this is his debut, maybe he tried to do to much too soon? The historical murder mystery on a boat is a classic and maybe he needed more practice and experience before doing it?

Despite the body showing up before the first chapter even starts it’s slow and dull. Characters are also boring and I struggled to get through this.

Plenty of coffee for coffee lovers, even if the MC is a bit snobby about it. She and I wouldn’t get along simply because I don’t like coffee and that’s probably enough for her to dislike me.

Also maybe it’s just me forgetting how young you are at 30 but the MC feels pretty juvenile. And the love interest is hot… what are his other qualities? The love part was dull and I rolled my eyes plenty of times. Could have used the MCs father as an obstacles as he smokes marijuana, make some kind of issue of them to overcome? Too smooth sailing for me. (A little icky as the MC was written so juvenile and the love interest is at least 10 years older. Is he into that?)

Didn’t hate it but just another meh read for me, won’t continue the series.

SPOILER: I don’t know why the police was so adamant that it was suicide, sure there was mention that it could be an accident but why so focused on suicide? Back it up with something. Can’t go around saying that someone killed themselves, so rude to the family.

Plenty of coffee for coffee lovers, even if the MC is a bit snobby about it. She and I wouldn’t get along simply because I don’t like coffee and that’s probably enough for her to dislike me.

Also maybe it’s just me forgetting how young you are at 30 but the MC feels pretty juvenile. And the love interest is hot… what are his other qualities? The love part was dull and I rolled my eyes plenty of times. Could have used the MCs father as an obstacles as he smokes marijuana, make some kind of issue of them to overcome? Too smooth sailing for me. (A little icky as the MC was written so juvenile and the love interest is at least 10 years older. Is he into that?)

Didn’t hate it but just another meh read for me, won’t continue the series.

SPOILER: I don’t know why the police was so adamant that it was suicide, sure there was mention that it could be an accident but why so focused on suicide? Back it up with something. Can’t go around saying that someone killed themselves, so rude to the family.

It’s not marketed as a gay story but the MC’s are a gay couple, I kind of like that. It’s just a story where they happen to be gay.

Jack and Filip get drunk one evening as Jack is having a slight crisis. During the drunken evening they decide to bid on a cheap castle that’s for sale and their bid is accepted. To move away and open a B&B is just want they need and off they go to Småland… the castle has a lot of history and the locals are a little standoffish towards the strangers. One day they a dead body in the drawing room, and who the dead man is is just the start of the mystery.

Some editing issues, the mystery takes some time to get started but I did think it was rather charming and I will read the next book in the series.

It’s not marketed as a gay story but the MC’s are a gay couple, I kind of like that. It’s just a story where they happen to be gay.

Jack and Filip get drunk one evening as Jack is having a slight crisis. During the drunken evening they decide to bid on a cheap castle that’s for sale and their bid is accepted. To move away and open a B&B is just want they need and off they go to Småland… the castle has a lot of history and the locals are a little standoffish towards the strangers. One day they a dead body in the drawing room, and who the dead man is is just the start of the mystery.

Some editing issues, the mystery takes some time to get started but I did think it was rather charming and I will read the next book in the series.