I, Spy by L.M. Kemp

I, Spy

Book Summary

Kendal Carter is out in the cold and she wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been four years since her daughter Rosie was born and Kendal has kept her miles away from the danger of her former life as a spy. But when their hiding place is discovered, Kendal is forced to turn to old contacts for help. Her longtime friend and ex-handler Rico doesn’t miss his chance to pull his best spy back in. Whisking them to London, Rico offers them a luxury safe house in an area with good schools. How can Kendal resist?

But there’s a catch, of course. Rico wants Kendal to come back to work for his espionage agency Bon Temps. He’s offering an assignment with no apparent downside, investigating one of the dads at Rosie’s new school who works at one of London’s biggest, murkiest tech firms and suspected of being up to no good. It should be easy enough for someone with her experience, and luckily, mother is the perfect cover.

However, it doesn’t take long for Kendal to realize that Rico’s got an agenda of his own. The tech firm may be dealing in darker and more deadly secrets than they all realize, plus the world of coffee mornings and playdates comes with its own web of allegiances and betrayals. Kendal soon finds herself in way too deep . . .

A gripping blend of suspenseful spy thriller with heartfelt women’s fiction, I, Spy is the first in a propulsive debut series about the masks we all wear, whether as a spy or as a parent.

My Thoughts

I, Spy by L.M. Kemp is a fun and fast paced spy story.  This was an original take on a spy story.  I thought the interactions between Kendall and Rosie were sweet. Kendall is clever and capable (watch out bad guys).  The side characters were engaging and droll.  I enjoyed the twists and turns which kept things lively along with the action.  I loved all the humor.  The author left room for a sequel or series.  I am looking forward to Kendall’s next adventure.  

I, Spy can be obtained from Amazon. If you follow L.M. Kemp on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for popping by today.  On Tuesday, May 12, I will be featuring The Island Bookshop by Roseanna M. White.  May your weekend be a little island of sunshine in the ocean of your week. 🌴🌞  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.

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.

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair: Review & Giveaway!

Welcome!  Allison Montclair grew up reading Agatha Christie novels and watching James Bond movies.  As a result, Ms. Montclair became addicted to tales of crime, intrigue and espionage.  She now spends her spare time poking into the nooks, crannies, and corners of history looking for unique mysterious items that she can transform into novels of her own.  The Right Sort of Man is Allison Montclair's debut novel.

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair takes us back to 1946 in London.  Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge and Iris Sparks started The Right Sort Marriage Bureau three months ago.  Gwen is a society lady and widow with a six year old son.  She can tell when someone is lying plus, she is successful at pairing up couples.  Iris or Sparks as she prefers to be called is naturally nosy, intelligent, has a way of fitting in no matter where, and has good connections.  Their business is off to a successful start until their latest client, Miss Matilda “Tillie” La Salle is murdered.  The man they set Tillie up with, Richard “Dickie” Trower is arrested and The Right Sort Marriage Bureau is in the headlines.  This is not the type of publicity they need for their fledgling business.  Gwen and Sparks are positive the police have the wrong man and they set out to prove it. 

The Right Sort of Man is an entertaining historical mystery.  The author captured post-war London with her vivid descriptions of the bombed out areas, rationing and modes of public transportation (tube, tram, and bus).  Numerous items continued to be rationed in England for many years after the war (food, clothes, petrol). I enjoyed Allison Montclair’s writing style with its appealing dialogue and her delightful protagonists.  Iris Sparks is an intelligent woman who did special work for the government during the war (which she cannot talk about).  Sparks has a unique skill set and is well connected.  She thrives on action and has left a string of unhappy beaus in her wake including DS Mike Kinsey.  Sparks does love her typewriter though.  I especially loved Iris Sparks droll wit. Gwen Bainbridge is a widow with a six year old son and a fascination with Ronald Coleman.  Gwen had a hard time after she was notified of her husband’s death.  She needed some medical assistance which her in-laws used to grab guardianship of their only grandchild.  Gwen is now forced to live with the in-laws to be near her son.  Going into business with Iris is her way of obtaining some independence and getting her self-confidence back. When one of their clients is murdered and another accused of the crime, the only way to save their business is to solve the murder themselves.  While Iris has the skills for investigating, it is new to Gwen.  She soon finds herself enjoying new experiences like riding a tram.  I liked the evolution of Gwen’s character.  Salvatore “Sally” Danielli was a pleasing addition.  He is a complex man with hidden depths (he is working on a play too).   There are two mysteries in The Right Sort of Man.  One is more complex and dominates the story while the other drifts along in the background (and is simpler).  I had a good time following the clues and solving both puzzles.  The Right Sort of Man has a great ending.  I am hoping there will be more novels featuring this enterprising duo.  You will find yourself rooting for Gwen and Sparks in the charming The Right Sort of Man. 

Ronald Coleman

The Right Sort of Man will be out on Tuesday, June 4 and can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell's and Indiebound.  If you would like to win a copy, please follow my blog and leave a comment with your email address (so I know you entered and I can contact you).  It is open to resident of the United States only (sorry) and closes on June 8 at 11: 59 p.m. EST.  Good Luck!  Take the time to visit the other stops on the tour (schedule below).  I will return tomorrow with my review of The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle.  I hope you have an enchanting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader