Elle Hartford
I had my suspicions all along, but as usual, the conclusion included some twists I didn't foresee! The final piece of evidence was pretty specific, but it was interesting to see how it played out. Overall the story was satisfying! And I really enjoyed following some of the side characters in the story.
I was looking forward to this one, and I wasn't disappointed by the Loch Ness/Nessie aspect! Anf of course, as usual, the characters really come together to solve the case. You could jump in here, I think, but because of the secondary plot (wedding planning) it may be more comfortable to read the other books first. I must admit, I was a little sad that we get thrown into Delaney's wedding plans without getting to see the relationship develop more . . .
Just a note on something I've been thinking as I read this series: a lot of the personal action in this series seems to happen off-screen between the books or even between scenes. On one hand I totally get that–it is a mystery series, after all–but on the other, I do feel like Delaney ends up telling me (the reader) more about her life than she shows me. It's kind of a bummer because her life is pretty cool!
I didn't read the previous books in the series–I picked this one up in a thrift store on a whim, as usual. ;) That said, I had no trouble following along, though there is a fairly wide network of characters involved. The banter and relationships are lots of fun, and there definitely was a thrilling conclusion!
It's been a while since I read book one, so I went back and gave it a skim–and I'm glad I did. Delaney (the main character) does recap her situation for the reader, but new characters are coming in all the time!
I loved the additional setting of the castle and the reenacting angle here (as a history need, I am biased). The mystery itself was full of drama. Most of all, I love how willing Delaney's friends are to lend a helping hand!
I'm currently on vacation and reading my way through the series. ;)
That said, I think this is my favorite of the novels so far. The incorporation of Edinburgh history really deepens the story, in my opinion, and while it does get slightly morbid at times, there are some lovely moments of trust and communication, too. It's great to see how the characters have developed!
I'll agree with previous reviewers right out of the gate: this book reads like it's set decades earlier than the actual publishing date of 1977(ish? working from memory here, haha). I didn't mind the description; and while it's true that the characters all will philosophize at the drop of a hat, I took that sort of as commentary (whether intentional or not) on the academic community at the time.
I didn't mind the philosophizing and I was intrigued by Cordelia, but there wasn't much warmth in the story–perhaps it's not expected in this kind of book. The mystery itself was familiar: I was able to see several of the twists coming. That may be because, again, this mystery has been around a while and the tropes are more common now!
Overall, I found it an interesting story but it may be more suited for folks who like mid-20th century somewhat-procedural mysteries.
A satisfying end to the series!
The mystery itself is intriguing, but it's the characters and their relationships that really make this story. Plus, there's some great banter! And I love how animals and books played a part in the plot. ;) Overall, this installment ties together arcs and family from the previous books in a way that is very rewarding to see. It was great to see Alara's power and confidence develop from beginning to end!
This series as a whole is a great one for anyone into psychic or paranormal cozies, with fun and quirky characters on every page!
This one has some really glowing professional reviews, especially for its narrator, but honestly it was more of a 3.5 for me. Or perhaps less, I'm afraid. But that's largely due to personal baggage. My issue was twofold: 1) romantic triangle hijinks that made me cringe, and 2) I think everyone loves the narrator partly because her family members are kind of awful, so she's great by comparison. I don't mean to say she isn't a neat character, but I really had a hard time with some of her family members and how she relates to them; maybe it hit too close to home.
Technically, though, I think this is a great example of telling a story with a limited point of view, so I didn't want to let my angst drag down the overall review too much. ;)
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery–in fact, I've already looked up the rest of the books, in order to continue reading. ;) The setting and atmosphere drew me in, and I love the dynamic between the two main characters. Plus, of course, the cat. :D
As for the mystery itself, I had a few guesses–one of which came out correct–and overall it was, absolutely, a worthy Christie homage! The motive was fascinating, in its own way, and very intricate.
I love books that can make me feel welcome in another world, and this one absolutely fit the bill!
A very academic, very thorough look at magic in ancient Greece and Rome–as promised! The author spends a lot of time defining (or at least discussing) the parameters of “magic” before spending a chapter each on topics like curses, alchemy, divination, and astrology. I found the historical context fascinating, and I'm sure I'll return to this book as a reference in the future.
I picked up this book out of curiosity, not having read the others in the series but familiar with Mercedes Lackey's fantasy. I found it a little hard, as an incoming reader, to suss out exactly how the magic works; but the characters were all distinct and easy enough to follow.
In the end I had the same problem that I had with Lackey's fantasy, which is that she gets too graphic/dark for me. That's a personal preference, though. Aside from that any fans of Sherlock and magic might find this series an interesting one!
A comprehensive look at Cleopatra in history and myth. It could get a little dense, but I really admire the variety of sources that the author used! I also appreciated how the book was organized: after an introduction recapping some of the basic facts and stories, chapters focused on different aspects of Cleopatra's persona through the ages.
This book is absolutely dripping with Seattle atmosphere, which as a Washingtonian “ex-pat” I absolutely appreciated. Kincaid is a definite and capable narrator, and the lore of this zombified-world is built up to include ghosts, ghouls, poltergeists, and more. It was interesting, for sure, but it did end on a bit of a cliffhanger!
This book dives deep into the backstories of Belle's family and other side characters, following not only Belle and the Beast but other characters in previous times by turn. It builds a world with struggles that were definitely believable, and I loved seeing more consideration of the servants in the castle and Belle's interactions with the Beast.
That said–the narrative takes a dark turn, particularly in the last section of the book (warnings for torture, twisted asylums, abuse). It was too dark for me and not totally necessary, I think, though it did fit in with the overall plot.
Aside from that, I did really like how the story concluded, and the characters felt recognizable and solid. I think perhaps this series is not shy of going dark (I remember having this issue with one other in the series so far too) but it is an interesting take!