Posts

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spectral Revelations is Book Six in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries Series. It is a cozy mystery with drama, danger, ghosts, secrets, lies, greed, and corruption. In her most recent adventure Karina finds herself trying to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her aunt. Uncertain if her aunt has disappeared on her accord or if something bad happened Karina delves into the mystery headfirst to see what happened. When she goes to her aunt’s home, she finds a mischievous ghost that seems to be wreaking havoc in her aunt’s home. At first Karina brushes off the ghost’s behaviour but soon realizes that he is leaving her clues to help solve her aunt’s disappearance. As usual Karina learns more than she bargained for when she uncovers secrets, lies, and corruption. Another great read in this amazing series. The author has a way of pulling you into the story and fully immersing you in the mystery until the very end. The characters are unique, quirky, funny, and entertaining. I absolutely loved the addition of the paranormal element and Karina’s ghostly crime solver.

View all my reviews@tarab

Swindler’s Revenge (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 5) by Ellen Butler – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Swindler's RevengeSwindler’s Revenge by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Swindler’s Revenge is Book Five in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries Series. Karina’s newest adventure finds her single after her and her FBI boyfriend Mike broke up. Now he is in a heap of trouble after being accused of taking a large bribe and running away with 1.2 million dollars. On the run as a wanted fugitive only adds to making him look guilty. As his ex-girlfriend, Karina is also someone of interest to the FBI. Although Mike is her ex, Karina does not believe for a second that he is guilty of taking the bribe. It seems that someone dangerous is determined to frame Mike and Karina is equally determined to clear Mike’s name and get to the bottom of who is responsible. The situation becomes intense as Karina delves into the case with the help of some friends. This book had danger, drama, mystery, tension, action, suspense, witty banter, and a bit of romance. I love how feisty, determined, strong, and independent Karina is. Bring on Book Number Six!

View all my reviews@tarab

Pharoah’s Forgery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 4) by Ellen Butler – Review by

/0 Comments/in /by

Pharaoh's Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 4)Pharaoh’s Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pharoah’s Forgery is Book Four in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries Series. It is a cozy mystery following the adventures of Karina Cardinal. In her latest adventure she finds herself in Mexico where she is hoping to relax and soak up the sun. However, the mystery package she has been asked to bring by her neighbor. The seemingly innocent package turns out to be a magnet for all sorts of criminal elements which leads Karina into a world of danger. Karina and her friend Rodrigo find themselves facing certain death and it could mean the end for them both. This book had action, suspense, mystery, drama, danger, suspense, humor, crooks, killers, swindlers, and an ancient Egyptian death mask. The characters are unique, quirky, lovable, and feisty. Bring on Book Five!

View all my reviews@tarab

Diamonds and Deception (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 3) by Ellen Butler – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery, #3)Diamonds & Deception by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Diamonds and Deception is Book Three in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries Series. It is a cozy mystery with action, adventure, danger, mystery, suspense, secrets, lies, and a diamond heist. Karina again finds herself in the middle of a mystery when her sister calls her asking for help. Their friend has been accused of stealing some diamonds and Karina and her sister are determined to clear her name. As the two sisters delve into the case, they come face to face with criminal elements that would have been better off left alone. The tension and suspense escalate as the secrets and lies are revealed. The storyline is intriguing and really draws you in because it has been so well written and clearly well researched. The character of Karina is smart, strong, feisty, and determined. I look forward to reading Book Four.

View all my reviews@tarab

Fatal Legislation (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 2) by Ellen Butler – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Fatal Legislation (Karina Cardinal Mystery #2)Fatal Legislation by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation is Book Two in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries Series. This is a cozy mystery set in the world of politics. It has action, adventure, murder, drama, danger, intrigue, suspense, and romance. Karina is off sleuthing once again as she tries to solve the murder of a senator. A bit of a tricky situation for her as she is also a person of interest in the case. She also has a budding relationship with her old college friend Mike, whom she became reunited with in Book One. Karina is determined to clear her name and delves deep into the case digging for clues as to who the real murderer is. The story takes some twists and turns as the tension builds. A great storyline with admirable characters. Karin is smart, class, courageous, and feisty. I look forward to book three.

View all my reviews@tarab

Isabella’s Painting (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

/0 Comments/in /by

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting is Book One in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries Series. This book is cozy mystery that centers around the character of Karina Cardinal. Karina is a lawyer and lobbyist working on Capitol Hill. who fancies herself as an amateur sleuth in her spare time. When she goes to a fancy dinner party at the home of her boyfriend’s wealthy parents, she spots something that seems a bit odd. In her boyfriend’s father’s library, she sees what looks like the stolen masterpiece that had been robbed from a museum. Having only caught a glimpse of the painting before it disappeared behind a secret hidden panel Karina is uncertain if this is indeed the stolen masterpiece worth millions of dollars. She wants to investigate farther but is conflicted because not only is this her boyfriend’s wealthy father, but anyone that encounters the painting dies a horrible death. With her every move being monitored, Karina is unsure what to do. A wonderfully written story with an intriguing storyline based on a true event. The character of Karina is smart, strong, independent, determined, and feisty. I look forward to reading book number two.

View all my reviews@tarab

Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3) by Rob Bates – Review by Shelly Kittell

/0 Comments/in /by

Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3)Slay It With a Diamond by Rob Bates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story pulled me right in. Mimi gets pulled into a mystery when her friend, Roz, sells a “cursed” diamond to her dad, Max. I couldn’t help but be pulled in by the “human spam” telling Mimi about the men following Roz that then followed Mimi, etc. It was like a domino chain falling over. The mystery started and you couldn’t stop. You had to follow it to the end. Thankfully, Michael was there to help her because she was way in over her head at times. I came into the series here at book three and I will be going back to book one. You can read as a stand alone. The characters are awesome. They are totally relatable. The story is very engaging. It’s a fun cozy as you solve the mystery.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Christine Baranek

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spectral Revelations
By: Ellen Butler

Holy cow! This Karina Cardinal mystery is the newest and just when I thought I couldn’t love the character and series any more Ellen Butler delivers with a book that blows the others out of the water. This book has some supernatural elements which is a new element to the series. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this addition, but in true Karina Cardinal fashion it fit right in with the amazing cast of characters that already existed. This is also added to what I have come to expect from Karina Cardinal – a mystery that keeps me guessing from the very start, suspense, drama, amazing dialogue and characters that add to the depth of the plot.
This book is absolutely fantastic. When Karina’s aunt goes missing – she has no choice but to really investigate what has happened. Yet, as with all of the previous books, Karina has bitten off more than she chewed. And she discovers that finding her aunt is going to really involve more than she ever expected.
Once again, I truly believe that each of these books would function as a standalone, however, I truly recommend reading all of them. There is some character overlap and also there are so very many amazing mysteries to be read. Definitely don’t miss out on this one!

View all my reviews

Swindler’s Revenge (Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 5) by Ellen Butler – Review by Christine Baranek

/0 Comments/in /by

Swindler's RevengeSwindler’s Revenge by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Swindler’s Revenge
By: Ellen Butler

I have been a fan of every last one of the Karina Cardinal mysteries. But let me tell you that this book has definitely become one of my favorites. It takes the mystery, suspense, and political intrigue that I have come to expect and really ups it by making it hit close to home for Karina. This time its the FBI who are involved, but she is being accused of harboring a fugitive. Also known as her ex-boyfriend. Who she is definitely not hiding, but who also is accused of taking off with over a million dollars. However, this doesn’t fit anything she knows about her ex-boyfriend. So either, she didn’t know him like she thought she did, he has lost his mind or there is something else going on. Of course, Karina needs to begin to start this out for herself because not only is her name attached, but also none of this is making any sense. So she jumps head first into another case that kept me reading long into the night. I cannot recommend this or the other Karina Cardinal books enough. I love every page and the characters are all so interesting and really add so much depth to the plot – they keep the plot moving. Definitely pick up this book!

View all my reviews

Pharaoh’s Forgery (Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 4) by Ellen Butler – Review by Christine Baranek

/0 Comments/in /by

Pharaoh's Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 4)Pharaoh’s Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pharoah’s Forgery
By: Ellen Butler

I truly feel that each and every Karina Cardinal book gets better than the last. I have found that she has become one of my favorite main characters. She is strong and independent and all in all just a really relatable character. In this book, the setting is moved away from Washington, DC and the United States. This move makes the focus of the book shift – previously each of these book had to do with U.S. government and politics, however, now this book is much more focused on ancient things. This gives the book a refreshing makeover that really made the experience even better. This book gives us better looks at characters that were mentioned in previous books but really gives us a good feel for them – like Mrs. Thundermuffin and Rodrigo. It was really great to get to know these characters in a different light.

The Karina Cardinal Series is really an excellent mystery series that is filled with suspense and twists and turns. Each book is a standalone, however, I highly suggest reading each one, as it is a fantastic read but also because there is some character crossover between books. I definitely suggest picking this one up!

View all my reviews

Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 3) by Ellen Butler – Review by Christine Baranek

/0 Comments/in /by

Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery, #3)Diamonds & Deception by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Diamonds and Deception
By: Ellen Butler

This is the third book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery story. Although it is the third book in the series I think it is important to note that it can definitely function as a standalone. You could miss the earlier books and not be lost at all. I do recommend reading them all, just because each and everyone that I have read so far have been fantastic reads that I highly recommend. It contains all of my favorite elements in a mystery – drama, danger, action, suspense.
Katrina Cardinal is such a great character. She is multi-layered and helps to drive the plot a rate that had me not wanting to walk away from my book. She is a lawyer who is now a lobbyist in Washington D.C. This gives her all the qualities you would expect – especially for the lead character in a mystery series – she’s smart, independent and hard working. Her sister reaches out to her to help her with a friend. And this leads them both wondering what they have been pulled into as nothing is as they originally thought.
This book is absolutely fantastic. I love the characters and how fast paced the plot is. This mystery is definitely original. I cannot wait to read more from Karina Karina Cardinal. Definitely pick this book up!

View all my reviews

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Christine Baranek

/0 Comments/in /by

Fatal Legislation (Karina Cardinal Mystery #2)Fatal Legislation by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Legislation
By: Ellen Butler

This is the second book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery Series. This is a fantastic political mystery the features action, suspense, drama and of course, an FBI investigation. This book is a complete page turner that definitely is intense at parts and really sucked me in.
Karina Cardinal is a lawyer who is not working as a lobbyist. She has a new boyfriend who is also an FBI agent. Karina is in the wrong place and the wrong time and ends up being a a person of interest in a murder investigation. Karina is determined to not only prove her innocence but also find out what is going on. She doesn’t want to become the next victim.
These characters are amazingly well written – they have flaws and depth to them. They really seem like 3 dimensional people, not just characters on a page. And the story is told with such craftsmanship. As much as the story kept me on the edge of my seat – I wanted to solve the mystery before Karina did – I also didn’t want it to end. I definitely recommend reading this book – it will not disappoint!

View all my reviews

Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Christine Baranek

/0 Comments/in /by

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella’s Painting
By: Ellen Butler

This is a fantastic fast paced mystery. This book introduces us to Karina Cardinal who is just at the wrong place at the right time to put her in the middle of a mystery. Karina is a fantastically well written character who drives the plot (which happens to be based on a real life mystery). This story sucked me in from the first page and it really delivered. This author gives enough detail to make you feel like you are there but not so much that it bogs down the plot of the story.
I definitely recommend this story and I cannot wait to read more by Ellen Butler.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Sara King

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was the first for me both from this series as well as by this author, but it won’t be the last. The sixth in the series, this book can be read as a stand alone but if I had to guess it would be even better read in order if for no other reason than the character development you gain as the series develops.

I found the writing to be well developed, humorous , laugh out loud at moments , easy – to – read , and not wanting to put to book down. I can not wait for the next book book by Butler. But while I am waiting, I will be going back to read the rest of the series.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Elisha Johnson

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler- 5 out of 5 stars

This is my first time reading this authors work and I just have to say that it definitely will not be the last. The character development was great throughout the book. Suspense, mystery, unpredictability, drama, and so much more! This book had it all. I highly recommend reading this book and all of the others in this thrilling series.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Jennifer Gordon

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a fan of this series I was looking forward to catching up with our heroine Karina Cardinal, who now feels like an old friend. As usual I was hooked from page one by this gripping mystery adventure which kept me happily turning the pages. Karina’s Aunt Vera has disappeared having lied to her employer about the reason for her absence and abandoning her beloved cat Nightshade, which she would never do. As this is out of character for Vera, Karina is convinced that her Aunt is in trouble, however nothing suspicious is found when she searches her house, other than a ghost! A mischievous Civil War ghost seems to be living in Vera’s house and he keeps trashing her office, Karina realises that he’s actually helping by revealing key evidence. As the clues aren’t adding up for Karina she calls on her sister Jillian and boyfriend Rick Donovan to help. Meanwhile, the cops seem to be following faulty leads which could see Vera being arrested, but Karina just wants to find her Aunt alive. This cozy mystery has an exciting storyline, quirky characters, plenty of drama and mystery as well as a paranormal twist, all of which kept me gripped throughout. The setting and characters are brought vividly to life by the descriptive narrative and I felt immersed in the story. This series seems to get better with each book, and I look forward to being back with Karina again soon!

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Kerry Carr

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 6th story in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series. This book can be read as a standalone however I do recommend reading them all so you get a complete understanding of the characters and can see their growth and development in each story.
This is a cosy paranormal mystery which I loved. It is fast paced and full of secrets that Karina has to discover and solve in order to figure out the case. There as so many twists and turns that the reader is kept guessing all the way through.

When Karina’s Aunt Vera goes missing there is a question over whether this was a genuine disappearance or just Aunt Vera wanting to disappear for a while. After Karina hears about her Aunts disappearance she has a feeling she’s in trouble. After all Karina seems to attract nothing but trouble recently. As she starts her search she gets some help from a unexpected being who holds some of the clues to her aunts disappearance. However it will take all of Karine’s sleuthing skills to be able to unravel the clues as they are twisted and distorted with lies and corruption. Can she solve this case in time? Is Aunt Vera really in danger or just hiding from something?

One things for sure with Karine’s strength and determined character she won’t let anyone stop her from getting to the bottom of this mystery.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations ( The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Jules Herbert

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just have to start by saying I love this talented author and her wonderful writing style, creative storylines and her ability to keep her readers totally captivated and engaged from start to finish. Karina is a wonderful character who I just couldn’t help falling for. Trouble always seems to find her and when her aunt suspiciously disappears she simply has to try to uncover what happened. The twists and turns that follow will keep you hooked for sure!
This is the 6th book in this fantastic series and while it can absolutely be read as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed I recommend reading the entire series right from the start to enhance your reading experience. I know I am definitely going back to the start to enjoy it as a whole.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Kerry Baker

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another brilliant book within this series and I was so excited to get my hands on the newest book. I loved that it was so easy to reconnect with the main character. I was pulled straight into this story and could not put it down. I wanted to see how the mystery would unravel and where the story would lead us.
This author always knows how to create a good story, and I think this one is easily one of the best. The fact that we are six books into this and it is still as good as when it first started is testament to how amazing this author is. I enjoyed every single part of this book and I will be re-reading the whole series after this.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Tausha Treadway

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Spectral revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) By Ellen Butler. I love this series and was so excited to see there was another book in the series. It can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading them in order to get a better feel of the characters. They are really good paranormal mysteries. Karina and her friends are back with another mystery, Karina’s Aunt Vera has disappeared and her mom insists they investigate. Karina is a attorney who has now become a lobbyist. She always seems to run into trouble everywhere she goes so when her Aunt Vera goes missing she is of course going to investigate. Karina and her boyfriend Rick and the gang all help her figure out if Aunt Vera is in trouble or if she has run away. They find all kinds of corruption, greed and schemes galore! Will they be able to find Aunt Vera before its too late? I love this series so much and hope there is another book.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Toni Sellers

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book six in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries series. You could definitely read this as a standalone, but I recommend that you read them all in order. Because not only are they just that good but it will help you keep up with character development. Just in time for Halloween, a light fun paranormal mystery with some drama, suspense, ghosts, action and some great humor. Wonderfully written each book just gets better and better.

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the sixth book in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries series. The books can be read as standalones, but I would recommend reading them in order to understand the characters better.
This is once again a fun mystery with great characters which sucked me in so well! The author’s writing style flowed well and was easy to follow while the plot was unique, fun and engaging. We even get a bit of spook in perfect timing to read for Halloween.
The lovable Karina is back, still strong, independent and determined, just some of the many things that make me fall in love with her in every book. As usual, trouble seems to find Karina all too easily; when something isn’t right, she can’t help but investigate. The large group dynamic is different with everyone involved, but still great fun and in a way better as the relationships and interactions are more entertaining.
This one is definitely one of my favourites of the series, and I’m really hoping for more book in the series soon to feed my obsession!

View all my reviews

Swindler’s Revenge (Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 5) by Ellen Butler – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

/0 Comments/in /by

Swindler's RevengeSwindler’s Revenge by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fifth book in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries series. These books can be read as standalones, but I highly recommend reading them to get a better understand of the characters, their relationships and backgrounds.
As per usual in this series, I was gripped beginning to end. I was immersed in the story, living the adventures alongside Karina as the story progressed. The writing flowed nicely and was easy to follow, increasing the enjoyment for me.
Once again the lovable Karina put herself in harms way to solve the case, especially now her ex is being accused of something she can’t believe. She’s strong and determined and I love that about her.
I adore this series, it’s especially perfect for this time of year, curling up in front of the fire!

View all my reviews

Pharaoh’s Forgery (Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 4) by Ellen Butler – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

/0 Comments/in /by

Pharaoh's Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 4)Pharaoh’s Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries series. These books can be read as standalones, but I recommend reading the books in order so you can understand the characters better, their backgrounds and relationships.
I enjoy the author’s writing style; it flows well and is easy to follow. The story points come together really well, and you can tell things are thought through.
Karina continues to be her lovable self; she gets into trouble/danger and must investigate. Her strength and determination shine through and I can’t help but love her.
The plot is fun and entertaining, keeping me gripped throughout. There were moments I was left guessing and not trusting anyone, and it was great!
I am still so obsessed with this series and swiftly moved onto the next book!

View all my reviews

Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 3) by Ellen Butler – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

/0 Comments/in /by

Diamonds & Deception (Karina Cardinal Mystery, #3)Diamonds & Deception by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries series. The books in this series can be read as standalones, but I recommend reading all the books to get a better understanding of the characters.
I enjoy the flow of the author’s writing, it’s easy to follow and moves the story along nicely. It’s easy to step into the world the author creates and live the mystery alongside the characters.
Karina and her sister, Jillian, join forces in this instalment which was a fresh dynamic to the series. Karina remains my favourite character in the series, strong independent and determined. Getting herself into trouble in her investigations seems to come so naturally to her and I love it.
The twists and turns are great, gripping you further and further as the story progresses. I was sad to be getting through the books as quickly as I was as the series quickly joined my favourites.

View all my reviews

Fatal Legislation: A Novel: Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 2 by Ellen Butler – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

/0 Comments/in /by

Fatal Legislation (Karina Cardinal Mystery #2)Fatal Legislation by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Karina Cardinal Mysteries series. This can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book to get a deeper understanding of the characters.
The plot is once again engaging and gripping, this time Karina finds herself a person of interest in a murder. We’re also reintroduced to FBI agent Mike who is put on the case. There were so many twists, I loved it.
The strong and independent Karina decides to start investigating herself before she becomes an official suspect. I fell even more in love with Karina in this book, she’s strong, determined and lovable. When you think about someone in politics, you don’t normally picture the lovable Karina.
I love this series, I’m obsessed! Onto the next!

View all my reviews

Isabella’s Painting: A Notorious Art Heist Mystery (Karina Cardinal Mystery Book 1) by Ellen Butler – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

/0 Comments/in /by

Isabella's Painting (Karina Cardinal Mystery #1)Isabella’s Painting by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in what has begun as a great series, the Karina Cardinal Mysteries series. I loved this introduction to Karina and the storyline was brilliant! It doesn’t hurt that this is a cosy mystery which is one of my absolute favourite types of books (perfect for a autumn night by the fire).
I enjoyed the writing style of the author; it flowed well and was easy to follow and the links to true events made it feel even more real. I was lost in the storyline almost instantly – it felt unique, and I couldn’t bring myself to put it down. I also liked the section which explained more about the actual crime which this book includes, I find true crime fascinating and having this insight was a brilliant addition.
The characters were great, fun and interesting. I loved Karina, she felt so real, and lovable and strong. Despite the danger, she was determined and came out the other side stronger than ever.
I loved this book so much and had to move onto the next immediately!

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book #6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Angela Hayes

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

5 Stars

 

Gah! You have no idea how excited I was to find that we were getting another Karina Cardinal mystery. I have adored her, and the series since the very beginning and I was starting to fret that there wouldn’t be another instalment. So colour me EXCITED!!!
Spectral Revelations is the sixth exciting instalment in the Karina Cardinal Mystery series by Ellen Butler. This is an excellent mystery- with intriguing developments, crime and investigation, tension, some action, suspense, drama, emotion, agendas, set ups, banter, humour, colourful + quirky characters, and even a touch of the supernatural.
Ms. Butler is a talented storyteller who never fails to deliver a cleverly constructed story, with each one upping the ante on the last. She always comes up with original and intriguing details that she constructs her stories around- which gives them their own unique flavour and identity. This one has a paranormal/supernatural touch that gives it an extra element of intrigue, tension, and mysteriousness. Again, Ms. Butler manages to create some intensity, with dramatic developments and gripping tension- which made the whole story quite an unpredictable and riveting ‘ride’.
As we know from previous books, Karina Cardinal is a lawyer turned lobbyist in Washington D.C. She’s smart, controlled, spirited, independent and hard-working- but is also a bit of a magnet for trouble. Here, Karina is pulled into another mystery when her beloved aunt goes missing. Things surrounding her aunt’s disappearance are quite suspicious, and as we’ve come to know from past events, Karina can’t help but do some digging into the situation to try to uncover what happened (plus she’s voraciously curious by nature). Is her aunt in trouble, or is she guilty of a crime and gone on the run? With the help of her security expert boyfriend Rick, her sister Jilly, and Jilly’s fiancé Tony- the ‘Scooby Gang’ begin to unravel the mystery- unearthing corruption, greed, desperation, secrets, schemes, and more. Add in a ‘helpful’, albeit spooky ghost- and things take an engrossing turn.
This is a fantastic story – wonderfully woven into a rich, detailed and thoroughly polished mystery- packed full of surprises which kept me avidly reading the whole way through.
I can’t wait for more Karina Cardinal!!

Thank you, Ellen Butler!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

View all my reviews

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Bobbi Wagner

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a series that I have enjoyed reading from the first book. This is the sixth book which is just as great as the previous books. I highly suggest reading the previous books in this series to help your enhancement of the characters and this author’s writing skills. This is a well written story that is not only full of mystery but also hard to put down. Karina is back in another mystery but what happens when she has to call in recruitments and the clues are just not adding up. I enjoy Karina’s character. She is a strong character that makes the story easy to read. I enjoyed watching the growth of the characters and the plot throughout the story. I enjoyed how they brought the story to life on each page. I found this book to be fast paced and engaging. This is an entertaining story that I enjoyed reading. I highly recommend this book.

View all my reviews

Review by @bjwagner

Spectral Revelations (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6) by Ellen Butler – Review by Shelly Kittell

/0 Comments/in /by

Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery (The Karina Cardinal Mysteries Book 6)Spectral Revelations: A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story. Where is Aunt Vera? I felt like I was following right there with Aunt Vera. That crazy cat was giving me goosebumps. It was a fantastic story and an amazing mystery to solve. I loved the romance with her and Rick (though it doesn’t seem that she keeps them long). It is still a very fun series that sucks you in with each story. I do believe that this is my favorite so far. I love the suspense the is there throughout the whole thing. I can’t wait for the next one.

View all my reviews