Manners and Monsters by Tilly Wallace
A lady never reveals the true extent of her decay…
Title: Manners and Monsters
Author: Tilly Wallace
Series: Manners and Monsters books 1-6
Publish Date: June 7, 2019
Source: bought by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: A lady never reveals the true extent of her decay…
Hannah Miles lives a quiet existence, helping her parents conduct research into a most terrible affliction – until a gruesome murder during her best friend’s engagement party pulls her from the shadows.
With her specialist’s knowledge and demure disposition, Hannah is requested to aid the investigation. Except Hannah discovers her role is to apologise in the wake of the rude and disgraced man tasked with finding the murderer. The obnoxious Viscount Wycliff thinks to employ Hannah purely as a front to satisfy Whitehall, but she’ll have none of that.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
This series set in the Regency period, has mystery, about a 5% inclusion of romance and if there is any mention, it’s very lady like. There are monsters (depends on how you look at people – the ones that are called monsters are less monstrous than the normal people. There is murder and twists to untangle. There is magic-both good and bad. There are even dragons!
Hannah has an unusual “profession” – she helps her father in his laboratory searching for a cure for the “Afflicted”. The afflicted (who are really categorized as zombies) were almost all blueblood ladies – the top 10% of the population in England. Not EVERYONE is afflicted, but there is an unfortunate law that states, if afflicted, a man can declare her dead and marry another. You’ll have those that take that law and use it for their own gain and then those that can’t possibly think of leaving their wives to fend for themselves. That is the basic premise of the stories.
The part where Hannah comes in is her common sense and her decorum when talking to the high society movers and shakers. She has a calm and genuine attitude and seems to say everything right at the exactly correct time. She has to be charming and smart because the investigator for supernaturals is very brusque, indelicate and has no time to cater to “feelings”.
This is a VERY bingeable series. I believe I read all six books in a week. I was sad it ended, but the stories were very engaging, the characters were people whose lives I became invested in and the mysteries were interesting!
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Random in Death by J.D. Robb
A new evil seeks to murder with a small and easily concealed weapon that wreaks havoc, and the killer is just a face in the crowd.
Title: Random in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #58
Publish Date: January 23, 2024
Source: purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: Jenna’s parents had finally given in, and there she was, at a New York club with her best friends, watching the legendary band Avenue A, carrying her demo in hopes of slipping it to the guitarist, Jake Kincade. Then, from the stage, Jake catches her eye, and smiles. It’s the best night of her life.
It’s the last night of her life.
Minutes later, Jake’s in the alley getting some fresh air, and the girl from the dance floor comes stumbling out, sick and confused and deathly pale. He tries to help, but it’s no use. He doesn’t know that someone in the crowd has jabbed her with a needle—and when his girlfriend Nadine arrives, she knows the only thing left to do for the girl is call her friend, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.
After everyone on the scene is interviewed, lab results show a toxic mix of substances in the victim’s body—and for an extra touch of viciousness, the needle was teeming with infectious agents. Dallas searches for a pattern: Had any boys been harassing Jenna? Was she engaging in risky behavior or caught up in something shady? But there are no obvious clues why this levelheaded sixteen-year-old, passionate about her music, would be targeted.
And that worries Dallas. Because if Jenna wasn’t targeted, if she was just the random, unlucky victim of a madman consumed by hatred, there are likely more deaths to come.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
This story was an impossible to solve murder. Except, of course, if you were Eve Dallas and team.
It’s serial killer is hard to relate to and I guess that is a good thing. The girls that are killed are very easily to relate to. It tugged at my heart strings to watch them die. Each had a wonderful life in front of them and J.D. Robb did not make it easy to see their demise.
I loved this book and will read/listen to it again. For those of you that are new to the series and think that 58 + books in a series is just too much – just try it. A novella. Short story. You’ll be hooked.
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Payback in Death by J.D. Robb
Homicide detective Eve Dallas must untangle a twisted family history while a hostage’s life hangs in the balance.
Title: Payback in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #57
Publish Date: September 5, 2023
Source: purchased by reviewer
Publisher’s Description: Lt. Eve Dallas is back and this time she’s investigating the death of one of her own.
When a retired police officer is found shot dead in his home, Eve and the team are called to the scene to investigate. The victim is Martin Greenleaf, former Captain of Internal Affairs. At first glance it looks like suicide but Eve thinks there could be more to this carefully laid scene than meets the eye.
Captain Greenleaf put a lot of cops away during his forty-seven years in Internal Affairs. Did the weight of the job finally prove too much for him? Or could this be a case of payback in death…
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
Number 57 on the In Death book list. I am like a junkie waiting for a fix re: these books. I started re-listening and re-reading these books a week before #57 was released. This book was more of a perfect time/perfect place for an investigator to be when a crime was committed rather than investigative itself. Dallas did cover all the basis, though, you have to give her credit on her investigative work, but she knew who did it even before she actually acknowledged who did it. Her sensitivity is showing through again – example Haunted in Death and Possession in Death.
Reasons why I liked this book: 1. Eve and Roarke work together (again). 2. We get to see more of Eve and Roarke’s personal life when she’s not working (which was a delight) 3. There are really two stories in one with this book. 4. We get to see more of the “House Project” that Mavis, Leonardo, Bella, #2, McNabb, Roarke and Peabody are working on – and it’s awesome! 5. It will be an easy re-read AND a multiple time re-read – a lot of good moments to re-live. 6. It’s a story of how a police officer’s life is never without threat even after retirement. 7. It’s also a great example of how a person doesn’t know another’s job or place in life unless they walk a mile in their shoes. Good sentiment to live by and learned.
I can honestly say that there were no parts that I didn’t like. Yes, it is the same bare “bones” of all the other stories, but it’s the flesh of the story that always brings us fans back again and again. I love these mysteries, but even if the mysteries were bad (which this one is not) I would still come back to connect with the characters because they are, in essence, really good friends that I love to check in on and catch up. I know that #57 books in a series is hard to believe, but once you start, you will be hooked with Dallas. She is a tenacious, logical and pragmatic individual that started her life hard but is rewarded with great friends and family. I wish this series a very LONG and productive life before the author deems the series done.
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Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin
Makenna Frazier’s first day on the job at SPI.
Title: Lucky Charms
Author: Lisa Shearin
Series: SPI Files #.5
Release date: November 24, 2014
Source: purchased by reviewer This novella is published as an anthology called NIGHT SHIFT.
Description: It’s seer Makenna Frazier’s first day on the job at Supernatural Protection and Investigations, and her first assignment is more than she bargained for when bodyguard duty for a leprechaun prince’s bachelor party goes every which way but right.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
I love Lisa Shearin’s SPI files. I’ve read and listened to every one of them, but it was nice to return to the beginning stories that made Mac a star. This little novella is Mac’s first day at SPI. If everyone had a first day like hers, they’d probably never come back. Mac has a sense of humor that one cannot help but laugh at because she is so honest. This novella introduces nearly ALL of the recurring characters and is so much fun it’s dangerous. The story leads on to the first book – The Grendel Affair that was published December 13, 2013. I know this novella is published after this, but, really, trust me, it is the first of the series.
Mac meets the dangerous Rake Danescu for the first time and realizes just exactly how powerful is his dark mage magic . He is experienced and very good at getting whatever is in his sights.
Mac meets Ian Byrne. The partner that is the end all and be all of partners as well as the dragon lady. This story presents itself as a super prequel that I hope you read before starting this series. It’s worth it.
Our reviews in this series…
- The Grendel Affair by Lisa Shearin
- The Dragon Conspiracy by Lisa Shearin
- The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin
- The Ghoul Vendetta by Lisa Shearin
- The Myth Manifestation by Lisa Shearin
- The Phoenix Illusion by Lisa Shearin
- The Entity Game by Lisa Shearin
- The Solstice Countdown by Lisa Shearin
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The Gorgon Agenda by Lisa Shearin
A planet-killing weapon, sinister sisters, and immortal monsters. All in a day’s work for the agents of SPI.
Title: The Gorgon Agenda
Author: Lisa Shearin
Series: SPI Files #8
Release date: January 24, 2023
Source: purchased by reviewer
Description: I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigations). I knew SPI protected some of the world’s most dangerous relics, but I didn’t know our draconic founder, Vivienne Sagadraco, kept them in a vault deep below Manhattan.
Until the most lethal relic of all was stolen.
The Aegis is the shield once wielded by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. The center of the Aegis contains the head of Medusa, making it the ultimate weapon. All who look on it or its reflection are instantly turned to stone.
Old enemies and new adversaries have descended on New York—and one of them now has the Aegis:
Tiamat—Babylonian goddess of chaos, and Vivienne Sagadraco’s sister
Stheno and Euryale—Eight-foot-tall, snake-haired gorgons, granddaughters of the Titans, and Medusa’s sisters
The Sisterhood of Medusa—An ancient gorgon military order
The Cabal—A supernatural terrorist organization
Those behind the theft have declared war on humanity, with a hatred that was millennia in the making, and a heist that was centuries in the planning.
Our mission is simple yet impossible: Retrieve the Aegis and save the world. But we can’t do it alone. We’ll need our friends, family, and some unexpected new allies if we’re to stop this ancient evil once and for all.
Nervous Nellie’s nervousness necessitates knowledge of the novel. In other words …SPOILERS. *BEWARE*
Nervous Nellie says…
This is a really GREAT story. It’s well thought out and in the case of me being confused easily – not confusing at all. The author tells the reader what they need to know and moves on with the story.
MaKenna and Rafe aren’t center stage in this book. It’s Vivienne Sagadraco’s story continuing where her sister Tiamat leaves off in the first two books. She still wants her revenge and is still the manipulative crank of the two sisters. Robbery starts off this story and the dragons are back at it again. Don’t touch their hoard!
This time, Tiamat has found a very devious way to get what she wants. Like I said, this is a very well thought out story and while I learned things I did not know about Medusa and her sisters, I was very riveted to the pages. This one was a one sitter and I enjoyed it.
Our reviews in this series…
- The Grendel Affair by Lisa Shearin
- The Dragon Conspiracy by Lisa Shearin
- The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin
- The Ghoul Vendetta by Lisa Shearin
- The Myth Manifestation by Lisa Shearin
- The Phoenix Illusion by Lisa Shearin
- The Entity Game by Lisa Shearin
- The Solstice Countdown by Lisa Shearin
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