KASSANDRA LAMB

Exploring the Mysteries of the Mind

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Winter Rad Reads 2023

January 7, 2023 / / 0 Comments

This is the perfect time of year to pour yourself a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and curl up with one or more of these Rad Reads!

(Since several books I’ve read lately I did not consider worthy of recommending, I’m going back to some earlier reads for the first of the reviews below.)

A Dash of Murder, A Pecan Bayou Mystery, #1, by Teresa Trent ~ 99¢

I read this book 9 years ago and have since read the entire series. I enjoyed them very much, especially the characters—just quirky enough to be interesting but still believable. Betsy Livingston is “The Happy Hinter,” a columnist for the local newspaper, and an amateur sleuth (much to the chagrin of her police lieutenant father).

In this short but fun first installment in the series, Betsy’s Aunt Maggie drags her along on a ghost hunting tour of a local abandoned hospital. And Betsy’s sleuthing avocation is launched when she stumbles on a “fresh spirit,” i.e. a corpse.

Aunt Maggie is a hoot and I also love the portrayal of Maggie’s son, a young man with Downs’ Syndrome. The author develops the characters and the setting, a small town in Texas, with just the right amount of detail to bring them to life, but without slowing down the story.

I give A Dash of Murder, and the whole series, 4 ½ fingerprints.

Louisiana Longshot, A Miss Fortune Mystery #1 by Jana DeLeon, FREE

First, let me say that I totally enjoyed this book, once I got past what the main character did for a living. Then a bit later on, I hit a couple of other bumps. More on that in a moment.

I was a bit taken aback when the MC of a mystery billed as a cozy is a CIA assassin…doesn’t quite fit with the normal cozy tropes. But the book has thousands of ratings and a 4.5 star average, so I forged ahead.

The story is great and the characters and town are well developed. I particularly got a kick out of the Geritol Mafia, several little old ladies who look so sweet, but they have pasts, and skills, that give even a CIA operative pause.

And of course there’s a sexy sheriff, with whom the MC locks horns over her and the little old ladies poking their noses into his investigation.

But again, I was a bit jarred when I encountered the first cuss word (there were several), and things got a bit gory toward the end.

Not that I personally object to any of that, but it breaks several rules regarding cozies. For that reason, I’m only giving Louisiana Longshot 4 fingerprints. Without those jarring moments, it would’ve gotten 4 ½ or maybe even 5. But now that I know what to expect, I probably will read more in this series.

Midnight at Malabar House, A Malabar House Mystery, #1, by Vaseem Khan ~ $4.99 (and I think it’s worth it)

I don’t read as much historical fiction as I once did, but when I do, I expect to be educated, in a pleasant way, about the location and era where and when the story is set. Vaseem Khan does not disappoint.

I loved learning about the intricacies of India’s politics and society as the infant country begins its first full decade of independence from Great Britain, in 1950.

And the author’s premise is intriguing. The main character is Persis Wadia, the country’s first female police detective. When she is handed a sensitive, and sensational, case—the murder of a British diplomat—she must not only sort out a complicated crime, but also overcome the prejudices of others, including some of her fellow officers.

The info about India’s history, culture and social structure was seamlessly woven into the storyline, as we follow Persis on the twisted trail that eventually leads to the killer. She is helped along the way by a British criminalist, Archie Blackfinch.

My complaints about this story are minor. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and sometimes not a lot distinguishing them from one another. I had a little trouble relating to Archie. My impression was more bumbling sidekick, but then later in the story there are hints of something else…I won’t say more for fear of spoilers. But I found myself scratching my head, thinking, “Why did that go in that direction?”

I could certainly relate to Persis though, and her struggles to be accepted and respected in a male-dominated world. But I would’ve liked to know more about her motivation for becoming a police officer; that part of her back story was not nearly as well developed as her family background was.

But despite these minor drawbacks, this was a very satisfying story. I give Midnight at Malabar House 4 ½ fingerprints.

That’s it for this time around. Happy reading!!

 

 

 

 

 

Rad Reads for Early Spring

February 28, 2022 / / 0 Comments

You may think I’m jumping the gun here, calling it Spring, but I live in northern Florida, so our spring has actually started. We have truly beautiful weather for about 2 months; then it gets stinking hot (for 6 months)!

Okay, on to the book reviews in a moment, but first I wanted to give you all a heads up. I have Fatal Forty-Eight on Sale this week for just 99 cents, and I’ll have more bargains to tell you about this weekend.

So stay tuned!

Now for the rad reads…

Murder at the Marina, A Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery, Book 1, by Ellen Jacobson – Free

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this book. Let me start with the positives.

Mollie McGhie is hoping for diamonds for her wedding anniversary. Instead her hubs, Scooter, buys her a fixer-upper sailboat. This premise definitely caught my attention, since I was raised in a family of boaters. I spent many a weekend, as a preteen and teenager, hanging out at marinas.

And what married woman hasn’t gotten at least one disastrous present from her husband? (Like the ugly yellow robe mine bought me for Christmas one year.) Mollie’s internal reaction to the boat and her attempts to get her hubs to sell it add humor to the story.

Also, the mystery itself is very well crafted, and the book is well-written. (Only a few typos and one small inconsistency, which is in the subplot).

I did not suspect the person who ended up being the killer, and yet my first thought was that it made perfect sense. That’s the way it should be in a good mystery!

The mystery was what kept me reading, even though I was having trouble relating to this couple. And I struggled to pin down why that was. I’m a fairly visual person (as are 65% of the American population) and I just couldn’t visualize this couple.

So I went back and re-read the first two chapters. There are physical details about these two, and they are very artfully woven into the narrative of the story. So why did I have no internal image of them?

I realized it was because I couldn’t figure out how old they were. They’ve been married ten years, and there’s no mention of previous marriages. Yet, Scooter is “retired,” but only because his business partners forced him to sell out to them, and he made enough from the sale to live independently.

Most of the folks they hang out with at the marina are middle aged or older. But I had trouble visualizing a man called Scooter as middle aged.

Another factor in the “having trouble relating” category was the subplot of Molly competing for an investigative reporter position—at an online publication about alien abductions. Molly is even convinced that one of the women at the marina was a victim of such abductions, but that remains an aside and isn’t really developed.

I think maybe the author worked a little too hard to make the main characters quirky. But there are plenty of other more realistic yet quirky folks at the marina, including a Japanese bobtail cat that adopts Mollie—although she thinks it’s the other way around.

And having said all that, I’ve downloaded Book 2 in the series and plan to read it soon. There are 7 books total, so far—a nice satisfying number for those of us who like to get to know characters and visit them periodically, like old friends.

And the other books are reasonably priced.

I give this story 4 fingerprints!

 

Here Comes the Witch, A Main Street Witches Cozy, Book 1, by Ani Gonzalez – 99 cents (Free through KU)

When I started this book, I thought that I wasn’t going to like it. First, there was the cover. While lovely, I felt it implied a cutesy type of witch cozy, which isn’t usually my cup of tea.

Then there was the premise, which seemed a little over the top. Kat Ramos, a Manhattan jewelry designer, is looking for capital to start her own store when she agrees to an odd proposal. Liam Hagen has renovated his family’s ancestral home (which happens to be cursed) and he wants to sell it, but first he needs to break the curse, by marrying a descendant of the witch who cursed it in the first place.

That descendant is Kat, who agrees to a sham marriage followed by a quick divorce.

She thinks she’s entered the Twilight Zone when she arrives in Liam’s hometown of Banshee Creek. The whole town is haunted and is proud of it. They even have their own ghost-hunting group, which does a booming business.

I like my paranormal in small doses that are at least somewhat realistic, i.e., it could happen, maybe… This story seemed to be heaping the paranormal on.

But I do like a good ghost story. So I kept reading.

I’m so glad I did! The story is well written and the mystery around the ghost and the curse is intriguing, with some very nice twists and turns.

And I kinda fell in love with Kat and Liam as they (slight spoiler alert) are falling in love with each other.

Plus this series is very reasonably priced.

The author just released Book 7, a Valentine book with a wedding! And it is only $0.99, at the moment.

Four fingerprints for Here Comes the Witch.

The First Time I Died, A Garnet McGee Mystery, Book 1, by Jo Macgregor — $4.99 (and worth it)

This is one of the best written books I’ve read in a long time (excluding misterio press authors, of course 🙂 ) And the story concept is quite original, a new twist on the protagonist going home to find closure for old unresolved issues.

Graduate student Garnett McGee goes to her hometown for Christmas, and finds herself drawn into trying to solve the ten-year-old murder of her high school sweetheart. But after a near-death experience, she finds herself thinking thoughts and feeling feelings that are not her own, and having flashbacks to experiences she never had.

When she was brought back to life by the paramedics, apparently she didn’t come back alone.

This story is poignant at times, suspenseful at other times, and engaging throughout.

And kudos to Ms. Macgregor and her publisher for a practically flawless technical presentation. No typos, no grammatical errors. Quite refreshing.

I have read Book 2, and am looking forward to Book 3, which I have on my kindle but haven’t yet read. I’m saving it for a special occasion.

Five fingerprints for The First Time I Died.

That’s it for this time, Folks. Happy reading!!

Kass Lamb

Rad Reads for Winter

January 18, 2022 / / 0 Comments

It’s that time of year when you just want to curl up near the fireplace, with a hot drink in one hand and a good book in the other.

For the hot drink, I recommend hot chocolate (dark; it’s good for you), with whipped cream.

For the book, here are a few suggestions!

Once Upon a Crime, A Waterfell Tweed Mystery #1, by Mona Marple – FREE this week ( normally a reasonable $2.99 to buy, or Free on KU)

If you like British village mysteries, this series is for you! Sandy Shaw is the village’s primary baker and bookseller, until the man who had just announced he’s going to open a rival bookstore turns up dead. Then she becomes the primary suspect.

This is a fun read, with a well-plotted mystery and a final twist I did not see coming. I give Once Upon a Crime 4 ½ fingerprints. I’ve deducted a half fingerprint because there are some typos. Not enough to be all that distracting, but I’m one of those people for whom typos jump off the page, so I did notice them.

Bound, The Witches of Doyle Cozy Mysteries #1, by Kirsten Weiss – FREE

Being a part of misterio press’s group of authors has certainly broadened my reading horizons. I had never cared much for paranormal stories, but Kirsten Weiss is such a pro at writing them that she has won me over.

Bound is Book 1 in a 10-book series about triplets who happen to be witches—the good kind. Each of the Bonheim sisters has their own type of magic, and Karin—the oldest of the three by a few minutes—senses the threads that tie things together.

But there’s something off about their hometown of Doyle—hikers disappear in the woods and some people seem cursed with bad luck—plus Karin discovers that she’s destined to become the next victim of a family curse. In order to survive, she must solve a murder and the mystery behind what has cursed her town and herself.

In Bound, and the rest of the series, the magic is believable (yes, I realize that is somewhat a contradiction in terms), the plots are twisty and the characters well-developed. I give Bound an enthusiastic 5 fingerprints.

Maids of Misfortune, A Victorian San Francisco Mystery #1, by M. Louisa Locke – FREE

Another subgenre I’ve learned to appreciate more through misterio press is historical mystery.  And M. Louisa Locke is a master storyteller.

In 1879, young widow Annie Fuller secretly supplements her income as a boardinghouse owner by giving domestic and business advice as Madam Sibyl, one of San Francisco’s most exclusive clairvoyants.

But when one of her clients dies—the police assume at his own hand—Annie suspects murder. Enter the victim’s lawyer, Nate Dawson, and sparks fly.

This series is full of great mysteries, seasoned with a sweet romance. And one of the things I like best about it is that each book highlights some social issue of the times; in this one it is the plight of housemaids in the 19th century.

Also, Locke’s books are meticulously written and proofread. I don’t recall finding a single error in any of them. So Maids of Misfortune and the entire series has earned 5 fingerprints in my book!

That’s it for this month’s suggestions. Enjoy these winter reads!

 

 

 

 

 

Delicious Deals and Rad Reads ~ Caturday Edition

August 14, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The August edition of my new book review feature is great for foodies and cat lovers! Two out of three of this month’s books involve food, and they all have a cat in them.

Up first, another fantastic first-in-series by PD Workman, who is now very near the top of my favorite authors list. Boy, can this woman write!!

Gluten-Free Murder, An Auntie Clem’s Bakery Mystery #1, by PD Workman – FREE

All too often characters in cozies seem a tad two-dimensional. I mean, they’re usually interesting and relatable, but maybe not completely fleshed out.

Not so with Erin Price. She has come to the small town of Bald Eagle Falls to turn her late aunt’s tea shop into a gluten-free bakery. But things go south on opening day when her rival, the owner of the only other bakery in town, dies after eating one of Erin’s muffins.

Workman seamlessly weaves Erin’s back story as a foster child into the first few chapters until you feel like you’ve known her for years and are right there with her as she drags herself out of bed each morning to bake and then searches for clues in the afternoons.

She is soon joined in these endeavors by a young woman named Vic and a stray tabby kitten, both of whom worm their way into Erin’s heart.

This book ticks all the boxes for a cozy—small town setting, determined amateur sleuth with an interesting/somewhat different vocation, a cute animal, a human sidekick, and a police officer whom said sleuth isn’t sure is friend or foe.

But despite it being a cozy, the author isn’t afraid to tackle real-life issues and her climax scene will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

A wholehearted five fingerprints for Gluten-Free Murder. Now I have to hurry up and read the other 15 books in the series, including her newest release Hot On the Trail Mix.

And PD Workman has three new releases in the Reg Rawlins Psychic Investigations series:
Skunk Man Swamp  and Magic Ain’t A Game came out in June and July, and Without Foresight will release on August 20.

Next up, a culinary cozy series with a twist—a main character who can’t cook!

One Taste Too Many, A Sarah Blair Mystery – by award-winning author, Debra H. Goldstein ~ Free for Kindle Unlimited, Only $1.99 to buy on Amazon; $6.99 Elsewhere

Sarah Blair can’t cook. But her twin sister is a gourmet chef, and Sarah is determined to help her when she’s accused of poisoning someone with her rhubarb crisp. Especially since the victim is Sarah’s ex-husband.

This is a fun story, with well-developed characters, tight writing and clear descriptions of settings that don’t slow down the pace. I could easily picture the large conference hall, with its many booths, and the stage where the cooking competition is held.

Oh, and did I mention there’s a cat? A feisty Siamese named RahRah, who becomes the focus of a custody battle.

I give this first-in-series four and a half fingerprints. The next book in the series is already waiting for me on my kindle, with two more after that, including the newly released Four Cuts Too Many.

And last but not least… You’ve heard of “sweet” romance, well this next story is a sweet mystery.

Fish Out of Water, A Seaside Bookshop Mystery #1 – by Emily Selby – FREE in Kindle Unlimited; $2.99 to buy

The main character of this series, Amelia Barry, is obviously intelligent; after all she’s an IT security consultant back in London. But she’s taken a break from that job, at her boss’s suggestion, after running amok in her communications with clients. She’s come to Leah-by-the Sea to visit her godmother who’s just bought an old bookshop there.

But she finds the house and bookshop empty, and a stray cat leads her to a corpse on the beach. Having not seen her godmother in many years, she worries that the dead woman might be her.

Although the author doesn’t say it in so many words, it quickly becomes apparent to the reader that Amelia is on the autism spectrum. She takes things literally, misses social cues, becomes easily overwhelmed, and doesn’t like to be touched.

I found her endearing, as does the local constable (who has a cute dimple when he smiles) and his talkative mother, Mrs. Webb, the B&B owner who takes Amelia in until things can “get sorted.”

There are plenty of interesting twists as Amelia and the constable sift through clues, often with the unwanted “help” of Mrs. Webb.

These delightful characters made this a fun read, and I’ve already downloaded the next book in the series, also reasonably priced at $2.99. Plus, her newest release in the series, Not the Only Pebble on the Beach, was $0.99 last time I checked. Grab it quick; it won’t stay that low.

I would love to give this book 5 fingerprints, but I am deducting one because it has a few too many errors. Not a huge number, but I’m one of those people for whom typos jump off the page. Also, it is formatted in a somewhat unusual way, with block paragraphs and spaces between. This was distracting at first, but I eventually got used to it.

Stay tuned! In September, I’ll be reviewing the delightful first-in-series, Undertaking Irene, by Pamela Burford.

 

Contest Winner!

May 25, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Drumroll please!! The winner of my contest is Linda Kish. Congrats, Linda!!!

Please email me at lambkassandra3@gmail.com to claim your prize. I will need your snail mail address and the name and inscription you want on the signed paperbacks. Thanks!!

Everyone else, stay tuned! I will be doing more contests, about every 4-6 weeks through the summer.

 

 

Contest!! Win some cool swag and signed paperbacks

May 12, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Hey folks, I’ve got a contest running through 5/20. Jump on over to that page and enter to win these swag goodies and signed paperbacks.

The contest page is password-protected because this contest is just for my true readers. The Password is KATE.

Good luck!
https://kassandralamb.com/giveaway/

Prizes include a cute mug with a flow chart to decide if you need a new book (of course, you do!) and an 8gb flash drive.

Contest ends 5/21/18 — Winner will be announced 5/25/18!!

Suicidal Suspicions Cover Reveal (you can preorder on Amazon, Kobo or Apple…and finally Barnes & Noble)

September 1, 2015 / / 47 Comments

FINALLY!! Suicidal Suspicions, Book 8 in the Kate Huntington Mysteries is done!!

It’s now available for preorder on Amazon, Kobo and Apple (links below) and will be available elsewhere soon. Release day is Oct. 27th!!!

Melinda  VanLone of Book Cover Corner has produced another great cover. Tada!!

SuicidalSuspicions FINAL

SUICIDAL SUSPICIONS, A Kate Huntington Mystery, #8

Psychotherapist Kate Huntington is rocked to the core when one of her clients commits suicide. How can this be? The woman, who suffered from bipolar disorder, had been swinging toward a manic state. The client’s family blames Kate and they’re threatening to sue for malpractice. She can’t fault them since she blames herself. How could she have missed the signs?

Searching for answers for herself and the grieving parents, Kate discovers some details that don’t quite fit. Is it possible the client didn’t take her own life, or is that just wishful thinking? Questioning her professional judgement, and at times her own sanity, she feels compelled to investigate. What she finds stirs up her old ambivalence about the Catholic Church. Is her client’s death somehow related to her childhood parish?

When she senses that someone is following her, she wonders if she is truly losing it. Or is she getting dangerously close to someone’s secrets?

BUY LINKS to preorder:   AMAZON US   AMAZON UK   AMAZON CA   AMAZON AUS   AMAZON DE

KOBO    APPLE   BARNES & NOBLE

 

SORRY, ALL THE ARCs ARE GONE!! 🙁

AND I have 10 Advanced Review Copies I’m giving away, to the first ten people who comment below (be sure to leave your email address). All I ask is that you write an honest review and post it on at least one major e-retailer on or soon after release day (Oct 27th).

Official Launch of Zero Hero and A Contest!

December 11, 2013 / / 2 Comments

Finally launch day has arrived!

ZERO HERO is a reality and now available for purchase as an e-book (paperback coming soon).

To celebrate, I’m holding a little contest, now through December 21st. First prize is a 9/11 commemorative charm necklace (silver-plated; 9/11 image can be removed and necklace can be used as a locket to hold any treasured photo). Both winners also get a free e-book copy of Multiple Motives, Book 1 in the series.

(Why am I giving away Multiple Motives instead of Zero Hero? Because I’m hoping you will buy Zero Hero to get this story off to a great start! It’s just $1.99 through the 21st. Price goes up to $3.99 after that.)

 silver-plated 9/11 charm necklace

Second prize is a 10th anniversary tote bag (and again an e-copy of Multiple Motives).

Why is the 10th anniversary important? Because that’s when Pete Jamieson’s troubles begin.

9/11 10th anniv ersary totebag

 

cover of Zero Hero

On the 10th anniversary of 9/11 the media replays the videos of that day’s devastation, and a national hero’s life begins to unravel.

When the first responder, already struggling with delayed PTSD and addiction, is accused of murdering his former drug dealer, psychotherapist Kate Huntington finds herself going above and beyond to help him. As she and her P.I. husband set out to clear him of the charges, they are thrust into a deadly world of drugs, prostitutes and hired killers, and end up questioning who they are and what it means to be brave.

Low introductory price of $1.99 (through 12/21)

Available at AMAZON , BARNES & NOBLE and KOBO.  Coming soon to iBooks.

 

Don’t forget to enter the contest below. Up to 13 possible entries per person (3 initial entries, plus tweet about the giveaway each day of the contest and you get another entry per tweet). Contest starts at midnight, 12/11, EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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