A Matter of Trust by (A Mia Quinn Mystery) by Lis Wiehl

A Matter of Trust is a fast-paced mystery with a few twists here and there to add to the interest.  Two prosecutors are murdered years apart. Is it coincidence or are they connected?  This is a new series with Mia Quinn as the main character. It is an easy read that held my interest, and I liked that I didn't figure out who the killer was until late in the book.

Unfortunately, it also annoyed me in a few ways. There were two story lines thrown in, neither of which added to the main story. The character of Mia also wasn't very likable. Her parenting skills deserved a call to DCSF, and her constant whining about financial difficulties left me cold. Yes, her husband left her with financial burdens, but she is a prosecutor, not an unskilled worker.

Good, but not great.

No One Else to Kill by Bob Doerr

 

No One Else to Kill is book 5 of the Jim West Mysteries. Since this was my first Jim West book, I expected to feel as though I was missing something. I am pleased to say that I was not, and this is definitely a stand-alone book.  

Jim West travels to a remote hunting lodge in New Mexico with the intent of meeting up with an old friend to do some therapeutic hiking. The friend is a no-show, but before he can head for home a murder occurs at the lodge. Not yet twenty four hours later, another murder occurs.  While Jim could have been one of the suspects, the police recognize his problem solving talents and enlist his help in solving the crime. Although he wants no part of it, he agrees to be their man on the inside and keep his eyes on everyone.

Jim is a likable character, not really wanting to get involved, but realizing his unique talents and opportunity to be among the suspects. We are introduced to a variety of characters and suspects at the lodge. Things get out of control and brought back to an exciting conclusion.  It is an interesting story with a variety of  possible suspects.

No One Else to Kill won First Runner-Up in the Commercial Fiction category for the 2013 Eric Hoffer Award.

When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason

I didn't realize while reading When a Secret Kills that it is the third of a series.  To me, that means it is a great stand-alone book.  I never felt I was “missing something,” and I never thought that there were back-stories that needed to be explained.  We do know at the beginning that the two main characters, Colton & Jillian, had a previous relationship, and that trouble follows Jillian everywhere. 

This is a good mystery with a light romance. The main characters are believable and likable even when the story is not quite as believable. Even though I had not read the previous books in this series, I felt I had a good idea of the personalities of the characters involved.

The story is a rather complex twisting tale that managed to hold my interest.  There are more than enough suspects, and the story comes to a satisfying ending. This is my first Lynette Eason book, but it won’t be my last. 

Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

If You Were Me and Lived in Mexico... by Carole P. Roman

If You Were Me and Lived in Mexico by Carole P. Roman is part of a series of books to introduce children to different cultures around the world.  It is a nice way to establish an understanding of children who may look different but are the same in many ways.  The book explains common names, terms for parents, coins, and a variety of other daily activities in which children are interested.

The book has brightly colored full-page illustrations that bring the book to life.  A few simple Spanish names and words are introduced, and included is a pronunciation guide at the back of the book.  I enjoyed the mini tour of Mexico with this book and highly recommend it for young children.