You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen McManus

You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely Narrated by Rachel L. Jacobs, Anthony Rey Perez, Max Meyers, Malik Rashad, this stand alone mystery is an excellent audiobook and mystery teens will love! As middle school students Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. But now in high school they no longer hang out, much less speak to one another. But there comes a day when they run into one another and for separate reasons do not want to be in school that day. That decision turns their world upside down when they arrive right after a student (they all know) has been murdered. With her superior writing McManus twists and turns the plots and characters as they try to figure out what is going on all the while keeping secrets to themselves. Sinister and suspenseful, this is a must read!

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Golden Gate (City Spies, #2) by James Ponti

Golden Gate by James Ponti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd book in the City Spies series is a page turner as Brooklyn and Sydney save the day when their latest assignment involves the hijack of their boat and expands as they search for a mole, Mother's children and all sorts of mayhem! I can't wait for the 3rd book, the junior spy team and their individual fortes are beyond exciting!!! Highly recommended!

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Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narrated by: Ell Potter, this is historical fiction about William Shakespeare's life and family. It was a little difficult with the back and forth of characters and time, trying to establish the story. The basic premise is about the death of Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes' twin son, Hamnet. But there is so much background and characters to cover and while the narration is stellar, I was not as engrossed in this story as I wanted to be.

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Criminal (Will Trent, #6) by Karen Slaughter

Criminal by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my first Will Trent book, so I do not really know what he is like--that said, I did not like him (even though he has ghosts and a past) and his boss, Amanda, throughout the whole story. Even more, I have read other Karin Slaughter books --but the way she depicts the abhorrent sexism in the police force at the time, really turned me off. Also, the way these girls were killed sickened me time and time again as they discover/uncover the murders. Even the end did not do much for me.

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Recitatif by Toni Morrison

Recitatif by Toni Morrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narrated by: Zadie Smith and Bahni Turpin this short story written by Toni Morrison explores/lays out the story of 2 girls as youngsters meeting in an orphanage and they are bonded in their months together. After they leave, the reader meets them interacting as they run into each other. I love Bahni Turpin and she did not disappoint as the narrator but I was confused about Twyla and Roberta--their race and their experiences. I will be reading the story again for my Albright College Zoom Book Club and can't wait to discuss this story!

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The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, I loved this audiobook (and I am sure the book is just as GOOD) so much---if I could have sat and listened to the whole 12 hours and 51 minutes, I would have---the plot and Saskia's narration were riveting, pulse pounding and thrilling! I will be reading the book because I intend to have this title read by my Albright College Zoom Book Club and I know I will just love it even more then. The story of a Russian history major, Mila Pavlichenko, becoming the most deadly sniper in Russian history, during Hitler's invasion of Russia, was captivating due to so many things in her life---she was 15 when she meets Pavlichenko and he seduces her, she gets pregnant and must marry him. He is a thoroughly despicable person who is only out for himself and he tortures Mila every time they meet - he also never appears the 2 time she spends money she does not have to divorce him! Luckily Mila has wonderful parents who she lives with after the end of her marriage. She loves her son so much and only wants to complete her dissertation and raise him to the most wonderful son she knows he is. But that is interrupted when she is drafted and becomes the famous sniper. I could go on and on about this book---but this is a MUST READ! Mila, her life, and her place in history are in my heart forever due to Kate Quinn's compelling research and her power to craft the best STORY! Highly reocmmended.

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Trapped! (Frames #3) by James Pnoti

Trapped! by James Ponti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I hope this is not the final book in this awesome series---I have grown to love Florian, Margaret, Marcus, Kayla, the commander of the FBI, both sets of parents---Margaret and Florian are so happy Marcus is receiving a distinguished Medal of Honor and they revisit his first case as a memory. There was some kind of rare book spy case that he never totally resolved. Presently this case becomes center stage with Margaret and Florian using TOAST and I can't remember what Kayla introduced but they use both when they need guidance, help and direction! Florian's mom did some awesome sleuthing with them and Margaret's parents, the lawyers, get involved with Marcus (because he is the accused NOW) ---all really great additions to an already awesome, thrilling plot. Nic the Knife appears again and oh do I enjoy him! A must read and really great middle grade mystery series!

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The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by a very capable cast- Clare Corbett , Daphne Kouma , Julia Winwood , Sope Dirisu , Sofia Zervudachi , Charlie Anson I was gripped chapter by chapter as Jess arrives in Paris to stay with her brother Ben and he is not there after leaving her a message he will be there to let her in. Then the suspense, uncertainty, and horror begin! I loved Jess, she was a mess yet strong, with good instincts yet a life that was anything but easy. Now she doesn't know where her brother is and all the occupants in the Paris apartment are strange, mysterious and scary---warning her away, locking her in rooms, and being very uncooperative. I loved the sinister way the story progressed and never expected how Jess would stumble upon the truth---with no money, no one to trust, and just a single minded belief she must find her brother! Loved this latest mystery from Lucy Foley!


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Vanished! (Framed #2) by James Ponti

Vanished! by James Ponti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, I loved and could not stop reading the adventures of Margaret and Florian Bates as they continued to be kids in middle school but also working with the FBI and Marcus (using TOAST) to uncover who is pulling pranks at the elite Chatam School. Ponti keeps the thrill pulsing with this latest mystery and I enjoyed seeing Florian and Margaret at a rival school, making new friends (well really spying, even the President's daughter!), involving gangster Nic the Knife to help and try to find master cellist Yin as he vanishes during a concert! Highly recommended!

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City Spies (City Spies, #1) by James Ponti

City Spies by James Ponti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Laurie Hnatiuk @lhnatiuk for recommending James Ponti as a must read author, I have read his first book in the Framed series and gave the book to my granddaughter. I have both of the follow up books next to my bed. City Spies was exciting, riveting, and Ponti's writing was compelling but light with the characters, awesome locations, and just great spy drama with Brooklyn (Sara) and her crew led by Mother (a British spy who knows a lot), Monty and Reggie as they try to foil the Purple Thumb attacks/murders. With fun names, writing, and top notch kids who can hack, code break, evaluate equations, etc. this series is another that I am very excited to read! the villains are diabolical but these kids use their wits against them!!!

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Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, many thanks to Ben Gartner @BGartnerWriting for this recommendation. I could not put this debut down---the mystery, the strong female characters, and the best ending in the world, had me turning those pages, falling in love with Jo, Ursa, Gabe and Tabby. Jo has endured a lot the past few years and now that she is healthy and feeling good, she jumps headlong into her school project in a remote area with nesting birds. One day a disheveled little girl appears and with a fantastical story of her being from another planet. Jo does what she should and contacts the police, the girl bolts and the policeman does not give her good advice. So when this girl comes back, we all fall in love with her wit, she is very very smart, and she is adventurous, helpful, and insightful. When they both become friends with Gabe, this little trio is perfect, until it wasn't (reality!!!). Gabe's family, his depression, and his belief that Jo should give Ursa over to the authorities is a major conflict but it also brings them closer and I rooted for them the whole book. Glendy Vanderah's writing is beautiful, with the beauty of the area, and the characters being so so real. I can't wait to read more from this author!


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New From Here by Kelly Yang

New from Here by Kelly Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again Kelly Yang has me turning those pages and just loving Knox's family as they quickly move from Hong Kong to California at the onset of the corona virus. The biggest problem is that Knox's beloved dad must remain behind due to his job. He was really the one who cooked, cleaned, and picked up Knox, his brother, Bowen and sister, Lea from school. This book really got all the feelings of hopelessness, fear, and racism that occurred during Covid. Yang's writing is authentic with Knox and his family dealing with so so many issues that happened (this story is autobiographical, see Author Notes). I loved this book, but I also felt the sadness, fear, anger, greed, the characters dealt with on a daily basis in their new home and school and neighborhood. Knox finding out he has ADHD is such a shock but explains alot too, now he really needs to work on not blurting things out. There was also humor---I loved the whole LinkedIn part where the kids miss Dad so much they hatch a plot to get him to the US, have a yard sale to sell things but also get his father the needed contacts for LinkedIn. There was so much growth between their mom and her children; in Hoing Kong she was always working---in the US she had to do wash (remember to wash!!!) but for all her failings, the kids helped her out by taking on more responsibility. They may have had their fights and conflicts, but this family was very service oriented---even when they got more money or food---they shared with others. Like all of Kelly Yang's book, this is a must read---it shines a light on families, other nationalities, and what we have all gone through since Covid!

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