Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb
Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance.
Title: Abandoned in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #54
Publish Date: February 8, 2022
Source: purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance—in the new In Death novel by #1 New York Times bestselling J. D. Robb.
The woman’s body was found on a bench in a New York City playground. She was clean, her hair neatly arranged, her makeup carefully applied. But other things were very wrong—like the tattoo and piercings, clearly new. The clothes, decades out of date. The fatal wound hidden beneath a ribbon around her neck. And the note: Bad Mommy, written in crayon as if by a child.
It seems clear the killer’s childhood was traumatic—a situation Eve is all too familiar with herself. Yet the clues point to a perpetrator who’d be around sixty, and there are no records of old crimes with a similar MO. What was the trigger that apparently reopened such an old wound and sent someone over the edge? When Eve learns that other young women have recently vanished, the case grows even more urgent—and to solve it she’ll need to find her way into a hidden place of dim light and concrete, into the distant past, and into the depths of a shattered mind.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
You know I love me a good story with Eve and Roarke. I waited and waited for this book because…well…you know, Eve and Roarke. This story starts out a bit differently than some of the other books with the spotlight on the killer as a child. A creepy little brat of a kid. The mom is at the end of her rope and that’s where the mom and kid’s lives take a turn.
I saw the core group in the story plus Mavis, Bella, Leonardo, Nadine and special appearances by Quilla, Morris and Jamie. I enjoyed spending time with them but I have to tell you that I wasn’t all that glued to my seat. I could really see the “bones” of the book as I read. Eve getting called on to investigate, rattling Dickhead’s cage, Roarke working e-man, Roarke giving the same look when Eve asks if he could find out something, Roarke picking the locks, the gratuitous sex scene and then the breakdown in the box with people watching in observation. I’m not saying that it was a bad story – it was ok but it lacked the usual edge of my seat anticipation. I’ll read it again, maybe I’ll change my mind.
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Craven Street by E.J. Stevens
In this spellbinding novella, E.J. Stevens weaves a tale of murder, necromancy, and demonic possession.
Title: Craven Street
Author: E.J. Stevens
Series: The Whitechapel Paranormal Society #.5
Publish Date:
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: In this spellbinding novella, E.J. Stevens weaves a tale of murder, necromancy, and demonic possession that brings together characters from her Whitechapel Paranormal Society Victorian horror series and award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series on the fog-shrouded cobblestones of Craven Street.
The discovery of bricked up skeletal remains at 36 Craven Street point to something more diabolical than an illegal anatomy school. The tool marks on the bones, arcane sigils of great power, indicate more than mere butchery, more than enlightened experimentation. The signs, omens, and portents support the crown’s greatest fears. A great evil is being unleashed upon the gaslit streets of London, a blood-drenched shadow reaching skeletal fingers beyond the slums of Whitechapel.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
This story takes place in Victorian London. The “Society” as they affectionately call themselves, are women that investigate the paranormal happenings of the city. They have male counterparts, but those counterparts make light of their contribution to the point of butts of jokes. The concept of this book is awesome, the story itself, was just a teaser.
This book is a novella that introduces the horrifying elements that are terrorizing London. Each woman has a special gift to bring to the table, and while Cora (who can see the dead) and Flan (is a wiz with a knife) are starting their own romance, they have to figure out who is killing all the women they are dragging from the river. Then there is a demon that is involved. It is first and foremost a Demon Lord, but a Demon Lord with a conscience. It doesn’t like how the bad guy is treating the demon “puppies” of the realm, so it helps Cora, Flan, Edith, and Anna find and lock up the human power seeker. But that is just the beginning.
While this book doesn’t have a cliffhanger, it is definitely a lead into the series. There is no sex, but there is a F/F hot kiss. The story isn’t graphic in it’s description of the deceased and lets your mind do the work there. The one thing that detracted from the story (for me) was the use of $500,000 words that I had to look up in the dictionary to find the meaning. However, to be fair, that’s how those that lived in the Victorian era spoke, so it was my fault for not having the knowledge, not the book.
I’m not positive I will keep on with this series, but who knows? The first book releases in October 2022.
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Back off Witch by Brad Magnarella
Title: Back off Witch
Author: Brad Magnarella
Series: A Croft and Tabby Short (#2)
Publish Date: February 14, 2022
Source: Amazon Kindle Unlimited
Publisher’s Description: What’s worse than a sharp-tongued cat in a heatwave? Being stuck inside with her.
When my friend Kayla asks for my help as a wizard, I jump at the chance to escape my apartment—and Tabitha.
In New York’s inner city, a child’s closet hides a monster. At least according to my starry-eyed friend, who claims powers of intuition. But this time she might be onto something. The scariest part? The child will only confide in Tabitha.
Now I need to convince my succubus cat, who remains committed to eating, sleeping, staying cool, and, yes, devouring my soul, to help stop a supernatural threat that’s climbing faster than the city’s thermometer.
Can Tabitha and I overcome our differences in time to save an innocent life?
Or will she undermine me just to prove she’s still queen?
Croft & Tabby is a spinoff of the popular Prof Croft series, set before the main books. If you like snarky cats, fledgling mages, and supernatural investigations, you’ll love Croft & Tabby!
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
Tabitha and Prof Croft work together again. Tabitha is always reluctant to help, probably because she’s once removed from a demon, but Prof Croft bribes and cajoles her into coaxing a little boy to reveal the beast he’s afraid of and that is endangering his life. Of course, with Prof Croft, nothing is easy. What sounds like a decent low involvement plan totally blows up into something much bigger. Non magic believers, gather ’round for an entertaining and well written addition to the Croft and Tabby short. By the way, these short stories are a nice way to try out Prof Croft’s world to see if you might want to engage with the full size novels, which I encourage wholeheartedly.
Our reviews in this series…
- Demon Moon by Brad Magnarella
- Blood Deal
- Purge City by Brad Magnarella
- Death Mage
- Black Luck
- Power Game
- Druid Bond
- Night Rune
- Shadow Duel
- Shadow Deep
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Druid’s Moon by Deniz Bevan
Title: Druid’s Moon
Author: Deniz Bevan
Publish Date: September 20, 2022
Source: from publisher
Publisher’s Description: Beauty to his Beast…
Lyne Vanlith, an archaeologist who seeks a logical explanation to any mystery, discovers an ancient Druidic curse on her first dig. When the signs foretold by the curse descend on her, Lyne can’t find a reasonable interpretation.
And that’s even before a Beast rescues her from a monstrous sea-creature. She drops a grateful kiss on the snout of the Beast, who transforms into a man, Frederick Cunnick, Baron of Lansladron. Lyne is meant to be Beauty to his Beast—and break the curse forever.
Now both spellkeeper and monster are targeting Lyne. She must take up her legendary role, to defeat the curse and save Frederick—and herself. Instead of logic, for the first time, Lyne must trust her heart
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
I really can’t say I loved this book. It’s not that I didn’t like it…it was ok, but it was only just ok. The story wasn’t very impactful, if that’s even a word. The writing was a little confusing at times. The switch of scenes was a little bumpy too. The description wording was good, but the “grab me by my collar” just wasn’t there. It has monsters, a little romance, mysteries and curses.
I’ve never read anything by this author, so she is new to me. The whole premise of this story is Beauty and the Beast from when we were kids. It’s not exactly the same as the others as it has a witch that controls the family line resulting in the beast and the man inside is just under the surface. The beast hunts and kills for it’s mistress. It also uses an archeological dig as location for this story. The secret room, the legend of suffering of multiple generations and clues to the mystery all lie within a translation of a manuscript and the need to find “Beauty” so she can end the curse.
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The Dead Don’t Drink at Lafitte’s by Seana Kelly
Everyone needs a good book and a stiff drink, be they vampire, wicche, demon, or fae. Sam’s a bartender and book nerd who has hid her whole life, but Clive is bringing her into the light to help him fight for her life.
Title: The Dead Don’t Drink at Lafitte’s
Author: Seana Kelly
Series: Sam Quinn #2
Publish Date: April 12, 2021
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description:I’m Sam Quinn, the werewolf book nerd owner of the Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar. Things have been busy lately. While the near-constant attempts on my life have ceased, I now have a vampire gentleman caller. I’ve been living with Clive and the rest of his vampires for a few weeks while the Slaughtered Lamb is being rebuilt. It’s going about as well as you’d expect.
My mother was a wicche and long dormant abilities are starting to make themselves known. If I’d had a choice, necromancy wouldn’t have been my top pick, but it’s starting to come in handy. A ghost warns me someone is coming to kill Clive. When I rush back to the nocturne, I find vamps from New Orleans readying an attack. One of the benefits of vampires looking down on werewolves is no one expects much of me. They don’t expect it right up until I take their heads.
Now, Clive and I are setting out for New Orleans to take the fight back to the source. Vampires are masters of the long game. Revenge plots are often decades, if not centuries, in the making. We came expecting one enemy, but quickly learn we have darker forces scheming against us. Good thing I’m the secret weapon they never see coming
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
I love these characters. The premise of the story is familiar but I still really liked it. It did have a couple of turns, not hair-pin turns, but turns nonetheless.
Sam is a 24 year old woman. Clive is a thousand year old vampire. If you can suspend your disbelief for that, than you can totally enjoy this book.
What drew me in was that Sam owns a bar and a bookstore. What a combination! Who wouldn’t love that? She’s a werewolf – a lone one – but one developing gifts that are helpful to the vampires. Do they want her only for her gifts or is it truly love? I think in this book, it’s truly love. The book isn’t that kind of story which makes my head hurt a lot less. It’s a fun ride and like I said, I love the characters. I can’t wait for book #3.
Other reviews from this series:
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