A Murderous Procession

Ariana Franklin

My View: Finally, book number #4 in the series! I am horrible at keeping up with series. Are you any good at it?

But this year, I am trying to finish this one because it’s pretty good.

Yet again, Franklin has brought about a fast-paced drama and action filled thriller which keeps you on the edge of your seat. As always, Adelia is full of insights and surprises and manages to not get killed.

Villain from the last book makes a comeback and how! You’re kept guessing in whose garb he has masked himself.

I was not able to solve the mystery but it was a rollercoaster ride for sure. Franklin is a mistress of knitting these tales that sweep you in and keep you up late into the night, turning page after page.

If strong, feisty female main characters are your thing, you have to read this series!

Have you read this book, this series? What did you think of it?

3/5 stars – I liked it.

Buy it here – Amazon India | Amazon US | The Book Depository | Flipkart | Add on Goodreads | Audible

Genre: Historical Fiction

Date Published: January 1, 2010

Series: Mistress of the Art of Death #4

Synopsis:

Tess Garritsen calls this one “my favorite book of the year!”

In 1176, King Henry II sends his daughter Joanna to Palermo to marry his cousin, the king of Sicily. Henry chooses Adelia Aguilar to travel with the princess and safeguard her health. But when people in the wedding procession are murdered, Adelia and Rowley must discover the killer’s identity, and whether he is stalking the princess or Adelia herself.

About the Author

Ariana Franklin was the pen name of British writer Diana Norman. A former journalist, Norman had written several critically acclaimed biographies and historical novels. She lived in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, the film critic Barry Norman.

Grave Goods

Ariana Franklin

My View: I’m committed to finishing this series this year. It’s a good thing that Franklin is a master at her plots and writing, and there is never a dull moment.

Not to mention how much I love strong, feisty female characters who don’t let love decide the course of their lives but stand up for themselves and have an identity outside of being a lover/wife and a mother.

Once again. Adelia is put through risk and life-threatening situations but her commitment to her work shines through. Her intelligence and wit are incomparable. She has a knack to make friends out of enemies and win most people over.

So when she ventures on this journey to find out the truth behind the discovered bodies, we know she would not return empty-handed.

The mystery and thrill element keeps you on tenterhooks and the reveal is nothing I would have imagined!

A riveting tale of mystery, a little bit of romance, lots of drama and action, exactly what I want in a thriller of historical fiction. Time to pick up the next in the series.

Have you read this book/ series? What did you think of it?

3.5/5 stars – Between ‘I liked it’ and ‘I loved it’.

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Date Published: January 1, 2009

Synopsis:

Combining the best of modern forensic thrillers with the drama of medieval fiction, New York Times – bestselling author Ariana Franklin returns with the third title in the Mistress of the Art of Death series.

England, 1176. Beautiful, tranquil Glastonbury Abbey — one of England’s holiest sites, and believed by some to be King Arthur’s sacred Isle of Avalon — has been burned almost to the ground. The arsonist remains at large, but the fire has uncovered something even more shocking: two hidden skeletons, a man and a woman.

Are the skeletons – height and age send rumors flying – the remains those of Arthur and Guinevere? King Henry II hopes so. Struggling to put down a rebellion in Wales, where the legend of Celtic savior Arthur is particularly strong, Henry wants definitive proof that the bones are Arthur’s. If the rebels are sure that the Once and Future King will not be coming to their aid, Henry can stamp out the insurgence for good. He calls on Adelia Aguilar, Mistress of the Art of Death, to examine the bones. Henry’s summons comes not a moment too soon, for Adelia has worn out her welcome in Cambridge.

As word of her healing powers has spread, so have rumors of witchcraft. So Adelia and her household ride to Glastonbury, where the investigation into the abbey fire will be overseen by the Church authorities – in this case, the Bishop of St. Albans, who happens also to be the father of Adelia’s daughter.

About the Author

Ariana Franklin was the pen name of British writer Diana Norman. A former journalist, Norman had written several critically acclaimed biographies and historical novels. She lived in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, the film critic Barry Norman.

The Serpent’s Tale

Ariana Franklin

My View: I read the first in the series, Mistress of the Art of Death (review here), damn(!), 11 years ago. I didn’t think it was THAT long ago.

Now you know, I suck at completing series haha. Finally picked up the second one now and glad to know that I didn’t need to re-read the first one.

As always, strong female characters are my absolute favorite, no wonder I gave the first book a whole 5 stars!

This thrilling, keeping you on the edge, page turner keeps you guessing about who did it and why, and then more mysteries add up as murders continue. Phew!

Adelia, the doctor cum detective is kept busy piecing it all together while trying not to get killed or her baby abducted. Talk about a full plate, eh? Of course, the whole putting a woman down and her having to hide her being a doctor and letting Mansur, the huge Arab take its credit every time, continues to pinch my feminist self.

Franklin brings it all together by the end of the book. Something I love, unlike the cliffhangers some series leave you at.

It was an entertaining, good read overall.

Have you read this book, this series? What did you think of it?

3.5/5 stars – Between I liked it and I loved it.

Buy it here – Amazon India | Amazon US | The Book Depository | Flipkart | Add on Goodreads | Audible

Genre: Historical Fiction

Date Published: January 31, 2008

Series: Mistress of the Art of Death #2

Synopsis:

Ariana Franklin combines the best of modern forensic thrillers with the drama of historical fiction in the enthralling second novel in the Mistress of the Art of Death series, featuring medieval heroine Adelia Aguilar.

Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, has died an agonizing death by poison – and the king’s estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the prime suspect. Henry suspects that Rosamund’s murder is probably the first move in Eleanor’s long-simmering plot to overthrow him. If Eleanor is guilty, the result could be civil war. The king must once again summon Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, to uncover the truth.

Adelia is not happy to be called out of retirement. She has been living contentedly in the countryside, caring for her infant daughter, Allie. But Henry’s summons cannot be ignored, and Adelia must again join forces with the king’s trusted fixer, Rowley Picot, the Bishop of St. Albans, who is also her baby’s father.

Adelia and Rowley travel to the murdered courtesan’s home, in a tower within a walled labyrinth – a strange and sinister place from the outside, but far more so on the inside, where a bizarre and gruesome discovery awaits them. But Adelia’s investigation is cut short by the appearance of Rosamund’s rival: Queen Eleanor. Adelia, Rowley, and the other members of her small party are taken captive by Eleanor’s henchmen and held in the nunnery of Godstow, where Eleanor is holed up for the winter with her band of mercenaries, awaiting the right moment to launch their rebellion.

Isolated and trapped inside the nunnery by the snow and cold, Adelia and Rowley watch as dead bodies begin piling up. Adelia knows that there may be more than one killer at work, and she must unveil their true identities before England is once again plunged into civil war . . .

About the Author

Ariana Franklin was the pen name of British writer Diana Norman. A former journalist, Norman had written several critically acclaimed biographies and historical novels. She lived in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, the film critic Barry Norman.

The Maid

by Nita Prose

Genre: Mystery

Date Published: January 4, 2022

Synopsis:

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

Buy it here – Amazon India | Amazon US | The Book Depository | Add on Goodreads | Flipkart | Audible

This was a quick, page-turner read. I was taken in by the character of Molly the maid. I loved how she had been etched out and how it gave rise to hilarious scenes. I loved Molly’s voice. The plot twists and mystery elements were great to begin with and it kept me turning page after page, late into the night.

The story and characters are supposed to tug at your heart but I felt all but sorry for her. I liked how confident and sure of herself she was. Give me strong female characters any day. Love them! I didn’t much care for other characters. They were a part of the background and none etched in detail.

The book did drag a little bit in the second half, with more unrealistic scenarios and a lackadaisical eye for detail on the author’s part.

All in all, it’s a quick decent read to get over a reading slump or for a weekend night reading. For a debut novel, it does make its mark.

Have you read the book? What did you think of it?

3/5 stars – I liked it.

About the Author

Nita Prose is a longtime editor, serving many bestselling authors and their books. She lives in Toronto, Canada, in a house that is only moderately clean.

Visit Nita at nitaprose.com, on Instagram @nitaprose or on Twitter @NitaProse.

Bad Apple by Barbara Morgenroth

Bad Apple
Book One
Barbara Morgenroth

Genre: Mature YA
Publisher: DashingBooks

ASIN: B0045JK2XW

Word Count: 39,000

Cover Artist: Photo by Aleshyn Andrei.
Cover design by Barbara Morgenroth

Book Description:

“You tell and next time you won’t even be able to crawl away.”

Neal Marchal lived with this threat for the next eight years. When she finds her neighbor murdered, she knows who did it. The why is the secret the family has been keeping forever. The reminder to never reveal the secret is her limp.

She rebuilt her life and now Neal has everything to live for—music, performing and a growing affection for the young man who pulled her to safety.

Then Joe comes home. Neal knows Joe’s going to finish what he started 8 years ago because she told. But this time Neal vows the outcome will be different.

Buy it here – Amazon (Only $0.99) | BN | Kobo | Add at Goodreads

My View: This is one of those books that starts slowly and you don’t know where it is going. The writing style is different and you’re trying to make a sense of it and then suddenly while reading, you realize the writing style is no more different. Your mind has adapted to it, the story has your attention and you’re involved in it. And then you realize you’re enjoying the journey the book has taken you on.

The start was slow but the book got to me later. There’s humor in it but it’s not the laugh out loud one, it’s of a different kind. I couldn’t help but compare this book to my last humor book read – Manless in Montclair. Wait, don’t go comparing them because they don’t even have 1% in common. I was just amazed to see how two books can be completely different, have distinct writing styles and a very different kind of humor and yet both of them appeal to me in their own way. Great, no? Or maybe I am just overthinking things. Oh well, back to the book.

Mind you, the book is not a humorous one. It has a serious subject on hand and deals with it really well. I liked the novel plot, the characters but what I loved most was the way this book had a hold on me – from very little in the beginning to my awe’d feelings towards the end. It just kind of stumped me.

And one of my favorite things about this book apart from the subtle humor was the way relationships were depicted- good, bad and all else, how there was no insta love kind of feelings but so much more in the making. Just wow!

Overall, I really liked this book and highly recommend it. It’s only $0.99, so best time to grab it. And if you love music like me, the book’s appeal will be even more.

I look forward to the series and other books by Barbara.

4/5 stars – I really liked it. 

About the Author:

Barbara was born in New York City and but now lives somewhere else. By now, she thinks of herself as a country girl and knows more about gardening and animals than how to ride the subway.

Starting her career by writing tweens and YA books, (and did the cover photography for her first two books published by Atheneum so continuing to do the covers to her ebooks is predictable), she was actually aiming at the small screen. Television seemed like the perfect place for her even if she had no clue how to get there. Life is funny and often presents opportunities. Advice–Grab Them! Through a neighbor, Barbara wound up getting an introduction to a lower honcho at ABC and an audition to write for them. Her hopes were more than dashed, they were disintegrated, evaporated, demolished when ABC couldn’t find a place for Barbara on General Hospital. (No Luke and Laura in her future!) To ease the crushing disappointment, Barbara wrote “In Real Life I’m Just Kate” about a 17 year old girl who becomes a star on a soap opera. That became an open sesame moment and shortly thereafter Barbara became the last headwriter for NBC’s daytime serial, The Doctors, where she was ordered by the network to kill Alec Baldwin, shooting him not once but twice. With two different guns. From different directions.

Ah, good times.

You can read the book that started Barbara’s television career as the Kindle YA ebook, “Just Kate”, now with a substantial tweak because living life made her smarter.

You can also read about some could-be-hers-could-be-rumors experiences gleaned during Barbara’s stint in daytime television in the Kindle romantic comedy, In Under My Head. Barbara is a recipient of a Writers Guild of America Best Writing Award for her work on One Life To Live.

Whether you’re looking for a Mature YA or a romantic comedy, Barbara has a book for you!

www.barbaramorgenroth.blogspot.com

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Amazon Author Page

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry

Title: The Night She Disappeared
Author: April Henry
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Published: March 13, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805092625

Goodreads Summary: Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is.

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My Views: Phew this was a fast read, just a quick couple of hours and it’s devoured. I really liked this book.

Though it’s no secret how much I love thrillers, this one went a step ahead. All the police documents, medical forms and interviews made it more interesting.

This isn’t much of a mystery, it’s a fast paced thriller that keeps you on the edge and makes you want to read until it finished. So I’m glad I started reading it in the evening and could sleep peacefully by the time night arrived.

The various POVs work well for this book and I have begun to appreciate books that are written this way. So much better to know what’s going inside everyone’s head and it keeps things clear instead of all mixed up.

In all, if you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is a good choice.

4/5 stars – I really liked this book.