Deadly Gamble

 

Deadly Gamble is the first book in the Charlie Parker mystery series. I did not realize it was a series when I started it. A few days ago the library was having problems checking out ebooks so I just searched what I had downloaded and randomly choose Deadly Gamble. My guess it is a Free Friday grab from ages ago.

Charlie is perfectly happy with her life as an accountant where she works with her brother who is a private investigator. One day while her brother is out of town an old friend shows up begging for help. Not wanting to say no to a friend Charlie reluctantly agrees to help out. Soon the case goes from recovering a missing watch to a murder mystery. Determined to figure out what is going on Charlie continues to search for clues.

This was a fast read that focused on the story and I really appreciated it was just mystery focused. No love triangle and no sex scenes. Parts of it were really hard to believe at times and some of the research seemed a bit rushed at times. Maybe the series gets a bit more real feel to it as it continues but it is not one I am actively going to seek out. 

Capturing the Devil

 

Capturing the Devil is the final book in the Stalking the Jack the Ripper series. I really struggled with the series conclusion. It seemed like love was the focus and less about solving who solving Jack the Ripper was until around the sixty percent mark.

Having hoped they left the horrors of Jack the Ripper behind them Audrey Rose and Thomas look forward to their time in America as they hope to learn more about their studies and each other. Having worked up the courage to finally propose Audrey Rose is thrilled and overjoyed at the thought of spending her life with the man she is in love with. However a lurking shadow will not let Audrey or Thomas forget that a murder is on the loose and no one is safe until he is captured.

Overall the mystery made very little sense to me. That could be because it was a long between reading the books since the library had such a massive waiting list for every volume. However I did not enjoy the series enough to gather them up all to do a re-read. 

Engaged in Danger

 

Engaged in Danger is the fourth book in the Jamie Quinn cozy mystery series. I received a copy in exchanged for an honest review. 

Jamie finally thinks things are going right in her life when her serious boyfriend Kip suddenly tells her that he is going to go to Australia for three months to work with endangered species. Devastated Jamie manages to wish Kip well as he sets off on his adventure. Thinking she will have plenty of time to sulk over Kip leaving Jamie is totally wrong. Soon the well known wife of one of the wealthiest men around walks in asking Jamie to be her divorce attorney. Before long problem after problem begins to pile up for Jamie as she tries to figure out what exactly is going on with everyone in her life.

Out of the series I have read so far Engaged in Danger is my favorite. I love how Mrs. Venkataraman made it appear effortless as she wove many intricate and believable story lines together. Everything made sense in the end and blended into a well rounded story. I was also a major fan of Mr. Paws getting a bit more story time, usually the animal is my favorite part of any cozy mystery.