Ebook Review: A Pinch of Assault (Sunny Side Up Mysteries #3) by Misty Simon

 

Blurb: 

Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner, where the jukeboxes jive and the secrets thrive...

With things at her Sunny Side Up Diner sailing along smoothly for once, Jax Tapman has turned her attention to her personal life. It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother in person. And while Jax isn't totally certain she’s up to the challenge, she agrees to show Eliot’s mom around a local retirement home. It sounds innocent enough, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell the woman on the idea of moving to be closer to her son. But instead of making her case, when Jax enters the model apartment, she and her potential in-law find one dead body and a whole lot of secrets!

Suddenly it’s up to Jax to discover who the retirement home killer is—a task that only gets harder when someone from Eliot's past shows up and might know far more about the crime than she’s letting on.

The Sunny Side Up Diner is jumping with gossip, Jax and her best friend Dani are running interference, and Eliot’s mom is calling all the shots. But sorting out chaos and minimizing damage is something Jax has grown accustomed to, if she can only get a clue.

Amazon: A Pinch of Assault (Sunny Side Up Mysteries Book 3) - Kindle edition by Simon, Misty. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: A Pinch of Assault (Sunny Side Up Mysteries, #3) | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: A Pinch of Assault eBook by Misty Simon - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Goodreads: A Pinch of Assault (Sunny Side Up Mysteries Book 3) by Misty Simon | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

This was my first in this series, and I was not disappointed. Jax and crew had me traipsing along with them, looking for clues, suspects, evidence with a little humor thrown in. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, one of which was correct, but the journey to the answer was well worth the read. The romantic side was brief, but I was glad that Jax found happiness. I enjoyed this story immensely. I look forward to more in this series.

I received an ARC, and this was my unsolicited review.

Ebook Review: Off Season (A Detective Ryan Mystery #1) by Clive Fleury

 

Blurb: 

Detective Ryan navigates drug overdoses, a mysterious foot on the beach and a long-buried cold case.

Detective Ramesh Ryan's career with Sydney's prestigious Organized Crime Unit is on the up, until he loses a court case against the city's most powerful drug dealer. In disgrace, the detective is relocated to the tiny Australian beach town of Barton.

It is off-season in Barton-when its few criminals usually take a well-earned rest. But not this year! With the detective's arrival, the town suddenly becomes murder central. Two bodies are discovered in the space of days, both victims of drug overdoses. Then a mysterious foot is found washed up on the beach, and memories are awoken of an unsolved cold case of the teenager who disappeared fifteen years ago. Add to this a blossoming romance, along with a contract taken out on Ryan's life, and it's clear that the detective has jumped out of the Sydney frying pan into the Barton fire.

What follows is an action-packed adventure, thrilling at every turn-where truth and lies are almost impossible to separate, and unexpected twists are the order of the day.

Amazon: Off Season - Kindle edition by Fleury, Clive. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: Off Season by Clive Fleury | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: Off Season eBook by Clive Fleury - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Bookbub: Off Season by Clive Fleury - BookBub

Goodreads: Off Season (A Detective Ryan Mystery #1) by Clive Fleury | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars - 

This mystery was full of twists, turns, surprising connections, death, drugs, and more. Ramesh Ryan was sent to a small town to look into a cold case. His stay was much full of bodies, drugs, and kidnappings. It was a bit difficult to keep up with all the players, and I did not discern who the killer would be. That did not take away from the story, and I felt the ending was well explained. I did enjoy how Ramesh trained Zoe to be a better cop. Overall, this was a very entertaining read.

I received a copy through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review,

Ebook Review: Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery #1) by Dorothy L. Sayers

 

Blurb: 

Dorothy L. Sayers’ 1923 debut mystery novel “Whose Body?” is a classic cozy mystery featuring the debonair aristocrat-sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. After a corpse wearing pince-nez glasses is found in a bathtub, Lord Peter undertakes to investigate the deed privately. But determining whether the corpse belongs to a well-known banker or a group of mischief-making medical students is just the beginning of this tangled mystery plot. This atmospheric novel put Dorothy L. Sayers in the ranks with Agatha Christie as a mystery writer nonpareil.

Amazon: Whose Body? - Kindle edition by L. Sayers, Dorothy. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers, Mark Meadows | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: Whose Body? eBook by Dorothy L. Sayers - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers - Books on Google Play

Bookbub: Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers - BookBub

Goodreads: Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey #1) by Dorothy L. Sayers | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars - 

This was my first Dorothy Sayers book. I enjoyed meeting Lord Peter Wimsey and his friend/partner Mr. Parker. It was interesting in the play between the two because of their difference in standing. I had an inkling as to the culprit, but there were so many clues, I became uncertain. The dialogue sometimes had me confused with the use of some terms, whether archaic or slang. I loved how everything was explained in the end.

This is my unsolicited review.

Ebook Review: The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by Elizabeth Arnott

 

Blurb: 

A remarkable trio whose lives have been cracked wide open by their husbands’ crimes unite to catch a serial killer in this dazzlingly captivating novel.

Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are not your average housewives. They are all wives of convicted killers. During the sun-drenched summer of 1966, the three women form an unlikely friendship after the discoveries of their husbands’ brutal crimes. With their exes—some of California’s most infamous murderers—dead or behind bars, they are attempting to forge a new future for themselves.

Headstrong Beverley tries compulsively to maintain control of everything around her, all while raising two children. Bookish Elsie fights to make a name for herself in the newsroom, working among men who sneer at her career goals. Glamorous Margot prefers partying to homemaking and devotes all her energy to upholding the appearance that everything is fine—anything to quell the shame from her husband’s deceit.

They know people look at them and think only one thing: How could they not have known what their husbands were doing? How much are they to blame? And yet when a string of local killings hits the news, the three women—underestimated, overlooked, shrewd—decide to get to work. After all, who better to catch a killer than those who have shared their lives and homes with one?

At once a riveting portrayal of shattered trust and a story of gripping suspense, The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives is a testament to the intricacies of women’s lives and how the deep bonds of female friendship can empower, uplift, and lead us to endure.

Amazon: The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives: A GMA Book Club Pick - Kindle edition by Arnott, Elizabeth. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives (GMA Book Club Pick) by Elizabeth Arnott | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives: A GMA Book Club Pick eBook by Elizabeth Arnott - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives: A GMA Book Club Pick by Elizabeth Arnott - Books on Google Play

Bookbub: The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott - BookBub

Goodreads: The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by Elizabeth Arnott | Goodreads

My Review - 4 1/2 of 5 stars - 

4 1/2 stars. I enjoyed the trip into the 60's, the references, etc. as well as a look at what the lives of those who were married to killers were living. Beverley, Elsie, and Margot did their own investigations, found clues, and tried to help others. I had an inkling as to who was doing the killing, but it did take me until about 2/3 of the way through the story. Some parts were slow due to the in-depth descriptions of the three friends and their pasts, but it was definitely an interesting story.

I received an ARC through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

Ebook Review: Killer Friends (The Bloodstone Series #4) by Chris Karlsen

 

Blurb: 

The next book in the Bloodstone Murders series is a historical thriller that received the Chanticleer award for global suspense.

Henrietta Newell stormed into the detective bureau. She claimed her adult son was missing and feared for his safety. The detectives attempted to reassure her that the absence of a bachelor in his thirties, in a city like London, wasn’t extraordinary. Despite their efforts, she insisted an investigation be conducted, reminding them of her political connections.
Detective Rudyard Bloodstone and his partner were told to look into the matter. Their investigation reveals evidence of suspicious and unusual activity but no clues regarding the man’s disappearance. The few leads they develop take them from the world of wealthy families and into the secret society of sexual peculiarities.

The detectives discover the victim didn’t simply disappear. He was murdered. They have the evidence except for one problem, they’re missing the victim’s body.

Amazon: Killer Friends (The Bloodstone Series Book 4) - Kindle edition by Karlsen, Chris. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Kobo: Killer Friends eBook by Books to Go Now - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Goodreads: Killer Friends (The Bloodstone Series Book 4) by Chris Karlsen | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars - 

I found this story interesting, historical murder with plenty of interaction of police departments. I liked the fact that there were a couple of other cases, one helped the main case while the other showed how smart a woman can be as a PI. Ruddy and Archie got involved because of the class of the missing person. They were willing to work with others and look at every clue that came along. With a death that brought some sadness to the story, I kept reading to see if the culprit would get caught. I also enjoyed the personal side of these characters and loved the connection between Ruddy and Honeysuckle.

I received a copy through RABT, and this is my unsolicited review.

Ebook Review: The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera

Blurb: 

When the last fare of the night turns up dead in her backseat, a Sri Lankan American taxi driver works off the clock to clear her name in this mystery novel by debut author Yosha Gunasekera.

Siriwathi Perera doesn’t quite know where she’s going in life. She never expected to be a taxicab driver in New York City, struggling to make ends meet and still living with her parents at twenty-eight. The true-crime podcasts that keep Siri company as she drives don’t do much to make up for the legal career she imagined for herself, or the brother she’s grieving.

When public defender Amaya Fernando gets into her cab, they make a quick connection through their shared Sri Lankan roots. Siri, whose social circle is limited to her grade-school best friend, Alex, thinks things might finally be looking up with this new potential friendship. But she’s suddenly dropped into her own true crime when she discovers her next passenger murdered in the backseat, and she has to call Amaya sooner than she’d expected.

Pinned as the obvious and only suspect, and desperate to clear her name, Siri chases down leads across the boroughs of New York City with Amaya’s help. But with her court date looming, they have just five days to find out who really killed the midnight passenger—or Siri’s life will be over before she can even truly live it.

Amazon: The Midnight Taxi - Kindle edition by Gunasekera, Yosha. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera | eBook | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: The Midnight Taxi eBook by Yosha Gunasekera - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera - Books on Google Play

Bookbub: The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera - BookBub

Goodreads: The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars - 

I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the story. This was like a locked-door mystery, a dead body in a locked taxicab. Siriwathi had a fascination with true crime and now found herself in the middle of one. She learned quickly how the real world works. Her fortuitous encounter with Amaya who came to her rescue helped bring new people and friends into her life. There were several twists, one that I was a bit discouraged with, but overall this was a good story.

I received an ARC through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

 

Ebook Review: Secrets of the Maison Fournier (Belle Epoque Bookshop Mystery #1) by Amelia Pine

Blurb: 

Paris, 1888. A city of light, love, and deadly secrets.

When American bookseller Emma Greene opens a small English-language bookshop in the Latin Quarter, she hopes for a quiet life among books, not whispers and suspicion.

After the powerful owner of the glittering Maison Fournier department store dies under suspicious circumstances, Emma becomes a reluctant suspect. To save her reputation, she must untangle Parisian society secrets with the help of a guarded detective, a circle of found-family neighbors, and a slow-burn romantic tension that could be just as dangerous as the truth.

A Belle Époque historical cozy mystery with bookshop intrigue, a clever heroine, and romance under gaslight.
Perfect for fans of Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Rhys Bowen, Deanna Raybourn, and Tasha Alexander.

If you enjoy:
• atmospheric mysteries set in Belle Époque Paris
• strong, clever heroines
• detective-and-bookseller slow-burn romance
• found-family neighbors and artistic bohemians
• scandal, secrets, and society under gaslight

you will be swept up in Secrets of the Maison Fournier.

Book 1 in the Belle Époque Bookshop Mysteries by Amelia Pine

Amazon: Amazon.com: Secrets of the Maison Fournier: Book 1, A Belle Époque Bookshop Mystery (Belle Époque Bookshop Mysteries) eBook : Pine, Amelia: Kindle Store

Goodreads: Secrets of the Maison Fournier: Book 1, A Belle Époque Bookshop Mystery by Amelia Pine | Goodreads

My Review - 4 1/2 of 5 stars - 

4 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed Emma and her interactions/friendships with Cecile, Luc, and Inspector LeFevre. The setting of Paris was well done, at a time when the future was starting to outshine the past. Some details seemed a bit repetitive, but the mystery and clue hunt was engrossing. I was pulled in, especially toward the end as we got closer to the solution. There were plenty of clues to follow, danger to avoid or protective from. The inspector was so cute as he fought his upright, beyond question, attitude with his feelings for Emma. I look forward to the next in this series.

I received an ARC through Booksirens, and this is my unsolicited review.

2026 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge

 

This will be my second year with the challenge. In 2025, I chose Amateur which was 5-15 books and managed to read 19, so I am aiming for Detective (16-25 books). Join me by following this link to sign up: https://carolsnotebook.com/2025/12/01/2026-cloak-and-dagger-reading-challenge-sign-up/

Challenge Rules:

• You can read any book that is from the mystery/suspense/thriller/crime/true crime genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of these genres.
• You don’t need a blog to participate but you do need a place to post your reviews to link up. (blog, Goodreads, Instagram, etc.)
• Make a goal post and link it back here with your goal for this challenge.
• Books need to be at least 100 pages long. Please no short stories.
• Crossovers with other challenges are fine.
• The Challenge will run from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st. (Sign up ends March 15.)

We still have our facebook group so if you haven’t joined we would love for you to! Here’s the group’s link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/350512171977943/. It’s a closed group so just ask to join and we’ll let you in.

There will be a monthly link-up so we can see what everyone’s reading – and probably add some to our own tbr lists. At the halfway mark and at the end we will have a giveaway for those participating.

We’ll continue to use the hashtag #CloakDaggerChal.

Levels:

5-15 books – Amateur sleuth

16-25 books – Detective

26-35 books – Inspector

36 – 55 books – Special agent

56+ books – Sherlock Holmes – This is my goal for the year.

I also added the challenge on The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/5b26b77d-0129-4022-93b5-baae5815a06f

Add a link to your sign-up post or Goodreads shelf below or in the comments.