The Echanted Garden Cafe

THE ENCHANTED

GARDEN CAFÉ

Abigail Drake

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

At first, I thought ENCHANTED was a normal mystery. However, this story is a mishmash of comedy, drama, and romance.

The characters ranged from Fiona, a conservative and skeptic, to her mother and friends, who are free spirits: palm and card readers, a Trans clothing store owner, and other interesting people. An elderly saxophone player is attacked, leading to a whirlwind of events.

A land grab is at the center of the South Side's Enchanted Garden predicament and whether it will survive as the community's linchpin. The developer's instigators are closer than one would think, right up to the end.

Fast-paced read with a couple of unnecessary descriptive sex scenes that don't serve the plot. The characters are lovable enough to be used in the second book in the series.

Good Read. https://amzn.to/3TcJK3i

 

BEHAVE, The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst

BEHAVE

THE BIOLOGY OF HUMANS

AT OUR BEST AND WORST

 

ROBERT M. SAPOLSKY

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Mr. Sapolsky's evaluation of how humans behave because of their physical wiring, beginning with the brain. As the parts of the brain develop, the propensity towards good or evil evolves.

His thesis is extensive; it requires patience to read and an inquisitive mind. Have a dictionary available unless you have a medical vocabulary.

Otherwise, his stories move along interestingly and will keep the reader engaged. It is detailed and, at times, boring.

However, reading this book, you will learn many things about yourself, as I did. Take your time reading this exceptionally well-written book on physiology, philosophy, and the psychology of how humans developed.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/45ZM9Bh

Murder at an English Pub

MURDER AT AN

ENGLISH PUB

Sarah Vane Mysteries Book 1

ALICE CASTLE

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Sarah, a retired doctor, moves to a small seaside town, where her friend Daphne lives. They find a dead body in Daphne's beach hut that she just purchased.

The investigation is not à la Miss Maple, far from it. Sarah and Daphne mull through a question-and-answer feast of people who are acquaintances of the murdered - all but one.

Unlike other English mysteries I have read, this one does not have a heroine who solves the crime. The murderer does.

Easy to read, but not a good lead-in to a cozy mystery series. However, Ms. Castle's English prose is flavorful to read.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/45CLp4W

Bed, Breakfast & Bones

BED, BREAKFAST, & BONES

Carolyn L. Dean

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

When Amanda Graham inherits an old bed and breakfast from her unlikable uncle, who recently passed away, she claims it, and a dead body is found in the garden. Being new to Ravenwood Cove, she sets out to learn about her relative and why he is the prime suspect.

Amanda has conflicts with the "Powers to Be" over opening the B&B while searching for the murderer. She becomes friendly with the Cove's citizens, who become allies. The information she gathers leads to a few twists and turns.

Gutsy Amanda remodels the building little by little, investigates, and learns to love the Cove and the people. Not knowing if she will be able to open the B & B, she unravels the mystery to an unusual ending.

Ms. Dean's characters are a good base for a cozy mystery series, and the prose flows well for the reader to follow with ease. If you like cozy mysteries, pick up this series.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4hATU7U

 

NOT YOU, IT'S ME

NOT YOU, IT'S ME

A Boston Love Story #1

JULIE JOHNSON

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Gemma, an aspiring artist, is kissed by Chase behind the basketball team's bench at a national championship game while her date is on his cell phone. It's a kiss seen across the global media because of who Chase is.

Gemma runs away when security is heading their way. She runs into a comical love-hate whirlwind adventure. She and Chase, a billionaire, live in two different worlds that collide.

That one kiss leads through conflicts of hate, greed, passion, and individual dilemmas. Those struggles collide into a close encounter with death.

'NOT YOU' is a love story that ends like all of them, but with a twist that will have that genre's lovers wanting more of Boston Love Stories.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4hkvC1E

 

Murder in Hamstead

MURDER IN HAMPSTEAD

Sabina Manea

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

As the book cover reads, this is a classic 2021 London whodunnit, with characters, except for one, who is a trained investigator. The main character, Lucia Steer, is an ex-lawyer, now an interior decorator, involved in investigating the murder of her new client.

 How Lucia takes over the murder case by using her intuition is impressive as a Sherlock Holmes conundrum. The action is all about uncovering germane evidence.

 Lucia does this so well that Detective Chief Inspector Carliss falls into line and documents it. With the help of Lucia's friend Nina, a key piece of evidence is uncovered, leading to the arrest of the killer, who was not considered throughout the novel.

Ms. Manea does an excellent job in producing this whodunnit. HANSTEAD is a consuming read.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4bkXD5r

NEXUS

NEXUS: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

YUVAL NOAH HARARI

 Review by Author Roy Murry

 In general, a nexus is a central point or hub where things converge. Mr. Harari's central point in NEXUS is to explain how the world has changed from the Stone Age through today because of how humans communicate.

From the tablet to the computer, societies and governance have evolved, some for the worse and some for the better – from dictators to democracies. Harari's political beliefs are part of his explanations; however, they are not the crux of the book.

His thesis is that overcontrol of a country's people interferes with its power to develop, whereas freedom of people's action does not. The NEXUS is freedom of communication through, in today's world, the computer, iPhones, and a non-biased media.

NEXUS is an extensive book of detailed history and information that an Inquisitive Mind will enjoy. It is not a casual read, but an enjoyable one.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4bKiQG1