Book Review: The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: physical abuse, violence, blood, child abuse, domestic abuse, death, confinement, pregnancy, bullying

Several months after solving the murder of her former best friend, Alice Ogilvie is happy to stick to investigating older mysteries—like the death of a movie starlet in Levy Castle back in the 1920s. Unfortunately, while snooping around the castle at a school dance, Alice stumbles onto a chilling scene: one of her classmates, Rebecca Kennedy, lying in a pool of her own blood, and another, Helen Park, standing over her with a bloody knife. Castle Cove’s inept police department thinks it’s an open-and-shut case, but even though Alice saw Helen with the knife, she and Iris can’t help but think something else is afoot. Something that just might tie into the death of that movie starlet Alice finds so fascinating.

I went into this book super excited to watch Alice and Iris tackle another mystery, but unfortunately, this one didn’t grip me quite as much as The Agathas. While I enjoyed the blending of the past and present, how Alice stood out as a character, and some of the fun reveals, the pacing of this book was a little bit off and stretched my suspension of disbelief a little further than it can go for a contemporary teen mystery. It was still a fun time, but it wasn’t as compelling a read as the first book.

The highlight of The Agathas was the relationship between Alice and Iris, the friendship that developed between them, and the ways they played off of each other. While I didn’t always feel like their voices were super distinct, I loved their dynamic. In this book, both Alice and Iris are dealing with personal struggles that put a strain on their friendship. While those struggles made sense for where each character was at in their lives, the book didn’t delve deeply enough into how they were feeling and dealing with those struggles.  It felt more like those plot points were just there to keep the girls apart. I trust they’ll be addressed in the next book, but it pulled me out of the story to see these things mentioned once and then completely ignored. Likewise, there were several seeds planted in the first book that only existed in the background of this book. There’s another murder that Iris is casually investigating that I assume will be the major focus of the third book, but there are also issues of character relationships, crushes, and evolving friendships that were established in the previous book and mentioned several times in this book, but go nowhere, which was a bit frustrating.

The actual mystery is fun, if a little ridiculous—Alice and Iris commit several crimes in this book that are a little hard to overlook, and when I found myself siding with the inept, sexist police officer telling the girls to stop or risk jail time, I knew that my suspension of disbelief had been pushed to the breaking point. I did find some of the foreshadowing really fun and was excited when I caught onto little hints the authors were laying for the reader but, unlike in the first book, those clues resolved the mystery too quickly and I found myself getting impatient with the girls for not figuring things out faster. I also found that, unlike the first book, I wasn’t emotionally invested in the outcome of either mystery so the stakes didn’t feel as high.

Overall, this book just fell a little short compared to the first. The stakes weren’t as high, the hijinks got a little too ridiculous, and the core dynamic of the book, the relationship between Alice and Iris, was underutilized. I still think it was a fun read and I’ll be checking out the third book when it comes out, but I wouldn’t recommend this one as much as I do the first.

Book Review: The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: domestic abuse, murder, child abuse, physical abuse, bullying, death of a parent

Last summer, Alice Ogilvie’s boyfriend dumped her, and she disappeared. Five days later she returned, seemingly unscathed but refusing to talk about what happened. Now Alice’s best friend (who happens to be dating Alice’s ex) has vanished, and even though Alice knows in her bones that it’s not the same, no one is taking Brooke’s disappearance seriously. Well, no one except Iris, Alice’s tutor, who has her own motives for wanting to find Brooke. Between the two of them, and with a little help from Agatha Christie, Alice’s literary hero and queen of the whodunit, they’re confident they can find Brooke. But it quickly becomes clear that this isn’t a game, and that someone they know could very well be a killer.

The Agathas follows two girls who live very different lives, brought together by circumstance and the desire to get justice for a missing girl. The writing style is quick and immersive. Alice and Iris are compelling characters, and I wasn’t able to put the book down until the mystery was solved.

I mean it. I picked this book up while at home sick, and I didn’t put it down again until I finished it, five hours later. Because of that, I can’t really speak to pacing, but I will say the writing style and the way the clues rolled out was enough to keep me turning the pages for hours, so the authors definitely did something right. I loved the way the mystery unfolded; I’m one of those people who suspects absolutely everyone when reading a whodunit, and this book really leans into that, providing lots of suspects and motives that the characters and the reader have to work through. The book also does a great job exploring the whydunit, a.k.a. really diving into the possible motives of each character to figure out not just what happened to Brooke, but why. I was really invested in the investigation and got swept up in the mystery, to the point that when I figured out a clue before the characters did, I tried to yell at my book to warn them.

This book is, of course, a mystery, but it’s also an exploration of the two characters Alice and Iris, and the ways in which their differences and similarities push them into an unlikely friendship. While overall Alice and Iris felt like distinct, fleshed out characters, I did find that occasionally their speech patterns would change from one chapter to the next. I think this might be the result of having two writers building a story together for the first time, and I’m sure that will be ironed out in later books. It was a slight distraction but ultimately didn’t take away from my reading experience. I really loved following both Alice and Iris. I felt like I could see a bit of my teenage self in each of them and I think lots of teen readers will be able to identify with one or both of them while reading this book. I also loved the side characters that show up in this book, and I hope we can see more of them in the sequels.

Overall, I loved this mystery and these two main characters, and with all the little hints this book drops about older mysteries that haunt this lakeside town, I couldn’t resist running out to pick up book two as soon as I finished this one. If you’re a fan of teen mysteries and whodunits, I think there’s a lot to love about this book, and I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Book Review: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: toxic relationships, bullying, death, emotional abuse, panic attacks/disorders, violence, cursing, domestic abuse

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers follows Vera, an older woman whose vigorous routines and diligent internet snooping keep her young at heart—though neither her son nor her potential customers seem interested in that. With so little to keep her superior mind occupied, who can blame Vera when, after finding a dead body in her tea shop, she decides to steal a little bit of evidence and investigate the murder herself? The police think it was an accident, but Vera knows that if she just waits long enough, the guilty party will show up and make her a hero. Unfortunately, not one but four young people with their own motives and ties to the dead man turn up in Vera’s shop. Now it's up to Vera to uncover the truth even as her snooping brings all her suspects together in a way that just might be exactly what they all need.

This book is both hilarious (which I was expecting) and very heartwarming (which I was not). I knew that Jesse Q. Sutanto could pull off the humour of writing a meddling mother while still creating a well-rounded and loveable character, and Vera is exactly that. She is outrageous and arrogant while also being smart, caring, and so full of love—and all of that makes her delightful to follow. What I did not expect was for Sutanto to also introduce four complicated characters with their own traumas and have this group help heal each other in a really beautiful way. The book is split between Vera’s point of view and the perspectives of each of her four suspects, which really elevated the story. Each POV has their own individual arcs and connections to the mystery, and they each grow and provide something for the others, culminating in a found family that I did not know I needed in my life.

The actual mystery was really interesting.  It took a lot of twists and turns that I did not expect while still giving enough hints and clues to solve the mystery along with Vera. Vera’s snooping and aggressive motherly interrogations divulge in equal parts real, important clues as well as ridiculous theories that had me giggling while still providing helpful character insights. The pacing of the mystery may unfold a little bit inconsistently but that makes sense for the plot of this story, and I was never bored.

This book had me laughing constantly, and while I was worried that I would end up laughing at Vera, this book never feels malicious. Yes, you definitely do laugh at her as she can be a bit ridiculous at times and while the book pokes fun at her, she has so much heart that you fall in love with her and her ridiculousness.  The other characters in this book all fear and want to please her in equal parts, which helps this book feel like it is gently teasing rather than outright mocking. I’m just so pleasantly surprised by how this book blended comedy with real emotional connection, with each character feeling grounded and real in a way that makes you miss them once the book is over.

If you’re looking for a funny mystery full of complex, loveable characters with a heartwarming found family and so many descriptions of food that will have your mouth watering, I would highly recommend this book. I picked it up when I needed something light and fun, and it made me laugh and cry and fall in love with these characters. I had a great time with it.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich

By Sara Hailstone

Content warning: guns and violence

Janet Evanovich is well known for her mystery series featuring strong female leads paired with the comedic relief of masculine counterparts. Born in South River, New Jersey in 1943, Evanovich made a name for herself with the creation of her first strong female lead, Stephanie Plum, a sharp-tongued Jersey girl who pushes her way into tracking down bail jumpers by blackmailing her own bail bondsman. Plum’s character led to a series and the cookie-cutter template for Evanovich’s New York Times bestsellers. Evanovich is now a household name. The Recovery Agent is the first book of a new series in alignment with this Evanovich template. Now, Evanovich introduces readers to the duo of Gabriela and Rafer.

Gabriela is a recovery agent, retrieving missing treasure, family valuables, or stolen property for the rich. Evanovich thrusts Gabriela into the throes of personal crises with a hurricane that has levelled her family’s home. With the supernatural guidance of an ancestor named Annie, Gabriela’s family wants her to find Blackbeard’s treasure map that will lead her to the Ring of Solomon. Annie had sent a message to Gabriela’s grandmother with knowledge of a historical diary that the infamous Blackbeard had: a diary with a map to the famous treasure sought by others. With this long-kept family secret, Gabriela would be able to help the family start over after devastation. But first, Gabriela has to find the treasure in a case in the basement of her old house where her ex-husband Rafer lives. He insists on joining her when she comes to retrieve the map and case.

Rafer is funny. With his quick-witted interjections and stubborn persistence in helping protect Gabriela while simultaneously driving her crazy (much like the dynamics of their marriage of antler smashing), the duo takes on the jungles of Peru and are soon trekking across various geographic hotspots, dodging snakes, going toe-to-toe with drug cartels and cults, and finishing with the climax of facing an unhinged antagonist who has stalked them throughout the plot. The Recovery Agent throws the reader in hard; they hit the ground running. 

The Recovery Agent meets the genre’s needs and is an anticipated first book of a new series for devoted readers. A text suited for escapism and entertainment, it secures the plotline with historical anchors. It took me some time to feel emotional ties to the characters and I read courageously through a template feel, but investment in the characters was not fully achieved as I knew they would always be okay. I appreciated Rafer’s comic relief and the chemistry between he and Gabriela that moves the narrative along. With the inclusion of a supernatural subplot, I was impressed with the experimentation in cross-genre writing between mystery and the elements of magic realism found in literary fiction. I could be stretching and inserting my own creative wondering into my reading, but those familiar with the mystery genre will walk away satisfied and wanting more. 

Thank you to Atria Books of Simon & Schuster for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: The Siren by Katherine St. John

By Kaylie Seed

Content warning: Rape, Assault, Murder, Overdose, Drug Abuse

Readers looking for an “anytime” mysterious beach read will find The Siren perfect. Set on the Caribbean Island of St. Genesius, a group of actors have come together to film The Siren, which promises to keep audiences wanting more with a sultry storyline and a cast that feels intimately connected.

Told from the point of view of three women who arrive on set each with their own motive for being there: Stella, known for her unstableness off-screen, is hoping to reclaim her career. Taylor, new to the producer’s life, is hoping to turn her career around after her previous job ended in scandal. And Felicity, Stella’s new assistant, came with plans that may threaten everyone else’s plans with this movie. When a hurricane threatens their beachy movie vibes, the three women find themselves united but misplaced trust ends up becoming more threatening than the hurricane barreling towards them.

Each of the three main characters is developed well and their unique voices shine as they narrate their parts of the story. While the overall plot could feel predictable at times, The Siren was enjoyable regardless and readers who enjoy multiple points of view will find joy in this murder mystery beach read. Something that added to the entertainment of the story was the tabloid inserts between chapters. They allowed readers to learn more about each character from an outside perspective and it helped to break up the story as well.

The pacing in The Siren felt a little all over the place at times. This can be frustrating to a reader who is expecting a plot to move a certain way. Readers should not go into this one expecting it to be as light and airy as its cover. The Siren certainly has a darker story, but it felt genuine and was written well. St. John is an author to watch out for!

Thank you, Hachette Book Group, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Maid by Nita Prose

By Melissa Khan

Molly loves her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Every day she takes pride in restoring rooms to a state of perfection, even when those around her have no trouble expressing that they find her more than a bit odd. The only person in her life she knows she can trust is her Gran, but in the months after her death Molly has had difficulty navigating the rules and intentions of those around her. Then one morning, while going in to clean the hotel’s wealthiest guest’s suite, Molly stumbles across a crime scene and suddenly finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.

The investigators dismiss Molly at first, but soon her unusual behavior makes her their lead suspect. They just can’t figure out if Molly is as naïve as she seems or if her innocence is a practiced facade. Molly becomes tangled between friends and foes, and while some try to use her trusting nature against her, others prove themselves to be faithful allies.

I personally found Molly as a character to be sweet and endearing, but I also understand how frustrating one may find her. There were instances during the story when characters were clearly manipulating her and Molly was completely oblivious to their motives, and although I would cringe while reading, I actually appreciated these little moments of characterization. Molly learns throughout the story how to recognize when characters are lying to her and I liked seeing this growth.  

Not every character had negative intentions, and those who cared about Molly were easily the best part of the story. After the death of her Gran, Molly was able to create her found family, who were genuinely there to support and love her. The complex grief Molly felt from losing her grandmother was also beautifully shown in small moments throughout the story. Readers could tell how devastating her loss felt, and how unsure Molly was with how to deal with it. Which is what made me wonder why Gran, knowing how naïve Molly was, didn’t do more to ensure Molly’s security. She could have paid more attention to the nest egg she left for her, or not have kept so many secrets. But honestly, the discovery of these little secrets gave more to an otherwise simple story.

The mystery itself wasn’t complex, and the ending was resolved in a neat little package. The writing style was easy to follow which made for a light read—as light as a murder mystery can be—and leaves the reader feeling good. I found that although the resolution to the mystery was predictable, the part that kept me reading was Molly’s relationships with the other characters. I wanted to find out what happened to them and make sure they were all okay. Much like the friendships made in the novel, this story was comfortable and reliable.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

by Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: substance abuse, gambling addiction, infidelity, emotional abuse, police corruption, family abandonment, physical violence, mentions of suicide, murder

Blackmail and Bibingka is the third book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series following Lila as she struggles to juggle her new business, a new relationship, and preparations for the town’s Winter Bash. To top it all off, Lila’s shady cousin is back in town with some mysterious business partners and a scheme that Lila doesn’t trust for a second. When Ronnie becomes a murder suspect, Lila knows she has to investigate. Tita Rosie may be ready to welcome back her prodigal son, but Lila will not let Ronnie, or anyone else, hurt her family.

This series continues to be cozy, full of powerful female friendships, beautiful family bonds, and so much good food. Lila is a fantastic main character, and this mystery is different from the others in this series; Lila herself observes that while the previous two mysteries were motivated by passion and emotion, this new case is premeditated and seems to be driven only by greed, making the culprit much less sympathetic in her eyes.

Each of the new characters introduced in this book is flawed, and I appreciated the way Lila was both pragmatic and compassionate. She was suspicious and not overly naive, but she was still understanding of the struggles of the people she was investigating. Each of the characters in this world feels so fleshed out and real, and it could have been easy to have these new additions feel hollow or underdeveloped with their flaws and selfish motives, but Manansala did an excellent job of making them feel grounded and well developed even when they weren’t always likeable.

I enjoyed how the clues were laid out in this book, though I did find the mystery a bit predictable. The puzzle pieces were clear to me very early in the book; however, I did still enjoy the way Lila’s investigation played out, and I was pleased with the way the mystery wrapped up. The clues gave me a good grasp of what would unfold, but there were a few pieces I didn’t put together until the big reveal.

Where these books really stand out to me are the character relationships and dynamics, and this book doesn’t disappoint. Lila’s friends and family are all so vivid and fun, and I love reading about the ways they push and support each other. I will say that the characters all act so real and fleshed out that it sometimes makes the dialogue feel a bit clunky and unnatural, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.

I also enjoyed the way this book treated the previous two mysteries; while it felt like the first two books needed to be read in order, because of the way book one’s resolution affects Lila’s mental state in book two, this book was very vague about the previous two mysteries. While I still recommend reading the books in order, I appreciate the work this book put into being able to be read on its own.

Overall, while I found the mystery a bit predictable, there is something about these books that I find so cozy and delightful to read. Lila is a wonderful main character surrounded by an excellent supporting cast, and her investigation kept me interested the entire time. And where the mystery may have fallen a bit short, I got to enjoy this series’ countless descriptions of delicious food, which, as always, left me hungry and satisfied. I would definitely recommend the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series as a fun and cozy read, and this book is an enjoyable installment.

Thank you too Penguin RandomHouse for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Mindful of Murder by Susan Juby

By Christina McLaurine

Set off the coast of British Columbia on Sutil Island, Mindful of Murder is a lovely cozy mystery perfect for lazy Sunday reading. Helen, a recent graduate from Butler School, is about to start her first job when she receives a call informing her that her former boss, Edna, has died. Edna’s will lays out instructions for Helen to sort out her affairs. Her main task is to run a retreat for some of Edna’s relatives to determine who will take over Edna’s business, the Yatra Institute. As Helen begins to carry out this plan, Edna’s death makes less and less sense. With the help of her classmates, Helen starts asking questions to get to reveal the truth about what happened during Edna’s last moments.

Mindful of Murder is full of colourful characters. Edna’s relatives (Thaddeus, Wills, Rayvn, and Whitney) and the institute staff (Warfarer, Nigel, and Jensen) are quirky and fun—but Helen herself is the most interesting. Prior to working at the Yatra Institute, she used to be a nun, and before that, she spent time at a Buddhist monastery. It’s certainly not the typical backstory for the typical amateur sleuth protagonist but it works. As Helen asks questions about Edna, it reads as though she’s trying to place all of the pieces of a puzzle together instead of catching a criminal. In a way, this adds to the cozy feeling of the novel.

It’s common when reading mysteries or thrillers (or any genre for that matter) to try and figure out the twist or the ending before it arrives. In the case of mysteries, it’s figuring out whodunnit before it is revealed. Throughout the novel themes of mindfulness, specifically being present, are constantly discussed and referenced. In a way, Juby seems to suggest to the reader to be present where they are in the story and not rush ahead by trying to figure out how it will end. The end will come when it comes. And when it comes to solving the murder, if readers stay present with what’s unfolding exactly where they are in the novel, they will unearth the answers.

It’s a different way of presenting a murder mystery but it works. Mindful of Murder has all of the classic elements of a cozy mystery making it ideal reading for a rainy day or cottage getaway. It’s sure to leave readers hoping this is the first in a series.

Thank you, HarperCollins, for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Last One Alive by Amber Cowie

By Kaylie Seed

Penelope Berkowitz is a bestselling author unable to find inspiration for her second novel. But when she stumbles upon the myth of the Stone Witch in an old journal, she puts together a research team of seemingly unfamiliar strangers who all end up being connected to someone who has recently passed away. Last One Alive is a locked door mystery and thriller that takes readers to Stone Point, a remote island off the coast of the Pacific Northwest in British Columbia. Penelope and her boyfriend lead a ragtag team on a research expedition to the boat-in-only resort with a haunting past. When bodies begin showing up, Penelope and the remaining group members are forced to solve the mystery of the Stone Witch and hope that they can catch the killer before the weekend is over.

Locked door mysteries are a type of plot that I am always a little leery about reading. I find that I am usually able to guess what is going to happen when I am wanting to be completely thrown off guard. Sadly, Last One Alive was too predictable for me; however, Cowie’s prose kept me engaged right until the end. As with most locked door mysteries, there are a lot of characters, and I found a couple of them to blend into one another. At the same time I found others to be unique enough that they were memorable throughout the story.

The subplot about the history of Stone Point and the myth of the Stone Witch had me intrigued and wanting to know even more about this part of the story. This is only a short part of Last One Alive and I would have liked to see it fleshed out more. I found this subplot to be more entertaining than the main plot, as it felt like the main plot lacked originality and zest. Last One Alive is an atmospheric novel and readers who enjoy books written by Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley will appreciate this one.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Umboi Island by J.J. Dupuis

By Kaylie Seed

Umboi Island is the third installment of the Creature X Mysteries series. Readers are reacquainted with Laura Reagan, host of the show Creature X, as she decides to head to Papua New Guinea with her team. Laura and her team are attempting to track down a pterosaur called a Ropen, that supposedly survived extinction. As with the two previous novels in this series, a body shows up—but this time it is someone from the team's past. Similar to the other novels in this series, it is a whodunit plot but this time with a “locked door” element, as Laura and her team are stuck on an island with a murderer. 

Laura's character development takes a different turn in this third novel. While in the past two books she came across as a team player, in Umboi Island she is beginning to take risks that could hurt her team because she is hungry to solve mysteries. Despite the shift in Laura’s  character arc, readers will still enjoy her story. There are numerous secondary characters, and much like the other two novels the characters feel underdeveloped and cramped. If there were a smaller cast of secondary characters it would be easier for the reader to remember who is who, and also give the opportunity for the characters to shine in their own right.

Readers may be expecting more cryptozoology throughout this series but it’s a tad underwhelming in that aspect. Meant to be read as more of a mystery, the Creature X Mysteries series consists of human interactions through mysteries rather than people searching for cryptids. Dupuis does a fantastic job at describing the surroundings in Umboi Island and throughout the entire series. Readers may go into this series thinking there is more cryptozoology than there actually is; instead, they will be met with a series of mysteries of the human kind.

Thank you to Dundurn Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Crescent Lake by J.J. Dupuis

By Kaylie Seed

The second installment of J.J. Dupuis’s Creature X Mysteries takes readers on another adventure with Laura Reagan, who is now hosting a cryptozoology documentary called Creature X. Readers will follow Laura as she travels to Newfoundland, Canada, in search of a giant eel named Cressie that supposedly stalks Lake Crescent. While shooting the documentary, Laura and her team end up dredging a body up from the depths of Lake Crescent, and while the cold case unfolds in front of them, secrets once buried begin coming to the surface.

Laura’s characterization flows nicely from Roanoke Ridge into this second installment. The reader is able to see that she has grown as a character and continues to be interesting, with room to grow. On the flip side, the number of secondary characters can feel overwhelming, and the reader may find them hard to keep track of because they lack uniqueness. The setting moves around a lot as the characters boat, walk, or drive, which is a distraction from the overall plot rather than an added dimension. Dupuis’s love of nature is present yet again throughout Lake Crescent, and his descriptions of the landscape are vivid, making them easy to imagine in the reader’s mind.

While the book is labeled as science fiction, the story is more of an adventure mystery filled with a number of subplots that weave in and out of the main plot. It can be a little difficult at times to follow all of the subplots, and there is also the history of Cressie throughout the story, so it can feel like there is a lot going on at. The prose at times was dry, especially when action scenes came around, and there was a lack of urgency when the plot demanded a more commanding presence. While this is the second book in the Creature X Mysteries series, readers can pick this one up without having to read the first. Readers who enjoy the outdoors, cryptozoology, and mysteries will likely enjoy this novel.

Thank you to Dundurn Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Roanoke Ridge by J.J. Dupuis

By Kayie Seed

The first in the Creature X Mystery series, Roanoke Ridge, follows scientist and Bigfoot skeptic Laura Reagan as she attempts to help find Berton Sorel, one of her former professors, after he goes missing while hiking in Roanoke Ridge, Oregon. When the discovery of a body that does not belong to Berton is found, Laura begins to question her skepticism on cryptids and feels compelled to uncover the secrets surrounding Roanoke Ridge.

Roanoke Ridge is a mystery mixed with crime and cryptozoology, and while it may seem like this would be an action-packed story, it is not. The plot is quite slow which can leave the reader wondering where all the action is, especially since the beginning of the novel starts out with an action-packed scene. The main characters lack depth, and I was hoping for more descriptions about them to really paint a picture in my head of who they are. While the characterization is somewhat lacking, Dupuis is heavy on the setting, with vivid descriptions that show his appreciation for the natural world. I found myself having to look up a lot of the science jargon;  readers who are not familiar with scientific words, terms, and phrases may find themselves doing the same thing.

There aren’t a lot of themes present, but the ability to challenge your personal beliefs is the one theme that runs throughout the entire story. Being able to challenge your own beliefs is what makes you a critical thinker, and it was nice to see this in a novel; it shows the reader that there is room to grow as a person. While the story and its twists are a bit predictable overall, those readers looking for a novel that is heavy on nature will appreciate Roanoke Ridge. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing the next two books in the Creature X Mystery series as they follow Laura’s search for more cryptids from around the world.

Thank you to Dundurn Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Deep House by Thomas King

By Dahl Botterill

Thomas King is an award-winning writer who grew his fame with stellar literary fiction before expanding into nonfiction, children’s literature, poetry, and more. In the early 2000s, he delved into the mystery genre under the pseudonym of Hartley Goodweather, penning two funny and well-received detective novels to very limited fanfare, and for a decade or so, that seemed to be all we would ever see of detective-turned-photographer-turned-reluctant-detective Thumps DreadfulWater. Those two books were republished without the pseudonym shortly after The Back of the Turtle and The Inconvenient Indian made King a household name, and they found a much broader audience. Thomas King returned to the DreadfulWater mysteries and has to date given us four more; Deep House is the sixth mystery novel starring Thumps, and the series is going strong.

King’s strengths have always made his writing something special. His writing is playful and recognizes the value and beauty in everyday lives and events; King’s humour is kind and his characters so very real. Such traits made his early works stand out, but also serve his mystery writing to great effect. The setting of Chinook is a smallish town that feels more lived in with every book. Characters and locations change and grow from title to title, and the reader is drawn in by this familiarity. Characters who in so many books might be cookie-cutter placeholders providing clues or moving the plot along are instead thinking, feeling individuals that breathe life into the setting and make every little moment matter.

Deep House continues this grand tradition. It isn’t likely to be a book that changes a reader’s perspective of the world, but it will certainly draw them in and make them feel like they’re a part of what’s happening in Chinook. The mystery starts small, with an abandoned, burned-out van, and grows over time. As it grows, its many threads touch on so many aspects of Thumps’s life as to make it unavoidable, and this sense of something unseen growing is mirrored somewhat in the town, where its businesses and community are awakening and changing in the aftermath of the pandemic. Chinook is a town filled with people, and King introduces his reader to many of them. The degree to which one gets to know everybody that exists even tangentially to Thumps DreadfulWater, and the fact that he knows people just about everywhere he goes, builds up a sense of community that permeates the setting. Both the dialogue and DreadfulWater’s inner narrative are engaging and fun to read, and really set the book apart.

The mystery is teased out effectively, keeping everybody guessing while providing a momentum that ensures the reader will always want to read just a few more pages, but there is more to this book than a mystery. Were the mystery excised entirely from Deep House—no vandalism, no murder, no intrigue at all—it would still be an entertaining read about the relationships between the diverse individuals that make up a community. It would still be Thomas King.

Book Review: An Unthinkable Thing by Nicole Lundrigan

By Erica Wiggins

Content warning: murder, sexual assault

An Unthinkable Thing is the eighth novel by Canadian author Nicole Lundrigan. I have been a fan of this author for quite some time and had the good fortune of being able to meet her at an event and listen to her speak. It only increased my love for her novels, and I was obviously excited to dive into this one.

An Unthinkable Thing begins with Tommie Ware, a young boy living with his aunt. In the summer of 1958, Tommie’s life is upended when his aunt doesn’t come home after work one night. When she is found murdered, there is no other choice but for Tommie to return to the mother that gave him up. Tommie has just turned eleven, and his mom is working as a “live-in” housekeeper. The family gives Tommie’s mom, Esther, permission for him to stay until the next steps are sorted out.  But things at the Henneberry Estate are not as they seem. By the end of the summer, a horrific crime has been committed, and we are left to ask if an eleven-year-old could really be responsible.

“When I was a young boy, my aunt often told me a lie makes things worse. But she never explained that the truth can, too. I learned that lesson on my own during the summer of 1958, when I was eleven years old.”

This story shifts between June 1958 and the trial of Tommie in March 1959. The trial is conveyed through newspaper articles, excerpts of testimony, evidence reports, and other court and transcript documents. I loved this shift between the timelines and the different styles. It made for a very quick read, and I found myself turning page after page. This is a book you will need to set time aside for when you start—you will not want to put it down.

I really enjoyed Tommie’s character. He cared deeply for his aunt and was happy living in their apartment with very few things. When he moves in with this mother, his discomfort is palpable, and it permeates the story. Lundrigan does an incredible job of bringing the Henneberry family to life. Right off the bat, you get a creepy vibe from them and wonder if they are just eccentric or if there is really something wrong with this family. I really disliked the character of Martin. He is overall a terrible person—sneaky and manipulative, and this plays into the story perfectly. My favourite part was all the clues and red herrings in this story. I started thinking I knew exactly what was going to happen, but I was not at all prepared for that ending! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!

I loved this book! If you love a good suspense with surprising twists, check this story out. Once you love this one, she has a backlist of stories just waiting to be read. I will be over here just waiting for her next book to arrive.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

By Erica Wiggins

Content warning: drowning, shooting, murder, violence

Nine Lives is the most recent novel from author Peter Swanson. He is an American author best know for psychological suspense novels. A fun fact about this author is that it took ten years of writing before he was able to find an agent and get his first novel published. The first book I read from this author was Her Every Fear. It was a story that stuck with me, and I immediately sought out everything from this author. His latest novel did not disappoint.

Nine Lives follows nine strangers who each get a list with names in the mail. These strangers don’t know each other and assume that it is junk mail. That is, until things begin to happen to the strangers on the list. What is the connection—what is being missed? One of the names on the list is FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is working to put together the clues before someone else is crossed off the list. 

This story is fast paced and unputdownable. We start off by being introduced to each of the individuals as they receive the list in the mail. The story jumps around a bit as we move from character to character in short, quick chapters. This creates an almost chaotic feeling that goes perfectly with this story. Jessica, the FBI agent, is immediately suspicious. She attempts to make the connections and locate the other eight people on the list. When one of the people on the list is found drowned and another man is shot running, Jessica kicks into overdrive and so does the story.  

It felt like I stepped on a high-speed train and couldn’t get off. As the chapters flew by, I tried to find the connections myself, piecing together the clues that are given. I began wondering what was going to happen and what the endgame was. Why would someone do this and who is responsible? Then the ending comes. This author is amazing at twists and to say I was surprised is a gross understatement. I thought that I had it figured out but wasn’t quite right and was caught off guard in the best possible way.

Swanson has a way of making you feel the story—the urgency, the fear, the gut-wrenching twists. He writes in a way to keep you on the edge of your seat. This novel gave out an increasingly creepy vibe as I thought about what it would be like to have my name on a list like this. I cannot say enough about this book. As you can guess, I loved this book and if psychological suspense novels with a bit of a creepy vibe are your thing, check out Nine Lives. When you love this story, this author has backlist to check out as well. 

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

By Carolina Moriello

Content warning: sexual assault, violence, domestic abuse 

Welcome to number 12, rue des Amants, where everyone is a suspect, and nothing is as it seems.  

When Jess Hadley escapes England looking for a new start, she expects to stay with her half-brother Ben Daniels in his beautiful Paris apartment. Broke, out of a job, and escaping a scary past, Jess is hoping to use her time in Paris to figure out her next move. However, when she arrives, Ben is nowhere to be found. The longer Ben is away, the more alarmed and curious Jess gets. She turns to Ben’s neighbours for help, only to be met with hostility and unfriendliness at every turn. Jess believes the truth about what happened to her brother lies within the walls of the apartment building, and the more she unearths the more determined she is to find him…dead or alive. 

Within the first few chapters of this book the reader is introduced to many characters. As a matter of fact, not only are there many characters, but the majority of them have their own POV in the story. Such is the structure of this book: a constant rotation of characters and POVs. This gives the reader insight into each character, their history with Ben, and perhaps their own motives for wanting him gone. As you progress through the story and learn more about their connections to Ben, everyone becomes a suspect. Even though this book allows the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of each character, there isn’t much overall growth or character development. They remain pretty stagnant throughout, which made it hard to connect to or appreciate any of them. 

The Paris Apartment is a slow burn mystery novel more than it is a thriller. The first two hundred pages don’t reveal much in terms of where Ben could be, or the type of relationship he had with his neighbours. One could easily become frustrated with the lack of information or leads into what could have possibly happened to Ben. However, things pick up once you reach a certain point, and it becomes difficult to put the book down. Overall, Lucy Foley has written an intriguing story with a slew of messy, reticent characters. If you enjoy slow burn mysteries, with twists and turns scattered about, then this book is for you. Just be warned, paying attention to the small details is how you figure out what really happened to Ben Daniels. 

Book Review: Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson

By Sara Hailstone

Content warning: Death, murder, addiction and drug use, racism, sexual violence, intergenerational trauma

The focus of reviewing Eden Robinson’s 2000 debut novel, Monkey Beach, is to acknowledge and highlight the power of activating textual layers of magic realism in providing a pathway of shamanism and spiritual components of the Haisla Nation throughout the book. Robinson guides her readers on this journey while simultaneously withholding the sacred power of knowing. What cumulates in this traditionally perceived coming-of-age narrative is an understanding of a young female protagonist’s reclamation of a way of being lost to immense colonial folds. 

Robinson set Monkey Beach in 1989 in her own hometown of Kitamaat Village, BC. The reader follows the fraught actions of 19-year-old Lisamarie, who learns of her brother’s disappearance and suspected drowning while working away on a fishing boat. Without her parents knowing, Lisamarie sets out on her own to find Jimmy. 

While trekking the Douglas Channel alone on an outboard, Lisamarie works through memories of lost loved ones. The reader is pulled through this narrative point-of-view of a close-knit family legacy of death, trauma, suicide, accident, and the immense bonds of love. Triggered, Lisamarie pushes through emotions of drug abuse, rape, and her mental health. Through this narrative weaving and intermingling of Lisamarie’s worldview, Robinson successfully evokes a multi-dimensioned existence of the supernatural, spiritual, and physical. Monkey Beach is a shaman story. 

“Contacting the dead, lesson one. Sleep is an altered state of consciousness…To contact the spirit world, you must control the way you enter this state of being that is somewhere between waking and sleeping.” 

Thus, Robinson threads throughout shifting timeframes of the present and past with spiritual teachings and conceptualizations of life that in reality transform the structure of the text itself into an awakening process. In combination with the polished execution of elements of magic realism is Robinson’s way of artistically and brilliantly pulling Lisamarie and the reader through a process of essential reclamation and, in my opinion, empowerment. 

In connection with the vibrancy of the land itself, Lisamarie’s world is ethereal and vividly layered. Supernatural beings like the B’gwus, or sasquatch make appearances, and she communicates with other Haisla spiritual beings through dreams, visions, and sightings. Lisamarie walks with the dead and the overlaying of an ethereal matrix with the young woman’s confrontation of colonial psychological and Western clinical views of mental illness and personality disorder. 

“Contacting the dead, lesson three. Seeing ghosts is a trick of concentration. You must be able to concentrate on nothing and everything at the same time.”

Her grandmother, Ma-ma-oo’s guidance and passing on of Haisla knowledge is also an initiation of shamanism. Lisamarie is instructed in the history of the Haisla people, herbology, walking in the way of the existence of the dead, translating the synchronicity of the appearance of supernatural phenomena and the realization and actualization of her power. “I felt deeply comforted knowing that magical things were still living in the world.” Two strong female characters, the learning and teachings carried out between Ma-ma-oo and Lisamarie prepare her best to journey after her missing brother.

The enthralling and magical components of Robinson’s writing is that the plotline embodies a West Coast mythology of the Spirit Canoe travelling to the Land of the Dead. Lisamarie journeys and navigates spiritual realms fully and risks being lost there. “Never mind about [Jimmy] now. Go back. You’ve come too far into this world. Go back,” she is warned upon reaching the dead’s shores and witnesses her ancestors dancing around a bonfire. Lisamarie is left on these shores at the end of the novel, existing multi-dimensionally, both rooted in the visceral and hooked to the ethereal. Regardless, my interpretation is that she is existing and more fully actualized than before her journey to find Jimmy. “I lie on the sand. The clamshells are hard against my back. I am no longer cold. I am so light I could just drift away. Close, very close, a B'gwus howls—not quite human, not quite wolf, but something in between. The howl echoes off the mountains. In the distance, I hear the sound of a speedboat.” Lisamarie is the plotline incarnate, a keeper of memory, a mediator of worlds, a practitioner of magic, ‘something in between.’ 

Book Review: Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings (as provided by the author): PTSD, fatphobia, fertility/pregnancy issues, predatory behaviour, sexual harassment, unresolved grief, parental death (occurred in childhood), and dismissive attitudes towards mental health. Additional content warnings: murder, drowning 

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries series. A few months after being accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Lila Macapagal wants nothing more than to put that incident behind her. But it seems no one in Shady Palms is willing to let the past go, and Lila gets dragged into judging the Shady Palms beauty pageant, of which she is a former winner. When a fellow judge is killed, Lila's cousin Bernadette becomes the prime suspect. Now it’s up to Lila to protect her family and the beauty pageant contestants from a killer whose motives are just as elusive as Lila’s baking inspiration these days. 

It’s difficult to review a sequel without comparing it to the first, but the author herself does address this book’s slightly darker tone. I appreciate the author’s notes at the beginning of both books in this series, but Manansala’s statement at the beginning of this one really helped me set realistic expectations for this book. As she says, this book is darker than the first. While still firmly a cosy mystery, Lila is in a difficult place in this book; she struggles with unprocessed trauma, both from the events of the first book and from unhealthy relationships from her childhood. While there were times I found myself missing my favourite side characters from Arsenic and Adobo, the book takes the time to explore how Lila deals with trauma, including pushing people away, and I really respect that. Too often in genres like mystery, mental health can be glossed over for the sake of the next thrill. I valued this book’s commitment to exploring the impacts of trauma and providing Lila with support. I’m excited to see that journey continue as the series progresses. 

I know I said I wouldn’t compare this to the first book, but I will say, while being a fun, quick read (I devoured it in less than twenty-four hours), Homicide and Halo-Halo had a slightly less gripping mystery than its predecessor. This book sets up a number of compelling characters who could all be suspects, and I didn’t feel entirely satisfied with how their stories wrapped up. The actual murder plot and final reveal were exciting, and I enjoyed searching for clues along with Lila and making my own theories, but I feel like there were some character interactions that were left unexplained. I have high hopes that we will see more of these characters in the future, but I did find myself wishing for a bit more information about a few people when I put the book down. 

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing is quick, the clues are well-spread out and kept me guessing, and I enjoyed Lila’s sleuthing, her meddling godmothers and all the personal dramas that got in the way. The characters in this story are all complex and interesting, and the new characters only add to the appeal of this world. And, as always, this book made me absolutely starving. Lila’s desserts and Tita Rosie’s meals had my stomach rumbling, and I, for one, am eager to try out all of the recipes provided in the back of the book, starting with Lila’s Halo-Halo ice candy. 

Overall, while I may have wanted a bit more from the story’s resolution, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lila is a delight to follow, and I can’t wait to see what she and her family get up to next (local gossip claims that Lila’s meddling godmothers, the Calendar Crew, might find themselves in a bit of hot water in Blackmail and Bibingka, but we’ll have to wait until October to find out). 

Thank you to Penguin Randomhouse for a review copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: murder, violence, minor gore  

After a breakup, Lila Macapagal returns to her small hometown to recover and to help save her family’s Filipino restaurant. Unfortunately, her high school ex-boyfriend Derek seems to have taken it upon himself to run their restaurant out of business—along with most of the other restaurants in town—with his vindictive, slanderous reviews. Lila, unwilling to let her family’s restaurant remain at risk, gets into a fight with Derek and his father. Then Derek dies, right in the middle of the restaurant. 

Derek’s stepfather, who happens to be the restaurant’s landlord, accuses Lila and her family of poisoning Derek. Now it’s up to Lila and her best friend to solve the mystery and save Tita Rosie’s Restaurant—before Lila finds herself next on the chopping block. 

Arsenic and Adobo is the first book in Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries, a new cozy murder mystery series featuring a diverse cast of characters and enough mouth-watering descriptions of food to make up for all the dead bodies. Until reading this book I wasn’t aware that “cozy murder mysteries” existed, but this book really captures the essence of the subgenre; it is full of crime and murder, while also maintaining an atmosphere of comfort (in large part aided by the most delicious descriptions of food I have ever read). While the book obviously features murder, and Lila often finds herself in dangerous situations, things are never overly gory or violent. As someone who likes the intrigue of a good mystery but doesn’t want to deal with serial killers or mutilated corpses, this was perfect for me. 

This book is an absolute delight. Lila is spunky and compelling, and each member of her family is distinct and colourful. The entire cast stands out, each with their own fleshed-out personality no matter how much they feature into the narrative. The vibrancy of the characters is complemented by Manansala’s rich descriptions of the town, particularly the local restaurants that factor heavily into Lila’s investigation. This book’s love language is food, and through food Manansala creates a rich and diverse tapestry of Lila’s hometown and the people who live there, all while developing the mystery narrative. 

I obviously can’t talk about this book without discussing the mystery plotline. Now, I will admit I don’t always enjoy mysteries, since I find it easy to predict plot twists. This book, however, is just the type of mystery I love. The pacing of Lila’s investigation works perfectly to set up the world of the series while keeping the investigation moving quickly. Each clue revealed made me feel closer to discovering the culprit, and yet I was still surprised by the twists and turns. Manansala crafts the mystery in such a way that there are a number of possible suspects, and when it comes down to the final reveal, I was both surprised and satisfied. The true strength of a mystery, in my opinion, is when the conclusion of the case makes such perfect sense that you kick yourself for not figuring it out sooner. All the clues are there, but hidden enough that they’re easy to overlook, making the investigation exciting and satisfying to read. 

The writing style of this book is fun and quick, the descriptions mouth-watering, the mystery shocking and satisfying. There are moments to sit and savour the delicious flavours of Lila’s newest culinary creation, and sections that fly by as she gets pulled closer to danger. As someone who hasn’t read the genre in a long time, this book has everything I want: a compelling mystery, a likeable and clever amateur detective, and an external world that complemented the mystery storyline. Everything came together to create a world that I am eager to get back to.

Luckily, I don’t have to wait long. The next installment in Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries will be out February 8, and I’m excited to say that a review of Homicide and Halo-Halo is coming within the next few weeks. If you’re a fan of cozy murder mysteries and are looking for a book that will make you absolutely starving, now’s the time to pick up Arsenic and Adobo. 

Book Review: A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari

By Lauren Bell

            A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Potions strays from the typical genre of books that I read, but I was enticed by the elegant cover art and the way the title rolls off the tongue enough to select it. Khavari’s novel is written in feminist undertones and follows Saffron Everleigh, a young research assistant, as she navigates London’s high society and the old boy’s club at the university where she studies botany. 

            The plot begins with Saffron attending a faculty party as a last-minute invite. Surrounded by faceless old men, Saffron’s self-conscious voice becomes evident as she looks for an ally in the crowd. Like the classic Clue trope, the party is interrupted when a professor’s wife collapses due to poisoning—an attempted murder. Saffron later learns her mentor is the prime suspect, and she decides to take matters into her own hands to find the culprit, providing her with the opportunity to play Nancy Drew with Alexander Ashton, another dashing young researcher at the university. Khavari tries to build suspense by adding an upcoming research expedition to the Amazon that would provide the guilty party with a perfect escape, but it isn’t really felt until Saffron’s own research and credibility is put into jeopardy. However, I found the ending very neat, coming as close to a “happy” ending as one could expect.

            As I mentioned previously, this is not the type of novel I usually read, which is perhaps why I am a bit harsh in my critique. I found I grew bored of the novel’s slow-burning suspense and the classic “will they/won’t they” storyline between Saffron and Alexander. I was also disappointed with the lack of plants and flowers and felt it was a missed opportunity to add more depth to Saffron’s passions. Regardless, just because it wasn’t to my taste does not mean it will be the same for others, and I’d expect readers of Kate Morton would likely enjoy A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Potions as it shares many similarities to Morton’s work such as the setting of post-war London aspects of its high society.