Kathy's (kmartin802's) Third 2022 Thread (July - September)

Here's the link to my second thread.

191. The Hiding Place by Paula Munier (326 p.) -- Fast-paced third entry into the Mercy Carr and Elvis cozy mystery series. Mercy is called to visit her grandfather's old deputy who is dying and wants to dump a cold case onto her. He also wants her to save his beloved Golden Retriever. Meanwhile, the man who murdered her grandfather has escaped from prison and seems to want revenge on Mercy's grandmother. From pipe bombs, to kidnappings, to snowmobile chases through the Vermont woods, lots of things happen. Mercy also has to decide if she's going to let Elvis head to Missouri for his old handler who has come to claim him.

192. Iced by Felix Francis (384 p.) -- Review. More character study than thriller, the latest Felix Francis stars Miles Pussett, former jockey, current racer of sleds down the Cresta run. The story, told with many flashbacks, tells of his life both in racing and outside of it, of his relationship with his parents, of his mental health struggles and alcoholism. There is a suspense element as he discovers chicanery in horseracing, and someone tries to kill him because of it but the focus is more on the way Miles deals with things.

193. Grace Under Fire by Julie Garwood (448 p.) -- Review. Fun romantic suspense heavier on the romance than the suspense. Isabel MacKenna and Michael Buchanan had met at her sister's wedding five years earlier and she had taken him in dislike. He was attracted but their 5-year age gap had him keeping his distance. Now, with her life being threatened, Michael Buchanan - former SEAL, soon-to-be FBI Agent - is there to protect her no matter what she thinks. Fun romance with touches of humor,

194. The Wedding Plot by Paula Munier (352 p.) -- Review. Things go wrong at Mercy's grandmother's wedding to long-time-beau Claude Renault. From disappearing spa directors to a couple of murdered men and the discovery of some long-buried bones, Mercy and her dog Elvis along with Troy and Susie Bear have a number of mysteries to solve. Engaging story.

195. A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 1 by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (522 p.; 18:55) -- Seventeen stories collected from the earliest chapbooks fill in some background for Priscilla, Ren Zel, and Er Thom and Daav. One story tells how Val Con met and became a brother to Edger. Another story tells what happens when Daav leaves Delgado to join the fight against the Department of the Interior at Nev'Lorn. Lots of great stories. Great narration.

Happy new thread, Kathy

Happy new thread, Kathy!

Happy new one!

196. The Unkept Woman by Allison Montclair (320 p.) -- Review. Fourth Sparks & Bainbridge historical mystery. Iris is accused of murder when the body of a young woman is found in her apartment. The woman had been looking for Iris's ex-lover. Since the ex-lover and woman looking for him were both spies, Iris couldn't help the police much. Her former bosses - British Intelligence - have left her on her own to solve the mystery and clear her name. Meanwhile, Gwen has been told to stay out of murder investigations if she ever wants to regain custody of her son, her life, and her fortune. Getting involved won't help her overcome the diagnosis of lunacy she gained after a nervous breakdown when her husband died. But Gwen can't leave her best friend to solve the case alone. Loved the characters and the snappy dialog.

197. A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 2 by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (538 p.; 19:44) -- Fifteen more Liaden Universe stories from the first 8 chapbooks and other sources. Loved finding out what happened at Klamath and Runig's Rock. I enjoyed reading about Miri joining the Mercs. This volume also tells the story of the taxi driver who brought Clarence to Korval and Higson's mercenaries to the battle against the Department of the Interior on Liad. There were other great stories too.

198. Storm Echo by Nalini Singh (384 p.) -- Review. Ivan Mercant and Soleil Bijoux Garcia are the main characters. Ivan is a Psy whose brain was changed when his mother took drugs while pregnant with him. He fears that he will go catastrophically insane any time. Lei is an ocelot changeling who is a healer who was mistreated by her clan's alpha. When her clan was decimated by rampaging Psy, she is badly hurt, has forgotten she ever met Ivan, and wants revenge on the alpha she blames for the catastrophe. They meet again. Her cat claims him; he resists the mating because he fears going insane and taking her with him. We also learn more about the architect who wants to bring down the PsyNet.

199. Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (320 p.; 11:18) -- Reread.

200. Mouse & Dragon by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (368 p.; 12:23) -- Reread.

201. Touchstones by Stephanie Burgis (372 p.) -- Review. Nice assortment of fantasy stories.

202. Agent of Change by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (384 p.; 11:53) -- Reread.

203. Carpe Diem by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (336 p.; 14:29) -- Reread.

204. Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey (352 p.) -- Review. Fun and funny contemporary romance. Sandy Macintosh and Hank Tillman were high school sweethearts with plans to leave their small town after graduation. When Sandy's plans fell through for lack of money, she broke up with Hank to let him pursue his dreams in music. After a bout of depression, Sandy builds a life in the small town and tries to convince herself that she is happy. Then Hank comes back divorced with a small son and wants to rekindle his romance with Sandy.

205. Plan B by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (336 p.; 14:02) -- Reread.

206. The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley (304 p.) -- Review. Fifth episode in Kat Holloway series. This time she investigates Joe Bristow who was once her husband until his supposed death at sea. Kat rebuilds her life after her bigamous marriage but still has questions about her past. Did Joe really have a hidden fortune as his legal wife believes? Kat, Daniel McAdam, and others of her friends investigate.

207. Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose (608 p.) -- Review. A murder of a young woman during Hurricane Kristina still resonates in the present when the murderer decides to clean up possible witnesses who might hamper his plans for a future in politics. Gabe Hebert hires Burke Broussard's private investigation firm to find out who murderer his retired police officer father. Burke assigns Molly Sutton to the case. Their investigation leads to a bunch of murders and police corruption. Nice romance between Gabe and Molly too.

208. I Dare by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (480 p.; 20:52) -- Reread.

209. Round Up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews (304 p.) -- Review. 31st in Meg Lanslow series has her helping her nephew Kevin whose partner in their podcasts Casey was almost killed in a hit and run. Someone has gotten stirred up because of one of their true crime podcasts...but which case? Meg combines investigating with preparations for her brother Rob's wedding which, due to the influence of both mothers, will be an over-the-top extravaganza. Fun story.

210. Royal Valentine by Jenn McKinlay (114 p.; 2:53) -- Cute romance novella. Molly works at the Museum of Literature in NYC. She meets a man at one of the museum's gala and falls for him. They spend a whirlwind month exploring NYC, and then he disappears leaving her heartbroken. They meet again when she returns the Jane Austen exhibit to England where she learns that he's really Viscount Isley and heir to an earldom. She feels out of her depth and also betrayed because he lied to her. It takes a while before she can trust him again.

211. The Jigsaw Assassin by Catherine Asaro (503 p.) -- Futuristic mystery with great worldbuilding. Major Bhaajan is called to Selei City to investigate three locked room murders and finds herself in the middle of a political mess. With five major political parties all pointing their fingers at each other, it is up to Bhaaj to sort out the mess with the help of her EI Max and two of her Dust Knights from Raylicon's Undercity. Very enjoyable mystery.

212. The Dark Circle by Robert J. Mrazek (336 p.) -- Review. After being fired from his job as campus security, Jake Cantrell takes a job offered by reporter Lauren Kenniston to look into the disappearance of college student Deborah Chapman. He finds himself searching for a sex cult that preys on virgins and a new opioid that is killing many in upstate New York. The story is violent with beatings and murders, but Jake is a knight in rusty armor who prevails with a little vigilante justice.

213. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris (214 p.; 6:47) -- Cleaning lady Lily Bard discovers the body of her former landlord and has to solve the crime before someone decides she did it. Lily is a great character with a traumatic past who is trying to build a new life. The tenants of the dead man's building are the primary suspects. Lily cleans for many of them. She is also starting a romance with her karate instructor and maybe with the new police chief.

214. Lady Fortescue Steps Out by M. C. Beaton (152 p.; 4:45) -- Regency Romance which stars a lot of poor relations who get together for company and survival and, after a bit of theft, turn one of their homes into a new hotel which becomes the rage in London. The cook who was once a society lady until the deaths of her parents meets and falls in love with the Duke of Rowcester who is related to two of the poor relations, but the romance doesn't run smooth, Jealous wanna-be lovers and social mores stand in the way of a happy ending.

215. in Too Steep by Kate Kingsbury (280 p.) -- Review. Second Misty Bay Tea Shop mystery features the owner, Vivian Wainright, who decides to look into the murder of Lewis Trent because he seems friendless and because he had a souvenir purchased from her shop on his shelves. Trying to find a friend who'll mourn his death by tracking down the purchaser of the souvenir leads Vivian and her shop assistants a variety of people one of whom could be the fence for a half-million-dollar jewelry store robbery. Fun story.

216. A New Clan by David Weber & Jane Lindskold (420 p.) -- 4th in the Stephanie Harrington series (which is a prequel to the Honor Harrington series). This time as the number of people who are bonded with treecats grows and the number of people who want to have one as a pet, those who have them have formed their own conspiracy to protect these intelligent people. Also there is a new drug being developed which is being used by young people who then are much more prone to accidents, already a problem on high-gravity Sphynx. We learn more about the treecat/human bond and what it means for the adopted humans and their lives. Entertaining story.

217. Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews (160 p.; 3:56) -- This novella stars Catalina who has become the wedding planner for her sister Nevada's wedding to Mad Rogan. Of course, besides trying to plan the wedding, she also has to deal with someone who wants to kill Nevada and Rogan enough to plot their death by poisoning their wedding cake. Also there is a missing tiara and all sorts of family drama and crime for Catalina to clear up before the wedding. Catalina begins to come to terms with her very unusual and scary psychic power.

218. Death at the Manor by Katharine Schellman (352 p.) -- Review. The third Lily Adler mystery takes a turn for the Gothic when Lily investigates a locked room murder that most are convinced was the work of a ghost. When elderly, miserly Mrs. Wright is found dead inside her locked bedroom, her daughter and son and the servants are convinced it was the work of the grey lady who has been making appearances in the home. Lily is not convinced, but the locked room is a real puzzler. Lily investigates with her friend Ofelia and new friend and possible love interest Mr. Spencer.

219. Wolf Moon by Nora Roberts (150 p.; 2:58) -- Novella about a woman who was attacked, bitten by a werewolf, and became a werewolf herself who is determined to find the cure for her condition and a veterinarian she goes to when her dog is hurt. They fall in love, but her secret life may keep them apart if they can't find the cure.

220. Line of Darkness by Max Tomlinson (336 p.) -- Fourth Colleen Hayes mystery set in 1979 has Colleen taking a missing person case that leads her into the world of Nazi hunters out for revenge instead of justice and has her travelling to Italy. There are flashbacks to 1942 and a concentration camp for political prisoners. Engaging and entertaining.

221. In the Pines by Kendra Elliot (335 p.) -- Review. Seventh Mercy Kilpatrick combines a missing mother and child with treasure hunters after a $2 million prize. It was exciting and engaging and I liked the way the murders of a couple treasure hunters fit into the missing persons story. Great to revisit favorite characters. Great setting.

222. Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson (352 p.) -- Review. Contemporary romance starring a grad student writing her dissertation on serial killers and the elementary music teacher next door. Phoebe is in Florida helping her younger brother clear out their father's house after his sudden death. She had little relationship with her father after an acrimonious divorce that saw her living with her mother. She filters everyone she meets through the idea that they might be a serial killer. New neighbor Sam Denning is too nice and helpful in Phoebe's mind. Nice story, interesting characters.

223. Luna Rising by Sara Snow (146 p.; 3:54) -- First book in a five book series introduces Ruby Saunders, new college student, who is saved from an attack by a werewolf who is her fated mate. But wait a minute: there's a second fated mate from a pack that is at odds with the first pack. Interesting world building. Over-the-top characters including Ruby who is either feisty or in tears. Cliffhanger ending...

224. Kris Longknife: Mutineer by Mike Shepherd (404 p.) -- Kris Longknife series book 1 of 19. Kris is a new Ensign, daughter of the Prime Minister of Wardhaven, scion of a rich and powerful family with a bunch of military heroes in her family. She's also an alcoholic and suffers from survivor's guilt because she couldn't save her little brother from kidnappers when she was 10. Lots of action and adventure and derring do. Great characters and intriguing worldbuilding.

225. Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews (320 p.) -- Review. Conclusion of Catalina Baylor's story arc in the Hidden Legacy series was filled with lots of action as the final confrontation with Arkan finally happens. Other events include Linus Duncan being attacked and spending most of the story comatose which leaves Catalina as the acting Warden of Texas. Lots of secrets are revealed throughout the story. Fast-paced and filled with action.

226. Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs (352 p.) -- Review. Mercy and the Pack have to deal with a disappearing vampire seethe, a magical soul stealing weapon, and a publicity campaign saying that the Pack really can't protect the magical beings who have come to the Tri-Cities to be safe. The vampire Wulfe who's been stalking Mercy for a while is almost overwhelmed by the magical weapon before Mercy finds a way to separate him from it and give it to Zee to be destroyed. Lots of action and filled with tension.

227. Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest (300 p.; 8:49) -- Psychic travel agent Leda Foley gets involved in a cold case investigation when she saves the life of Detective Grady Merritt when she rebooks his plane ride to keep him off a plane that slides off an runway and catches fire. Grady asks for help in solving a cold case that has baffled him. Leda hopes he'll help her solve the murder of her fiance. Together they investigate, find a link between the two crimes, and find themselves in danger when they stir up the murderer. Great characters and a fast-paced plot.

228. The Poison Study Short Story Collection by Maria V. Snyder (3:42) -- Three stories that fill in some gaps in the Poison Study series.

229. Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews (321 p,; 11:48) -- First Meg Langslow mystery introduces her and her quirky family. Meg is home for the summer and finds herself a bridesmaid in three weddings and in charge of planning all of them. From a bride who chooses a medieval theme complete with velvet dresses in Virginia, in the summer to a bride who thinks peacocks will add ambience, Meg would have enough on her hands. But the murdered sister-in=law of Meg's mother's new fiance and accidents that could be murder attempts against herself and her father, means that she needs to add one more thing to her to-do list: find the murderer before she becomes the next victim.

230. The First Casualty by Mike Moscoe (330 p.) -- Space adventure introduces four people who find themselves involved in a war. Two were draftees and two were career military. There were lots of space battles and some intriguing discoveries. There was also a lot of political intrigue as the characters learn that the war is being fomented by rich private interests in order to increase their own profits no matter how many lives of ordinary people it costs.

>8 kmartin802: Congratulations on reaching 3 x 75, Kathy!

>9 FAMeulstee: Thanks. This year seems to be filled with good books.

231. McKettrick's Pride by Linda Lael Miller (384 p.) -- Echo Wells is looking for a new start when she comes to Indian Rock. Rance McKettrick is a widower with two young daughters but is using work to assuage his grief for the death of his wife. He isn't looking for a new relationship whereas she would love to be loved and needed. Cute kids, a cute lost dog, and interesting romance.

232. The Price of Peace by Mike Moscoe (329 p.) -- Izzy and Trouble are the main characters in this one. Izzy has been given command of a ramshackle ship and sent out to hunt pirates. Trouble is the head of the Marine delegation aboard. A call for help leads to Hurtford Corner and the disappearance of some people. Trouble is one of the people taken along with a local named Ruth who becomes his love interest. The plan is to transport them to another planet to work in farms there producing a dangerous drug. Lots of action and intrigue in this fast-paced story.

233. They Also Serve by Mike Moscoe (352 p.) -- Colonel Ray Longknife and Marine Captain Mary Rodrigo find themselves on a planet settled by survivors of a lost spaceship after their own ship is sabotages and ends up thousands of light years away from their intended destination. They find that the castaways aren't alone on their planet. It also holds an ancient computer which was a teacher to races that have long since stopped arriving and which controls much of the planet. Ray is infected with a virus that builds a new organ in his brain which lets him communicate with the computer. It also heals his spice and let injuries. When the computer decides that humans have to be exterminated, Ray, some young children who have the same new organ in their brains, and a few nodes of the large computer have to fight against larger parts of the computer to stop the massacre.

234. To Do or Die by Mike Shepherd (386 p.) -- Ray, Mary, Trouble and Ruth all find themselves on Savannah where Trouble and Ruth are trying to get to the bottom of the drug problem the got involved with in an earlier book. Ray is sent to investigate a dictator who seems to be someone's puppet. They find a messed-up society that all want to make better for the people of Savannah. This one has battles of Marines against tanks and lots of political maneuvering too.

235. Death in the Sunshine by Steph Broadribb (319 p,; 8:54) -- A murder at The Homestead - a retirement community in Florida - pulls four retired police officers back into investigating when it looks like the local cops aren't doing a good job and may be trying to cover things up. Moira, Philip and his wife Lizzie, and Rick have the contacts inside the community and track down the clues despite Moira's panic attacks and Philip's wonky heart. Both Moira and Philip are keeping secrets about their pasts too.

236. McKettrick's Heart by Linda Lael Miller (324 p,) -- The third in the McKettrick Men series was a nice contemporary romance. Molly Shields has come to Indian Rock to see the baby she gave up for adoption to her lover and his wife Psyche. The lover is dead, and the wife is dying. She wants Molly to raise her baby in Indian Rock. Pysche's childhood love is Keegan McKettrick who will be managing Psyche's fortune for her son and who hates Molly because she had an affair with Psyche's husband. The path to try love for Molly and Keegan has lots and lots of roadblocks.

237. Rita Longknife: Enemy Unknown by Mike Shepherd (226 p.; 5:33) -- Fifth in the Jump Universe series sees Rita Longknife (along with baby Alex) out exploring: looking for lost ships and pirates. Whitebred has escaped from Savannah along with 24 ships of like-minded villains who are turning pirate and preying on ships and colonies. Then, one of the explorer ships finds aliens and makes a bad first impression.

238. A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber (304 p.) -- Review. 6th Verity Kent WWI espionage thriller has her and her husband Sidney trying to prove that Lord Ardmore is a bad actor. Also they are trying to solve a murder of a lawyer who worked for the British during the war and track down missing documents hidden by a murdered informant that both Verity's unofficial bosses from British Intelligence want her to destroy before reading. The politics are complicated and Verity and Sidney don't know who they can trust as they investigate.

239. Rita Longknife: Enemy in Sight by Mike Shepherd (223 p.; 5:23) -- Second Rita Longknife story has pirates making first contact with aliens and not leaving a good first impression. Rita and Ray want to explore for new planets, but first they have to find out what is happening that is causing ships to disappear. Second, they have to deal with a pirate problem. Third, they need to make contact with aliens who have met the pirates and convince them that humans are not all worthless. There are battles and atrocities. And the story reads like the middle book in a series. There is no resolution. I hope a third book will be forthcoming.

240. Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer (24o p.) -- Review. Enola Holmes book 8 has Enola trying to rescue her friend Lady Cecilia from her despot of a father who wants to marry her off to the highest bidder. Enola has to fight law and custom to help her friend and find something to blackmail the father with to win her friend's freedom. Great vocabulary and high adventure.

241. Bound by Murder by Laura Gail Black (288 p.) -- Review. Things are going well for Jenna Quinn until her ex and his new fiancé Missy Plott come to town to get married at the inn. She's a real bridezilla and she's determined that Jenna won't get her Blakey back. But Blake is desperate to talk to Jenna. Jenna has no desire to converse with the man who didn't support her when she was jailed for embezzlement and murder. Whien Missy is found dead behind her bookstore, Jenna is more than willing to let the police investigate. There are a number of suspects from Missy's ex-boyfriend to Missy's sister to her three nasty bridesmaids. Nice story.

242. Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook (328 p.) -- Review. Sixth Haunted Library mystery. This time Librarian Carrie is dealing with renovations in the building next door which will become part of the library and a contentious land dispute facing the town council. When a body is discovered during the reno and the contractor doing the reno (and fellow council member) is murdered, Carrie is dragged into the investigation. The body turns out to by her fiance Dylan's long-lost uncle whose ghost is now haunting the library until Carrie finds his killer, Carrie has more incentive to work the case. But keeping secret that she talks to ghosts isn't easy when a pushy TV reporter wants in on the investigation.

243. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (352 p.) -- Review. Excellent thriller about four 60-year-pld female assassins whose agency has decided to terminate their employment in a very permanent way. Told by Billie and with flashbacks, we see their training as assassins and some of their early missions. They decide to turn the tables and assassinate the Board of Directors of their secret organization. Lots of creative ways to kill people! Great fun but also a story filled with women's friendships and heart.

244. Proof by Dick Francis (334 p.; 9:43) -- Tony Beach is a wine merchant. One day while providing wine for a horse trainer's annual party, he is present when a horse trailer crashes into the tent where the party is being held. He is one of many who help free survivors. Tony's quirk of being able to reliably identify various wines and whiskeys comes in handy when he is recruited to help both a private company and the police locate stolen whiskey and identify spirits that are being fraudulently sold is mislabeled bottles. The fraudster isn't hesitant to murder to keep his secrets. One of my favorites by Dick Francis.

245. Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King (336 p.) -- Review. Dual timeline mystery starring Inspector Raquel Laing, SFPD, who is trying to convince a serial killer to identify his victims before he dies of cancer. She also gets involved when a body is discovered under the base of a statue at the Gardener Estate. The body might be one of her serial killer's victims. She needs to delve into the history of the Estate (hence the flashbacks). Great historical detail and a fascinating main character.

246. Lucy on the Wild Side by Kerry Rea (320 p.) -- Review. Contemporary romance starring zookeeper Lucy Rourke and Kai Bridges who makes a wildlife program. Lucy is not very likeable, and I didn't at first see what Kai saw in her. But as the story unfolded, I came to like both main characters and enjoy their romance. I especially liked Lucy's devotion to her gorillas.

247. The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan (315 p.) -- First Jazz Ramsey cozy animal mystery. While training a cadaver dog, Jazz discovers the body of a former student at the school where she's an administrative assistant. While investigating the death, she encounters her former boyfriend who is a homicide detective. Nice mystery. Nice information about training cadaver dogs.

248. Sweetwater & the Witch by Jayne Castle (304 p.) -- Review. Ravenna is a matchmaker with an unusual talent; Ethan Sweetwater is her impossible client. After many failed attempts to find him a match, she agrees to go out with him herself. However, both are under attack from a variety of villains but nothing they can't handle. Harriet is Ravenna's pen-collecting dust bunny.

249. Kris Longknife: Deserter by Mike Shepherd (356 p.) -- Second Kris Longknife has Kris going off to Taurantic to rescue her friend Tom and finding herself in the middle of a plot to build a fleet of war ships. She finds herself caught on the planet by a quarantine for Ebola and a failure of the planetary Comm System. She and her people including Tom, her bodyguard Jack, new maid Abby, and Penny from Naval Intelligence manage to outthink a villain named Cal Sandfire who has been making attempts on her life since she was a child. She also encounters Hank Peterwald again and still doesn't know if he's a villain or a dupe.

250. The Silent Witness by Carolyn Arnold (394 p.; 8:49) -- Unrealistic but engaging audiobook thriller. Detective Amanda Steele is called in when two people are found murdered in a home invasion leaving their 6-year=old missing. Amanda finds her in a hassock in the bedroom where her parents died. She's the only witness and Amanda steps in to protect her even though it brings up old memories of the death of her daughter. As Amanda and her partner investigate which leads to other deaths and other attempts to abduct the child, they uncover a conspiracy with roots in the police department.

251. Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews (9:19) -- Entertaining cozy mystery. Wanting some alone time with boyfriend Michael, Meg heads to an isolated island off the coast of Maine where her aunt has a cabin only to find out that her whole family - father, mother, brother, aunt and aunt's friend - are already there and a hurricane is making it impossible for anyone to leave. Then there's a murder and Meg needs to investigate since her father is a prime suspect.

252. Kris Longknife: Defiant by Mike Shepherd (404 p.) -- This episode includes Kris going on a diplomatic mission assigned by King Ray which includes repelling an off planet takeover bid and Kris needing to defend her planet with vastly inferior weaponry when a Peterwald fleet comes to try to conquer her planet. Lots of battles, conniving, patriotism, and losses of friends in this episode.

253. A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 3 by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (368 p.; 15:04) -- Reread. An interesting collection of twelve stories from the Liaden Universe. I enjoyed finding out more about favorite characters and exploring new places in this anthology.

254. When We Met by Susan Mallery (352 p.) -- Taryn and Angel's romance. Nice addition to the Fool's Gold series.

255. Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower (336 p.) -- Review. Historical mystery starring Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa Noble. When Willa's brother dies in an accident at the stable where he works, Emily and Willa begin to investigate. The investigation leads to the Underground Railroad and the issue of slavery in 1855 Massachusetts.

256. A Justified Murder by Jude Deveraux (270 p.; 10:31) -- Second Medlar mystery has Sara, Kate and Jack very reluctantly getting involved in a case where the woman victim was shot, stabbed, and poisoned. As they look into the death, they find that there is a plethora of suspects since the victim was determined to get revenge for even the smallest slight while maintaining the image of a sweet, little old lady.

257. Devouring Darkness by Chloe Neill (336 p.) -- Review. Fourth Heirs of Chicagoland story has a demon finding its way into Chicago and spreading chaos. Since the demon vanished Cadogan House while Elisa's parents, Connor's parents, and Lulu's parents were inside, the younger generation needs to work without their larger knowledge base. They also have a deadline: find the demon and bind it before the full moon (three days) or Cadogan House and all in it are gone for good. There are problems with the Pack with Connor's dad in Cadogan House which Connor needs to deal with too.

258. A Liaden Universe Constellation Volume 4 by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (343 p.; 13:23) -- Mixed bag of Liaden Universe stories from a lot of different place and time periods. My favorite story was Due Diligence which told about Daav's father and how his mother came to pick him.

259. It's News to Me by R. G. Belsky (352 p.) -- Fifth Clare Carlson mystery. TV new director Clare has to deal with a new boss only interested in boosting the station's rating when a beautiful co-ed is murdered. Clare is more interested in finding the killer than boosting the ratings. Lots of suspects including a fiancé, another guy she's dating, mobsters and corrupt cops. However, when a soldier with severe mental issues is arrested, Clare isn't sure and keeps up her investigation. Great story.

260. Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander (320 p.) -- Review. Excellent episode in the Lady Emily historical mystery series. Lady Emily and her family are in Egypt at the invitation of Lord Deeley - a childhood friend of Colin's mother - when Lord Deeley dies of cyanide poisoning at the welcome dinner. His eccentric collection of house guests are all suspects that Lady Emily and Colin investigate as evidence is found that makes each of them look guilty. There is also a story from Ancient Egypt about a woman sculptor who makes grave goods and who is being harassed. Excellent story. Great characters.

261. Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne (336 p.) -- Review. Entertaining YA mystery which star Cecelia Ellis, newly moved to a small town to live with her grandmother who is a famous mystery author after the death of her mother. When one of her new friends is murdered in the same way a murder was done 52 years earlier, Cecelia decides to investigate. At first her purpose is to be doing something so that she can get her mind off her mother's death. There are lots of suspects, lots of clues, and a fair amount of danger for this intrepid teen and her new friends.

262. The Forever Farmhouse by Lee Tobin McClain (384 p.) -- Review. Nice clean second chance romance. Ryan was a foster kid on Teaberry Island. Mellie was the girl next door. They had a brief teenage romance before he went off to college and success as a scientist. Mellie stayed home, had his baby, and runs the local grocery store. When he comes back to take care of his now-widowed foster mother, secrets come out and love grows again but not without a lot of emotional scenes.

263. Desperation in Death by J. D. Robb (361 p.) -- Eve is reminded of her past when she discovers a young girl's body which leads to a sex trafficking ring. Great police procedural that was filled with emotions. Loved the way Roarke and Mira were there to support Eve.

264. Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty (464 p.) -- Review. Science fiction mystery with great worldbuilding and interesting characters. Mallory is a murder magnet. People around her are murdered frequently. She flees to the sentient Station Eternity where she is one of only 3 humans to stop the murders. However, the station is opening itself to more humans and Mallory is afraid that the murders will follow. Looks like she's right too. The station's symbiont is killed and the shuttle is attacked leaving few survivors many of whom have connections to her and her human friend Xan.

265. The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd (397 p.) -- Fascinating story about a map and what it leads to. Nell Young is estranged from her father because of a seemingly worthless roadmap. When he's found dead at his desk with the roadmap in a secret drawer of his desk, Nell becomes determined to find out why that map is so important. Her search leads to secrets of her own past and an obsessive killer.

266. Treachery on Tenth Street by Kate Belli (336 p.) -- Review. New York 1898. Socialite turned investigative reporter Genevieve Stewart looks into the murders of some artist's models. Great story. Interesting setting and characters.

267. The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal (368 p.) -- Review. SF Mystery. Inventor and heiress Tesla Crane and her new husband Shal are on a honeymoon trip to Mars when they get involved in a series of murders. Great worldbuilding, great characters, and great writing.

268. A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril (304 p.) -- Review. Alex and her twin Hanna own a bookstore/chocolate store in a small town in Montana. When Alex's friend Jane is murdered, Alex needs to find the killer before the sheriff decides she's the murderer. Lots of great scenery, suspicious people, and a complex heroine made this one fun.

269. Blind Faith by Alicia Beckman (336 p.) -- Review. Extremely engaging mystery told from multiple viewpoints and in a variety of time periods. It is centered around the murder of Father Mike Leary in 1995. Now (2016) Detective Brian Donovan wants to look into this cold case in his new job in Billings but there are no new leads. Then Lindsay Keller, real estate lawyer, brings in Father Leary's wallet which was discovered in a house one of her clients is moving and rehabbing. Keller is a Billings native who knew and liked Father Leary. Great characters and well-written plot.

270. Canter with a Killer by Amber Camp (304 p.) -- Review. Mallory Martin has left her unfulfilling marriage to start a horse rescue in her hometown when she is accused of murdering her next door neighbor who owns a fancy horse breeding operation. She investigates and finds a number of other suspects who all seem to have unbreakable alibis. I enjoyed this story. Mallory was an entertaining character even though she had tunnel vision about suspects.

271. Under a Veiled Moon by Karen Odden (336 p.) -- Review. London 1878. Inspector Michael Corrovan has to deal with a major river disaster which kills over 600 and might have been caused by Irish Nationalists. Being Irish himself, he needs to be careful to be seen as not favoring the Irish. He also has to deal with a young foster brother who is getting caught between warfare between two rival Irish gangs. Fascinating characters and a great portrait of the politics and concerns of the time.

272. Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews (304 p.) -- Review. 32nd Meg Langslow mystery. Meg finds she has unexpected house guests in the days before Christmas. Computer programmers and their obnoxious boss are working with Robb's company. When the boss is murdered with a hocky stick, Meg has lots of potential suspects. The company has lots of dissatisfied clients and Meg finds herself in the middle of sorting things out.

273. Changeling by Molly Harper (278 p.; 8:21) -- YA coming of age story. Young Sarah Smith is a Snipe, a non-magical servant, until she develops magic and is renamed and sent to a school to teach her about her magic. She makes friends and enemies and even attracts a boy or two. Lots of action and adventure and entertaining worldbuilding. Great narration.

274. The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (432 p.) -- Review. London 1862. Captain Jasper Blunt is looking for an heiress to help him restore his newly inherited property and care for his three bastard children. Julia Wychwood is an heiress who suffers from extreme social anxiety and is plagued by voluntarily invalid parents who want to keep her near them so that she will remain at their beck and call. After they call in their doctor to bleed her too many times, Jasper rescues her, marries her, and takes her home to Yorkshire. However, he's keeping a number of secrets from her that could ruin their new relationship. Nice romance with accurate historical details.

275. Santa's Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt (304 p.) -- Review. When one of Andy's favorite volunteers, Ex-lawyer Chris Myers, is accused of murder, Andy puts the holiday events aside to help him. I enjoyed Andy's snarky and sarcastic voice as he tells the story from his viewpoint. Many of his usual colleagues were involved in this case too. Nice entertaining mystery.

276. Kris Longknife: Resolute by Mike Shepherd (352 p.) -- This time Kris is put in charge of a Naval District orbiting Chance. She finds the station empty when she arrives with Jack, Penny, Abby, and Chief Beni. Her computer Nelly wants to go exploring using ancient maps. They do and discover two worlds with alien artifacts. When they get back, the find that Hank Peterwald has arrived with a fleet to add Chance to his father's empire. It is up to Kris and the people of Chance to thwart Peterwald's plans. I enjoyed this story a lot.

277. Kris Longknife: Audacious by Mike Shepherd (352 p.) --Kris visits New Eden and stops a Peterwald attempt to foment a revolution and take over the planet.

278. Bone Deep by Kendra Elliot (100 p.) -- 9th Widow's Island novella stars Henry and Cate. Henry is kidnapped for his medical knowledge and Cate needs to find him. His kidnappers are brothers who are bank robbers and who have no intention of letting him live whether or not he saves the youngest's life. Cate, the FBI, and sheriff's department have to figure out who the kidnappers are and where they have taken Henry.

279. Muzzled by David Rosenfelt (267 p.) -- Helping a fellow dog lover leads Andy into a run-in with the Russian mob, American mobsters, and ruthless drug developers. It is filled with Andy's usual snark and sarcasm. I also liked the way Andy and his investigators uncover this conspiracy.

280. Fledgling by Molly Harper (256 p.; 7:42) -- Second book in a magical coming of age story has Sarah rescuing fellow changelings and meeting an old villain again. I liked the world building and the friendship between Sarah and her school friends. I also liked the growing romance with Gavin.

281. Sierra's Homecoming by Linda Lael Miller (241 p.) -- Sierra is coming home to a family she didn't know she had because her 7-year-old son Liam as asthma and needs medical attention. While trying to get to know the mother she thinks abandoned her, she is also building a relationship with Travis Reid who has his own reasons for being on McKettrick land. This story is woven with another that takes place in 1919 and tells about another McKettrick woman with a sick son and a new relationship.

282. Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin (336 p.) -- Review. Romantic suspense starring lawyer Ava Burch and Sheriff's deputy Grant Wycoff. She does SAR with Huck, the dog she inherited from her father after his death. When she spots and photographs an abandoned campsite, Grant finally has a clue to help with the cold case of a young woman's disappearance. Three young women have disappeared or died suspiciously over the last few years. Ava's investigations put her in danger. Nice romance too.

283. Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingoes by Donna Andrews (8:01) -- Third Meg Langslow mystery has her and Michael at a craft fair and battle reenactment of the final battle of the Revolutionary War. Michael's mother is in charge and putting everyone's back up with her demands for authenticity and lack of anachronisms. When a body is found in the back of Meg's stall with a knife she made in his back, Meg needs to solve the murder to keep her friends out of jail when the new deputy seems too focused on them.

284. Archangel's Resurrection by Nalini Singh (400 p.) -- Review. Archangel Alexander and Archangel Zanaya's romance is the stuff of legends. This tells their story from their childhoods to the present from epic highs to epic break-ups.