The Running Bibliophile

The Locked Door by Frieda McFadden opens with surgeon Nora Davis having an old fashioned by herself at the local bar when she reconnects with an ex-boyfriend, who just happens to be the bartender.  But soon after, Nora's patients are turning up dead, and it appears to be a copycat killing.  Who knows her secret? A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of  The Locked Door by Frieda McFadden.  McFadden had become one of my favorite authors, so when my request to read this book was approved, I was absolutely ecstatic.  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Wow!  This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't wait to figure out who was the copycat killer.  I had it narrowed down to two different people, and it ended up not being either of the people I thought it might be.  When the killer was revealed, I was absolutely shocked!   The main character, Nora Davis, was a bit...

A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for giving me an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Christmas Mittens Murder , which is a collection of three novellas written by Lee Hollis , Lynn Cahoon , and Maddie Day .  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. I was excited to be approved to read this book! DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER (HAYLEY POWELL FOOD AND COCKTAILS MYSTERY, #16.5) by LEE HOLLIS This particular novella was a fun read, and I enjoyed reading about Haley Powell and her friends trying to solve the latest mystery, which had me guessing.  It's always great to revisit characters that are so likable.  I haven't read a lot of books in this series, but overall, I have come to enjoy the storylines a lot, and this novella did not disappoint.  It's becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I need to find more time to read more by this author.  Four out of five stars. TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS (KITCHEN WITCH MYSTERIES, #4.5) by L...

Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen is about a teenager named Valdez Jones VIII, who goes by the name of Wrecker due to his heritage . . . many of his great grandfathers salvaged shipwrecks.  When Wrecker comes across a speedboat stuck on a sand flat, the men onboard pay him to keep silent about what he saw.  He's happy to oblige, but then, Wrecker keeps seeing the men all over Key West, and now, they want more than his silence. A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen.  Having heard a lot of good things about this author, I was thrilled to be approved to receive a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review and was not disappointed in the least. Although this book written for middle grade children, it seems more mature for lack of a better word.  I would have thought the target audience was young adults.  Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything that isn't appropriate for kids, it just seemed to be wr...

Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys (Mrs. Claus, #4) by Liz Ireland is the fourth book in the Mrs. Claus book series and is about a turkey that was ordered for Mrs. Claus by the elves that work for her and her husband Nick, also known as Santa Claus, for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday that Mrs. Claus has introduced to Santaland.  Chaos breaks out when the turkey has been kidnapped and Nick's cousin has been murdered. I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys (Mrs. Claus, #4) by Liz Ireland.  When my request to read this book was approved, I was happy to receive this novel for free in exchange for my honest review. My first foray into this series was a novella that was a part of collected works, and I thought the story was just okay, so I was happy to see that the series does get better.  It still is a cozy mystery and a bit young for my taste, but it was a lot more interesting.  This is a serie...

The Stranger Upstairs  by Lisa M. Matlin opens with Sarah Slade, a social influencer, starting her life over with her husband by purchasing a house to renovate and planning to document the entire process for Sarah’s followers. The house carries a dark past, and when unexplained events begin happening, Sarah quickly realizes that something is very wrong and is desperate to uncover the truth behind the house.   Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin.  The synopsis was intriguing, and when I received word that my request to read and review this book, I was thrilled.  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Although I didn’t necessarily find Sarah Slade or her husband particularly likable as characters, I was still invested in their story and found myself hoping that things would ultimately work out for Sarah.  The novel is filled with twists, revelations, and unsettling ...

Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi is a children's book about a young girl named Ellie celebrating her birthday under the family avocado tree and how unhappy she is that she hasn't grown any.  Ellie's father teaches her about how she is like an avocado pit and how slowly it seems to grow but how patience is a virtue. A big thank you goes out to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi. I'm always looking for great children's books to recommend to friends and family with little ones, so I was excited to read this book and will definitely be recommending it. I love that Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi helps kids understand that all things come in time with a little patience. Another thing that I liked about the story is it shows a family that has its own traditions like having birthdays under their avocado tree . . . a tradition that is shown to continue when the child starts their own family. Five out of five stars is what I gave Avocad...

Witches Get Stuff Done (Starfall Point, #1)  by Molly Harper opens with Riley arriving to Starfall Point, an island in Michigan, to meet her last living relative on her mother's side only to find out her Aunt passed away.  Inheriting the family mansion, she learns she's a witch and has been entrusted with the family secret. I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Witches Get Stuff Done (Starfall Point, #1)  by Molly Harper.  I was intrigued by the title of this novel and was thrilled to be approved to read this book.  I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not.  The first few chapters were way too long in my opinion, and I felt like something could've been done better to ease the reader into the story.  With that being said, I am glad I stuck with the story as it picked up, and I ended up falling in love with the c...

The Hike  by Lucy Clarke is a story of friendship told from four different perspectives of a friend group.  The annual holiday is Liz's choice this year, and hiking a huge mountain in Norway is what was chosen.  Obstacles throughout the trip reveal secrets, leading to the death of one of them.  Who will survive? I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Hike by Lucy Clarke.  She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so when I was approved to read Clarke's latest novel, I was over the moon with glee.  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. From the start, The Hike  is extremely engaging, and I had trouble pulling myself away to do normal every day things.  When I wasn't reading it, I found myself thinking about the story and the characters. As a whole, the four main characters were likable but definitely had some traits about them that weren't amiable, just like real life.  I like...

Too Scared To Sleep by Andrew Duplessie is a chilling collection of horror short stories that immediately brought to mind the eerie, unforgettable feeling of reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Each story delivers suspense, creepiness, and just enough unease to keep readers turning the pages late into the night. What truly sets this teen horror anthology apart is its interactive element: at the end of every story, there is a QR code that readers can scan to watch a short video connected to the plot. This creative feature adds a modern twist, enhancing the atmosphere and making the stories feel even more real and immersive. I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this horror collection in exchange for my honest review. The synopsis immediately caught my attention, and I was excited for the opportunity to dive into these scary short stories. When I found out I had been approved to read it, I couldn’t wait to experience how the stories w...

Stinetinglers 2 by R.L. Stine is a fun and spooky collection of ten horror short stories, each inspired by eerie events from the author’s life or his family’s experiences. Much like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark , this collection is sure to thrill young readers looking for a good scare. Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Stinetinglers 2 . I was especially excited to receive it, having devoured R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books growing up. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. It’s surprisingly creepy for a kids’ book and instantly put me in the Halloween spirit. I also loved that many of the stories end on cliffhangers; it keeps the tension high and lets readers’ imaginations run wild. I gave Stinetinglers 2 four out of five stars. It’s a fantastic choice for readers ages eight to twelve who enjoy spooky stories with just the right amount of chill. Follow The Running Bibliophile On Social Media Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Pinterest | Goodre...

Halloween Cupcake Murder (Irish Village Mystery, #9.5) by Carlene O'Connor, Carol J. Perry, and Liz Ireland is a collection of three novellas by three different authors, all having to do with Halloween.  I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of this collection that I received for free in exchange for my honest review. T he first novella in this collection is part of a series and is named Halloween Cupcake Murder (Irish Village Mystery, #9.5) written by Carlene O'Connor .  Tara Meehan owns an architectural salvage yard and in search of new products for her store.  When she receives a cupcake and a cryptic message from a stranger, Tara becomes entwined with an ancient mystery tied to Samhain.  I found this story to be intriguing but a little hard to follow at times, but all in all, I really enjoyed this novella.  It was suspenseful without being scary, and I loved that their was a secret society involved.  It made me want to re-watch the...