ajnel's reviews
723 reviews

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

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dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Frances Adams, a woman obsessed with the idea of her own demise, after being told of her murder during by a fortune teller. Decades later, her great-niece Annie has to attend the reading of Frances' will and learns that Frances was murdered. To uncover the truth and protect herself, Annie delves into Frances's extensive files, uncovering a web of lies and hidden motives among the eccentric villagers. A well-developed, albeit slow gumshoe novel, which builds to a rather unexpected unfold.

Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The ladies of the Marlow Murder Club investigate the mysterious murder of Oliver Beresford, the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society on the Marlowe river. Oliver had rented the luxurious houseboat, the Marlowe Belle, for an exclusive party honouring a prior member who became a famous actress, but no one remembers seeing Oliver disembark.  Strangely it immediately appears that each person who was on the boats is being framed for the murder.  A lovely cozy murder mystery with all the required twists and turns and, as always, a big reveal. 
Rest Not in Peace by Mel Starr

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Master Hugh is asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a knight and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle, the next morning his valet finds him dead. Master Hugh is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death - despite  accusations from Sir Henry's grieving widow that Hugh caused Burley's death.  Another well developed and cosy whodunnit by Starr.
The Tainted Coin by Mel Starr

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adventurous mysterious
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The novel as always follows Master Hugh, a surgeon and bailiff, as he investigates one or more murders; in this case the murder of a traveling merchant. The victim is found with an ancient Roman coin in his mouth, leading Hugh on a quest to uncover the truth behind the murder and the origin of the coin. As always a cozy murder mystery written in Starr's 1360s middle English. 
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A recently sober nanny, with history of drug taking named Mallory starts to suspect that the wealthy and seemingly perfect family she's working for is hiding dark secrets. As she spends more time with the family's young son, Teddy, she begins to notice strange occurrences and unsettling drawings that suggest something sinister is happening within the household. A totally engrossing supernatural mystery thriller, which builds carefully into a total blindside of a third act. 

Where the Darkness Goes by Kiersten Modglin

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emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Tessa Becker's return to her hometown after a seven year absence  to face her past, including the man who broke her heart, her mother's deteriorating health, and the unsolved murders that occurred there. A romance novel with a slight touch of a whodunnit.  
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A suspenseful novel that follows Frank Szatowski, a 26 year veteran UPS driver whose estranged daughter, Maggie, invites him to her wedding at a secluded, luxurious summer camp owned by Maggie's future husband's, Aiden's, family. Before the wedding Frank however learns that Aiden is suspected of the disappearance of a prior girlfriend.  Frank, being uncomfortable with this fact starts to investigate the disappearance and unwittingly stables into a hornet's nest of greed and power.  A well-developed whodunnit with some really unexpected twists and turns, which also explores the love of a father for his daughter.
Baby City by Kelley Stoddard, Freida McFadden

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funny informative lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This medical romance focuses on Emily McCoy, a third-year resident working in the bustling labour ward of a NY City hospital, affectionately nicknamed "Baby City." Obviously, a new third year resident rotates into OB-GYN, one with very unique green eyes and the potential for romance is in air.  Few are aware that McFadden in her earlier career wrote mostly medical romances with a touch of humour.  Like "The Devil Wears Scrubs", the novel centres around a slowly blossoming romance whilst dealing with the moral, mental and  physical trials which makes up the day-to-day lives of resident doctors.
I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Aimee Sinclair, an actress whose husband goes missing, becomes the prime suspect in his disappearance.  Aimee however has to confront her childhood past, where she was stolen by a family whose daughter died.  For a change , and despite her somewhat abused non-linear first person story format, the novel takes a fresh approach which leads to a very unexpected climax.  Well-written, though the writing style is extremely flowery, which inevitably leads to a slower pace. 
The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A spy thriller set during the 2011 Arab Spring in Bahrain. Shane Collins, a near- retirement CIA operative, is tasked with uncovering Iranian support for the insurgency, but like the Arabian folk tale to which the novel owes it's title Shane develops a loyalty to his asset and his cause, placing him in a position where his action could potentially impact on the outcome of the civil revolt.  Berry (pen name), like a number of the more recent crop of authors in the genre, was an operative in the CIA and specifically in Bahrain during the early part of the Arab Spring.  Her writing, despite being delightfully packed with day-to-day "spy" details, is particularly mature for a first novel, and her character development thoroughly engaging.  A novel that explores both the complexities of the individual and the group.