Book Review: The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

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The Fair Weather Friend  by Jessie Garcia  opens with Faith Richards, a popular meteorologist in Detroit, never returning back to the news station after her dinner break. The next day, her news station releases a story that she's been found, strangled to death not far from the station. The Fair Weather Friend , as Richards is referred to by adoring fans, had some deep, dark secrets. As those skeletons come to light, other peoples' lives start to unravel, and things are not what they seem. I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Jessie Garcia's The Fair Weather Friend . A digital copy was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions of the novel are my own. There were many things I absolutely enjoyed about Jessie Garcia's sophomore novel including multiple point of views, the character development, and numerous red herrings. Overall, the story being told from a var...
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Book Review: A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert

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Cozy Mystery Book Review of A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert
A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert was published on July 11, 2023. This engaging mystery novel introduces sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, who starts a new job with Cameron “Cam” Clewe after being forced to retire from her long-time librarian career. On her very first day, Jane discovers a dead body, and Cam turns to her for help to clear his name, setting the stage for a suspenseful and twisty mystery.

I want to give a huge thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1). I was immediately drawn to the intriguing cover and synopsis and was thrilled to receive a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Initially, I struggled to get into the story, so I set it aside and returned to it later. Changing my mindset made all the difference, and I ended up really enjoying the plot. Jane Hunter is a strong and relatable main character, while Cameron Clewe took a little longer to grow on me, but I warmed up to him as the story progressed.

The novel features a wide array of suspects, keeping me guessing about the killer’s identity until the very end. When the truth was finally revealed, it felt completely unexpected, which added to the suspense. There were also a couple of underlying mysteries involving certain characters’ identities that weren’t resolved. While this was a bit frustrating, it seems likely that these storylines may continue in a sequel, which I’m looking forward to.

Overall, I enjoyed A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert, and I gave it four out of five stars. If you enjoy mystery novels with unexpected twists, engaging characters, and a hint of suspense, this book is definitely worth checking out.

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