Death and the Runaways - A Review

 Review

DEATH AND THE RUNAWAYS by Heather Redmond
The Third Mary Shelley Mystery 

On a hot June day in 1814 most of London is celebrating the peace treaty with France with parades and an influx of dignitaries. Mary Godwin and her step-sister, Jane, are surprised to see their brother Charles with Winnet Davies who works in the cheese shop. They also overhear her trying to get him to buy her a dress! Charles who is as poor as the entire family! By the next day Miss Davies is dead and Charles is missing. Mary and Jane, encouraged by Mrs. Godwin and with help of Percy Shelley start the search for Charles and an investigation into the life of Miss Davies. Trouble looms as Mary and Percy grow closer. A Bow Street Runner has designs on Mary and a killer has only begun. 

Drama ramps up even higher in this, the third Mary Shelley Mystery. We not only have a murder and a missing brother, but the increased intimacy between Mary and Shelley and the subsequent familial fallout. I'm still astonished at the family dynamics with the Godwins. I find it intriguing and makes me want to delve deeper to learn more. The manner in which Mary was treated by her step mother as well as the way Mary idolized her own mother makes it easy to see why Mary was so drawn to Shelley and makes their subsequent actions reasonable. It's also fascinating to see his desire and need to be a hero, "rescuing" both of his wives. It was also curious adding a fictional suitor into the mix for Mary and everyone's reactions.

There were many intriguing layers to the mystery in DEATH AND THE RUNAWAYS. I enjoyed seeing how Mary, Jane, and Shelley investigated and seethed at Mrs. Godwin's behavior. With the story again alternating between Mary and Jane's points of view I find myself pondering the differences between these two young women. Jane has several issues and I must say I'm not overly fond of her. I'm curious as to how true this fictional Jane is to her real life counterpoint. I've always been fascinated by Shelley and once again I'm inclined to do even more research on Mary.

A lecherous cheesemonger, a villainous street hustler, and a devious enterprise bring Mary and Shelley closer in DEATH AND THE RUNAWAYS a riveting historical mystery that will have you at the edge of your seat while providing a unique reason for the trio to leave London. I can't recommend this series enough, especially if you'd like to take a deep dive in the real lives of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley. 

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Death and the Runaways by Heather Redmond. This book is the third in the Mary Shelley Mystery series and will be released next week.

On a hot June day in 1814 most of London is celebrating the peace treaty with France with parades and an influx of dignitaries. Mary Godwin and her step-sister, Jane, are surprised to see their brother Charles with Winnet Davies who works in the cheese shop. They also overhear her trying to get him to buy her a dress! Charles who is as poor as the entire family! By the next day Miss Davies is dead and Charles is missing. Mary and Jane, encouraged by Mrs. Godwin and with help of Percy Shelley start the search for Charles and an investigation into the life of Miss Davies. Trouble looms as Mary and Percy grow closer. A Bow Street Runner has designs on Mary and a killer has only begun.

A Death on Corfu - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book that's been waiting patiently on my TBR pile. A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan is the first book in the Minnie Harper Mystery series and was released at the end of April this year.

Blurb: 

Minnie Harper isn’t used to putting herself first. Not after she moved away from England only to be left raising two children alone on the Greek Island of Corfu following her husband’s unexpected death. But with her daughter begging to be sent to school abroad and her son grasping at his own independence, Minnie realizes she must prepare for the next stage of her life.

When famous mystery author Stephen Dorian settles into a neighboring villa to escape writer’s block and hidden scandals, she is intrigued at first by the handsome Londoner—until he proves to be nothing more than a boorish grump. Determined to avoid the man as much as possible, Minnie is shocked when he offers her a well-paid job as his typist. She isn’t in a position to turn down work, even from a man she has sworn to hate.

But before Minnie can fully regret her decision to take the job, she makes a horrifying discovery that changes everything. A young maid has been murdered, and local authorities aren’t moving fast enough to bring justice to the terrible crime. Unwilling to allow the death to fade into obscurity like the stories of so many other women deemed unworthy by society, Minnie launches an investigation of her own—and reluctantly accepts Stephen’s help. As she embarks on a dangerous search for answers that reveals another side of Corfu, unsettling questions take shape about her employer-turned-confidant and the culprit who just might do whatever it takes to strike again . . .

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

MURDER, SHE WROTE: A BODY IN BOSTON
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Sixty-First Murder, She Wrote Mystery 

Jessica Fletcher is happy that she has time in her busy schedule to accept an invitation to go to Boston. Not only will she be speaking at a library function, she'll get to meet up with several old friends and get some sightseeing in too! She'll also have a travel companion as Seth is also headed to Boston for a medical lecture. Their happy reconnection with old friends is tainted, however, when Cookie's daughter Aileen rushes into the pub with bloodstained hands saying that her boyfriend is dead. Now Jessica, her PI friend Harry, and Seth will do what they can to provide the police suspects other than Aileen. The group soon learns that Aileen's young man was not so upstanding and there's more than one possible motive for murder. Will they find a killer in the midst of Boston while still managing to enjoy the sights of this historic town? 

I feel the same joy as Jessica does when she meets up with Harry, Cookie, and her other Boston friends, as I consider Jess and Seth my old friends, though I know there'll be a murder whenever we get together while Jess may just suspect it! This sixty-first outing is an enjoyable mix of friendship, murder, and healthy dose of Boston tourism. I enjoyed visiting vicariously, seeing the statues of Tadeusz Kościuszko and the Marquis de Lafayette as well as the tour of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, though I say forget the kids-I want to throw the tea overboard! I like that Jessica and Seth managed to fit in fun time with their work and their investigation. I also appreciated how everything dovetailed seamlessly.

I enjoyed how Jessica quietly went about solving the mystery. She didn't even intend to solve it, just drum up more suspects, but solve it she did. While I liked seeing Jessica's old friends I really enjoyed meeting some new ones as well. I loved Mahmood and his take on Jessica's adventures in particular.

MURDER, SHE WROTE: A BODY IN BOSTON brings familiar characters to Beantown where pharmaceuticals, libraries, and murder combine to make an enjoyable mystery.

*************************************************************************** 

 Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

About Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston
Cozy Mystery 61st in Series
Setting - Boston, Massachusetts
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (July 1, 2025)
Paperback Print length: ‎ 304 pages

Jessica Fletcher has dinner with her old pal Harry McGraw and gets pulled into a puzzling murder case.

Invited to deliver a lecture at the Boston Public Library, Jessica Fletcher excitedly makes plans to see local friends. Naturally that includes dinner at Gilhooley’s with PI Harry McGraw. Harry excitedly talks about his latest client, the CEO of Cure All Pharmaceuticals, who’s received anonymous blackmail demands and wants Harry to identify the culprit. Cookie, Gilhooley’s longtime bartender, also has something he wants to tell Jessica: he asked Harry to investigate his daughter Aileen’s boyfriend, who Cookie thinks is too slick by half, but now Harry is too wrapped up in this new case. While Jessica wonders how best to approach Aileen, the young woman stumbles into Gilhooley’s covered in blood. She just discovered her boyfriend’s corpse -- and quickly becomes the chief suspect in his murder!

About the Authors

Terrie Farley Moran is the bestselling author of the Read 'Em and Eat cozy mystery series, including the Agatha Award-winning Well Read, Then Dead. Along with Jessica Fletcher, she co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series. She also co-writes the Scrapbooking Mysteries with Laura Childs. Terrie's short mystery fiction has been published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and numerous anthologies. "A Killing at the Beausoleil" was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Short Story. "Inquiry and Assistance" received the Derringer Award for Best Novelette.

Author Links – Webpage, Facebook  

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse  

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Murder on the Books - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

MURDER ON THE BOOKS by T.C. LoTempio
The First Cozy Bookshop Mystery 

 

Burn out and a case of writer's block cause Charlotte (Charley) James to turn her back on New York City and life as bestselling author C.J. Barrett, much to the dismay of her agent. Deciding on an extended stay in her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania Charley is delighted to spend time with her good friend Zane. When Charley learns Zane's business partner left abruptly she offers to take over the bookstore portion of the business allowing Zane to open her dream bakery. But when a trip to the basement leads to the discovery of a body and Zane becomes a suspect, Charley puts her mystery knowledge to use while getting closer to the grumpy and taciturn detective on loan to the town.

 

I really enjoy when the protagonist of a mystery happens to be an author of mysteries and such is the case in the first Cozy Bookshop Mystery. Not only that, she's going to own a bookstore! It's fun seeing the insider knowledge come out, but what makes it even more fun in this book is that hardly anyone knows that Charley is an author. I can't wait for people discover the truth and I have a feeling she won't be able to hide this fact from Detective Grant for long. I love the dynamic of high school acquaintances grown up and forced to deal with each other for better or worse and it's especially fun to see Barbie as a police officer and watch her attempt to rise in the ranks while keeping her man hunter ways. The addition of Poe is delightful and I hope Charley pays attention to his opinions of other characters. I appreciated how the mystery played out, especially the ending.

 

A smart protagonist, an intriguing detective, and a lucky black cat make MURDER ON THE BOOKS a delightful series opener. I can't wait to see the new shops flourish and watch Charley and Ian get cooking, both literally and figuratively!

 

********************************************************************** 

 Murder on the Books (A Cozy Bookshop Mystery) by Toni LoTempio

About Murder on the Books

Murder on the Books (A Cozy Bookshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Pennsylvania
Publisher: ‎ Severn House
Publication date: ‎ July 1, 2025
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 240

Newly retired mystery writer Charley James returns to her small hometown only to find herself amidst a real-life murder mystery in this first book in the brand new Cozy Bookshop mystery series by award-winning and national bestselling author T.C. LoTempio.

Thirty-year-old Charlotte James, better known to her mystery fans as C.J. Barrett, decides to take a break from writing her popular Steve Sheppard mystery series. Leaving New York City, she moves back to her hometown of Austin to wind down, recuperate, and maybe come up with some new ideas for her books.

Settling into her new life, Charley reunites with her long-term friend and baker Zane who is about to open a charming double store front. But while Zane is ready to open her café, her business partner Sheila unexpectedly departs town, bailing on her bookshop and leaving nothing but a note behind.

Charley is more than happy to take over, but when she finds Sheila’s body in a chest in the store’s basement, things take a dramatic turn. Now Charley has to juggle the opening of her bookshop, a stoic but attractive Philadelphia detective, and a stray cat, all while solving Sheila’s murder Sheppard-style before the killer can strike again!

Fans of Jenn McKinlay, Ellery Adams, Lucy Connelly, Lauren Elliott, and Ellie Alexander will love this cozy mystery “featuring a plucky, likable heroine, plenty of suspense [and] unexpected twists” (Booklist).

“I was hooked from start to finish!” Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop mysteries, on Eat, Drink and Drop Dead

About Toni LoTempio

• T.C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series! For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco's blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net
• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5
• TWITTER/X: ROCCOBLOGGER
• WEBSITE: https://www.tclotempio.net/
• Purchase Links - Amazon - B & N - Bookshop.org - Kobo -

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Murder on the Books by T.C. LoTempio. This book is the first in the Cozy Bookshop Mystery series and was released last week.

Burn out and a case of writer's block cause Charlotte (Charley) James to turn her back on New York City and life as bestselling author C.J. Barrett, much to the dismay of her agent. Deciding on an extended stay in her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania Charley is delighted to spend time with her best friend Zane. When Charley learns Zane's business partner left abruptly she offers to take over the bookstore portion of the business allowing Zane to open her dream bakery. But when a trip to the basement leads to the discovery of a body and Zane becomes a suspect, Charley puts her mystery knowledge to use while getting closer to the grumpy and taciturn detective on loan to the town.

Accidental Murder - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release. Accidental Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber is a standalone suspense novel that is being released today!

Blurb:

When Kayla Macintyre discovers her twin sister Ashley brutally murdered, grief quickly gives way to terror—because Kayla was the real target. A case of mistaken identity fools the police into thinking she’s the one who died, and Kayla seizes the chance to disappear into her sister’s glamorous life as a supermodel. It’s a dangerous gamble for a tech-savvy, adrenaline-chasing computer repair specialist with zero fashion sense.

But the lie buys her time—and a shot at the truth.

As her clients and friends begin turning up dead, Kayla suspects the killer’s motive lies buried in the digital trails she’s been hired to clean. To stay alive, she must dive into the shadows of her clients’ secrets, unravel a conspiracy, and stay one step ahead of a killer who’s finally realized he missed his mark.

Time is running out. The next mistake could be fatal.