Review: Mrs. Rochester's Ghost

Mrs. Rochester's Ghost by Lindsay Marcott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Library Journal for the ARC and the chance to review this title!

TV writer Jane’s life is in ruin. Losing her mother to cancer and her boyfriend to another woman was hard enough; now her show has been canceled, and she can’t afford her New York apartment anymore. Luckily, an old friend offers Jane a deal that sounds too good to be true—a beautiful waterfront cottage rent-free, in exchange for tutoring the daughter of infamous entrepreneur Evan Rochester. Jane is undeniably drawn to her new employer, but the puzzling circumstances behind his wife’s death have her scrutinizing everything. This imaginative take on Charlotte Brontë’s Gothic novel has several satisfying nods to the source material, but veers away just enough to create a refreshing new experience. Marcott’s Jane is a formidable protagonist. She’s bright, inquisitive, and at times annoyingly suspicious. Evan is the typical brooding Rochester, and of course, the mystery behind the former Mrs. Rochester holds true to the original. The alternating points of view and brisk plot will hold readers’ interest. Fans of Jane Eyre who enjoyed Rachel Hawkins’ The Wife Upstairs will appreciate this equally enjoyable retelling from Marcott (The Producer’s Daughter).

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Review: City of Dark Corners

City of Dark Corners by Jon Talton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title!

Living in Arizona during the Depression, WWI veteran and former police detective turned private investigator Gene Hammons finds himself on the wrong end of a heinous murder case. A young woman is found dismembered next to railroad tracks with Gene’s business card in her purse. The police department rules it a suspicious death, but Gene is certain it’s much more than that. As he searches for the victim’s identity, Gene begins to unravel her secrets, leading to confrontations with some of Phoenix’s most prominent movers and shakers, both power brokers and criminals. Talton, author of the long-running David Mapstone series (The Bomb Shelter, 2018), set in contemporary Phoenix, shows his range with his first venture into historical mystery. (At the outset, Talton provides a considerate explanation of and warning about his decision to use language from the era.) Gene is an amiable and savvy protagonist, and Talton shines in weaving together the mystery elements of the plots with historical events from the Prohibition period. Fast-paced, gritty, and exciting, this one will have fans of both Depression-era and southwestern-set crime fiction begging for more!

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Review: The Unkindness of Ravens

The Unkindness of Ravens by M.E. Hilliard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Booklist for the ARC and the chance to review this great title!

Meet Greer Hogan—New York City executive turned small-town reference librarian, mystery-novel enthusiast, and grieving widow. When Greer stumbles over a dead body at Raven Hill, a Gothic-style mansion renovated into the town’s public library, she is devastated, both because the victim is a former schoolmate and friend, and also because the corpse isn’t the first one Greer has discovered. Her husband, also murdered, owns that distinction. Naturally, Greer’s proximity to a pair of dead bodies, both of whose murders are unsolved, makes her a person of interest to the police. Using her skills in reference work and taking advantage of help from a sympathetic police detective, Greer begins her own investigation, following clues left by her murdered friend and proving herself to be a gifted amateur sleuth. What Greer doesn’t count on is the killer tracking her efforts and coming after her. Hilliard’s crime-fiction debut is a smash and includes exciting hints at a sequel. Thrilling, fast-paced, quick-witted, and full of nostalgic references to Greer’s beloved literary detectives, The Unkindness of Ravens will please fans of Christie’s Poirot and Marple, Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache, and, especially, Sherlock Holmes. Highly recommended for all library collections.

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