recent reads #3

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

By Jesse Q. Sutanto 
4⭐️
The first few chapters were just meh to me, but not enough to not finish. I’m so glad I stuck it out! This book was the definition of cozy. It was cute and funny and sad and lovely. A perfect light mystery to keep your mind busy with a smile. 

Big Little Spells

3.5⭐️

By Hazel Beck

I did like this book better than the first in the series. Rebekah seemed more of a fully conceived protagonist than Emerson - and the deepening of the sister’s prophecy and connection made much more sense. I did have a bit of the icks when I thought too hard about the love story’s origins (teenage girl, immortal and significantly older magical man) and how lightly magical consent is discussed. I’m trying to decide if I’m more meh about the series or wanting to know how it ends. 

Colton Gentry's Third Act

By Jeff Zentner

3⭐️

This wasn’t totally my jam. It was sweet and I appreciated how it was like a take on a country song, but none of it ever felt more than surface level to me. Colton was messy but in a predictable way and the characters around him behaved as one would expect in a book like this. Nice enough fluff for a quick read. 

The Glass Room

By Ann Cleeves

4⭐️

I appreciated the more self-reflective Vera and a layer of complexity for Joe as a bonus. The mystery itself was messy, but I think that can be the case with writers writing about writers with agendas and motives becoming almost too on the nose. All in all, a really good example of what this series does well, even in the bumpier moments.  

A Share in Death

By Deborah Crombie

3.5⭐️

I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. Duncan is smart and messy and human and I love that this first book didn’t have him doing the day to day of his promotion, but caught in a set of murders on his vacation. Gemma isn’t as clearly landed in the story, but enough to see why they connect and how their work works. Looking forward to the next. 

The Last Remains

By Elly Griffiths

4⭐️

I will so miss Ruth and Nelson and Cathbad and the whole crew. This was a lovely wrap up mixed with a mystery that stretched thin, but never too thin. A Covid-aware tale, I appreciated it felt real but not overwhelmingly so. I saved this for a special birthday read and it was everything I wanted and needed it to be. I can’t wait to reread this in a handful of years.  

Harbour Street

By Ann Cleeves

4⭐️

I loved this - the mystery itself, how Vera and crew interacted with the community and each other, the layering of connections and building plot. I feel the best of this series  lets Vera be Vera but does not force it; the magic is Joe guessing her out and her anticipating him and what happens when they surprise each other. 

Stranger Diaries

Elly Griffiths

4⭐️

I really enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would after the first few pages! The narration changes really carried my interest as the I gained additional perspective from each character’s “view” into what was happening. I think my only challenge came from how much I loved Clare’s “voice” that I had trouble switching to Kaur, who the series is based around. But she won me over! I can’t wait to keep reading these. 

All Shall be Well

By Deborah Crombie

3.75⭐️

What a strong second book of the series. Seeing Kincaid in his own space (with neighbors like Jasmine and the Major and his varying connections to each) and at work rounded him out as a main character, and I was so happy Gemma was more than an afterthought with complexity and exposition of her own. The mystery was surrounded by side stories and messy relationships and quirk, but it mostly worked, especially as we were able to continue to “hear” from Jasmine.