EUROPEAN FIRST RESPONDERS

FIRST RESPONDERS

I never thought about it, but since Venice is an island (with no cars) the Italians have to do everything by water.  I snapped many shots of the various first responders via waterway!

Below is the fire station

EUROPEAN VACATION

Several future blogs will highlight my recent trip to Venice & Greece.  I'll post many pictures of the trip.  Remember the days before digital cameras?  At least with my 'slide show' you won't be trapped in my house clicking thru slide after slide.  It amazes me how far technology has come - my previous picture of the Drunken Santa Bike Ride (check it out under Tidbits if you missed it) was taken with my cell phone.  (I have to get better at carrying my camera at all times - you never know when you'll chance upon that next Kodak moment!)

Anyway - November 2011, my fiance and I visited Venice, Italy and then boarded the Costa Victoria headed for Greece. (the recent Costa episode was a horrific tragedy - but our trip was smooth sailing)

MORE TO COME!

Quickstep to Murder - Review

QUICKSTEP TO MURDER

BY: Ella Barrick

The premise starts with an amateur sleuth who is half owner of a dance studio (ala Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers).  Think mystery set during Dancing with the Stars.

This novel is extremely well-written.   The story flows in a well executed manner.  The murder mystery is thought out and cleverly hidden.  I don't want to give anything away - so let me just say:
I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good murder mystery!! 

I enjoyed it so much, that this series has catapulted to become one of my favorite series.  I impatiently wait for her next book - Dead Man Waltzing.

DEATH OF THE PARTY - REVIEW

DEATH OF THE PARTY

Author Carolyn Hart

This book is one of Hart's Death on Demand mysteries.  The sleuths in this series are Annie & Max Darling, a young married couple who live on the sea island of Broward's Rock, South Carolina.

 

Annie is looking for a get-a-way vacation since a lot of her family and friends are away from home at this time.  Max gets a case that takes them as far as Golden Silk, a private sea island off the coast of South Carolina.  (Mmm - not exactly the dramatic change of scenery Annie longed for!)

 

Golden Silk had belonged to Jeremiah Addison - a powerful media mogul.  He died a year earlier and his sister-in-law, Britt Barlow, now owns the island.  She claims Jeremiah was murdered and invites all the guests from that fatal weekend to return to the estate for a reunion.  Then she hires Max to find a murderer amongst them.

 

Stranded on the island with no way off and no way to call for help, Annie & Max have to solve the case while the guests are stalked by a killer.

Annie & Max Darling love to make lists.  Lists of suspects, of motives, of alibis...  Anyone who enjoys looking over the shoulders of these 2 lovebird detectives, will enjoy the Death on Demand series. 

An Appetite for Murder - Review

AN APPETITE FOR MURDER

Author:  Lucy Burdette  (Roberta Isleib)

This is the first in a new series featuring Hayley Snow.  The poor girl moves to Key West to follow a guy (never a good idea!) and after their breakup, she has to reinvent herself.  Hayley loves food, so she applies for a job - food critic for a new magazine.  Of course, her potential boss is her old flame's new girlfriend.  Of course, the lady is murdered.  And of course, Hayley is the prime suspect.

The story focuses on Hayley trying to find the killer, win the food critic job and start a new life for herself in funky Key West, Florida.

I especially liked the way the protagonist escaped from the killer's clutches near the end of the book.  It was very believable.  (Let's face it - these amateur detectives don't have the wiles and kung fu moves that professionals have.  It was refreshing to read a believable account)  All in all, I enjoyed this light-hearted mystery.

DEATH OF A THOUSAND CUTS

DEATH OF A THOUSAND CUTS

Author: Barbara D'Amato

A police investigation that delves into autism, D'Amato handles the subject with sensitivity.  This book is well written; a gripping page turner. 

Since I live in Chicago, it's always fun to read a book set in my city.

I enjoy D'Amato's books. 

HOW TO PARTY WITH A KILLER VAMPIRE

I have signed up for several reading challenges.  Here is my first review:

HOW TO PARTY WITH A KILLER VAMPIRE
Author:  Penny Warner

A fun read starring amateur sleuth, Presley Parker.  Presley is an event planner who throws a "wrap party" for a movie producer to celebrate his latest horror film - Revenge of the Killer Vampires.  The perfect venue to hold this event?  A cemetary, of course!  And it wouldn't be the perfect party without a fresh corpse.

The writing is well done and the story reaches a satisfying ending.  Presley is a smart, self-reliant amateur sleuth.  I enjoyed the story, as I have enjoyed Warner's earlier stories in this series.