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Sunday, August 01, 2021

Gone for Good by Joanna Schaffhausen and The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden

The first in a new series by Joanna Schaffhausen, Gone for Good is Detective Annalisa Vega #1.  Like the Ellery Hathaway/Reed Markham series by Schaffhausen, Gone for Good has a twisty conundrum of a plot.

Twenty years have passed since the Lovelorn Killer murders, and now Annalisa Vega is wondering why the murders have started again.  She has a personal connection to the last of killer's victims.

The most interesting part to me was the online "detective" group called the Grave Diggers, who investigate cold cases.

I didn't want to put it down, but I still had a lot of quibbles. The reviews are extremely positive, and although I'll certainly need the next Annalisa Vega book, this one wasn't a stand-out for me.  

I'm looking forward to the next Ellery Hathaway/Reed Markham book, though.

Read in February; blog review scheduled for Aug. 1.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press

Mystery/Thriller.  Aug. 10, 2021.  Print length:  304 pages.


The Dread Penny Society series is light fun with interesting characters.  I like the concept, but it must be hard-going to keep it fresh.

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third book in the series and contains the sweet little romance of the main characters.  There's a hint of which secondary characters will take the stage in the next book.

Each book contains  a Penny Dreadful story by one or two of the characters.  Brogan's Penny Dreadful, "The Dead Zoo" had an interesting concept, but I found it ...not terribly interesting.  King's story was better.  Then, of course, there is the main plot in which Brogan goes undercover and falls for the bookseller and confronts corruption.

I loved the first book The Lady and the Highwayman because if its originality.  The second and third books are OK, but all of them have terrific covers. :)

Read in February; blog review scheduled for Aug. 1.

NetGalley/Shadow Mountain Publishing
Historical/Mystery/Romance.  Aug. 17, 2021.  print length:  368 pages.

12 comments:

  1. I don't, as a rule, read a lot of series, although in the past I read them almost exclusively. These two could be very interesting though. Interesting concepts.

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    1. I read a lot of series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the Dread Penny book, but haven't been as taken with the rest. The first book was innovative and fun because it was so unusual. :)

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  2. I'm excited to try the new Schaffhausen series, but I'm not surprised it's not quite as good as her Ellery Hathaway series. I love that series! And I still haven't read any of the Dread Penny Society books although I do have them on my TBR list. Someday, right? :)

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    1. I didn't love the first book in the Ellery Hathaway series, but have liked the follow up books much more as characters developed! Now I look forward to each one and hope I'll feel the same way about Schaffhausen new Annalisa Vega books.

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  3. Quibbles can make or break a mystery for me. Also in historical fiction at times. If I am actively questioning the narrative while reading, it bugs me. I guess I don't like anything to pull me out of the story.

    The Dread Penny Society sounds intriguing. Like many readers, I have a semi-obsession with the Victoria era!

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    1. Those quibbles can pull you out of the story and that is detrimental to enjoyment. The Dread Penny books are interesting in concept and are light reading with a little romance. :)

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  4. I've been wanting to try The Dread Penny Society series. I've read a few of Sarah Eden's books and enjoyed them. And I love the Victorian era.

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    1. I think you'd enjoy them, Ashley! They are quick reads and good fun.

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  5. Happy to see that your reading has led to some interesting titles to consider while I managed to stay away from any computer for the past two weeks. I'm looking forward to taking a closer look at a couple of these.

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    1. Good for you for enjoying your trip without the computer, Sam!

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  6. I didn't know that Joanna Schaffhausen has a new series out! And of course I'm always behind when series books are concerned. Need to catch up on her Ellery Hathaway/Reed Markham series, too. ;)

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  7. The Dread Penny Society book does have a beautiful cover! I actually like the sound of both of these even if they weren't stellar they still sound enjoyable.

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