The Body in the Closet

THE BODY IN THE CLOSET

 JINTY JAMES

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

This Pru and Pip Investigator mystery is a no-brainer. Not many characters, but they are interesting enough to carry a series.

However, the terrier is used too much for an approval act with his "Ruff." If you like dogs in a novel, you'll enjoy Teddy's antics.

 The plot is not complicated, and the investigators don't do much sleuthing. Crook is found dead in a vacant house closet, where Pru and Pip are working on their current projects.

 There are a few characters, so the reader can easily solve the mystery. "Closet" is too cozy to be called a true mystery, but it is a fun and quick read.

 Purchase: https://amzn.to/4jWrRyF

 

 

 

THE LAST QUEEN; Book One

THE LAST QUEEN

Book One of the Chronicles

of Cleopatra

G. LAWRENCE

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

This is the story of half-sisters Cleopatra and Arsinoe, princesses of Egypt, 58-57 BCA. Their conversations are recorded in a chronicle of their father's reign as Pharaoh, up to Cleopatra's accession.

The two twelve-year-olds grow up during a turbulent time of war, famine, and family disputes with their other half-sister, Berenice. The girl's words flow with flowery descriptions of Gods that determine the fate of life in general and the future.

Many events transpire that the Gods willed during their lives, according to family records. Cleo is a history buff and explains to Arsinoe what will be, after their separate mother's murder.

Love and hate drive the young ladies to take control of their own fate, leading to a somewhat peaceful existence in Alexandria on the Nile. The journey is well-chronicled.

Gemme Lawrence's prose is beautiful; however, it is hard to believe twelve-year-olds could speak so eloquently. But it is a Pharaoh's verbal history of Egypt.

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

Where the Crawdads Sing

WHERE THE

CRAWDADS SING

DELA OWENS

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Kya, a six-year-old, is homeless in the marshes of North Carolina. Where her family went is described in a heartbreaking way that lingers throughout the novel.

In a descriptive, colorful prose, Ms. Owens gives the reader a journey through Kya's survival and growth in the marsh. The young girl's connection to the world around her and her ingenuity develop her into a loving, beautiful, self-educated hermit.

When the opposite sex becomes an issue, her feelings of abandonment come into play, and a relationship begins and ends. She is left again, rebounds sexually with another man, Chase, who promises the world.

This last involvement ends with his death, Kya on trial for the crime, and an unresolved situation where the town is divided. Her first love, Tate, returns.

Years pass, she dies, and, as in other parts of Kya's journey, her lover, Tate, reads a poem Kya wrote. She did what nature would have her do: protect herself.

CRAWDADS SINGS is a lovely, enjoyable, well-written novel you should not miss.

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

Brave Companions

Brave Companions: Portraits In History

David McCullough

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

This storybook is about people who bravely went where no one had gone before them. Mr. McCullough's descriptions of people and events, some of which you know, are woven into a read you will enjoy.

You do not need to be a 'History Buff' to enjoy learning how the Brooklyn Bridge's structure was devised and built by a person you may not know. Or the enormous effort of that endeavor and the construction of the Panama Canal come to life in a people profile.

Those events and others will keep the reader wanting to know the next person the author delves into and explains their position in history. This will include Theodore Roosevelt and his Badlands adventures, as well as those who brought those western experiences to life.

Whether you enjoy reading about history or not, this book is well worth the price.

 Purchase: https://amzn.to/49csdO9

 

 

 

FLAIR for FLIP - FLOPS

FLAIR for FLIP-FLOPS

A Sadie Kramer Flair Mystery

DEBORAH GARNER

Review by author Roy Murry

 

Sadie and her Yorkie, Coco, go on vacation to California. It seems like death follows Sadie and Coco wherever they go. In this cozy mystery, book five in the series, a famous person washes up on the beach dead.

Sadie, of course, cannot let it be. She needs to snoop. With Coco in a carry-on bag and a new friend, she flip-flops around, interrupting her vacation to get to the core of the death.

This novel is a fun read for the weekend. The Yorkie is part of the main show, and if you like dogs, you will enjoy Coco's part in the book.

Enjoyable fun with an unlikely ending.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3YKr1ex

married for Christmas

married for

CHRISTMAS

Noelle Adams

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Ms. Adams writes a fine novel that portrays a love triangle among a pastor, his deceased wife, and a longtime friend. The pastor cannot let his wife's spirit go.

 Jessica, who loves Pastor Daniel, devises a plan to marry him, and he agrees. What happens next is a melodrama that the reader will enjoy.

 Jessica's and Daniel's relationship goes from hot to cold and all over the spectrum, including their sex life. Their conversations highlight the development of a somewhat Christian love affair.

Love at Christmas is Jessica's endgame. How the two get there is a fascinating journey.

'married for Christmas' is a well-written and enjoyable romantic read.

 

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3MH7Kbf

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS

The Perfect Christmas

DEBBIE MACOMBER

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

To me, this is not the endeavor of a New York Times Best Selling Author. #1 The story is too short and predictable. #2 The premise is ridiculous.

Cassie is directed to see Simon, an expert in matchmaking. She pays Simon a year's wages for many to find her a PERFECT MATE.

She wants the impossible but finds it not with Simon's match. I don't need to say who; it's a romance novella.

There are some redeeming qualities in this novella: the characters and the story flow are well put together.

If you like Debbie's writing, this novella is for you. PERFECT did not float my boat. Lastly, I have no idea why Christmas was used as a background.

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

DEADHEAD and BURIED

DEADHEAD and BURIED

H.Y. HANNA

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Poppy, a Londoner in a dead-end job, inherits a small cottage with a large piece of land. The land is cultivated as a nursery of flowers to be sold.

Part of the will requires Poppy to take over the business; she wants to sell, but there are problems with that. She has a second cousin, who claims the inheritance should be his. Her lawyer says not to worry, there are two witnesses to the will.

While surveying the property, Poppy finds a dead body buried in flowers. Snooping begins, and one of her possibilities, because one of the will's witnesses is the dead man.

Poppy's ingenuity and sloppy sleuthing lead to a surprising ending, which is aided by a neighbor's cat. There is also another neighbor's dog, who has little play in this novel.

Ms. Hanna's fun, cozy mystery features several interesting characters who will appear in the second book in the series, and it has a readable, cohesive flow.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4rH7VmX

The God of the Woods

The God of the Woods

Liz Moore

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Alice, a mother of three, has two of her children disappear into the tree and lake-filled area years apart. Many people chime in or investigate the plot; however, they have little to do with it.

Bear, an eight-year-old, goes missing in 1961, and a man is found guilty of murder with no body found. In 1975, his sister Barbara was missing, and the same man was at large.

Sounds like a great plot, but it falls flat on the conclusion. Only when Judyta, a police investigator, in 1975, does the plot thicken and the cases get resolved.

Ms. Moore's writing is grammatically pure and embellished where needed, but it is boringly overwritten. She goes into side shows that are not needed in a mystery with many characters.

If you like long, flowery novels, purchase: https://amzn.to/48jTso4

Confronting Evil

CONFRONTING EVIL: Assessing

The Worst of the Worst

 BILL O'REILLY & JOSE HAMMER

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

"What a piece of work is a man." William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet. The authors have assembled a collection of notorious individuals, ranging from Genghis Khan to Mao to Hitler to Vladimir Putin, who are pieces of work.

This book is a detailed story prose that will give the inquisitive reader an understanding of evil that is not in any history book I have ever read. Before the college student goes around spouting who is a king, they should consume this chronicle.

I will not go into detail about everyone described in 'Confronting Evil,' but I will say that the humans who followed these men did not have the same level of communication we have today. Present-day humans who follow the concepts of those men are either inhuman or stupid.

O'Rielly and Hammer have put together a book that should be part of all colleges' history curriculum. It's an awakening that young people need to be educated in.

Well written and easy reading.

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

The Advocate

THE ADVOCATE

TERESA BURRELL

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Sabre Brown is a lawyer who handles cases for the Juvenile Division in California, also known as Kiddie Court. One of her clients is a ten-year-old named Alexis Murdock, the granddaughter of a wealthy family in Atlanta, Georgia.

The distance between Georgia and California, the backgrounds of the father and others, and the unusual circumstances surrounding Alexis' upbringing present obstacles for Sabre in protecting her client. These situations lead to thrilling events that cannot be understood by Sabre, her friend Bob, and an Atlanta detective.

When Sabre and Alexis' rollercoaster ride comes to an end, the reader will have mixed emotions that will stick in their minds. The protection of innocents is the central theme.

Ms. Burrell demonstrates clarity and thoughtful precision in her writing. Whether the legal protocol is correct, I'll let you legal beagles decide.

Fine read. Purchase: https://amzn.to/4nHGiqQ

HEXES & HUSH MONEY

HEXES & HUSH MONEY

A Cat Café Witch Mystery

HAZEL CARAWAY

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Hex is the familiar cat of Ivy Rowan, owner of Catnip Café in a small New England town. Ivys and Hex’s lives are put in a tailspin when a man Ivy fights with over a town development is found dead in the alley behind the café the same day.

Gold coins and witchery are the centerpiece of this quirky story of investigating the murder. Even the Sheriff appeals for Ivy to move the plot along.

When all is said and done, a surprise criminal appears at the conclusion. Then the author does something I have never seen in a cozy mystery – an interesting lead-in to Book 2 of the series as a chapter.

This novel is quick and engaging, making it a good read due to its flamboyant characters, including a witch named Rowan Gran and multiple cats.

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

HOW TO TEST NEGATIVE FOR STUPID

 

 

HOW TO TEST NEGATIVE FOR STUPID:

And Why Washington Never Will

 JOHN KENNEDY, USA Senator

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities.

Mr. Kennedy’s dissertation on his journey to and in the United States’ Capital is written in easy-to-read prose with a dab of his classic Louisiana humor.

His explanation of how Washington works and the foolishness of some who control the system has led to the worst of times. Hopefully, common-sense policies will lead to the best of times.

Senator Kennedy’s honest opinions drive home what every American can understand and should be worried about. He contends that an age of wisdom can help keep the USA afloat for another 250 years.

This non-fiction is a personal attempt to involve citizens in their country’s destiny. It’s a well-written journey, and a must-read for those with an inquisitive mind.

Purchase:  https://amzn.to/3WdO28y

SLAY BELLS RING

SLAY BELLS RING

The Wedding Bell Mystery Novel

NANCY RUBARDS THOMPSON

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Jenna is a wedding planner, and her mother, Maddie, is a mystery writer. They turn into amateur sleuths. Peculiarly, Jenna is planning the wedding of her ex-lover and an out-of-towner.

Circumstances put Jenna in the position of being the last person to see he ex-lover before he is hit on the head to his death. From that moment on, the reader knows Jenna could not have done the deed; however, the chief insinuates she did it.

Maddie, who has a thing for the chief, is upset that he thinks Jenna could kill, and goes on an investigation that skirts the law. The reader of this so-so cozy mystery, after a few interviews, should have solved this crime.

Ms. Thompson's characters are plausible and usable for the next book in this series. Not one of the best Cozy Mysteries I've enjoyed, but passable for a quick read.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4o5IAAy

First Deadly Sin

The First Deadly Sin

Lawrence Sanders

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Captain Edward X. Delaney (Police) vs Daniel Blank (Nut Cake). Both men are consumed by what they are attempting to accomplish.

Blank’s deviation from his norm kills and loves his victims at the same time because of his love affair with a disturbed woman. Delaney is caught up in administrative bull that leads him to search for Blank outside the regular police channels.

The author uses too much detail in describing each man’s journey – Blank, a psychopath, enjoying his kills, and the Delaney, using everyone to reach his end of bringing Blank to justice.

This turmoil is well-written, but overly psychologically developed. I would have liked a shorter version without all the ‘mumbo jumbo’.

If you like reading a lot of boring police details or a man’s reasons for killing, this book is for you. If not, read a cozy mystery.

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

The Girl Behind the Gate

THE GIRL BEHIND THE GATE

BRENDA DAVIES

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

The times (1930 – 1950s) that Nora is put in a mental institution for a “Defect,” which is explained in this novel, is one of the UK’s historical defects. Her journey in that HOSPITAL is long, exasperating, and cruel.

Nora goes into a cocoon, without psychological aid, for many years, because of the crude, authoritarian management system of the institution. Modern psychiatry arrived forty years later, in the form of Dr. Humphrey, a compassionate woman who also struggled with her own personal issues.

Nora and Humprey’s interviews and communications change each woman’s understanding of who they are positively, making for an inspirational read. The novel is a lengthy and complex read, making it time-consuming.

Tears and laughter will guide you through to the end.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4mGrN63

FIELD RULES

FIELD RULES

Romance in the Ruins, Book 1

CARLA LUNA

Review by Author Roy Murry

Olivia wants to earn her PhD in archaeology and is invited to a survey school dig to instruct undergrads. She had a sex experience on a prior dig where she fell for Rick.

Several years after that experience, unknown to her, Rick is at the school in Greece, and memories return to both – not good ones. However, the spark is still there; now they are teachers, not students.

Conflicts arise from personal, school procedures, and ethical issues, which put both in a position of losing credibility in their chosen fields. Olivia and Rick’s resolve leads to a Hallmark ending.

This archaeological background romance is the first in a series and is well-written with characters who pull the reader in. Next stop is Turkey.

If you like Mediterranean adventures, you will enjoy this novel series.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/46eAjUV

Murder Mystery Book Club

MURDER MYSTERY

BOOK CLUB

DANIELLE COLLINS

Review by Author Roy Murry

Eva owns a Bed & Breakfast in Key West, Florida, where everyone knows your name. Her guests are from off-island.

A storm breaks out on the key, and a strange event happens to Eva between the main house and her cottage. The next morning, a Detective is knocking on her door.  

There has been a murder on her property, he says. The games begin, ending with a setup to catch the murderer.

The events that follow the killing are fun to watch when Eva’s book club gets involved with the investigation. Old members and a new one move Eva’s investigation into conflict with the Detectives.

The writing is crisp, the characters are fun, and the dialogue directs Eva’s actions. This novel is a well-crafted cozy mystery, serving as a lead-in to a series.

Excellent read: https://amzn.to/3Vc7d21

STAGE 3

STAGE 3

KEN STARK

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

There is an axiom in writing novels that is ‘Show, don’t tell.’ By using sensory details, character behavior, and subtext to convey meaning naturally, Mr. Stark draws the reader into a world immersed in zombies.

Immersed is saying it lightly. From beginning to end, the main character, Mason, kills more zombies than exist while protecting an intelligent, blind ten-year-old Mackenzie on a journey to find her aunt Sara.

With limited conversations, Mr. Stark pulls off a compelling novel that keeps the reader engaged with horrific events. I am not a zombie novel enthusiast, but I enjoyed most of this long, drawn-out story.

I recommend the STAGE 3 series for people who like zombies. For those who don’t, read a romance novel.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/481zzna

 

 

 

I Love You First

I LOVED YOU FIRST

CATE BEAUMAN

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

I have enjoyed reading many Romance Novels in my life. This is not one of them.

There is an underlying conflict between Cam and his lover, Fiona.  However, the reader, from the prose and the sex scenes, is oblivious because the author has you believing life is great in Vermont.

I read only 173 pages of this somewhat boring 245-page novel, not a Hallmark one. The killer is too many sex scenes that could have been left out of the story of two people and a five-year-old boy, going on fifteen – Fiona’s new love.

Lastly, this novel has some excellent qualities: the writing flows well, the characters are well-developed, and the story is sweet – perhaps too sweet. It’s too unreal.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3UOs77l