murder mystery

Review: For Better or Murder (The Holy Terrors #4) by Simon R. Green

~ megs14malloy

For Better or Murder (A Holy Terrors Mystery Book 4)For Better or Murder by Simon R. Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For Better or Murder is the 4th-book in the Holy Terror Mysteries series by veteran author, Simon R. Green. I would argue this is a straight-up Cozy Mystery series, though the assigned genres for the books in the series seem to disagree.

I read a lot of Cozies, and this is a Cozy, but with slight paranormal vibes. This one is my favorite one yet, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m more attached to these characters than ever, or if it’s because maybe the author is more comfortable writing this type of story at this point.

Either way, I found this one highly-enjoyable. It’s the most Scooby-Doo feeling one yet, which def added to my enjoyment. The setting, at a secluded Cornish hotel, set amongst the Moors, definitely added to that vibe.

Alastair and Diana are set to be married, and in order to escape the prying eyes of the paparazzi, who have been plaguing them since their status as the Holy Terrors became public interest, have booked the remote hotel in order to maintain some privacy on their wedding day.

Their guest list is also extremely small. Diana’s parents, of course, as well as her oldest friend, Eliza, have been invited for her side. Alastair has invited his college friend, Giles, as well as his mentor, Crispin, who will perform the ceremony.

Besides that, it’s just Edward and Alice, the proprietors of the hotel. The rest of the staff having been sent home in order to ensure privacy.

So, when one of the guests is found murdered on their very first night at the hotel, their suspect list is small. However, a local legend throws a kink in their investigation.

Could the Pale Rider, feared by locals, and seemingly even the hotel owners themselves, possibly be responsible for the mysterious death? They did hear unexplained hoof beats shortly before, didn’t they?

Well, it was certainly hard to tell over the pounding rain of the extreme storm rattling the hotel. At this point, we know Alastair and Diana won’t be able to rest until the truth is discovered. Let the amateur sleuthing begin!

I had a lot of fun with this one. From the start I was hooked into the setting. I thought Green set the stage beautifully. I could picture it all in my head, and it made me want to be there with this small group of wedding guests.

I also liked the inclusion of the local lore and felt like the way it was weaved into our mystery left a lot of room for doubt, as far as whether or not a human was responsible for the tragedies that take place. Additionally, just being with Alastair and Diana again, seeing how far their relationship has come, that was also really comforting.

I’ll be honest, my initial impression with this series wasn’t the best. I felt like I had been marketed a Horror novel, which it certainly is not, but now that I’ve settled into it being a Cozy Mystery, I’ve really enjoyed them all. I’m glad I continued on and gave it another chance.

I’m not sure what the future for this series holds, but if there are further installments, I’ll definitely be picking them up. The series as a whole keeps getting stronger, IMO, and I would love more.

Thank you to the publisher, Severn House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this series to Cozy Mystery Readers who enjoy a darker touch; something a bit more macabre. This series has turned into a lot of fun for me!

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Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

~ megs14malloy

The Escape GameThe Escape Game by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Escape Game is a fun and suspenseful YA-Murder Mystery centering around an Escape Room Game Show.

A concept, I say with confidence, was executed wonderfully.

Six months ago, the 4th-Season of The Escape Game ended tragically after one of the contestants, Alicia Angelos, was found murdered on set. Suspicions immediately fell on Alicia’s sister, Sierra, also a contestant, but without any proof, Sierra was never charged.

Now Sierra is back to play again in Season Five, but it’s not just a win Sierra’s looking for, she’s also looking for justice. Sierra’s new teammates include Adi, a celebrity’s son and cryptography expert; Carter, a math wiz and social media influencer; and Beck, an aspiring Game Master.

As the teammates begin to bond, they decide to help Sierra in her quest for answers. Soon enough they start uncovering clues to the true identity of Alicia’s killer.

As the games kick off, unsettling events seem to plague the team. Is it because of Sierra and her link to last season? Will they be able to put the puzzle together before one of them becomes the killer’s next victim?

The Escape Game was such a gripping and entertaining read. I ended up quite invested in it, even after a slightly rocky start. We meet the characters and get introduced to the game very quickly, and it took me a second to get my bearings with it all. Once I did though, I was hooked.

The Escape Room element was so well done. I loved how everything was described and how we got to follow along with our main characters as they worked through the various puzzles together.

The four MCs were extremely well-developed and likable. I loved watching them get to know one another and watching their various relationships blossom. They were each distinct and their personalities played well off of one another.

I’m honestly hoping this will get adapted. It would make a great Limited Series on Netflix, especially with all the intricacies of the various Escape Rooms. I would love to see them brought to screen. If it’s anything like what I was imagining in my head, it would be amazing!

Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, for providing me a copy to read and review. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this, and I’m so pleased with the experience I had with it.

I would love more books with these characters. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that happens, and if it does, I’ll be first in line for a copy!

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Review: The Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi

~ megs14malloy

The Noh Mask MurderThe Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The Noh Mask Murder is a classic Japanese Murder Mystery, originally published in 1950, that has recently been translated into English for the 1st-time. This seems to be a big trend in recent years and I’m loving it.

Akitmitsu Takagi is the pen name of Seiichi Takagi and this was his 2nd-novel. His 1st, The Tattoo Murder Case was published in 1948 and has also recently been translated to English. I’m looking forward to getting to that one as well.

This story is a solid Locked Room Murder Mystery, a la Agatha Christie. It’s told in a really fun way, where our narrator/protagonist, funnily enough, is named Akimitsu Takagi. He’s a mystery writer who is sent to investigate a mysterious intruder seen lurking in the Chizurui family mansion one night.

The narrative style felt very film noir to me; like the old detective stories, which obviously makes sense considering the time this was actually written. For me, what brought that vibe full-on was the narration of the audiobook. It’s perfect for this story. I felt like I was in an old detective film while reading it.

The set-up was really good as well, with Takagi arriving at the Chizurui family home and really immersing himself in their lives. We meet all the players, and as with any family, learn of the secrets and tensions running among them.

It’s a classic whodunit, with the Reader picking up the clues alongside Takagi. There’s detective work on page, with him logically trying to map out how the initial crime, the murder of the head of household in his locked study, could even have occurred. I really liked those bits.

It did take me a bit to get my bearings in this story though. Most likely due to my own cultural lens having difficulty deciphering between different character names initially.

This can sometimes happen in translated works, where either names, places or different cultural elements may not be 100% clear, or easily understandable, for someone outside the original culture, or language, so I’m not going to be too hard on myself for that.

I think the more I read of these stories, which I’m very excited to do, the more acclimated I will become to the pacing, names and rhythm of the stories overall.

I would absolutely recommend this one to Classic Mystery Readers, particularly if you enjoy Agatha Christie.

Although, I will throw a Caution Flag that this does spoil the whodunit of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, so if you haven’t read that yet and you’re planning to, you might want to read it prior to this one.

Thank you to the publisher, Pushkin Vertigo, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can’t wait to read more of these classic Japanese Mysteries!

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Review: Murder, She Wrote: The Body in the Trees by Terrie Farley Moran

~ megs14malloy

The Body in the TreesThe Body in the Trees by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

The Murder, She Wrote series holds a special place in my heart. I have read over 50-books in this series that I started when I was a kid. My Mom used to buy the mass market paperbacks upon release and I gobbled them up.

It’s been the longest committed relationship of my life.

The series, originally written by Donald Bain, began in 1989. 37-years later, we are getting the 62nd-installment of this long-running series, The Body in the Trees. Since Mr. Bain’s passing in 2017, the series has had a few different authors contributing to keep the series going.

I do feel like the series has struggled to maintain consistency since Bain’s passing, and some of the newer authors have seemed more natural to the series than others. Terrie Farley Moran, so far, has been my favorite.

Admittedly though, I struggled a bit with this one. It’s definitely not my favorite in the series. It did scratch an itch though, and I was happy to be back in Cabot Cove. I have lots of thoughts and opinions on the way this one came together, but I’m trying not to get salty.

With long series like this, you aren’t going to love every one and that’s absolutely fine.

This story centers around a group of young tourists who are visiting Cabot Cove. The young women end up staying at the Hill House Hotel, the best hotel in Cabot Cove, and a setting that will be familiar to veteran Readers of the series.

Jessica and her friends have a run in with these young ladies while they are dining at the Hill House restaurant one night. It was from this initial scene where the tourists are introduced, that I started to realize this one might not be for me. The way the young ladies were written, I just didn’t find it believable. Sweatshirts and sneakers at a nice restaurant?

Nevertheless, even though little bits and bobs got under my skin about it, the mystery did keep me invested and guessing. I predicted where it was heading, which is absolutely fine, but I ultimately didn’t enjoy who the baddie ended up being. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

I know this is nit-picky, especially for a Cozy Mystery series that is just supposed to be escapist and comforting. I just have read all of Terrie Farley Moran’s contributions to the series and was expecting to enjoy it a bit more.

Nevertheless, I love this series with my whole heart. As mentioned above, in long series like this, you are going to have some you prefer more than others. If I were ranking them all, this would fall in the lower end. For long-time Readers of the series, it’s still worth picking up, especially if you enjoy the mysteries set in Cabot Cove.

For new Readers of the series, I wouldn’t suggest starting with this one. I think you would be best served picking an earlier installment, though they can be read in any order.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I will never stop reading this series. As long as they’re being published, I’ll be reading them!

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Review: I Found a Body by Becky C. Brynolf

~ megs14malloy

I Found a BodyI Found a Body by Becky C. Brynolf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

I Found a Body is a Adult Mystery that I ended up really enjoying. I was hesitant going in because the overall rating is below a 3.5, which seems fairly low for a new Mystery. I actually put it off for a while because of that.

And I have to say it wasn’t at all what I expected, particularly based on the vibes this cover is giving off, but I did find it interesting. I think it could be a case of the cover selling Cozy or Humorous, and it’s not really that. It’s just a Mystery, and it actually tackles some fairly serious topics.

We have DS Mona Hendricks, who 9-years ago was called to the scene of murder after a body had been discovered by a popular influencer while she was live-streaming. The footage went viral and the case sort of blew up, with lasting repercussions both for Mona and the influencer, Kylie.

In spite of its high exposure, the case remains unsolved all these years later. Mona, who has officially reached rock bottom, alone and out of work, estranged from her daughter, is surprised when Kylie, now a TV personality, approaches her to reopen the case.

Though she can’t really do so in an official capacity, Mona agrees to help Kylie and the two set out to see if they can finally solve the case that haunts them both.

There’s some back and forth in time and amongst people involved; a lot of moving pieces. I found Mona to be a compelling main character. You don’t learn immediately what led to her life taking such a stark downward trajectory, and I did like learning about all of that.

I thought the mystery was fairly well-plotted. There were moments where I might have been mildly confused, or felt like maybe some things didn’t add up, but in the end, I feel like Brynolf pulled it off. I am glad I ignored the overall rating and still gave this one a shot.

Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books and Highbridge Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I would recommend this to Mystery fans, and particularly the audiobook format, which was well narrated.

I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

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Review: All My Bones (An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery #2) by P.J. Nelson

~ megs14malloy

All My Bones (An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery, #2)All My Bones by P.J. Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All My Bones is the 2nd-book in P.J. Nelson’s An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery series. I enjoyed the 1st-book, Booked For Murder, when I read it in December of 2024.

I adore Cozy Mysteries, and loving finding new series to follow along with as they’re released. In these books, the small town and bookshop vibes definitely deliver the type of cozy vibes I’m generally looking for.

In this series, we’re following Madeline Brimley, who has returned to her hometown of Enigma, Georgia, after the passing of her Aunt Rose, as she’s inherited Rose’s property, including the Old Juniper Bookshop.

An actress by trade, Madeline initially has mixed feelings about going back to the small town. Leaving the theater circuit in Atlanta behind is though, but she decides to give it a shot nevertheless.

We saw a lot of development of her character in that 1st-book, and that trend continues here. She’s now well-established back in Enigma, having made friends and other connections. She seems comfortable in her new life, and it makes me happy to see it.

The mystery in this installment centers around a body Madeline discovers while trying to plant azaleas in the garden in front of the shop. Her friend, Gloria, the local episcopal priest, is with her at the time of the morbid discovery, and soon becomes the prime suspect.

Madeline knows that Gloria wouldn’t hurt a fly, and certainly isn’t responsible for this body buried in the garden, but now she needs to prove it.

I’m so happy I continued on with this series. After the 1st-one, even though I enjoyed it a lot, I was on the fence as to whether I would pursue any follow-up books.

When I was offered access to this one a little early though, I found that I did really want to continue on. This was such a strong installment too. I really hope we get more Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery stories, because I’m having a lot of fun with this cast of characters.

Madeline has grown so much, and I love how grounded she feels now in her new life in Enigma. She’s making good friends, and I feel like she is a valued member of their community. The bookshop caters to the local college crowd, and I also enjoy those vibes.

I appreciated how quickly Nelson kicked off the mystery in this one. It all happens so quickly at the beginning, the discovery of the body, which allows plenty of time for the subsequent investigation.

It was fun going along with Madeline as she tried to work out the whodunit, in order to save Gloria from going down for the crime. I feel like her close relationship with Gloria definitely upped the stakes for her, and gave the plot an additional sense of urgency.

I would recommend this series to Cozy Mystery Readers, particularly if you enjoy ones centering around bookstores, or libraries. Additionally, I would recommend the audio format if you have access to it. The narration perfectly matches Madeline’s character and I love it!

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. If a 3rd-book releases, which I’m really hoping for, I’ll be the first in line to read it!

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Review: The Midnight Knock by John Fram

~ megs14malloy

The Midnight Knock: A NovelThe Midnight Knock: A Novel by John Fram
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

The Midnight Knock is a really difficult book to talk about without giving anything away. I’ve been sitting with my thoughts on this one for a month. I’ve been trying to figure out a fair way to explain why this didn’t work for me more than it ultimately did.

While reading, I was locked in the majority of the way through, finding it completely engrossing. There’s a dark mystery to all that’s happening, and I was so desperate to get to the bottom of it.

This story follows a group of strangers coming together and having to survive the night at a remote Texas motel. The majority of the characters are traveling in pairs and over the course of the story, we learn about them and what brought them to where they’re at.

There’s also a murder mystery component, where a guest at the hotel, Sarah Powers, is killed and now they all need to figure out the whodunit before it’s too late.

And by too late, I mean the owner’s of the hotel give the remaining guests an ultimatum. If they don’t figure out who did it by midnight, they’ll all die when the protective motel lights go out, because there’s something sinister lurking out in the West Texas dark.

The Midnight Knock channels some of the vibes of From Dusk Till Dawn and pairs them with The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. As mentioned above, it does have a super compelling build.

However, for me, the downfall was when the truth behind what was happening was revealed. The component at the heart of the matter lost all of it’s sinister nature for me. It just felt ridiculous, like, this is what we’ve been in fear of this whole time?

In the end, I was just disappointed by the whole conclusion. I hated the way the big bad was ultimately portrayed after that huge, intense, and slightly disturbing build.

The 3.5-stars definitely is here for the vibes, the characters and the mystery. It’s worth picking up because I feel like my issue with it is personal taste, and you could feel completely differently. John Fram is obviously a very talented writer and I have to give them props for taking risks and being creative.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. While this isn’t my favorite from this author, I am still glad I read it and can appreciate its merits.

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Review: Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington

~ megs14malloy

Girls Who Play DeadGirls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Girls Who Play Dead is the 3rd-full length novel from one of my new go-to authors, Joelle Wellington. Wellington’s debut, Their Vicious Games, which published in 2023, was one of my top reads of that year.

I absolutely loved it and have anxiously anticipated her next 2-books, and while this isn’t my favorite from her, I still really enjoyed it.

This story follows siblings, Mikky and Kyla, who live in the small town of Prophets Lake, Massachusetts. Kyla is a dancer, popular and connected at the hip to her BFF, Erin.

Mikky, on the other hand, felt suffocated by their hometown, and ended up leaving to go live with his estranged mother closer to the city of Boston.

When Kyla’s best friend Erin is murdered though, Mikky returns in a desperate effort to be their for his sister during what’s sure to be the most difficult time of her life.

After he arrives home though, Mikky is confused by the Kyla he encounters. She hardly resembles the sister he remembers. She’s hard-edged, angry and demanding, a mean girl at school, and seems barely affected by Erin’s death. It’s hard to get close to her, but Mikky won’t give up.

Everyone grieves differently it’s true, but Kyla seems to be into something. She’s keeping dangerous secrets, Mikky can tell. He decides if he’s going to help Kyla, he needs to figure out who killed Erin and why.

Teaming up with a cute boy at school, Nasim, Mikky begins digging into Kyla and Erin’s relationship and the secrets they held together.

I didn’t have any trouble getting into this story. Wellington has the ability to pull you completely in. I find her stories fluid, engaging and easy to completely immerse yourself in.

I thought the characters were great and I loved the exploration of the different relationship dynamics, especially Kyla and Mikky, but also even learning about Kyla and Erin’s relationship was interesting.

As the Reader, we never meet Erin while she’s alive, but through the other characters it does feel like you can get a real sense of who she was. As best friends go, Kyla and Erin were as close as you can get, and I couldn’t imagine everything Kyla was going through after losing her, which made her anger understandable.

I loved Mikky’s investigation. Amateur sleuthing is one of my favorite things in a novel like this, especially with teens, and I like how Wellington incorporated it here.

In addition to the mystery though, there are some well done IRL issues being explored as well. Kyla and Mikky’s Dad is struggling with some financial hardship, trying to keep their family-run funeral home open, and we also get to see the impact of grief on Erin’s loved ones.

Mikky and Nasim’s budding relationship was another one of my favorite aspects. I liked them working together and getting to know one another, even though I may have done without some of the 3rd-act drama between them at the end.

I also always appreciate how bold Wellington’s story concepts are. This one is no exception. It does involve beauty influencing, so if that is something that interests you, this is definitely worth picking up. In general though, this is a strong YA Thriller and I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of that genre.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m excited to see what Wellington comes up with next. Regardless of what it is, I’ll definitely be reading it!!

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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: This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen

~ megs14malloy

This Is Not a GameThis Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

This Is Not a Game features a classic Locked Room set-up and a Grandmother-Granddaughter amateur sleuthing duo that I found incredibly charming.

Mimi lives on idyllic Mackinac Island in Michigan. The island is a popular tourist destination in the summer months, with that population dropping off significantly in the off-season. Something I can relate to all to well living on a similar island myself.

Mimi’s granddaughter, Addie, is trying to get over the heartbreak of having her fiance ditch her, as well as cutting her out of a deal for the wildly successful video game, Murderscape, that they created together.

Though Addie and Mimi’s relationship has been strained, mainly due to Brian, the scum, the two women end up reconnecting and they decide to have Addie come to Mackinac for a needed visit.

The visit happens to coincide with a lavish charity auction/party that Mimi has been invited to, hosted by the narcissistic, local-socialite, Jane Ireland. Mimi’s invitation extends to Addie as well. It should be fun.

The theme of the party, because every great party needs a theme, is Jazz Era Murder Mystery. Soon enough though, this crowd-pleasing theme takes on a frightening new meaning when Jane’s dead body is discovered.

With a terrible storm approaching, the guests of the murder mystery party are now trapped. There’s no means to escape and no way for help to get to them. The guests are left to their own devices with a horrible mystery to solve.

When another body is found, Mimi and Addie realize they’re going to have to put their special skills to the test to suss out the killer before they get the chance to kill again.

This Is Not a Game was such a fun read for me. I loved having a Grandmother-Granddaughter duo sleuthing together, which was different to the norm and I appreciated that representation. The whole set-up, really, was my cup of tea.

It currently has a surprisingly low rating, and I’m puzzled by that. I’ll have to dig into some reviews to discover why, because I feel like the rating definitely sells this one short.

It is quite Murder Mystery trope-filled, but that’s sort of my love language in a Cozy. I liked that part of it. My life is stressful. I find tropes comforting, especially in this genre.

That’s probably an unpopular opinion, but it works for me, as did this book.

Thank you to the publisher, Dutton, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’d love to read more from this author in the future!

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