"A Christmas Return" by Anne Perry

A cannonball in a Christmas pudding? That is just how “A Christmas Return” by Anne Perry begins. Mariah Ellison receives this odd, anonymous gift a few days before Christmas. However, a card arrives with the last post of the day. It is from Peter Wesley; the grandson of a friend with whom she has not seen for some time… Rowena Wesley. A friend whose husband, Cullen, died under mysterious circumstances twenty years ago after he suddenly refused to represent a man accused of the rape and murder of a fourteen year old girl.

Mariah agrees to assist Peter as “it was something, at her age, to be needed-not to be taken in as a matter of kindness. An overdose of charity could kill something inside you.” The ensuing story is the tale of Mariah and Peter attempting to track down the murderer.

This was a quick, easy read and was not gruesome. It had some great moments, although none better than cutting into a Christmas pudding and finding a cannonball. For example, “… over a lunch of Welsh rarebit. There was always something extraordinarily comforting about melted cheese on toast.”

Very enjoyable, especially with the Christmas tie in and Anne Perry reminds us that “because of Christmas, love never dies’” This was my first Anne Perry book, but it won’t be the last.

Release Publication Date: November 7, 2017

Genre:  Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Crime, Women Sleuths, British

Cover: Perfect

Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

Rating: 4 stars

"Close to Home" by Robert Dugoni

“No parent should have to bury their child” detective Tracy Crosswhite thinks as she murmers “I’m sorry” to D’Andre Miller’s Mother Shaniqua. Twelve year old D’Andere was just murdered by a hit and run driver on his way home from a rec center basketball game; a hit and run driver who did not even slow down or hit the brakes.

“Close to Home” is Book 5 in Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series. Tracy is a Seattle homicide detective and if you have read any of the other books in the series, you are familiar with Tracy’s history; the kidnapping and murder of her sister Sarah.

After tracking down the driver of the car, who is in the Navy, they realize that the case is not as cut and dried as it first appeared, especially when evidence disappears.

Dugoni does a great job of describing the process the detectives go through to solve the case. He also details the steps that the Navy goes through when prosecuting one of their own, as in this case, and how that process is similar to or differs from cases that are outside of military jurisdiction.

Exciting, thrilling book that had me guessing to the end. Several great twists and turns toward the end. Great standalone book, but recommend starting with the first one so you know the recurring characters and events that have happened to the characters in the past to shape them.

Release Publication Date: September 5, 2017

Genre:  Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Crime,  Police Procedural, Women Sleuths

Cover: Perfect

Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

"Enigma" by Catherine Coulter

“Enigma" is the 21^st installment of Catherine Coulter’s FBI thriller series featuring agents Savich and Sherlock. There are actually two separate enigmas or puzzling situations in this book.

The first enigma, is also a person; specifically, Enigma 2 or Arthur Childers. He breaks into a pregnant Kara Moody’s home, ties her up and tries to convince her to run away with him and that they have to get away from “them” before it’s too late. Savich happens to save Kara from this crazy stranger, but not before Arthur is left in a coma and Kara is in labor.

At the hospital, test run on Arthur yield strange, startling results. Kara’s labor goes smoothly, but soon after Alex is born, he is kidnapped. As answers are found, even more questions surface. Just who is Arthur Childers?

Second, Savich and Sherlock race to find Liam Hennessey AKA “Manta Ray”. Liam, a very charismatic thug, recently took a plea bargain for a bank robbery during which his partner died after killing a bank teller. The missing loot from the heist has not been found and Liam has communicated with no one other than his attorney during his time in jail. While Liam is being transferred to federal prison, his convoy is attacked and Liam escapes. They race to track Liam down before he recovers the stolen loot from the bank robbery.

“Enigma” is well written, an excellent story and has a super ending… up to par with Catherine Coulter’s other books in the series. Great stand alone book, but recommend starting with the first one so you know the recurring characters and events in the past.

Release Publication Date: September  12, 2017

Genre:  Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense , Crime,  Kidnapping

Cover: Perfect

Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

Rating: 5 stars