The Trespass by Scott Hunter (An Archaeological Mystery Thriller)

Following links on this page may result in my earning a small fee from affiliates. 

I read this book for free via my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Synopsis

University anthropology professor Simon Dracup's daughter is kidnapped, and now someone is trying to kill him. Why? 

Simon knows it has something to do with his grandfather's old diary, recently bequeathed to him in his aunt's estate. The pages within hold secrets that someone doesn't want getting out, and if he wants to stay alive and get his daughter back, then Simon must figure out what happened with his grandfather's last archaeological expedition and why it matters so much to certain factions.

My Thoughts

Within a chapter, I was totally hooked! I always wanted to be an archaeologist as a kid, and I loved the Indiana Jones series of movies. I love a good thriller that sends basically ordinary people on an adventure around the world, hunting for clues a lá Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. The book has an interesting take on a biblical premise: what happened to Noah's Ark after the floodwaters receded, and what could be found on the ark if archaeologists ever excavated? And why do people care so much?

There are nail-biting scenes galore with terrorists, CIA operatives, and the addition of a few interesting minor characters who love a good adventure.  

My only quibble is this: while I liked the final action scenes, the end felt a little abrupt. It was like action-action-action and then it was over. I would have liked to see one more scene at the end, perhaps showing the characters a few weeks or months later, just wrapping it all up with a neat little bow. 

Get the Book

You can find The Trespass (An Archaeological Mystery Thriller) by Scott Hunter on Amazon. As noted above, at the time of this writing, the book is free on Kindle Unlimited or available for purchase. It is also available on Audible. Inquire with your local bookstore or library about availability in those venues.

Downsizing: The 5-Step Method for Life Transitions Big and Small by Mia Danielle

Following links on this page may result in my earning a small fee from affiliates. 

I received this book from the publisher as an advanced reader copy. 

Synopsis

There are many reasons one may have to downsize their home, from life changing events such as divorce or retirement, empty nest, needing to move homes, or simply due to having too much stuff. 

This book, written by minimalism expert Mia Danielle, hopes to address how to keep calm and focused while addressing the task of downsizing.

My Thoughts

First of all, I was impressed with the layout and organization of the book. The chapters are organized by life event. The reader can go straight to the chapter that fits their current situation. 

Each chapter addresses what tools you'll need, the logistics of how to get your ducks in a row for that life change, and even addresses checking in with your feelings, preserving memories, etc. Additionally, there are pages that help you track things like how you are feeling emotionally as well as planning and checklist activities and donations/sales trackers for the items you let go of.

All in all I think this will be a really useful book as I try to downsize my own life. I am looking forward to using the tools within and getting rid of the extra stuff I don't need but have somehow convinced myself to keep (so far).

My only complaint— and it's a minor quibble—is the cover of the book just doesn't really draw me in. It's not that attractive, and I might not notice it if it were on a bookstore shelf. (Thankfully, Amazon and other online retailers make it easy to search by subject matter, presenting the reader with many options to consider regardless of cover.)

Get the Book

You can find Downsizing: The 5-Step Method for Life Transitions Big and Small by Mia Danielle on Amazon. Inquire with your local bookstore or library about availability in those venues.

The Body in the Bookmobile by Connie B. Dowell (A Millie Monroe Mystery Series — Book 1)

Following links on this page may result in my earning a small fee from affiliates. 

I read this book for free via my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Synopsis

Newly dropped out from law school and feeling a bit adrift, Millie Monroe lands what should be an easy-peasy job as a library bookmobile driver in a new-to-her town in scenic, small-town Virginia. On her first day there, she moves in with her cousin, finds a good craft beer joint, and likes her new coworkers. Things seem like they'll be okay ... until they aren't. On her first day of work, a retired librarian is found dead in her van. As is typical of the cozy genre, despite multiple warnings from police not to investigate, Millie and her friends do—and things go haywire from there!

My Thoughts

This was a fun little mystery, but emphasis on "little." Why do I say that? I feel like the book's plot wasn't too deep or complicated. While not all books need to be really twisty, the "twists" advertised in this book's Amazon description didn't really do much for me. It wasn't a bad mystery, though, by any stretch. I just wanted a bit more to the plot and action than what we got. 

I also felt like the book's ending was a bit pat, easily wrapped up before we really got going without much in the way of clues to the reader as to what was going to happen until it suddenly did. And I didn't really believe the main character's motivation for investigating. It's typical in a cozy genre to want to roll your eyes a little as the protagonist, against ALL advice to the contrary, gets themselves embroiled in the mystery, because otherwise there wouldn't be a book—but Millie just didn't convince me.

I liked the cover art very much, and this book would grab my eye if I saw it on a bookshelf, especially since I am a bibliophile. I am a sucker for mysteries set in libraries, book shops, and now bookmobiles. The Body in the Bookmobile appears to have been professionally edited—yay!—but I found some irritating homonyms that were not caught in a proofread. "Breaks" for "brakes" and "pearl two" for "purl two" being two that come to mind instantly. That said, as an editor and proofreader, I know we are not perfect at what we do, and a small amount of errors are acceptable, so it is what it is. (Knitters, please try not to groan at "pearl two.")

I did like the tiny bit of action in the end. I don't want to spoiler you, so all I'll say about that is Millie's way of confronting someone in a time of high stress is something I haven't seen too often in a cozy, and I kind of respect her for it.

I plan on reading Book 2 in the series, A Villain in the Vineyard, because I liked the characters and I want to see what happens next in their lives. The two main characters started Book 1 by making big changes in their lives, which means there is room for character growth and interpersonal relationships to be expanded upon, so I'm curious to see how they develop. 

If you're looking for a light, fun cozy mystery with characters you'd probably like having a beer with, this book may be a good fit for you. 

Get the Book

You can find The Body in the Bookmobile by Connie B. Dowell on Amazon. At the time of this writing, the book is free on Kindle Unlimited or available for purchase on Kindle. I did not see a paperback version offered at the time of this review. Inquire with your local bookstore or library about availability in those venues.

Murder in Mykonos by Jeffrey Siger (Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis Series Book 1)

Following links on this page may result in my earning a small fee from affiliates. 

I purchased this book in the Kindle edition.

Synopsis

Andreas Kaldis has just been "promoted" — out of Athens and straight into a position as chief of police in Mykonos, a vacation "paradise" with a seedy underbelly that is often downplayed or pushed under the rug in order to not negatively impact the tourist industry.

Kaldis isn't exactly great at playing "politics" — he doesn't have a lot of patience for it. He'd rather just get the bad guys and the numbers be damned. You get the impression that this is what got him "promoted" out of Athens to a distant island.

So when a body turns up buried in a sacrificial manner under some church flagstones, and it's similar to a cold case from years back, he quickly puts two and two together and realizes the problem won't wait for politicians to get their act together. He needs to save a young woman's life and put the killer behind bars. 

Will posturing politicians cause more needless deaths through their inaction, or will Kaldis succeed in putting old skeletons — and politics — to rest once and for all?

My Thoughts

This was quite a thrill to read! I read it in a couple of nights, despite being exhausted from work. I really enjoyed the character of Kaldis and some of the others he meets along the way, including an older detective he teams up with. I'm glad this is a first in a series, as I will definitely read more adventures of Andreas and gang. There were times when I laughed a bit at his views of things, but mostly the book was darker and more serious in tone. 

Note: Those with any sensitivities to sexual violence, torture, etc., may want to tread carefully here. I consider myself to be semi-sensitive to these things, and while I didn't find it to be excessive, there were a couple of scenes that made me skim a bit rather than dwell any details. 

That said, it was a fascinating setting and story, with complex characters, some of whom you root for and some of whom you hope they get what's coming to them. I look forward to reading the next in the series! 

Get the Book

You can find Murder in Mykonos in various formats on Amazon. Inquire with your local bookstore or library about availability in those venues.