Sunday, April 20, 2014

Silence of the Library

 












The Silence of the Library by Miranda James is a wonderful cozy mystery. Diesel Harris who is Charlie's maine coon cat is featured on the cover and helps capture the murderer in the end of the book.

This book is dedicated to three wonderful writers of children's mysteries: Mildred Wirt Benson, Margaret Sutton, and Julie Campbell Tatham.  I was lucky to meet the first two of the three authors as I have a collection of Nancy Drew and Judy Bolton books.  I love the fact that Mr. James created his own children's story character and story for this tome.

For National Library Week, the Athena Public Library planned to exhibit of children's series boosk and decided to feature the creator of Veronica Thane series, Electra Barnes Cartwright.   Charlie's aunt had a collection of her books and Charlie was surprised to find that Mrs. Cartwright was still alive.  So, Charlie and Theresa go to visit Mrs. Cartwright and bring Diesel with them. A few days later, Charlie meets Mrs. Carrie Taylor who is the president of the EBC (Electra Barnes Cartwright) fan club.  She is later murdered.

The Mystery at Spellwood Mansion by "Mrs. Cartwright (Miranda (Dean) James is being read by Charlie throughout the book.  Charlie finds out who murdered Mrs. Taylor while reading the book.  The whole book is supposed to appear on catinthestacks.com but was not there when I looked.

I have enjoyed reading this series and look forward to reading the next book in the series.  This is one of the few cozies with a male lead and a male writer who uses a pen name.  It would be a good book to use to introduce men to the world of cozy mysteries.


Friday, April 4, 2014

Their Instant Baby

 

Their Instant Baby is the 4th book in The Deveraux Legacy. I don't remember if I read any of the other books by Cathy Gillen Thacker.  This book does work as a stand-alone.

Amy Deverauz and Nick Everton are asked by his sister Lola to be baby sitters for her son, Dexter while she flies to Germany to be with her career-military husband who was injured on a Special Forces Mission and flown to Germany for surgery.  Lola signs document which will make them guardians of Dexter if anything happens to her and her husband and dictating his care while she is away.

Lola knows her brother does not want to marry but she tells Amy that she is the one woman who could change his mind.  This book tells about how they get along and about Amy's decorating business.  Nick is a producer who meets Lala's actress mother and offers her a job.  He asks Lola to decorate his office for him.  The problem is she gets too lose for his comfort and he tells her that he does not like it.

We learn why he does not want to marry and get a short peak at what happens to them in the futre.

I liked reading this book and would read others by the author if and when I find them.