Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts

Death of an Ex

Book Summary

Delia Pitts expertly writes about family, race, class, and grief in her mysteries. Vandy Myrick captured readers' and critics' hearts in Trouble in Queenstown. She returns in Death of an Ex, where Vandy tries to piece together what brought her ex-husband's life to an end.

Queenstown, New Jersey, feels big when you need help and tiny when you want privacy. For Vandy Myrick, that’s both a blessing and a curse. Now that Vandy’s back in “Q-Town,” her services as her hometown’s only Black woman private investigator have earned her more celebrity—or notoriety—than she figured.

Keeping busy with work helps Vandy deal with the grief of losing her daughter, stitching the seams, cementing the gaps. The memories will always remain, and they come crashing back to the surface when her ex-husband, Phil Bolden, walks back into her life. Promising everything, returning home, restoring family. Until she answers her door to the news that Phil has been murdered. And Vandy decides Phil is now her client.

It’s hard to separate the Phil that Vandy knew from the one Queenstown did. She sees him—and their daughter—in Phil’s son, who attends a prestigious local high school. She sees the layers of a complicated marriage with his wife. She sees all of Phil’s various roles: parent, husband, businessman, philanthropist. But which role got him killed?

My Thoughts

Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts is the second book in The Vandy Myrick Mysteries. The author does provide a lot of background information at the beginning for those who did not read Trouble in Queenstown.  The author, though, I was expecting a cozy mystery, but Death of an Ex is definitely not cozy.  I tried several times, but I was unable to get into the story.  It takes a while for the story to get moving.  The pacing is slow (the snails were waving as they passed).  I am not a fan of Vandy who is beyond messy (the author does warn readers). She is  annoying as well.  I liked that we get to see a middle-aged woman who is lively and vibrant.  

The author shows the attitudes and behaviors of some wealthy (and entitled) individuals towards education.  They feel their money will grease the wheels for the little darling to get into a prestigious university (sound familiar).  The mystery may appear complicated, but identifying the guilty party is a cinch.   I knew the identity of the guilty party before the murder took place. Vandy uses her private investigator skills to uncover secrets and zero in on bad guy. There are many improbable elements to the whodunit.  The reveal was unrealistic.  I found myself rolling my eyes often (which gave me a migraine and made my eyes hurt).  I’m sorry, but Death of an Ex is not my cup of tea.

Death of an Ex is available from Amazon*.  The first book in The Vandy Myrick Mysteries is Trouble in Queenstown.  You can find Delia Pitts' other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Tuesday, July 22 with Codebreaker by Jay Martel.  I wanted to let you know that my mother had a lovely 80th birthday.  She loved all her gifts, and she has a couple more to come (it is her birthday week).  I also learned an important lesson.  If you do not want a relative to learn about a big purchase, do not post a picture of it online (oops).  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Wayward Girls by Susan Wigg

 Wayward Girls

Book Summary

In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns—locked awaymerely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.

Mairin— free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.

Angela—denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

Helen—the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

Odessa—caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.

Janice—deeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty lay—except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Sister Bernadette—rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

Wayward Girls is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption...and justice.

My Thoughts

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs is a compelling tale.  The story goes from 1968 to the present day.  The author captured the late 1960s when men were being drafted for the Vietnam War, Catholic schools were popular, nuns could do no wrong, communes popped up in the countryside, and unwed pregnant girls brought shame to their families.  I thought the story was well written with realistic characters. I liked the main character, Mairin O’Hara who was spirited and determined.  I felt for the girls and the horrible atrocities that they suffered.  I was shocked that parents would stick their children in this “school” (a Magdalena laundry) and then never visit them. 

What the girls suffered was heartbreaking. The author did a terrific job at handling these traumatic topics.    I like how the girls became friends and helped each other.  We get to see how childhood/teenage experiences shape their future.  I did feel that a smidgeon of the dialogue ventured over the line into cheesy while some felt a tad forced. I liked the movie and book references in the story.  The ending was realistic.  Wayward Girls is a fascinating narrative with a protective big brother, best friend with bad news, loads of laundry, a dark closet, a wild ride, a frantic call, and friends forever. 

Wayward Girls is available from Amazon*.  You can find Susan Wiggs other novels here.  If you follow the author on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for dropping by today.  On Thursday, July 17, I am featuring Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts.  It is the second A Vandy Myrick Mystery. I am off to run a couple of errands.  My mother's 80th birthday is tomorrow, and I have a couple more items to pick up (her cake request for example).  She is enjoying her birthday week where she gets a gift a day (I spoil her).  What are you currently reading?  I just finished A Family for the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler.  It is the third A Violet Ridge Novel.  I hope that you have a special day.  Take care, stay cool (it is so hot and humid), and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Rage by Linda Castillo

 Rage

Book Summary

In this gripping installment of the Edgar Award winning series, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a brutal double murder that takes her into the dark underbelly of society and exposes the dangers of Amish lives gone wrong.

Summer has arrived with a vengeance in Painters Mill, and a macabre discovery by three Amish children brings the quiet to a grinding halt. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Yutzy, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. What twisted individual murdered him in such a sadistic way?

The investigation has barely begun when, miles away, a second body is found, stuffed into a barrel and dumped in a ravine. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel Yutzy’s best friend. What could these two young Amish men have been involved in that led to such violent ends?

With a heat wave bearing down, Kate learns quickly that, for reasons she doesn’t understand, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men. Just as she begins to fear the case may be hopeless, a mystery woman comes forward and reveals that fun-loving Aaron and Samuel had recently befriended some very unsavory characters—individuals who may have ties to a larger, more sinister, black market.

To solve the case, Kate must delve into the most sordid corners of her community, but when she gets too close, the killers target Kate herself. Will the secrets simmering beneath the surface of Painters Mill take another life before she can expose the truth? Or will Kate be the final victim?

My Thoughts

Rage by Linda Castillo takes us back to Painter’s Mill, Ohio where Kate Burkholder has an appalling murder case on her hands.  Rage is the seventeenth A Kate Burkholder Novel.  While Rage can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order.  It will allow you to get to know Kate and her backstory.  I thought Rage was well-written with developed characters.  The story has action, mystery, police procedures, suspense, and more.  Kate and her team along with John Tomasetti (Kate’s husband and an agent with BCI), Sheriff Rasmussen, and other law enforcement officers are working to unravel this case.  I could not believe the violence (it was described in detail).  

Kate finds herself in danger more than once (proving what a strong and courageous woman she is).  The mystery is complex with twists, turns, and shocking secrets.  I like the relationship between Kate and Tomasetti (they are perfect for each other).  The author’s descriptive writing transported me to Painter’s Mill where it was hot (I would not want to wear one of those Tyvek suits in that heat).  I found myself staying up late to finish the book (and my mother still yells at me to close my book and go to sleep). In addition to the violence, the story also contains foul language.  Rage is a twisty story with gripping suspense, gritty tableaus, police procedures, astonished Amish, a resilient leader, a supportive spouse, amazing action, and an exciting conclusion.

Rage is available from Amazon* as well as othe rmajor booksellers.  You can find the other A Kate Burkholder Novels here.  If you follow Linda Castillo on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, July 15 with Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs.  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander

Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander

 

About Exposing Lethal Secrets

 

Exposing Lethal Secrets 

Inspirational Romantic Suspense 

3rd in Series 

Setting - California desert and Florida forest 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Love Inspired Suspense 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2025 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages 

 

This bodyguard and his K-9 will do anything to uncover the truth.

Stumbling upon a burning car and rescuing an injured woman wasn’t on bodyguard Caleb Miller’s vacation itinerary—nor were the gunmen who open fire on them. But Olivia Delaney has no memory of who she is or how she got there, only that she is under threat. Vowing to protect the woman in danger, Caleb and his K-9 go on the run with Olivia. As they work to stay a step ahead of her pursuers, they must untangle her past together…before her family’s deadly schemes bury them both.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

About Deena Alexander

Deena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Now she enjoys long walks in nature all year long, despite the occasional alligator or snake she sometimes encounters. Deena's love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn't sleep through the night, and she now works full time as a writer and a freelance editor.

Author Links

Webpage: http://deenaalexander.com/index.html 

Blog: http://deenaalexander.com/blog.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeenaAlexanderAuthor

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DeenaAlexanderA

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20382104.Deena_Alexander

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/deena-alexander

Newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/492177/92188784823633445/share

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deena-Alexander/author/B08C1VKZFZ

My Thoughts

Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander is an action-packed tale.  My attention was captured immediately, and it was held as I kept reading to find out what would happen next.  I liked the main characters, Olivia and Caleb, as well as Caleb’s K-9 partner, Ranger.  I cannot imagine what it must be like to suffer amnesia (I don’t believe forgetting why you walked into a room counts).  Feelings develop between Olivia and Caleb (only natural) as they fight to survive the men after Olivia.  There is an inspiring thread of faith woven throughout the story.  The ending left me smiling.  Exposing Lethal Secrets is a thrilling tale with an incriminating thumb drive, ruined R&R, missing memories, evading bad guys, a protective canine, trust troubles, and proceeding with a plan.

Exposing Lethal Secrets is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Google Play. Deena Alexander has Missing at Christmas coming out October 28 (I cannot wait to read it).  You can find Deena Alexander's other novels here.  Would you like to win a $25 Amazon gift card?  Click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below to enter the giveaway.  Leave a comment for an extra entry.  Good Luck!  Thank you for dropping by today.  I will return tomorrow with Rage by Linda Castillo (talk about a page turner).  It is the seventeenth A Kate Burkholder Novel.  I am off to work on one of the projects on my lengthy to do list (my mother made a list for me :-).  Don't forget about Amazon Prime Days!  A great time to get good deals (knock some items off your Christmas list--I like to get it done early or get a little something for yourself).  I hope that you have an uplifting day. Don't forget to enter the contest. Take care, stay cool (it is so hot), and Happy Reading!

 

Kris

The Avid Reader

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Tour Participants

 

July 1 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 2 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

July 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 4 – OFF July 5 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

July 5 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT 

July 7 – Christy's Cozy Corners - REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 8 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

July 9 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

July 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 12 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 13 – Carla Loves To Read - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 14 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 15 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

July 15 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Accidental Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber

 Accidental Murder

Book Summary

From nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber comes a riveting new suspense!

When Kayla Macintyre discovers her twin sister Ashley brutally murdered, grief quickly gives way to terror—because Kayla was the real target. A case of mistaken identity fools the police into thinking she’s the one who died, and Kayla seizes the chance to disappear into her sister’s glamorous life as a supermodel. It’s a dangerous gamble for a tech-savvy, adrenaline-chasing computer repair specialist with zero fashion sense.

But the lie buys her time—and a shot at the truth.

As her clients and friends begin turning up dead, Kayla suspects the killer’s motive lies buried in the digital trails she’s been hired to clean. To stay alive, she must dive into the shadows of her clients’ secrets, unravel a conspiracy, and stay one step ahead of a killer who’s finally realized he missed his mark.

Time is running out. The next mistake could be fatal.

My Thoughts

Accidental Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber is an intriguing tale.  The story is well written with a peppy pace.  The mystery is well plotted. Kayla must stay vigilant if she wants to discover the truth and stay ahead of person trying to kill her (I bet Kayla wishes she had paid more attention to fashion—fake it till you make it). There is danger, nefarious activities, a missing friend, secrets, a conspiracy, cyber talk, and more.  I enjoyed the mystery (I love solving them).  There are hints that will lead to the guilty party (if you pay close attention).  Accidental Murder is a stimulating story that had me up until the wee hours, so I could see how the story concluded.  

Accidental Murder is available from Amazon*.  Daryl Wood Gerber has Murder by the Millions coming out on October 28.  It is the second book in A Literary Dining Mysteries. You can find the Daryl Wood Gerber's other novels here. Thank you for stopping by today.  

I'm sorry that I had to cut things short last week. I am finally starting to feel a little better.  It turns out that I was having an allergic reaction to cobalt.  I had been given a shot of B12 by my rheumatologist, and I had started taking B12 to help boost my energy levels.  When itching and a rash developed on all my limbs, I did a little research into B12.  I learned that it contains cobalt which I am allergic to along with other metals.  I wish that it had stated on the bottle that it contained cobalt.  Instead of boosting my energy level, it created a fibromyalgia flare up.  The itching and rash are finally starting to subside (thank heavens).  Please return tomorrow when I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander.  Don't forget that Amazon Prime Days start today.  There are some great deals (a great time for me to complete my Christmas shopping).  I hope that you have a delightful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher with Terrie Farley Moran

 Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston

Book Summary

Jessica Fletcher has dinner with her old pal Harry McGraw and gets pulled into a puzzling murder case.

Invited to deliver a lecture at the Boston Public Library, Jessica Fletcher excitedly makes plans to see local friends. Naturally that includes dinner at Gilhooley’s with PI Harry McGraw. Harry excitedly talks about his latest client, the CEO of Cure All Pharmaceuticals, who’s received anonymous blackmail demands and wants Harry to identify the culprit. Cookie, Gilhooley’s longtime bartender, also has something he wants to tell Jessica: he asked Harry to investigate his daughter Aileen’s boyfriend, who Cookie thinks is too slick by half, but now Harry is too wrapped up in this new case. While Jessica wonders how best to approach Aileen, the young woman stumbles into Gilhooley’s covered in blood. She just discovered her boyfriend’s corpse -- and quickly becomes the chief suspect in his murder!

Boston Public Library

My Thoughts

Murder, She Wrote:  A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran is a charming story.  I enjoyed watching Murder, She Wrote when it was first released (I was a kid), and this story stays true to the show.  It was great to catch up with some of the characters.  Jessica is heading to Boston along with Seth, which means a visit to Gilhooley’s and catching up with Harry McGraw (and trouble will soon follow).  I like that Jessica is just as Angela Lansbury portrayed her.  The whodunit involves Cookie’s daughter which naturally draws in Jessica, Harry, and Seth.  They each have a skill which will be needed to solve this mystery.  I like that Jessica used some of her book contacts in Boston to help to help in solving the crime.  The vivid descriptions of the places Jessica visited and saw in Boston allowed me to envision them.  I especially enjoyed the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.  The story had a feel-good ending.  Murder, She Wrote:  A Body in Boston would be a delightful story to read with a cup of tea (and some cookies) on a rainy afternoon.  

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Murder, She Wrote:  A Body in Boston is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other Murder, She Wrote novels here.  Thank you for joining me today. Due to a health issue, I am taking tomorrow off (and I hope I feel better for the party on the Fourth of July).  I will return on Tuesday, July 8 with Accidental Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber.  I hope that you have a fun and safe Fourth of July.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris 

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Framed in Amish Country by Mary Alford

 Framed in Amish Country

Book Summary

To prove her innocence

she’ll have to expose a lethal conspiracy.

A frantic call from her best friend sends district attorney Paige Grayson running right into a trap—and now she’s being framed for her friend’s murder. With the police after her and evidence against her stacking up, she seeks refuge in Amish country—and the help of her first love, Elijah King, to clear her name. To expose the drug dealer setting Paige up, they must work together while evading a ruthless criminal and the police. With threats closing in and time running out, one wrong move could be their last.

My Thoughts

Framed in Amish Country by Mary Alford captured my attention from the very first page.  I liked the main characters, Elijah and Paige.  The characters are developed, and I found myself cheering them on (I wanted them to survive).  I loved Gunner, Paige’s dog, who is protective of her, and Elijah’s dogs.  I enjoyed the suspense, action, and mystery.  I could feel the danger and the characters’ emotions.  With Paige and Elijah being near each other and in peril, it arouses old feelings.  Of course, there is still the problem of one being Amish and the other an Englisher. I delight in a good second chance romance. Faith is nicely woven throughout the story.  Forgiveness and grace are two of the themes.  I finished Framed in Amish Country with a smile on my face.  Framed in Amish Country is a captivating tale with a tricked attorney, a dead friend, battling bullets, guard dogs, Amish friends, a cruel criminal, and a second chance romance. 

Framed in Amish Country is available from Amazon* as well as other major retailers.  You can find Mary Alford's other books here.  Mary Alford has Shattered Amish Identity coming out October 28 (you can preorder it now).  Thank you for dropping by today.  I will return on Wednesday, July 2 with Murder, She Wrote:  A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher with Terrie Farley Moran. Other books that came out today are Hunting for a Husband by Mindy Steele, Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink, Wyoming Wilderness Survival by Jill Elizabeth Nelson, and Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs (I will feature on July 3). I recommend all four books.  I am off to hunt for rocking chairs for our new screened porch.  My mother wants them to be red and she would like them to have Ohio State cushions (I have a feeling that I will need to get those made).  I hope that you have a joyful day (we need more happiness in our lives).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.