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Top 10 Tuesday — Atmospheric Reads, Halloween Edition

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.

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: Crystal Caudill, historical fiction, mystery fiction, romance fiction, suspense fiction

Categories Book Reviews

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: Christy Barritt, contemporary romance fiction, Debbie Viguie, Dee Henderson, dual timelines, Gabrielle Meyer, historical fiction, historical romance fiction, Irene Hannon, Mel Starr, mystery fiction, romantic suspense fiction, thriller

Comments 5 Comments
Categories Top 10 Tuesday

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: historical mystery fiction, mystery fiction, Pepper Basham

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Book Reviews

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.

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!

Tags: DiAnn Mills, mystery fiction, romantic suspense fiction

Comments 6 Comments
Categories What's New

Mini-Book Review — The Queens of Crime

21 Aug

My book club loves historical fiction featuring real life people. This month we selected The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict. It features 5 female authors from the Golden Age of Mystery. The novel is written from the first person present tense perspective of Dorothy Sayers. This made the novel feel very personal and the action scenes immediate and intense. The novel is basically a mystery that involved an actual cold case from the era. The 5 Queens set upon solving it to prove their place of importance among the male mystery writers of the time. However, the 5 get much more than they bargained for as they are pulled into the dangers of the case. They also discover a good bit about each other and themselves. It is good to note that while the characters and the cold case were real and many facts are inserted into the book, the book itself is a work of fiction. Their insertion into the police case and their solving of the crime are pure supposition. This does not take a way from enjoyment of the book, but it is good to remember if you are looking for a more biographical perspective.

While the reviews from my group were a bit mixed — no one disliked it, but it was not a favorite either — I would recommend it to those who enjoy the books of Sayers and Christie (and the others) and would like a look at the times in which they lived and wrote.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie—a thrilling story of the five greatest women writers of the Golden Age of Mystery and their bid to solve a real-life murder.

London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment.

May Daniels, a young English nurse on an excursion to France with her friend, seemed to vanish into thin air as they prepared to board a ferry home. Months later, her body is found in the nearby woods. The murder has all the hallmarks of a locked room mystery for which these authors are famous: how did her killer manage to sneak her body out of a crowded train station without anyone noticing? If, as the police believe, the cause of death is manual strangulation, why is there is an extraordinary amount of blood at the crime scene? What is the meaning of a heartbreaking secret letter seeming to implicate an unnamed paramour? Determined to solve the highly publicized murder, the Queens of Crime embark on their own investigation, discovering they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden.

Inspired by a true story in Sayers’ own life, New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict brings to life the lengths to which five talented women writers will go to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of letters as they unpuzzle a mystery torn from the pages of their own novels.

Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than ten years’ experience as a litigator at two of the country’s premier law firms, who found her calling unearthing the hidden historical stories of women. Her mission is to excavate from the past the most important, complex and fascinating women of history and bring them into the light of present-day where we can finally perceive the breadth of their contributions as well as the insights they bring to modern day issues.

Tags: classic mystery, historical fiction, Marie Benedict, mystery fiction

Categories Book Reviews

Top 10 Tuesday — Honorifics

15 Jul

Happy Tuesday! Today the bloggers of TTT are listing books with honorifics in the title. Basically titles in a book’s title. 😉 Honorifics include Mr., Mrs., Miss, Sir, Dr., etc., but can also include General, President, Your Highness, Your Honor, etc. Before searchingbooks for this post I had no idea what I would find. What I got was a great variety of genres! I hope you find one to love.

For more fun book lists, please check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Book Titles Featuring An Honorific

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller

The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray

Lord Edgeware Dies by Agatha Christie

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Grey

Prince Edward’s Warrant by Mel Starr

Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candice Sue Patterson

Tags: Agatha Christie, biography, Candice Sue Patterson, Carolyn Miller, Claudia Gray, historical fiction, historical romance fiction, Janet Skeslien Charles, Katherine Reay, Mel Starr, mystery fiction, Patti Callahan, romance fiction, Stephanie Dray

Comments 12 Comments
Categories Top 10 Tuesday