thecosymoose's reviews
66 reviews

A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

A short story set in the Rivers of London Universe, where Peter Grant is assigned a task to investigate at the British Library. Each story expands the universe a little, and it's fun to see what goes on between the main events of the novels

Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Lies Sleeping is a fabulous action packed episode of the Rivers of London series, which ties up a number of ongoing story arcs, whilst laying the grounds for future adventures. I always have to listen to the Hanging Tree and this one together, almost like a 2-parter. 

Date with Poison by Julia Chapman

dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another series I'm re-reading is the Dales Detective Series. This series is like a pendulum, and in this book, the pendulum starts to reach its lowest point. Someone is poisoning pets and animals in Bruncliffe, but not only that, forces are working to poison the village against returned black sheep Samson O'Brien. They're not afraid of causing collateral damage either, causing big problems for the Metcalfes. 

The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch

5.0

Owing one of the goddesses of the rivers a favour comes back to haunt PC Grant - especially when that goddess is Lady Tyburn. 

I'd doing a full re-read of this series as the new instalment is out this year, and I'll never tire of listening to these on audio. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is one of the best narrators out there

A Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

We return to Northern California, where Annie Murray is living her dream of setting up a detective agency along side running a book shop. It's not long before another body is found and she's embroiled in yet another case. A wealthy patron is found dead outside the bookshop, apparently poisoned, and while his philanthropy is well known, the secret to his death may be hidden in his past. I'm totally invested in this series, and can't wait to see what's thrown at Annie next. 

Death in Douglas Glade by G.B. Ralph

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

On the subject of comfort reads, the Milverton Mysteries have quickly installed themselves as one of my new favourites. Addison Harper arrived in Milverton in the first book of the series to settle the estate of the Uncle he didn't even know. It was meant to be a weekend trip, but Milverton doesn't want to let him go. In this book, Addison - normally a chaos-magnet - manages to out-awkward even himself when, finally on a date with the local hot police sergeant, he stumbles on a dead body. Of an ex. 

Are the Milverton Mysteries the perfect cosy series? It's well up there, with lovable characters that are so easy to root for; time spent with this series is like hanging out with good friends. And I seriously need a Mabel Zhao in my life to kick my ass and sort me out. Full of warmth and humour (and the odd dead body), I know I'll be escaping to Milverton regularly.

Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

It's been a tough week for me, and so when time are tough, I reach for my comfort reads, the first of which will always be Terry Pratchett. The Watch is probably my favourite series, and Men at Arms is one for me the best of the best. Mixing murder mystery and fantasy, with sharp observation on the nature of humanity, there are moments that make me laugh out loud, and moments that make me sad that there aren't more Vimes in the world. Sir Terry is sorely missed, but I'm grateful we have his words to fall back on.

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson

lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Jackson Brodie is back. I'd held off reading this one until I'd read the previous Jackson Brodie books from Kate Atkinson, but it can be read as a standalone. I love the way various storylines weave in and out until they all meet. It's beautiful storytelling. Jackson Brodie is on the case of a missing painting, which may link to a previous theft from a country mansion, which now hosts murder mystery weekends. The story is built up in layers, and is a fabulous read.

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

5.0

Terry Pratchett's Discworld is my go-to series when I need a comfort read. Whenever I'm feeling low on spoons, I reach for his books. Guards! Guards! is probably my favourite for this. It's the first book in the Watch sub-series, introducing us to Captain Vimes, and his crew Fred Colon and Nobby Nobbs. We also see Carrot arrive in Ankh Morpork, causing chaos with his fastidious attention to memorising and enforcing the laws of the city. 

Guards! Guards! is probably the book I recommend most as an entry point into the Discworld, as it reads like a mystery, police procedural, but set in a fantasy city. With dragons. 

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver

mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.5

First of all, I loved the premise of this book, taking the real Detection Club formed in 1930, with members such as GK Chesterton, Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie herself. And then we have Christie's famed mysterious disappearance, which was never explained. And so we have a mystery where a Club member is shot dead in the dark at a Detection Club meeting, and the day after, Agatha Christie goes missing, a handkerchief with her initials found by the body. 

There's competition to solve the case between Eliza Baker - orphan, former war time police officer, now newly appointed assistant to the club Secretary - and her friend Theo Torrent Sharp - aspiring writer. The two regularly hang out at a chess club in London, and both are strong minded and competitive. The novel frequently plays on the contrast of the two characters - Theo being more of a more artistic creature, Eliza favouring more rational logic and science. 

It was fun to see the Queen of Crime being under suspicion rather than orchestrating murders in writing, and looking forward to seeing how this series develops.