Paranormal stories are not my usual read, but with this being a cozy mystery, I thought I'd give it go. It was actually great fun, with** Audiobook **
Paranormal stories are not my usual read, but with this being a cozy mystery, I thought I'd give it go. It was actually great fun, with some bizarre but entertaining plots. Victoria doesn't see herself as a witch, certainly not a practising one, and she has doubts she'd ever be able to pull of any spells after her last attempt went so disastrously wrong. Her familiar, a cat by the name of Professor Studmuffin III bakes - of course - but with the driest sense of humour and the biggest ego ever. What could possibly be any more bizarre? Maybe when Victoria tries to prevent a series of deaths (one of which is her own) and has to keep travelling back in time with a spell to do so, but is constantly thwarted by one thing or another. It's funny, amusing, yet you can't help be drawn into Victoria's life and her problems. For me, a non-American, the narration was an issue at times, usually when the narrator was in character, and the Southern accent was hard to understand. At one time, Victoria says something about "having a laff" (which to my British ears is having a laugh). However, after rerunning it a few times, I realised she meant "having a life". I would definitely read more in this series but think I'll stick to reading rather than listening. Great fun, quirky, and frequently chaotic - in the best possible way! ...more
**Audiobook ** I received a free copy from the author for an honest review.
I previously listened to the second book in this series - A Fine Year to Mu**Audiobook ** I received a free copy from the author for an honest review.
I previously listened to the second book in this series - A Fine Year to Murder (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) - and vowed then I'd check out book one. I'm so glad I did, but not because it filled any gaps rather simply because it was even more tense and dramatic and exciting... I could go on :)
So what did I like about it? Firstly, hats off to the narrator who made this such a great listening experience. Clear diction, perfect emotion, and superb character definition. Kudos to C.J. McAllister! But, there's the small matter of a great story too. Being familiar with Murphy and Jessica, it was easy to settle back and follow their journey. And what a journey it was.
Lieutenant Murphy Thornton takes on a case concerning the murder of five women in one house. Five women who share no common history except for one thing - they were joining forces to exact revenge on a man who raped them years before and got away with it every time. A man whose career in the military has seen him climb to the highest echelons of power, within breathing distance of The White House. Can it be possible that such a man could become the president's advisor? They didn't think he should be allowed such a privilege, yet someone else thinks differently and wants them out of the way so they cannot muddy the waters.
Murphy and Jessica (now a PI) and his father (Captain Josh Thornton) and new mother-in-law (Cameron Gates, also in law enforcement and with a personal interest in this case relating to her first husband) work together to find the murderer, not expecting the military connection at first, but then realising that greater forces are protecting the man at the centre of the case. With fast-paced action (shootouts in a coffee shop, car chases - with potentially life-threatening consequences - and even a kidnapping), the story lurches from one drama to the next, making for a page-turning, hold your breath, kind of read. Interspersed with the action are lovely family scenes with the most incredible pets, and a subplot focusing on Izzy, the daughter of one of those five women.
It's tense and heart-warming, and will raise all sorts of questions over the ability of those in power to control the outcome to their advantage. I'm so glad there are more in this series, and will be heading out to nab them right away....more
Wow! Such an insightful glimpse at the issues faced in delivering safe food to our pets. I was saddened and gladdened in equal measure - saddened by sWow! Such an insightful glimpse at the issues faced in delivering safe food to our pets. I was saddened and gladdened in equal measure - saddened by some of the attitudes of manufacturers towards being challenged on their poor practices, and gladdened by the doggedness (pardon the pun) of some of the authorities charged with exposing these risks.
As a pet owner, one with a very fussy approach to food that has meant many changes to his diet, reading about the fundamental disregard of some manufacturers is hard to stomach. You can almost hear the subtext of their disdain (it's just a dog/cat/rabbit etc) and yet, for many, myself included, my dogs are family. So when the consequences of such negligence can prove fatal, I want to know about it. However, these statistics are merely the tip of the iceberg given that so many cases will go unreported. The author has phrased this book so appropriately: pet food is indeed a risky business. Of course, the author provides balance in highlighting the efforts taken by those charged with acting upon those reports and carrying out the subsequent inspections and putting in place measures to raise standards to safeguard the final products, but oh my goodness, what an uphill struggle they face. I have nothing but thanks for their efforts yet feel somewhat disheartened by a)the attitudes they face, b)the time it takes to achieve anything and c)the loopholes which permit directives, legal requirements and ethical responsibilities to be ignored. For this exposure, the author should be congratulated, and every pet owner should read this and feel empowered to act if the health of their pet is ever considered to have been detrimentally affected by those we trust to provide safe and healthy products at all times. I must admit to have elected to put my own dog on a home-cooked diet in recent years, and as he has just passed his 17th birthday, I'm so glad to have made that decision. That said, the recipes provided at the end of the book have given me food for thought since my old boy has become picky in his old age - I reckon he's ready for some quinoa!
My thanks to the author for this meticulous insight - would that it weren't necessary to hold those responsible constantly to account, but it is ... and this book does that with aplomb....more
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