[Review] Medium Dead--Paula Paul

Although this book is part of a series about a female doctor in the British countryside during the reign of Queen Victoria, I had no trouble jumping right in and following along. Alexandra Gladstone has inherited her small-town medical practice from her father and lives with her maid/nurse Nancy, and her loyal old dog Zack, who accompanies her on many of her housecalls. When a local woman who conducted seances is found dead in the cemetary, Alexandra and her love interest Sir Nicholas hunt for clues to the murder among the oddball residents of their community, including Sir Nicholas' own mother.

Although I figured out the identity of the killer fairly early on, there was enough suspense and weird stuff going on in the graveyard--not to mention suspicions surrounding Queen Victoria's not-so-secret presence in the town--to keep me happily reading to the end. Thanks to Random House Alibi and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

[Review] Things Half in Shadow by Alan Finn

I loved everything about this book from the post-Civil War America setting, to the characters, to the supernatural elements. Finn also includes some fun cameos by famous people of the day like PT Barnum and Matthew Brady. The chemistry between newspaperman Edward Clark and con artist Lucy Collins as they attempt to unmask the killer of a well-known Philadelphia medium adds warmth and humor that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages to see what sort of trouble they get themselves into next. 

Thanks to Simon & Schuster, Gallery, and NetGalley for providing me with another fabulous ARC. I look forward to more from Alan Finn in the future.

[Review] Suspicion--Alexandra Monir

[Originally published October 21, 2014 on Goodreads]


Monir starts off strong with a good story that pulled me in. I read it in two days, so that tells you something. Unfortunately, part two left me much less satisfied. 

At 197 pages, this book would have benefited from the author taking more time with the last half of the story and fleshing out many of the characters, including Imogen, who we first meet when she is 10 years old. I didn't connect with her as a child or an adult and found her overall to be a very flat character. The ending clearly leaves open room for a sequel though, and I would give it a chance since there were many good gothic parts of this novel that I enjoyed.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchanged for an honest review.

[Review] The Kingdom Lights--Steven VS

As an adult who likes YA, I give this book two thumbs up for world-building, good pacing and some cool steampunk elements. Fans of Harry Potter should really enjoy this. The concept of the floating cities is a nice twist and the story clearly left open potential for more adventures for Celes and friends.

[Review] Dreaming Spies--Laurie R. King

[Originally posted Nov. 3, 2014 on NetGalley and Goodreads]

For fans of Mary Russell and her husband Sherlock Holmes this 13th book in the series will not disappoint. The central story goes back in time a bit to the months prior to Russell and Holmes arriving in San Francisco, the setting of 2005's "Locked Rooms." During those months we learn that they were aboard a ship headed for Japan. Onboard they encounter the mysterious Haruki, a young woman who readily agrees to tutor them and their shipmates in the ways of Japanese culture and language. She tells them she is from a family of well-known acrobats, but there is clearly more to her story. Once in Japan, they learn her true motives, which involve the young Prince Hirohito, who has yet to become Emperor, and a book of poems given away by mistake that holds a secret that many will kill to protect. 

In "Dreaming Spies," King continues what she does best, adding layers to the unconventional relationship between Russell and her much older husband Holmes. We learn that Russell in fact has her own home in Oxford, where she goes apparently to study and spend time alone. These revelations are part of the 20-year process by which King has transformed the character of Mary Russell from an orphaned and spunky young girl to the independent and feminist mate of one of the greatest literary detectives of all time. 

As a long-time fan of the series I was thrilled to receive this ARC from Netgalley and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Review] As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust--Alan Bradley

[Originally posted November 2014 on NetGalley and Goodreads]

In this latest installment, our Flavia has been in her own words "flung without ceremony" from her ancestral home of Buckshaw to the ominous-sounding Ms. Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada. Fortunately a decapitated corpse falls out of the chimney in her room soon after arriving and Flavia wastes no time in throwing herself into the middle of this mystery. Since the school is her deceased mother Harriet's alma mater, she also has the chance to learn more about the mysterious organization known as the Nide and how Harriet's legacy continues to guide her. Although I thought I would miss the drafty halls of Buckshaw and the eccentric De Luce household, I was pleased with this new setting and new set of characters, including Mrs. Bannerman, the chemistry teacher who was acquitted of murdering her husband with a poisoned turkey. Bradley is allowing Flavia--who as difficult as it is to believe sometimes is still only 12 years old--to spread her wings in new and different ways and for those of us who love spending time with her, that is a good thing. Bravo Mr. Bradley!

[Review] The Witch of Painted Sorrows--M.J. Rose

I first discovered M.J. Rose through her wonderful Reincarnationist series. Her new novel is another great read combining elements of the supernatural with romance and obsession. Set in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, the story centers on Sandrine, who has fled an abusive husband in New York to be with her grandmother, an elegant courtesan who she hopes will help her start her life over. When Sandrine arrives in Paris, however, she finds her grandmother’s warm and magical Maison La Lune closed up for “repairs” and her grandmother strangely unwilling to discuss her true reasons for vacating the house. Curious, Sandrine shows up there unannounced and meets Julien, the handsome architect her grandmother has hired. Though she is still married and Julien is engaged, they begin a clandestine relationship that involves a shared passion for art. But as Sandrine spends more and more time in the vacant house with her lover, she encounters the spirit of her ancestor La Lune, a witch who was betrayed by the man she loved and now seeks to possess Sandrine in the same way she has possessed other women in her family over the years. 

Although I thought it started out a bit slow, once the story picked up I could not put it down. Another winner from M.J. Rose! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this ARC for review.