William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

mystery

Trouble at Fatting House – My Review!!

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I’ve read a couple of Diana J. Febry’s books, including Trouble at Clencher’s Mill, the first of Kate and Simon’s adventures. I enjoyed it and added Trouble at Fatting House to my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

Fatting House Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

Simon and Kate land the perfect house-sitting job in a quirky, old farmhouse.
But, when the neighbours are murdered, they discover the house has a sinister past connected to an identical killing.
Following another attack, Simon disappears, and the police uncover disturbing secrets about his past.
Compelling evidence against Simon mounts, leaving Kate alone, unsure what to believe or who to trust. Is Simon the killer? Or a pawn in somebody else’s game?
As Kate closes in on the truth, she realises too late that the stakes are far higher than she ever imagined. 

What I liked:

As with the first book, I liked Simon’s and Kate’s characters. Add in the new information regarding Kate’s deceased husband, the intrigue of the murders of the neighbors, and Simon’s disappearance, and you have all the ingredients for an entertaining cozy mystery. How does it all play out? You’ll have to read Trouble at Fatting House to find out!

What I didn’t like:

The police actions were too stereotypical for my liking. Didn’t distract from the story much, but it was a small point. Other than that, no complaints from me.

Overall impression:

I liked Trouble at Fatting House! While cozy mysteries are not my favorite genre, a little diversion from time to time is refreshing and this book provided it! If you enjoy cozy mysteries, read this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Connect with Diana J. Febry:

Find Diana J. Febry on her Goodreads page or her Amazon Author page. Discover her many books (maybe buy a few) and consider leaving a review or a comment.

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Trouble at Clenchers Mill by Diana J. Febry – My Review!!

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I’ve read a couple of Diana J. Febry’s books and enjoyed them. I saw Trouble at Clenchers Mill and added it to the TBR list. Here are my thoughts.

Trouble at Clenchers Mill Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

Somebody wants Richard Fielding dead.
Richard was looking forward to making a fresh start with his new wife, Alicia when they moved into Clenchers Mill. Then the attacks started.
Detained in the hospital after an unusual accident, he dismisses the claim his new wife is trying to harm him. He’s convinced the property attacks are the childish pranks of locals annoyed by his plans for Clenchers Mill. As a successful property developer, he’s seen it all before. Mindful of Alicia’s reluctance to involve the police he instructs Kate and Simon to make discreet inquiries.
Kate and Simon are keen to find the culprit, but are inexperienced and blissfully unaware they are dealing with a determined killer toying with their prey before they strike. Their first case may prove to be their last.

What I liked:

As with Diana Febry’s other books I’ve read, Trouble at Clenchers Mill was a well-written mystery. In keeping with the cozy mystery genre, there isn’t any graphic violence, which is enjoyable for me. The author did an excellent job of spinning the tale and hinting at blossoming romance between Kate and Simon. The secrets uncovered and the peril the characters encountered added a lot to the novel. Very entertaining!

What I didn’t like:

My only complaint about Trouble at Clenchers Mill was the conflict between the pro-hunt and anti-hunt groups. It added a bit to the story, but if further developed could enhance the mystery.

Overall impression:

Trouble at Clenchers Mill was an entertaining read! Good characters, an intriguing mystery, and plenty of suspects made the book a fun read. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, read this one!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with Diana J. Febry:

Visit Diana Febry’s Goodreads page or her Amazon Author page to find out more about the author and her many books! While you’re there, consider leaving a review or a comment and maybe buy a book or three!

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The Case of the Tattooed Buttocks by Alan Hardy – My Review!!

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The Case of the Tattooed Buttocks – My review!!

The Case of the Tattooed Buttocks Cover

I’m not a big fan of cozy mysteries, although I do read them on occasion. Given that, I’m not sure how The Case of the Tattooed Buttocks (Inspector Cullot Mystery Series #1) got on my Amazon recommendations, but with a title like it has, I had to add it to my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

A DETECTIVE/MURDER MYSTERY LIKE NO OTHER…

Following the murder of a sexy, blonde bombshell (and, soon after, the bloody, gruesome, shocking murder of yet another sexy broad), ex-Inspector Cullot is called in to team up with his old side-kick, Detective Sergeant Watkins, to investigate the baffling crime. Together they set about solving the mysterious deaths at Bounderdales, the opulent mansion of the oil magnate, Henry Barble. A small group of the rich, decadent, sophisticated and ultra-sexy are staying at the mansion. What secrets are each of them harbouring? Who are the guilty parties? And what is the dark secret from his own past which causes Cullot’s frequent moments of dark despair? Why did he leave the Police Force? Did he jump, or was he pushed? Why does he now work in a department store, in Ladies Underwear?

The Plot Thickens:

The police constable first on the scene of the initial murder, PC Blunt, is ready to record every detail of the case, and assist his colleagues in their work. But what is his own past..? Is he as half-witted as he seems? What about gorgeous, sexy blonde bombshells, Stephanie and Gloria? And louche, limp-wristed Anthony Newhome? And Barble’s son, Oswald? Barble’s demure, bespectacled secretary, Abigail? And ex-movie star, Janice Butler? Are they all who they say they are, or are some of them involved in a deadly game of murder and revenge? How are these murders linked to the unsolved Night-Club Hostess Murders which took place two years earlier? And, most puzzling of all, what is the meaning of the tattoos on the gorgeous buttocks of the assembled ladies? Thrill to the suspense, the heart-ache, the twists and turns, the laugh-a-minute of this hilarious, baffling mystery. Get ready to follow the roller-coaster plot, with one surprise after surprise, and scintillating word-play and sparkling dialogue between the marvellous host of characters. Will you be able to work out who did it? A detective/murder mystery like no other…

What I liked:

The Case of the Tattooed Buttocks was an interesting read. Lots of quirky characters, plenty of humorous moments, and a murder made for a good story. In addition, the backstory of Inspector Cullot, his interest in ladies undergarments, his dark episodes, and fun plays on words, make for an entertaining novel.

What I didn’t like:

My biggest complaint is the book tried too hard to be funny. The constant correction of PC Blount by Watkins (and others), along with the too frequent mispronunciation of his name failed to move the story forward. Cullot’s mysterious musings got old quickly, too. Lastly, the meandering path to solve the mystery made it difficult to follow.

Overall impression:

I was optimistic about reading The Case of the Tattooed Buttocks. Sadly, the book disappointed me to a degree. The book had some neat elements that I enjoyed. Despite the good parts, I tired of the characters constantly correcting PC Blount and the mispronunciation of his name. In addition, the path to solving the mystery meandered a little aimlessly. Lastly, the excessive effort at humor detracted from the story. Perhaps the intent of the book was to poke fun at the cozy mystery genre. All told, if you enjoy racy cozy mysteries, read this one and decide for yourself!

My rating:

3.5 Stars (Rounded to 4 stars)

Connect with Alan Hardy:

Find The Case of the Tattooed Buttocks and other books by Alan Hardy at his Amazon Author Page and his Goodreads Author Page. Give them a visit! Because you’re already there, consider leaving a comment or a review, and maybe buy a book or two!

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I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Tumblr. Find me and let’s connect! Don’t miss a post. Subscribe to the blog! I look forward to meeting new friends.

e-Murderer (Jenna Scali Mystery, #1) by Joan C. Curtis – My Review!!

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e-Murderer (Jenna Scali Mystery, #1) – My Review!!

e-Murderer Cover

As a Georgia author, I like to read, review, and promote my fellow Georgia authors. I set a goal to read one of my colleagues’ books each month. I’m starting with e-Murderer (Jenna Scali Mystery, #1) by Joan C. Curtis!

Synopsis (from the author):

On this anything but typical Monday morning, Jenna Scali, who works part-time for a shrink, opens an email that depicts the brutal death of a young girl. On that same day the police uncover a dead coed two blocks from Jenna’s house. The e-murderer’s description creepily echoes the death described in the newspapers.

When Jenna receives other emails, she takes what she knows to the police and thus begins her journey in the path of the e-murderer. Her curious nature impels her from e-messages to dead coeds to a ring of prostitutes. With the help of her quirky friends, Jenna learns that she’s more than a conduit for the killer. She’s his target.

THE E-MURDERER is a race to find a psychotic killer before he kills again.

What I liked:

First, many of you know I’m a huge University of Georgia fan. e-Murderer is set in the beautiful home of the Dawgs, Athens, GA. That was a great start! Secondly, Joan C. Curtis spins a nice mystery full of twists and turns, a little romance, and enough memorable characters to keep my attention. Lastly, it kept me guessing until about three-quarters of the book before I finally figured it out. All those things add up to an entertaining read!

What I didn’t like:

A couple of the characters didn’t seem to have a reason to be in the story except as maybe a red herring. While I appreciate the attempt to keep me guessing, the eventual culprit made them seem unnecessary add-ons.

Overall impression:

e-Murderer (Jenna Scali Mystery, #1) entertained me! Although I’m not a mystery fan in general, this book had enough twists and turns, interesting characters, and a style that seemed almost a cozy mystery. All in all, an excellent read!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Have you read e-Murderer by Joan C. Curtis? If so, please consider leaving a review. Reviews are important to authors and lets them know what readers think about their work. And don’t limit yourself to one book. Joan C. Curtis has more and you can find them at her website or her Amazon Author page!

If you liked (or didn’t like) my review, leave me a comment and let me know. I appreciate the feedback. If you want to catch all my reviews, subscribe to the blog. in addition, I’m always open to connecting on the socials. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Tumblr, and Pinterest and say hello!

Take the Body and Run by Jada Ryker – My Review!!

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Take the Body and Run – My review!

Take the Body and Run Cover

Have you heard about the Kindle Scout Program? The program encourages authors to submit new books and have the books voted on by readers. Kindle Press publishes the book that garners the most votes. Jada Ryker, whom I have read before, submitted her book Take the Body and Run and won! Because of my previous experiences with her books, I had to read it!

Synopsis (from the author):

Macey’s first day in the college employee relations department ends with a knife at her throat.

Macey is certain things can’t get any worse. She’s wrong. An angry employee vows to put her on an online hit list. When he turns up dead, she’s a suspect–and on the hit list.

To keep her secrets and her life, Macey partners with two unexpected allies who cause her pulse to race with steamy attraction–and exasperating annoyance. Vince, a handsome, driven lawman, digs up more than just clues to the brutal murder. Brett, a fun-loving pathologist with a deadly sense of humor, drives everyone crazy with his fart machine-will travel. Macey’s supersized black cat Wikket, possessing courage, curiosity, and crankiness in equal portions, assists in his own grumpy, feline fashion, golden eyes open and claws extended.

What I liked:

As with the other Jada Ryker books I’ve read, connecting with the characters is easy. Macey, with her secret past, Brett, with his goofy personality, and Vince, as the no-nonsense lawman, all blend into the story nicely. Macey’s cat provides side entertainment, and Macey’s office staff is an excellent cast of characters. Because of Jada Ryker’s writing, the story itself moves along and, despite having a chick-lit feel, kept me turning the pages. The quirky villains also deserve a mention. Overall, Take the Body and Run is an excellent read!

What I didn’t like:

About my only criticism of the book is some of the minor characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. Despite how much I enjoyed the book, those characters could have added a lot to the story.

Overall impression:

Filled with fun characters, romance, and a good story, Take the Body and Run is a book to turn to when you need a fun and entertaining read!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with the author:

Have you read Take the Body and Run or any of Jada Ryker’s other books? If so, what did you think? And, did you consider leaving a review? If not, why not go back and leave one!

If you want to know more about Jada and her books, find her on her Amazon Author Page or her website. Stop in and say hi!

Connect with me:

Like my review? Leave a comment and let me know. I look forward to your thoughts. If you want to connect on the socials, find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. You can also email me at bill@williamlstuart.com. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to the blog!

Equi Knocks of Karma by Jada Ryker – My Review!!

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Equi Knocks of Karma – My Review!

Equi Knocks of Karma Cover

I read the first Carr-Maah Consulting Agency Mystery (Dog Days of Karma) and gave it 5 stars in my review. Now the second book of the series Equi Knocks of Karma makes its way to the top of my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

In the second standalone adventure in the Carr–Maah Consulting Agency Mystery series, Celeste Carr and Ericka Maah, business partners and friends, face a powerful and ruthless adversary.

Celeste and Ericka are shocked when Toni Rae Yelton, a self-centered party girl, storms the office and holds them hostage. Desperate, Toni Rae orders the mysterious Ericka to use her alleged supernatural powers to call off the police and the reporters, who are all convinced she’s the sinister force behind her little girl’s disappearance.

Adding to Celeste’s angst, Hobart has vanished. The mysterious man was forced off the streets some months ago. Ericka used a combination of her unusual talents and blackmail to coerce Hobart into working for her firm. He reluctantly agreed. More enthusiastically, at least until his disappearance, he was also Celeste’s boyfriend. Now, Celeste believes something terrible has happened to him.

Celeste is forced to not only investigate, but also navigate the landmines in her life. Celeste’s friend Ericka duels with her arch enemy and business rival, handsome and charismatic Christoph Metre. An odd little dog, curiously attuned to Celeste and using his teeth, claws, and smell for protection, attaches himself to her. When she’s in danger, a devilishly handsome stranger materializes to save her…and makes her less eager to find her missing boyfriend.

As the sinister cords of the mystery tighten around Celeste’s throat, she must find the person behind the mask in time to save not only herself, but others. With the fine Machiavellian hand leaving few clues but many deadly traps, Celeste will have to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

What I liked:

Jada Ryker’s quirky characters are back! Ericka Maah is as mysterious and enigmatic as ever. Celeste Carr still works on her anger issues – especially with Bennett. Hobart’s disappearance adds mystery, and Christophe Metre returns as Ericka’s nemesis and rival. Combine the things above with missing homeless people, a weird dog (who may or may not morph into a handsome stranger that protects Celeste), and the stage is set for an entertaining book!

What I didn’t like:

Without giving too much away, Toni Rae’s missing daughter wasn’t critical to the plot and seemed unnecessary. Besides that, no complaints.

Overall impression:

Equi Knocks of Karma is an entertaining read. Fast-paced, full of quirky interesting characters, the book had enough mystery and intrigue to keep me reading. I recommend Equi Knocks of Karma to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a touch of the supernatural!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with the author:

Have you read Equi Knocks of Karma? If you have, or if you have read any of Jada Ryker’s books, please consider leaving a review. Reviews help authors know what readers think of their books. I know Jada Ryker would appreciate it! Find out more about Jada and her books on her Amazon Author Page or on her website! And look for Jada’s Kindle Scout book Take the Body and Run!

Connect with me:

Like or dislike my review? Leave a comment and let me know. Want to connect on social media? Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Tumblr. Say hi! Lastly, you can email me at bill@williamlstuart.com. I enjoy reading the comments and making new connections!