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Last Wool and Testament–mystery and fiber arts

Last Wool and Testament

by Peggy Ehrhart

Author Peggy Ehrhart is a multi-talented person as is reflected in her writing. A former professor with a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature, her writing is excellent. I usually get quickly bored with novels that describe repeatedly and at great length what the characters are eating and the locations of their dining experiences. This is not the case with the Knit and Nibble Mystery series. Although the protagonist Pamela Paterson has the same toast and coffee every morning, all the other meals, even the simple ones, are beautifully described with interesting details.

The author is also very interested in crafts, so Pamela is a work-from-home associate editor of Fiber Craft magazine. She reviews books for the publication and chooses and edits submitted articles. She frequently works on pieces that involve archeology that show how the fiber arts have been important through the ages. 

Pamela with her friend and neighbor Bettina are the backbone of a group called Knit and Nibble who meet weekly in member homes to knit, chat, and enjoy a special dessert prepared by the host. Pamela and Bettina are frequently involved in various investigations when crimes occur in their town of Arborville, New Jersey. 

The Knit and Nibble series is one of the calmest, gentlest, cozy mystery series I have read. There are indeed murders to be solved—two in this book, but there is so much emphasis on friendship and community relationships that it is a low stress book. Pamela and Bettina follow some leads, but they don’t constantly put themselves in danger as the protagonists in many cozy mysteries often do. There is a big emphasis on looking at the mystery as a puzzle and putting the pieces together as they discover clues, often though observation.

In Last Wool and Testament, an artistic neighbor specializing in fiber arts is killed shortly before she was to have a showing at a local gallery. There are a number of possible suspects, but just as they narrow the field to one, he is also murdered! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1.This is the 12th book in the Knit and Nibble Mystery Series. I have not read all of them; but I have enjoyed a number of them, and I recommend the series. Reading some of the earlier novels would be helpful, but the author does give background to each character when they appear in this book.

  2. At the end of this book, the author includes information on Intarsia, a special knitting technique, and then refers the reader to her web page that has even more information along with illustrations.

3. She also has recipes for three of the dishes the Knit and Nibble group enjoy in the book and has photographs on her web page of the steps involved in cooking them.

Publication:   April 29, 2025—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

Two pieces remained, themselves quite inviting—each edged with a puffy ridge of golden-brown crust, layered with mozzarella-streaked tomato sauce, and dotted with lustrous rounds of pepperoni…Then he flipped the box’s lid back to release an aroma that combined tomato, garlic, and olive oil with the seductive lure of fresh-baked yeasty dough.

Pamela hadn’t actually thought that until she heard herself say it. Clearly, the act of walking had set her mind free to roam as well, and it had been mulling over the journal images she had studied anew before heading out the door.

By the time all six dishes had been filled, the layered chunks of pudding remaining in the compote evoked a stratified landscape disrupted by a seismic upheaval.

The Comedy of Errors–mistaken identities

The Comedy of Errors

by William Shakespeare

A few months ago, upon hearing about a crazy set of circumstances and events that involved a friend, it immediately came to my mind that the situation was a “comedy of errors.” Then, I pulled out my book containing all the plays of Shakespeare to confirm the source of the phrase. Indeed, Shakespeare did write a play with that title. I determined that it was one of his works that I had not read. I put the book aside and decided on a quiet Sunday afternoon that I would enjoy the tale.

My first takeaway is that it has been a very long time since I read or studied any Shakespeare. Therefore, there was a bit of a learning curve to dive back in. The language is definitely different from our twenty-first century way of speaking and cultural references. Secondly, the text is dramatic; it was written to be acted, not read, and therein lies the rub. 

The Comedy of Errors is, as comes as no surprise, a comedy. Its effectiveness depends a lot on timing; and, I would imagine, much could be interpreted as slapstick. Judging from posts on YouTube, presentations of this play have been are popular and are set in a variety of eras. I think I would prefer a period piece. It was one of Shakespeare’s first plays.

The basic plot is that a set of infant twins and their accompanying slave twins were separated in a shipwreck. The father was able to stay with his son and one of the infant slaves. The mother and her charges were eventually separated from each other. Twenty-five years later they all end up in the same city leading to multiple cases of confused identities. It is a funny plot with no expert analysis needed to enjoy the story.  

Rating: It’s Shakespeare—can it even be rated?

Category: Comedy, Classic

Notes: My copy was edited by Paul A. Jorgensen who introduces the play and includes footnotes on word meanings and context of the times.

Publication: Written: approximately 1592; 

first published in the  folio of 1623;

My version: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works—1969, Penguin Books

Memorable Lines:

“Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell?

Sleeping or waking? Mad or well advised?

Known unto these, and to myself disguised!”

From the editor: “He (Shakespeare) allowed the play to speak for itself, to make its incredible muddle of events its adequate explanation for being.”

The Pretender–Amish mystery

The Pretender

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

The Mifflin County Mystery Series a successful blend of cozy mystery and Amish romance. In Belleville, Pennsylvania, there is an Amish community that is rocked by the disappearance of Rosa, a young Amish woman. Always in the background of the first two books in the series is concern for Rosa. Is she dead? Did she run off so she wouldn’t be pressured to join the Amish church? If so, why didn’t she contact someone, anyone, to let her family know she is alive? Her boyfriend Ephraim, her best friend Ada, or her oldest brother Norman who desperately looked for her? 

As anticipated, the author shares Rosa’s story in The Pretender. It has been two years since she disappeared. Everyone has moved on as best they can. Ephraim and Ada have a relationship. Rosa’s sister, Susan, has taken over her room and tried to replace her in a close bond with their mom. 

I don’t want to spoil The Pretender by sharing details. I do encourage you to read the whole series. There are lots of twists and turns as various characters grapple with what is morally appropriate to do in certain situations and what will cause the least pain to the fewest number of people. One of the main characters is English which, romantically speaking, is the basis of trouble in the Amish world.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Christian, Religion, Romance, Mystery

Notes: This is the third book in the Mifflin County Mystery series and I would recommend reading them in order. I read #2 first, then #1, and finally #3. While I understood the second book as a standalone, I wished I had read them in order.

Publication:   August 1, 2025—Barbour Publishing

Memorable Lines:

“…life doesn’t always give us what we want or think we need. I guess the good days help to prepare us for the not-so-good times and teach us to appreciate those times when things are going well for us.”

One thing was for sure: It would be a cold day in the hottest part of Arizona before Anthony would ask his folks if he could move in with them. Nope, that would never work out.

These negative thoughts don’t come from You, do they, Lord? Isn’t that just like the enemy to sidetrack a person when they are praying, while trying to trust and seek God’s will?

Hinds’ Feet on High Places: an Engaging Visual Journey

Hinds’ Feet on High Places

By Hannah Hurnard

Illustrated by Jill de Haan & Rachel McNaughton

Chapter One of Hinds’ Feet on High Places begins with a summary: “This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her Fearing relatives and went with the Shepherd to the High Places where “perfect love casteth out fear.” This one sentence alerts the reader to the style and genre of this book—an allegory. It follows the journey of the protagonist, Much-Afraid, as she progresses through the ups and downs of life, learning to trust and follow the Chief Shepherd. With deformities to her face that affect her speech and problems with her legs which limit her mobility, she has been bullied mercilessly. When she decides to follow the Chief Shepherd to ascend mountain heights where all will be healed, she is embarking upon an adventure with Sorrow and Suffering as her companions, but she eventually sees the value of these new friends and learns how to fight against her old foes from the Valley of Humiliation.

Hinds’ Feet on High Places has maintained its popularity with Christians with many rereading it at various stages of life. I can see how multiple readings would be valuable: learning new lessons about drawing close to Jesus in every stage of life. This is my first reading of the book (a book club selection), and I chose this illustrated version. It is a masterpiece of art and design. There are lovely watercolors and photographs throughout. Verses from the Songs of Solomon (canticles) are part of the story and are illustrated with delicate, color drawings. The book includes  designated places for the reader to briefly note the “memorial stones” in his or her life just as Much-Afraid collected a memorial stone to put in her pouch from each of the altars along the way that commemorate her laying down a fear or trouble. 

There are a number of verses that are drawn out on a full page with color illustrations. Then those same drawings are repeated again at the back of the book as outlines for those who enjoy coloring.

An independent missionary in Israel, Hannah Hurnard wrote this book during a three week period when she was visiting Switzerland following the death of her father in England. Her story of that visit and a brief autobiography are included at the end of the book. She wrote several books, but she is best known for Hinds’ Feet on High Places.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Allegory, Fiction

Notes: 1. Inspired by Habakkuk 3:19: “The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”

    2. Full disclosure—I did not write or color in my copy of the book. It is just too beautiful!

    3. This version makes a wonderful gift to be enjoyed and treasured.

Publication:   1.This illustrated version: January 1, 2017—Tyndale House

2. The original paperback version without illustrations was first published on January 1, 1955 by Christian Literature Crusade.

Memorable Lines:

“You can’t mean it. You said if I would trust you, you would bring me to the High Places, and that path leads right away from them. It contradicts all that you promised.”  “No,” said the Shepherd, “it is not contradiction, only postponement for the best to become possible.”

She had the feeling that somehow, in the very far-off places, perhaps even in far-off ages, there would be a meaning found to all sorrow and an answer too fair and wonderful to be as yet understood.

“That is the only really satisfactory way of dealing with evil, not simply binding it so that it cannot work harm, but whenever possible overcoming it with good.”

The Next Deadly Chapter–disappearing body

The Next Deadly Chapter

By V. M. Burns

Samantha (Sam) Washington, bookstore owner and author of the historical cozy mystery Murder at Wickfield Lodge, is heckled by a man at a book talk presented on land owned by the Pontolomas in Michigan. The embarrassed leader of the tribal council of this newly recognized Native American tribe gives Sam  and several of her friends a weekend at the fancy resort and casino owned by the tribe. 

This gift is perfect as a retreat from pre-wedding chaos for Sam, her grandmother Nana Jo, and her grandmother’s friends. Well, perfect until a dead body shows up in the future mother-in-law’s suite…and then disappears. The book, of course, focuses on finding the body and the murderer.

This series uses a technique of a book within a book. When Sam is restless or searching her brain for clues, she turns to writing her historical mystery series. The brilliant thing about this stress reliever is that it usually provides Sam with insights into untapped avenues of investigation. The use of this tool gets mixed reactions from me in this particular book. I think it is very clever, but the characters in the book Sam is writing have very long names and/or two completely different names due to the alternative use of titles like “Lord” and “Lady.” This cumbersome name assignment bogged the writing down for me. The other issue is that the historical mystery is less important and therefore is assigned less space in The Next Deadly Chapter. If the interspersed passages were combined, they would be about the length of a novella, not allowing enough space for plot or character development. 

Sam’s future mother-in-law, a doctor, is intimidating at first, but loosens up during the course of the book. The change in her character is a little too sudden to be convincing. Dawson is a young man that Sam has taken under her wing. He is approached by his father who is newly released from jail. They have a troubled relationship which the author writes about very effectively, and then the whole plot thread is dropped. It seems like a missed opportunity to involve the young man in the story and delve into some social issues.

In general, the main plot and mystery were good. I didn’t figure out the perpetrator until the reveal at the end of the book. There were lots of relationship complications and twists in the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #10 in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series. I have only read a few of the books in this series, but I had no problem dropping in at this point.

  2. Don’t expect to see much of Sam’s two small poodles in this volume. She goes to a resort and leaves the dogs at home.

Publication:  February 25, 2025—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

“When you read a cozy, the author won’t describe the murder in graphic detail….If you think about Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote, she always just stumbled across a dead body. The important thing wasn’t the body. The important thing was the puzzle. It’s about figuring out the clues to determine whodunit.”

Leon’s battle with cancer was short, and it taught me that life is too short not to spend it doing what you love.

Baking was how Dawson reduced stress and worked through his problems. My stress reliever was writing. I sat down at my laptop and took a trip back in time to 1939 and the British countryside to relieve my own stress.

Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler

Lily Tripp

by Amelia Tait

Thirteen year old Lily Tripp never planned on being a time traveler. It just happens. One minute she’s in the twenty-first century, and then with the New Year’s countdown she finds herself in an entirely different era. Each year has new challenges and she has to learn about the customs and technology of each age from Victorian England to Ancient Rome to America in the 1970’s. Lily’s best friend Poppy, her nemesis Georgia, and her special friend Ollie appear wherever Lily “lands.” Her family and pets are there too, but everyone takes on a role different from the one they have in their original time frame. For example, in the seventeenth century, Lily is Georgia’s servant and sleeps on a trundle bed at Georgia’s side. Lily records all of her travels in a diary along with lists and special notes about her experiences.

As you can imagine, there is a lot of humor in this book. Readers are also exposed to the history of various time frames, and will have to decide how they would confront various situations. Being a young teenager is hard enough without being thrown into completely new expectations. Bullying and friendship are major themes. Young love in the form of a possible budding romance is woven into the story also. I liked watching the characters Lily and Poppy navigate the minefields inherent in being thirteen years old. The diary format was a good one for this tale. I will watch out for the next book in this series, and I recommend it for middle age readers, especially girls.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Children’s Fiction, Middle Grades

Notes: 1. Ages 10-14

    2. #1 in the Lily Tripp Diary Series

    3. Includes notes explaining what is historically accurate and what isn’t.

Publication:  May 12, 2026—Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group (can be pre-ordered)

Memorable Lines:

Every New Year’s day until the last one, I entered a New Old Year. And everyone I know came back to a different time with me and spent a whole year in the past. But here’s the kicker: absolutely no one seemed to notice it was happening except for ME.

Fairly early on in my time travels, I realized that while everyone’s memories get adjusted, they don’t disappear…And if old memories won’t fit into new perspectives, then it seems they end up sort of jumbled, so people don’t remember exactly what happened, but they do remember how they felt.

The one thing I can say for certain about Joey or Joseph or whoever he is—the one thing that was true in 1922, 1621 and the 1970s—is that he has a knack for staying out of trouble while getting other people into it.

Reflections on the Savior–three books in one

Reflections on the Savior

By Max Lucado

When I purchased Reflections on the Savior, I didn’t have a plan. I just wanted another book full of Biblical insights imparted in an engaging and sometimes anecdotal way by an excellent writer. As a bonus, I would actually be acquiring three books. I decided to read it over the course of three years, one Lent at a time. Lent is the forty days before Easter, a time of reflection and devotion for Christians as we anticipate Jesus’ death on a Roman cross followed three days later, as He predicted, by His resurrection. 

And the Angels Were Silent: The Final Week of Jesus

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Nonfiction

Notes: 1. Each chapter has a study guide.

    2. Divided into sections by days of the week that correlate with the events in Jesus’ last week on Earth.

Publication: 1992—Multnomah

Memorable Lines:

The Pharisees were arrogant. They were arrogant because they were self-righteous. They were self-righteous because they were trying to make themselves righteous without God…They complicated the gospel with odd myths and superstition. They took pride when it came to tithing, but took naps when it came to serving.

The GIFT for All People: Thoughts on God’s Great Grace

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Nonfiction

Notes: 1. The chapters are short, of devotional length. They get to the point quickly and with impact.

  2. The book is divided into 4 sections:

The Gift of a Savior

Ransom for Sinners

Bounteous Grace

The Choice

Publication: 1999—Multnomah

Memorable Lines:

Jesus knows how you feel. You’re under the gun at work? Jesus knows how you feel. You’ve got more to do than is humanly possible? So did he. People take more from you than they give? Jesus understands. Your teenagers won’t listen? Your students won’t try? Jesus knows how you feel.  You are precious to him. So precious that he became like you so that you would come to him.

Sometimes God is so touched by what he sees that he gives us what we need and not simply that for which we ask.

God is for you. Had he a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If he drove a car, your name would be on his bumper. If there’s a tree in heaven, he’s carved your name in the bark. We know he has a tattoo, and we know what it says. “I have written your name on my hand,” he declares (Isaiah 49:16).

No Wonder They Call Him the Savior: Chronicles of the Cross

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Nonfiction

Notes: The book is divided into 3 sections:

The Cross: Its Words

The Cross: Its Witnesses

The Cross: Its Wisdom

Publication: 1986—Multnomah

Memorable Lines:

And, by the way, never were those arms opened so wide as they were on the Roman cross. One arm extending back into history and the other reaching into the future. An embrace of forgiveness offered for anyone who’ll come. A hen gathering her chicks. A father receiving his own. A redeemer redeeming the world. No wonder they call him the Savior.

It was easy for him [a farmer] to believe. I can see why. Someone who witnesses God’s daily display of majesty doesn’t find the secret of Easter absurd. Someone who depends upon the mysteries of nature for his livelihood doesn’t find it difficult to depend on an unseen God for his salvation.

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted–starting over again

The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted

By Rebecca Raisin

When Coco is betrayed by her romantic and business partner, she loses not only her lover and her small, London publishing firm, but also her reputation. Although she did nothing illegal or unethical, she finds herself unemployable. Picking herself up, she takes her teen daughter out of their home and comfort zone and moves into one bedroom in her parents’ apartment in Paris. Fortunately, all four of them are bilingual.

Just as Coco acknowledges to herself that she will be unable to find a job in a publishing firm, she wanders down a cobblestone side street and discovers The Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted. The owner of the combination chaotic bookstore and unusual bar with cocktails (potions) and bespoke passages is Valérie. She hires Coco to help in the shop. Coco helps with traditional clerking duties and makes innovations in the running of the store. She also takes over the store’s book club introducing a number of interesting characters to the story. There are several mysteries in the shop. Where does Valérie disappear to every day? How does she seem to know just what each customer needs? Who is this Henri who keeps crossing paths with Coco? Where does he go every day at 4:00?

While Coco is settling in to her new job, she also has to tread untested waters with a resentful teen who misses her friends back in London. Eloise is being bullied at school and all kinds of difficulties arise from that. 

The plot is well-written with some surprising twists and romantic turns that provide opportunities for character development. The crisis in Eloise’s life is complicated by her mom’s possible entanglement with Henri. The other characters see the romantic interest between Henri and Coco before the pair recognizes it, but that doesn’t mean it will progress smoothly for the couple. By virtue of its setting, the book has a lot of the feel of Paris in it. That ambiance will be a big draw for some readers as well as the bookish mood that permeates The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Notes: Includes several instances of one vulgar French word and one English expletive is uttered a few times. Otherwise clean.

Publication: February 3, 2025—Boldwood Books

Memorable Lines:

Eloise and I have left London with only two suitcases and a backpack full of books. I also have a couple of extra bags, but those are under my eyes and here for the duration.

I’ll probably lose my French citizenship mentioning that fashion doesn’t inspire me, but honestly, who can pretend about these things? “If I were to spoil myself, it would be a book-buying spree, not a blouse with or without frills.”

“Your car has more dimples than a golf ball.” “Parking in Paris is a blood sport.”

Puzzled 4 Murder–puzzled by the puzzles

Puzzled 4 Murder

by J.C. Eaton

I have read almost all of the 14 books in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. Obviously there is an attraction there. I keep threatening to quit because I get tired of reading how many usually unhealthy foods the characters consume. I keep coming back, however, for the mystery and the characters.

The mysteries in Puzzled 4 Murder are layered. It starts with a murder and picks up a cold case along the way. Threaded all through the plot are odd things that happen regarding a humongous jigsaw puzzle that is being put together in the library—40,000 pieces! It is a popular community project because the setting is Sun City West, Arizona, in the middle of the summer. We’re talking the kind of heat that means it is too hot to swim in an outdoor pool. Any kind of activity that can be done in an air conditioned building is perfect. Thus, the puzzle project has its avid supporters. To add tension to the situation, there is a deadline as the magazine Senior Living has chosen this group and their puzzle for a feature article. The initial problem is agreeing on the picture chosen for the puzzle, and the first options presented are  “The Sandy Beach” (just beige desert sands) and “Snowy Blizzard” (all white). The real trouble starts when the puzzle is changed to an old blown-up photo of a street in Sun City. It seems the library there has never used it and can share it with Sun City West. How can that possibly present danger?

The regular characters in the Sophie Kimball series recur in Puzzled 4 Murder. Although an accountant at the Williams Detective Agency, Sophie (Phee) is heavily involved in the investigations—partly her doing and partly the result of her mother dragging her into the mysteries. The private investigators Nate and Marshall (Phee’s husband) are stable and hardworking. The receptionist Augusta, usually a minor character, plays a big role in solving these crimes. Of course, Harriet Plunkett, Phee’s mom,  and her “book club ladies” have their noses into everything that happens in Sun City West, predominantly a retirement community where everyone knows everyone’s business. The other given is that where the ladies are involved, Herb and the men will gather around too—especially if there is food. Paul with his enthusiasm for fishing makes some appearances as well. Most importantly, it wouldn’t be part of the “4 Murder” series without Streetman, Harriet’s spoiled and neurotic chiweenie. The seniors and Streetman provide humor throughout. Read Puzzled 4 Murder for the mystery, the characters, the humor, and to learn how Streetman gets his new nickname “Prince Valiant.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery, Fiction

Notes: #14 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. It could be read as a standalone, but this is pretty far into the series for that.

Publication:  February 25, 2025—Beyond the Page

Memorable Lines:

“Any progress on that cold case?” “If you mean how the interviews are going, then the answer is slower than a three-legged turtle.”

“He’d better behave at the (dog) park. That’s all I can say.” “You worry too much, Phee. He’ll be an angel. An absolute angel.” So was Lucifer.

When I got off the phone, I told Augusta what to expect in a few hours. But no one told me what I could expect in the hours and days to come. If they had, I would have booked a flight to Rio.

The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime–for Sherlock fans

The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime

by Vicki Delany

Gemma, the protagonist of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, and a small group of friends and relatives travel to London for the wedding of Gemma’s sister Pippa. At the wedding, Gemma is approached in the hotel’s lobby by her ex-husband Paul with whom she also owned a bookstore before their divorce and her move to the U.S. He claims to have a “rare find” and implores her to come to their former bookstore to look at it. She agrees to come in the morning, but when she arrives at the bookshop, which is now in disrepair, she finds that Paul has been murdered.

There are many possible motivations for his murder. He is clearly in debt so perhaps a gang member was trying to settle up. He is somewhat of a lothario, so maybe a disgruntled husband or boyfriend settled their jealousy problem. It could be that someone had caught wind of a rare book at the shop and decided to steal it. There are many other threads. Gemma decides to get to the bottom of Paul’s murder before her time in London is up. The conclusion is a surprise, and I enjoyed this mystery with its many allusions to Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery, Fiction

Notes: #10 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. This could be read as a stand alone as the author explains who the characters are in the context of the current story. I had only read one of the earlier books in the series but still enjoyed this one. Donald had a major role in this book, and I did feel like I would have enjoyed that character with his Sherlockian obsession more if I had read some of the previous books. I have read several cozy mysteries in her Tea by the Sea series and enjoyed them more.

Publication:  January 14, 2025—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

He gave me that crooked grin I’d once found so charming. Now I found it full of nothing but loneliness and regret.

I’d been getting bored with this conversation. The best way of getting out of a police interview, I’d discovered some time ago, was to start asking them questions they didn’t want to answer.

“I’m not one for gossip, you understand.”  “I totally understand.” And I did. Everyone who reassures me they are not a gossip turns out to be eager to dish the dirt.

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