NIne Lives to Die

Nine Lives to Die
By: Rita Mae Brown
272 Pages
Reviewed By: Betsey Brooks

Summary:
Winter has come to Crozet, Virginia, bringing with it a fresh blanket of snow. Harry and her husband, Fair, are hip deep in their usual end-of-the-year activities: distributing food to needy residents, and shopping for outfits for the Silver Linings youth organization’s annual fundraising gala. But buried beneath the white stuff are dark secrets from Crozet’s past—and Harry and her posse of pet detectives are determined to sniff them out. 

Two Silver Linings mentors have been found dead in suspicious circumstances. If that weren’t enough to chill the bones of the locals, a pair of severed human fingers has turned up in a pencil jar in the bookkeeper’s office at St. Cyril’s church. What does this grisly display have to do with the mysterious disappearance of Harry’s voluptuous high school Latin teacher, a quarter of a century ago? Maybe nothing. But when the animals make another gruesome discovery in the woods behind Harry’s farm, it becomes clear that terrible crimes have been committed in Crozet—and somebody’s gone to great lengths to cover them up. It’s time to stop shoveling snow and start digging for clues.

The truth will be revealed. A cold case will be solved. And a twenty-five-year-old love triangle is about to get untangled. The weather outside may be frightful, but Harry and her four-legged friends refuse to be spooked off the case. --- courtesy of the publisher

Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown have once again created a fascinating tale of murder in Nine Lives To Die.  The town of Crozet, Virginia is preparing for the holidays. Along with all the shopping and decorating there are two big events everyone is participating in.  Silver Linings, a non profit for disadvantaged boys, is having it's big fundraising. The community churches have been collecting used clothing and food for those in need and are getting ready to deliver them as Christmas gets closer. Several snow storms add to the holiday spirit. 

In the midst of all this, two prominent community leaders are found in their cars dead each missing two fingers. Next three checks come up missing from the Silver Linings books. Another surprise turns up when a storm blows over an old tree and a skeleton is exposed. With the help of Harry Holstein's pets, a corgi named Tee Tucker and her two cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, the skeleton is brought to everyone's attention.  

Who would want to kill these two men and who could this old skeleton be? These are just a few questions Harry, her husband Fair and their friend Deputy Cynthia Cooper are asking. So many questions and no clues.

I love this series . Each book is uniquely different and "Nine Lives to Die" is a great addition.  It drew me in immediately and kept me guessing right to the end. So find yourself a comfy reading nook and prepare to join the adventure. I definitely recommend Nine Lives to Die for your summer or travel reading.  Be sure to read and enjoy more of Rita Mae Brown's Books. They are great.

Murder at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison

I haven't read a good mystery in a long time and this book definitely hit the spot! With each character in each scene, I was captivated by who they were and what they brought to the story. I found myself reading one chapter after another just to find out what happens!

Kat Stanford, a former TV star, is all set to launch a new career as the proprietor of an antique toy store. During this time, she discovers that her mother, Iris, has purchased a run down carriage house located on the estate of Honeychurch hall. Kat lives in London, hundreds of miles away, and promised her dad before he passed away that he would take care of her. Kat knows what she has to do and drops her things to go see her mom and convince her to return home. On Kat's ride into town, she meets a woman named Gayla who is waiting for a taxi. While looking paranoid to death, Kat promises she will call a taxi just when she gets to the carriage house. However, when Kat wakes up the next morning and Gayla is rumored to be missing since her luggage was found left behind, everyone is worried. Things get more complicated when the nanny turns up dead! Who is to blame? Where should they start looking? What other secrets are unearthed on their mission to resolve this murder? 

Murder, suspense, and plot twists are great words to describe this book! I look forward to reading the next book in written by Hannah Dennison! A must read by any mystery lover!

Laugh (Burnside #2) by Mary Ann Rivers

Summary: 

Dr. Sam Burnside is convinced that volunteering at an urban green-space farm in Lakefield, Ohio, is a waste of time—especially with his new health clinic about to open. He only goes to mollify his partner, suspecting she wants him to lighten up. Then Sam catches sight of Nina Paz, a woman who gives off more heat than a scorcher in July. Her easy smile and flirty, sizzling wit has him forgetting his infamous need for control.

Widowed when her husband was killed in Afghanistan, Nina has learned that life exists to take chances. As the daughter of migrant workers turned organic farmers, she’s built an exciting and successful business by valuing new opportunities and working hard to take care of her own. But when Sam pushes for a relationship that goes beyond their hotter-than-fire escapades, Nina ignores her own hard-won wisdom. She isn’t ready for a man who needs saving—even if her heart compels her to take the greatest risk of all: love.

This was the 2nd book I have read by Mary Ann Rivers, the first being Burnside's #1 "Live." Although I didn't get quite as captured as I did with the first book I still enjoyed it. Even if you haven't read the first book in the series, you will still catch on to the story line! While the first book is about Des Burnside, this book centers on the eldest of the Burnside siblings, Sam. This focuses on Sam's journey and understanding himself and opens his eyes to the way he acts with his family and friends. Sometimes he goes about things all wrong, and has a hard time expressing himself, but his heart is in the right place. 

Along with Sam, Nina is a starting role in this book. When Sam meets Nina, there is an instant spark between them! Things move fast between them, not only physically but emotionally as well. Since Nina is a widow, she does her best to not get so involved and resists him. However, it isn't long before they are exploring one another outside and inside (little more graphic then I would have liked honestly). 

What I loved most about this book most was Sam. In the previous book he was very unsympathetic and whose sole purpose was to make everyone around him miserable. In this story you really see a different side of him, he opens up to Nina and to his friends and family that is both welcoming and refreshing! With a couple bumps along the way, the ending of this book is nothing but perfect! I can't wait to read his brother Paul's book, aka PJ. I know that will be another good one in this series!