WELCOME HOME to MURDER

WELCOME HOME to MURDER

CINDY KLINE

 

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

 

Mr. Fitzgerald is friendly when he meets Molly Quinn McGuire on a flight from the USA to Ireland. She is talkative, and emotional sparks fly.

At a prominent Quinn family gala, a person Molly dislikes is found murdered. To conduct the police investigation, Detective Fitzgerald is sent from a larger community.

The surprise encounter leads to a joint investigation when Molly finds information that could solve the crime. However, Fitzgerald's evidence points to Molly's brother, Dillion, and he is arrested, sparking conflict.

Only a few villagers could have committed the murder, and Molly, in her snooping, ends up with little to free her brother. When an important event happens, Molly comes into contact with a key to find the culprit.

This leads to an explosive ending for readers of Book 1 of The Molly McGuire Mysteries. It is an unpredictable and fast-paced whodunit with an Irish twist.

Drink a cup of tea when reading this novel. Everyone in the novel is.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3VEriSe

THE PROPOSAL

THE PROPOSAL

L. Steele

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

 

Liam and Isla's erotic romance journey follows their thoughts as they navigate their predicament, which begins with a proposal contract. She clarifies her thoughts in one chapter, followed by his complicated impressions.

He says to her, in one episode, "The only 'please' I want to hear from you is when you're under me with your pussy pried open and around my cock. This statement is mild in the hypersexual scenes.

Between their sexual encounters, Liam and Isla go into long explanations as to why they should or should not be together. They marry to complete part of the contract.

However, not everything is well with the agreement. She has a secret, but billionaire Liam keeps waiting for her to confess.

This romance's complications go on and on - too long for me. But the banter is worth waiting for the ending.

L. Steel has put together a series in the EROTIC and ROMANCE genre that reading lovers will enjoy. This story's sex scenes were too much for me.

But all the other facets of Liam and Isla's predicaments were interesting. And the writing is above par.

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

DOOM in full BLOOM

 

DOOM

IN FULL

BLOOM

S. D. KETTLE

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

A secret garden lies behind a florist shop that Mitsy inherits from her grandmother. An important woman sips one of her teas at a town event, dies, and Mitsy is among the suspects who murdered her.

This changes as she finds nuggets of information in the garden. Mitsy turns over her grandmother's notes to a good-looking detective.

A collaboration with the local detective begins as Mitsy uncovers each secret. Their work leads to a group of locals who may be the culprits in a poisoning.

The story moves with the rhythm of a metronome, with each paragraph flowing into the next and into the next chapter. Reading this was fun.

Good Read; purchase https://amzn.to/4xY50bi

The Meditations of MARCUS AURELIUS

Marcus Aurelius                  

Stoic Philosophy

 

This book is not a philosophical thesis, but Marcus' thoughts on how to live. He put his meditations into action during his Roman rule, 161-180 Common Era.

Each book is short and easy to follow. Anyone who cares about developing a good and healthy lifestyle should read his comments.

This book belongs on your bookshelf. Example: You have power over your own mind.

Read this also:

LIFE-changing #nonfiction book: Joseph Murphy's The POWER of Your Subconscious Mind #philosophy #psychology #BookReview written https://youtu.be/uz9LqUWGAKo

 https://bit.ly/3hOP1sc

 #purchase: https://amzn.to/3zb2BfG

 

 

WHICH WITCH IS WHICH

WHICH WITCH IS WHICH

Cynthia St. Aubin; Cindy Stark

Kerrigan Byrne; Tiffinie Helmer

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

If you love the WITCH genre, this book is for you. Tierra, a witch, summons her sisters using magic.

Each sister is her doppelganger and possesses a witch element: air, water, fire, or earth. In their adventures to Tierra's home in Port Townsend, Moira, Claire, and Aerin use a form of sexual prowess to delay man's evil control.

Men, the Bible's Four Horsemen, want to destroy the world. However, the four sister witches must become three. The conflict ends in a battle of good against evil.

The four authors do an excellent job of bringing every story together in enjoyable magical prose. This is the first in a series that witch lovers should have on the bookshelf.

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

 

 

 

 

Moonlight Murder Mystery Club

Moonlight Murder

Mystery Club

BLAKE RIVERS

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Sage Holloway, a baker, moves back to Crescent Harbor, where everyone knows your name, especially Margaret. A disliked entrepreneur is found dead in his office, and Sage's employee is the prime suspect.

But this case is a no-brainer; readers of this cozy mystery will have the answer halfway through. Sage is the only one asking questions to help her employee, a young single mother.

Sage names the black cat Shadow, who moves in and steals the show. His antics and Margaret's comments lead Sage to ask the right questions that solve the crime.

Blake Rivers' writing is smooth, easy to read, and easy to follow. Her characters will hold up in the series, and a love story is simmering in the background.

Fun Read. https://amzn.to/4ilPnqd

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 range from Fiona, a conservative skeptic, to her mother and friends, 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 sits at the center of the South Side's Enchanted Garden predicament and the question of 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 examines how humans behave because of their physical wiring, starting 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, you will learn many things about yourself by reading this book, as I did. Take your time reading this exceptionally well-written book on physiology, philosophy, and the psychology of human development.

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. 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.

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

Bed, Breakfast & Bones

BED, BREAKFAST, & BONES

Carolyn L. Dean

Reviewed 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. Unsure whether she can open the B&B, she unravels the mystery to an unusual ending.

Ms. Dean's characters make a strong foundation for a cozy mystery series, and the prose flows well, making it easy to follow. 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. The kiss is seen across global media because of who Chase is.

Gemma runs away as security heads 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 lovers of the genre wanting more 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 are trained investigators. The main character, Lucia Steer, is an ex-lawyer, now an interior decorator, involved in investigating the murder of her new client.

 Lucia's intuitive takeover of the murder case is impressive, like a Sherlock Holmes conundrum. The action focuses on uncovering relevant evidence.

Lucia does this so well that Detective Chief Inspector Carliss falls in line and documents it. With help from Lucia's friend Nina, a key piece of evidence emerges, leading to the arrest of the killer, who had gone unnoticed 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 inform his explanations; however, they are not the crux of the book.

His thesis is that overcontrol of a country's people hinders its ability to develop, whereas freedom of action does not. The NEXUS is freedom of communication through, in today's world, the computer, iPhones, and unbiased media.

NEXUS is a detailed history and information book that an Inquisitive Mind will enjoy. It is not a casual read, but it's still enjoyable.

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

MY COUSIN VINNY

MY COUSIN VINNY

Studio-Authorized Novel

LAWRENCE KELTER

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

MY COUSIN VINNY is one of my favorite movies, and this is the first time I've read a book that was produced as a movie first. This book is as funny as the movie, with Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei as the main characters.

The descriptions, conversations, and anecdotes about these characters and the supporting cast come alive throughout the book. I couldn't stop laughing.

Vinny, a virgin lawyer in litigation, comes to Alabama to save his cousin and friend from death row. They are on trial for murder.

Vinny bluffs his way through the situation, but his fiancée, Tomei, tells him how to proceed. Her insight and automobile knowledge during and in the trial are the linchpin that saves the day.

If you want a fun read, this novel is for you.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4pqwp2V

INVISIBLE COUP

THE INVISIBLE COUP

How American Elites and

Foreign Powers Use

Immigration as a Weapon

PETER SCHWEIZER

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Amazingly, the liberal NY Times has this book on its best-selling list. This analysis of what is happening with illegal immigration in the USA is astounding.

Is Mexico trying to take back property using immigration? Are China and Muslims developing enclaves in the USA to take control of the country?

These questions are fully explained, with supporting notes that back up Mr. Schweizer's hypothesis and keep the reader turning the page. Whether you agree with him or not, the facts are staggering.

Your political affiliation shouldn't keep you from reading this well-developed evaluation of how complacent certain presidents and other elites are. Every citizen of the world should read this.

Purchase:  https://amzn.to/44VcXC5

SALTWATER MURDER

THE SALTWATER MURDER

A Posie Parker Mystery #7

L. B. HATHAWAY

https://amzn.to/4eYpQQD

Review by Author Roy Murry

Posie Parker, P.I., has a knack for accumulating and storing investigative information until an epiphany arises and she brings everyone together à la Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot "Summation Gathering".

In 1924, an important English Judge is murdered in chambers in an unusual way: a box is delivered, and the contents kill him. He has also been receiving postcards from a saltwater tourist destination in the U.K.

London's Chief Inspector Lovelace asks Posie to help with the investigation of the crime. She is well known to the victim and all the possible criminals, which puts her in a difficult situation.

From this point on, a whirlwind of confrontations and information is produced. However, only Posie puts it together, and when the murderer makes a statement, the events leading to the killing arise.

Excellent read: https://amzn.to/4eYpQQD

 

 

ERIN

ERIN

Coffee & Dessert

In Key West, Book 3

JAN ROMES

https://amzn.to/4eydpMs

Review by Author Roy Murry

Erin is in a relationship rut and visits the Coffee & Dessert Shop owned by Meg and Marvin. They also run a dating service in Key West, Florida, where everyone knows each other.

Meg sets Erin up with a couple of dates, but they fizzle out. One reason is that Erin has a thing for Gino.

Gino, Marvin's brother, is defensive about the opposite sex because his longtime relationship fell apart. Marvin sees that Gino has a thing for Erin; however, he cannot convince Gino to make the right move.

How Erin and Gino evolve is the center of the story, which includes fun and interesting conversations among all the characters. This is a pleasant character-driven romance.

I recommend starting with book one of the series, MEG, as I did. This is a fun series.

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

ROMANCING LADY ROSE

ROMANCING LADY ROSE

A Closed Door Regency Romance

 SHARIAH DRAKE

 https://amzn.to/4oCtYtY

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Alice (Soon-to-be dubbed Lady Rose) is brought by her overbearing mother to a royal birthday fortnight to secure a wealthy husband. Duke Elias is the one pursued, with the help of the Dowager.

Elias's friend, Captain Victor, whose demons from the past cloud his judgment, is the duke's protector against "Gold diggers". Victor's communications and tit-for-tat with Alice lead to an uncommon and unetiquette relationship.

The situations that arise during the festivities promote and confirm the amiable agreement between Alice, Elias, and all in attendance that there will be a consummation of Duke and Lady Rose's future. However, Alice and Victor's feelings lead to a scandalous event.

Author Drake's eighteenth-century period story captures the nuances of a time when women were used to elevate a family's standing through marriage. The writing flows well with conversations that the reader will enjoy.

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

Three Shades Called Horace

THREE SHADES

CALLED HORACE

JINX JAMES

https://amzn.to/3PWW3PR

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Hilarious, no; funny, yes, are the antics of the three shades (ghosts) called Horace that went viral on the internet. This and the grassroots individuals who produced it come alive in adventures that can only be described as a cluster ____.

Rollo, a business magnet, wants to buy the program, thinking it's making a bundle. He sends his people and enforcers to no avail. He will do anything, legal or illegal, to gain control of the show.

The long history of several characters: Harry (Financier), Fenella (Witch), Pansy-Peonie (Medium), Angelia (Secret agent), and Max (Rollo's gofer), is incorporated, leading to why the Horace ghosts will survive. Their behavior is beyond the pale.

The novel is long, going back and forth in history. However, to pull off the ending, Jinx James did his job.

Worth the dime. Purchase:  https://amzn.to/3PWW3PR

Murky Murder

A MURKY MURDER

Lakeside Cottage Cozy Mysteries

CINDY BELL

https://amzn.to/4erJbKI

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

I have read many cozy mysteries, and this is a good one as a series starter. However, the main character, Bobbie, is not a cozy individual.

She moves to a small lakeside town, looking for answers about her parents' history and death, which her dead uncle gave a murky background on. As Bobbie is settling in, her next-door neighbor is murdered.

Not being from the town, she pushes her way into investigating what is none of her business. Her contention is that she is a writer, and it was her neighbor who was killed.

Bobbie gets her due, makes new friends, and solves some twists and turns that will leave the reader happy they spent the dime.

Ms. Bell's writing will keep the reader turning the pages to see what Bobbie is getting into outside of investigating.

Good Read. Purchase: https://amzn.to/4erJbKI