Title Wave

Happy Thursday!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Some new cozy mysteries have been listed on Amazon that will be coming out later this year and early next year (I love pre-ordering). The kindle version is not listed yet for some (or most) of the titles. You can, though, add them to your wish list on Amazon or on Goodreads to your "Want to Read" Shelf (which is what I did).  A few of them are Of Books and Bagpipes by Paige Shelton, Bel of the Brawl by Maggie McConnon, When Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day, Fudge and Jury by Ellie Alexander, Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer, Dead and Breakfast by Kate Kingsbury, and She Stopped for Death by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli.  I will be telling you about more new books soon.

Title Wave by Lorna Barrett is the tenth book in A Booktown Mystery series.  Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica Miles are going on a Mystery Lover’s cruise on the Celtic Lady along with family members (Antonio and Ginny Barbero and their daughter, Sofia) and colleagues from the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce.  Milford Travel proposed the excursion and it is taking place during the slow period for their town.  They are all looking forward to spending some time in the sun (and away from the snow).  They will get a chance to meet various mystery authors, attend lectures and workshops, and get books signed.  Tricia owns Haven’s Got a Clue in Stoneham, New Hampshire which carries mystery novels (the town is full of various bookstores).  Unfortunately, EM Barstow is one of the authors.  Ms. Barstow is a bestselling mystery author with horrible attitude (rude, demeaning).  Ms. Barstow is accompanied by Dori Douglas, who is president of her fan club and Cathy Cooper, her editor.  Tricia cannot sleep the first night and goes to get some hot cocoa.  She is on the way back to her room, when she notices a stateroom door wide open.  She investigates and finds EM Barstow dead.  The suspect list is extremely long, and they need to solve it before the ships arrives back in port (and the killer will walk away).  Can Tricia find the killer before the killer decides to write her off? 

Title Wave was my least favorite book in this series.  From the moment EM Barstow was introduced the reader knows (and hopes) she will be killed.  I thought the killer was obvious (the suspect list is really short in actuality), but the author did a good with it (and there is a twist near the end).  The one thing that really annoyed me in the novel was the constant mention of how much and what Tricia ate.  It is talked about more than the mystery.  It was too dominant in the book.  Angelica pushed Tricia to eat and Tricia declined to eat.  The readers find out why near the end of the book, but, by that time, I did not care (I was sick of it).  I think Ms. Barrett could have handled it differently, more subtlety.  I wish the author had spent more time on the mystery and less on food issues.  I felt that Tricia took the joy out of the book (and the trip for the group). I found that some information was repeated (like Tricia and her eating issues and Tricia’s deceased ex-husband).    I give Title Wave 3 out of 5 stars.  I do not recommend reading Title Wave without having enjoyed the earlier books in the series.  It would be hard to keep the characters straight and their various relationships (it can be confusing even if you have read the books). I will read the next book in A Booktown Mystery series, and I sincerely hope it will be like the novels at the beginning of the series.

The other novels in A Booktown Mystery series are Murder is Binding, Bookmarked for Death, Bookplate Special, Chapter and Hearse, Sentenced to Death, Murder on the Half Shelf, Not the Killing Type, Book Clubbed, A Fatal Chapter.  You can a list of them here on Amazon.  I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.   

Thank all of you for visiting.  I am currently reading Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander (so far there is very little mystery).  I will be back soon with more book reviews!  Take care, have a lovely evening, and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader