Secret Agent Granny Cozy Mystery Series - Books 1-3 Mini Review

I enjoy reading cozy mystery novels every now and again. 

Recently, I'd finished reading a few nonfiction books and decided I needed a change of pace. Cozy, mystery novels make for fun, light reading. So, I listened to the first three cozy mystery novels in the 'Secret Agent Granny' cozy mystery series by Harper Lin. Harper Lin is not a new to me author. I've enjoyed a couple of her previous books and reviewed them here on my blog. 

I'm glad I decided to give the first three novels in the 'Secret Agent Granny' a try as they were a delight to read. I listened to the unabridged audio versions of Granny's Got a Gun, Granny Undercover, and Granny Strikes Back. All three novels are short, quick fun reads. I enjoyed the writing, the humor, the characters, and the storyline. I especially loved the main character, Barbara Gold, who is a 70 year old retired CIA agent and is feisty as heck. Barbara is a widow and she lives in a small town to be closer to her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. Barbara is trying to stave off boredom and in the process stumbles upon crimes that need to be solved.

If you're into fun, light, cozy mystery reads, then the 'Secret Agent Granny' cozy mystery series may be for you. As of this writing, there are 11 books in the series. I haven't decided quite yet if I will continue with the series or not as I have so many books in my 'tbr' pile as it is right now.

I am giving all three novels a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Rose Gold: An Easy Rawlins Mystery #13 by Walter Mosley

 

I've heard about the Easy Rawlins mystery series by Walter Mosley over the years. I've also heard what a wonderful writer Walter Mosley is. Since I love mysteries in general, I thought I'd try reading one of Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins novels. 

I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version of Rose Gold: An Easy Rawlins Mystery #13 by Walter Mosley and narrated by JD Jackson as the storyline sounded intriguing. Plus, the UC Santa Barbara aspect and possibility of part of the novel's setting taking place in Santa Barbara and Isla Vista was also a strong draw for me as I worked at the UCSB Bookstore in their general book department as an assistant manager. Of course, I also lived in the Santa Barbara area. Alas, not much of the novel takes place in Santa Barbara or Isla Vista, so that was a BIG disappointment!

As far as the writing goes, it was fine. Walter Mosley is a good writer for sure. The storyline and plot were decent. However, Rose Gold wasn't for me. I'm simply not a hard boiled detective novel fan. I listened to The Maltese Falcon a few years ago and didn't like it for the same reason. Additionally, I felt like the start of Rose Gold spent too much time introducing reoccurring characters from previous novels that disrupted the flow of the start of Rose Gold.

Below is the publisher's summary for Rose Gold by Walter Mosley, which I found on Chirp's website:

Rose Gold is two colors, one woman, and a big headache.In this new mystery set in the Patty Hearst era of radical black nationalism and political abductions, a black ex-boxer self-named Uhuru Nolica, the leader of a revolutionary cell called Scorched Earth, has kidnapped Rosemary Goldsmith, the daughter of a weapons manufacturer, from her dorm at UC Santa Barbara. If they don’t receive the money, weapons, and apology they demand, “Rose Gold” will die—horribly and publicly. So the FBI, the State Department, and the LAPD turn to Easy Rawlins, the one man who can cross the necessary borders to resolve this dangerous standoff. With twelve previous adventures since 1990, Easy Rawlins is one of the small handful of private eyes in contemporary crime fiction who can be called immortal. Rose Gold continues his ongoing and unique achievement in combining the mystery/PI genre form with a rich social history of postwar Los Angeles—and not just the black parts of that sprawling city.

I am giving Rose Gold by Walter Mosley a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde

 

I learned about the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series by Darcie Wilde late last year through an article I'd read on Book Riot's website which highlighted ten different historical mystery series worth the read. I love both historical fiction and mystery novels... And the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series falls into both genres (as well as all of the others mentioned in the Book Riot article) and appealed to me for this very reason.

Then in December 2020, I discovered that independent bookstore, Murder by the Book, was hosting a virtual author event on their Facebook page featuring Darcie Wilde discussing the latest release in the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series... So, I decided to watch this live, virtual author event and enjoyed it.

With this backstory in mind, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde and narrated by Sarah Nichols in 2021. 

A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde is the first novel in 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series and I really enjoyed this novel quite a bit. The writing for A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde is well done. I thought the storyline was well paced, thought out, and enjoyable. I liked the main character, Rosalind Thorne, very much. She's wise, sensible, and likable. I liked most of the other characters in this novel as well... Although one of the characters I did find to be quite annoying!

The mystery aspect of A Useful Woman was also very good. I kept trying to guess whodunnit and why until near the very end. I also enjoyed reading about what what life was like for a 19th century London lady of certain means and how she has to navigate high society while following proper social etiquette to fit in with the upper crust. A Useful Woman balanced learning about what life was like in 19th century London and adding in a mystery quite nicely. So kudos to Darcie Wilde for a great first novel in a series.

I highly recommend A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde. I have recently downloaded the second novel in the 'A Rosalind Thorne Mystery' series, which I look forward the listening to later this month.

Listening time for A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde is 10 hours, 3 minutes. The narration by Sarah Nichols was alright... Not bad, not great in my opinion.

Below is the plot summary for A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde from Audible:

Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, this new mystery series set in 19th-century London introduces the charming and resourceful Rosalind Thorne, a woman privy to the secrets of high society - including who among them is capable of murder.

The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society's most influential women, who rely on her wit and discretion. So when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London's most exclusive ballroom, Almack's, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer from a list of suspects that includes Almack's powerful patronesses and her former suitor Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmain.

Torn between her old love and a growing attraction to a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind must unravel the mysteries surrounding Jasper's death, and the mysteries of her own heart as well.

I am giving A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

10 of the Best Historical Mystery Series for Your Reading Pleasure!

I must admit that I love reading both historical fiction novels and also mystery novels. Combine the two genres and create a series of books with a central main character and I will be thrilled! 

So, when I came across an article this morning on Book Riot's website titled, 10 HISTORICAL MYSTERY SERIES by Chris M. Arnone, I excitedly looked forward to discovering some new to me book series!!

I wasn't disappointed with what I discovered in Chris M. Arnone's article. I haven't read any of the books mentioned in any of the ten book series listed. Additionally, I am only vaguely familiar with three of the book series by name mentioned Chris M. Arnone's article and the remaining seven book series are new to me.

If you're looking to start reading a new book series that falls into both the historical fiction and mystery genres, then click on the above link to learn more.

Lost Library by Kate Baray

Unabridged Audiobook

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Lost Library by Kate Baray and narrated by Kelsey Osborne. Listening time for Lost Library by Kate Baray is 8 hours, 17 minutes.

Lost Library by Kate Baray is the first novel in a paranormal romance series... So, if paranormal romance novels involving werewolves and magic are your thing, then this may be the novel for you!!

Kate Baray is a new to me author. I thought her writing was good and I enjoyed listening to Lost Library by Kate Baray. Paranormal romances are a fun escape from reality and Lost Library is no exception. The characters in Lost Library are fun and the storyline moves along at a nice pace. Kelsey Osborne is a good narrator.

Although I thought Lost Library by Kate Baray was a good novel, I wasn't wowed by this novel. I will pass on reading or listening to the the rest of this paranormal series.

The following is the plot summary for Lost Library by Kate Baray from Audible:

Lost Library brings together a mysterious, magical book and a quirky heroine to create the adventure of a lifetime!

John Braxton arrives unannounced on Lizzie Smith's doorstep looking for answers she doesn't have. She may have a magical book, but she hasn't a clue what to do with it - or even how to read it. And John's revelation that he's a Lycan isn't making the job any easier. 

Before the code to the book can be cracked, Lizzie and John stumble into the middle of a power-hungry mastermind's plan. Caught up in one man's search for power, Lizzie soon begins to uncover surprising secrets about her past and powers. Can she and John put a stop to their new-found enemy's plans?

Take a romp through the life of the quirky and well-meaning Lizzie as she discovers magic, creatures that go bump in the night, and maybe love.

I am giving Lost Library by Kate Baray a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

10 Young Adult Book Series To Binge Read

Okay, I'll readily admit that I am not a young adult, but I do enjoy reading a well written and engaging young adult novel every now and again now that I am adult.

So, when I came across an article The News & Observer website titled Books: 10 best book series to binge-read with your teen by Sandie Angulo Chen, I couldn't help but want to sneak a peek at the book series that made the list.

I've personally read the 'His Fair Assassin' trilogy by Robin LaFevers mentioned in Sandie Angulo Chen's article and loved this series!! I can't recommend it highly enough if you haven't already read this series yet.

Click on the top link to see which other young adult series have made the list as well.

Until my next post, happy reading!!