Murder of an Open Book by Denise Swanson

Started: 8/28/2024

Finished: 8/29/2024

Year: 2015

Pages: 247

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: continuing with the series, library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "A nasty faculty feud leaves one Scumble River teacher belly-up. . . .

"Her honeymoon may have been less than relaxing, but Skye Boyd née Denison is still high on marital bliss with her new husband, Wally. The fact that their family is about to get bigger is even more exciting, even if Skye is dealing with morning sickness—and trying to hide the news from her ever-meddling mother, May.

"But Skye quickly comes crashing down from cloud nine when the body of one of her coworkers, science teacher and volleyball coach Blair Hucksford, is found in the school swimming pool. The troublesome trainer was on the bad side of almost everyone on staff and many of the girls on her team, leaving Skye to sort through a huge roster of suspects. Now she must figure out which wronged party was mad enough to kill, and quickly—before someone else in town gets bumped off. . . ."

Opinion: Decent continuation of Skye's life....decent murder mystery

The Intertidal Wilderness by Anne Wertheim

Started: 8/28/2024

Finished: 8/28/2024

Year: 1984

Pages: 142

Genre: marine biology

Grade: B

Reason for reading: TBR pile

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "The Intertidal Wilderness is a stunning photographic exploration of the tidepools of the Pacific coast, from Baja California to as far north as southeast Alaska. These lush photographs capture in striking color the enormous variety of life and biological detail in the intertidal zone along one of the world's most spectacular coastlines. The interpretative text and captions describe telltale signs of ecological relationships and processes, helping the seashore explorer to appreciate ecological interactions and their consequences. The text delves into the roles of competition, predation, reproduction, natural variation in space and time, and color that characterize this vibrant ecosystem.

"This revised edition has been updated throughout, incorporating new scientific information, new photographs, and a new chapter discussing the recent human impact on this threatened environment. Fusing art and science, The Intertidal Wilderness conveys the fragility, complexity, and interdependence of the plants and animals living at the interface of land and sea.

"The Intertidal Wilderness vividly animates the surprisingly delicate beauty of the often violent intertidal zone, which daily withstands pounding waves at high tides as well as desiccation and exposure at low tides. With revealing photographs, engaging text, and a solid foundation in marine biology, this book will capture the imagination of the casual seashore visitor as well as the dedicated enthusiast."

Opinion: A decent introductory level book

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Started: 8/26/2024

Finished: 8/28/2024

Year: 2017

Pages: 291

Genre: True Crime

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.

"Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered.

"As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history."

Opinion: Greedy part of American history that is not always told in schools.

T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton

Started: 8/21/2024

Finished: 8/26/2024

Year: 2007

Pages: 482

Genre: mystery

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com, continuing with the series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Kinsey Millhone's elderly neighbor, Gus Vronsky, may have been the original inspiration for the term “Grumpy Gus.” A miser and a hoarder, Gus is so crotchety that after he takes a bad fall, his only living relative is anxious to find someone to take care of him and get back home as soon as she can.

"To help, Kinsey runs a check on the applicant, Solana Rojas. Social security, driver's license, nursing certification: It all checks out. And it sounds like she did a good job for her former employers. So Kinsey gives her the thumbs-up, figuring Gus will be the ideal assignment for this diligent, experienced caregiver.

"And the real Solana Rojas was indeed an excellent caregiver. But the woman who has stolen her identity is not, and for her, Gus will be the ideal victim..."

Opinion: Lots of good suspense

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

Started: 8/20/2024

Finished: 8/21/2024

Year: 2022

Pages: 240

Genre: thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

"But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day."

Opinion: Interesting take on a serial killer case.

Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

Started: 8/19/2024

Finished: 8/20/2024

Year: 2008

Pages: 304

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "In a house under renovation, a plumber uncovers a cellar no one knew about, and makes a rather grisly discovery -- a decapitated chicken, animal bones, and cauldrons containing beads, feathers, and other relics of religious ceremonies. In the center of the shrine, there is the skull of a teenage girl. Meanwhile, on a nearby lakeshore, the headless body of a teenage boy is found by a man walking his dog.

"Nothing is clear -- neither when the deaths occurred, nor where. Was the skull brought to the cellar or was the girl murdered there? Why is the boy's body remarkably well preserved? Led by a preacher turned politician, citizen vigilantes blame devil worshippers and Wiccans. They begin a witch hunt, intent on seeking revenge.

"Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan -- "five-five, feisty, and forty-plus" -- is called in to investigate, and a complex and gripping tale unfolds in this, Kathy Reichs's eleventh taut, always surprising, scientifically fascinating mystery."

Opinion: Decent mystery. Good introduction to different beliefs

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

Started: 8/17/2024

Finished: 8/19/2024

Year: 1998

Pages: 226

Genre: history

Grade: C

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Masterfully researched and eloquently written, The Professor and the Madman is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary—one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the OED’s overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, was stunned to discover that one man, Dr. W. C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand entries. But their surprise would pale in comparison to what they were about to discover when the committee insisted on honoring him. Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane."

Opinion: Interesting history of the Oxford English Dictionary

New England Nightmares by Keven McQueen

Started: 8/14/2024

Finished: DNF

Year: 2018

Pages: 246

Genre: mystery, paranormal, history

Grade: D

Reason for reading: library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "New England is renowned for its quaint towns, beautiful landscapes, and busy ports. But it is also infamous as the setting for unexplained deaths, ghost stories, bizarre murders, and peculiar wills and epitaphs.

"In New England Nightmares: True Tales of the Strange and Gothic, author Keven McQueen explores the darker and stranger side of New England and the Mid-Atlantic. With shocking and unforgettable tales from the tip of Maine all the way to the New Jersey shore, this eerie collection explores our fascination with death and the unknown, including tales of medical students digging up bodies to dissect, of a murderer's bones being wired together after death, and of Dr. Timothy Clark Smith, who requested that he be buried with a breathing tube and glass window so he could see the outside world.

"An intriguing and frightful look into the odder side of the Northeast, New England Nightmares promises to send chills down your spine."

Opinion: Some stories are interesting but the font makes it almost impossible to read. It is clear that the author did a lot of research for all of the stories that are included. Stopped due to font size, not due to material or writing.

Murder of a Needled Knitter by Denise Swanson

Started: 8/13/2024

Finished: 8/14/2024

Year: 2014

Pages: 245

Genre: Cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with the series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "School psychologist Skye Denison has been waiting forever for her happily-ever-after with police chief Wally Boyd. But her bliss threatens to unravel on the very first day of their luxurious honeymoon cruise, when Skye becomes convinced that she has glimpsed her mother on board! Surely even momzilla May wouldn’t have manipulated Wally into booking the same trip that her knitting group is taking…or would she?

"May’s possible presence can’t cool Skye and Wally’s ardor on their personal Love Boat, but discovering knitting expert Guinevere Stallings as she lies dying from a stab wound leaves them untangling the clues of yet another murder investigation rather than getting tangled in the sheets. Since Skye found the body, she’s considered a top suspect, but she’s far from the only one. Guinevere’s imperious ways needled nearly everyone, and she left an impressive number of enemies. It’s up to the crafty newlyweds to figure out which of the wronged parties was angry enough to cast Guinevere off...permanently."

Opinion: Imagine going on your honeymoon and discovering that your parents and best friend and her husband are on the same cruise...add in a murder and you have this book. Decent mystery-LOTS of suspects.

Sidecountry by John Branch

Started: 8/9/2024

Finished: 8/13/2024

Year: 2021

Pages: 345

Genre: sports history

Grade: B

Reason for reading: goodreads.com giveaway

Type: ARC

Blurb (from Amazon): "Branch is renowned for covering the offbeat in the sporting world, from alligator hunting to wingsuit flying. Sidecountry features such classic Branch pieces, including “Snow Fall,” about downhill skiers caught in an avalanche in Washington state, and “Dawn Wall,” about rock climbers trying to scale Yosemite’s famed El Capitan. In other articles, Branch introduces people whose dedication and decency transcend their sporting lives, including a revered football coach rebuilding his tornado-devastated town in Iowa and a girls’ basketball team in Tennessee that plays on despite never winning a game. The book culminates with his moving personal pieces, including “Children of the Cube,” about the surprising drama of Rubik’s Cube competitions as seen through the eyes of Branch’s own sports-hating son, and “The Girl in the No. 8 Jersey,” about a mother killed in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting whose daughter happens to play on Branch’s daughter’s soccer team."

Opinion: As with every collection of stories, some are better than others. Some interesting looks at behind the story on some known places, sports, events.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Started: 8/8/2024

Finished: DNF

Year: 2024

Pages: 350

Genre: thriller

Grade: F

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "It’s the opening night of The Manor, the newest and hottest luxury resort, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.

"But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And it’s not too long before the local police are called. Turns out the past has crashed the party, with deadly results.

"THE GIRLBOSS · THE HUSBAND · THE KITCHEN HELP · THE MYSTERY GUEST

"Everyone’s got a secret. Everyone’s got an agenda. But not everyone will survive…The Midnight Feast"

Opinion: Too much flipping back and forth in the time line. The different POVs didn't bother me.

One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni

Started: 8/6/2024

Finished: 8/8/2024

Year: 2023

Pages: 358

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with the series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Tracy Crosswhite is reopening the investigation into Seattle’s Route 99 serial killer. After thirteen victims, he stopped hunting and the trail went cold, stirring public outrage. Now, nearly three decades after his first kill, Tracy is expected to finally bring closure to the victims’ families and redeem the Seattle PD’s reputation. Even if it means working with her nemesis, Captain Johnny Nolasco.

"Lead detective of the original task force, Nolasco dares Tracy to do what he failed to: close the case. Forming an uneasy alliance, Tracy and Nolasco revisit old leads and pursue new evidence only to unearth high-level corruption and cover-ups as dangerous as the elusive killer himself. At the risk of being exposed, such deadly and powerful forces will go to extremes to stay in the shadows.

"That’s just where Tracy and Nolasco are headed―to find the twisted truth behind a killer’s motives, his disappearance, and his chilling comeback."

Opinion: A decent mystery with a good twist. Good continuation of the series.

Raven Threads by K.D. McCrite

Started: 8/5/2024

Finished: 8/6/2024

Year: 2013

Pages: 203

Genre: mystery

Grade: C

Reason for reading: TBR pile, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from book jacket): "Emma Cotton and Kelly Grace, owners of Cotton & Grace quilt design shop in Mystic Harbor, Massachusetts, are hot on the trail of their next suspect, Shay Jensen. They believe Shay had a hand in their friend Rose's death fifteen years ago.

"In her college days, Shay was reported to wear a raven charm necklace identical to the one found laying next to Rose's body at the crime scene. Now Emma is determined to track her down, but weeks searching have proven futile. It's almost as if Shay Jensen never existed.

"Then Kelly uncovers a clue-Shay's birthplace-and the women travel to the small mountain views of Avonlea, Vermont, to investigate further.

"They arrive expecting to find a charming resort village, filled with bustling shops and welcoming townsfolk. But Avonlea more closely resembles a ghost town. The residents are unfriendly and reluctant to talk about Shay. Those who will, do so with furtive glances and their stories don't match.

"Amid a growing patchwork of deceit, frightening patterns begin to emerge. Emma and Kelly come to the chilling conclusion that the town is hiding a dark secret, and they must first unravel the mystery if they ever hope to find Shay. But there are those in town who'd prefer old secrets remain buried, and they'll go to great lengths to see that they do.

"Will the cryptic trail of clues lead the women to the answers they so desperately seek...or straight into the path of danger?"

Opinion: This was better than the first book and I will be continuing with the series.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Started: 8/4/2024

Finished: DNF

Year: 2024

Pages: 379

Genre: Romance

Grade: D-

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.

"Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through—and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him.

"Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business—one that plays for keeps."

Opinion: Took too long to get even a remote idea of what the main characters were about and the chemistry was not felt between them imo.

Murder of a Stacked Librarian by Denise Swanson

Started: 8/1/2024

Finished: 8/3/2024

Year: 2013

Pages: 249

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: continuing with the series, library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "There’s no place like Scumble River at Christmastime, and this year, school psychologist Skye Denison has twice as much to celebrate—and to do. In addition to the usual holiday frenzy, Skye’s wedding to police chief Wally Boyd is less than a week away—that is, if the groom isn’t too busy working to attend. The town’s sexy new librarian, Yvonne Osborn, has just been murdered, and the list of suspects is piling up faster than late fees on an overdue book.

"Yvonne’s strict sense of right and wrong annoyed some townspeople and infuriated others. Did her high standards lead to her death? Skye is distracted by worries about what havoc the crazy Dooziers will wreak on her wedding day and whether she’ll fit into her dress. But Skye can’t afford to leave any page unturned because unless she works quickly to expose the scheming killer, her happy ending may be put on permanent hold.…"

Opinion: Ending felt very rushed-both the wedding and the mystery finale.

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris

Started: 7/31/2024

Finished: DNF

Year: 2021

Pages: 372

Genre: mystery

Grade: F

Reason for reading: goodreads.com giveaway

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Ellice Littlejohn seemingly has it all: an Ivy League law degree, a well-paying job as a corporate attorney in midtown Atlanta, great friends, and a “for fun” relationship with a rich, charming executive, who just happens to be her white boss. But everything changes one cold January morning when Ellice arrives in the executive suite and finds him dead with a gunshot to his head.

"And then she walks away like nothing has happened. Why? Ellice has been keeping a cache of dark secrets, including a small-town past and a kid brother who’s spent time on the other side of the law. She can’t be thrust into the spotlight—again.

"But instead of grieving this tragedy, people are gossiping, the police are getting suspicious, and Ellice, the company’s lone black attorney, is promoted to replace her boss. While the opportunity is a dream-come-true, Ellice just can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

"When she uncovers shady dealings inside the company, Ellice is trapped in an impossible ethical and moral dilemma. Suddenly, Ellice’s past and present lives collide as she launches into a pulse-pounding race to protect the brother she tried to save years ago and stop a conspiracy far more sinister than she could have ever imagined…"

Opinion: As much as racism and sexism still plays a factor in today's society, I wanted more focused on the murder mystery instead of the hatred of ignorant people.