Review: The Hidden House Murders: Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate: Book 3

The Hidden House Murders: Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate: Book 3 by Celina Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Received an ARC for an honest review.
To start honest, this kind of mystery might not really be my cup-a-tea: I read Agatha Christie last when I was still reading in German (translation) only, maybe age 10 or 12 (1976, 1978).
The book takes place in England, but in the past (20th century), I think, which would prevent me from buying this, as I have long stopped reading most books playing too long ago in the past (with exceptions).
But I am paying for this with a review, so I will see how I like this (TANSTAAFL).

Well, better than expected. You feel like visiting the UK between the two Word-Wars, I think, cannot exactly pin the time down, as no real indication is given, they have cars, wireless, a telephone in the house with the need to call an operator (could also be before the first WW, but I guess that not many people had a Telephone way back then).

Very well done, even though I would have liked more suspense. You get to know how servants work and live their life in a wealthy household in the UK. There is lots of eating and tea-drinking, and even if the female servants-team Hunter / Hart try to solve the crime, work comes first, feeding their household, even the other servants. And, having been in the UK a few time during the 1980's for vacation, I can assist, that they still drink a lot of tea, so that is realistic.
The main women are very well described, deeply fleshed out, with the few man mostly described with an outline, but not very deep, only the inspector, which I understand was also in the book(s) before this one is more fleshed out, but not overly so, in comparison to the MC's.

The crime and solving is a lot like in the Agatha Christie books I remember from my childhood, with a rounding of all (surviving) people and staging a big reveal. Not really something I would buy today, I am sorry to say. But in exchange for a review, I must admit, it was very well written, with a certain insight in life at that time I did not expect.

So recommended 4 stars it is, if you want a lighter mystery, not much blood and I did not guess at any point what really happened. No sex, but that is to be expected, and you get a little romance thrown in, some real and some pretend. Having been in the mood for this certainly helped, else it would be a 3 star/recommended.

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Review: If I Was Your Girl

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Had this on my Amazon-Wishlist and waited till the price sank.
And after SF (The Expanse #05: Nemesis Games) I wanted something different, so I started this one.

“I asked you what you feel. You can’t have art if you spend all your time forgetting pain.”

Recommomended for a story about queer, transgender, gay. Story is ok, but missed 1 star, as it was just too neat. In the afterword the author recognizes that and explains it, so there is that. My favourite person was Bee, badass and then ... I will not spoil it.

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Review: Body of Evidence #7: Burning Bones

Body of Evidence #7: Burning Bones by Christopher Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

See my other reviews of the series, not much to add.
Far out idea, a little more believable for me, this time.
Ending ok, though all in all again 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Bought this and 4 others (one of it I already owned) as an ebook Omnibus "Season 2", will read them with distance between the books, so as not to spoil it, as they are sometimes a bit too much based on a formula/framework. Though I still think, there should be more books, going into the world we have today, with Wifi, tablets and smartphones, etc. .

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Review: Drive

Drive by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Free short story in the Expanse World.
Could have a little more technical background regarding the Epstein Drive, otherwise nice addition to the series, but not really necessary read, as the important facts are sprinkled throughout the novels.

At least I did not pay for it.
Url to story at the Goodreads page for the book. It is not really a book, but to be read online. As I hate that, I copied the text to simple text file in my favourite Editor (BBedit, free version, since the demise of TextWrangler) and read it on my Kindle.

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Review: Nemesis Games

Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, setting is like taking apart a puzzle.
We learn a lot about the past of Alex, Amos and Naomi, and then the puzzle gets solved with a few new pieces to give a different whole.

Monica whistled low. “Schismatic OPA faction?” she said. “Well. It wouldn’t be the first time a revolutionary leader was targeted by the extreme wing of his own side.”

Some actions are unbelievable, but I tend to overlook these, the action is top notch, and the off-screen deathrate counts as high as ever (it can only be guessed anyway). The logic behind killing that many people escapes me, though, and the action of a terrorist splinter group is hard to analyze, though Fred Johnson has some idea.

“Of course you do,” Holden said. “Why wouldn’t you tell them?” Fred blinked. His laugh, when it came, was deep and rolling. It came up from his belly and filled the air. “Just when I think you’ve changed, you come out with something that is uniquely James Holden. I don’t know what to think about you. I really don’t.” “Thanks?”

And the best one:

“We’re not making any official statements, especially when James Holden’s in the room. No offense, but your track record for blurting information at inopportune moments is the stuff of legend.” (Avasarala, of course)

Highly recommended, probably the best so far in the series. Will not really make sense without having read the other novels, and I also suggest reading the shorties / novellas. Though the order is sometimes confusing.

Off Topic: I am now the proud owner of two T-Shirt's with the OPA-Logo. Not having watched more episode of the Expanse (yet), I hope the logo is the same one as in the series.

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Review: The Churn

The Churn by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Live on Earth, interesting addition to the Expanse Multiverse.
The MC Timmy is interesting, and very well developed. Would like to see more of him in other books. Some sex (not explicit, more talked about), very well done, with the problems with a young men and an older woman having sex.

Depending on wether he pops up in other books, not really necessary read, nor a great addition. Without the other books not worth it, price ok, for the length of the book.

Three solid stars, recommended for hard fans and completionists. Will add to this review if the character is also in other books.

(Added July 28th, 2017)
Being at 21% in The Expanse #05, Nemesis Games, the genius behind this little story forces me to change the review and add a star, giving it 4. Not to spoil it, this should be read bevore Nemesis Games, and then imidiatly followed with Nemesis Games. Wow. Nice one, did not see that twist coming. So, this one is also a must-read for understanding the series, even if that is not immediately obivous.

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Review: The Vital Abyss

The Vital Abyss by James S.A. Corey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bought it a little cheaper not at Amazon, but some other ebook seller (as long as it still sells).
Still more expensive in comparison to other novellas from the Expanse-series.
Reason may be, it is one of the puzzle-pieces, which, while not necessary to understand the big picture, is a worthwhile addition, as is the other required reading: The Butcher of Anderson station.
The Vital Abyss is about one of the scientists who work on the Protomolecule.
This is a rather interesting for background, and can be read after Abbadon's Gate (Expanse #03) or Cibola Burn (Expanse #04).
Goodreads lists it as Expanse #05.5, to be read after Nemesis Games (Expanse #05), which I currently just start and I do not see it. Some of story is how the Scientist came to his job, some is flashback, while the Now in the story is after the discovery of the Gate, placing it somewhere before Abbadon's Gate or during it.

Highly recommended backstory to the main story-lines. Short read, and for that it was even the cheaper EPUB I bought too expensive, imho. And like some other novellas, seems longer, as 15-20% of the pages are filled with the beginning of another book - which in this case is more a "you might also like"-read, not something of the Expanse.

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