The Dutch Wife

I would so have buyer's remorse if I had purchased The Dutch Wife. Lately I have read several interesting and well written stories about World War II and was eager to give another a try.

Marijke de Graaf is arrested along with her husband for being supports of the resistance. Separated she is taken to a camp and after a few weeks offered a chance to have a slightly better life working in a prisoner's brothel. The thought of food and being in the same camp as her husband is the deciding factor in here agreeing.

 Karl Müller is a young Nazi officer who secured the position through his father. Disgusted by the brutal condition of the camp and having to give orders to treat the prisoners badly Karl turns to the brothel but not the officers brothel he goes to the prisoners brothel. After meeting Marijke he quickly becomes enticed by her spirit and beauty. 

Luciano Wagner is in Argentina and it is a different time period. Arrested for being part of the Resistance Luciano deals with being tortured, abused mentally, and starved. Not understanding what is happening his story is him mainly writing letters to his Papa in his head.

I really wanted to like The Dutch Wife but the story just did not work. Things did not flow, it was odd having Luciano thrown into the story. Transitions were not smooth between chapters and I was constantly confused as to what had happened. The worst part is the ending it just stopped, nothing really came together nor did the story feel complete. Just was not a story that was withing my preference.

The Carnelian Crow

The Carnelian Crow is the fourth book in the Stoker and Holmes series. I had forgotten how good the series is and hoping the last book in the series does not have a long waiting list at the library.

I really love how Mina and Eva are two different people but clearly masters of their art form. Mina is desperate for something to entertain and challenge her mind. With the Ankh having escaped yet again a new mystery appears in Mina's lap when a crow delivers an oddly shaped pin to her window in the middle of the night. Eva is happy for a break from hunting the Ankh and determined to go back to hunting vampires until her sister in law informs her she must marry to save the family from becoming bankrupt. With each girl facing their own problems and the Ankh reading the next step of her plan action is not lacking with each turn of the page.

The duo has grown a lot from the time when they hated each other and could barely work as a team to becoming friends. With so many cliffhangers at the end of The Carnelian Crow I cannot wait to start on The Zeppelin Deception which is sadly the last book in the series.

Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore

Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore is the third book in the Haunted Vintage Mystery series. No real reason I choose it other then I am working on finishing up series before starting new ones this year.

Always interested in promoting her vintage clothing store Cookie jumps on the chance to let models use some vintage clothing articles in a local fashion show. Everything is going great with the show until Cookie finds the manager dead with a model standing over her. To make matters worse a new ghost shows up demanding Cookie retrieves his 1950s fedora for him. Once again surrounded by ghosts Cookie must solve a murder, with the help of the original ghost Charlotte, fedora loving private eye Sam, Cookie's best friend Heather, and the ever mysterious Wind Song the cat Cookie must use all the skills she has learned to solve the deadliest murder mystery to date.

Rose Pressey's writing is getting crisper and showing a better balance between describing vintage clothing but not forgetting the story line. I like how Cookie is evolving as a sleuth and learning she cannot do everything on her own. I did read a teaser for the next book in the series, Haunted is Always in Fashion, but it is checked out at the library. I hope to continue the series soon.