I thought that Christmas mysteries would be a great topic for today's blog! There are a lot of great ones out there.  I don't have any books that are specifically Christmas mysteries, but both She Wore Mourning and He was Walking Alone are mysteries that take place during the Christmas season, and I have a short Christmas mystery in the Auntie Clem's Bakery series, Dog-Free Dinner.  Here are some others that I have pulled up today ...

Who could be behind this cat-astrophic crime? Follow Reg Rawlins on her journey to solve the mystery of the missing emerald necklace! ...

This is no ordinary teen runaway - something strange is going on and time is running out for the teen! ...

What happens when a self-professed con artist, a drop-dead gorgeous warlock, and a psychic cat get together? Find out in the award-winning paranormal mystery ...

I haven't posted about a young adult book lately, so I am pleased to bring you an excerpt from Gayle Forman's If I Stay. I hadn't read the blurb before starting, I just knew it was Gayle Forman and a popular book. It's definitely a little more interesting if you pick it up without knowing the premise, so decide whether you want to know or not before reading the blurb at the bottom! Gayle Forman is such a great writer of impactful YA ...

I was trying to decide what to write about in my blog today, and I thought, what better subject than Christmas books? Your favourite Christmas book can set the tone for the season, and it seems like there are endless movie adaptations of some of the classics ...

I've read a number of Alex Cross books before, and was a little disappointed with Merry Christmas, Alex Cross. Rather than a cohesive plot, it was as if three or four different stories had been stitched together, none of them with anything to do with the others. It is still a thrilling read, just not to James Patterson's usual standards ...

My sweetie Randy has put up a review of Stirring Up Murder on his blog,  Erin has always felt something was missing when it comes to her family. Now, out of the blue, she has found out she has a half-sister. Does Erin dare look for her? Or does she decide that she is happy and her life is complete? Her life is progressing, her business is growing, and she has a wonderful man in her life in Terry Piper. Why should she make an effort to look for this half-sister? ...

I am currently reading a Lisa Scottoline novel, Betrayed. It is part of the Rosato & DiNunzio series. I'm a sucker for murder mysteries and legal thrillers, and Lisa Scottoline almost always hits it out of the park for me. Betrayed does not disappoint. Scottoline's characters are well-developed and I am eager to find out what sort of scheme it was that the victim was involved in. Hopefully, Judy Carrier will find out that her Aunt Barb's trust was not misplaced ...

US Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday—a great time of year to buy new books! I have gathered together a stack of free and $0.99 books (and book bundles for $2.99 or less.) ...

I recently read Orbs, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith, the first book in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi series. There was lots of tension and action for the thriller lover, but if you are someone who expects the science and logic to be sound, you might want to give this one a pass. There are some major failings in both. If you can overlook it to enjoy the action, have at it! ...

He was Walking Alone, #4 in the Zachary Goldman Mysteries is now available! If you've been following the series, you know that Zachary Goldman is a private investigator with a difference. While the series is reminiscent of the old TV detective series, Zachary is a man tortured by his own demons, who is deeply empathetic toward his clients and the victims of the crimes he investigates. Each book can be read as a stand alone mystery ...

I am currently reading Alter Ego (#9 Jonathan Stride Series) by Brian Freeman. I'm not sure how many other Jonathan Stride books I have read, at least one other. A good police procedural that readers of Lee Child or James Patterson will enjoy. Good, well-rounded characters carry through the series and make for an enjoyable read ...

What is the relationship between Odd Socks Day and Anti-Bullying Week? What does this fashion statement have to do with bullying? We wear odd socks today to express the idea that everyone is different, everyone feels like they are not part of the crowd for some reason, and we all deserve love and respect ...

In a recent article in Voya Magazine, Jessica Snow talks about some of the resources that are available for the staff of these programs to help them to choose the books that will have the greatest impact on their young people. One of those resources is Library Services for Youth in Custody (http://youthlibraries.org/). They provide helpful suggestions and book lists for those who are trying to stock their libraries with the best books for their youth ...

I am just finishing up another of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels. This one, Running Blind, is number four in the series. There are definitely differences in Jack Reacher much further into the series and these earlier iterations. He is still finding himself in book four. Still sorting out who he is and what it is that he's doing. ...

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you probably know that I have been doing Nanowrimo for a number of years (according to my account, this is my seventh year.)  ...

Raising Caleb had never been easy, but things got exponentially worse when DFS made an unexpected appearance and decided he was in danger, something Riley would never have predicted in a million years.

Now Caleb really is in danger.

Gabriel and Renata are working together once more to determine whether an injustice has been done and to get Caleb into a safe situation. But Andrew Searle is on the case, and it’s his job to see that they don’t succeed. 

...

I am reading Sue Grafton's X, book 24 of the Kinsey Millhone series. I was sorry to hear of Sue Grafton's passing last year and that she wasn't able to finish the series. Kinsey Millhone is a fun PI and I have always enjoyed reading the series ...