Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

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Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

Katie Alender

Scholastic Press: 2013, 296 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Colette Iselin is going back to her French roots!  A junior at a private school in Ohio, Colette leaps at the chance to spend nine days in France for a school trip.  But Paris is on alert right now: there's a serial killer targeting the young and beautiful and the killing method of choice is decapitation.  Colette isn't worried until she starts seeing visions of a pale woman in a pink ball gown and large white wig, like Marie Antoinette herself. Colette starts to investigate and teams up with a local French boy since her self-obsessed "friends" don't seem that interested.  Colette learns that her father's family may have been a part of something and now it seems that Colette is also involved and in danger! Can she solve the mystery and keep her head connected to her body before the trip is over?

The Collector

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The Collector

Nora Roberts

Berkley: 2014, 483 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Lila Emerson is a young adult writer and a professional house-sitter.  While on the job at a beautiful high-rise apartment in New York City, Lila witnesses a murder in the apartment across the street.  What seems like a typical murder-suicide turns out to be a convoluted and deadly mess.  Lila partners with Ash Archer, the brother of the alleged murderer, and together they try to sort through the mess that got Ash's brother and his girlfriend killed.  It's a whirlwind of priceless antiques, sudden trips to Italy, and dodging a psychotic assassin.  Throw in a bit of romance and you've got the perfect, if not typical, Nora Roberts novel.

A Little Night Murder

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A Little Night Murder (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #10)

Nancy Martin

NAL Hardcover: 2014, 384 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Nora Blackbird is at a good place in her life: her best friend Lexie is back home from prison and Nora is finally, finally pregnant.  She's still busting the society beat for her column but this time the news comes closer to her.  Next door to Lexie's hideout from the press is the estate of the famous Toodles Tuttle, a Broadway composer.  His widow is putting on a brand new show and everything seems peachy keen except for the dead daughter.  Nora's on the case while also trying to wrangle in her older sister Libby's libido (she's caught between a bug exterminator and a Broadway veteran) in addition to convincing her younger sister Emma to avoid her new and very dangerous beau.  Readers should be aware that this is the last Blackbird Sisters book until further notice from the author.

No Way to Kill a Lady

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No Way to Kill a Lady (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #8)

Nancy Martin

NAL Hardcover: 2012, 320 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Life is a little stressful for Philadelphia socialite turned social columnist Nora Blackbird. Her oldest sister Libby seems to be gunning for tabloid worthy scandals and her younger, wilder sister Emma is pregnant with a baby whose father is a soon-to-be-married man.  Her best friend Lexie is in prison for manslaughter charges and her son-of-an-infamous-mobster boyfriend is under house arrest.  Luckily, or unluckily, there's a murder to solve! The sisters' great aunt Madeleine Blackbird leaves her estate and valuables to the sisters except that there's nothing left in the house except an old, dead body.  Nora won't rest until she figures out what happened at the estate so many years ago.  

Murder Melts in Your Mouth

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Murder Melts in Your Mouth (Blackbird Sisters Mystery #7)

Nancy Martin

NAL Hardcover: 2008, 282 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Philadelphia socialite turned social columnist Nora Blackbird finds herself in a tizzy. Her best friend, noted financial wizard Lexie Paine, is accused of murdering her business partner.  To make matters worse, her parents, the ones who spent the entire Blackbird fortune and stole from friends to escape south of the border, are back.  The Blackbird sisters are all in a panic at their sudden reappearance.  It takes Nora all her patience and amateur P.I. skills to solve this one!

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.

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.

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...

Ripper

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Ripper
Isabel Allende
Harper: 2013/4, 496 pages
Reviewed by Jessie Park

Indiana Jackson is a holistic healer who believes in essential oils and how the planets affect her future.  Amanda Martin is her teenage daughter who is set to go to MIT and spends all her time on Ripper, an online gaming community that focuses on solving crimes.  Over the course of several months, San Francisco experiences several seemingly unrelated murders.  Amanda and her Ripper colleagues, which includes her grandfather Blake, meet online and try to solve the cases, becoming more convinced that they are all done by the same twisted person.  Amanda and Blake have the inside access since her father, Bob Martin, is the homicide police chief.  Things become personal when Indiana is kidnapped and Amanda is dead sure that the kidnapper is the same murderer the Ripper players have been chasing.  It's a race against time as Amanda and the Ripper players try to solve the murders and shed light on the murderer's identity while Bob rallies the police force to find his ex-wife before it's too late.  Adding to the action is Ryan Miller, Indiana's best friend who is also in love with her.  He's a highly skilled ex-Navy SEAL who will stop at nothing to ensure her safety, even if he's the number one suspect in her disappearance.  This is not a light read but it does pick up towards the middle as much of the book goes into the backgrounds of the characters.  There is violence throughout the book but it is not intensely gory.

Anna Dressed in Blood

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Anna Dressed in Blood

Kendare Blake

Tor Teen: 2011, 320 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Cas Lowood is not your average teenager: he's a ghost hunter.  He is constantly traveling with his mother and his ghost-sniffing cat, putting to rest dangerous ghosts who like to kill.  Following a tip, Cas and his troupe head to Canada to find a ghost called Anna Dressed in Blood.  Anna was murdered in 1958 and still wears the dress she was killed in, except that instead of the color white, the dress drips blood red.  While Cas is efficient and has yet to meet a ghost he can't defeat, Anna is different.  She's not known to spare the life of anyone who dares to enter her house but for some reason, she spares Cas's life.  Readers should be aware that there is a hint of explicit language.  There is violence throughout the book.  It is not extremely graphic but enough to make the more squeamish uncomfortable.  There is a sequel titled Girl of Nightmares.  

Blood Orchid

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Blood Orchids (Lei Crime #1)

Toby Neal

Self-Published sold by Amazon Digital Services: 2011, 314 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Blood Orchids is the first of Toby Neal's series that focus on Hawaiian policeman Lei Texeira.  Lei had a very troubled past but is trying to move forward, even if she still has some spells that she'd rather keep on the down low.  On patrol, she and her partner find two murdered teenage girls and she wants in on the investigation, even if she hasn't been promoted to a detective just yet.  Adding to the stress is that fact that she is being stalked.  But working with the lead detective has been pleasant, even with all the chaos around her.  Readers should be aware that certain scenes can be triggers; there is sexual assault (adult and child) and some violence.

The Pericles Commission

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The Pericles Commission (The Athenian Mysteries #1)

Gary Corby

Minotaur Books: 2010, 352 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Nicolaos is the son of a sculptor in Ancient Greece, during the time when democracy is still young and in danger.  The statesman Ephialtes, the father of democracy in Athens, has been murdered and the city is in chaos.  Nico has been given a commission by the young politician Pericles to find out who killed Ephialtes.  Nico works with Diotima, a virgin priestess of Artemis (much to Nico's chagrin) and occasionally with his often annoying younger brother Socrates.  Nico wants to be a politician and sees this commission as his way in but will he even be able to survive the investigation?  This is the first of six mysteries in the series by Gary Corby.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

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The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1)

Alan Bradley

Delacorte Press: 2009, 374 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

Set in the summer of 1950 in a small British town, our protagonist is the very precocious Flavia de Luce, an eleven year old chemistry fanatic.  Living with a reclusive father and two horrid older sisters (although to be honest, Flavia isn't exactly the example of a perfect little sister), life is quiet for Flavia.  Well, it was quiet until a dead bird with a postage stamp fixed to its beak is found on the doorstep, followed by Flavia literally tripping over a dying man in the garden.  It seems that Flavia has stumbled onto a mystery and it takes all her wit and skill to solve the crime that is somehow connected to her father's past.

The Wrath and the Dawn

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The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1)

Renee Ahdieh

G.P. Putnam's Sons: 2015, 388 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

The Wrath and the Dawn is the first in Ahdieh's series that is based off the story of Scheherazade and One Thousand and One Nights.  While the author uses a few stories from the collection, the book does a good job of creating its own unique story.  Khalid is the young Caliph of Khorasan and each night he takes a bride and each morning he has her killed.  Sixteen year old Shahrzad volunteers in order to take revenge for the killing of her best friend.  Slowly, Shahrzad starts to fall in love with the Caliph and realizes that things are not all they seem and wonders what secrets her new husband is trying to hid from her.  The Wrath and the Dawn weaves magic, mystery, romance, and suspense in this wonderful retelling of a classic story.  Readers should be aware that the second book in the series will not be available until May 2016.

Sour Puss

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Sour Puss (Mrs. Murphy #14)

Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown

Bantam Books: 2006, 272 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

As Harry Haristeen dives into the world of viticulture and vineyards, the murder of a well known grape and fungal expert sends the people of Crozet, Virginia, into shock.  The local vineyards are all on alert as more grape-growing related murders pop up.  Add a bit of bioterrorism into the mix and a man from Harry's past and you've got a mystery that's as good as a refreshing glass of Riesling in the summertime.

Cat's Eyewitness

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Cat's Eyewitness (Mrs. Murphy #13)

Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown

Bantam Books: 2006, 319 pages

Reviewed by Jessie Park

At the base of the Virginian Blue Ridge Mountains there seems to be a religious miracle: the statue of the Virgin Mary at the monastic order of Mount Carmel is crying blood.  While Harry Haristeen and her pets Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tee Tucker are all skeptical, no one could have foreseen that the miracle would be followed by murder.  One of the monks is murdered but no one believed it at first, as Brother Thomas was eighty-two at the time of his death.  But with Harry's insistence, the corpse is exhumed to revel a casket weighted down with bags, not a body.  Another murder occurs and Harry keeps wondering: could the two killings be connected?  Does it have to do with the miracle at Mount Carmel?  What is happening with those seemingly benevolent monks?