Review of Murder & Spice and Everything Nice

MURDER & SPICE AND

EVERYTHING NICE

Caryn Thomas Mitchell

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Ivy Bloom moves back home to open a bookstore with her sister. That mansion is the backdrop for some strange murders that interrupt the opening of a store that has room for every genre - Kitchen, cookbook, etc. - you get the various divides.

During the final preparations, people come knocking to see Ivy. One being, what seems to be the leader of a cult, looking for one of his disciples who had visited the building earlier.

Minutes later, the whole town is put into a frenzy which includes a major property fire. It's not Ivy's best interest to investigate what is happening; warns her childhood friend, who is now the detective in charge of solving the crimes.

Ivy, being Ivy, a snoop, and a mystery writer to boot, doesn't listen to his admonishes. She, with her sister's help, digs deeper into the crimes leading to a potentially deadly event.

Does Ivy get her man or is it the straw that broke the camel’s back? On the local beach, a man with a metal detector helps her reach her fate.

Ms. Thomas Mitchell's writing is snappy, comical, and connects the dots in this fast-paced Ivy Bloom Mystery novel. I was surprised that it was over when it was with a knockout finish.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2tTnVZ8

Review of An Enlightening Quiche

An Enlightening Quiche

Eva Pasco

Reviewed by author Roy Murry

Augusta and Lindsay come from two different worlds. Augusta born and bred in Beauchemin, a small Rhode Island town, and Lindsay, a historian, who resides in Boston, Massachusetts, cross paths because of Beauchemin's French Canadian historical past.

They tell their stories in alternating chapters in somewhat of a soliloquy style with discourses and bantering monologs about past lovers, friends, family, and the people of Beauchemin's. Augusta is an administrator in the town's main factory. Lindsay changes residence hired to investigate into the historical value of it.

Their storytelling was somewhat lengthy at times but entertaining and insightful into the town's array of characters whom Augusta knew personally, a few biblically. Lindsay, in her research, finds a new home from the chaotic Boston lifestyle. Both stories converge on Augusta's childhood friend Estelle's prominent family that owns the factory and a young child's life-changing tragedy. 

The bedroom tales, a disaster in a child's life, a Quiche Contest, and Estelle and Augusta's hidden past, Ms. Pasco details with comedy, drama, and enlightenment into the past of relocated hard working Canucks. Her writing is intelligent and easy to digest after getting into the rhythm of her sometimes-elongated sentences.

This Quiche was humanizing from a woman's point of view.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2ud5vQd

Review of COBALT

COBALT

C.G. BLADE

Review by Author Roy Murry

In the last hundred years or so, the world has gone from a one-prop airplane to fly into space; machinery has taken over work people did; and one-day social functions may be taken over by AI, Artificial Intelligence or mostly known as Robots. These events happened because of imagination.

Mr. Blade's COBALT has that type of images embedded within his fast-moving Si-Fi novel, First in a Trinity Series. Pushing present-day politics to a plausible extreme, with its greed and globalist theme of World Order, he takes the USA into an open society run by three Presidents.

His main character, Petra, champion of the non-state of affairs, is kept alive to fight the evil of the 2080s. COBALT, an amazing formula, is what keeps her functioning at an unbelievable capacity that her opponents in battle are incapacitated and destroyed.

The adventures, strange confrontations, and side-kick antics with a mind-reading computer that helps Petra conquer situations are amusing and deadly.

The supporting characters are well developed, aiding her to meet goals.

The plot is fast-paced, dynamic, and full of caveats that the intelligent reader will understand and think about for days, as I have, since writing this review. Cobalt is full of surprises any reader will enjoy, even if you are like me who rarely buys this genre.

A great find, buy: http://amzn.to/2s3P6v1

Review of THE LETTER

THE LETTER

Kathryn Hughes

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

'Life is not fair' and 'You can't pick your parents,' are sayings that have been used for centuries. They are apropos for the dramatic love story that keeps the reader wondering how the human race can believe what they do.

A la somewhat Romeo and Juliet, Billy from the wrong side of tracks falls in love with Chrissie, whose father is a prominent doctor, is also smitten. The time is just before World War II and a period in Manchester, England when Father knew best and ruled the family with an iron fist. He, of course, doesn't like Billy one bit - need I say more.

Fast forward thirty years, a young woman finds THE LETTER written by Billy to Chrissie in an old suit left at a second-hand store. She is in an uncomfortable situation with her husband, and they separate. Her curiosity about the letter brings her to investigate the origin and its owners.

The contents of the love letter and the young lady's need to have closure on her heartache and that of the correspondence designated recipient leads the reader on a journey. Its twist and turns present and the past is heartbreaking, disturbing, and hopeful for the future of all that is living but for one.

If you're looking a cry and understanding of the religious mores of that era, THE LETTER is a read you will enjoy immensely.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2rFBVFm

Review of Bull Street

  BULL STREET

A Wall Street Novel

            by

 DAVID LENDER

Reviewed by 
Author Roy Murry

The world of Wall Street in New York City is unlike any other financial district. It is the heartbeat of America's clock on how its livelihood is functioning.

We and the world watch its fluctuations daily. In Mr. Lender's novel, he writes about people of The Street who make it work, albeit corruption of that system is the central theme.

Lender's protagonist Richard arrives in NYC for interviews, and coincidently meets one of The Street's Tycoons before an interview to work for an investment banking major player. It takes a while, but he lands the job.

From there on, the story moves at a fast pace. Richard's abilities and likeability move him into a position of intrigue after encountering a discrepancy in company trading E-mails. With a woman cohort, they investigate and document their findings.

Entanglement with the government becomes a fatal problem for the two, because of the criminal environment that surrounds them and for being honest in their endeavor to uncover the sender of the E-mails. International factors and the Tycoon's involvement brings down the house of cards, so to speak.

The story's ending is a show stopper, putting the reader on edge, anticipating murder or vindication. This novel is enjoyable to the end.

Purchase at:    http://amzn.to/2sAcGEd

Review of Booked for Murder

Booked for Murder

Cee Cee James

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

When a murder happens in a hotel, chaos takes over via a police investigation. In this case, CeeCee's protagonist is the newbie hotel manager and part-time mystery writer Maisie Swenson.

A convention is a backdrop of the case whose principal founder is floating in the pool lifeless. Maisie, her dog, and mother become secondary investigators, the dog finding evidence, the mother with platitudes, and Maisie with a nose for putting two and two together and getting to an answer.

Sometimes the answer is not right, and you end up with the short end of the stick. Maisie finds the solution and almost ends up in a body bag.

CeeCee does an excellent job developing her characters and plot, keeping you guessing as to whodunit alone with Maisie. The novel is an enjoyable read and recommended for a rainy day which I finished reading while listening to stormy weather.

Good start for the Oceanside Mystery Series.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/2rSId4g

Review of What You Do To Me

What You Do to Me

BARBARA LONGLEY

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

A radio program's listener answers a question and Sam the handyman calls into the station to dispute an accusation. The problem is he gives his real name and the name of his company.

Now everyone wants to get some of Sam's handiwork. A controlling mother sets up her daughter to resolve her home improvement disaster and to push her in the right direction, so to speak.

From this point on, the story is cute, sassy, sexy, and lovable. There are many twists and turns between Sam and Haley, the daughter placed in a humiliating position.

She fights back to teach her mother and Sam a lesson. Sam wants to prove himself and contracts Haley into improving her home and her opinion of him. She agrees, and a friendly constructing relationship develops.

Where it goes, you'll have to read the book. This novel is a good lead-in for the series. The characters are heartland ish, strong-willed, and the backbone of America.

What You Do To Me is a delightful romance novel that will have you laughing, crying, and rooting for a happy ending, which may not arrive. 

You’ll have to purchase the book to find out: http://amzn.to/2qysPF0