Two Books that I didn’t like

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

I am going to do something out of the ordinary for me today. I am going to tell you about two books that I did not really like. I hate to do this because someone put all their effort into writing a book, and I hate to belittle that effort.

Something along the lines that if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

The Story That Wouldn’t Die by Christina Estes did not capture my interest. It seemed to move slowly, and the characters didn’t appeal to me. It is the story of award-winning reporter Jolene Garcia working on a story about bid rigging in the city. She had talked to a small business owner who decided that he was fed up and had to bring up that he felt that he wasn’t getting city work because the bids were rigged. Soon after they talked, he was killed in a car crash. Normally, she would expect her bosses to be right behind her, urging her to look into the story. But they aren’t. They tell her to drop the story. She doesn’,t and she keeps investigating.

I’m sorry that I can’t sing the praises of this book. I would suggest that if you think the premise sounds interesting that you take the time to read it and form your own opinion.

Stakeouts and Strollers by Rob Phillips is the second book that I did not like. This book does not come out until March 17, 2026. Much like other times I have not liked a book, this book has won an award, and it isn’t even out yet. It won an award for Best First Mystery Novel. So, if it sounds interesting to you, please go ahead and read it. My opinion is not the be-all and end-all.

Charlie Shaw is tired and broke. He is a new dad and a new PI. While he is working on one case, he meets Friday Findley, who is searching for her Dad. Findley’s mother has recently died, and she needs to find her dad to keep her out of the foster system. The trouble is, of course, that her dad is not someone that anyone aspires to know. At first, it looks like maybe he is just hiding but then Charley begins to suspect there is something else going on. Can he back out now that he has taken an interest? 

I found the book really unrealistic. I know, mystery, fiction, a name like Stakeouts and Strollers; what did I expect? The beginning of the book flips back and forth in time, and I found it confusing and which was not a great way to start.

I’d love to agree that it deserves an award, but I’m not there. I suggest that if it sounds interesting to you that you check it out for yourself.

Thanks for reading.

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Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

What do you do in your “spare” time? How much time do you spend on social media? I obviously read, but I also have developed a bad habit of watching videos on Facebook. I will admit to watching too many dog adoption videos. Yes, it is an odd niche. I wonder how long it will take the dog to warm up to the people. There is even one where the dog bit the person, and she still adopted him.

Of course, my time would be better spent doing something else, but sometimes I think your brain needs a break. The trouble is that you can start and hours will pass. Other than getting a glimpse at human behavior, it is just a mindless activity. I am going to try and correct this habit. I seem to have collected a number of audiobooks and yarn, and I am going to try and blend the two by listening to audiobooks while knitting. It might work.

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes: A Mystery by Sandra Jackson-Opoku is today’s book. Do you ever look at the Amazon Best Sellers Rank and see what categories the book fits in? Who knew some of those categories were categories? I suppose they break it down so you can tell what kind of book it is and how it has done in relation to other books like it. Did you know that Cozy Culinary Mystery is a category?

Yes, this is a cozy culinary mystery. Savvy Summers owns Essie’s Soul Food Café on the South Side of Chicago. (I was probably drawn to it because I grew up in the Chicago area.) Savvy Summers’ restaurant is known for its delicious sweet potato pie. She never expected it to be used to kill anyone, but it looks like that is what happened. When Grandy Jaspers, a 75-year-old neighborhood womanizer, drops dead at one of her tables, Savvy finds that her pie and restaurant are under investigation. Even when his death is deemed an accident, Savvy’s pie and entire restaurant are not cleared in public opinion. It is certainly looking bad for Essie’s Soul Food Café when Savvy and her assistant decide that they have to find out who killed Jasper because someone undoubtedly did kill him. At least her ex-husband helps her at least a little bit.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were believable And I was ready to try some of that pie!

Thanks for reading!

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A Novel Murder by E. C. Nevin

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

How do you feel about resolutions? Do you feel better about resolutions or goals? I am a terrible goal setter. I don’t know if I have ever accomplished a goal. It feels like the minute I set a goal, it is lost. I know that back in the old days, we would set goals at work and then had to put in all the steps that would be involved in meeting those goals. I could do that fine – although I always wondered how far down you should really break it down- I always wanted to probably go a bit too far. And then they get lost. And I never reach them. As a result, I avoid goals.

But I do try to make resolutions. Are they different? I think they are. Mostly because I still think I have a chance with a resolution. Maybe we could call it a list of things I want to change in 2026. More than the past few years, I want to make sure that I am reviewing books more often. I took on a volunteer position a couple of years ago, and I have let it be just about a full-time job. I will be shifting my time in 2026 so that I will be able to pursue my interests more. That will include writing here more.

Enough of that!

Today’s book is a cozy mystery about an author. The story is set in Hoslewit, Great Britain. There is an event in town to celebrate the crime novel, The Killer Lines Festival. Many of the authors and agents are in town for the event. Jane Hepburn is an author whose works have not quite made her rich or famous. Jane feels that this is her chance to get her books out where people will find them. One of the ways that Jane thinks she can get her books more notice is to sneak into the tent where the books are displayed and move her books to the front and center. While in the tent, she finds the body of literary agent Carrie Marks, who is generally hated.

Jane, Natasha Marts, one of Carrie’s newest authors, and Daniel Thurston, an intern with the agency Carrie worked for, join forces to find the murderer. There are lots of suspects, and Jane discovers that it is much easier to figure out the “who done it” in her books than in real life.

A Novel Murder by E. C. Nevin (seems to be a pseudonym) is a good story. Jane is not very sure of herself in life but she is sure that her books should be selling better. While her insecurities plague her throughout the investigation, she does find the murderer and solve the case.

I enjoyed this book, and I think you will also. It is not heavy – it is a cozy mystery and it lives up to the genre.

Thanks for reading!

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Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Readers,

Spring is rapidly turning to summer here in Wisconsin. We do not seem to always have Spring. Often it seems to go from winter coats to shorts. This year, we have had more of Springlike weather but still we are going from 60’s to 90’s overnight.

Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman is the fourth in the series of the Nightingale Mysteries. I have reviewed two of the other books (The Last Drop of Hemlock and The Last Note of Warning). I have enjoyed her prior books, and I enjoyed this book also. It is the last book in the series.

In this book, Vivian Kelly is happy with her life at the Nightengale until a man shows up one night looking for someone. Vivian does not recognize the name of the person he is looking for, but the man is sure that she knows the man. She does not think that she has ever heard the name before and is puzzled but very wary. Then the night security guard is killed and the Nightengale family is scared. She receives another threat along with her boss Honor Huxley that they have 48 hours to turn over the mystery man.

At the same time, Vivian and her sister get a lead to find a family member. They go and despite the friendly letter they received, the woman is not friendly at all. She practically shoves them out of the house. They did not understand the change. The woman does tell them that she is their aunt and that their father is dead. Vivian’s sister, Frances, is extremely disappointed and Vivian thinks there is something odd going on. Vivian is right, something very odd is going on.

When all the mysteries merge and affect Vivian’s real and chosen families, she must be on top of her game to get through this situation alive.

I like this series. There are good twists and turns in the plot, and we find out more about the characters in each book. While I did not read the first book, I think that you need to read the other books in order. I hope you enjoy reading this book.

Thanks for reading!

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Death at the Door By Olivia Blacke

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

Yes, if you are following this blog, I am catching up today. I had 6 books that I had been asked to review and had not written the reviews. But I am now down to three books, and none of them have been released yet. So, I will be doing what I dislike doing. I will publish reviews before the books are released. I hate to do it because I hate to tell you about a book that you cannot read yet. But then again, I need to get the reviews written before I forget the book.

So, off we go…

Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke is the second in a series of books about Ruby and Cordelia. I reviewed the first book in the series (You can read it here). Ruby is alive and Cordelia is a ghost. In this book, while Ruby is at work, the deli delivery guy is murdered in the bathroom. After his death, Ruby finds out that he was a drug dealer. She and Cordelia investigate his murder, as it seems the police are not that interested in finding out what happened to him.

In the course of the story, we meet Ruby’s new neighbor, who happens to work for a major competitor of the company she works for. Ruby still isn’t really very clear about what her company does, but it is surprising that her new handsome neighbor is a competitor. Especially a competitor that may put Ruby’s company out of business. And then Cordelia’s brother arrives fresh from prison. While Cordelia is happy to see him, she does not trust him and needs to warn Ruby not to trust him either.

Communication between Ruby and Cordelia is still a problem and they keep trying to find ways to get messages across. It seems that if Ruby gets drunk (she doesn’t drink normally), she can see and talk to Cordelia, but there is always a question as to whether or not she will remember the conversation.

And Cordelia still doesn’t understand how she died, and while she tries not to wonder she is getting closer to wanting to know what happened. Ruby finds out more about Cordelia and her relationships with her co-workers.

I know that these books sound a bit hokey. I find them enjoyable reading. I will admit that I am getting a bit tired of waiting for Cordelia and Ruby to figure out who killed Cordelia. If there is a next book, I think we are at the point where that has to be solved.

Yes, I recommend this book. It is a light read. May I even suggest these are good beach reads?

This book will not be published until October 21, 2025.

Thanks for reading.

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