A NOVEL MURDER.....A SELF-DEPRECIATING AUTHOR FINDS HER VALUE AND HUNTS A KILLER.....(****)

A Novel Murder by E.C. Nevin (2025)

     After what wore me down with its slow tedious beginnings, 'A Novel Murder' turned itself around to become a pleasant,witty and fun surprise.

     At first it started as another 'oh-here-we-go-again'. Another gathering of mystery writers with an actual real killer among them. Usually with this trope, I'd expect a lot of snappy, cutting repartee between the scribes, along with knowing take-downs of the cutthroat, survival-of-the-fittest world of publishing.

     This book chooses to concentrate on Jane Hepburn, a woe-is-me author of a modestly selling police procedural series. Big of build and topping 6 feet, Jane's inferiority complex and constant bemoaning of her fate in life rivals Winnie The Pooh's Eeyore. It doesn't help her already crumbling confidence when she's not even listed as an invited author at the 'Killer Lines' mystery writer festival - she's forced to pay the full admission of a visitor's ticket.

     At this point, I dreaded having to spend the length of this book in Jane's company.........even when her life becomes way more eventful when she stumbles upon the dead (and most severely murdered) body of her agent, the universally despised Carrie Marks.

     And here's where the book finally grabbed my attention, by dealing with Jane's transformation, little by little finding her confidence, nerve and something she'd never enjoyed in her sad, lonely life.......friends. In a 'seize-the-day' epiphany, Jane vows to track down Carrie's killer, with the help of her very own unlikely Scooby Doo crew......intern Daniel, a huge fan of Jane's books, and flavor-of-the-year new young novelist. Natasha Martez. Together they confront and question a daunting list of suspects, since there's hardly anyone in the publishing world without a festering grudge against Carrie Marks.

     Jand the gang's calamitous investigation goes down one blind alley after another, with all manner of tantalizing secrets revealed about the suspected guilty parties. And in its second half, the book constantly surprised me with its sudden bursts of laugh-out-loud moments and needle-sharp pokes at the world of authors, agents and publishers. I only wish author E.C. Nevin had lavished this funny, satirical outlook on the entire book instead of rationing it out in tiny spoonfuls.

     So I ended up going from rolling my eyes at Jane's depressing introspections to cheering her on as she discovers her own talent, her own value as a person........and when it comes to both writing and sleuthing, a force to be reckoned with.. And if author Nevin would promise to dish out more of that wicked humor, I wouldn't mind seeing Jane take on another case or two....or more.

         4 stars (****).

CHARITY TRICKETT IS SO NOT GLAMOROUS.....A FLEDGLING SCREENWRITER SWIMS THE SHARK INFESTED WATERS OF HOLLYWOOD.....(****)

 Charity Trickett Is So Not Glamorous by Christine Stringer (2025)

     What a juicy plunge into behind-the-scenes Hollywood filmmaking and dealmaking. It's a La La Land world of preening egos, conniving backstabbers, and striving, talented young hopefuls, gasping and grasping for the golden ticket to fame, fortune and a three picture deal.

     Having toiled as a studio production assistant herself, you can tell from the storytelling that author Christine Stringer knows her subject all too well.......and lays out her depiction of the film business with unerring, take-no-prisoners wit.

     At the roiling center of this asylum run by the inmates (around 1997) is Canadian production assistant and aspiring screenwriter Charity Trickett. She's now settled in Hollywood to help an up-and-coming director finish post production editing on the studio's next box office blockbuster. Charity's Gal Friday efficiency may work wonders on a movie set, but navigating the jungles of studio politics exhausts and confounds her. She's stuck in a toxic 'Devil Wears Prada' duel with Saffron, a so-called 'Associate Producer' who ruthlessly pursues her own agenda while sabotaging Charity at every opportunity.

     Charity's fortunes (and hopes for making a deal for her own script) take a catastrophic turn for the worse - a terrible unforeseen misstep makes her a scorned pariah in the industry and puts her in the crosshairs of an FBI investigation.

     Can Charity find romance, restore her good name, stay out of the slammer and get her script into production? Hey, it's Hollywood where anything can happen and that's the fun this book delivers on every page. You'll find yourself cheering her on as she encounters, outwits and fends off more topsy-turvy characters than Alice ever found through the looking glass.

     For anyone who loves an insider's peek behind the mad, mad world of film showbiz, consider this one a must. Make a "let's do lunch, baby, mean it sincerely" date with Charity ASAP.

     4 stars (****).

THE BACHELORETTE PARTY.......SO WHO'S FOOLISH ENOUGH TO STILL GO TO DESTINATION PARTIES? WAIT AND SEE.....(****)

 The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten (2025)

      You would think that by now, murder mystery characters would know enough to stay off of small remote islands as sites for wedding, parties, reunions, readings of a wealthy relative's last will and testament .......or a bachelorette party. Destination get-togethers are almost always doomed to become Final destination get-togethers.

     Some ten years ago in Sweden, four women used one of those uh-oh islands off the coast for their annual just-us=girls celebration. And were never seen or heard from again, making them the obsession of true crime podcaster Tessa Nillson. But now, ten years later, a tragic incident upended and ruined her career (and livelihood) as a podcaster.

     Tessa sees a chance at redemption when she's invited (along with her sister and three other friends) to her bestie Annaliese's bachelorette yoga retreat party. Anyone care to take a wild crazy guess as to where this destination delight will take place?

     What??!! You mean to say the women are going to that very same uh-oh island where those poor four girls went bye-bye-bye forever?

     Uh-oh.

     As if we didn't know, Tessa's attempts to uncover the mysteries of the island and the missing girls go awry when a series of not-all-that-unexpected twists reveal themselves. Also arriving around the same time - a brutal, protracted horror movie finale which puts everyone in the most horrendous jeopardy imaginable.

     Even with all these familiar tropes employed, I still found this book effectively paced and an engrossing page turner. But if you're no fan of lengthy ultra-violent slasher-movie type finales with no end of tragic collateral damage, I wouldn't recommend it.

     On the other hand, if you gravitate to those remote island thrillers with an escalating casualty rate, here's your final destination vacation waiting for you to book passage........just by reading the book.

       4 stars (****).

ONE FINAL TURN....OUR FAVORITE WORLD WAR 2 SPY ON HER FINAL THRILLING MISSION.....(*****)

 One Final Turn by Ashley Weaver (2025)

     Such a clash of conflicted feelings while reading this. I'm elated to delve into another adventure of Electra (Ellie) McDonnell, alluring beauty, safecracker and thief extraordinaire and unlikely spy for British Intelligence in the harrowing midst of London during World War II.. And this one, like the four previous entries is a corker of story, filled with intrigue, danger, twists and even a slow burn romance.

     But I'm also plunged into a sad funk. The final entry? The last book in the series? Please, Ashley Weaver, say it isn't so. When I reached that last page, it was like having to say fond farewells to people who'd become best friends over the years.

     Ellie, coming from a close, loving family of professional thieves, has been given a new mission - travel to Lisbon, Portugal to rescue her dear cousin Toby, a British POW who's escaped his Nazi captors in France. Toby and a few fellow prisoners have possibly made their way through an escape route to Lisbon, but murderous German agents are on the hunt for the prisoners and the path they took to freedom.

     While Electra's now taking orders from genial Capt. Archie Blandings, also along on the mission is her taciturn former boss (and object of a long simmering mutual attraction).,Major Gabriel Ramsey. The strict, dour Ramsey has previously dismissed Ellie for her reckless plunges into dangerous situations, but there's no doubt of the unspoken, sexual combustion between them. Though they're determined to now keep their interactions professional and formal, the mission throws them together in ways neither could imagine......or cope with.

     Once again this series tosses you into a captivating mix of wartime history, espionage and suspenseful action. I especially loved the ambitious finale of Ellie's final perilous undertaking, reminiscent of the wartime adventure novels of Alistair MacLean. And those wondering what's to become of the Ellie-Ramsey 'will-they-or-won't-they situation......your answers await.

     I've never been more sorry to see the end of a 5 star series than this one. 'One Final Turn' can be read as a stand-alone, and I'm pretty certain readers who start out with this book will then want to catch up on all the others right away.

         5 stars (*****)...Highest recommendation.

       

NOBODY IN PARTICULAR.....TWO SCHOOLGIRLS IN LOVE....ONE'S A PRINCESS (****(

 Nobody In Particular by Sophie Gonzales (2025)

     This mixture of Royal and sapphic romance takes its own sweet time to get the beating heart of its story, but when it finally does, it's an insightful, heartwarming and comforting experience.

     About the half the book's devoted to setting up our lead 17 year old romancers at the exclusive boarding school in the Kingdom of Henland (which I assume shares borders with Princess Mia's Genovia and other neighboring European kingdoms from Hallmark Royal romances).

     There's the headstrong Princess Rosemary, who's weathering through a tragic scandal that's left her shaken, her public image in tatters and estranged from her best friend. New to the school comes U. S. commoner Danni, a gifted pianist on a music scholarship and recovering from a lifetime of bullying in public schools.

     Sparks duly fly between these two adorable girls and by that time, they face a whole array of daunting challenges to their being together. Rosemary's dedicated to ascending the throne as Queen to do good for her country, but will the Royal family (and her country, for that matter) accept Danni as Rose's official consort? Would Danni remain hidden as a secret lover, while Rose has to fake marry some Prince for appearances?

     With their future outlook cloudy, Rose and Danni find their tender moments together eclipsed by overwhelming obstacles thrown in their path.. Their own self doubts cause them further strife, while the Royal family's P.R. spin doctor arranges photo ops with a boy eager and willing to play Rose's fake boyfriend. And no matter how hidden the girls try to keep their trysts, nothing staunches the flow of toxic social media gossip.

     Author Sophie Gonzales does a superb job in creating relatable, believable characters out of Rose, Danni and their unique (and sometimes spot on funny) circle of friends. (Believe me, when Rose, who's fiercely protective of the much more vulnerable Danni, goes on the warpath in her defense, she's a sight to behold.)

     After the book finally puts all its issues on the table for Rose and Danni, their final reckoning and resolution is laid out with all the skill and warmth you'd want in a feel-good read. Which, come to think of it, make the perfect close-out for this review.

       4 stars (****).

SO HAPPY TOGETHER.......STALKING FOR TRUE LOVE NEVER GOES WELL.....(****)

 So Happy Together by Olivia Worley (2025)

     I'm so happy too. So happy to dive into another New York City-based psychological thriller where absolutely nobody is who you think they are, nobody's to be trusted and everybody's got more skeletons in their closet than a Halloween funhouse.

     Our lead characters are young, brilliant, beautiful, handsome and in true thriller tradition, lookin' for love in all the wrong places. Aspiring playwright Jane is perspiring over her obsession with software engineer (and rich kid) Colin, who dumped her. She worms her way back into his life by striking up a friendship with his new soulmate du jour, Zoe, who's not only a drop dead stunner,, but a gifted multi-media artist and a genuine sweetheart of a person as well.

     But Jane's endgame to eventually re-snag Colin for herself comes undone with the discovery of some dark, dark secrets about her dream studmuffin........not to mention she's still grappling with some terrible, repressed memories of her own. Can a dead body or two be far behind? Don't bet against it.

     And now we've reached the point of this review where we move into my-lips-are-sealed territory.

     I used to go 'tsk tsk" when books like this start setting off their Fourth of July fireworks display of twists, each one more increasingly outlandish and defying all rational belief. But I've come to realize that's the pure joy of reading them. I say bring on that pile up of twists that make you make you mutter,, "Say WHAT now? You gotta be kidding me!".......the more the merrier.

     And author Olivia Worley knows her genre well, delivering one last final page zinger that's equal parts satisfying and deeply unsettling on multiple levels. (You can decide how much of which.)

     A fast. lively read if you can never get enough of those spiffy young achievers who end up wiping off the blood from their designer outfits.

       4 stars (****)