Murder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an interesting cozy historical mystery. A who-done-it until the very end making the reader wonder who was the culprit. There are many twists and turns, danger, and drama in this fast paced murder mystery that is sure to grab your attention!
Murder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Murder on West Main is the 2nd book in the South Shore Mystery series, but it can be read as a stand alone. The book takes place in the early 1900s, following Daniel O’Halleran as he tries to solve a murder. Things are much different in that day and age- there was no DNA, cameras, limited knowledge on finger prints, limited police. Daniel is a doctor, and a coroner assistant, and is one of the main investigators for the crime. Kathleen Brissedon is a close friend of Daniel, as well as the sister of the first suspect. She helps him investigate to help clear her brother’s name, spend time with Daniel, and because she is pretty good at it. It is unheard of for women to investigate, so she cannot help in any official capacity. The book was a pretty good mystery and maintained my interest throughout. I did not figure out who the murderer was until right before it was revealed, and I thought the author did a good job of building up the story and characters. I would be interested to read more in the series.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Murder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a great mystery and kept me interested until the end! Once Colin’s boss is found murdered he becomes the prime suspect. Between the assistant coroner and his sister they do not feel he actually committed the crime. There are unlimited suspects since his boss was not liked by many, which just makes it harder to find the true suspect. It is up to the trio to find out who really killed his boss to clear Colin’s name. This mystery was full of twists and will keep you reading late into the night! Such a great series!
Murder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Murder on West Main was an amazing murder mystery. Daniel O’Halleran is on the case to discover who was behind the murder. It is no easy task, due to the large number of people that despised the murder victim, so there is a never-ending list of suspects is seems! Due to the incredible writing and storytelling, I was guessing the killer the whole time. It was nearly impossible to put the book down with the great cast of characters. I loved that the story was historically accurate! This made it even easier to get into the tale that was being spun. The interactions of the people in the story are much more proper, especially when it comes to the ladies’ interests, though this does not eliminate the gossip around town. I highly recommend reading Murder on West Main and I can’t wait to read more by I.M. Foster.
Murder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
Murder On West Main is the second book in the South Shore Mystery series by I.M. Foster. It is a cozy historical murder mystery with a small town/village setting, crime & investigation, suspense, drama, tension, and a whodunnit element that adds extra intrigue to the story.
With the addition of the map at the beginning and the historical notes at the end- the author provided all the right ingredients for an engaging read.
Colin’s boss is murdered, and he becomes the prime suspect. With Daniel, the village’s assistant coroner, and colin’s sister, Kathleen- we follow along as they investigate the case to try to get to the bottom of it all, to clear Colin’s name.
Looking forward to continuing this series.
Happy reading…
Thank you, I.M. Foster!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Murder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Murder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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!
Mary Espinoza, April 2024
BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE 
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.
Web of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
<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 />
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/34425105-tracy”>View all my reviews</a>
Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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!
This is a story of Norse Mythology and the history of Finn and his family. When a curse is put upon Finn when following his brothers he is now having to deal with becoming brave. The narrator was difficult for me to understand at first until I got used to the accent. An interesting story overall.
Thorfinn’s family was cursed by a witch down three generations. Two generations have succumbed to the curse before Thorfinn’s story began. A young boy of 10 Thorfinn must overcome people plotting to unalive him. His own clansman fear him and he is now an enemy. He must also accept his new fate of being a boy by day and ghost by night. This was a fascinating book. I enjoy history but have never really gotten into Norse culture aside from the Hollywood version. I’m sure the author did a lot of research to describe things so wonderfully. It was like a movie playing in my head as I was able to visualize everything. I can’t wait to see what the next adventure holds in this series.
I really like the story. The character development was strong, the characters each had a crucial role, and the ending wrapped everything together nicely. Listening to the book was challenging as at times I had a hard time figuring out who was talking as first person as it was told in different characters point of view but once you learned the narrators voices, it was much clearer. The narrator for the book was fantastic and was the perfect choice for this genre. I really felt like I was with the characters. Transition music was also nice as it set the tone for the next passage. Overall, I enjoyed the book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such a fun book to listen to! I did not read the book first, so this was my first experience with it, but I loved it! I’m not a big history buff, but listening to it read by a narrator with an awesome accent that feels like old time story telling really captured my attention! Crazy story! Good characters, totally worth the time!
Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista Narrated by Ulf Bjorklund 5 Stars This is the first book I have read/listened to by this author and he is […]
• • BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE • • •
When a corpse washes up on the riverbank at Lord Hani’s country house, his daughter Neferet and her fellow physician Bener-ib and apprentice Mut-tuy head for the local village to try to identify it. But they find themselves entangled in a web of murder and lies in the heart of a family of weavers. Can the perseverance of three determined women and the bonds of parental love win out, or will Neferet herself become the next victim?
Click here to view the Book Trailer for Web of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries) by N.L. Holmes
N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist who received her doctorate from Bryn Mawr College. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin (also a writer today) used to write stories for fun.
5/5
A fun Viking tale that you will enjoy listening to as you follow Thorinn on his adventure. He and his family have somehow irritated a witch who cast a curse on them. Talk about craziness. I read this on ebook. I really enjoyed it in audio. the soundtrack and narration really make it nice to lay down or sit back and just close your eyes and picture as you listen. The author does a fascinating job with details in his story and really brings out the details. I hope to see the rest of the series come out in audio.
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a gem!! Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse is Book 1 of the Forerunner Series and this was a fantastic audiobook. This story gave me Vikings, witches, curses and drama. I can say I’m looking forward to diving into this series more!
Told in multiple POVs…. This story is a about a family that is cursed and Finn is the main focus of this curse. Trying to navigate and learn the ways between realms.. will Finn be able to be courageous to save uncle…
Secrets and plots… definitely listen to find out. Great start to this series!
The narrator was perfect for this story and I loved the music that was added. It really brings the story to life.
• • PREORDER • • •When a corpse washes up on the riverbank at Lord Hani’s country house, his daughter Neferet and her fellow physician Bener-ib and apprentice Mut-tuy head for the local village to try to identify it. But they find themselves entangled in a web of murder and lies in the heart of a family of weavers. Can the perseverance of three determined women and the bonds of parental love win out, or will Neferet herself become the next victim?
Thorfinn is a young boy of 9 years and coming of age under the historical Viking lore. Along with magic, ghost’s, witches and paranormal events. He may be young, but his knowledge is powerful. Now he needs to grow long before he is ready. This is a very interesting story. I don’t care to read historical novels, this one caught my interest. The story is well written and pretty easy to follow. As well as educational if you are interested in this genre. You can tell the author is knowledgeable in Viking history and paranormal characters, as is clear in this story. This audible story is fun to listen to. This would make for long driving trips. As the story builds, so does your heartbeat. This is a great story all together. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Review@cinful
This is my first audio book by this author which I enjoyed listening to. It will take you on an adventure that you won’t soon forget. I enjoyed how the narrator used different tones to make the characters come to life. I enjoyed being pulled into the story from the start. The growth of the characters is great and I enjoyed how supportive they are of each other. A story that took me on an adventure that is full of action. It is a journey of an emotional connection that made the story hard to stop listening to. I look forward to picking up another audio by this author. I highly recommend this audiobook.
The Scent of Snow: A Winemakers Novella by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Two years after the Count of Almoster Pedro Duan and Anne Maxwell married, it is Christmas time and they are expecting the family to visit, however, it isn’t what she wants, she would rather have snow like there was back in England. Things are not all rosy within their marriage though, she wants something that Pedro does not, and it is causing a dissonance between them, it is the desire for a family of her own, but thanks to Pedro’s past, it is something which terrifies him.
However, one extremely cold winters day, one of the family members goes missing, a young boy and so a search is conducted by the menfolk, while the women try and keep their emotions in check. As all but Pedro return, Anne holds out hope that he will find the young lad unscathed and that both of them will return, so she sets the group to praying for them.
Will Pedro be able to find the missing boy and return safely and how will he combat his own demons who come to the fore while he tries? This is a short historical novella which mixes myth and reality to create a story of love, acceptance and a whole heap of emotional turmoil as you see the true meaning of love and the scent of snow.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In Portugal, vineyards spread as far as the eye can see, but recently, they have been decimated and only the strongest have survived and just like those vines, so has Pedro Duan. This man who served in the military and had his whole life ahead of him has now become a recluse ever since he lost his love to another man, all he searches for now is port and other vices. Anne Maxwell is a young woman who has put her life on hold for her family, she takes on the role with happiness, despite her not having the chance to be a socialite, but still enjoying the chance to live on a beautiful vineyard and learn more about this generous culture surrounding her.
One day, she decides to take over the role of her sister-in-law and travel to the nearby vineyards to pass on knowledge which could save them, however, the first place she comes across is not what she expected and nether is the man within it. As soon as Anne enters the room he is in, he sees her as an angel exploring her dark surrounding, someone too pure for what he requested and far too bright a light for him to dim with his shadows, however, fate intervenes and a choice must be made between past and present, revenge or protection, fight or flight and Pedro knows which one he prefers, however, Anne is too vulnerable to be left to this fate and so he escapes with her.
Although, it is not a smooth escape and injuries are sustained, they find safety, however, it is not where Pedro expects it and so when he finds that his angel is not whom he thought, he takes her to his own safe haven. The only thing is that he is followed and accused of a treasonous act, they both know that he is innocent, however, he has no proof, so they set off running again, fugitives, but alive. Anne cannot understand the mercurial moods of her saviour; however, his shadows draw her too him and her light draws Pedro to her, neither can deny what they feel, but they try their hardest to resist it.
As danger creeps closer and the chase for validation of his innocence continues, the two seem to gravitate towards each other and it becomes harder to resist the other, until truths are revealed which could change everything, but will Anne be able to accept that fairytales aren’t as clean cut as she thought, and will Pedro accept that his darkness needs her light? This is yet another historical romance where passion and deception vie for supremacy while, darkness and light also fight for the win all while danger creeps closer and emotions run high across the beautiful vista of Portugal.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
The Truth About Myths by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have enjoyed this series so much and this installment has made it even better! If you are at all into historical romance, then you can stop reading this review and just pick up the book/series. It’s absolutely worth it! I neglected a lot of responsibilities to read this book because I just couldn’t pull myself away. We get to follow Isabel and Henrique in this book and trust me when I say they will make you swoon! This has been my favorite book in the series so far, and I hope the author continues this world because it is phenomenal. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is into historical romance, but even if you aren’t, I believe you will enjoy this book just as well!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
~ ~ ~ AUDIO BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~
Jay Veloso Batista is a published author of Historical Fantasy and Supernatural Suspense, technical non-fiction, poetry and role-playing games. The Forerunner Series includes ‘Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse,’ ‘The Vardoger Boy,’ ‘On Viking Seas,’ ‘Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire (2022),’ ‘Mauraders in Jotunheim (2023),’ and ‘Voyage to Cordova (2024).’ Jay loves history, cycling and hiking, and good craft beer! A frequent traveler for business and pleasure, Jay has visited all 50 states and all of the continents except Antarctica, and the places he has frequented support his story craft. A father and grandfather, Jay lives on the eastern Delaware shore with his wife where they can kayak, swim in the ocean and eat lots of blue fin crabs! You can learn more about Jay at www.jayvelosobatista.com or on his Facebook Author page.
The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in the Winemaker series. You don’t have to read the series in order to understand the characters and stories. I myself read the first and third prior to this one. I would certainly recommend reading them all though.
This as with the other book in this series is very well written. I love the writing style, flows nicely and is descriptive creating a vivid picture of the scenes as they play out. The story is clearly researched adding the the realism that is felt while reading.
As usual, I loved the charcters, they were well-written and enjoyable. I got invested in Pedro and Anne’s story, their individual character developments, as well as their progression as a couple. I particularly liked the character of Anne, strong and determined in an adventure she wasn’t expecting.
I’m not surprised I loved this as much as I did, given how much I have enjoyed the entire series. I hope for more in future!
Mission Improbable:Vietnam by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mission Improbable: Vietnam is Book 3 in the Blanche Murninghan Mystery Series in my opinion is best to read the books in order but you don’t have to. I loved following Blanche and Jean as they journey to Vietnam and of course the journey is full of twists and turns. This is a perfect cozy mystery to cuddle up with and enjoy.
The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a smashing sequel! The author delivers again with an adventurous mystery with our favorite child sleuth, Sparky!
The author does a wonderful job with setting and storytelling. The story is engaging, fast-paced, and incredibly unique. You’ll feel transported right into the action with Sparky working to solve the mystery and keep her friends safe.
These books continue to surprise me with their ingenuity and likable characters, especially Sparky. This has been an unexpectedly wonderful series so far and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised to have enjoyed this book so much as I am quite a bit older than the target audience. This is the second book in the Bunker Hill Mystery Series which includes our lovable 11-year-old detective Sparky. Much has changed from the first book and it’s all for the better…well mostly. She is doing her best to locate the stolen jewels while trying to avoid a cannibal. I enjoyed the setting again in this book as the author has a knack for transporting you to 1930s Los Angeles. I loved the flow of the story and found myself caught in the fast pace of it all. I recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a fun and cozy mystery.
Reviewed by @shannlynn