The Mark on the Door By: Franklin W. Dizon

A random submarine sighting sends the boys on a trek through the Baja jungle and an adventure worthy of the Aztec Gods.

Footprints Under The Window By: Franklin W. Dixon

Another fun, if slightly far fetched adventure with Frank and Joe Hardy.  This one finds the boys investigating luggage thefts, kidnappings, and an international spy ring all within a matter of days.  As far fetched as some plot points can be, this series is great fun!

Power Play By: Joseph Finder

A quiet, taut, psychological thriller! Written with Finder's usual attention to detail, Power Play moves from the boardroom to the wilds of a Canadian Island with ease. Who's to be trusted? Who's to be dismissed? Who's to survive? All of these questions, and more, aren't answered until the heart pounding ending. Another great read from Mr. Finder!

A Christmas Revelation By: Anne Perry

Anne Perry's Christmas Stories have been a Christmas tradition for me for the past 16 years.  Every year, my husband puts the latest one in my stocking, and it's always the first book I read after Christmas.  In Revelation we focus on Worm and Squeaky from the Pitt mysteries series, and their odd yet loving relationship as Worm sets out to help a lady (who may not need the help or be who she claims to be) and Squeaky tries to explain and give Worm his first Christmas.  These novels always focus on a supporting character from one of Perry's long running series' and always remind one of what Christmas should really be about, and why Perry is one the greatest writers of Victorian mysteries, ever!

Songs in Ordinary Time By: Mary McGarry Morris

Like an accident on the side of the highway, it was hard to turn away from this brutal story of a a family, a small Vermont town and a grifter.  Not a lot of happiness in this tome, but writing that pulls you in to this heart breaking, infuriating and moving story of Marie Fermoyle and the town of Atkinson, Vermont.  Ultimately, a glimmer of hope ends this slice of life, summer tale.

Top Ten Books I've Read in 2018!!!

MY TOP READS OF FROM 2018

It's that time of year folks: Time for the Top Ten Books I've Read in 2018!!!

#10:  Bright Air Black By: David Vann

A deliciously, dark and vivid take on the Medea myth, told from Medea's point of view. Not for the faint of heart, but a brilliantly written-and great food for thought!

#9:  The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust and the Beautiful Killers Who Inspired Chicago By: Douglas Barry

A simple told, yet riveting look at the female killers of the 20s in Chicago and the female reports who told their stories, leading up to one of them writing the play Chicago. Intricately researched and chock full of historical/social/economic/political/sexual context, a must read for history and/or true crime buffs or fans of the play/musical Chicago.

#8: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend By: Katarina Bivald

Just a simple, and lovely story about a woman whose life is completely changed by a woman she's never met in another country and there connection is books. Nothing wrong with a "feel good" read, and this one of the best!

#7: The Weight of Ink By: Rachel Kadish

An exquisite, breath taking novel. A stunning trip through London during the 17th and 21st centuries, following the lives of two extraordinary women. One a woman way a head of her time, the other following her through the tunnels of time. I wanted to savor this read, as well as rush through it to get to it's heart wrenching and heartfelt ending. Simply amazing!

#6: Call Me By Your Name By: Andre Aciman

A gorgeously written coming of age tale, that will anger you, make you laugh, cry and break and warm your heart. The language in this story is nothing short of stunning!

#5: Dracul By: Dacre Stoker and JD Barker 

A brilliant horror tale, which explains the origins of Stoker's Dracula...but wait...is it actually real?! Based on Stoker's regional drafts of Dracula and family research, this is a read you won't soon forget. It's also a must that you read the author's note section at the back of the book-it's as fascinating as the story itself.

#4.5-Honorable Mentions:

I'm extremely blessed that I have met the Wicked Authors, and that they continue to send me ARCs of their fabulous Cozies, and so this year, as in previous, all the Wicked Cozy Authors, Julie Hennrikus, Barbara Ross, Sherry Harris, Edith M. Maxwell, Liz Mugavero and Jessie Crockett receive this years' Honorable Mention, for their books which will be now or in the next year! Thank you to an Uber-talented bunch of women who enable my reading addiction!

#4: Labyrinth of the Spirits By: Carlos Ruiz Zafron

Another installment in Zafron's fantastic Barcelona/Book series, that is not to be missed. The protagonist in this one is an extraordinary woman who has to be read to be believed. Lots of twists and turns and a great addition to this dark series!

#3: The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules By: Catharina Ingleman-Sunberg

Don't judge a book by it's cover...unless it's this one, because the title says it all. It's a delightful and uplifting and laugh out loud hilarious book about a little old lady (and her little old friends), who break all the rules, but the best of reasons. Just a wonderful escapist book...which thankfully is the beginning of a series!

#2: 84, Charing Cross Road By: Helene Hanff

One the most charming, funny and touching books I've ever read. A slim volume of letters between an acerbic writer in New York to a book store in London. Doesn't sound like much, but I defy you to read this and not be moved!

#1: A Gentleman in Moscow By: Amor Toules

A book that I just get giddy thinking about. A story that is at times infuriating, hilarious, heart-warming, tension filled, laugh out loud funny, and cheer inducing. And it is literally about a Gentleman (in ever sense of that word) in Moscow. I can't are enough about how lovely this book is and how everyone should get a copy and read it!

Deaths of Jocasta By: J.M. Redmann

A bizarre cross between a lesbian regency romance and mystery, and yet it works!  A lively bunch of characters entangled in way too much of each others' lives, and a lunatic sending threatening letters and bomb threats...and a good time was had by all!

The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker Edited by: Robert Mannoff

Who couldn't love a ginormous book of New Yorker cartoons?  Included is a fascinating look at the origins of the New Yorker cartoons and bios sketches of some of the cartoonists.

The Gun Also Rises By: Sherry Harris - To be Published in January 2019

How can you not love Sarah Winston?!  The poor woman is just trying to put her life in order, enjoy her friends and her life in Ellington, and yet she's constantly getting tangled in dangerous messes. In The Gun Also Rises, owe find Sarah cataloguing books for a well do widow.  Next thing she knows, there are long lost manuscripts from Ernest Hemingway, a dead body and suspicion aplenty.  The action never stops, the plot lines keep twisting, but luckily this Gordian plot can be undone, and Sarah can relax...one can hope!  A must read when it's released in 2019!

The First Frost By: Ruby Loren

This prequel sets up Rob Frost beautiful-an accidental private detective on purpose.  You have to read it to know what that means, but it will be worth it.  Will now have to get the first full book in this series to see what happens with the mystery that is fabulously started in this tantalizing book!

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus By: L. Frank Baum

A surprisingly deeply moving take on the legend of Santa Claus.  Harkening back to pagan mythology, a babe in the woods, adopted by a fairy learns he is of man, not of the fairies, and thus begins a journey that ultimately leads to his becoming Santa Claus.  Told in Baum's beautiful language, this story is lovingly rendered and will give you hope in humanity.  Something we could all use in the times in which we are currently living.

Murder Mansion By: M. K. Scott

I'm torn about this one.  One the one hand, it was very slow going, on the other hand it was intriguing enough that I really wanted to know what happened.  Donna Tollhouse is unlike any character I've read in a cozy, which I really liked, however, the development of the story was a little long for my taste and the mystery sort of took a back seat to Donna's personality and her desire to open an Inn.  Still, it was interesting and well written...all in all not a bad read.

The Last Time By: Sharon Haste

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!  A murder mystery, wrapped in a time travel story, wrapped in brilliance!  Extremely well written and plotted, this story will grab you form the first page and twist you around until the very last moment.  Once you think you've figured it out, you realize there is another layer to get through.  So creative!

Paid in Full By: Mark Newman

A quick and dirty tale of life, revenge, greed and murder.  Full of twists and turns and unpleasant people getting their comeuppances...and a good time was had by all...NOT! I really enjoyed Mr. Newman's style with this one.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir By: Jenny Lawson

Having never heard of Jenny Lawson, I wasn't sure what to expect from this memoir, but I laughed my ass off while reading it!  Her humor is twisted, but after reading this book, it's easy to see that it's a necessity for her to get through her life.  Some very personal and tough subjects are covered by Ms. Lawson in recounting her life, and it's her unique outlook and her humor that pulls her through.  Reading this book, you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll come back for more.

the 3rd installment in the Cat Cafe Mystery series By: Cate Conte

I am very thankful that I've been introduced to a lot of cozy authors and that they are gracious enough to let me read their manuscripts and ARCs.  This one will be the 3rd book in a series I adore.  I believe it is slated for publication some time in 2019.

Out of the Red By: David Bradwell

I'm not sue why this is considered the Anna Burgin series, because it doesn't focus solely on Anna, there are two other main characters that get equal time-but's that's neither here nor there...this is an intricately plotted thriller that moves.  Fascinating characters, numerous plots, and an ending that keeps you guessing and hanging.  Really fun read!

Moonlight Falls By: Vincent Zandri

What a crazy game of cat and mouse this was!!! You really have to read this one to believe it!  I don't want to describe the action, or anything about the totally unique protagonist because it would give away way too much, and remove a lot of the suspense.  Simply put this is a great thriller!

Genecaust By: E L Russell

This was a free sample of the first 7 chapters of this intriguing thriller! Totally makes one want to get the whole book to see how the action plays out and how all the characters are inter-related!

Evil Rises By: Wesley Robert Lowe

A great introduction to the Noah Reid series.  If you like the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then this is the series for you!

Death Sets Sail By: Dale E. Manolakas

I really like Manolakas' first book in this series so I was excited to dive into this one...unfortunately, it's a bit of a mess.  I didn't find a great deal of the plot points credible, and the ending wasn't satisfying to me.  Yet despite these points, I really like Veronica Kennicott as a character and it was great fun to read.

Caught Fire By: Michael D. Wright

A quick and dirty introduction to this new series. This first short sets up our intrepid new CIA agent on his first assignment.

The False Mirror By: Dana V. Moison

This is a hell of a great read!  Fast paced, great story lines, keeps you guessing until the oh so satisfying conclusion. Sharon Davis is a fantastic protagonist and I can't rave enough about how much I enjoyed this book!

Murder of the Prodigal Father By: Mark Wm Smith

Well written with interesting characters, it reminded me of an Anne Tyler novel... unfortunately, I'm not fond of Anne Tyler novels.  I felt that this couldn't decide if it was a personal growth novel, a family history novel or a mystery novel.  Any of the three of would have worked on their own, but the melding of all of them didn't quite work for me.  I liked it enough to want to finish it, just wasn't fantastic.

The Seeker: Finna's Quest Part-I By: E L Russell

A fascinating time travel fantasy.  Well written, and easy to follow; time travel explanations always tend to go awry and get confusing, but not in this book.  Finna is a great protagonist!

The Emperor of Ocean Park By: Stephen L. Carter

This is a great thriller-reminded me of The Eye of The Needle in it's pace and intrigue.  With the passing of his father, law professor Tal is sent on a hunt for his father's "arrangements".  Standing in his way are his wife, who is about to be nominated for a seat on the Supreme Court, law school colleagues (some who are friendly and some who are not), his messed up family, shadowy figures and a reputed mob boss.  There are so many twists and turns and multiple plot lines that it would be impossible to mention them all-suffice it to say Stephen L. Carter juggles them all and ties them all together beautifully.  No story lines are left hanging, and all are plausible.  A fantastic read!

The Tastemaker: Carl Van Vechten and the Birth of Modern America By: Edward White

An expertly written biography of a fascinating man you've never heard of!  Carl Van Vechten was an unbelievably busy man in his 84 years.  He was a report, an author, a publicist, a trend setter, a photographer, and a person who was endlessly fascinated by what he felt was true American Culture.  Because of his beliefs he was instrumental in publicizing Gertrude Stein in the States before anyone else.  He did the same for Paul Robeson's singing career and Langston Hughes.  He brought interest in the people, culture and art of Harlem to the world, helping to promote the Harlem Renaissance.  He did all of this, while being a petulant baby about how he was treated and wearing blinders to how he went about doing what he did.  This biography illuminates the amazing life of Van Vechten, illustrating his joy and fascination with everything he encountered in his world, but doesn't shy away from the odd ways in which he lived his life and went about his work.  This is an endlessly fascinating read about an endlessly fascinating man.

Pruning the Dead By: Julia Henry Due to be Published January 2019

A new series with a multigenerational, multiethnic, multi everything set of protagonists, lead by the seemingly unflappable Lilly Jayne.  This wonderful new series follows Lilly and the rest of the Garden Squad through the picturesque town of Goosebush.  See the classic New England town; the beautiful homes; the caring neighbors; the local shops; the dead body...wait that can't be right!  Oh, but it is.  While Lilly and residents meet to clean up a local park they find more than they bargained for-now it's up to Lilly and the Garden Squad to find out who did what to whom and why?  Smartly written, elegant and original characters and a lovely setting plan the seed to an excellent new series!!  Pre-order it now!

Dracul By: Dacre Stoker & J.D. Barker

I felt this was appropriate Halloween reading: and I was correct!  A dark, gothic telling of the origins of Bram Stoker's novel as well as Bram's origins as well.  Was it real?  Was it all made up?  We may never know, but this compelling novel will grab hold of you and not let go, until the very end, and maybe not even then.  Sheer brilliance!

Jordan Quest By: Gary Winston Brown

A short, concise and tightly written short, which begins the Jordan Quest series.  A that thriller with an intriguing heroine!

Sweet Murder By: Tegan Maher

Such a great concept-a cozy with witches!  Ms. Maher writes a traditional cozy with a sweet twist, and  it works.  The witches and ghosts that inhabit Keyhole Lake, Georgia are quirky and very Southern.  This is a charming start to what promises to be a great series!

Supply and Demand By: C.C. Edmonston

This short reminded me of the old radio show "Suspense".  Thee is a twist at the end and then a twist on the twist-freakin' brilliant!

Murder Diaries: Seven Times Over By: David Carter

A completely engrossing, twisted crime thriller.  I've not enjoyed being so confused in I can't remember how long!  A must for any crime buff!

Book 2 of a new cozy series-first book due out in January 2019

I just read the second book in a new cozy series, the first of which is due to be published in January.  I can't wait for people to be able to read this series!!!!  It's got a multi-cultural and multi-generational cast and is so imaginative!

The Fixer By: Mike Gomes

A feel good thriller!  Yes, I said a feel good thriller.  A well written, romp through the underbelly of crime with a flawed protagonist and a shadowy organization doing wrong for the right reason!  A great start to a fun series!

The Labyrinth of the Spirits By: Carlos Ruiz Zafron

WOW!  An amazing addition to the Cemetery of Lost Books series.  This one is more violent than the others, but the intrigue will grip you and not let go until the very end.  Zafron's Barcelona and it's denizens are such a vital part of this series.  This thriller follows Alicia and her shadowy job, but, of course, she is tied to the Sempere family and their extended class. I can't rave enough about this book!!  Just stunning!

No Safe Place By: Steven M. Roth

This was a rip roaring, hell of a read!  Great pacing kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.  I wanted desperately to finish it, but I also didn't want it to end.  A horrifying experiment perpetrated by the government begins the action of this tense thriller, and it never lets up.  Kudos to Mr Roth on this great read!

Straight White Men By: Young Jean Lee

Holy crap what a great play!  One of my colleagues at work was just in a production of this and I, unluckily was unable to see him in it, luckily he lent me his copy of the script.  Absolutely fascinating-so much to think about with this one, needs to be digested and discussed.

Chalres Laughton: A Difficult Actor By: Simon Callow

An interesting look at Laughton's acting-this is not a traditional bio, it really is about his acting, with bits of his life thrown in to emphasize a point or illustrate his thinking. It's very telling how powerful an impression Laughton makes, that I'm very familiar with his work, having only seen one movie that he was in, one movie that he directed and one radio program he acted in!

The Tipping Point By: Walter Danley

I, surprisingly, really enjoyed this one.  I find finance and business incredibly boring, and yet Mr. Danley managed to make this thriller about finance, business and greed, completely engaging. It is akin to reading an Ayad Akhtar play.

Who Needs Justice By: Rex Bolt

I really enjoyed this one! Chris Seely is a fascinating anti-hero. His circumstances are worthy of the reader's sympathy, what he intends to do, not so much-no matter how understandable. What follows is a twist filled ride through a man's psyche and will raise many questions for the reader to ponder regarding circumstances in our own lives. Engaging, well written and absolutely fascinating!

Loved by the Alpha Leader By: Anastasia Chase

Unfortunately, nothing special in this one.  I know it's a prequel-short story, but not much happens, and what does happen is totally predictable.  It's well written, but no real oomph.

The Donut Shop Murder By: Suzanne Jenkins

A lot of action and investigation is packed into this novella.  A seemingly clairvoyant Greek detective and her gay Asian partner investigate the death of a young lady found on the street in Detroit. An ingenious set of detectives run through the evidence and false leads to a satisfying conclusion.  If this novella is any indication, the Greektown Stories must be a brilliant series!

She's Gone By: Lorena May

A tight, taut thriller this was a big surprise in a small package. Shorts and thrillers don't often work well, but this one did. Bite your nails curiosity abounds in the neat thriller of what happened to Shea's baby!

Playing to the Gods: Sarah Bernhardt, Eleanora Duse, and the Rivalry that Changed Acting Forver By: Peter Rader

A fascinating look at Bernhardt (Queen of the Indicators) and Duse (Queen of the Actors) and how their two different acting styles ignited their profession and the world.  While not a full biography of either amazing woman, this is an in depth look at their personalities (public and private), and their acting styles.  The affect these two titans had on the profession is incalculable.

Yule Log Murder By: Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis & Barbara Ross (expected publish date: 10/30/18)

Due out in October, this trio of Maine set mysteries  are perfect for a chilly night.  Curl up with a cup of your favorite cocoa and snuggle in for the evening, for this holiday treat.  Meier's story bring a touch of Hollywood and murder to Maine; Hollis' story decorates family drama with murder; and Ross' (my favorite) story combines baking with murder (or does it?).  Three great writers, three great stories.  A perfect holiday treat!

Steamed Open By: Barbara Ross (expected publish date: 12/18/18)

Due out in December of 2018, this 7th installment of the Maine Clambake Mystery series is a winner!  Julia and the whole Snowden clan are at it again, serving up delicious clam bakes on Morrow Island, while dealing with closed beaches, potential shortage of steamers, lighthouse obsessives, oh, yeah and there's a body.  Barbara Ross writes so beautifully of the Main locales that the reader is immediately transported to the world of the book.  The denizens in her story are so real, and written with such pathos that reading this series is truly like visiting old friends. There's life, love, laughter, delicious food and a mystery to solve-what more could one want!

Our Dried Voices By: Greg Hickey

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.  Told simply and in an easy style the story of Samuel's intellectual awakening is poetically moving.  Set on the Planet Pearl (think of it as Earth Jr.) after Earth itself became over populated (among it's many other issues): Our Dried Voices follows Samuel on his journey of exploration and enlightenment from The Colony to the world at large.  This story calls to mind Huxley and Wells' work, is frightening, exhilarating, and ultimately hopeful.

The Weight of Ink By: Rachel Kadish

An exquisite, breath taking novel.  A stunning trip through London during the 17th and 21st centuries, following the lives of two extraordinary women.  One a woman way a head of her time, the other following her through the tunnels of time.  I wanted to savor this read, as well as rush through it to get to it's heart wrenching and heartfelt ending.  Simply amazing!

Anne Perry presents Malice Domestic 6: An Anthology of Original Traditional Mystery Stories

I can't believe I've never read any of the Malice Domestic series before!  A great set of mystery shorts, with some wonderful gems-particularly the entries by Kerry Greenwood, Simon Brett and Peter Robinson.

Trust Me By: Hank Phillippi Ryan

Oh my word-my doctor would have hated how elevated my blood pressure became while reading this!  Twist after twist after twist will keep you guessing, will anger you, will cause spontaneous cursing and the ending will being a little tear to your eye. Trust me -  you're going to love this stand alone thriller by the extraordinary Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Hollywood Plays For Keeps By: Dale E. Manolakas

I have to say I was disappointed with this one.  Despite the tag line on the title, this is not a cozy.  I couldn't tell what it was exactly.  It was mostly a backstage drama, with a hint of murder mystery, and a hint of a writer's story.  The main character, Veronica, did and said things that were simply not believable under the circumstances; the mystery was easily figured out from the get go; and their were continuity issues in the writing itself.  Did I hate it...no-clearly not, I read the whole thing.  Was it great, no...just an ok book that was a bit all over the place and couldn't quite figure out what it wanted to be.

Rogue By: Mike Winter

A great thriller in short form-not an easy task, but Mr. Winter manages to pack a lot of action, intrigue and suspense-with a great twist-into a novella.  Hazzah!