Friday, August 25, 2017

Threads of Suspicion (Evie Blackwell Cold Case #2) by Dee Henderson






Threads of Suspicion (Evie Blackwell Cold Case #2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My Review:
 
The second book in the Evie Blackwell Cold Cases series by Dee Henderson, titled 'Threads of Suspicion', is a fantastic cold case mystery!

As mentioned in previous reviews, I usually don't jump into a series without reading the books in order, but as I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher (Baker Publishing Group) in exchange for an honest review, I didn't have much choice.
This book was one of three books that I recently took with me on my summer vacation. I'm very glad indeed to have taken this gem with me. In my opinion, the perfect companion on the beach and while reading in bed during the excruciatingly hot hours of the day.

As a former member of law enforcement and a prior investigator myself, it isn't all that often that I come across crime books with such wonderful procedural elements in them. The main character, Evie, is an extremely well thought out and complicated individual. In fact, all the characters in this book (including David) were well thought out and the author spent a good amount of time on extensive character development and on the chemistry between characters.

The plot development was also very extensive. However, the procedural elements and many theories in play might seem to slow the book down a bit for some readers. Personally I found the plot to move at just the write pace that a cold case mystery would require!

Even though this book works as a standalone, I couldn't help but feel that reading the first book, 'Traces of Guilt' would have given me more background and character info on our main character, Evie. Since finishing this book, I have added 'Traces of Guilt' to my reading list on Goodreads.

Lately, I have been very reserved in giving a book five stars, unless all the elements were spot on. With this book, it was a quick choice to rate it the full five stars. I believe the great suspense, the character development, the variety of suspects, theories and the extensive procedural elements of this book deserve the five star rating! I highly recommend this book to crime lovers and to folks who enjoy a good law enforcement/procedure book.

At this time, I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and to review this book. It made my vacation that much better!

Happy Reading!!!
 
 
 

Miraculous Mysteries by Martin Edwards (Various Authors)








Miraculous Mysteries
 
 
 
 
 
 
Miraculous Mysteries (A British Library Crime Classic) is a smorgasbord of locked room and impossible crime stories. Published by Poisoned Pen Press in association with the British Library and edited by Martin Edwards. Locked room crime stories have long been a favorite of not only British readers, but of mystery lovers around the world.
Martin Edwards did a great job selecting sixteen short impossible crime stories from some of history's best mystery writers. Each story has a biographical note and introductory text written by Mr. Edwards. It gives the reader a chance to know more about the author and the work in question.
After every story, I wanted to put the book down for a bit, but always found myself starting the next story in the book.
My three favorite stories in this book are: 'The Haunted Policeman' by Dorothy L. Sayers, 'The Lost Special' by Arthur Conan Doyle, and 'The Miracle of Moon Crescent' by G.K Chesterton.
This book is akin to a can of Pringles chips.. The old jingle of 'Once you pop, you just can't stop', rings very true for this book.
I particularly love the classic covers that the British Library uses for their crime classics. Certainly a treat for the eyes as well! I have since then, added Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries, also edited by Martin Edwards to my reading list. I look forward to reading this book from Poisoned Pen Press come Christmas time.
All in all, a very good locked room anthology containing sixteen stories of some of history's best and most influential writers.
I highly recommend this book for crime and mystery lovers!

Happy Reading!!!