The Running Bibliophile

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Kensington Cozies for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder at Cape Costumers (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, #7)  by Maddie Day  for free in exchange for my honest review. As a fan of the author Maddie Day, I was thoroughly excited to read this cozy mystery, but unfortunately, I didn't connect to this series. This latest installment of Maddie Day's Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery  opens with the town of Westham, Massachusetts being happy that a new costume shop and alterations store has opened in their town just before Halloween.  However, when one of the owners of the shop finds her elderly boyfriend murdered in the shop, the entire town becomes suspicious of her, the co-owner, and everyone else. To top things off, Mac's sister in law has gone missing, and she along with her husband are having to care for two young children. Mac knows she has to help solve both of these mysteries with the help ...

Mischief Nights Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery, #8) by Libby Klein was published on July 25, 2023.  The story opens with Poppy McAllister not being happy about being coerced into the Cape May Haunted Dinners Tour during the Halloween season.  Feeling a bit overwhelmed about breaking up an argument between some of her guests, Poppy is dismayed when one of them turns up dead. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Readers Copy of Mischief Nights Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery, #8) by Libby Klein.  I love a great mystery, especially as it gets closer to Halloween, so when my request to read this book was approved, I was thrilled. This was the first book I've read by Libby Klein, and it was a well written story that kept my attention.  Although, it's the eighth book in a series, it could be read as a stand alone.  The author did a relatively good job of giving the reader some backstory of each of the characters, so I didn't re...

Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (Beacon Bakeshop, #4) by Darci Hannah is set in Beacon Harbor, Michigan and opens with Lindsey Bakewell finding a dummy hung from a tree outside her haunted home and workplace, a lighthouse that has been converted into a home and bakery.  Determined to keep this from happening again, Lindsey has the seniors from the local high school over for a pumpkin carving contest.  On top of that, one of her employees told a reality show that they could film the lighthouse for their show.  During the taping, the ghost makes his presence known, and everyone flees the building only to find that one of the high school teachers hanging from a tree.  Lindsey and her friends are determined to find the answer. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (Beacon Bakeshop, #4) written by Darci Hannah.  I wasn't familiar with this author or her books, but after reading the synops...

All The Lovely Bad Ones, A Graphic Novel by Mary Downing Hahn is a graphic novel adaption of the book of the same name.  Travis and Corey are spending the summer at their grandmother's inn.  The children love a good prank, but one of the pranks goes wrong when they awaken ghosts that wreak havoc at the inn.  Can Travis and Corey stop these ghosts? I'd like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of All The Lovely Bad Ones, A Graphic Novel by Mary Downing Hahn.  I loved this author growing up and hadn't read this particular book.  When I saw that this book was being turned into a graphic novel, I knew I had to read it.  I was ecstatic that my request to read it was approved. The storyline is an intriguing one and perfect to read around Halloween.  It's spooky, not scary.  It was engaging and held my interest.  Since I'm not the target audience, the story was a little young for me.  I'd r...

Looking to challenge yourself in 2022 or get out of your comfort zone when it comes to books? We all look forward to planning what we'll read in the new year. Let us know what you're planning on reading.   Here are twelve ways to challenge yourself this year when it comes to reading.   January 2022 Listen to an audiobook. February 2022 Read a book written by an African American author. March 2022 Read a book about a notable woman in history. April 2022 Read a collection of poetry. May 2022 Read a book about mental health. June 2022 Read a book written by a LGBTQ author. July 2022 Read a book with food in the title. August 2022 Read a romance book. September 2022 Read a book recommended by your librarian. October 2022 Read a book about Halloween or a book in the mystery, thriller, or horror genre. November 2022 Read a book as a family and discuss. December 2022 Read a book about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or any other holiday celebrated during the month of December.   ...

Trick or Treat Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #3) by Leslie Meier is set in Tinker's Cove, Maine, and the entire town is preparing a party in a dilapidated mansion to celebrate Halloween. However, everyone is on edge because there has been a rash of fires thought to be the work of an arsonist. The latest one killing a summer resident. Who will be the latest victim? Is anyone else a fan of Halloween like I am? This was the perfect book to put me in the mood for the holiday, and this is a must read if you do like Halloween. It brought back so many memories of my childhood of trick or treating and the Halloween parties that my parents and the rest of the parents in the neighborhood put on for us kids that were similar to the one in Trick or Treat Murder . Having an arsonist setting fires in the book only made it creepier, but not scary. There were quite a few red herrings in the book. With that being said, there were clues to who it really was, and I dismissed those clues much to my c...

Looking to challenge yourself in the New Year or get out of your comfort zone when it comes to books? We all look forward to planning what we'll read and new releases in the new year. However, we sometimes get stuck in a rut and need some help on what to read next. Here are twenty-one ways to challenge yourself this year when it comes to reading.   Book Reviewed on TheRunningBibliophile.com Book Published in 2021 Book Based on a True Story Book Written by a LGBTQ Author Book Written by an Asian Author Book Written by a Middle Eastern Author Book About New Year's / New Year's Eve Book About St. Patrick's Day Book About Independence Day Book About Thanksgiving Book About Christmas Book Recommended To You Book Published in the Year You Were Born Book That Takes Place Where You Live Non-Fiction Book About A Celebrity or Politician or Other Famous Person Book Written by an African-American or African Author Book Written by an European Author Book About Valentine...

In 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 Tric...

Desperation by Stephen King is a chilling horror novel set along the desolate stretch of Interstate 50, where travelers may stumble upon the eerie, nearly abandoned town of Desperation, Nevada ...  a place where stopping could cost you your life. Beneath the surface of this lonely desert town, an ancient and malevolent force is unleashed, possessing the bodies of its residents one by one. In Desperation , no one is safe. You can run, but you can't hide. Have you ever come across a book so relentlessly bleak that it took you years to finish? Desperation was that book for me. While it’s undeniably well-written, the overwhelming sense of dread and emotional heaviness made it difficult to read for long stretches. I found myself repeatedly setting it aside in favor of lighter novels, only to return when curiosity and determination pulled me back in. At one point, I gained enough momentum that I was determined to push through and finally finish it, despite its deeply unsettling to...