Book Review: A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley

Title: A Dark and Stormy Murder (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery #1)
Author: Julia Buckley
Genres: Mystery| Cozy| Female sleuth
Print length: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkeley
Publication date: July 5th, 2016
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Author's website: http://www.juliabuckley.com/

An aspiring suspense novelist lands in the middle of a real crime, in the first in a captivating new series by the author of the Undercover Dish Mysteries. Lena London's literary dreams are coming true—as long as she can avoid any real-life villains... Camilla Graham’s bestselling suspense novels inspired Lena London to become a writer, so when she lands a job as Camilla’s new assistant, she can’t believe her luck. Not only will she help her idol craft an enchanting new mystery, she’ll get to live rent-free in Camilla’s gorgeous Victorian home in the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana. But Lena’s fortune soon changes for the worse. First, she lands in the center of small town gossip for befriending the local recluse. Then, she stumbles across one thing that a Camilla Graham novel is never without—a dead body, found on her new boss’s lakefront property. Now Lena must take a page out of one of Camilla’s books to hunt down clues in a real crime that seems to be connected to the novelist’s mysterious estate—before the killer writes them both out of the story for good... Goodreads

The plot: Lena London lands the job of a lifetime when her literary idol, Camilla Graham (a fictional romantic suspense writer styled after Mary Stewart), agrees to take her on as an assistant and invites her to live in her "Gothic monstrosity" of a home in the quaint, little town of Blue Lake, Indiana.

As Lena adjusts to small town life and the characters that reside there, Camilla and Lena quickly slip into their roles of mentor and apprentice as they collaborate on Camilla's latest mystery novel. They soon become embroiled in a real-life murder mystery, when Lena finds the body of Martin Jonas on Camilla's beachfront property.

With zero suspects in custody, and the knowledge that this quiet little town isn't all that it seems, Lena sets out to find out who murdered Martin. She has a sneaking suspicion that the crime is tied to Camilla Graham's house and the secrets hidden within...

The character(s): Lena London is a bookish beauty who absolutely idolizes Camilla Graham. The bits where she fangirls over Camilla feel so real and familiar to anyone who truly loves book. Pretty sure if Neil Gaiman took me on as his apprentice, I'd have to lock myself in a closet and scream uncontrollably for an hour before I calmed down enough to take him up on his offer.

Overall, I really enjoyed her character, though there is one part in the book where I felt she overreacted in a way that was extremely out of character and completely took me out of the book for that moment. Other than that, I greatly enjoyed the characters.

Lena's growing relationship with Camilla is pretty heartwarming, and I envy Lena that chance. I'd love to have a successful author take me under their wing and declare themselves my mentor. Camilla herself is great, and you get the sense of real depth within her character.

There's a minor love triangle (of course) between the handsome and helpful Detective Doug Heller and the brooding, mysterious Sam West, who Lena is fast becoming attached to, despite everyone's insistence that he's trouble.

The mystery: For me, the mystery about Martin Jonas's death was very well done. There were the appropriate amount of twists and turns, suspects, and red herrings. The reveal was fantastic and I can honestly say that I figured out the case at the exact moment that Lena did.

The mystery of Sam West, however...

When they mention his troubles in the beginning, I found it interesting and hoped to find out more about his wife's disappearance and what his role in it was. However, the rate that it accelerated near the end, and the giant leap in logic that Camilla takes, along with the fact that this mystery is clearly going to continue into the next book, makes me less enthusiastic about this aspect of the book. 

Final bite: I loved it! While it's no means perfect, the premise is wonderfully original, it has a great cast of characters, a likeable heroine, and an interesting locale. This is a great start to (what I hope will be) an excellent new series for me to follow. Along with her Undercover Dish series (the first book reviewed here), Julia Buckley is fast becoming the cozy author to watch. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4.25/5 

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts #3 - A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley

Hosted @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

Food and books are the two greatest loves of my life, so it's natural that I would participate in Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts. This is where I will post food and/or drink quotes from the books I'm currently reading.

This week's entry is from A Dark and Stormy Murder, the first book in Julia Buckley's A Writer's Apprentice Mystery series. This is not a culinary cozy, unlike her Undercover Dish Mysteries (first book reviewed here), but in the little bit I've read, there are some tasty food references.

This scene takes place over dinner, shortly after Lena discovers a dead body on her mentor's property:

At a grand oak table in Camilla Graham's dining room, we dined on fresh spinach salad with chunks of feta cheese, chopped walnuts, and an herb vinaigrette. After that came a delicious casserole that Camilla'a chef had left for us to bake and serve, filled with chicken, fresh vegetables, and a hint of sherry. Camilla looked tired, but she proved to be a gracious conversationalist. While I polished off the last of my salad (I found that I was famished after the day's events), she asked me about Allison - how we had met, how long we had been friends.

A light, simple entry, after the smorgasbord that often took place in last week's Bruno, Chief of Police. Thursday is the Daley Plaza Farmer's Market near my job; might have to hit it up for some spinach salad for dinner!

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #3 - A Dark and Stormy Murder; Throw Away Girls

Hosted by Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea

Post the first paragraph(s) of what you are currently reading or will read soon.

First up is a book that I got about a week ago and have been looking forward to.

A Dark and Stormy Murder (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery #1); Julia Buckley

Berkeley - 2016

I was immersed in The Lost Child, one of my favorite Camilla Graham novels, when an unlikely phone call changed my life.

Short, simple, and already intriguing. I can't wait to read more! Next up is a very, very different sort of story...

Throw Away Girls; Jennifer Vaughn

Waldorf Publishing - 2016

"You are heavier than you look, sweet thing," the man grunted as he hoisted the woman by the waist. Her knee caught a metal hook near the wall that held a cat o'nine tails and ripped open. She groaned. Blocking out a stab of pain and the stark shock of having this enjoyable encounter rapidly degrade into a nightmare, Zoe Statler switched to survival mode.

I haven't started A Dark and Stormy Murder yet, but I'm about nine chapters into Throw Away Girls and it is a heck of a page-turner.  

Which one seems more interesting to you? 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #1

I've had a rather busy weekend. Spent Saturday and early Sunday celebrating a childhood friend's bachelorette party. Luckily, she decided to keep it pretty low-key with a Chicago White Sox game, backyard barbecue, drinks in the neighborhood, and finally, a Sunday brunch. Cheap, chill, and fun.

One of my best buddies since 2nd grade

I keeps it classy

The weather was surprisingly beautiful all weekend. Definitely patio weather. I proceeded to eat and drink myself stupid all weekend. MIMOSAS ALL DAY, SON.

Gorgeous party favor

Backyard barbecue. Summertime in Chicago is glorious

Butterscotch Bonanza Bars, recipe coming soon

Chicken & Biscuits with a cherry lemonade

Brunch ended early enough for me to hop the train home, drop off my stuff, and head off to an author event at my neighborhood mystery and history bookstore, Centuries & Sleuths. Julia Buckley's new cozy mystery, A Dark and Stormy Murder, just dropped and she was doing a talk and signing. There was a great turnout, and she read a very short excerpt from the novel, introducing us to the fictional town of Blue Lake, Indiana, where the  novel takes place.  Expect a review by the end of the month (so much to read!)

No, I didn't win :(

She provided 3 different kinds of delicious cupcakes decorated with cute cut-outs of her new novel. I might have sampled all 3 flavors >_>

She was absolutely lovely. 

Now that the weekend's over, I'm participating in the meme, It's Monday! What Are You Reading? where I'll be sharing what I have been/are/will be reading over the next week.

Hosted @ The Book Date

What I Read Last Week:

                          

                                            

The Black Stiletto was great fun, I wrote a review of it here. The Silver Needle Murder and Oolong Dead are both part of the A Tea Shop Mystery series, a world and cast that I greatly love, but these books can be a little hit or miss. Wasn't enamored with Oolong Murder; I felt there were too many unnecessary plot threads and an unsatisfactory wrap-up.

What I Am Currently Reading:

               

I'm part of a mystery discussion group that meets once a month, and we'll be meeting on Saturday to discuss Bruno, Chief of Police. I'm continuing with the next installment in A Tea Shop Mysteries with The Teaberry Strangler; here's hoping it's better than the last one. Finally, I'll be reading and reviewing Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna as part of the Save Our Cozies Readathon on Saturday, July 16th.

What's Up Next:

Just bought a stack of books today. Perhaps one of these? Or something from my ever-growing TBR list? Who knows...

Book Review: The Black Stiletto (#1 of 5) by Raymond Benson

Title: The Black Stiletto (#1 of 5)
Author: Raymond Benson
Genres: Mystery| Thriller| Suspense| Crime| Female Sleuth
Print length: 288 pages
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Author website: http://raymondbenson.com/

Could Martin Talbot's elderly, Alzheimer-stricken mother, Judy, really have been the Black Stiletto? When Martin discovers several volumes of her diaries hidden by his mother, he is stunned beyond all imagination. His mother, the underground heroine of yesteryear? The famed, still unidentified woman who battled Communist spies, took on the Mafia, and preyed on common crooks? The woman who exacted punishment on evildoers without mercy? But it is all described, in great detail, in the diaries. What caused her to begin her quest for justice. Her decision to act outside the law. Her feats as the famed and feared vigilante. How her reputation exploded. In short, how it all played out. Could it be true? Talbot is filled with doubt and disbelief. But the reappearance of one of the Stiletto's old enemies with a thirst for merciless revenge makes the story more than real and could imperil the life of not only the Stiletto, but her son and granddaughter as well. GoodReads

The plot: The Black Stiletto is simultaneously a superhero origin story, a story of family, and a story of revenge.

Martin Talbot's mother, Judy, is wasting away in a nursing home due to Alzheimer's. One day, he receives his mother's inheritance: a letter with a key, and a strongbox with random memorabilia. The letter contains the confession that she was, in fact, the world-famous Black Stiletto, masked vigilante of the 1950's. The key opens up a hidden room in Martin's childhood home, which contains her costume, collected comic books, and most importantly, a series of diaries that his mother kept during her time as The Black Stiletto.

It is through these diaries that we experience Judy Cooper/the Black Stiletto's voice, and we watch her come into her own: from a scared, young runaway to a masked vigilante out to right the wrongs of 1950's New York. It is also through these diaries that Martin learns about the secret life his mother has hidden from him all these years. Who was this woman and what other secrets does she have?

The characters: The POV shifts between the three central characters: Martin in present day; Judy Cooper, through her diary entries from 1958; and Roberto Ranelli, an ex-con with a vendetta against the Black Stiletto, who was just released from prison after 50+ years.

While I like the idea of the diary entries, I felt that Judy's sections were the weakest. Her reflections on her childhood and the lead up to the inception of the Black Stiletto were great, but since we don't get to witness the action as it happens, I felt rather removed from the scenes. Also, minor quibble: I get that this is the diary of a fairly young woman, but every time she wrote "ha ha" in her entries, I rolled my eyes. I don't know why this annoyed me so much, but it did. Took me right out of it.

However, the scenes with Roberto felt fully realized to me. I got who he was, what his motivation was, and I felt real menace coming off of him, even as I laughed at his duck-out-of-water scenarios. As a man who's been incarcerated for 50+ years in Sing Sing, being released into present-day New York must've been like Marty time-traveling to 2015 in Back to the Future II.

The sections with Martin gave an interesting contrast to the gritty, often surreal scenes depicted by Judy and Roberto. He is your everyman; an accountant at a large firm in suburban Chicago, with an ex-wife and a teenage daughter who, against his will, wants to study acting in college. His discovery of who and what his mother really was are in stark relief to his visits to the now frail, sickly woman that his mother has become.

The mystery: This wasn't a traditional mystery in any sense, so I can't really judge that part. It's more at home in the crime/thriller/suspense category.

Final bite: I really liked this book, but I expected to love it. I'm a huge fan of comics and kick-ass ladies, but this fell just a bit short. However, this is most likely due to my high expectations than any real fault with the book. I also recognize that this is the first in a series, and that trying to set up the origin story of a character as complex  as the Black Stiletto is a challenge. I will definitely be sticking with this series, because there is a ton of potential there. 

Rating: 3.8/5

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #1 - The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson

Hosted by Diane @ Bibliophile by the Sea

Post the first paragraph(s) of the book you are currently reading or plan on reading soon.

                                         The Black Stiletto (Book 1); Raymond Benson
                                                Oceanview Publishing - 2012

I

Martin

The present

My mother was the masked vigilante known as the Black Stiletto

                I just found out today, and I’ve been her son for forty-eight years. All my life I knew she had some secrets, but needless to say, this is a bit of a shock.

                At first I thought it was a joke. I mean, come on. My mother? A costumed crusader? Yeah, tell me another one. And the Black Stiletto, of all people? No one in a million years would believe it. I’m not sure I do, and here I am being presented with hard evidence.

                The Black Stiletto. One of the most famous persons on the planet.

                And she’s slowly dying. In a nursing home.

What do you think? Should this be my next review?

Book Review: The Big Chili by Julia Buckley

Title: The Big Chili (Undercover Dish #1)
Author: Julia Buckley
Genre: Mystery| Culinary Cozy| Adult Fiction| Romance

• Print Length: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley 
• Publication Date: October 6, 2015
• Source: Purchased
• Format: Paperback

Author website: http://www.juliabuckley.com/

First in a delicious new mystery series filled with casseroles, confidences, and killers...

Lilah Drake’s Covered Dish business discreetly provides the residents of Pine Haven, Illinois, with delicious, fresh-cooked meals they can claim they cooked themselves. But when one of her clandestine concoctions is used to poison a local woman, Lilah finds herself in a pot-load of trouble… Goodreads

My Review

The Big Chili is a great start to a promising new series! Author Julia Buckley brings an interesting new spin to the beloved culinary cozy with our heroine, Lilah Drake and her Covered Dish business.

Plot:  Lilah Drake has a clandestine business where she provides delicious, home-cooked meals to the culinarily challenged. The one caveat? No one can know that it's not actually them preparing these meals. With furtive hand-offs occurring in church parking lots and under bridges, there is plenty of humor and shady business to go around. When one of her signature dishes is used to kill the queen bee of the church social, Lilah has quite a few questions she must answer: Is there a killer in their midst? Why did they choose that dish? Should she come forward as the person who actually prepared that dish? Is her fledgling business ruined forever?

Characters: Lilah Drake and her sidekick, Mick the Labrador, are standouts. There is just enough detail, with the additional quirk or two, to make them both real and charming. I also greatly enjoyed her interactions with her family. In fact, I would say it is the relationships that Lilah has with the various figures in her small community that make this such a fun, interesting read.

However, I was not enamored with the potential love interest, police detective Jay Parker. The meet-cute was a typical misunderstanding that could've easily been cleared up, and his character felt a little stiff. I will give this a pass, however, since this is the first book in the series and I'm sure that Julia Buckley will take the time to further develop his character.

The Mystery: Cozy mysteries are not known for their intricate plots; they're more of a light, fun read where the effort to find out whodunnit is minimum. The Big Chili provided just enough twists and turns to keep it from being utterly predictable, and although I did manage to figure out the killer, it took me til nearly the very end to do so.

Final Bite: I'm definitely ready for a second helping. Whether you're a fan of cozies or just looking for a delicious summer read, be sure to check out The Big Chili.

Rating: 4/5