The Devil in Oxford by Jess Armstrong

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “The Devil in Oxford” by Jess Armstrong the 3rd instalment in A Ruby Vaughn Mystery series.  I love this series.

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Set after the Great War, Jess Armstrong’s USA Today bestselling and award-winning series is historical gothic murder mystery at its best, and Ruby Vaughn returns in The Devil in Oxford.

If someone were to ask American heiress Ruby Vaughn how exactly the occult came to play such a large role in her life, she would immediately point to her octogenarian housemate and employer, Mr. Owen. Together, the pair run a rare book shop in Exeter. Mr. Owen’s penchant for arcane, unusual—and occasionally illegal—books has been known to get Ruby into her fair share of trouble. And after the last year, she is looking forward to spending a quiet holiday in picturesque Oxford while Mr. Owen attends the annual meeting of his antiquarian society. Secretly, Ruby is also looking for a holiday from her confounding feelings for Ruan Kivell, the intriguing folk healer Pellar that she met in Cornwall.

When Mr. Owen secures two tickets to an upcoming exhibition of artifacts amassed by disgraced scholar Julius Harker, Ruby reluctantly agrees to attend. The evening turns out to be more eventful than either of them bargained for. Harker’s dead body is discovered amongst the collection, his business partner is hastily arrested, and Ruan arrives…wanting to speak with Ruby. It seems both the arcane and her Pellar have followed Ruby to Oxford.

The murder case is suspicious at best, but the last thing Ruby wants is another investigation. That is, until an old friend comes begging for Ruby’s help. It soon becomes painfully clear that there is more going on in Oxford than meets the eye. Ruby and Ruan will have to uncover the dark secrets of the competitive world of antiquities while trying to understand the peculiar force that keeps drawing them back together.

I was instantly drawn back into the world of Ruby, Owen, and Ruan the Pellar. In this latest instalment , we are  whisked away to Oxford at Christmas where Ruby and Ruan will have to uncover the dark secrets of the competitive world of antiquities while trying to understand the peculiar force that keeps drawing them back together.

As murders unfold, the author masterfully maintains suspense, which kept me guessing until the very end.

The conclusion hints at a thrilling book four – fingers crossed!

Tess Armstrong has secured her spot as one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend this series to all mystery lovers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from St. Martin’s and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

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The Sisterhood by Tasha Alexander

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “The Sisterhood” the 19th instalment in the A Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander.  This is the sixth book I have read by Tasha Alexander and won’t be my last.  

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Lady Emily investigates the murder of a glamorous debutante in the next irresistible mystery of Tasha Alexander’s New York Times bestselling series.

London, 1907: When the Season's most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman. But all is not what it seems, and after a toxic beverage is revealed to be the cause of death, the king himself instructs Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves to unearth the truth.

Who would want to harm one of the most popular women of the year? Is it her fiancé with whom she had an unusually brief courtship; a rival for his affections bitter at being cast aside; her best friend who is almost certainly hiding a secret from Colin and Emily; a disappointed suitor with a hidden gambling habit; or a notorious jewel thief who has taken a priceless tiara from the Goldsborough home? When a second debutante succumbs to poison, the race is on to find a ruthless killer.

Emily and Colin’s investigation leads to a centuries old tomb in the center of London with a mysterious link to another death dating back to Roman times and the violent reign of Boudica, ancient Britain's fearsome warrior queen. As the stakes rise and the clock ticks down, Emily must find the killer before they strike again.

"The Sisterhood" is the 19th installment in Tasha Alexander's A Lady Emily Mysteries series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which combines historical fiction, mystery, and romance.

The story follows Lady Emily and her husband Colin as they investigate the murder of Victoria Goldsborough, a prominent debutante who dies under suspicious circumstances. The mystery is engaging, with several suspects and plot twists that keep the reader guessing.

The relationship between Lady Emily and Colin is a highlight of the book. Their loving and supportive marriage, complete with occasional flirty banter, adds warmth to the story.

The book features two timelines: one set in 1907 London and the other in ancient Britannia (AD 60). While the Roman timeline is interesting, it felt disconnected from the murder investigation until the midpoint. 

Despite some minor criticisms, "The Sisterhood" is a worthwhile read for fans of historical mysteries and romance. Tasha Alexander's writing is engaging, and the characters are well-developed. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.  

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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A Cold Highland Wind - A Lady Emily Mystery by Tasha Alexander

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “A Cold Highland Wind” the 17th instalment in the A Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander.  This is the third book I have read by Tasha Alexander and won’t be my last.  

In this new installment of Tasha Alexander’s acclaimed Lady Emily series set in the wild Scottish highlands, an ancient story of witchcraft may hold the key to solving a murder centuries later.

In the summer of 1905, Lady Emily, husband Colin Hargreaves, and their three sons eagerly embark on a family vacation at Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of their dear friend Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge. But a high-spirited celebration at the beginning of their stay comes to a grisly end when the duke’s gamekeeper is found murdered on the banks of the loch. Handsome Angus Sinclair had a host of enemies: the fiancée he abandoned in Edinburgh, the young woman who had fallen hopelessly in love with him, and the rough farmer who saw him as a rival for her affections. But what is the meaning of the curious runic stone left on Sinclair’s forehead?

Clues may be found in the story of Lady MacAllister, wife of the Laird of Cairnfarn Castle, who in 1676 suddenly found herself widowed and thrown out of her home. Her sole companion was a Moorish slave girl who helped her secretly spirit her most prized possessions—a collection of strange books—out of the castle. When her neighbors, wary of a woman living on her own, found a poppet—a doll used to cast spells—and a daisy wheel in her isolated cottage, Lady MacAllister was accused of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death. 

Hundreds of years later, Lady Emily searches for the link between Lady MacAllister’s harrowing witchcraft trial and the brutal death of Sinclair. She must follow a trail of hidden motives, an illicit affair, and a mysterious stranger to reveal the dark side of a seemingly idyllic Highland village.

I found it to be a quick easy read and finished in two days, I really enjoyed the dual narratives telling us the story of Lady MacAllister, wife of the Laird of Cairnfarn Castle 1676 and the witch hunts to lady Emily in the early 20th century in the seemingly idyllic Highland village. 

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Lady Emily and Colin.
I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.   I recommend this book to all my mystery lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Death in Chelsea by Lynn Brittney

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing ”Death in Chelsea” by Lynn Brittney the 2nd instalment in the "Mayfair 100 Mystery" series. I had not read the first book ”Murder in Belgravia” but I was able to read as a stand alone, I do recommend reading in order though.

The intrepid women of Mayfair 100 are up against a deadly and elusive enemy--and the darkest secrets of Britain's upper crust--in the second nail-biting installment of Lynn Brittney's Mayfair 100 mysteries.

In the dark days of World War I, an aristocrat's suspicious suicide propels a one-of-a-kind crime-fighting team into a sordid world of blackmail, betrayal, and tragic secrets.

When the phone rings at the Mayfair 100 exchange, the news is rarely good, and this time is no exception. The Duchess of Penhere's daughter, notorious society gossip queen Lady Adeline Treborne, has been found dead in her room in what appears to be a suicide--but her family suspects foul play.

The secret Mayfair team of amateur female detectives has been restlessly awaiting their next case, and this will prove one of their thorniest. When Dr. Caroline Allardyce performs an autopsy, she is able to conclusively prove that the woman was murdered. Lady Treborne had made many enemies through her vicious gossip column, so there's no shortage of suspects.

Supported by a cadre of professional police officers, the Mayfair women launch their investigation, but there's much more to this case than meets the eye. As they venture into a world that lays bare London high life at its lowest, the team soon begins to comprehend the danger at hand--and how this tangled web of treachery could ensnare anyone who gets too close.

I found myself enjoying the story and reading over several days. 

As a few others stated I liked the idea of a female crime solving unit, especially in this period of history where women were taking on more men’s roles.  I did find some things might of been to modern but it did not take away from the story.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which there are a lot of them.  It was sometimes hard to keep track of them. Most of the characters are well developed and a likeable bunch. 

I recommend this series to all my historical mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from  Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Digging Up History by Sheila Connolly

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am discussing "Digging Up History" the 8th installment in the "A Museum Mystery" by Sheila Connolly.

Print Length: 221 pages

Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing (June 25 2019)
Genre: Historical Fiction , Mystery

The New York Times bestselling author of Dead End Street returns with Nell Pratt discovering one of Philadelphia’s darker buried secrets . . .

When a summer intern at the Preservation Society discovers an aged document hidden in the binding of an antique book, Society president Nell Pratt is intrigued by the possibilities: is it a valuable historic document or just a useless scrap of paper? When analysis reveals that it’s a hand-drawn map of one of Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhoods, Nell learns that the area is being excavated for a new real estate development and may hold long-buried secrets from the city’s historic heyday.

Determined to get to the bottom of the map’s origin and what it might tell her about the mysterious plot of land, Nell will have to contend with a construction company owner who disappears, a former Society board member who’s harbored a dark secret her entire life, and a remarkable discovery that may have the dead turning over in their graves . . .

This was the first time I read a book in the "A Museum Mystery" series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Even though I hadn't read the previous books I had no trouble following along, it can totally be read as a stand alone.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting.  It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.  I even learnt something about Philadelphia and american history.

The Protagonist Nell is a strong, educated woman, and the side characters are realistic too.  The characters are well rounded.  I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Fatal Inheritance by Rachel Rhys

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing "Fatal Inheritance" by Rachel Rhys a story of dysfunctional families and long-hidden secrets, set against the decadence of the Côte d’Azur.  Great summer beach read.

Print Length: 400 pages

Publisher: Washington Square Press (June 11 2019)

Sold by: Simon & Schuster Canada, Inc.

Get swept away to the enchanting South of France with this “exquisite and shimmering” (Lisa Jewell, New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone) suspenseful historical novel, where perilous secrets lurk under the glitz and glam of seaside wealth. 

She didn’t have an enemy in the world…until she inherited a fortune.

London 1948: Eve Forrester is stuck in a loveless marriage, isolated in her gray and gloomy house when out of the blue, she receives a letter. A wealthy stranger has left her a mysterious inheritance but in order to find out more, she must travel to the glittering French Riviera.

There, Eve discovers she has been bequeathed an enchanting villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and suddenly, life could not be more glamorous. But while she rubs shoulders with the rich and famous, challengers to her unexplained fortune begin to emerge—challengers who would love to see Eve gone forever.

Alone in paradise, Eve must unlock the story behind her surprise bequest—before her unexpected twist of fate turns deadly…

Fatal Inheritance by Rachel Rhys is set mostly in 1940's French Riviera in the aftermath of war, I found the authors descriptions transferred me and it pulled me in right away!

Wonderful characters that are well developed and I found I wanted to know more about them and their story.  The mystery, intrigue, glamour and danger make for a great mix to keep you intrigued and turning the page.

This historical mystery is interesting and well plotted. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down. 

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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