The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos

July 15, 2023

While I agree with some comments that Bruce Borgos’ debut novel, The Bitter Past, is reminiscent of Craig Johnson’s Longmire books, it also brings back memories of Betty Webb’s 2012 Lena Jones mystery, Desert Wind. With two timelines, a mystery and...

A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales

June 28, 2023

I had to laugh. Just when I finished Julia Seales’ debut mystery, A Most Agreeable Murder, two readers asked me to post a review about a book that they would not want to add to their TBR pile. While this book didn’t fit my sense of humor, I know there are...

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

June 04, 2023

If you’re looking for an exotic debut mystery that explores the evils of colonialism, you can’t go wrong with Nilima Rao’s A Disappearance in Fiji. Rao’s Author’s Note explains her background as a Fijian Indian Australian. Even with her...

The Tumbling Girl by Bridget Walsh

May 22, 2023

Honestly? I don’t know if the cover of Bridget Walsh’s debut historical mystery, The Tumbling Girl, does it justice. I don’t know if I’d read much of the background if I saw it on a library or bookstore shelf. However, it launches a fascinating...

A Killing in Costumes by Zac Bissonnette

August 09, 2022

Zac Bissonnette’s debut mystery, A Killing in Costumes, is whimsical, nostalgic, and a little bittersweet at times. He introduces a character duo who can take on the world together, a sympathetic pair that the reader wants to see succeed, whether they’re...