Day 15- When You Wish...

Hello and welcome to Day 15 of Advent Countdown. Since we're now only 10 days away from the big day, I thought I'd share a wish list with you. Specifically, these are the books I'm asking for for Christmas. Now I'd like to add a disclaimer here: this is just a general list that people who want to get me something can pick-and-choose from, or to get a rough idea of what I'd like. I'm not expecting people to get me things, and certainly not to get me everything on the list. Now that that's all said and done, let's get into it, shall we?

FYI, this list is in no particular order. I'll add links to each book on amazon too, in case you want to check them out yourself. Well then first up:

1. The Inspector Barnaby Series by Caroline Graham


This is a series of seven books, that inspired one of my all-time favourite shows (Midsomer Murders). I've never read the books themselves, and thought it was jolly well time that changed- considering how much I loved the TV series. For those interested, here are the names of the specific books:

1. The Killings at Badger's Drift (meant to be one of the greatest murder mystery stories of all time)
2. Death of a Hollow Man
3. Death in Disguise
4. Written in Blood
5. Faithful unto Death
6. A Place of Safety
7. A Ghost in the Machine

Next on my list are the first two books from another (quite new) series. These are the only two books from said series out at the time of writing this, and it looks to be a very enjoyable cozy mystery series. I've read the first, but not the second. In fact, I own an e-book version of the first book (which I won in a giveaway. It was possibly even the first book I ever reviewed here). I loved it then, and I'm itching for the next instalment.

2. A Wisteria Tearoom Mystery Series by Patrice 
Greenwood  

Again, here are the individual books:

1. A Fatal Twist of Lemon
2. A Sprig of Blossomed Thorn

If you'd like to check out my review for book one in the series, you can find it here.

Thirdly, I have another series instalment. Again I own the first book already ((through another giveaway) and have done a review on it, which you can find here), but this time I'm only asking for the second. The series is a dark murder mystery (can you tell I love them?) set in New Orleans. I believe this is going to be a trilogy, but only the first two books are available at the moment.

3. The Sins of the Father Series by Leo King

Individual books:

1. The Bourbon Street Ripper
2. A Life Without Fear

Fourth on my list is yet another series (I know, I know), though each book works as a stand-alone. I call it a series because they're both set in the same universe, with the same characters. Opposite to the previous entry, I own both of the books in this series already, but I only own the first book in e-book format (which I applied to review through a program called Blogging for Books), and would like a hard copy of it. I've read both books in the series (will there be more?), and have reviews for each of them.  They are lovely books based on characters getting over grief- in some form or other. They do have religious tones (which I normally shy away from as they can be a bit preachy), but done right. The book isn't about God, it's about the characters- some of whom just happen to be Christian.  

Individual books:

1. Wildflowers from Winter
2. Wishing on Willows

If you'd like to read my reviews on both these books, you can find my review of the first one here, and the second one here.

The final thing on my list is yet another series (I'm sorry, I'm sorry). Though this one is a little different. It's..

4. The Tintin Series by Georges Remi (better known by his pen name - Herge)

Now there are 24 books in this series, so I'm not going to spam you with a list of them all. I grew up on Tintin, and have incredibly fond memories of it. Even now, I enjoy the stories and adore the characters. I have somehow managed to make it through my life without owning even a single one of the 24 books, and hope to remedy this soon. For those who somehow don't know, Tintin is a Belgian reporter. He investigates mysteries around the world, with the help of his odd group of friends. He's kind of an Indiana Jones of reporting. The books are beautifully illustrated comics, and the series is one I think would appeal to people of all ages.

And that's my list everyone. A little insight into my Christmas wishes (or something like that). I hope you all enjoyed Day 15. I'll see you tomorrow for Day 16 of Advent Countdown. 

A Fatal Twist of Lemon

First Paragraph:

"The first day my tearoom opened was wonderful- mostly. Funny how life can go swimmingly one moment, and fall to pieces the next."

    Amazon /Amazon.co.uk

Blurb from Amazon.com:

"Cops drink coffee. They don't belong in Ellen Rosings's Victorian tearoom. But when her opening day thank-you tea ends in the murder of the president of the Santa Fe Preservation Trust, the police invade her haven. Enter Detective Tony Aragon: attractive and unsympathetic, with a chip on his shoulder that goes beyond the murder investigation, and Ellen's delicate bone china cup is full. Is the murderer one of her honored guests, or the ghost rumored to haunt the building? Will Ellen solve the mystery, or will the Wisteria Tearoom's premiere turn out to be its - and Ellen's - finale?"

A Fatal Twist of Lemon by Patrice Greenwood is a light, quick and pleasant read. Set in Santa Fe and starring Ellen Rosings as the owner of a new tearoom that falls on some very hard luck just before the grand opening, i.e. the murder. Determined to find the truth about the murder and clear both the reputation of her business and of herself and staff, she assigns herself a temporary detective and goes about trying to solve the case, much to the annoyance of the actual detective.

I enjoyed this little gem. There are subtle aspects of many different genres and styles interlaced in the writing, such as traditional murder mystery novels, e.g. Agatha Christie and Poirot, but in a modern setting. It's just a whisper, but some of the characters have the same formalities. Mixed in with the murder is a little romance and a hint at the supernatural (without ever being unrealistic).

The dialogue was a little predictable at times, but overall I was happy with this book. At under 300 pages, it can be read in a day and makes for a great "Sunday Afternoon" read.

While the entire plot is based around a murder and its consequences, the actual investigation (though continually mentioned) feels like it takes a backseat. It's almost a murder mystery without the murder. It was just a necessary plot point to gather the characters together, which actually works well.

There were a couple small unexplained aspects, but nothing too blaring . Overall, a good start to a new series. I'll be looking forward to the next volume of the Wisteria Tearoom Mysteries and I recommend this book to anyone who loves the Victorian era, tearooms, flowers or light-hearted murder mysteries.

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the LibraryThing Early Reviewers. This is not a sponsored review. I'm not being payed for my opinions. All opinions are my own.

If you would like to become a member of LibraryThing Early Reviewers, it is a public group. Simply go to their website and sign up (it's free) and you could be getting advanced copies of novels too. It does take a little while for them to choose to send you one of the free books (you have a choice of hundreds and you can request as many as you'd like). It took me a couple of months. My advice is to start with requesting any e-books that catch your interest. I'm normally against e-books, in favour of having an actual physical copy, but it's a place to start. You are required to provide a review on their website, one that is 100% your own opinion. You don't get payed for your reviews, but you do get a free book out of it.