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What Comes Around–Coroner vs. Pathologist
What Comes Around
By Annette Dashofy
The thirteenth contribution to the Zoe Chambers Mystery series is What Comes Around, a mystery that meets all of my expectations. The protagonist Zoe Chambers, the Monongahela Count Coroner, continues to have conflict with the arrogant and unpopular Dr. Davis, who acts in the role of Chief Deputy Coroner. In their rural area he is the main forensic pathologist.
There are three different crimes that Zoe and her husband Pete, the local police chief, are having to deal with: the brutal murder of a woman who came to town to talk with Zoe, a vehicular attack on a retired forensic pathologist, and a suicide attempt. Zoe is also asked to look into a cold case. She and those law enforcement officers working with her must be getting close to an answer because life gets more dangerous for them.
Investigating these crimes leads to four whiteboards at headquarters with multiple cross-references as the police try to sort out victims, criminals, leads, and motivations. Needless to say, with this many threads, there are numerous clues along with dead ends as some of those interviewed are lying. There are characters whose lives hang in the balance, and the reader is brought along for the well-told adventures. What Comes Around is the kind of mystery that keeps me going from one chapter to another as Dashofy sustains a fast pace with hooks leading to the next chapter.
An additional mystery is on a personal level for Pete and Zoe when a beautiful young woman arrives in town and requests Pete’s help. Something is just not right about her and about the stalker she claims is following her.
I recommend this book and this series. I plan on reading the 5 books I have missed, not to fill in blanks on the characters, but to devour those tales. I love a good mystery!
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: Fiction, Mystery, Women’s Fiction
Notes: 1.#13 in the Zoe Chambers Mystery Series. It could be read as a standalone. I have read 8 of the books in the series and haven’t been hindered in my enjoyment or understanding by not having read all of then. I held off for a while in reading the series, starting with #5, because I couldn’t imagine wanting to read about a paramedic/coroner. It turns out that this series is not too graphic in terms of the bodies which was my main concern.
2. Contains some language, but it is not gratuitous, and there are no sexual encounters.
Publication: May 7,2024—Level Best Books
Memorable Lines:
Pete grabbed for his shoulders, but he juked out of Pete’s grasp. All four of the other officers dived at him, wrapping him up in their arms. For a scrawny kid, he managed to drag all of them a few more feet before they could stop him.
He hoped Abby could unearth this woman’s background online so he could determine what was going on with her. His gut told him she didn’t have a stalker. Nor did he buy Baronick’s ridiculous theory about her stalking Pete. But there was something going on with her. He just didn’t know what.
She flashed back on the awareness of being airborne. The jolt and metallic crunch of the impact. The stomach-curdling sensation of rolling, being flung around inside, pinned by the seatbelts and air bags.
Dandelion Wishes–friendship in times of hardship
Dandelion Wishes
by Melinda Curtis
First published in 2012, Dandelion Wishes was reedited and republished by author Melinda Curtis in 2023. Meanwhile, it has also been made into a video as Love in Harmony Valley.
The Prologue introduces the three protagonists as children. Emma Willoughby is adventuresome and plows ahead regardless of potential disaster. Her inseparable best friend Tracy Jackson is with her every step of the way. Tracy’s brother Will is four years older and sees it as his job to keep the girls out of trouble.
When you fast forward to the current time, disaster has struck the trio in the form of a car accident. Emma was driving, but although the fault was not hers, Will can not forgive Emma and Emma can not forgive herself. He kept the pair separated for the six months Tracy was in rehab. She has come a long ways, but she still has speech aphasia. Emma still suffers from the accident, but with unseen injuries that plague her.
Woven into the backdrop is a financially highly successful trio consisting of Will and his two business associates who are trying to revitalize their hometown of Harmony Valley and are in conflict with the town council. Emma’s Grandma Rose has always been an eccentric, but she is now displaying some traits that have her friends and family worried. Perhaps the most important thread is the unexpected attraction Will and Emma feel for each other despite the chasm in their relationship.
Forgiveness, understanding, and independence are major themes. Will any of the protagonists be able to put their lives together after the emotional and psychological damage they suffered? Will the residents of Harmony Valley find a way to age gracefully as individuals and as a town?
There are nine books in this series, and I am looking forward to reading more about the characters introduced in this first book. Melinda Curtis has a way of providing gentle clean romance that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities that confront people in their daily walks.
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: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: #1 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series
Publication: January 17, 2023—Independent
Memorable Lines:
“But this man wants to convert Harmony Valley from a peaceful, small town into a soulless tourist destination.”…”And then he’ll leave.” Rose went on. “Men always leave. And the opportunistic ones take whatever they can with them.”
In the eyes of her brother, Tracy was handicapped, disabled, incapable of living independently. Tracy felt as insignificant as a plain number two pencil in a mechanical pencil world.
Sometimes, waiting to see what Granny Rose did next was like sitting in the front car of a roller coaster at the top of the first big hill, anticipating a stomach-dropping ride because there was no effective brake.
Not a dandelion, but very similar. This plant is a wildflower found in northern New Mexico.
If Not for You–gentle romance
If Not for You
by Debbie Macomber
If Not for You is part of the New Beginnings series by Debbie Macomber. These are books related more by theme than by characters, although there is some overlap of characters. Each could definitely be read as a standalone. I am not a fan of the romance genre, but I do enjoy reading one occasionally. I like Macomber’s romances because she manages to talk about relationships without taking the reader into the bedroom with detailed descriptions. If Not for You begins with a blind date between Beth, a young socialite struggling to escape a controlling mother, and Sam, a bearded, long-haired, tattooed mechanic. The date doesn’t go well, the evening ends in physical disaster, and a romance begins.
If Not for You details the ups and downs of Sam and Beth’s relationship as well as their respective backgrounds which brought them to this point. Other characters in the story have romantic issues as well. Beth has a tendency to want to “fix” other peoples’ affairs. Her efforts sometimes backfire despite her good intentions.
This romance is set in Portland and in Chicago. The characters are interesting and likable. Most of the story is predictable, but there are surprises along the way and I think fans of the gentle romance genre will enjoy it.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Random House (Ballantine) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Romance
Publication: March 21, 2017–Random House (Ballantine)
Memorable Lines:
…the look in his eyes that said more than an entire library of books.
My mother will find a way of making sure the entire facility knows she’s arrived. She’ll make more of a production than Hannibal crossing the Alps.
My husband would have disapproved, but he’s been gone three years so I do what I want these days. That’s one of the compensations of being a widow.
…when we fail to be kind and loving, then we fail to be wise.
education pathways 