Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy

Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy edited by Dana Stabenow

Pages: 306

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This collection of short stories combines mysteries with paranormal fantasy. From video game characters seeking civil rights and a cave dragon loan shark pondering an investment, to Santa Claus's Australian vacation and an enemy of Sam Spade's out for revenge, plus visits to the Nightside and Sookie Stackhouse's hometown, these stories will take readers around the world on a magical mystery tour.

"Lucky" by Charlaine Harris -- a Sookie Stackhouse short

"Bogieman" by Carole Nelson Douglas

"Looks are Deceiving" by Micheal A. Stackpole

"the House of Seven Spirits" by Sharon Shinn

"Glamour" by Mike Doogan

"Spellbound" by Donna Andrews

"the Duh Vice" by Michael Armstrong

"Weight of the World" by John Straley

"Illumination" by Laura Anne Gilman

"the House" by Laurie R. King

"Appetite for Murder" by Simon R. Green -- a Nightside short

"A Woman's Work" by Dana Stabenow

Down These Strange Streets edited by George R. R. Martin

Down These Strange Streets edited by George R. R. Martin

Pages: 479

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Urban fantasy where mystery waits at the end of every alley and things that go bump in the night have something to fear...

1 The Bastard Stepchild - George R.R. Martin
2 Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris
3 The Bleeding Shadow - Joe R. Lansdale
4 Hungry Heart - Simon R. Green
5 Styx and Stones - Steven Saylor
6 Pain and Suffering - S.M. Stirling
7 It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn
8 The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden
9 Hellbender - Laurie R. King
10 Shadow Thieves - Glen Cook
11 No Mystery, No Miracle - Melinda M. Snodgrass
12 The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover
13 The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle
14 Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon
15 Beware the Snake - John Maddox Roberts
16 In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs
17 The Adakian Eagle - Bradley Denton

Night Shift (Midnight, Texas #3)

Night Shift (Midnight, Texas # 3)

by Charlaine Harris

Page: 308

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

What is it about this tiny town, in the middle of nowhere in Texas that attracts people with unique abilities and ah, other beings? Long-time town resident, Lemuel has found an old history text that he hopes will give a history of Midnight, Texas. But it is written in a foreign language and his translation is slow going. The town may need his answers, and quickly. People who have only been to Midnight once, or even never before, are coming to the center of town - a crossroads - and committing suicide; sometimes with weapons they have just purchased at a local shop! Is it something about the town itself? Has something evil decided to take up residence?

Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2)

Day Shift (Midnight, Texas # 2) by Charlaine Harris

Pages: 307

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The people of Midnight, Texas enjoy living in a very small town, where everyone keeps to themselves, but some wealthy out of town corporation is remodeling the hotel into regular hotel rooms, long-term stay rooms and temporary assisted living for people waiting to get into a full-time retirement or assisted living home. Manfred is glad that he gets to leave town and go into Dallas to hold some one-on-one readings for clients and is looking forward to his long weekend away. 

But then a wealthy couple is found dead the first morning he is there and to make things even worse, one of his favorite clients drops dead in his hotel suite, during a reading! Now her son is claiming Manfred stole jewels from her and implying he killed her. 

Manfred is happy that the police allow him to return home to Midnight, but then the news reporters find his small rental house. All the townspeople decide the reporters must go and the safest way for that to happen is to have Olivia find the jewels and help clear Manfred's name so the reporters will go away. Olivia agrees. Manfred is very nervous about this. He is not sure what Olivia does for a living or even if she is fully human, but he does know she is dangerous. Are they just inviting more trouble?

Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott

Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott

Pages: 320

4 out of 5 stars

 Filled with atmospheric descriptions of Cambridge, past and present, of seventeenth-century glassmaking, alchemy, the Great Plague, and Newton’s scientific innovations, Ghostwalk centers around a real historical mystery that author, Rebecca Stott has uncovered involving Newton’s alchemy.

Lydia Brooke is asked to complete the biography of Isaac Newton after the original author is found drowned. The mother of a former lover, Lydia, is well acquainted with Elizabeth's writing and research methods and agrees to complete the manuscript. This leads Lydia down Elizabeth's path of obsession with the 17th century in Cambridge. She soon discovers that the present-day violence in Cambridge is linked to murders in Newton's time at Cambridge. She learns about a dangerous present day conspiracy and the danger of awakening ghosts of a past that wants to remain a secret.

Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead

Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another excellent read in this series, and I really enjoyed seeing all the characters evolve in this one. It has more interpersonal drama, but that added to the intrigue of the story.

The world keeps growing, and new layers appear as the story progress, which makes me curious about how this world will continue to expand in the next 4 books.

Pages: 314

Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Mead's YA series, so I'm not sure what took me so long to pick up this novel, as I really enjoyed it. It's an urban fantasy that is more of a paranormal mystery than a romance, not that it doesn't have a few romantic moments, but the storyline and plot always come first.

The characters are interesting and well-developed, as with all of Mead's books, and I read this straight through and immediately picked up book 2.

Pages: 343

Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch (Aunt Dimity Mystery #17)

 Aunt Dimity and the Village Witch (Aunt Dimity Mystery #17)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 232
Rating: 3 out of 5

Amelia Thistle moves into Finch and her new neighbors welcome her with open arms and of course, many questions. Amelia brings with her not only her personal secret, but a family mystery she is trying to solve in honor of her late brother. Lori agrees to help Amelia conceal her identity and solve the family mystery. She of course, goes to Aunt Dimity for help. They soon discover the secret of the village witch.

A fun, light, cozy mystery.

Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree (Aunt Dimity Mystery #16)

 Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree (Aunt Dimity Mystery #16)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 229
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Lori plays host to her father-in-law, William's open house to show the village of Finch how he has restored but updated Fairworth House. Among some knick-knacks found in an outside shed is a painting covered is soot, that William insists should be professional restored as a piece of the house's history even if the painting itself isn't worth anything. In the meantime, William is also trying to hire some servants and protect the reputation of one of Finch's leading citizens. Aunt Dimity lends her calm, logical nature to balance out Lori's own hyper temperament. 

Wychwood

 Wychwood
by George Mann
Pages: 400
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book one in a new mystery series by my favorite author that no one else has ever heard of.

Ellie goes home to live with her mother while she works out what to do with her life after losing her job and her boyfriend and with him, her apartment. Sure she'll never find work as a journalist in her rural English village, she is shocked when a woman is killed near her mother's house in the woods that surrounds the village - the Wychwood.

George Mann creates fully fleshed out characters and atmosphere like no one else. Whether he is writing a Sherlock Holmes short-story, a steam-punk story or this mystery set in modern times he keeps you guessing until the very end.

Aunt Dimity Down Under (Aunt Dimity Mystery #15)

 Aunt Dimity Down Under (Aunt Dimity Mystery #15)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 215
Rating: 3 out of 5

Lori's world is rocked when she learns that her beloved neighbors, Louise and Ruth Pym may be dying. She vows to find their long-lost brother, Aubrey before it's too late leading her to New Zealand.

Aunt Dimity, Vampire Hunter (Aunt Dimity Mystery #13)

 Aunt Dimity, Vampire Hunter (Aunt Dimity Mystery #13)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 240
Rating: 3 out of 5

Lori and her family live in a cozy cottage out of a village in England. A mysterious stranger is sited by the neighboring ranch where Lori's young twins are riding. She is determined to find out who the dark shadowy man in the woods is but stumbles across local legends of a family of vampires.

Aunt Dimity Goes West (Aunt Dimity Mystery #12)

 Aunt Dimity Goes West (Aunt Dimity Mystery #12)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 240
Rating: 3 out of 5

Lori, Reg and Aunt Dimity head back to America to the wild west. She needs a change of scenery after being shot. Can the clear Colorado air chase away her nightmares or will they follow her across the ocean and invade the quiet mountain town of Bluebird.

Aunt Dimity: Snowbound (Aunt Dimity Mystery #9)

 Aunt Dimity: Snowbound (Aunt Dimity Mystery #9)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 272
Rating: 4 out of 5

Lori decides to take a bracing hike on an unseasonably warm day and ends up lost in the midst of a blizzard. Luckily, she finds Ladythorne Abbey as shelter. She meets a couple of other unlucky travelers but are they really lost or had they planned to meet at the Abbey all along? Can she trust them?

Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin

 Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 274
Rating: 4 out of 5

Lori decides what she needs is to connect to people again. She becomes a volunteer at the Radcliffe Infirmary, where she meets Elizabeth Beacham. She quickly cares about Elizabeth a great-deal and is upset to learn that she is dying and none of her relatives or friends have been to visit her in the hospital. After Elizabeth dies she sends Lori on a hunt to find her long-lost brother and to learn more about Elizabeth as she was in life.

Aunt Dimity goes on Holiday

 Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday
by Nancy Atherton
Pages:
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Lori's best friend invites her to her husband's family estate. Lori agrees to go along to be emotional support for her friend, Emma, who has never met her husband's family. Then Lori finds out her husband Bill has been summoned to the same estate in his professional capacity as a lawyer. 

Between poison pen letters, a burning bush and mysterious accidents is any safe at the estate? Lori has to uncover some family secrets to protect her friends. 

This is a fun, quick-read series. The main character often jumps to conclusions way to soon, but don't we all. The use of Aunt Dimity's spirit living in a journal as Lori's guide and sometimes conscious is a unique twist on the cozy mystery formula

Aunt Dimity: Detective (Aunt Dimity Mystery #7)

 Aunt Dimity: Detective (Aunt Dimity Mystery #7)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 230
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Lori Shepherd returns from her trip to America, she is shocked to learn that a murder took place in her quiet village of Finch. This is the first murder in over a century and the whole town is full of gossip and questions about who did it. Though no one is sorry that Prunella Hooper is dead. Prunella moved in while Lori and her family where in the States so never meet her. With the help of Nicholas, the minister's nephew Lori unravels this tale of local secrets.

Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum #13.5)

 Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum #13.5)
by Janet Evanovich
Pages: 166
Rating: 4 out of 5

Stephanie Plum's Grandma goes missing and her mom sends her to find her. Grandma's found a bag of money and decides to go to Atlantic City for her own adventure. Set around St. Patrick's Day and a guy who thinks he is a leprechaun, this adventure is a wacky tale.

Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Aunt Dimity Mystery #6)

 Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Aunt Dimity Mystery #6)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 247
Rating: 4 out of 5

Lori's twins are walking and talking and getting into mischief but she's going stir crazy. Then her old boss asks her to take a commission for him and travel to Scotland to Northumberland to visit Tarrant Hall to evaluate a book collection. But her exciting vacation turns out to be full of Gothic intrigue.

Aunt Dimity's Christmas (Aunt Dimity Mystery #5)

Aunt Dimity's Christmas (Aunt Dimity Mystery #5)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 214
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Lori Shepherd wants to have the perfect family Christmas and the perfect Christmas party for the whole village. Then a homeless man collapses outside her house and nearly freezes to death. The pastor who runs the homeless shelter thinks the man is mentally unstable and needs psychiatric care but Lori's convinced there's something else causing his unusual behavior. Can she discover the truth behind his behavior before he is sent away?