#BookReview Ask Me No Questions by Shelley Noble @ShelleyNoble3 @freezin4books @Joni2345zb #mystery #series #historical #crimefiction

Book Details
Title: Ask Me No Questions
Author: Shelley Noble
Publisher: Forge
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
Pages:349
ISBN: 9780765398710 Hardcover

 My Rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

My Review

Ask Me No Questions is the first book in the new Lady Dunbridge Mystery Series and my first read by Shelley Noble. Lady Philomena Dunbridge is our protagonist, a 26 year old widowed countess who is also an amateur crime-solver.

The story takes place in the early 1900’s in Manhattan, New York. Lady Dunbridge is originally from England but she has decided to come to America after being in mourning for her husband. As soon as she arrives and meets her friend at the boat dock she finds herself in the middle of a mystery. Her friend’s husband has been found murdered.
Readers are introduced to a great group of characters. I loved the main character Lady Phil as well as her maid, Lily and her faithful butler, Preswick. The author did an excellent job describing the early 20th century New York setting. This is one of my favorite time periods and the historical detail was amazing.

Ask Me No Questions was such a joy to read. A great start to a new series…can’t wait for the next installment in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery Series. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author and Forge for providing me a copy to review. Highly recommended for those who love mysteries set in the early 20th century.

About the Author:

Shelley Noble is the New York Times bestselling author of Lighthouse Beach, The Beach at Painter’s Cove, and Whisper Beach. A former professional dancer and choreographer for stage, television, and film, she’s a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Liberty States Fiction Writers. Noble lives at the Jersey shore and is always on the lookout for lighthouses and murder plots. You can find her online at www.shelleynoble.com, on Facebook as ShelleyNobleAuthor, and on Twitter as @ShelleyNoble3

#BookReview The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton @AuthorSJBolton @MinotaurBooks @Joni2345zb #mystery #GNWR #Thriller

Book Details
Title: The Craftsman
Author: Sharon Bolton
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
Pages: 418
ISBN: 978-1-250-30003-4 Hardcover

 My Rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠 

My Review

The Craftsman is Sharon Bolton’s latest terrifying standalone suspense novel. The protagonist, Florence Lovelady starts out in 1969 in Lancashire, UK working in police department where the force is dominated by men. Some teenagers disappear and they end up being found buried alive in coffins. Florence Lovelady begins to help with the investigation but being a woman she is not always treated the same. But she couldn’t be ignored because she was able to look at things differently proving she was a very good investigator.

Florence Lovelady is such a strong female character. She is tough and persistent in order to make it but she couldn’t come off too strong. I admired her for hanging in there with a tough profession especially during that time period when she the only woman around. The story shifts ahead 30 years to 1999 and someone else disappears under similar circumstances. Had Florence Lovelady caught the right man all those years ago or is it a copycat?

I love the short chapters and the pacing of the novel was perfect. The build-up to the ending was amazing and the truth is carefully masked right up to the conclusion. My interest was held throughout and I couldn’t wait to see where the story led next. With hints in the story of witches and Freemasons, the supernatural aspect brings in another level of interest for readers.

I loved this book so much. Definitely 5 stars for me…can’t wait for the next Sharon Bolton novel. Thanks to the author and Minotaur Books for providing me a copy to review. Highly recommended for those who love dark terrifying thrillers. 

About the Author:

Sharon Bolton (having previously written as S.J. Bolton) is a two-time Mary Higgins Clark Award winner and an ITW Thriller Award, CWA Gold Dagger, and Barry Award nominee. She grew up in Lancashire, England, and now lives near Oxford with her family. Her highly acclaimed thrillers include Sacrifice, Awakening, Blood Harvest, Little Black Lies, Daisy in Chains, and Dead Woman Walking in addition to her Lacey Flint books Now You See Me, Dead Scared, Lost, and A Dark and Twisted Tide.