BLOG TOUR - Murder by Firelight

DESCRIPTION:

No one can hold a candle to amateur detectives Flora Steele and Jack Carrington as they ask the burning question… Who is the killer walking the cobbled streets of their historic little town?

Sussex, November 1959. There’s a chill in the air at the Lewes bonfire celebration. Carnival floats fill the narrow streets, fireworks crackle overhead, and Flora and Jack feel the heat of the burning torches lining the streets. But when Trevor French, chief of the Grove Bonfire Society, tumbles from his parade float, they know something is afoot. Trevor didn’t just fall – and amidst the crowds, his killer slips away through the smoke-filled night.

But who would want the respected Trevor dead? As Flora and Jack question the vying bonfire societies, they find a surprisingly competitive underbelly at play. Did Edwin Brooker, former chairman, stoke the flames of rivalry too far? Or are the tears of the victim’s friend, Leo Nelson, faked to keep himself safe?

Just as the sleuths believe they’ve figured it out, the body of a key suspect in the case is found dead on their hearth rug, and Flora and Jack realise that no one is safe – including themselves. Together, can they smoke the murderer out? Or will their chances of survival go up in flames?

A completely addictive and absolutely charming cozy mystery novel. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will adore this unputdownable series!

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Title:  Murder by Firelight

Author:  Merryn Allingham 

Series:   Flora Steele Mystery #12

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   280

Date of Publication:   September 4, 2025

My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

It is September 1959 in Sussex. Villagers had been enjoying a Lewes bonfire celebration, with several striking carnival floats. Flora Steele and her husband Jack Carrington were among the revelers. The celebration comes to a screeching stop when Trevor French, the head of the Great Bonfire Society falls off of his float, and Flora, Jack and others rush to his aid.

One thing is for certain. Trevor’s death was no accident due to that fall. He was murdered. His bloodied body proved that. Flora is a small bookshop owner and Jack is a teacher and a writer. However, they are also amateur detectives. Flora may have been the one eager to jump into sleuthing previously, but she is ready to step back, leaving the investigations to the police. However, Jack is determined to 

find the murderer.  

Jack’s plans to give up teaching at Cleve College to write full time has its moments of trepidation. For now, his writing would have to be pushed to the side as he determinedly looks for Trevor French’s murderer. With Jack much more invested than Flora, he leaves no stone unturned. Of course, Flora dearly loves Jack so she does what she can to stop, not just the murder of Trevor, but another murder that takes place as well. Of course, this will no doubt make things very tenuous for the couple as there is clearly more than one person that could be responsible. 

Twelves books in and yet each installment in this series takes on a fresh take with a couple who have a penchant for solving the crimes that always seem to happen in or around their presence. But, as a cozy mystery lover, this is perfect! I love Flores and Jack together and hope that they have many more stories in the future. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband and one last cat, Bluebell. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

https://merrynallingham.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites
https://twitter.com/merrynwrites

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Review - Dead Post Society

Title:   Dead Post Society 
Author: Diane Kelly
Series: House Flipper Mystery #7
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 293

Date of Publication: April 1, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The seventh in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are no strangers to murder. After all, they’ve encountered corpses on their properties before. But this is the first time they’d decided to take a chance on a property where two murders have already occurred. Most buildings on the former boarding school property have been repurposed for an upscale retirement community, but the developer had no use for the headmaster’s house given its violent history. The headmaster and his wife were killed there decades earlier, their deaths remaining a mystery to this day. 

Still, it seems a shame to see the beautiful Victorian give way to decay or the wrecking ball, even if many claim the unsettled souls of the victims still wander its halls, seeking retribution and justice. Can Whitney and Buck exorcise the structure’s demons, solve the cold case, and give the building new life? Or will ghosts from the past seek to silence them forever?

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS:

Whitney Whitaker and her cousins are back at it with another neighborhood renovation project that easily upsets the neighbors. The objective is good: once complete, there will be a retirement community. However, even before Whitney can start the work, problems abound. For one thing, decades previously, the headmaster and his wife were murdered, and the case remains unsolved. This violent past surrounding the property makes the project a real challenge.

As the seventh book in the House Flipper Mystery series, readers have seen Whitney excel as a talented and hardworking carpenter. But that’s not all; she’s also proven adept at being an amateur detective. Now that she’s working on the property, she’s determined to uncover the truth, even if she’s haunted by the neighbors and perhaps more.

Whitney is happily married to Collin Flynn, a homicide detective. Naturally, Whitney doesn’t hesitate to involve Collin when it comes to her inquiries. Their dynamic works well, with Whitney’s wit, intelligence, and curious nature ensuring that whatever mystery she faces will eventually be solved.

There’s a slight twist that makes them wonder if ghosts of the past might impede their work. This delightful story in the series is a must-read. I love Whitney, her relationship with Collin, and how well she works with her cousins. These characters and the plots as Whitney solves them always make these books enjoyable reads.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A former tax advisor, Diane Kelly inadvertently worked with white-collar criminals more than once. Lest she end up in an orange jumpsuit, Diane decided self-employment would be a good idea. Her fingers hit the keyboard and thus began her “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. A graduate of her hometown’s Citizen Police Academy, Diane Kelly, also writes the hilarious Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the Busted Female Motorcycle Cop series, the House Flipper series, the Southern Homebrew Moonshine series and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series.

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BLOG TOUR - The Couple’s Secret

DESCRIPTION:

The couple in the photo smile at the camera, arms wrapped around each other, faces alight with happiness. They were two people getting a second chance at love, trying to blend their young families and start a new life together. Until their smiles became frozen for the camera forever as their lives were cut tragically short by a horrifying act of violence…

Seven years ago, Tobias Lachlan and his fiancée Cora Stevens went out for a romantic dinner together. They left the restaurant smiling and holding hands, Cora sent a text message to say they were on the way home… but they were never seen again, leaving their family and friends with broken hearts and unanswered questions.

Detective Josie Quinn is shocked when she’s called to investigate the discovery of their bodies in a submerged car in the river just outside Denton. The medical report soon shows that Tobias and Cora were brutally murdered, sending shockwaves through the community and reopening the case that police thought had long gone cold.

With no obvious clues, and no sightings of the couple after they left the restaurant that night, Josie draws a blank. Tobias and Cora’s children, now grown, can’t imagine who might have wanted their parents dead. The discovery of a tiny old-fashioned key in the remnants of Cora’s purse could unlock the mystery, but no one knows what the key might open, and Josie can’t figure out what it meant to Cora. But secrets don’t stay buried forever, and if Josie knows one thing to be true, it’s this: someone always knows something. As she digs deeper, Josie finds evidence that this perfect couple might have been keeping secrets. Secrets from their children, and secrets from each other.

But then another body is found—another member of the family, tragically silenced forever. Josie’s investigation has stirred up more than just the river bed, and she knows that the killer is now even more desperate to keep their secrets hidden. Who is trying to rip this family apart, and can Josie find out before it’s too late?

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Title:  The Couple’s Secret

Author:  Lisa Regan

Series:  Detective Josie Quinn Book 23
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  366

Date of Publication:  September 1, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Wow! Just wow! The more I read this latest book in the Josie Quinn series, the more shocked I became. What a thrilling story with shocking twists! I even had to stop reading for a moment at one point to say, “Oh wow!”

As the prologue reads, there’s a sentence that just might haunt you page after page: “Leave while you still can.”

Detective Josie Quinn is investigating the case of two victims found in a car deep in a river. Their names were Tobias Lachlan and Cora Stevens, and at first glance, it seems as if they might have driven off the road and sunk in the river. However, an examination by the medical examiner reveals otherwise. Josie begins by looking for the why of the murders, especially once the exact cause of death is determined.

Josie and her husband Noah have not only experienced dangerous and life-threatening situations but also a recent devastating disappointment. Despite these challenges, there are bright points in their lives. They have something special planned for their fifth anniversary and are now the guardians of a teenager named Wren. Becoming parents of a teen wasn’t something Josie or Noah had imagined, so their joys are mixed with some stress.

The investigation runs deeper than Josie could’ve ever expected, and Josie searches for clues that will lead to the right answers. As the couple that had died had adult children, that is where her investigation began.  The excitement in this 23rd book doesn’t stop and it is an absolutely amazing read that left me in awe. 

This series would definitely be enjoyed if beginning from the first book as getting to know Josie, Noah and their coworkers would really connect you to the series. Admittedly, I came into the series with book three, and with the first two in my TBR, and plan on correcting that oversight very soon. 

If you are follower of the series, (and if not, why?) this book picks up soon after book 22 ended, Husband Missing. That book was equally as compelling as this one is, and left a huge thirst for this 23rd book. Lisa Regan did not disappoint. Not at all. She brings Josie to life, making her tangible and easy to connect with. I hope this series keeps on enduring as I want to see Josie, Noah and Wren grow as a family while Josie tackles the most difficult of cases. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Regan is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series. Lisa is a member of Sisters In Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S. with her husband, daughter, and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip. Find out more at her website: www.lisaregan.com

 

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan

WEBSITE: www.lisaregan.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan

Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/lisa-regan 

Review - We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat

Title:  We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat

Author:  Syou Ishida,

  E.  Madison Shimoda (Translator)

Series:   We’ll Prescribe You a Cat #2

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Fiction/Fantasy

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   304

Date of Publication:   September 2, 2025

My Rating:   

DESCRIPTION:

The Kokoro Clinic for the Soul reopens in this delightful follow-up to the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel We’ll Prescribe You a Cat.

It’s time to revisit the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul.

Though it’s a mysteriously located clinic with an uncertain address, it can always be found by those who need it. And the clinic has proven time after time that a prescribed cat has the power to heal the emotional wounds of its patients. This charming sequel introduces a new lovable cast of healing cats, from Kotetsu, a four-month-old Bengal who unleashes his boundless energy by demolishing bed linens and curtains, to tenacious and curious Shasha, who doesn’t let her small size stop her from anything, and the most lovable yet lazy cat Ms. Michiko, who is as soft and comforting as mochi.

As characters from one chapter appear as side characters in the next, we follow a young woman who cannot help pushing away the man who loves her, a recently widowed grandfather whose grandson refuses to leave his room, the family of a young woman who struggle to understand each other, and an anxious man who works at a cat shelter seeking to show how the most difficult cats can be the most rewarding. This moving, magical novel of interconnected tales proves the strength in the unfathomable bond between cats and people.

Link to shop this series

MY THOUGHTS:

Magical realism or fantasy aren’t my preferred genres, but as a die-hard cat lover, I was intrigued by both this book and the first in the series. In this second book, four interconnected stories follow individuals seeking psychiatric help to cope with their stressful situations. Each person eventually finds their way to the enigmatic Kokoro Clinic for the Soul.

This fantasy novel follows individuals in need of uplifting moments. Their journeys lead them to the Kokoro Clinic, where treatment involves caring for cats, often for at least a week. While it may seem a bit depressing to read about their struggles, the fact that loving cats can transform their moods keeps me engaged. I’ll definitely follow this series if it continues. 

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in 1975 in Kyoto, Syou Ishida is an award-winning author. Her debut in the series, We’ll Prescribe You a Cat, has been a runaway international bestseller and has been the subject of numerous news articles, including in the Guardian and the New York Times. We'll Prescribe You Another Cat is the second volume in the series to be published internationally. Volume 3 has also been released in Japan and will be published in the English-language next year as Welcome to the Kokoro Cat Clinic.

Review - The Code

Title:  The Code

Author:  Gregg Hurwitz

Series:   Orphan X #10.5

Publisher:  Minotaur

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   46

Date of Publication:   September 2, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

In the latest short story from bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz, discover the teenage missions of Orphan X.

Before he was the feared black ops government assassin Orphan X, operating in the shadows and spoken about in whispers, Evan Smoak was a teenager, undergoing the most rigorous of training. At 17, Evan is sent off by his handler, ex-CIA station agent Jack Johns, to take the most intense U.S. military training course. But that is only part of the challenge before him - Evan has to get there and back, safely and quietly, maintaining operational security. And along the way, facing unexpected challenges, Evan must use everything he's learned since the day he was taken from the foster home in East Baltimore, lessons that Jack Johns has drilled into him, laws of life and death that are to become The Code.

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First commandment - Assume Nothing
Second Commandment - How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything 
Third Commandment - Master Your Surroundings
Fourth Commandment - Never Make It Personal 
Fifth Commandment - If You Don’t Know What To Do, Do Nothing 
Sixth Commandment - Question Orders
Seventh Commandment - One Mission at a Time
Eighth Commandment - Never Kill a Kid
Ninth Commandment - Always Play Offense
Tenth Commandment - Never Let An Innocent Die
unofficial 11th commandment - Don’t Fall In Love With Plan A

MY THOUGHTS:

In this quick novella by Gregg Hurwitz, we glimpse into Evan Smoak’s past, revealing how he became an Orphan, specifically Orphan X. Just shy of 18, Evan is about to embark on rigorous SEAL training and join a top-secret black-ops agency that undertakes missions the American government cannot.

It was intriguing to witness Evan’s journey from a teenager to a trained assassin. Alongside the skills he’ll acquire, he’ll also learn the “Laws of Death.” As he approaches and completes each mission, “The Code” and “The Ten Commandments” will become pivotal guides for him. 

The 11th book in the series, titled Antihero, is scheduled for release in February.

Many thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times, #1 internationally bestselling author of 22 thrillers, including the ORPHAN X series, and two award-winning thriller novels for teens. His novels have won numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been published in 33 languages. Gregg currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW).

Gregg has written screenplays for or sold spec scripts to many of the major studios (including THE BOOK OF HENRY), and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. He is also a New York Times bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, Punisher) and DC (Batman, Penguin). He has published numerous academic articles on Shakespeare, taught fiction writing in the USC English Department, and guest lectured for UCLA, and for Harvard in the United States and internationally. In the course of researching his thrillers, he has sneaked onto demolition ranges with Navy SEALs, swum with sharks in the Galápagos, and gone undercover into mind-control cults.

Additionally, Gregg is actively working to end polarization in politics and on college campuses. To that end, he's produced several hundred commercials which got over a hundred million views on digital and TV platforms. His editorial pieces have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bulwark, and others.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Framed in Death

Title:  Bonded in Death 

Author:  J. D. Robb

Series:  In Death #61

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Genre:  Mystery/Thrillers

Format:  Audio ALC

Narrator:   Susan Erickson

Date of Publication:  September 2, 2025

No. of Pages:  368

Length: 12 hr 5 min

My Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Death imitates art in the brand-new crime thriller starring homicide cop Eve Dallas from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author J.D. Robb.

Manhattan is filled with galleries and deep-pocketed collectors who can make an artist's career with a wave of a hand. But one man toils in obscurity, his brilliance unrecognized while lesser talents bask in the glory he believes should be his. Come tomorrow, he vows, the city will be buzzing about his work.

Indeed, before dawn, Lt. Eve Dallas is speeding toward the home of the two gallery owners whose doorway has been turned into a horrifying crime scene overnight. A lifeless young woman has been elaborately costumed and precisely posed to resemble the model of a long-ago Dutch master, and Dallas plunges into her investigation.

Link to purchase the series

MY THOUGHTS:

A string of murders all have a very unique signature, and Lt. Eve Dallas is determined to identify the killer and to prevent any more from dying. 

In the year 2061, when sex work is entirely legal, a painter embarks on an unusual quest. He hires a Licensed Companion to pose for his next painting, unaware of his intentions. This sets the stage for Eve’s newest case, which plunges her and her partner, Sergeant Delia Peabody, into the vibrant art scene. As a married woman to the wealthy billionaire Roarke, Eve is no stranger to fine art.

Perhaps due to my love for books, certain famous paintings mentioned in the story were instantly recognizable to me. This added an extra layer of realism to the narrative, making it easier to visualize the paintings that were referenced. However, what truly captivated me was the fact that Framed in Death is the 61st installment in this captivating series. All 61 books in the series have been expertly narrated by the talented Susan Erickson, and I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, just as I have been with every book in the series.

As engaging as this story was, the mystery was intriguing. The clues that Eve and Peabody were gathering led to a stunning crescendo. I particularly enjoyed the ending, as Eve refused to give up until justice was properly served. 

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of five children. After a school career that included some time in Catholic school and the discipline of nuns, she married young and settled in Keedysville, Maryland.

She worked briefly as a legal secretary. “I could type fast but couldn’t spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever,” she says now. After her sons were born she stayed home and tried every craft that came along. A blizzard in February 1979 forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate.

Born into a family of readers, Nora had never known a time that she wasn’t reading or making up stories. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981.

Nora met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Since that time, they’ve expanded their home, traveled the world and opened a bookstore together

Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming.

Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.”