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Murder By The Minster by Helen Cox

Apr30

Entertaining

Murder By The Minster by Helen Cox is a fabulous contemporary crime novel and the first book in A Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mystery series which promises to be entertaining.

Kitt Hartley is a well-read librarian turned amateur sleuth as her best friend is accused of murder. As with all amateur sleuths, Kitt Hartley pokes her nose into some dangerous situations in order to uncover the truth.

As with the fictional Miss Marple, Kitt Hartley also has a friend on the police force. She is urged not to investigate but this falls on deaf ears!

All the characters are well drawn and believable. There was some light-hearted banter, and I loved the inclusion of book quotes and titles by Kitt Hartley.

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Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Sutanto

Apr15

Everyone Needs A Vera Wong

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Sutanto is a fabulous contemporary cosy crime novel that I absolutely loved and read it in just two sittings. It is the first book in what I hope will be a very long series.

Vera Wong is a sixty-year-old Chinese mother living in San Francisco. She owns a tea house but most of the time it is empty. Her life is very regimented but lonely – until a dead body turns up in her tea house! Suddenly Vera Wong has a new lease of life as she investigates just what has happened. “People always say that your wedding day is the happiest day of your life, but honestly, people should try solving murders more often.” Vera Wong has found her raisin d’etre.

As the victim’s life opens up, Vera Wong meets new people. Each one had a reason to kill. Each one is a suspect. And each one is a new friend to Vera.

Vera Wong is a ‘feeder’. She cooks for and feeds everyone that she meets – including the police!

Vera Wong has good investigating skills as she notes, “generations of Chinese mothers have perfected the art of sniffing out guilt.” She also notes, “nobody sniffs out wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands.”

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Vera Wong’s Guide To Snooping (On A Dead Man) by Jesse Q Sutanto

Apr10

Unique & Entertaining

Vera Wong’s Guide To Snooping (On A Dead Man) by Jesse Sutanto is a unique contemporary offering that entertained me from the start. It is the second book in the Vera Wong series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Vera Wong is a vey likable lead character – a sixty-one-year-old Chinese lady living in San Francisco, with a compulsion to cook for everyone she meets. She has her fingers in many pies too. “She knows that ‘putting a stop’ to anything Vera is doing is probably going to be an exercise in futility.” Vera’s heart has a huge capacity, her meddling comes from her desire to care.

The novel is very light-hearted in tone which counter balances the serious themes of human trafficking and associated crimes.

There is also much humor, specially created by Vera Wong. “I am Chinese mother, all I do is create conflict. You think the C.I.A. know anything about destabilizing? They know nothing compare to me!” Sometimes the humor comes from malapropisms and observations. At other times it is from Vera Wong speaking her mind.

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The Crime Writer by Diane Jeffrey

Mar13

Wow! – Totally Gripping

The Crime Writer by Diane Jeffrey is a totally gripping contemporary psychological crime suspense that gripped me from the start.

The action is set in 2019 and present day. It alternates between the two time periods as the reader, and the community, try to piece together just exactly what happened to missing mum of two on that snowy night in 2019.

As we follow the events, clinging on for dear life, we wonder where the truth lies. Is a father protecting himself from the media? Or is there something else going on?

A grisly accidental discovery in present day, opens up a whole new can of worms. Once more, the case of the missing mum is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

The novel touches on the topic of domestic abuse. Normally we have the female perspective – but not this time as we learn of a woman with a vicious streak.

How far would you go to protect your family? A father tries to shield his daughters from the publicity. He wants to give them stability which is especially important for his daughter with additional needs.

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