A Crazy Little Thing Called Death

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A Crazy Little Thing Called Death (Blackbird Mystery #6)

Nancy Martin

NAL Hardcover: 2007, 288 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Socialite turned social columnist Nora Blackbird is the one making headlines as she's engaged to Michael Abruzzo, son of a notorious New Jersey mob boss.  Nora tries to avoid wedding planning with her ridiculous older sister Libby, while also trying to figure out the mysterious disappearance and possible death of ex-movie star Penny Devine.  And as per usual, her boyfriend/fiancé seems to be dealing in something unwise and secretive and Nora is really starting to wonder whether the relationship will work or if the naysayers are right: are they too different to be together?

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern

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The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern

Lillian Jackson Braun

Recorded Books: 2001, 5 hours

Narrated by George Guidall

Originally published in 1967, 224 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

This is the second book in Lillian Jackson Braun's mystery series starring journalist Jim Qwilleran and his enigmatic Siamese cat, Koko.  Qwilleran has just been assigned to write a new weekly magazine for The Daily Fluxion called Gracious Abodes, a magazine that focuses on interior decorating.  Not exactly thrilled with his new assignment, Qwilleran goes with it and dives deep into the world of interior decorating.  However, the day after the first issue is published, the house that was featured is robbed and the wife of the owner dies of a heart attack.  Suspicious, Qwilleran investigates and is not surprised to find that his clever cat, Koko, is right there to help him find several key clues.  George Guidall does an excellent job narrating the book and his attempts at female characters are entertaining and amusing.  A bit slow at times, readers can't help but sit and listen in order to find out the answer to the big question: whodunit?

Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too

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Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #5)

Nancy Martin

Signet: 2006, 304 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Philadelphia socialite turned columnist Nora Blackbird is a bit overwhelmed lately.  She's dating Richard, a well respected journalist and decent man, but she still has feelings for Michael, the son of a notorious New Jersey mob boss.  And as usual, she somehow manages to find herself in the middle of a murder involving crass aristocrats, an ambitious politician, and a self-obsessed teenager while also trying to help her friend who's being set up for the crime.  Add a huge personal emergency to the mix and all Nora can do is try to keep her head above water.

Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die

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Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #4)

Nancy Martin

Signet: 2005, 288 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Nora Blackbird, the socialite turned social columnist, is assigned to a fashion show that features a miracle bra.  She's barely able to write her story when she finds her boss, Kitty, dead on her front porch.  It seems that Kitty was shot execution style and bound with panty hose; nothing significant except for the fact that it is also the trademark of the Abruzzo family, a notorious Mob family in New Jersey.  Her lover, Michael Abruzzo, is the number one suspect to the police, even though Nora knows he's innocent.  As usual, it's up to Nora to find the real killer before she joins her boss six feet under!

Some Like It Lethal

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Some Like It Lethal (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #3)

Nancy Martin

Signet: 2004, 320 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Nora Blackbird, socialite turned social columnist, attends a fancy party where the husband of a wealthy but stingy heiress is found dead.  The extra bad news?  Looks like her feisty sister Emma is the number one suspect.  Nora does anything and everything she can to clear her sister's name whilst also trying to figure out how to evade a blackmailer who has his sights on quite a number of Philadelphia's finest citizens.  Readers do not necessarily have to read the other two books in Nancy Martin's series but it definitely would help.

The Nightingale

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The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

St. Martin's Press: 2015, 440 pages

Reviewed by Tori Lyons

Vianne and Isabelle's relationship has not been an easy one since their mother died when they were young girls and their father virtually abandoned them.  When the Nazis invade France, Vianne's husband heads to fight the German forces while she tries to protect their daughter.  The younger, rebellious Isabelle, on the other hand, views Vianne's behavior as complacency and leaves her sister's home to join the Resistance.  Throughout the next few years, each sister faces hardships and horrors that would have been inconceivable before the war.  The Nightingale is a heartbreaking story of the women of war-torn France. 

Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds

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Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #2)

Nancy Martin

Signet: 2003, 272 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Nora Blackbird, socialite turned social column writer, is a little unnerved to find her ex's wife suddenly looking and dressing a lot like her at a party.  She becomes even more unnerved when said wife suddenly commits suicide the very next day.  Was it really suicide?  Could her ex, Flan Cooper, be involved?  And what about the rumors that Laura Cooper was actually quite the clever kleptomaniac who whisked away fabulous jewels from the high and mighty of Philadelphia?  Nora is sure that there's more to the story and she's determined to find out the truth, even if it means putting herself in danger.

When in Doubt, Add Butter

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When in Doubt, Add Butter

Beth Harbison

St. Martin's Press: 2012, 338 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Gemma is thirty-seven and over the dating scene.  She's perfectly happy with her busy life as a personal chef, working with six very different clients.  Lex and a client she calls Mr. Tuesday love comfort food, Willa needs to lose weight but is very skeptical and hates dieting, a Russian family whose patriarch may or may not be a mob boss, a typically wealthy Georgetown family, and the Van Houghtens, a family suffering hungrily because Mrs. Van Houghten claims to be allergic to anything and everything.  Cooking is predictable but that is a comfort to Gemma, whose life is becoming more and more unpredictable.  She's thrown for a major curve and will have to rely on her friends, her strength, and her food to keep her head above water.

How to Murder a Millionaire

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How to Murder a Millionaire (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #1)

Nancy Martin

Signet: 2002, 266 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

The first in her Blackbird Sisters mystery series, How to Murder a Millionaire introduces readers to the Blackbird Sisters: Nora, Libby, and Emma.  The books are narrated by the middle sister, Nora, who considers herself the most normal.  Nora's a little down on her luck, since her parents left the country to avoid jail time for tax evasion and Nora is stuck with the Blackbird estate and $2 million owed in back taxes.  Nora takes her first real job as a society page columnist at a local Philadelphia newspaper.  Her first assignment turns out to be more than she bargained for when she finds the party host - an old family friend - dead.  Determined to find out who killed her friend, Nora plays detective by herself, since her hippie older sister Libby has four kids and a second husband to take care of and younger sister Emma is too busy being the wild child.  Although her new neighbor, the son of a New Jersey mob boss, seems very eager to help Nora out...

The Nightingale

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The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

St. Martin's Press: 2015, 440 pages

Reviewed by Sheryl Walters

In The Nightingale, two sisters learn to survive in war-torn France in the 1930's.  Each takes a different path and struggles to stay alive, while at the same time helping others, as the Germans take over every aspect of their lives.  This story is heart wrenching and contains heroism that makes it worth the read.