Scarpetta

Kay Scarpetta #16: Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
Unabridged audio, 12 CDs, read by Kate Reading

I really like this series. I think they should be read in order because of the background information one would miss, but each are unique enough that they could be read singly. It has probably been a couple of years since I read a book in this series, but the books are memoriable and I have no trouble knowing who is who and how their lives intertwine. I actually did two in a row this time, reading The Book of the Dead (book #15) then going right into this one. I actually figured out who did it this time, but that did not take away from the enjoyment.

Open Season

Open Season by Linda Howard
Abridged audio - 4CDs

Rarely have I laughed so hard at a book that I almost have to pull over on the side of the road. Mousey little 34 year old librarian (of course, she would have to be a librarian :s), Daisy, decides to change her appearance and her life. While sitting in the parking lot of the local honky tonk, Daisy witnesses something she shouldn't see, but really doesn't realize what she saw and goes about life as usual. Meanwhile, people follow her around plotting her death and the local police chief has his hands full trying to keep her safe.

Along Came a Demon

Along Came a Demon by Linda Welch

I read this one on my Kindle and it was not very long, but was very enjoyable. The police department thinks Tiff is a regular psychic, but what she really can do is talk to the newly dead who have died violently and she can identify demons a mile away. Who does the department assign as her partner? A demon. A very handsome demon.

Lace Reader

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

I found this to be an unusual read. I liked it a lot and even though I had figured out parts of it before the ending, it was still a very good mystery. Towner's grandmother Eva predicts the future by reading lace. She lives in Salem and is friends with the local coven of witches. When Eva disappears, Towner returns to Salem to help look for her. Ghosts from the past rise up to haunt Towner and the remaining members of her family.

Cemetery Dance

Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Unabridged on 12 CDs

Preston & Child are my all time favorite writing duo. They never disappoint me. Rene Auberjonois is the reader and he is Pendergast. No one else could ever do that voice. In this latest episode several people are killed by what can only be described as a "zombie". All evidence points to a cultist group that live deep in the heart of NYC.

Dead & Gone

Southern Vampire #9: Dead & Gone by Charlaine Harris

This series just gets better and better. Now that the werepeople have seen the world is semi-safe for vampires, they decide it is time to make their presence know. There were several plots running in this book and sometimes I fogot about one while reading about another. Overall, I would give the book a must read for all Charlaine Harris fans.

Agatha Raisin & the Haunted House

Agatha Raisin & the Haunted House by MC Beaton
Unabridged on 4 cassettes

I laughed so much listening to this book. Middle-aged Agatha has a reputation for being a "Miss Marple". A designation she resists because Mrs Marple was old and Agatha is trying her best not to be. Madness and mayhem follow her as she attempts to flirt with her new next door neighbor while trying to solve the mystery of the haunted house.

Isabella Moon

Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict

Unabridged on 12CDs

The story was very strange. A little girl's ghost begins appearring to Mary Kate and then suddenly several townspeople begin dying or getting murdered. A very strange story, but a good listen. However, I had a problem with the readers voice. When she was talking in her regular voice she was fine, but when she started trying to do different voices, it was really, really bad. Even the supposedly educated towns people came off as sounding hick and foolish.

Halfway to the Grave

Night Huntress #1: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

I liked this one. Catherine Crawford (Cat) was bone to a human mother and vampire father. Raised by her mother to hate vampires because of her birth, Cat roams the bars and streets at night killing random vampires - until she met Bones. He taught her that just as there are good and bad people, there are good and bad vampires. Their working relationship soon turns to love, one she knows her mother would strongly disagree with.

At times in this book, I got irritated with silliness. Cat would do some completely stupid silly things, but for the most part, I enjoyed the story and will continue with the series.

One Hex of a Wedding

Chintz 'n China #5: One Hex of a Wedding by Yasmine Galenorn

As much as I have enjoyed this series, I'm glad this was the last. I'm ready to move on to new authors or new characters. This one was very similar to the dragon legend book in that there was a hexed item. It however, was not out to kill anyone, but just cause a lot of problems for Emerald. Also, an old non-flame of Murray's shows up with much more sinister plans in mind.

Harvest of Bones

Chintz n' China #4: A Harvest of Bones by Yasmine Galenorn

Ok, I messed up. I thought this was book #3 of the series and was about 100 pages into it before I discovered I was wrong. I thought a lot had happened between Legend of the Jade Dragon and this one, but the story still ran smoothly, so I thought that was just the way she wrote it. Just goes to show that you don't have to read all series in the correct order.

This has been my favorite in the series so far. A wonderful mix of ghosts, both human and cat, a lost love and a lost pet.

Ghost of a Chance

Chintz n' China #1: Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorn

Can't wait to read more of this series. It had just the right ingredients for the proper witches brew - a ghost, tarot cards, a seance, charms, china cups, tea, and murder. It had just enough of everything.

Snuffed Out

Candlemaking Mystery #2: Snuffed Out by Tim Myers

I really have enjoyed this series and look forward to reading more. I've also ordered some of Myers Lighthouse Inn mysteries and his Soapmaking mystery series. Just a nice little cozy mystery. A quick read that keeps its suspense all the way through.

Phantom of Manhatten

Phantom of Manhattan by Frederick Forsyth
Unabridged 4 Cassettes

I really liked this one. There was a different voice for each of the main characters and they each read different chapters. The weakest point was the voice of young Pierre. I thought it was a young girl talking until the priest he was speaking with started calling him "lad" or "my boy". They should have gotten a young boy to speak the part.

The story revolved around a young French man, disfigured and abused. Smuggled to the United States after an incident in France, he amassed a large fortune in New York City designing and building rides for Coney Island. His love of the opera and a Parisan aria led him to build the Manhatten Opera House.

Very good story. I wonder if it would have been as good a read as it was a listen.

At Wick's End

At Wick's End by Tim Myers

Cute little cozy mystery and a very fast read. Harrison Black inherits a candle shop from his great-aunt Belle. The police think Belle's death was an accident, Harrison believes it was murder. I used to make candles when I was in college. This books made me want to make them again :)

The Star

Tarot Card Mystery: The Star by David Skibbins

I don't know why I like this series so much. The writing is not that good and there is not a whole lot about tarot cards in them, but the story always seems to draw me in and keep me. In this latest offering by Skibbins, Warren's daughter shows up on his doorstep afraid she will be arrested for murdering her no good husband, then leaves her child with him to go into hiding. Never having been around too many babies Warren is at a total loose. The result is a blend of humor and drama that held my attention all the way through.

Culinary Series 12-14

Dark Tort #12, Double Shot #13, Sweet Revenge #14 by Diane Mott Davidson

While I am critical of paranormal series that go on forever with little plot change, I seem to like it in murder mysteries though I must admit Goldy should find another job. She seems to find more dead bodies than catering gigs. In installment number 12, Goldy is asked to provide snacks to a local law offices break room and finds the paralegal dead. In book 13, Goldy's ex-husband, The Jerk, is released early from prison for good behavior. Goldy finds him dead in his garage and becomes the prime suspect. In book 14, Goldy begins seeing someone everyone thinks is dead. Everyone but Goldy chalks it up to stress, but then people associated with this person start showing up dead. Goldy sets out to prove she is not going crazy and to find out to find the truth.

Velocity

Velocity by Dean Koontz
Unabridged Audio - 6 cassettes

Koontz writes the scariest stories sometimes. My favorites are the ones like this one, a perfectly plausable, it could really happen tale of murder and mystery.

Billy Wilds gets off work one night to find a note on his windshield. If he does nothing, a young school teacher will be murdered. If he goes to the police, an elderly lady that likes to do charity work for the church will be murdered. His choice, what should he choose, this is no joke.

Tarot Card Mystery #2 - High Priestess

Tarot Card Mystery #2: The High Priestess by David Skibbins

Tarot card reader Warren Ritter's past continues to haunt him in this second book of the series. An old girl friend shows up and suddenly Warren finds himself at the center of another police investigation. Fast moving, lots of action mixed with Skibbins view of life in the 70's, over all a good read and I look forward to "The Star", book 3.

Plum Lucky

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
Unabridged Audio - 3 CDs

This book was typical Evanovich and typical Stephanie Plum. In other words, it was just fun. In this one grandma has a run in with a leprechaun wantabe and a few days hitting the casinos. All the right ingredients for mayhem and disaster Stephanie Plum style.