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Madeleine

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    Madeleine's Book Log 2023

    in Book Blogs - Discuss your reading!

    Posted

    A Witch Hunt in Whitby by Helen Cox - this is another instalment in the Kitt Hartley cosy crime series.  Kitt is a librarian who is obsessed with books, and finds herself helping her boyfriend, policeman Mal Halloran, investigate crimes, and when her friend Ruby, a medium, finds a strange mark on her front door denoting her as the so-called Vampire Killer's next victim, the case becomes even more personal, and urgent, for the police now know that they have only 11 days to find the killer, who has already claimed 3 victims, all who had the same "V" daubed on their front door, 11 days before they were murdered.  Kitt and her assistant Grace, who are also private investigators, launch their own investigation and eventually a link to Whitby becomes clear, so it's off to Whitby to meet up with the leader of a "Dracula" group.  They also discover links to another, more sinister group, and find that the answer as usual lies in the past, but time is running out as, like vampires, several of their leads seem to have gone to ground, and will they be able to find their friend before the killer?  This was another easy read, entertaining but not totally convincing, especially with a basic error like saying that Halloran has a police badge - they have warrant cards in the UK, not badges, and the author should know this by now.  There were a few other continuity errors too, which lost it a few points. But the books are readable, and the settings are lovely too.  6/10

    Madeleine's Book Log 2023

    in Book Blogs - Discuss your reading!

    Posted

    "The Darker Arts" by Oscar de Muriel - my Victober read, this is the 5th in the Frey and McGray series,set mainly in late Victorian Edinburgh. This carries on from the tragic events of the previous book, with Ian Frey still recovering, now back at the family home in Gloucestershire, until he is summoned back to Edinburgh by his colleague, Adolphus McGray,who is sick with worry after his clairvoyant friend, Katerina, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering the 6 people who were taking part in a seance in a locked room - the lights went out, and Katerina woke up the next day to find herself the only person in the room, in fact the whole house, still living. As the victims have no obvious injuries or signs of intoxication of any sort, she is the prime suspect, and the duo are in a race against time to save her from the gallows,and find the real culprit. Another hugely enjoyable romp,with some nice humour, and genuine suspense. A great series, sadly only two more books to go. 8/10
     
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