Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

he search for a missing girl sends Inspector Lu Fei undercover into the wild corners of Myanmar, and the compound of the deadly and mysterious woman warlord responsible for the illegal trafficking of exotic animals and possibly more, in the next book from Brian Klingborg, Wild Prey.

Police Inspector Lu Fei has an unfortunate talent for getting himself into hot water with powerful and well-connected people. Which is why he’s been assigned to a backwater town in a rural area of Northern China and quietly warned to keep his head down. But while running a sting operation on the sale and consumption of rare and endangered animals, Lu comes across the curious case of a waitress who has gone missing. Her last known whereabouts: a restaurant frequented by local elites, owned by smooth-talking gangster, and known for its exotic -- and highly illegal -- delicacies.

As usual, Lu's investigation ruffles some feathers, resulting in his suspension from the police force. Lu figures he's reached a dead-end. Then he's contacted by a mysterious government official in Beijing who wants him to go undercover to track down the mastermind behind an illegal animal trafficking network -- and hopefully, the answer to the fate of the missing waitress. The mission will require Lu to travel deep into the lawless wilds of Myanmar, where he will risk his life to infiltrate the hidden compound of a mysterious and ruthless female warlord in a bloody and nearly hopeless quest for justice.

Review:

I really enjoy a good detective series, and have gotten to be a fan of several Mystery book series such as the Inspector Gamache series by author Louise Penny, and the Two Rivers series by author Anne Cleeves.  Both of those series feature a troubled police detective who's integrity gets him into trouble.  The same can be said for Inspector Lu Fei.  This series, written by author Brian Klingborg has a main character who drinks too much, has a long-standing crush on the local bar owner, and has a sense of justice that gets him into lots of trouble.  This series takes place in China in a small city where not much happens, and yet...  Inspector Lu Fei seems to find himself in the center of grizzly crimes in every book. 

While investigating cases, we get a glimpse of life in China and life in a Communist country.  Much of Lu's daily life is like anyone else's.  He goes to work at the police station, where most of the time, the most exciting thing happening is getting a paper cut.  But he and his co-workers are also watched by the local Party representative, so one has to be careful not to criticize the wrong people.  After work, Lu likes to go to the local bar and moon over the proprietress, while drinking too many beers.  But when crimes are to be investigated, Lu is relentless in finding out the truth.

This was a page-turner with a mystery that takes Lu from his small city to the jungles of Myanmar.  With lots of danger, betrayals, and twists, this was a great read.

What I Liked:

Setting:

This story could really take place anywhere, in any country.  What makes this story so compelling is finding out about what life is like for Inspector Lu.  From the food, to the nosy neighbors, to the complex social structures, the details made this world come alive to me.   I liked learning about the way this society worked.

Characters:

Inspector Lu is a man who has been thrown away.  His once promising career has been derailed by his pesky sense of Right and Wrong.  If Lu sees a double standard between how the law is applied between Party big-wigs and everyday people, he feels compelled to point this out.  This isn't winning him lots of friends.  But he does have the respect of others.

Lu is in love with the owner of his local bar, a widow who is having trouble letting go of the past.  I felt for this character, as I think it's hard for any woman to move on from widowhood.  Can you find love again and not be judged by your neighbors?  I think this happens to many woman.  But there are traditions in China which make this even more of an issue.

Story: 

The story begins as a young teenager says that her sister is missing.  She makes her report, and then won't leave the police station until her sister's disappearance is investigated.  She even sleeps in the lobby of the police station, making herself a nuisance until the police finally does something.

And then the hunt begins!  Lu finds that the missing young woman works in a restaurant where exotic meat is served purporting to increase a man's virility.  Everything you can think of is on the menu, including sex workers.  But where is the restaurant getting their supply of Tiger penises and endangered animals?  And how is the young woman involved?  Lu must go undercover to get his answers.

There were a lot of scary situations that made this a book I could not put down.  And this made the book a whole lot of fun!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  May 17th, 2022

Author:  Brian Klingborg

Publisher:  Minotaur Books

Genre:  Detective Thriller

Page Length:  304 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This book is exciting, with characters that you'll want to follow into other stories.  Inspector Lu is a complex main character.  And the story is full of twists and turns.  I highly recommend this book.  

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review,.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Every story has its secrets.
Every mystery has its motives.

“A long time ago, in another country, I nearly killed a woman. It’s a particular feeling, the urge to murder. It takes over your body so completely, it’s like a divine force, grabbing hold of your will, your limbs, your psyche. There’s a joy to it. In retrospect, it’s frightening, but I daresay in the moment it feels sweet. The way justice feels sweet.”

The greatest mystery wasn’t Agatha Christie’s disappearance in those eleven infamous days, it’s what she discovered.

London, 1925: In a world of townhomes and tennis matches, socialites and shooting parties, Miss Nan O’Dea became Archie Christie’s mistress, luring him away from his devoted and well-known wife, Agatha Christie.

The question is, why? Why destroy another woman’s marriage, why hatch a plot years in the making, and why murder? How was Nan O’Dea so intricately tied to those eleven mysterious days that Agatha Christie went missing?

Review:

I didn't quite know what to expect when I requested this book.  I do find the mystery of Agatha Christie's disappearance really intriguing.  As I started to read the novel, I thought this was going to be a domestic drama about how society women in the 1920's had to put up with entitled men.  And while this was a theme in the book, there was so much more going on.  

There are really two stories happening at once.  We do follow Agatha as she disappears for about ten days.  But the far more interesting story is that of Archie Christie's mistress, Nan O'Dea.  While in reality there was no Nan O'Dea (he did leave Agatha for a woman named Nancy Neele), the author creates a character that is so complete, I had to hit Google to see if this was actually Archie's mistress.  As we learn about Nan's backstory, we begin to understand that her reasons for being with Archie are greater than just finding a well-heeled husband. 

Then the book takes another turn.  Someone dies at the hotel where both Agatha and Nan are staying.  Was it just a tragic accident... Or was it Murder?  Yes, this book does become a murder mystery.  Predictable?  A bit.  But there were lots of twists and turns that made this solving this crime fun to follow.  This was both a sharp commentary on what the lives of women were like in Great Britain in the 1920's, and a clever mystery that I think Agatha Christie would have loved.  

What I Liked:

Characters:

Agatha, in the time when the book takes place, is not yet a famous novelist.  Although she is starting to publish a few books, her husband Archie doesn't really take her seriously.  Since we, the readers, know how successful she will eventually be, we cannot help but see the irony of just how little he thinks of her.  We know Agatha will get the last laugh.  But, we can also see how deeply his actions affect his wife.  Women, especially those in "Society", were expected to put up with infidelity.  When Archie leaves Agatha, he has the gall to tell her not to make a scene so as not to hurt his mistress's reputation!  

At first, Agatha is devastated by the betrayal.  She leaves to give herself time to think.  What will she be if she is not Archie's wife?  It felt like her life was over.  I loved that she finally realized that she was better off without him.

Nan is Archie's mistress.  Usually, I have very little sympathy for women who get involved with married men.  But, the author made Nan such a whole character, I eventually understood why she made the choices she did.  Nan's backstory goes all the way back to her childhood, and her first love.  Their story is a tragedy that was probably very common ,all due to WWI.  

Storytelling:

The storytelling is a slow burn. There are many flashbacks in the story that explain who the characters are.  At first I found this a bit frustrating.  What does Ireland have to do with the story? But, everything is done with a purpose.  Much like all the little details in Agatha Christie novels.  They all have meaning.  This tactic really reeled me in and made me heavily invested in the outcome of the story.

Mystery:

What book about Agatha Christie would be complete without a death!  At first, it appears that Agatha is dead, and Archie is the prime suspect.  And his plan to keep his affair out of the spotlight fails spectacularly.   I was very happy to see this slime-ball squirm. 

Then there are two deaths at the spa where Agatha (and Nan) are staying.  There are many small details in the scenes leading up to the deaths that become important later in the story.  The mystery is what ties all the stories of the book together.  This was so like an Agatha Christie mystery which made it incredibly entertaining, and satisfying.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date: February 1st, 2022

Author:  Nina de Gramont

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Genre:  Historical Fiction/Mystery

Page Length:  320 Pages 

Source: NetGalley

Format:  E-book

Recommendation:  A murder mystery wrapped in a historical fiction novel, this was quite entertaining.  I highly recommend this book.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

She thinks he’s either a stalker, a nutcase, or a harmlessly eccentric Oxford professor. He thinks she’s the long-lost descendant of Henry VIII’s last Queen, Katherine Parr. Amy is living a cautious life as a London private banker to wealthy oil sheikhs, but her quiet solitude is upended by the sudden appearance of two people: a half-sister who is virtually a stranger to her, and Oxford don Leo. Both need something from Amy, who has been emotionally frozen for years and isn’t sure she has anything left to give. She also harbors deep secrets—as does Leo. Even so, the two join forces to investigate the mystery of Queen Katherine’s lost baby, and soon long-suppressed emotions start to surface—and enemies start to close in. As they crisscross Europe in a quest for answers, Amy and Leo find themselves in danger of losing control of their secrets, their hearts—and maybe even their lives.

Review:

I wasn't really sure what this book was about when I was first offered an advance copy by the publisher.  But the description, and the whole not knowing if Leo was a stalker or a professor thing intrigued me.  I'm really glad I read this book.  This was a thriller with espionage, shady bank deals, and secret identities with an unreliable narrator, to boot!  Throw in some steamy romance , and you've got a fun, fast-paced read!

What I Liked:

Set up:

I loved the set up of mousy Amy being pursued by Leo.  Is he a stalker?  It certainly looks that way, at first.  He seems to show up everywhere she goes: her office, her gym, her apartment building.  It almost seems like he has secret methods to track her every movement.  Is he just really good at researching?  Or could he be a operative of Mossad (the Israeli version of the CIA)? And why would anyone want to track Amy.  Well, she is a private banker for rich foreigners.  Could she be involved with money laundering?  This set up sucks you in as you are trying to figure everything out. 

Characters:

Amy seems to be a very quiet, introvert.  She doesn't have many friends, and seems out of her depth working with a bunch of twenty-somethings in the high-end world of personal banking. But there are signs that Amy is not what she seems to be.  With a father who has taken her across the globe on numerous adventures, Amy has hidden talents.

Leo is also a man of many layers.  He is an Oxford professor, but he is also the head of a rich and powerful family of art dealers.  He is also extremely sure of himself.  This annoys Amy to no end, but also fans her growing attraction to him.  Every woman loves a man of mystery, and Leo is certainly that.  I also liked that he was devoted to his sisters, and showed lots of concern for their welfare.  This made him even more appealing.

Side Characters:

I have to mention the hilarious group of characters who work in Amy's office.  They are funny mostly because they are such caricatures of entitled twenty-somethings.  Her running commentary (in her head) of how ridiculous they are is highly entertaining.

Secret Identities:

Without giving too much away, there are several people who are not what they seem in this book.  I loved the methods the author used to slowly reveal who they were.  These were surprising and super fun.  I had several "Ah ha!" moments while reading this book.

Romance:

The romance was also really fun.  I appreciated that the author didn't get too graphic with the sex descriptions, but, instead, slowly built up the sexual tension between Amy and Leo.  I keep saying this is so fun to read, because it really was!  The sex between them made sense.  Tor two people who keep avoiding truths, I loved it when they finally put their cards on the table and where hones with each other.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 3rd, 2021

Author:  Jane Elizabeth Hughes

Publisher:  Spark Press

Genre:  Thriller

Page Length:  352 Pages

Source:  Publisher

Format:  Paperback ARC

Recommendation:  This was a thoroughly entertaining book.  I really hope there is a sequel!  A must read for fans of thrillers.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

On their first night in Paris, the Gamaches gather as a family for a bistro dinner with Armand’s godfather, the billionaire Stephen Horowitz. Walking home together after the meal, they watch in horror as Stephen is knocked down and critically injured in what Gamache knows is no accident, but a deliberate attempt on the elderly man’s life.

When a strange key is found in Stephen’s possession it sends Armand, his wife Reine-Marie, and his former second-in-command at the Sûreté, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, from the top of the Tour d’Eiffel, to the bowels of the Paris Archives, from luxury hotels to odd, coded, works of art.

It sends them deep into the secrets Armand’s godfather has kept for decades.

A gruesome discovery in Stephen’s Paris apartment makes it clear the secrets are more rancid, the danger far greater and more imminent, than they realized.

Soon the whole family is caught up in a web of lies and deceit. In order to find the truth, Gamache will have to decide whether he can trust his friends, his colleagues, his instincts, his own past. His own family.

For even the City of Light casts long shadows. And in that darkness devils hide.

Review:

This is the sixteenth book in the Inspector Gamache mystery series, and I have read them all.  Besides the challenge of solving whatever crime is featured in the novel, I love the people and village of Three Pines, Quebec.  This is the first novel in the series that is not set in that idyllic small town.  But, the Paris setting, a more in-depth look at the Gamache family, and the complex mystery in this book, I didn't mind this detour.  This book widens the world of the series and was as thrilling as any of her other books.  I loved it.

What I Liked:

Setting:

Who doesn't like Paris?  The author does a wonderful job of showing what this city is like for Quebecois visiting France.  They don't quite fit in.  Similar to when Americans go to England.  They may speak the same language, but that's the only thing they have in common.  Parisians consider themselves to be superior to all others, and treat anyone with a Quebecois accent like they are country bumpkins.

But Penny also shows the magic of Paris, with it;s many lovely parks and monuments, museums and libraries.  It is a place of culture and privilege.   One can definitely see why so many people want to live in such a magical place.

Characters:

All of the Gamache family are in Paris in this book.  Daniel, Armand's son, is a banker and has made a comfortable life for himself and his family.  Jean Guy Beauvoir, married to Gamache's daughter Annie, has just taken a job in the private sector (and away from all the bullets).  Armand, and his wife Reine Marie, are in Paris for the birth of Annie and Jean Guy's baby.  Everyone is looking forward to a happy occasion.

When Armand's godfather is attacked, Gamache must find out who is behind it.  This strains his relationships, particularly with his son, Daniel.  Daniel is a very complex character.  Outwardly successful, he is actually full of insecurities, and anger towards his father.  I vacillated between finding Daniel annoying, and feeling sympathy for his tragic misunderstanding of his father.  So many years are lost to hurt feelings and grudges.  This dynamic illustrates how difficult it is to see your parents as adults, and for parents to look at their kids as grownups.

Plot:

Once again, the plot is a web of conspiracies, and unlikely connections between people that lead to a satisfying puzzle.  The author gives just enough information so the reader will have the possibility of solving the mystery along with Inspector Gamache.  I loved figuring out the clues and piecing it all together.  I also loved how the book focuses on how (and if) Armand can heal his relationship with Daniel.

What I Was Mixed About:

No Three Pines Characters:

I really liked this book, but I cannot lie:  I missed the people of Three Pines.  I think the purpose of this book was to focus on Armand and his family relationships, so it was natural for the plot to be set away from the village.  The contrast between the small Canadian village and big old Paris couldn't be more stark.  But this did end up being less cozy and more real world, as a result.

Rating: 

Release Date:  September 1st, 2020

Author:  Louise Penny

Narrator:  Robert Bathhurst

Audio Length:  14 hours

Audio Publisher:  Macmillan Audio

Print Publisher:  Minotaur Books 

Page Length: 448 Pages

Genre:  Mystery/Thriller

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  Audiobook

Recommendation:  Another wonderful book in the Inspector Gamache series.  A must read for fans.