The Shaker Murders by Eleanor Kuhns

Genre: Adult, Mystery

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Synopsis:

Fresh from facing allegations of witchcraft and murder, travelling weaver Will Rees, his heavily pregnant wife Lydia and six adopted children take refuge in Zion, a Shaker community in rural Maine. Shortly after their arrival, screams in the night reveal a drowned body ... but is it murder or an unfortunate accident? The Shaker Elders argue it was just an accident, but Rees believes otherwise.

As Will investigates further, more deaths follow and a young girl vanishes from the community. Haunted by nightmares for his family's safety, Rees must rush to uncover the truth before the dreams can become reality and more lives are lost. Yet can the Shaker Elders be trusted, or is an outsider involved?

My Thoughts:

Mysteries are one of my favorite genres, and has been since I was in elementary school. Eleanor Kuhns is a master at writing mysteries that hold your attention from the very first page.  Will and his wife Lydia have gone back to the Shaker community they had once been a part of because his wife Lydia was still wanted, accused of witchcraft.  When people in the village start going missing, then turn up murdered, Rees is sure it is someone in the village. How safe is his family?  The events just kept me turning the pages.  Like all of her books, the action keeps rolling at a great pace. The end was just as suspenseful. I kept trying to guess who the murderer was. Each time I thought I had it figured out something else would happen to lead me in a different direction.  I highly recommend this series.

Spark by J.T. Bishop

Genre: Adult, Suspense

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads

Eve Fletcher is on the run. She’s hiding from the men who’ve killed her boss. But she’s not alone. A man she barely knows is with her, and she must decide whom to trust. But Eve has more than her life at stake. She’s protecting secrets too. Secrets that if exposed could risk not only her, but her entire family. But everyone has secrets, including the man who refuses to leave her side. 

With time running out, Eve must choose whether to bring her boss’s murderers to justice. But she’s falling for the mysterious man with his own suspicious motives. Can she risk loving him or will his presence threaten the family she’s trying so hard to protect? 

Family whose survival depends on keeping secrets

My Thoughts

I had not read any of her other books, that is being corrected. It didn’t  create any confusion by starting with this book. I liked Eve and her independence. I also like Benny who took care of Eve like she was his own daughter.  Adam was the icing on the cake.

Watching Eve who wants to be so independent have to decide to pair up with and rely on Adam was at times humorous. The author keeps the suspense going from the very beginning. I couldn’t put the book down.  This was a new author for me. The way the book ended tied everything up neatly, but left just enough suspense to want to know what will happen next to these characters.  This is a book I highly recommend to those who love suspense.

The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray by E. Latimer

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy form LibraryThing to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Bryony Gray is an orphan who lives with her aunt and uncle. Her mother died when Bryony was very young and no one will speak about her father. She is locked in her aunt and uncle's attic where she spends her time painting portraits. She is quite the young prodigy. Lately, there have been terrible news articles connecting her paintings with the disappearance of those who sit for her. Considering her father was considered cursed, and no one wants to speak of him, Bryony must draw her own conclusions. She has a patron who sends her all kinds of painting supplies. She has come to believe that her father is truly alive, and he is in fact her benefactor. One day during a sitting Bryony throws a tantrum that sets evil into motion.  While painting a lady who is acting spoiled and impatient; and having her aunt stand over her shoulder yelling at her, Bryony has had enough. She destroys the painting by ruining it with her paints. This sets into motion an evil like the city has never seen. Realizing she can leave the house, Bryony goes to the museum to discover that the paintings have come to life in a horrible way. She also discovers her neighbors who become her friends. Will they live long enough to figure out what the curse is all about and how to break it? Is it possible that there is something even more evil behind the evil destroying the city?

I loved this book. It was creepy, there were several different story lines going that all connected smoothly at the end. I would definitely read more by this author.