Review: Delicious Death (Book #2 Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries)

 Delicious Death is the second installment in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries series. As she suffers from extreme boredom, Elinor receives an invitation to the annual winter festival. She and Dr. Charlotte LaRue travel to a remote estate for the extravaganza that features culinary competition among the greatest chefs of the realm. Though she is there for the change in scenery and the delightful food, Madame Chalamet is NOT disappointed to encounter ghosts or madmen. An attempt on the king’s life points fingers at Elinor’s favorite chef and friend, Gerhard Perdersen. She joins forces with Tristan, the Duke of Archambeau, to apprehend the true culprit.

This is another delightful episode in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries series. Against the backdrop of a an attempted murder mystery, we see more of Elinor’s true nature as she comforts the grieving. Even though the overall tone of the book is light-hearted, there is much to unpack about the way we treat others and who deserves our respect. 

This book is great for mystery lovers and those who like a bit of paranormal activity or food appreciation mixed in. I can hardly wait for book three in the series! February can’t come soon enough.

#DeliciousDeath will be available on Kindle December 27!

Thanks to #NetGalley, Rook and Castle Press, and Byrd Nash for providing an ARC in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Ghost Talker: Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries, Volume 1

 Thanks #NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Madame Chalamet is a highly trained Ghost Talker who assists law enforcement and counsels the bereaved. After being called to help identify a body she finds herself caught up in government intrigue that goes all the way to the King. 

This is not my typical genre, but I love a good mystery and good atmosphere in a story. “Ghost Talker: Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries, Volume 1” delivers. Another reviewer mentioned good world-building and I would agree. The world Elinor Chalamet inhabits is familiar, yet not. As someone who doesn’t spend a lot of time reading fantasy, this was an excellent mix for me. As a Ghost Talker, Chalamet certainly has critics, but her strength, humor, and understanding of human (and other beings) behavior see her through every challenge. She knows her own mind, but is humble enough to work with others, including an intriguing and powerful duke. This episode reveals a number of mysteries within the storyline, including some in Elinor’s own life.

#GhostTalker is fun for historical mystery fans, mystery series fans, those who like novels on the short side, well-paced action, and a little bit of fantasy.

This is the first in a series of six novellas. I can hardly wait for the next one!

Girl Out of Time

Thank you #NetGalley and #GirlFridayBooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

After Anna is orphaned, she is packed off to Uncle Jack’s research farm. Because Anna’s eyes are always on the sky (and her heart is in space), she notices that there’s something unusual about the sky around the farm. Strange lights and odd noises lead Anna to befriend Mara, an unusual woman who lives in an…unusual…home on the shores of a nearby lake. Anna quickly learns that Mara is more than she first appears.

Numerous elements and episodes of the story are firmly rooted in popular culture. Rather than making the story trite, these roots help the story feel like a modern twist on that which we already know. Time travel, wormholes, and creatures from other dimensions combine to make this fast-paced story work. Anna’s innate curiosity elevates these potentially scary elements to pure adventure as she embraces new experiences and new friends.

I loved the discussion on contemporary agricultural practices and the need to find ways to sustainably farm for a growing population. The diverse cast of characters make clear that sustainable agriculture is a worldwide issue. This important aspect of the story is accessible without being patronizing to young people. 

Engaging characters makes this a fun read that explores deeper themes such as friendship, finding purpose, and finding hope in an often confusing world. This book is great for middle school and early high school age kids, those who like a splash of science in their stories, and those who always try to do the right thing.