The Bootlegger's Goddaughter (Gina Gallo #5) by Melodie Campbell

published by Raven Books

For sheer wackiness, character portrayals and laughter galore, you can't go wrong with Melodie Campbell's Gina Gallo mysteries! Rapid Reads give you a complete story in a novella, the perfect combo for Gina Gallo's exploits trying to escape her family "business" whatever it may be. No matter how hard she tries, she is always drawn in. But what do crows have to do with anything? Well, obviously everything, because as so-called harbingers of bad luck they are outdoing themselves in this latest book. Not to mention everything is screwing up her upcoming wedding. From being robbed to her wedding venue blowing up, and being shot at, she is not having a good day. Such is the life of a Sicilian goddaughter who is a don't-wannabe. Her continued efforts to stay out of the family businesses are hilarious and makes for a great series in a quick but full-fledged read. I love Gina Gallo's exploits.

Uneasy Spirits: A Victorian San Francisco Mystery Book 2 by M. Louisa Locke

reviewed from ebook

This is the first book by this author I have read, and I am sure to read more! I enjoy the history of Spiritualism in a time when palmists, palm readers, tarot, mediums and seances were extremely popular. One thing I found interesting in the book was the beginning of each chapter featuring a news headline, which I firmly believe is an actual headline from the 1870s. That said, this is a particularly well-written story with great character portrayals. The book is suspenseful, intriguing, and strangely captivating in its portrayal. The characters are consistent, except possibly in the case of Evie May. Evie May is totally unique and fascinating. Who is Evie Mae really? Annie Fuller, hearing some possibly unscrupulous practices about a mesmerist and a medium who hold seances, decides to investigate, hoping to to help save her clients and other people from being duped. Aside from the investigation, the book is really in the category of a "mystic" but deadly mystery, and I for one am glad to see it is a series. I can hardly wait to both catch up by reading Book 1, then following the further adventures of Annie. M. Louisa Locke is the perfect author for this series. I loved it!

Murder at the Fourth: a Jenny Pickett Mystery Book 1

author: Duncan Whitehead

review from e-book

Imagine the difference in lifestyle for a detective from Miami when she retires to the very small town of Forest Pines, Montana. A peaceful, friendly and quaint town with no terrible crimes to attend. Or it was, until a body is found on the local golf course among the trees by the fourth hole. In a town this size you might expect to find Barney Fife! Fortunately, the Chief, though young and certainly inexperienced when it comes to murder (and also has a thing for Jenny), gladly accepts the help and advice of the retired Jenny Pickett. Without her assistance he might have seemed inept, which we learn is not necessarily the case.

I found the first part of this book as more of a cozy mystery that got more and more confusing as to who is with who, obviously a marriage license doesn't make it any less confusing once the town gossip begins. Too many alliances, too few truths. On the other hand, it does give some fun to life in a small town. The book continues in this vein, until Jenny relives some old memories, the main reason why she retired from Miami police and moved to the small quiet town. In the latter part of the book, while still working on the Forest Pines case, Jenny, who has become deputized by Sheriff Steve Calder, discovers that the assailant in Miami she most fears from the past is pursuing her. The book is an odd mixture of fun and flirtation, horror and terror, with several twists, several candidates for the murder on the golf course, and a cold case that just heated up. This is the first book I have read by the author; I am sure I'll be reading more, I enjoyed it.