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quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
I still really like this series and I'm incredibly glad that all the stuff with Sam's ex-wife is over and done with. That said, I'm not sure that the mystery in this one was really very good and Lena is a bit of a pill for much of the time here. I mean, she has her reasons, but still. But bonus points for adorable kittens.
laufox's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shomarq's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
Death Waits in the Dark by Julia Buckley is a 2019 Berkley publication.
I always love dropping in on Lena and Camilla in the scenic Blue Lake!!
In this fourth installment in the series, Lena needs to find out why Jane Wyland made a visit to Camilla, making ominous threats about exposing Camilla’s deceased husband’s secrets. It becomes especially urgent when shortly after issuing what basically amounted to an ultimatum, Jane is found dead, making Camilla a possible suspect…
This is such a terrific mystery series! I enjoyed getting to know more about Camilla in this episode. She's always remained a bit mysterious up to this point. But I think what really appealed to me about this installment was that it was a cold case, an old mystery that needed to be solved- which is one of my favorite crime tropes.
While this series definitely fits into the cozy genre, it doesn’t use the typical format and should appeal to anyone who enjoys pure mysteries or crime fiction. This installment was especially perplexing, keeping me on my toes from start to finish, and had a heart racing finale!
Naturally, the recurring characters are always the biggest draw in a cozy series, and the ending of this chapter in the series was also rewarding.
While I have enjoyed all the books in the series, this installment was one of the strongest installments to date. I’m looking forward to touching base with these terrific characters again soon!!
4.5 stars
I always love dropping in on Lena and Camilla in the scenic Blue Lake!!
In this fourth installment in the series, Lena needs to find out why Jane Wyland made a visit to Camilla, making ominous threats about exposing Camilla’s deceased husband’s secrets. It becomes especially urgent when shortly after issuing what basically amounted to an ultimatum, Jane is found dead, making Camilla a possible suspect…
This is such a terrific mystery series! I enjoyed getting to know more about Camilla in this episode. She's always remained a bit mysterious up to this point. But I think what really appealed to me about this installment was that it was a cold case, an old mystery that needed to be solved- which is one of my favorite crime tropes.
While this series definitely fits into the cozy genre, it doesn’t use the typical format and should appeal to anyone who enjoys pure mysteries or crime fiction. This installment was especially perplexing, keeping me on my toes from start to finish, and had a heart racing finale!
Naturally, the recurring characters are always the biggest draw in a cozy series, and the ending of this chapter in the series was also rewarding.
While I have enjoyed all the books in the series, this installment was one of the strongest installments to date. I’m looking forward to touching base with these terrific characters again soon!!
4.5 stars
krisrid's review against another edition
4.0
This is a favourite series. I didn't love the last book, but the series came back for me with this book.
Lena was less boo-hoo, poor me in this book and I like her much better again.
I love the relationship between Lena and Camilla, both as writing partners and as friends.
Basically this is just a good, solid, enjoyable cozy series. It hits all the notes: a cute small town with a bunch of quirky characters, dogs, cat, hunky love interest [for both Lena and Camilla!] and a murder to solve.
I enjoy this series and will continue with it.
Lena was less boo-hoo, poor me in this book and I like her much better again.
I love the relationship between Lena and Camilla, both as writing partners and as friends.
Basically this is just a good, solid, enjoyable cozy series. It hits all the notes: a cute small town with a bunch of quirky characters, dogs, cat, hunky love interest [for both Lena and Camilla!] and a murder to solve.
I enjoy this series and will continue with it.
sophia_dawn's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ssminski's review against another edition
4.0
People-driven fun mystery.
This series has gotten better since the first book. I wasn't sure what would happen after the Victoria mystery ended, but I did enjoy the standalone mystery, and felt that the character development and budding relationships kept the story going. I thought that the description of London's increased paranoia was well written, but still argue that it would have been even better in the third person.
This series has gotten better since the first book. I wasn't sure what would happen after the Victoria mystery ended, but I did enjoy the standalone mystery, and felt that the character development and budding relationships kept the story going. I thought that the description of London's increased paranoia was well written, but still argue that it would have been even better in the third person.
moondance120's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Graham House was a respite from the late-June heat, especially in the air-conditioned office of me collaborator and hero, Camilla Graham.
Lena London works with Camilla Graham in small town Blue Lake, Indiana. Camilla is the author of numerous suspense novels and Lena is her eager apprentice. A former classmate of Camilla's late husband, James, appears one day with threats to tarnish the Graham name. The woman is found dead soon after and James' friends join with Lena and Camilla to discover what happened.
I rarely start a series somewhere other than the beginning. However, I was able to get into the storyline and figure out who the characters were. The characters are well written and likeable. There is a bit of history between Lena and her boyfriend, Sam, that I will need to go back and read to fully understand. There is enough information given for me to understand how their relationship evolved.
One of my favorite things was the letters that James had written to Camilla while she was still in England after their engagement. There is just something so special about the written word. It was touching that she had kept all of his letters. This gave the book an almost Edwardian feel.
Lena and Sam seem to have a solid relationship. I love his tender side that had him stop to rescue a lost kitten. Gotta love a man that loves cats! Sam is someone that I want to delve into further which means I will be reading the previous books.
Camilla and Adam are quite a pair as well. I'm happy that her late husband's old friend is there for her with obvious adoration.
I always enjoy when an author incorporates animals into a storyline. The lovely names of Heathcliff and Rochester for Camilla's German Shepherds makes me smile.
The mystery is solid with a few twists and turns. You begin to suspect everyone of James' old friends. The letters paint a vivid picture of the group when they were in high school and later. It eventually leads to the killer.
There are crazy crashes, an artistic vandal and good friends to round out the book. This is a lovely book to read while sipping a cup of tea with a dozing cat or dog on your lap.
I look forward to reading the previous books and the next one in the series.
Graham House was a respite from the late-June heat, especially in the air-conditioned office of me collaborator and hero, Camilla Graham.
Lena London works with Camilla Graham in small town Blue Lake, Indiana. Camilla is the author of numerous suspense novels and Lena is her eager apprentice. A former classmate of Camilla's late husband, James, appears one day with threats to tarnish the Graham name. The woman is found dead soon after and James' friends join with Lena and Camilla to discover what happened.
I rarely start a series somewhere other than the beginning. However, I was able to get into the storyline and figure out who the characters were. The characters are well written and likeable. There is a bit of history between Lena and her boyfriend, Sam, that I will need to go back and read to fully understand. There is enough information given for me to understand how their relationship evolved.
One of my favorite things was the letters that James had written to Camilla while she was still in England after their engagement. There is just something so special about the written word. It was touching that she had kept all of his letters. This gave the book an almost Edwardian feel.
Lena and Sam seem to have a solid relationship. I love his tender side that had him stop to rescue a lost kitten. Gotta love a man that loves cats! Sam is someone that I want to delve into further which means I will be reading the previous books.
Camilla and Adam are quite a pair as well. I'm happy that her late husband's old friend is there for her with obvious adoration.
I always enjoy when an author incorporates animals into a storyline. The lovely names of Heathcliff and Rochester for Camilla's German Shepherds makes me smile.
The mystery is solid with a few twists and turns. You begin to suspect everyone of James' old friends. The letters paint a vivid picture of the group when they were in high school and later. It eventually leads to the killer.
There are crazy crashes, an artistic vandal and good friends to round out the book. This is a lovely book to read while sipping a cup of tea with a dozing cat or dog on your lap.
I look forward to reading the previous books and the next one in the series.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favorite of this series so far (and I have loved every installment , so that's really saying something!) I like that, after three books essentially focused on the same storyline, this one branches out a little bit and starts to take Lena and Camilla in a different direction. Events of the story that lead Lena to question her own judgment and understanding of what is happening work especially well and give the author lots of creative ways to leave red herrings in the path to the true culprit. I can't wait for the next book, [b:Death with a Dark Red Rose|46255269|Death with a Dark Red Rose (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery #5)|Julia Buckley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565136875l/46255269._SY75_.jpg|71239144].
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