Off the Shelf -- Skeleton Key

Skeleton Key is a layered tale, part mystery, part family chronicle, part drama.  It is engrossing, intriguing, heartwarming, and sad all at once.  Told from the perspective of Nell, our narrator, we begin with the 50th anniversary celebration of The Golden Bones, an as yet unsolved treasure hunt 

book created by Nell's father.  Things go awry at the planned unveiling of the final  piece of the puzzle and down the rabbit hole we go.

Nell is still emotionally affected by being attacked by an overly enthusiastic searcher/treasure hunter as a teen and avoids the limelight, distancing herself from her family. She reluctantly appears at the celebration and is drawn into the unfolding situation unwillingly.  As she explores and attempts to understand what is happening, she learns more about her family than she ever wanted to know.

I enjoyed the story.  The mystery was layered, the emotions raw and real.  There is an emotional journey with these characters with twists and turns.  While not the ending I wanted, the ending makes sense.  If you're seeking a psychological mystery, this definitely satisfies.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hatchette for the opportunity.  All opinions are mine and freely and honestly given.

Off the Shelf -- The Neil Gaiman at the End of the Universe

 

A truly delightful audioplay featuring Neil Gaiman and Jewelry Staite.  A man wakes up floating on a spaceship, alone except for the computer, with no memory of who he is.  What is going on?  Who is he?

It helps to be passingly familiar with Gaiman's work but is not absolutely necessary.  The dynamic between our narrator and the computer feels real.  His quest for answers and identity is understandable and identifiable.  This is one I see me revisiting.l 

Off the Shelf -- Cheddar Late Than Dead

 

The third entry in the Grilled Cheese Eatery series finds our heroine, Carly unexpectedly catering the bridal shower of a high school friend.  She is drawn into investigating after the groom collapses and dies after crashing the gathering and her friend is the prime suspect.

I enjoyed this title more than the others in the series.  The mystery is layered, relationship dynamics explored.  I feel like we're finally finding some of who these characters are.  There was a little more meat here than in previous entries in the series.  I like Carly's relationship with her staff and her family.  The chaste, innocence in her relationship with Ari is the odd point for me.  She is a widow with relationship experience so that part feels off at times.  

The opinions expressed are mine and given freely.  Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity!

Off the Shelf -- No Parm No Foul

This is the second Grilled Cheese  Mystery.  It's Halloween and the Balsam Dell is getting ready for the annual food competition. Carly is excited, as it's her first year entering her eatery. The owner of Sub-a-Dub Sub, Ferris Menard, is angry at Carly because Grant, her part-time employee left Menard's employ to work full time at Carly's eatery.  He angrily confronts Carly in front of customers and is found dead in his own shop the next morning.  

The investigation hits close to home, and Carly decides to see if she can figure out who the real killer is.  

The mystery was interesting.  The characters are more developing a bit from the first book. I really enjoyed Evelyn Fitch and hope to see more of her. This is the coziest of cozies, no curse words, witch is considered a harsh word, and Carly and her boyfriend share only the tiniest of kisses.While this a little more chaste than my normal cozy, I like the characters.  I did find myself getting annoyed with Carly's method of analyzing her relationship with Ari.  Honestly, the connection between Carly and Ari is where the writing falls the fattest for me.  It feels artificial and takes me out of the story.

The descriptions of the food make me want grilled cheese.  I see the Alvin Special in my future.

Off the Shelf -- Against the Currant

 

This is the opening entry in the Spice Isle Bakery Series. Lyndsay Murray and her family are realizing Lyndsay's childhood dream of opening a bakery in Little Caribbean in Brooklyn.  Things are going well until the owner of another bakery threatens to run then out of business then storms in on opening day and argues with Lyndsay in front of everyone.  He is found murdered the next morning, and Lyndsay is the main suspect!  She is desperate turn the detectives' attention to other suspect so starts her own investigation.

I absolutely loved this book.  Lyndsay and her family are fun, loving, and complex.  My favorite has to be Granny.  The mystery is engaging as well.  I appreciate the culture of the West Indies that is part of the story. The recipes included sound amazing.  

I am looking forward to more books in this series.  These are my opinions only and are freely given.  Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity!

Off the Shelf-- Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner for the opportunity to read and review this title. Such an fun romp!

Our narrator is Ern Cunningham, gathering with his family for the first time in years for a reunion at a winter resort. Ern's day job is writing books about writing mysteries, and he shares his insider knowledge as the mystery of the dead man found on the mountain the morning after his arrival.

The pacing is well done, the mystery unfolds beautifully.  The characters feel real, their relationships and struggles are grand  but human.  The author balances humor and pain exquisitely.  Plus, it is a darn intriguing mystery told from a very different perspective.