This book is another great addition to the series and is a well written mystery book. The book brings so much intrigue and suspense and had me hooked from the moment I started reading. I loved watching the mystery play out as the characters worked to solve it. This is an author that I still haven’t read a huge number of books from and yet she has definitely made a lasting impression. I am excited each time I come to read one of her books and I always connect with the story she is telling. This book is another success and reinforces the fact that I want to read more of her work.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Bakerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Baker2024-04-18 15:19:222024-05-14 14:17:16Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Kerry Baker
The reader is introduced to the world of ballet through the eyes of Elena. For someone who is not familiar with ballet, or any dance forms really, this was pretty interesting. This story is filled with secrets, twists, turns, a little bit of levity, and lots of intrigue. It was hard to put this one down and I look forward to future books in this series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Julie Johnsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJulie Johnson2024-04-17 20:59:152024-05-14 14:20:13Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Julie Johnson
Murder on West Main is the second instalment in the historical South Shore Mystery series set in the early 1900’s. IM as usual does a good job of incorporating the history of the time into the story. What started out as a normal day turned out to be anything but! We once again find ourselves embroiled in this cosy mystery along with coroner’s physician, Daniel in a murder investigation where the victim is an evil and horrid person. Things hot up when he tries to piece it all together to save an innocent man or is he? Kathleen decides to insert herself smack dang in the middle of everything even when the consequences could be fatal. The story definitely keeps you on your toes as you navigate through the clues. Even though I pieced it together before the big reveal I still really enjoyed this tale. Murder on West Main is well written, intriguing, and full of suspense. There is a few twisty turns, mystery, danger, murder, mayhem, angst, and drama. All of that makes for an engaging read and have you immersed in the story and the pages turning. If you like cosy mysteries, then give Murder on West Main a go.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2024-04-17 16:19:042024-05-14 14:14:28Murder on West Main (A South Shore Mystery) by I.M. Foster – Review by Jenni Bishop
Murder on West Main by I.M. Foster is a well written mystery that will keep you entertained from the first page until the last page! This is my first book by this author, and I was not one bit disappointed!! This mystery is set during the summertime when a young man named Colin finds himself part of a murder mystery and unfortunately for him…. all fingers are pointing to him as being the main suspect. Lucky for Colin, his sister Kathleen doesn’t think that her brother could be a murderer and she is set to find out who the true suspect is. We are also introduced to Daniel, the town’s coroner and from Daniel’s findings after inspecting the body in question, he doesn’t think Colin is the murderer either. Now Daniel is on a mission to find who could have done such a thing, but he’s having a hard time finding a murderer because as it turns out, our deceased gentleman wasn’t a very liked person in town. Kathleen and Daniel have their work cut out for them to figure out who could have done such a thing! I.M. Foster has a great way of telling the story with great detail! I felt like I was in the story trying to figure out the murder mystery with Kathleen and Daniel! It was very hard for me to put down this page turner once I started reading it! I hope that you will pick up a copy and find out for yourself if the mystery is solved or if Colin continues to be blamed for the murder! I look forward to reading more books by I.M. Foster!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2024-04-17 15:06:312024-05-14 14:13:48Murder on West Main (A South Shore Mystery) by I.M. Foster – Review by Mary Espinoza
When Colin Brissedon arrives at work one summer morning to find his new boss murdered, all eyes turn to him. After all, the man had threatened to fire him just a few days before, and his colleagues are more than happy to tell the tale. Kathleen admits her brother is no angel, but she can’t believe he would sink this low. Fortunately for them, neither does Daniel O’Halleran, the village’s new coroner’s assistant. Of course, he needs more than his gut feeling to prove it.�
But that’s not going to be an easy task, considering the victim does not appear to have been held in high regard. In fact, Daniel is hard-pressed to find anyone who did like him, though there are more than a few who had reason to wish the man dead. To make matters worse, Kathleen is intent on conducting her own investigation despite his wishes, and he fears the consequences could be deadly.�
And yet, with the pieces of the puzzle laid before him, he can’t shake the feeling that something is missing, an integral clue that will tie everything else together. Will Daniel be able to find the elusive detail and discover the reason behind the gruesome murder of the prominent attorney? Or will the guilty party live to kill again?
I.M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews, and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth century archaeologist.
Inez is a historian and librarian, who love to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Murder-on-West-Main-eBook-Cover-Amazon-XL.jpg1200800itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2024-04-17 00:02:092024-04-30 13:56:51Murder on West Main (A South Shore Mystery) by I.M. Foster
Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery is the first in a new series. The author uses her mother as inspiration for the main character, Elena, a world class ballerina and choreographer. Elena is invited to participate in a Gala performance by the founder of the Terpsichore Ballet, but also invited to audition in the unfinished ballet Black Rhapsody. What might sound like an exciting opportunity quickly reminds Elena of why she left the ballet world. The story is filled with the wonder of the performing arts, intrigue, murder, obsession, and more. I always enjoy books diving into the dark side of ballet and this did not disappoint. Though many view this as a beautiful artform the story gets into the dark side of what could happen behind the curtain. I enjoyed the story telling and learning about Elena. It was interesting to see how everything fit together as the story progressed. The book is a fairly quick paced read and is worth the read. I look forward to the next book in the series to see where Elena takes us next time.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Sheri Schraderhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngSheri Schrader2024-04-16 19:47:142024-05-14 14:15:58Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Sheri Schrader
If you are looking for a suspenseful, mysterious, thriller with a dash of romance and more twists and turns that you can count then you’ve found it! Alonso-Sierra had me hooked from the first page and I had to force myself to put it down and be a “responsible adult.” The way she writes and develops her characters is superb. I didn’t see the twist at the end until Elena saw it herself and I was still like, “No, it can’t be.” The story revolves around Elena del Carral who has been invited to dance at the Gala Performance at Terpsichore Ballet, where Elena used to dance previously but moved onto bigger and better things. However, Elena is unaware of the secrets that Terpsichore and it’s owner, Derek Michaels has…but Elena has secrets of her own that just might turn Terpsichore on it’s head. And while all of this is happening, Elena is falling for the dark and handsome Jake. Such a fantastic piece of writing. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. Reviewed by @meggs1717
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Megan Kimleyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMegan Kimley2024-04-16 11:12:502024-05-14 14:12:16Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Megan Rea
Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery, written by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra, is a very intriguing mystery thriller as well as a tribute to the author’s mother- a former ballet dancer and teacher named Elena del Cueto. Our main character, Elena del Carral, is invited back to Terpsichore to audition for the Black Rhapsody ballet. While some of Elena’s former colleagues are genuinely happy to see her again, others are clearly offended by her return. When a series of events begins to unravel after Elena’s return, it becomes clear who the perpetrator is really targeting. But why? And what is this secret that Elena has been keeping?
I loved getting a glimpse of the dedication of these dancers as well as what the competitive ballet world can be like in this fast-paced thriller. The way the author brought this story to life with exceptional writing and well-developed characters kept the pages turning and my interest piqued from beginning to end. This is not the first story I have read by the author, and I felt that she has once again succeeded in executing a great suspenseful story. I highly recommend!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Katiehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKatie2024-04-15 12:23:072024-05-14 14:04:00Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Katie Turner
Welcome to the world of ballet. The competitive, back-stabbing, cutthroat world of ambitions and dreams. Cue the classical music. The author explores dreams and delusions, and the lengths some characters will go to in order to keep their fantasies alive. There is mystery and romance in this novel, as well as a great deal of information about the world of ballet dancers and choreography.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Alison Risherhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAlison Risher2024-04-14 19:52:122024-05-14 13:59:23Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Alison Risher
Detective Dylan and The Hunt for Home Plate was a super adorable children’s chapter book. It’s the second book in The Young Sleuths children’s book series. It would be perfect for children who know how to read but are beginners at reading chapter books. There are only ten short chapters. Dylan, his sister Emily, and their pup Theodore arrive at the baseball field to find that home plate and the rest of the bases are missing. They luckily have Dylan’s detective kit to help solve the mystery. I think children would find themselves caught up and immersed in the book with MJ Murray’s engaging writing until reaching the satisfying ending.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Micalahhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMicalah2024-04-14 14:03:252024-05-14 14:01:58Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Young Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Micalah Weatherholtz
This is the second book to this series. It is a chapter book to get young reader engaged. The author grabs your attention from the beginning to the end. The characters and world building was great. I know this is a kids chapter book, but I really enjoyed it myself.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Melissa Finkhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMelissa Fink2024-04-13 20:33:262024-05-14 13:54:32Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Melissa Fink
This was a cute addition to the Youth Sleuths Chapter Books series! You don’t have to read these in any order at all. My youngest is 8 years old and these chapter books are the perfect fit for him! I feel like the chapters are the ideal length as he can get discouraged if it takes too long to make progress. The illustrations are simple but incredibly helpful (and cute!) for younger readers to see what’s going on. Something else I really appreciated was the list of Tier 2 words and discussion prompts to help kiddos dig deeper. There are also more resources available using the QR code or link provided in the book which I will be recommending to all educators in our lives. Whether you’re looking to add this to your school curriculum or for home reading, I highly recommend this book (and this series) because it truly engages the kids in so many different ways.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shannen Kernhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShannen Kern2024-04-13 18:48:342024-05-14 13:54:03Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Shannen Kern
This book sees the return of Detective Dylan, his sister Emily and dog Theodore and this time, they are off to the local park to practice playing ball, it is a Saturday and a lot of the local kids go there to practice, however, when they get there, the coach can’t find the home plate and without this and the other plates, they can’t practice.
Fortunately, Dylan has brought his detective kit from the Youth Sleuths and so Dylan, Emily and Theodore head out into the park to investigate where the plate has gone and who had taken it, but as with all investigations, the answer is not as straightforward as it seems.
Will the trio be able to fund the plates and save the day, or will practice just have to be postponed until they are returned another day? This is a wonderful way to show the importance of communities, collaboration, fun and of course, investigating where you will follow along on the hunt and discover lots of other things along the way.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2024-04-12 05:34:512024-05-14 13:50:25Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate: A Youth Sleuths Chapter Books Series (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray and Amanda Letcher – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
This is the first time we have picked up a book by this author. The Author has developed a great mystery book for future super sleuths. It’s a quick chapter book for your not so little ones, about 80 pages. It took us a couple days but only because we read it before bedtime every night. My nephew loves that it wasn’t just a plain Chapter book. But one with illustrations in it to help with visuals and to help keep his attention.I’m definitely going to go get the first one to read. So we can see more adventures from Dylan, Emily and Theodore. Also I can’t wait for book number 3 to be released🥰 What I loved was that there was additional Resources provided at the end of the book for extra learning. I highly recommend reading this!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Hannah porterhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngHannah porter2024-04-10 22:51:142024-05-14 13:51:27Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Hannah Porter
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205892722-detective-dylan-and-the-hunt-for-home-plate” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series, #2)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1706140118l/205892722._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205892722-detective-dylan-and-the-hunt-for-home-plate”>Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43717492.M_J_Murray”>M.J. Murray</a><br/> My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6417698554″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /> Dylan, Emily, and their dog Theodore are trying to help Mr. Farner find the missing plates from the baseball field. They go check the playground where the Benny brothers are guarding the sandbox. But they don’t have them. There is also a birthday party at the park going on, they check there where a little girl is wanting a softball party. She doesn’t have it. They go on all these adventures to find the missing baseball plates. Well they end up going back to the start where a few smaller kids are playing pirates at the jungle gym. And wouldn’t ya know, they have the missing plates!<br />This was another absolutely adorable story of detective Dylan!! <br/><br/> <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6813301-tori”>View all my reviews</a>
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Torimittonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTorimitton2024-04-10 10:16:132024-05-03 13:16:19Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Tori Mitton
Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop! We are introduced into the world of ballet from Elena’s point of view. She’s a principal ballerina that has been invited to audition for Black Rhapsody, at her old ballet theatre. She gladly accepts and is excited to audition, but not for the reason everyone thinks. From sabotage, to secrets to accidents, something is going on at the world renown theatre, and all fingers point to Elena. Just when I thought I figured out what was going on, Maria would throw a curve ball and I would have to rethink everything I knew and go back and go over everything all over again. This novella was beautifully well done, and the character development was absolutely phenomenal.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Crystal Jimmohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCrystal Jimmo2024-04-09 20:22:132024-05-03 13:22:29Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Crystal Jimmo
I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed their writing style and attention to details that made the twists and turns come to life. This is a well written story about Elena and a ballet performance that is good for her dancing. What she doesn’t expect is the events that lead to murder and secrets. I enjoyed Elena and what she brought to the story. She is a strong, connectable character that made the story easy to read. I enjoyed watching the growth of this story that not only made it engaging but hard to put down. This is a fast paced story that I truly enjoyed. It had me turning pages fast just to see what would happen next. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author in the future. I highly recommend this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Bobbi Wagnerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBobbi Wagner2024-04-09 18:34:572024-05-03 13:19:29Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Bobbi Wagner
Rhapsody in Black by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is the first book in the Elena del Carral Mystery series. It is a tribute to her mother who was a famous prima ballerina. This cleverly crafted mystery is fast-paced with some thrills that is as interesting as it is intriguing. With accidents, drama, threats, scheming, sabotage, secrets, agendas, romance, and so much more Rhapsody in Black takes the reader in to the cutthroat world of dancing, ballet. But it is not all doom and gloom there are some laughs to be had as well. The characters are well written, and the plot is cleverly crafted but some of the story is told by recounting of events that I feel would have been much better had they been made a part of the main story itself. Elena a ballerina and choreographer has been invited to perform but she soon remembers why she left this life behind. Nothing has changed from when she was in it but now it seems it has only gotten more deadly. Ballet enthusiasts will love this story and if you aren’t it is something different than your average cosy mystery.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2024-04-09 17:17:442024-05-03 13:09:26Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Jenni Bishop
I love a good mystery. This author does a tremendous job with setting up her stories. The premise of the story was built around a former student returning as an instructor. The story had great detail. I really enjoyed how it built its way up to the end. Everything was explained at the end. The characters were well written and easy to relate to.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shelly Kittellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShelly Kittell2024-04-09 07:02:442024-05-03 13:10:50Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Shelly Kittell
This story is an easy and cute read for young children. Dylan and his little sister are off to the park to learn and practice baseball with the neighborhood kids. Little did they know that there would be a problem, an adventure to be had, a mystery to solve. Good thing Dylan and Emily have a detective kit and like solving mysteries.
This story was fun to read. I imagine reading it to 1st grade aged children. I love the classroom prompts at the end of the story. This story is fun and educational. My favorite type of children’s books.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shannon Fowlerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShannon Fowler2024-04-09 05:52:382024-05-03 13:06:48Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Shannon Fowler
GOODREADS – Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
BOOKBUB – Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
A different kind of cozy…
Elena del Carral has been invited to dance in a Gala Performance by none other than Derek Michaels, founder of the world-renowned Terpsichore Ballet in New York City. She’s also been invited to audition for Black Rhapsody, the unfinished ballet from the late choreographic master, Rene Fauchier. Delighted, Elena accepts the invitation, knowing this performance will enhance her career, not only as a principal dancer, but also as an up-and-coming choreographer, as well.
But Elena holds a secret, too, one which revolves around Black Rhapsody itself. Unfortunately, no one warned Elena, when she arrived in New York, that such revelation would spark a chain of events that would involve attempted murder and finding an almost dead body in the rehearsal hall.
Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is an award-winning, bestselling author with a unique point of view: to give her readers and fans thrills and kills, with a twist. Her characters are placed in danger in ingenuous ways while, at the same time, her novels are set in locales across Europe and the United States, reflecting her international upbringing and extensive time as a Cuban exile and global traveler.
The author’s writing career began circa age thirteen with a very juvenile science fiction short story; but the writing bug hit, and she has been writing, in one capacity or another, ever since. She has worked as a professional dancer, singer, journalist, and literature teacher in both the university and middle school levels (and not necessarily in that order) and holds a Masters in English literature. She comes from a very distinguished line of ballet dancers in the international ballet world: her mother, Elena del Cueto, prima ballerina and choreographer in Cuban ballet, TV, and theater; her father, Alberto Alonso, dancer and choreographer, original member of the Ballet Russes de Colonel W. de Basil and Cuban ballet; her uncle, Fernando Alonso, dancer and teacher of the Cuban ballet and American Ballet Theater; and her aunt, Alicia Alonso, prima ballerina of the Cuban ballet. Ms. Alonso has been dancing with her mother since the age of seven, until she retired from dancing altogether.
All her novels have received different accolades, including gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as honorary mentions from respected book award institutions. Ms. Alonso-Sierra is currently writing full-time and loves to hear from her fans and readers. When not writing, she roams around to discover new places to set her novels.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Rhapsody-in-Black-Generic.jpg1200800itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2024-04-09 00:03:372024-04-22 13:57:53Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
Dylan wants to be a Detective so he joins Young Sleuths. He Has a Detective kit and everything. His Assistants are his sister Emily and his dog Theodore. They show up for ball practice to find someone has stolen home plate and all the bases. Dylan and his Assistants go in search of whoever stole them. Hoping to get the bases back and solve mystery
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Phylis Carpenterhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngPhylis Carpenter2024-04-08 15:54:532024-05-03 12:47:15Detective Dillon and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) By MJ Murray- Reviewed by Phylis Carpenter April 2024
Detective Dillan and his sister join the town baseball team. When they show up for practice, someone has stolen all the bases. They set out to track the clues to find the bases. This is a great story for young readers.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Terri Jo McAllisterhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTerri Jo McAllister2024-04-06 18:58:292024-05-03 12:38:41Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Terri Jo McAllister
Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate is the 2nd book in the Youth Sleuths series, but the first one I ready. Dylan has recently gotten his junior detective kit, and is ready to solve another mystery. He shows up for baseball practice, and discovers someone stole the bases! He and his sister Emily, and their dog set out to solve the mystery of the missing bases! Dylan is a really good big brother to Emily. Not sure the ages, but old enough to explore and go to the park on their own with their dog. The bullies of the book are 4th graders, so i imagine younger than that. The book has underlying lessons for the readers, when Emily learns she can do new things, as long as she doesn’t give up. It is a cute beginner chapter book. There are 10 short chapters, making it good for middle to late elementary school. My 2nd grader didn’t have enough attention span, but I enjoyed it. The accompanying illustrations are good and assist the story- helping new readers visualize the characters and the events.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Elizabeth Sanchezhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngElizabeth Sanchez2024-04-03 09:15:482024-05-03 11:43:15Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez
Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy return in this mystery, but this time, they are at their Lord Hani’s farm outside of Waset and it is a national holiday, so all of the family are there, they get to spend lazy days in the shade and sleep outside on a night, it is hot and the middle of summer, so when the men go off to the local river for the morning, nobody is overly concerned, that is until only two of them return and Lord Hani is not among them. The family is in a panic, so Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy run over to find out what has happened and it is at this point that they see Lord Hani on the riverbank with some of the local villagers and they are pulling something from the river, unfortunately, it is a body.
As the group head back with the corpse to the family holiday home, the physicians follow on and when the shade is reached, they examine the body to find a cause of death and once this is confirmed, the local priests are called to take away the body, but the mystery is who is the person? With this in mind, the three ladies head to the village to report the find to the Mayor, however, when they speak to her and they find out who the unfortunate victim is, the investigation truly starts. As the ladies visit the family of the deceased, they discover they are a family of weavers who have links to Neferet’s home town, but as they ask questions, the mystery is not clear cut.
Will Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy be able to discover who the perpetrator is and the motive behind this killing, or will the weavers, weave a tangled web which is too complex for them to unravel and will the past repeat itself and danger come calling a little too close to home? This is another historical mystery where justice is wanted, but can it be found, as secrets and lies abound while loyalty is challenged and answers revealed.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2024-04-03 04:35:412024-05-03 11:40:39Web of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 2) by N. L. Holmes – – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146919228-flowers-of-evil” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Flowers of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 1)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1683212370l/146919228._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146919228-flowers-of-evil”>Flowers of Evil</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20117057.N_L_Holmes”>N.L. Holmes</a><br/> My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6391910130″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /> A new author and subgenre to me. I found this book interesting and well written. <br />Engaging and historical, full of facts which builds a world in ancient Egypt, intriguing and immersive. We follow the story of the two young women and their dispensary, they try to get to the bottom of an apparent murder, there is suspense, malice and rivalry all rolled together into a book that paints a world vividly and keeps you entertained. I am away to read the second book in the series straight away.<br /> <br/><br/> <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/34425105-tracy”>View all my reviews</a>
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tracy Ghttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTracy G2024-04-01 04:46:222024-05-03 11:25:03Flowers of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 1) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Tracy Greenhalgh
Flowers of Evil by N. L. Holmes is the first book in the Hani’s Daughter Mysteries series. I’m sure I’m not the only one who can say that I could just feel the love and time the author put into this project, with all its vivid imagery and historical mentions. The characters in this practically jump off the page, they were so well written. It was hard not to read this in one sitting, I kept having to remind myself of things I needed to do to get myself to put it down! I wholeheartedly recommend not just this series but this author as a whole!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Finn Cunninghamhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngFinn Cunningham2024-03-31 08:32:032024-05-03 11:17:51Flowers of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 1) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Finn Cunningham
This was such a fun book to read . I pick up children’s books because they are so refreshing and this was such a good pick . Dylan and his sister Emily arrive at the baseball practice and find out from their coach that all the bases are missing . Dylan has his sleuth kit with him . Together they set out on a quest . After talking to various people in the park , they eventually figure out the mystery . This was such a cute book to read . I would recommend it to all young readers .
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Anantha Rusumhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAnantha Rusum2024-03-29 21:02:402024-05-03 11:08:21Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Anantha Rusum
Another fun and cute story of brother and sister detective duo, Dylan and Emily. This time the siblings are trying to find out whole took the bases from the baseball field, they walk around to many different people and families doing many different activities in search of clues to where the bases could have gone. They run into kids being pirates in a fort, a girl crying about her birthday party theme, a family reunion, a yoga class, all in their pursuit of getting to the sandbox to question the Benny brothers about the bases. I feel like most of the time they are chasing around Theodore, he’s my favorite character. I like that Emily solved this one and was so excited that she forgets how nervous she is about practicing baseball. Her and Dylan work well together in solving these mysteries.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Carrie Reedhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCarrie Reed2024-03-28 08:00:132024-05-03 11:04:50Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Carrie Reed
This fun childrens chapter book is an easy to read style that will keep its readers captivated while also learning a little too. It is not too long in length but packs a lot into those pages. If my kids were still young they would have totally loved this book for sure!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Juleshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJules2024-03-28 06:52:282024-05-03 11:04:25Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Jules Herbert
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