book series

Review: The Story That Wouldn’t Die (Jolene Garcia #2) by Christina Estes

~ megs14malloy

The Story That Wouldn't Die: A Mystery (Jolene Garcia Mysteries Book 2)The Story That Wouldn’t Die: A Mystery by Christina Estes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Story That Wouldn’t Die is the 2nd-book in the Jolene Garcia Mystery series. I actually didn’t realize this was the 2nd-book when I accepted it from the publisher, though that didn’t really affect my experience.

I think had I picked up the 1st-book though, I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up.

I’ll be frank, this Mystery wasn’t to my tastes. I thought I was picking up a Cozy, but it definitely wasn’t that. I’m not quite sure how to explain it, but it the entire thing felt so forced. There was nothing cozy about it, IMO, and it was hardly mysterious.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the opposite, hard-edged, or compelling, either. I actually didn’t care for the MC, so that certainly didn’t help matters. I’m glad I gave it a shot, but I will not be continuing with the series.

I generally like mysteries that involve journalists, but this didn’t end up scratching that itch. The writing felt more like the author had bullet pointed issues she wanted to include, got all those in and then tried to build a mystery around it.

It just didn’t work and it wasn’t an enjoyable experience. The audiobook narration by Devon Sorvari was solid though, and that definitely helped me to push through and complete it. Otherwise, I’m not sure I would have.

Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Even though this didn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

If the synopsis and mystery presented sounds interesting to you, go ahead and give it a go. You may end up loving it!

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Review: Blood Like Ours (The Blood Trilogy #2) by Stuart Neville

~ megs14malloy

Blood Like Ours (Blood Trilogy #2)Blood Like Ours by Stuart Neville
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Blood Like Ours is the 2nd-book in the Blood Trilogy by Stuart Neville. The 1st-book, Blood Like Mine, took me completely by surprise when I read it last year.

Initially, I thought that one was a standalone, so I was super excited when I discovered it was actually slated to be a trilogy. Since that time, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this installment and it didn’t disappoint.

These books are a stellar blend of Horror with Crime Fiction. It’s got such a tone to it. Dark, intense, and oh yeah, there’s a lot of blood involved.

Coffin Moon, which was a fairly-hyped Horror release this year, would be a fairly good comp in my opinion. So, if you enjoyed that one and are looking for more in a similar vein, you should check this series out.

Vein…did you see what I did there??

In this installment, we continue to follow Rebecca and her daughter, Monica, who she calls Moonflower. We also continue to follow FBI Agents, specifically, Special Agent Sarah McGrath, who’s very familiar with their case.

The cat-and-mouse dynamics from the 1st-book carry over here, but we also get a new perspective, an young Irish immigrant, who ends up with a shocking connection to Monica and Rebecca.

I love how this book continues to build out this world and cast of characters involved in this story. When it all started, it felt quite insular, with Rebecca and Monica feeling like islands unto themselves. As the story has progressed though, we discover just how many players are actually involved in this whole thing.

It’s intriguing as heck. The way Neville moves all these pieces around, it feels like you’re witnessing a first class chess match with a bunch of blood splatter.

This ending too, OMG!!!

There’s so much more to explore and I can’t wait to discover where the 3rd-book is going to lead us. One of my favorite aspects of this one was the new perspective, Emma, and all the insights she brought to the historical side of this story.

I don’t want to say too much, because the synopsis keeps it vague. I will say as a sequel, it’s completely successful at continuing the original story, whilst also bringing in a lot of new information and truly expanding the stakes, as well as the intrigue.

Thank you to the publisher, Recorded Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Book 3 cannot come fast enough. I can’t wait!!

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Review: The Devil in Oxford (Ruby Vaughn #3) by Jess Armstrong

~ megs14malloy

The Devil in Oxford (Ruby Vaughn, #3)The Devil in Oxford by Jess Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Devil in Oxford is the 3rd-release in Jess Armstrong’s Ruby Vaughn series. These adventurous Gothic Mysteries have truly captured my heart.

This installment finds Ruby accompanying her employer, Mr. Owen, to Oxford while he attends an annual meeting of the Antiquarian Society of which he is a part.

Ruby is looking at the time in Oxford to serve as a bit of a holiday for her. She’s brought her housemaid, her cat and she’s excited to spend time with her old friend, Leona, who works in Oxford. As you may know, however, trouble tends to find Ruby wherever she goes.

That trouble arrives on a night out at an exhibition of artifacts amassed by the disgraced scholar, Julius Harker. How could an event like that possibly bring on trouble, you may ask? A bunch of stuffy old scholars, you may say.

Well, when Harker’s dead body is discovered amongst the collection, his business partner is quickly arrested. Ruby gets drawn in, mainly by her friend, Leona, who is close with all parties involved. The last thing Ruby wants, really, is to get dragged into another dangerous investigation, yet, that’s exactly what happens.

As all of this is happening, Ruan Kivell, the Cornish Pellar, Ruby is battling feelings for, arrives in town as well, insisting upon seeing her. Well, that’s just fine. They work great together. He can only aide in Ruby’s investigation, she just wishes he’d stop reading her thoughts.

Thus, Ruby sets out to discover the truth about what happened to Julius Harker, because she’s definitely not buying the story they’re being sold.

I think it’s fair to say that I’m really invested in this series at this point. I love how each installment feels like a completely new adventure. One of my favorite aspects is discovering where Ruby is going in each new book.

I also just love Ruby as a protagonist. She has such an interesting backstory, which I still don’t feel we know the true depths of. She’s stubborn as a mule, but so quick and determined. She’s like that friend you just want to shake sometimes, but you know what, she gets stuff done.

I was so happy at the start of this, just to be returning to this world and cast of characters, and of course, I squealed when Ruan entered the chat.

I liked how tense this mystery got. There was like this dark, seedy underbelly of Oxford that Ruby and Ruan were having to dig into. It felt dangerous, and since we didn’t know a lot of these cast of side characters from the previous books, I had no idea who to trust.

I’m glad that Ruan did end up showing up in the story, not just for the romance vibes he always brings, but also for the safety and steadiness he provides Ruby. Their personalities compliment each other well, and they do work well together.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries, particularly if you enjoy those with occult elements and gothic atmosphere.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait for the next book. I’m really hoping we get to learn even more about Ruby’s past!

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Review: A Lost Claus (A Christmas Cozy Mystery #3) by Mona Marple

~ megs14malloy

A Lost Claus (A Christmas Cozy Mystery, #3)A Lost Claus by Mona Marple
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A Lost Claus is the 3rd-installment in Mona Marple’s A Christmas Cozy Mystery series. To this point, these stories have all been quick novellas, but I believe as the series progresses, the books get longer.

These stories are all set in a magical village and are sure to leave you in peak-Christmas mood. They’ve certainly lifted my spirits and gotten me there.

These stories follow Holly Wood ((yes, that is her real name)), who in the 1st-book is rescued from her car after a snow-related accident by a woman claiming to be Mrs. Claus. Holly is then brought to the Claus family home, in the town of Candy Cane Hollow, to recuperate.

Holly becomes enmeshed in village life, even helping to solve the homicide of their doctor’s receptionist. She also meets and becomes quite enamored with Mrs. Claus’s son, Nick, and he is with her as well.

In this story, Holly and Nick’s relationship has progressed significantly since that 1st-book. Christmas is approaching again and it’s time for the Claus annual ice fishing trip.

Holly is nervous about meeting Nick’s extended family for the first time, but for the most part, she needn’t have worried. However, no good family trip goes by without at least some drama, apparently even when you’re a Claus.

When one of the family members doesn’t return from their time on the ice, Holly finds herself enmeshed in another dangerous mystery. Will she be able to solve it in time to protect those she loves?

While I would say A Lost Claus is still a very cute story, I definitely wasn’t as invested in this particular mystery as I was with the previous 2-books.

I’m not sure why. They’ve all been short, but this one felt extremely surface level to me. Maybe it was because we were getting introduced to so many new characters, with Nick’s family, and I sort of missed the people I’ve come to know in Candy Cane Hollow.

Nevertheless, I’m certainly continuing on with the series. There’s just something so charming about the world that Marple has created here. It brings back a little of that Christmas magic from my youth.

Thank you to the publisher, Tantor Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m so glad that I’ve been introduced to this series, and this author!

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Review: Slay Bells Ring (A Christmas Cozy Mystery #2) by Mona Marple

~ megs14malloy

Slay Bells RingSlay Bells Ring by Mona Marple
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Slay Bells Ring is the 2nd-installment in Mona Marple’s Christmas Cozy Mystery series. I finished the 1st-book, Christmas Corpse, yesterday and thought it was so cute and fun, I couldn’t wait to start this next installment.

I ended up reading this entire thing today. They are novellas, so that wasn’t a difficult feat, but nevertheless, I did and now feel like I’m in peak Christmas mode.

This series centers around Holly Wood ((yes, that is her real name)), who in the 1st-book is rescued from her car after an accident by a woman claiming to be Mrs. Claus. Holly is then brought to the Claus family home in the magical town of Candy Cane Hollow to recuperate.

Holly becomes enmeshed in the village life, even helping to solve the homicide of their doctor’s receptionist. She also has become quite enamored with Mrs. Claus’s son, Nick, and he seems to be with her in turn.

This installment is a New Year’s Eve mystery, but the Christmas vibes are still heavy throughout. It is Candy Cane Hollow after all, where every day feels like Christmas.

The entire town, including Holly and Nick, attend the annual New Year’s Eve Ball, where all is going well, until a giant glitter ball comes crashing down, crushing an elf, Greasy, a local restaurant owner and chef, to death.

Though the local authorities believe it was an accident, Holly’s not convinced. She decides to lean into her new-found sleuthing skills and see if she can find the truth of what happened to Greasy.

Just like the 1st-book, this was such a pleasant read. It’s simple in its construction, and the perfect read for the holiday season when my brain feels pulled in a million different directions.

There’s something so warm and comforting about these little mysteries. Holly’s life outside of Candy Cane Hollow wasn’t going well. She had just got done at her job, and she had no close relationships. She felt very alone.

In Candy Cane Hollow, she’s found a place to belong, with residents being welcoming and inclusive. It has a found family element that’s so charming.

I also am enjoying the slow romance evolving between Holly and Nick. It’s very charming and I’m looking forward to watching that progress.

I do have the 3rd-book in the series on audio, they’re currently being released on audio and the narration from Charlie Albers definitely fits Holly’s personality. I would recommend the audio if you can get them, but I’m sure the physical copies are just as fun.

Thank you to the publisher, Tantor Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am having so much fun with this series. It’s exactly what I needed right now!

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Review: Bidding for Murder (Stamford Mysteries #3) by E.C. Bateman

~ megs14malloy

Bidding for Murder (The Stamford Mysteries 3)Bidding for Murder by E.C. Bateman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bidding for Murder is the 3rd-installment in E.C. Bateman’s Cozy Mystery series, The Stamford Mysteries.

If you’re unaware, this series follows Felicia Grant, a single-mom, who has returned to her home village of Stamford to help her Dad run their family-owned Auction House after her Dad’s health took a turn.

At this point, Felicia has been back in the village a while, and a lot has happened, including a few murders, which she’s become embroiled in solving.

Felicia’s ex, Dexter, the father to their son, Algernon, now 13-years old, has also returned to the village, so the family dynamics are chaotic and fun to follow. Add in her curmudgeon father, and you’re sure to be chuckling.

The mystery in this book kicks off when an old classmate of Felicia’s, Lucia, comes to town and asks Felicia to appraise some of her jewelry. The two meet up at the exclusive and mysterious Aquitaine Club, a private lodging and club in Stamford that regular residents really know nothing about.

Lucia, wife to a powerful politician, is staying there at the invitation of a friend, and Felicia is a bit overwhelmed and intrigued to even be invited in.

The meeting with Lucia is memorable indeed, and Felicia is drawn into the dramatic and secretive world of the Aquitaine. In fact, she’s invited back, along with her family, for their annual Halloween celebration the following day.

The evenings activities include a truly haunting Mummers performance, but everyone seems to be in good spirits. That is until the first body falls, followed quickly by another.

Before she knows it, Felicia is caught up in another investigation. Will she be able to weed out the killer lurking in the shadows before they successfully take another life?

There’s no doubt this is my favorite of the series thus far. A Murder Mystery set on Halloween night at a prestigious private club? Yes, please.

As a Spooky Season girlie through and through, I was loving the atmosphere Bateman was bringing to this story. It definitely had full-fledged Halloween vibes.

Additionally, I’m so attached to these characters now. As with many Cozy series, I feel like the further you go along, the more you feel like returning to the main characters is almost like going home. You get attached to their lives and whatever they have going on in it.

I found the mystery in this story so fun. I loved the locked room feel. Since it is set at the Aquitaine, and its being a private club, it is quite insular. The only people involved were those members staying there, as well as the employees, and Felicia and her family.

Over the course of the story, you learn a lot about the members and employees, and boy are they messy. There was so much going on amongst them, a lot of unlikable folks and certainly plenty of motives for any potential killers.

Pettifer and Jess are the police called to the scene, who we’ve come to know in previous books, and I loved having them back. I love how Pettifer and Felicia’s relationship has grown an developed across the books.

I really enjoyed trying to solve this one. There were so many clues, and I did have a lot of theories. It kept me hooked and therefore, up late into the night until I was able to finish. There’s no way I was sleeping on it.

I’m guessing from the final chapter and Epilogue that we’ll be getting another installment too, which I’m very happy about. I have no idea how long this series is slated to be, but I’m here for the long run.

I would definitely recommend this to Cozy Mystery fans, particularly if you enjoy charming village vibes and an amateur sleuth with a lot of pluck and a fun family dynamic.

Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me for a copy to read and review. I’m so excited for more Stamford Mysteries!

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Review: Murder on the Marlow Belle (The Marlow Murder Club #4) by Robert Thorogood

~ megs14malloy

Murder on the Marlow Belle (Marlow Murder Club, #4)Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murder on the Marlow Belle is the 4th-installment in the Marlow Murder Club series. I’ve had a lot of fun with the previous 3-books in this humorous Cozy Mystery series, so had been anxiously awaiting this latest.

This series follows Judith Potts, a widow in her 70s, and her two best friends, Suzie and Becks, as they tackle mysteries in their local Marlow community.

This mystery begins when Verity Beresford contacts Judith asking for help locating her missing husband, Oliver. Verity, like most residents of Marlow, is well aware of Judith’s superior sleuthing skills, and she believes Judith maybe able to help her find Oliver faster than anyone else.

Oliver’s only been missing overnight, but the circumstances are concerning. Oliver, the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for a party cruise for his committee members, but no one remembers seeing him disembark.

Of course anytime someone goes missing upon the water, there’s cause for concern. In this case, it’s more than warranted, when shortly thereafter Oliver’s body is discovered, having washed ashore with two bullet wounds.

As it turns out, Oliver was a complicated man, with no shortage of enemies. Nevertheless, Judith and her friends are confident they can weed out the killer.

Unfortunately, the task proves more difficult than they’d hoped when they discover what a twisted web the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society actually is.

Will the ladies be able to find Oliver’s murderer before they’ve flowed out of their grasp like the River Thames?

Overall, I thought this was a really fun installment to this Cozy series. I love books set at a theater, or involving a theater troupe, so this was perfect for me in that regard.

I’m fully attached to this charming cast of characters at this point, so find it hard to believe that I would dislike any of these books. Judith is plucky and resourceful.

I love that she’s found these two friends at this stage of her life, and though they’re all very different, they’re so supportive of one another. Squad goals!

I’m in for the long haul with this series. I have no clue how long it is slated to be, but I’ll be reading each and every one.

I would highly recommend this series to all Cozy Mystery fans, in particular if you enjoy friendship groups solving mysteries together, or elderly amateur sleuths. The small town vibes are on point as well.

Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m excited to solve more cases with Judith, Suzie and Becks.

The 5th-book in the series, The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts, is set to release on January 15, 2026. I’ll be marking my calendar, and so should you!

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Review: Let’s Split Up (Let’s Split Up #1) by Bill Wood

~ megs14malloy

Let's Split Up (Let's Split Up, #1)Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Let’s Split Up is an entertaining YA Horror novel that made me nostalgic for the scary stories of my youth. This is a multi-perspective story that follows a group of teens in the small town of Sanera, California.

Amber, Jonesy and Cam have been best friends for years, and when new girl, Buffy, arrives, led by Amber, they quickly envelop her into their crew.

Prior to meeting our group though, we get a Prologue, where two of their popular classmates, Brad and Shelley, exploring an abandoned estate, Carrington Manor, end up getting brutally murdered.

That’s how this book kicks off, and it definitely sets the stage for what’s to come. The deaths of the two students rocks their local high school, and our main cast is caught up in the consequences of all of that.

Rumors fly around the small town that the Carrington ghoul is responsible for Brad and Shelley’s deaths, but could that really be true? A paranormal entity is hard to fathom.

When they don’t trust the local authorities to figure out what happened to their classmates, Cam, Jonesy, Amber and Buffy decide to investigate themselves, heading to Carrington Manor to dig around.

When things take a turn, and they find themselves in danger, they decide to split up in hopes of getting answers faster, thus breaking a widely recognized rule in Horror.

From there it’s balls to wall craziness as these kids just try to survive their town day-to-day. No matter the danger, they’re determined to crack this case.

Let’s Split Up was a lot of fun. The author mentioned in his acknowledgements at the end that he had wanted to explore what it would be like if Scooby-Doo was scarier, and I think he definitely succeeded.

This gave me all the Scooby-Doo vibes, with a touch of Scream mixed in, making it a truly entertaining YA Horror story. I love that there’s already a 2nd-book set to release in the Spring. I’ll definitely be reading it.

This is super trope-filled though, I do want to caution you, in case you don’t enjoy books like that, but for me, I thought that aspect was so fun.

Personally, specifically in YA Horror, I love to see all the tropes. It makes it feel more nostalgic for me, bringing me back to the stories I enjoyed as a youngster, when I first fell in love with my most favorite genre.

It’s pure entertainment. The characters were fun and I enjoyed their relationships a lot. I think it will be fun to follow them again on different cases. They have so much room to grow, and I wanna be there for it.

Initially, I wasn’t crazy about getting three different perspectives — Jonesy, Amber and Cam — but I did come to really enjoy that aspect. I think as the story continued it started to make more sense for it to be told that way.

Overall, I think this was a really enjoyable read. It’s not perfect by any stretch, but I like how it didn’t take itself too seriously. It was revisiting some of the best tropes in Horror, and I adored the added Scooby-Doo vibes. As mentioned above, I’m looking forward to the 2nd-book.

Thank you so much to Scholastic for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m looking forward to reading more from Bill Wood!

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Review: Stone Certainty (The Holy Terrors Mysteries #2) by Simon R. Green

~ megs14malloy

Stone Certainty (The Holy Terrors Mysteries)Stone Certainty by Simon R. Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Stone Certainty is the 2nd-installment of the Holy Terror Mysteries series, but the 3rd-book that I’ve read from the series. It’s also my highest-rated thus far.

My reading order was the 1st-book, The Holy Terrors, followed by the 3rd-book, Which Witch?, both of which I received as ARCs, and then I was enjoying the series enough to come back and pick up this middle release.

Luckily, as with any Adult Mystery series, they can really be read in any order, with each one focusing on a completely distinct mystery. What remains the same is our two MCs: Alistair, a young bishop, and Diana, a vibrant actress.

I think the reason this is my highest rated thus far isn’t because the mystery of this is better than the others, I think it’s more to do with the fact that I have become quite attached to Alistair and Diana at this point.

I mentioned in my reviews for the previous books how I started this series expecting Horror, and it’s definitely not that. To me this is a Cozy Mystery series, pure and simple, that just so happens to explore mysteries that have a strong, is it paranormal, is it not paranormal element.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. I love Cozy Mysteries. They’re one of my most read genres, I just went in with completely different expectations and it did have an effect on my initial enjoyment level.

At this point though, I know exactly what I’m getting and am enjoying it. This one in particular, set in the village of Chipping Amesbury, was especially fun. The mystery involves a stone circle, think Stonehenge, and all the local lore and legends that come along with that.

I adored the setting, in particular, how shifty the locals were being in regards to the stone circle and outsiders being there poking around it.

At the end of the day, I’m really glad that I continued on with this series, even though initially it didn’t knock my socks off. I’m having a lot of fun with it now and hope that it continues on.

I would definitely be down for reading more mysteries with Alistair and Diana investigating together. Their chemistry is fabulous and I know there’s so much more in store for their future together!

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Review: Which Witch (Holy Terrors Mystery #3) by Simon R. Green

~ megs14malloy

Which Witch? (Holy Terrors Mystery, #3)Which Witch? by Simon R. Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

Which Witch is the 3rd-installment in Simon R. Green’s Holy Terrors Mystery series, which I would argue is a straight-up Cozy Mystery series, though the assigned genres on the book’s main page would disagree.

I read the 1st-book, The Holy Terrors, when it was released, mistakenly believing it to be a Religious Horror. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and the reality versus expectation divide did end up effecting my enjoyment.

Nevertheless, even though that wasn’t the best reading experience for me, as time passed I kept thinking about the main characters, and how if it had been pitched to me as a Cozy Mystery, I would have had so much more fun with it.

I ended up skipping the 2nd-book in the series, but then when I read the synopsis for this one, and discovered it revolved around a theater production of Macbeth, I knew I had to read it. Happily, it was a success.

I’m proper attached to the two MCs, Diana and Alistair, now. Their relationship is so sweet. I’m left wanting more.

If you’re unfamiliar with this series, Diana is an actress and Alistair is a young Bishop. The two were brought together during the 1st-book and really hit it off. They work well together when it comes to solving mysteries, and have a lot of chemistry to boot.

In this installment, Diana has been hired to play Lady Macbeth at a local theater. When things start going awry, and the whispers start that the production is cursed, Diana reaches out to her old pal, Alistair, inviting him to investigate the mysterious happenings.

Is the theater actually cursed, or is something more mundane at play?

Which Witch was a much better experience for me than that 1st-book, although TBF, I think that’s because I went into it with the right expectations. Don’t be fooled by the darker-themed cover, this reads like a Cozy Mystery.

I do really enjoy Diana and Alistair together. Their chemistry is undeniable. I also loved the theater setting with the active production, and all the actors and stage hands involved. It was quite a mixed group and I had a lot of fun trying to guess what was going on.

At times the dialogue does seem a little forced, but the mystery of this one was very engaging. It does have a nice is it paranormal, is it not paranormal feel that I tend to enjoy, so that was def another plus.

While I wouldn’t say this was the most memorable story, it was entertaining and I’m now excited to go back and read the 2nd-book in the series, Stone Certainty.

Thank you to the publisher, Severn House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m looking forward to more Diana and Alistair!

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