Murder in Myrtle Bay - Isobel Blackthorn

When feature writer Ruth Finlay and her elderly neighbour Doris Cleaver visit an antique and collectibles market in the small town of Myrtle Bay, they get a lot more than they bargained for.

After Ruth's old tennis coach is found dead, they discover that there's no lack of people who harbour a grudge against the victim, and a tangled web of family ties and lies begins to unravel. But can Ruth and Doris find the killer in time to avert a second murder?

A quirky feel-good mystery laced with intrigue, Murder in Myrtle Bay is the first book in Isobel Blackthorn's 'Ruth Finlay Mysteries' series. Set in small town Australia, it is a sure pick for any fan of classic whodunits and cozy mysteries!

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Myrtle-Ruth-Finlay-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0B5VRZX2Q/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Myrtle-Ruth-Finlay-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0B5VRZX2Q/

My Review:

I thoroughly enjoy a cosy mystery (even ones full of recipes) and this definitely entertained me, although it took me a few chapters to settle into it, especially with so many characters to get my head around. Set in Australia, we meet Ruth and Doris who suddenly find themselves in the middle of a 'situation' and get stuck in solving this murder mystery. Amateur sleuths at their best!

A pair of fab leading characters, mouthwatering recipes and descriptions of food, you better have a snack or two handy! A good plot with fun characters led to this keeping me invested all the way, I was desperate to know everything and almost wanted to race through to find out. I love to see if I can figure it all out, but I didn’t quite manage it this time.

I have never read anything from this author but I am now a fan and will look to be reading more. The first in a series, I shall look forward to more sleuthing, A must read for mystery fans!

Author Bio:

Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers.

The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader's Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers' Favorite Book Awards. Her short story 'Nothing to Declare' was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller A Legacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018.

Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy.

Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Five of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction.

Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in rural Victoria, Australia.

Social Media Links –

https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn

https://www.facebook.com/Lovesick.Isobel.Blackthorn/

www.isobelblackthorn.com

https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn

Why She Ran - Geraldine Hogan

About the book:
‘Rachel. They must have made a mistake. A mother would know?’ She let her words pour into the emptiness of the kitchen. She began to shiver. ‘I can’t feel anything,’ she said softly and rocked back and forth, as if she was a huge child, seeking solace in the simple gesture.

When young, pretty nurse Rachel McDermott is found murdered in the harsh lights of the hospital kitchen where she works, her mother can’t accept the news, and the small Irish town of Corbally reels in disbelief. Rushing to the scene, Detective Iris Locke vows to find the sick killer, whatever it takes.

The last person to see Rachel alive was her close friend, sixteen-year-old Eleanor Marshall, a troubled teenager, estranged from her family. Eleanor was spotted fleeing the kitchen where Rachel’s body was found and becomes the main suspect. Iris has a search party combing the endless woods near the Comeragh mountains where they believe she is hiding. But Iris is consumed with worry for the vulnerable girl and can’t shake a prickly disquiet that Eleanor shouldn’t be a suspect.

Eleanor’s sister agrees but a day later, when she is found dead in the area Eleanor is hiding, things don’t look good for the runaway teen. Iris can’t see Eleanor, who still sleeps with her childhood teddy bear, as someone who would kill her little sister and her best friend, but all the evidence seems to point that way.

Sleep-deprived and desperate to find the truth, Iris takes a closer look into Rachel’s background and discovers that she was keeping strange, shadowy company the night before she died. Convinced that Eleanor is in terrible danger, Iris sets out to find her, in the icy-cold woods, alone. But what if somebody else makes their way through the darkness and reaches Iris and Eleanor first?

This gripping mystery thriller is perfect for fans of Carol Wyer, Robert Dugoni and LJ Ross.  

My Review:

Why She Ran is the second book in a series following Detective Iris Locke series. I hadn’t read the first book and I think it would have been beneficial as while I enjoyed the story, I did at times wish I knew what had happened previously – just to add a bit more as to why Iris was the way she was. There were small references to what had occurred in book 1 but not enough for me to really get a good grip on it. With this wonderful writing style, it’s not a bad thing to make sure you read that one I’m sure you’d be in for a treat.
This is an exciting and dramatic crime thriller, that will keep you guessing until the end. I was really drawn into the story, which was well paced; not too rushed but not drawn out for the sake of it. It had some unexpected twists but nothing too out there and the whole book gave a very interesting perspective of crime procedures.

I liked the Iris character – not appreciating what she had been through previously, her angst and suffering were apparent, yet she was the true professional. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between her and her partner DS Slattery, true respect, banter and care for one another.
The synopsis is what drew me in but I enjoy the authors writing style. I found myself quickly engrossed in the storyline, caring about characters and trying to piece together the puzzle as if I were suddenly a detective too.
I would recommend for crime fans, although I would suggest starting at the first book in the series. 

About the Author: Geraldine Hogan was born in Ireland. She gained an Honors Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree in Training and Management from University College, Galway. She is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author of four contemporary fiction novels under the pen name Faith Hogan.
HER SISTER'S BONES is her first crime novel, her second WHY SHE RAN is due out in December 2019.
She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She's a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger - except of course when it is raining!

You can find out more about Geraldine here:
www.Facebook/GeraldineHoganAuthor.com
Twitter @gerhogan
https://www.instagram.com/faithhoganauthor/?hl=en 

Buy Links: 

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2YFZYBm
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2PfIskk
Google Play: https://bit.ly/38wcw2B
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2t7kC1r