Book Review: Ghost of Chance by Cate Dean

Ghost of a Chance by Cate Dean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, however, there are couple of reasons why it is getting three and not four stars. The biggest is that it just seemed to end. Boom, here's the killer. Maggie decides she thinks she knows who it is and that's pretty much it, with a little (well done) suspense/drama. To be fair, the clues were probably there... but I just did not see it wrapping up when it did. It did have a nice twist to the end, though.

I thought the characters were done well and that we got to know Maggie, Martin and Spencer and to some extent Enid. I wish we'd gotten more of the bakery owner, but this is book one. I enjoyed the concept of the historical items and Martin's quest for ghosts/haunted items. For readers who don't mix romance and cozy, I think there is as much to the Maggie/Martin romance as there is to the mystery. I also enjoyed getting the POV of both Maggie and Martin.

The biggest reason for a three, though, is there is no ghost in this story! **Spoiler** The object everyone is after and the reason for the murders is supposedly haunted, but we won't know that till book 2! And, the ghost that supposedly is in Maggie's shop (and is on the cover) isn't revealed until the end -- almost the last page. There are some references to cold spots and lights flickering, but that is it. Given the title and the cover, I was expecting a bit more paranormal. Having said all of that, I did enjoy the book and plan on reading at least the next book in the series.

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Book Review: Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book by Ruth Ware and overall, I enjoyed it. The story was very well written and kept me avidly reading. It centers around Harriet, Hal, Westaway, who is in dire straits when she receives a letter from a lawyer advising her that her heretofore unknown grandmother has passed away and she will receive an inheritance. She doesn’t believe it to be true (no spoilers here), but she’s in danger where she’s at and could use the money.

Hal manages to get to the funeral, where she meets the lawyer and her previously unknown uncles. Back at the house, she also meets the somewhat creepy and very grumpy housekeeper, Mrs Warren. She suspects that all is not right and over time, we learn this is the case.

This does have a gothic feel to it, mostly from the house. The story itself is set around 2018, but I never got that feel. I always felt like it was more of the early 1900’s or a little later, due to the house and utter lack of amenities (Cell phones and computers are in the story, but it still didn’t feel like 2018 to me). The family stays at the family home, Trepassen. Hal is given a tiny, unheated room in the attic (the house doesn’t have heat), Mrs Warren is a dreadful cook, but no one else (including an aunt) steps in to take care of meals (even take out) or snacks or anything. It was a little weird. There was a town nearby, so it wasn’t like they couldn’t. The mystery unfolds somewhat organically and over a short period of time, but I think it could have moved a little quicker. I also figured out some, but not all of the mystery. The ending is very climatic (perhaps too climatic) and then it just sort of ends. I would have liked to have a more robust wrap-up. Still, we get our answers.

Having said that, I did enjoy the book and recommend it for those that like a good, somewhat gothic mystery.


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Book Review: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Cormoran Strike novels by Robert Galbraith, aka JK Rowling. I’ll admit -- this is the first book I’ve read by her as I’m probably the only person who has never read the Harry Potter series.

I enjoyed the book and thought it was well written. The mystery was well done and clues were placed, but I never figured out the killer. Other reviewers complained that he just interviewed people. I think that’s the life of a private investigator. It didn’t bother me. I read cozy’s as well and have sorta classified this as a “hard boiled cozy.” The death being investigated occurred before the story starts and the second death happens “off stage” so to speak. His thoughts about Charlotte didn’t bother me as he’d just broken up with her at the beginning of the book. I also think we, as readers, had to get a picture of Charlotte, I suspect, so we would hope he wouldn’t go back to her. I loved Robin, his assistant, and thought there should have been a little more of her, but given Strike’s circumstances and Robin’s newness as his assistant, I found that it fit with the story. I am sorry that Matthew, Robin’s fiance, comes off badly. We don’t really get to know him at all.

The story centers around the death of model Lula Landry, who was adopted as a child, as were her brothers, John and Charlie Bristow. Charlie was a boyhood friend of Strikes, who died while on vacation with his family. Lula’s death has been classified as a suicide, but John doesn’t think it was and wants Strike to prove it wasn’t. Strike ultimately does and it all somewhat comes full circle. There are other characters that all seem like they could have a motive - her uncle, the fashion designer, the boyfriend. I even wondered if her adopted mother had something to do with it based on how information was being provided to Strike. I don’t want to give away the story, so I won’t say anymore, except the conclusions Strike ultimately came to fit and the story worked, but a reader would have to be very astute to take it all in. I wasn’t.

There were some things that stood out a bit. I realize people cuss, we all do occasionally. Strike doesn’t really, but just about everyone he talks with does. The author seems unnaturally obsessed with bodily functions and describing people in terms related to the nether regions i.e. Strikes “pube hair.” Why? Everyone is either good looking or ugly. There is almost no in between, except maybe Robin, who is pretty, unless compared to Charlotte. She paints such an unflattering physical image of Strike (nothing to do with the lost leg) that it’s hard to see him as a hero. Maybe that’s her point. She goes into more detail about daily bathroom habits than any author I’ve read and it adds nothing to the story other than perhaps showing Strike as destitute and homeless, but even then some of it has nothing to do with that. It’s just there, adding nothing, in a TMI way. Strike uses the shower at a university and the pool -- apparently by acting like he belonged there. I’m still wondering why the university. Was it close by? If he wanted to get back in shape, a gym would have been the ticket, but maybe the leg was holding him back or money. And, just about everyone smokes. Seriously, the only person who doesn’t light up is Robin. I know very few people who smoke and am unsure why in this day and age, she decided that every character but one would smoke. Perhaps, she knows a lot of smokers.

The wrap up came at the end and was done expose style by Strike to the killer. There was a little bit of drama, but the bad guy was caught. What we also learned was that she held back information (unless I missed something?) that Strike had, so I’m not sure we could have figured it out as we didn’t know everything. For the most part we know what Strike knows, but we aren’t privy to the conclusions he’s drawing and in the end, we didn’t even know some of the actions he took. I did like that she gave an epilogue.

I’ve read the first two chapters of the next book (provided in my copy of this book) and am undecided if I’ll read the next ones. I’d like to as I like Strike and Robin, however, reviews for the [Silk Wormwood] indicate that parts of it are very graphic and gory. I can handle bodily functions and language, but gore is not my cup of tea. So, I’m not sure I’ll read anymore in this series. Recommended if you like a good mystery.


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Recipe Review: Angel Baby aka Dutch Baby

A friend shared this modified recipe for a Dutch Baby with me.  Her boyfriend, who loves this recipe, is forever calling it an Angel Baby, so we gave in and call it that.  For those unfamiliar with a Dutch Baby, it is basically a baked pancake.  I had never tried one, though I'd seen pictures and seen them on restaurant menus.  Spending quite a bit of time at home during these COVID-19 times, I've been trying new recipes.  So, I gave this a go.  So glad I did!

This recipe replaces the milk with a sour cream water mixture.  I'm not sure where she got the original recipe, but this one has also been made smaller.  She baked in an 8x8 glass dish.  After reading the history, I decided to give it a try in the cast iron skillet as well. I think I prefer the skillet.  The results were a little different - I got a thicker pancake, but I also reduced the butter by 1 tablespoon the second time (cast iron skillet).  Actually, with powdered sugar it tastes like french toast to me.  This serves two nicely, but was, of course, too much for me.  I've tested warming the left overs in a 350 degree oven and have enjoyed it the second day.  The second batch I warmed in the cast iron skillet at 350 degrees. I'd recommend 6-10 minutes or more depending on how warm you want it. 

In glass dish...

I ate mine with powdered sugar, but you could also add syrup.  Following friend's lead, I also added a couple of slices of bacon.  However, this thing has three eggs, so the protein is there. 

Recipe:

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
Put 8x8 inch glass dish or cast iron skillet with 3 tablespoons butter in oven to pre-heat.

In a blender, mix:

3 eggs
1/3 c. milk (I used soy)
1/3 c. sour cream mixture (1/2 sour cream; 1/2 water)
2/3 c. flour
2 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

In cast iron skillet ; fell some after
removed from oven. 

Pour batter into prepared dish when butter is melted.  Bake for 18-22 minutes. 

Dust with powdered sugar.  Maple syrup optional.