Elle Hartford

A fast-paced and imaginative new take on Holmes and other familiar faces!

There was one sad and unnecessary event, I thought, which I'll put at the very bottom because it is a spoiler.

Aside from that, the magic did take some learning, as it's deeply embedded into the world. However, I adored the concept of the beasts (and want to know what the others are!) and I liked how everything came together. My absolute favorite storyline was Mycroft's, which was a nice change from usual depictions of him.

I will say that for the first few chapters I felt like I was reading book 3 in a series, not book 1. But by the end, I was definitely interested in any sequels that might come along. :)

The [SPOILER] I mentioned earlier . . . the dog dies. :( Really not necessary, I thought, and it took me out of the story. But then, I am very soft-hearted. And I did very much enjoy that the dog (and other side characters) was there at all, because he's a reference to one of the short stories (if I remember my names right!).

I loved the painting business and family dynamics here! The mystery itself wasn't super satisfying–it did wrap up well, but we don't learn some of the key evidence until the final confrontation, so there wasn't a lot to theorize on as a reader during the investigation. That said, though, the characters were interesting and the community definitely had a cozy feel!

A very compelling mystery, diving into the world of “fakeup” and furthering the development of Alara's powers and her family history!

I love the way the different elements of the story here intertwined. On its own, each storyline was intriguing–but then the way they come together at the end was very satisfying! It also left me on the edge of my seat thinking about the next book in the series, haha. There's some new characters in the cast who are really rewarding to get to know, and of course it's so sweet seeing how Alara's relationship has grown. <3 In fact, all of Alara's relationships with her friends are very supportive and a joy to read–which is good, because she'll need all that support to tackle this mystery. ;)

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this to cozy/paranormal mystery readers, especially those who love a strong, modern heroine. And if you haven't read the previous books in the series, go do so now! (Technically, you don't have to in order to understand the plot of this one . . . but they're worth going back to read!)

An excellent sequel, even better than the first! We get to find out more about the over-arching mystery of Josie's grandfather, and see her relationships deepen. Plus, I love all the talk of Valentine's treats and pet love! <3

The mystery itself took on a very puzzle-y, almost noir feel at times. It was very intriguing, and Josie's quick deductions kept it moving along. It was very satisfying to unravel the pattern with her and her friends, and of course the conclusion was full of suspense!

Overall, I had a great time diving into this book, and I'm more curious than ever about what the next one has in store. If you like paranormal cozies, vampires, quick banter, and twisty mysteries, definitely check out this series!

I picked this up at a used bookstore and am very glad I did. Perhaps it is due to a coincidence–the author describes himself as a hobbyist, interested in both archaeology and astronomy, and those were my twin passions in college. Because of that, I think, I found this book very natural to follow.

Basically, to me, it came across as one scientist's curiosity about a simple question: how did people in ancient cultures predict eclipses? (He might not have actually said that anywhere, which might be why some other reviewers weren't too pleased, but this was my understanding of how the narrative unfolded.) The author then goes on to examine instances where eclipses and history overlap using some anecdotal evidence, but mostly personal observations of archaeological structures ranging from Stone Henge to canyon dwellings in the US. He himself is not an archaeologist (he is upfront about this) and his research is dated (the book was written decades ago now) but essentially what he is doing is a light, personal form of experimental archaeology. He does not come to an exact conclusion–it wouldn't be possible to, given how much knowledge has been lost–but instead ends by musing on the ways ancient star-gazing and shamanism may have developed into the science we recognize today.

Like I said at the top, this was basically a blend of two of my pet subjects, so I enjoyed it very much–all the while realizing that it's over 30 years old now, and not hard science. ;) I think this book would be of interest to others who have a passing familiarity with archaeoastronomy, or to folks who like musing about ancient religion, or even to those who like experiential/experimental archaeology. It isn't a textbook. However, it is a thought-provoking survey of the early beginnings of a very intriguing field.

This little anthology was written by an Egyptologist known for her work on Tutankhamun. She presents each story with a brief introduction and little line drawings of relevant deities or ancient Egyptian art. While her insights are helpful to understanding the context of each story, it is true that some previous knowledge of Egyptology is beneficial!

Check out my full review here:
https://ellehartford.com/book-review-egyptian-legends/

Overall, I found this book to be extremely inventive and clever. I originally picked it up on a whim as potential inspiration for a short story or new character down the line (I write mystery/fantasy, so survival is relevant, haha)–but I imagine horror or supernatural fans would love it too. And, of course, if you're a masquerading monster of any kind, this book is a must-have (along with my congratulations for having made it this far!).

I picked this up second hand because it is a very nicely made book, I have to say! I found the hardcover edition, and it even has a little ribbon bookmark. But anyway, as far as an actual review goes . . . ;)

I had not read any of the other books in the series, but I found it easy enough to follow along. The strength of the book is definitely its community of characters and calm tone. I spotted a big clue pretty early in the mystery, so I got ahead of the sleuths on that one, but it was fun to spend time with the entire cast!

This was my first Crofts novel, and I was a little skeptical because the introduction reeeeaally talked it up, haha. But to me, it seemed the story lived up to the hype, and it kept me guessing until the end! The alibis are incredibly intricate and the inspector (and other detectives) are very, very thorough.

From what I understand, Crofts went on to write about a single detective; but this book, one of his early ones, reads a little more like The Moonstone or similar works where several characters come together to solve the mystery. My one frustration was with the characterization of the mother and daughter. But, it is, of course, a book of its time.

Overall, this was fascinating, especially as another look at early classic mysteries. Very detail-oriented, but the puzzle is rewarding in the end!

This was such a fun and compelling read!!

Josie's adventures are just getting better and better. If you just picked up the series, you could start here, but it is definitely worth it to check out the earlier books too. Either way, this one was so satisfying because we get to see how Josie's friends have evolved and grown closer–and, of course, how one particular friend becomes closer than ever. ;)

Throughout the book, Josie's investigation is suspenseful and at times laugh-out-loud funny. Josie is gutsy and resourceful, and even though she goes out on a limb often, her risks are always carefully calculated. So, while I was sometimes worried for her, I never felt like she was doing anything ridiculous or silly. Her friends provide awesome support, and the cast of suspects is very intriguing (I especially enjoyed meeting the aunt, haha). There's also a meta-mystery going on through all books in the series so far and we get a big, interesting development toward the end of this story that made me look forward to the next installment all the more!

Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this book to cozy readers, vampire lovers, and anyone who enjoys a creative and absorbing world. I know I will be back for more! :)

A very thoroughly-researched (it even includes pictures) account of the spaces in Holmes' story which Watson was never able to fill in, particularly the beginning of his practice and “the lost years.”

The stories put forward are completely plausible, though the storytelling itself is just a little wandering and slow to start. It definitely feels like sitting together looking through a scrapbook. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but once I realized that, I found it interesting and clever!

I love the thought that went into this. It's basically two of my favorite things–Sherlock Holmes and Cape May, of course! Seeing the little references and background information shine through in the story is a lot of fun. It's a quick read and a sweet homage to both local history and detective fiction.

I didn't read the previous books in the series–I picked this one up in a thrift store on a whim, as usual. ;) That said, I had no trouble following along, though there is a fairly wide network of characters involved. The banter and relationships are lots of fun, and there definitely was a thrilling conclusion!

A satisfying end to the series!

The mystery itself is intriguing, but it's the characters and their relationships that really make this story. Plus, there's some great banter! And I love how animals and books played a part in the plot. ;) Overall, this installment ties together arcs and family from the previous books in a way that is very rewarding to see. It was great to see Alara's power and confidence develop from beginning to end!

This series as a whole is a great one for anyone into psychic or paranormal cozies, with fun and quirky characters on every page!

I can't even. This was adorable!!! I read it in one sitting!!

While the plot itself doesn't have anything to do with ffxiv and you could easily read it without knowing the game/worrying too much about spoilers (aside from a few character developments), it's a pleasure to read if you know ffxiv well and love its NPCs. There are plenty of nods to ffxiv storyline and memorable quotes, and many jokes that made me laugh aloud!

For those who are curious about who shows up: we get to see Alphinaud, Alisaie, G'raha, Estinien, and Krile team up against Zenos, Asahi, and Yotsuyu regularly in a series of classic high school manga scenarios. Y'shtola, Urianger, Thancred, Emet-Selch, and Tataru feature often as teachers. There's also fun sidelines with Ryne and Gaia, Sadu and Magnai, Aymeric, Haurchefant, and Ysayle, Lyse, Edda, moogles, and namazu . . . And other side characters too! And there are some lovely little details (I personally love Urianger as a tarot reader! and Aymeric as class president!).

Basically, if you're the type to buy ffxiv merch or enjoy fanart or crush on NPCs (ahem) or just enjoy alternate universe storylines, you'll probably enjoy this book as much as I did. And I would absolutely love a sequel!

Another delightful chapter in the series!

Brighton's voice is so funny and identifiable. His narration is perfect as the mystery unravels. And it's so rewarding to see the way all his human friends pitch in! The mystery itself had some great twists and a suspenseful conclusion. Plus, we get a little hint of what might be coming up next in the series . . .

I love this series, and absolutely recommend it to cat and cozy lovers alike!

One of my favorite among the Jeeves & Wooster novels, which is saying something! The kid in it is absolutely hilarious. Plus, I love Nobby & Boko, and Jeeves gets to do some fishing! If you've watched the BBC show, you'll recognize parts of the plot from the episode in NY where Bertie's trying to help two business tycoons meet up (I forget the title/season). They adapted the setting and characters a bit though, so the novel feels familiar but fun and new.

Wonderful, as always! If you've seen the BBC series, then the plot will be familiar (I forget which episodes, but I think they did a two-parter following the novel). On Goodreads they make it clear that it's #7 but a lot of the editions out in the world don't necessarily say that; still, Bertie (the narrator) does his best to catch you up with everything that came before if you haven't read the other books & stories.