Book Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

-
Image
The Escape Game  by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss  opens on the set of a reality television show called "The Escape Room" where one of the season four contestants, Alicia Angelos, is found in a coffin on set ... dead. Fast forward to season five where Sierra Angelos, the murder victim's younger sister and suspected killer, has been brought back to the show and paired up with Beck, Adi, and Carter. Sierra wants to find justice for her sister, but when Sierra and her teammates start uncovering clues about the true killer, they must figure out how to survive the game. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for approving my request and providing me with a digital copy of The Escape Game  for free in exchange for my honest review. I was immediately drawn to the title and cover of the young adult novel. Throw in the plot being about an escape room, and I was completely sold on the story before even reading it. The story is told from the perspective of fou...
Post a Comment

Book Review: A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs

-

Cozy Mystery Book Review of A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs
A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs is the second installment in the Mooseamuck Island cozy mystery series. The story begins when the body of an “outsider” is discovered stuffed inside a crab boil pot just before the island’s annual Crab Festival opens to the public. Determined not to let a murder derail their beloved celebration, the islanders press on...until it becomes clear that several locals had motives. As suspicion spreads, can retired police investigators Claire and Dom put aside their differences long enough to solve the case?

I originally bought a copy of this ebook years ago purely because I loved the title. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to read more of the books I already own instead of constantly buying new ones, so I finally decided to give A Crabby Killer a try, knowing absolutely nothing about the story beforehand. I was pleasantly surprised.

Leighann Dobbs does an excellent job of providing background on recurring characters for new readers without making it feel repetitive for those already familiar with the series. At first, I assumed the main characters were much younger, only to realize they are actually senior citizens. Despite the age difference, I still found them relatable and engaging. I also appreciated that the book works well as a standalone; I never felt lost even though I hadn’t read the first book, A Zen for Murder.

The writing is strong and filled with plenty of red herrings, which kept me guessing right up until the end. I did briefly suspect the true murderer at one point but quickly dismissed the idea. If you’re curious about who did it and their motive, you’ll have to read the book yourself because I won’t spoil it!

Overall, A Crabby Killer is a fun, lighthearted beach read and a solid entry in the Mooseamuck Island series. I definitely plan to go back and read the first book and any others that follow. I hope Leighann Dobbs continues the series. I rated A Crabby Killer (Mooseamuck Island, #2) by Leighann Dobbs four out of five stars.

Follow The Running Bibliophile On Social Media

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

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