Book Review: A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders

-
Image
A Whiff of Murder  by Angela M. Sanders  is a spinoff of her Witch Way Librarian  series and opens with the reader meeting Lise Bloom, who works at the Lucky Lotus and can smell emotions. Hoping to learn more about her special gift, clairalience, she's suddenly thrust into the spotlight when she discovers the dead body of her boss, Dyann, in the back room of the store and becomes one of the prime suspects. With the help of her roommates, Lise sets out to prove her innocence and find out who could have a motive to kill her boss. I knew right off the bat that I had to read Sanders' latest novel without even reading the synopsis because I absolutely love her Witch Way Librarian  series. Additionally, I wanted another story by her to tide me over until the next installment of that series. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of  A Whiff of Murder  by Angela M. Sanders. I was ecstatic...
Post a Comment

Book Review: Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick

-
Point Horror BooksIn the days leading up to Halloween, I decided that I wanted to read a spooky book but one that wasn't too long. Perusing my bookshelves at home, I came across one of my favorite YA Authors when I was a tween and teen . . . Richie Tankersley Cusick. How apropos would it be to read her book entitled Trick or Treat?

Regrettably, I didn't finish reading Trick or Treat before Halloween like I wanted to. The reason is simple . . . it creeped me out even though I ended up remembering who "did it" early on. Reading it late at night didn't help either as every little creak or noise in the house made me even more jumpy. Because of this, I kept putting it down after reading a chapter or two a night. I was in awe that a book that I hadn't read in 15 - 20 years and geared towards teens could still spook me like it did. Although, it was written in the late 1980's, the story holds up and is still enjoyable. I think the tweens and teens of today would enjoy Trick or Treat even though they seem to be growing up faster than kids did back in the 80's and 90's.
For a YA novel, especially a horror book, I felt the main characters were well developed. Martha takes after her father in that she likes to write. Unlike her father, she hates everything having to do with supernatural or scary things. She's a good student but is doing poorly at her new school. Connor, Martha's stepbrother, is the new school hottie that no one can get close to. He's a good cook and gives Martha a hard time in a brotherly way. Blake, Martha's new boyfriend, is great at sports and is super competitive.
Synopsis of Trick or Treat:  Martha and her father move into a dilapidated house with her new stepmother and her stepbrother Connor. From the beginning, Martha is uneasy living in a house so far from town . . . her room is colder than the rest of the house and feels like she is being watched. Then, the phone calls begin, a fire starts in the kitchen, and other odd things begin to happen in the house. Is Martha being stalked?



Follow Us On Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/runningbibliophile/https://www.instagram.com/therunningbibliophile/https://www.pinterest.com/therunningbibliophile/youtube the running bibliophile

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: The Dare by Natasha Preston

-
Image
The Dare by Natasha Preston is a young adult horror novel centered on Marley and her friends Atlas, Lucia, and Jesse, all seniors in high school. What begins as harmless, lighthearted senior pranks quickly takes a dark turn when Rhett starts assigning dares that are far more serious and dangerous. As the stakes rise, the question becomes whether Marley and her friends will survive the consequences of playing along. A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy of The Dare by Natasha Preston. The last book I read by this author was well written and engaging, so I was excited to dive into her latest young adult horror story. From the start, the novel feels reminiscent of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series, which instantly brought back a wave of childhood nostalgia. Unfortunately, that initial excitement didn’t last. Before long, the plot shifts into territory that felt eerily similar to the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer . At that point, my interest started ...
Read more

Book Review: The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

-
Image
The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker  was published on March 17, 2025. It opens with Detective Declan Shaw at a closed subway station trying to work up the nerve to commit suicide when he receives a call from his partner about a break in and homicide at the home of a true crime author. Shaw makes his way to the crime scene to work the case, and in a turn of events, Declan comes under scrutiny in another case loosely connected to this new case. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Writer  from NetGalley and Little , Brown, and Company for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm appreciative that my request for this book was approved. With this story opening with the main character trying to commit suicide, I almost didn't go any further with the book. However, I am glad I stuck with it as it took me on a fantastic ride and had my emotions all over the place. There were so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was ...
Read more

Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich

-
Image
Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich is the latest installment in the long-running and beloved Stephanie Plum series, and it opens with Joe Morelli asking Stephanie to dog-sit his famously quirky dog, Bob, while he’s out of town testifying at a trial. As expected, things quickly spiral into chaos when Stephanie has to bring Bob along while attempting to apprehend her usual lineup of FTAs. Between chasing fugitives, dodging danger, and juggling her complicated personal life, Stephanie also finds herself seriously questioning whether marriage is something she truly wants. Each book in the Stephanie Plum series tends to follow a familiar and comforting formula, with everything wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow by the end. That predictability is actually one of the main reasons I keep coming back to these books. I always know Stephanie will get herself into trouble, Ranger or Morelli will step in to help,...
Read more