Tag Archives: mystery fiction

Top 10 Tuesday — Thanksgiving Freebie

25 Nov

Happy Tuesday! This week TTT bloggers are posting about Thanksgiving and thankfulness. I have done a lot of these posts through the year and just couldn’t seem to come up with anything fresh. So . . . I am spelling out THANKGIVING with titles from books I am thankful for. The authors created books that made me smile, laugh out loud, and cry. They made me think and examine and ponder. They entertained and educated. So a big thanks to all on my list!

Top Book Titles That Spell Thanksgiving

T — Truth Be Told by Patricia Raybon

H — The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

A — The All American by Susie Finkbeiner

N — The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

K — The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

S — The Stories We Carry by Robin Pearson

G — Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow

I — The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

V — The Vanished by Cara Putman

I — Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe

N — Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

G — Gardins of Edin by Rosey Lee

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

First Line Friday — The Vanished

14 Nov

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring The Vanished by Cara Putman, a mystery/suspense involving stolen art with roots in the past. If you liked Monuments Men or Woman in Gold, then check this one out.

Here’s the first line:

What have I done?

Janae Simmons left the small town of Kedgewick, Virginia, ten years ago to pursue her legal career and never looked back–until a professional mistake leads her to her grandmother’s historic carriage house and to the town where her past threatens to find her. The quiet streets echo with her grandfather’s sterling reputation, one that conflicts with fresh questions that claw at Janae, launching her on a reluctant journey to unearth his secrets. When her new job at a local law firm doesn’t live up to expectations, she wonders if coming home was the right decision.

Carter Montgomery starts his art preservation career with the only job he can get–director at the Elliott Museum of Art. At least Kedgewick is a nice enough town to provide him and his nephew with a safe place to grieve the loss of Carter’s sister. But Carter’s calm days disappear when an elderly woman claims two paintings in the museum’s collection were stolen from her family during World War II.

Carter enlists Janae’s help to unravel the legal labyrinth of art ownership, and the peaceful facade of Kedgewick morphs into a hot bed of secrets. When an attorney turns up dead and Janae uncovers another painting, what began as a simple legal issue spirals into a race against time. As the web of intrigue tightens, the duo must confront a looming question: What dark truths lie beneath the surface, waiting to be exposed?

The award-winning, best-selling author of more than 35 books, Cara Putman graduated college at 20 and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a full-time Clinical Associate Professor on business and ethics to undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and was a second-generation homeschooling mom for twelve years. Putman obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Krannert and her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at: caraputman.com.

Tags: ,

Mini-Book Review — Queen of Hearts

6 Nov

Heather Day Gilbert has long been one of my favorite mystery writers. Queen of Hearts is a mystery too, but not the cozy type that fans of Gilbert may be used to. This one introduces the reader to a psychological mystery/thriller that will have them checking the locks and leaving the lights on. 😉 I loved the mountainous West Virginia setting that added the right amount of spookiness to the novel. The first person POV is done really well. Alexandra Dubois is autistic and I found her a very intriguing character. And maybe a little unreliable in her narrative. You will just have to decide for yourself. This book has lots of BIG plot twists, so hold on for a fun reading ride. I flew through this book and am pretty sure I need to re-read it. It is that good!

Recommended.

Audience: adults

( I borrowed the ebook from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Her readers love her … but one has gotten a little too attached.

Alexandra Dubois, a NYT bestselling author, has made a name for herself by crafting twisted serial killers in her romantic suspense series. When threatening notes from an “invested reader” escalate into violence, Alex has to admit she’s not safe in her own home. Although her autism makes any changes to her routine difficult, she reluctantly accepts her editor’s advice to fly to his sprawling vacation home in West Virginia so she can focus on her looming deadline.

Fighting paranoia that the stalker has discovered her mountain hideaway, Alex still forces herself to write several chapters in her novel. But when a thunderstorm leaves her stranded and she hears a knock at her door, she’s about to discover that life truly is stranger than fiction.

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Higgins Clark, and Misery are sure to be hooked by this clean, fast-paced domestic thriller by RWA Daphne Award-winning author Heather Day Gilbert.

Tags: , ,

Top 10 Tuesday — Random Books from The Shelves

4 Nov

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are posting random books from our shelves — either physical or digital. Sharing from either is really going to expose my lack of timely reading. 😉 My Kindle, physical shelves, and NetGalley shelf are filled with hopes and dreams — hope that I will finally choose a book and dreams of having all the time in the world to read! Sad for so many reasons. But I will play along anyway. I chose to go the physical book route — have you read any on my list? Tell me which should head to the top of the TBR pile.

For more random book goodness, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

10 Random Books from My Book Shelves

The Cairo Brief by Fiona Veitch Smith

Code of Valor by Lynette Eason

Version 1.0.0

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer

A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee

The Secret Book of Flora Lee by Patty Callahan Henry

Outbreak by Davis Bunn

The Queen by Stephen James

Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green

Under The Tulip Tree by Michele Shocklee

Visible Threat by Janice Cantore

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

First Line Friday — Queen of Hearts

31 Oct

Looking for a spooky-ish mystery/thriller that will keep you reading past your bedtime? Then check out Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert. The remote West Virginia vacation cabin setting will have you checking your own locks. LOL! Gilbert’s mysteries are favorites of mine, and this book did not disappoint.

Here’s the first line:

Natasha shifted uncomfortably on the rock floor of the icy cave, shoving her gloved hands under her armpits to keep warm.

Her readers love her … but one has gotten a little too attached.

Alexandra Dubois, a NYT bestselling author, has made a name for herself by crafting twisted serial killers in her romantic suspense series. When threatening notes from an “invested reader” escalate into violence, Alex has to admit she’s not safe in her own home. Although her autism makes any changes to her routine difficult, she reluctantly accepts her editor’s advice to fly to his sprawling vacation home in West Virginia so she can focus on her looming deadline.

Fighting paranoia that the stalker has discovered her mountain hideaway, Alex still forces herself to write several chapters in her novel. But when a thunderstorm leaves her stranded and she hears a knock at her door, she’s about to discover that life truly is stranger than fiction.

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Higgins Clark, and Misery are sure to be hooked by this clean, fast-paced domestic thriller by RWA Daphne Award-winning author Heather Day Gilbert.

Heather Day Gilbert, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries/psychological thrillers and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters—no matter what century—feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.

Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.

Tags: , ,

Top 10 Tuesday — Atmospheric Reads, Halloween Edition

28 Oct

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is a Halloween Freebie. Last week bloggers posted about cozy/atmospheric novels. I chose cozy with a follow-up of atmospheric books today. To fit with the Halloween theme I am defining atmospheric as a book setting that conjures up a feeling of mystery and intrigue, with a little bit (or a lot) of spooky thrown in. It’s always good to have at least one spooky read during October. 😉 I hope you find one that intrigues you.

For more Halloween-ish posts, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Atmospheric Reads

The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey

Man of Shadow And Mist by Michelle Griep

Of Gold And Shadows by Michelle Griep

On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert

Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard

Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mini-Book Review — Written in Secret

8 Oct

Written in Secret, a historical mystery/suspense/ romance novel by Crystal Caudill, is fun and thought-provoking. I loved the late 1800s setting — there’s some great detail about Chicago of the era and interesting info about book publishing of the time. It was just so much fun for this book nerd! The novel follows romance and mystery writer Lydia Pelton who is devoted to her craft and to justice as she sees it. Unfortunately a killer takes her books a little too seriously. She meets her match in police detective Abraham Hall who views her novels as inappropriate and dangerous. The two clash as the killer gets closer to Lydia. I found the views of both MCs to be insightful. There is a great deal of power in one’s words. Caudill does a great job of balancing the tension of the narrative with humor. I loved this book!

If you like historical mystery/suspense, then put Written in Secret on your TBR list. I look forward to more books in the series.

Highly recommended.

Great for book clubs.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.

With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall’s only lead is Lydia’s fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the “Killer Queen of Romance.” Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.

As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati’s citizens, but for their own hearts too.

Crystal Caudill is a tea-drinking, book-hoarding, history nerd. Her award-winning stories are ripe with history, danger, love, and hope. When not writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her husband and boys, caregiving for loved ones, hiding in a book, drinking copious amounts of hot tea, or connecting with readers. You can connect with her at http://www.crystalcaudill.com or by joining her newsletter crew at bitly.com/CaudillNews.

Tags: , , , ,

Top 10 Tuesday — Long Book Series

7 Oct

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT is all about favorite book series, and I am specifically focusing on series that are longer than the standard 3 books. Some have concluded, which gives you a great reason to binge read, and others are still on going, so you better catch up! All are great in my opinion. I have included a variety of genres so that you can find the perfect book for you.

For more fabulous book series, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Book Series with Lots of Books!

Daughters of The Mayflower series by various authors (12 books)

Hope Harbor series by Irene Hannon (12 and counting!)

Hugh De Singleton’s Chronicles by Mel Starr (17 and counting!)

The O’Malley series by Dee Henderson (6 books)

Psalm 23 Mysteries series by Debbie Viguie (21 books)

Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer (6 and counting)

True Colors series by various authors (11 books)

True Crime Junkies series by Christy Barritt (10 books)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Book Review: The Highland Heist

18 Sep

Pepper Basham does it again in her latest Freddie and Grace Mystery, The Highland Heist. The two daring newlyweds are embroiled in mayhem and intrigue as only they can be. History and mystery combine in a very fun read.

Grace Storms a Scottish Castle to Save her Sister
 
Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace’s sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sister’s they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother’s inheritance.
 
The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias disappears, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland, sure the answers will be found in a long-forgotten castle.
 
With a ghost from Frederick’s past leaving threatening clues along the way, the mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself, and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must capture the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.

Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at http://www.pepperdbasham.com.

My Impressions:

I fell in love with Frederick and Grace in their first historical mystery, The Mistletoe Countess. The two have managed to fall into mysteries 4 times now, and their latest investigation is another fast-paced, fun romp from Virginia to the highlands of Scotland. For those who haven’t read the historical mysteries by Pepper Basham, Frederick and Grace are a newlywed couple whose marriage of convenience has turned into a very satisfying love match. Their first days of marriage through their extensive honeymoon have been filled with a growing love and a fearful amount of mayhem! In The Highland Heist, Grace and her sister have inherited a castle in Scotland. But nothing is easy where Grace and Freddie are involved. Stabbings, bangs on the head, hidden treasures, and sneaky villains keep the two on their toes. I really like this series, and The Highland Heist is a great addition. I recommend reading the books in order to experience all the fun!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: , ,

Spotlight on Romantic Suspense/Mystery — Canyon of Deceit

10 Sep

Canyon of Deceit JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Canyon of Deceit

Title: Canyon of Deceit
Author: DiAnn Mills
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Genre: Romantic Mystery & Suspense

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

Excerpt

Alina suffering under the control of the monster who might have killed her mother caused me to forget all manner of good sense. How had the kidnappers navigated her to Dog Canyon? How had they raised and lowered her over steep inclines and slippery shale rock? With ropes? Carried her?

 If I accepted the job, I needed a member of law enforcement whom I trusted . . . Someone wilderness-worthy with negotiation skills and able to expertly use a firearm without hesitation.

 A man’s name held my attention. Seven months ago in Houston, I’d trained Texas Rangers on wilderness-survival skills through a four-day-long series of hands-on classes. One of the Rangers worked in the Crisis Negotiation Unit—CNT. A man I respected. He had a master’s degree in psychology and a reputation as a risk-taker. I needed a trained professional who put others first . . . providing he let me lead and give the orders.

 Captain Blane Gardner.

 I hesitated to call him. We’d gone out three times, and I enjoyed his company and commitment to the Texas Rangers. Then I invited him to church. He claimed he and God weren’t on speaking terms, so I ended the relationship. Although I’d made the right decision, several sleepless nights passed before I could push his pecan-colored eyes, thick red hair, and fit physique out of my heart. My pulse sped at the idea of spending hours alone with him in the wilderness, and the thought of putting myself through the emotional roller coaster again sent my pulse racing, but saving a child’s life took priority.

 With thirty minutes before I had to leave to meet Professor Ivanov, I pulled up Blane’s contact info on my phone. Any other time, I’d have been considerate of the early hour, but not this morning. I pressed in the numbers, and a groggy man answered.



PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Tyndale Fiction | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

About The Author

DiAnn Mills

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels with threads of romance. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Selah Award, and the Golden Scroll; and been finalists for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award and the Carol Award.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on social media or her website, diannmills.com

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Canyon of Deceit and $25 gift card to winner’s choice bookstore!

Canyon of Deceit JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 16, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →