Posted on by Jacquie Biggar

#BookReview- Two #MurderMystery Spring #Reads @dlfinnauthor @MelindaLeigh1


Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

It’s windy and rainy in the Pacific Northwest, perfect for cozying up with a good read! On the west coast of the island, Tofino is getting seven-meter waves (close to twenty-three feet!) making the storm watchers very happy, lol.

Everything that could go wrong seemed to happen this week. I took my car in for its spring oil change and was informed multiple leaks had formed under the engine, so I had to take it to a garage for repairs. That was Thursday and we still haven’t got it back, which means Mom’s wound care clinic appointment had to be set back- not ideal.

Then a leak developed in the RV’s kitchen, and when we traced it back, we found the hot water tank let go, filling the outdoor under trailer storage with water. There were even mushrooms growing-eww!

All of this when hubby was on a two-week layoff do to a lumber shortage. There’s a big movement toward saving old growth forests, and while I understand, it is hard for people who count on the sawmills for jobs. I wish they could come to an amicable agreement.

Anyway, back to the murder-mysteries.

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The first was a surprise. When I picked up D.L. Finn’s Dolphin’s Cave I expected a fun YA adventure story. It’s that, and so much more!

The dream always begins the same way for fifteen-year-old Coral Dover. She enters the ocean alone and ends up in a cave on the back of a dolphin. It’s happened every night for the last eight years since her parents disappeared.

Coral Dover lost her parents in a horrifying plane crash in the Hawaiian Islands and now lives with her Aunt Ruby. She has recurring dreams of swimming in the ocean and ending up in a city made of gold on the back of a dolphin. Just when something momentous is about to happen, she wakes up. These dreams leave her unsettled and filled with the urge to travel to where her parents disappeared, so she can finally get to the truth, and some closure.

Finally, Aunt Ruby makes arrangements for the trip and invites the Penny’s, working associates and close friends, to join them.

Strange events begin to occur almost as soon as the group touch down. Coral is sure someone is taking photos of them, and enlists the Penny’s handsome son, Ben, to help her catch the culprits and find out what they’re up to. But then, things take a dangerous turn and suddenly everyone becomes a suspect.

Can Coral uncover the mystery and discover the message behind her dreams before someone she cares about dies?

This is a wonderful read. The characters are well fleshed out, the settings beautiful and magical in turn, with a plot that’s a page-turning adventure!

Next, I have a police procedural by Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Melinda Leigh. Dead Against Her is the fifth in the Bree Taggert series.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Sheriff Bree Taggert’s downfall is part of a killer’s cunning design in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, lies, and revenge.

When the mutilated bodies of a mother and her ex-deputy son are found in the woman’s home, Sheriff Bree Taggert is called to investigate the murders.

Bree is reminded of her own family’s murder/suicide when she was a child and has to fight to set her feelings aside in order to do her job- made more difficult by her tumultuous past with one of the victims.

Deputy Eugene Oscar caused her nothing but misery when she took over from the previous corrupt sheriff until she let him go. Now he’s dead and the pressure is on her to find the killers with a conflict-of-interest threat hanging over her head. Adding to the stress, someone is trying to dirty her image by distributing fake deep web photos and videos of Bree in sexual poses. It’s upsetting and demeaning, but she’s determined to ignore it and work on her investigation until a threat to her life amps up the stakes.

This is a fast-paced drama with plenty of red herrings. I didn’t guess who was behind the murders until the last few chapters- I love when that happens!

How’s your week going?

This glorious plum tree was the bright spot in my crappy week. 🙂

61 Replies to “#BookReview- Two #MurderMystery Spring #Reads @dlfinnauthor @MelindaLeigh1”

  2. Both of the books sound great, Jacquie. I always love everything Denise writes, and Dolphin’s Cave sounds like a fantastic adventure story for the young and young at heart.

    Wow, what a wretched week you’ve had. I’m so sorry you got hammered with all of those hurdles. Let’s hope the worst is behind you. We need more bright spots like that gorgeous tree. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Ha damn Jacquie it seems bad news are piling up! I hope your husband will soon have his job back again! And that you’ll get your car back as well!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Sorry about your bad week, Jacquie. Hoping things get better for you. The reviews are great. I enjoy Denise’s writing and will have to put Dolphin’s Cove on my TBR list.

    I love when an author keeps you guessing right up to the end. Dead Against Her sounds like something I would enjoy.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Oh my, Jacquie! When it rains, it pours. Hope everything is straightened out soon! Thank you for sharing these book reviews. I loved Dolphin’s Cave and can add my recommendation to yours. What a stunning photo of the plum tree!

    Liked by 2 people

  7. I’m so sorry about your bad week. The plum tree is definitely a bright spot. Hoping for better times ahead for you.

    Excellent reviews, Jacquie. Wishing both authors all the best.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Wow, here is hoping your week gets a lot better! xoxo

    I think this book sounds fantastic! It’s definitely going on the TBR!

    I love that tree so much! What a glorious time of year this is!

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I HATE weeks like that, Jacquie. The car, especially–I hope you have it back by now. Delaying the wound care sounds awful. I also hope your mother is getting through that, maybe even back on schedule.

    Great books, loved the reviews. I’m a big fan of police procedurals.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Sorry about your week, Jacquie! At least you are getting rain. Strange thing here after that last storm beginning of year and clean up, there are huge piles of trees they aren’t using but chipping. There must be a happy inbetween to save old growth and use what we already have down? Plus, what they are doing for fire lines. Hope it gets figured out, and you have a better week.

    I was thrilled to see you read and enjoyed Dolphin’s Cave. That was a fun one to write and weave my love of Hawaii into it. Thank you for including it here today. Xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think the chips are used for paper and plywood, which is needed for building. Downed logs are turned into fence posts and telephone poles. The trees are needed, there’s no doubt about that. I’d just like to see more reforestation, rather than clear-cutting. I think it would go a long way to helping the environment and keep everyone at the bargaining table.
      Thanks for taking me on a journey to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands through your descriptive storytelling!

      Like

  13. Thank you for sharing these wonderful reviews, Jacquie. Like you, I loved Dolphin’s Cave. Take good care of yourself. You’ve crossed some mighty hurdles and I hope that’s all past now. 💗

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Life tests us every single day, Jacquie. Some days, life decides to toss even the kitchen sink at us. It does make us stronger, though it’s not fun getting there. I will certainly say some prayers for you and your family. Wonderful reviews.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Ah, shoot, Jacquie. You’ve had a doozie of a week. Timber is one of the primary industries where we live, though we’ve lost lumber and sawmills in the last decade.

    Thanks for the reviews, and congrats to Denise and Melinda.

    Your tree is incredible. My mother-in-law had plum trees, but I don’t remember ever seeing them bloom like yours.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The timber industry is second only to oil and gas in western Canada. It’s the livelihood for thousands, but environmentalists don’t care about that. All they see is the big trees coming down, never mind the profusion of National and Provincial parks that protect much of these trees.
      In my opinion they should worry more about air traffic. I can’t even hazard a guess as to what those jets do to the ozone.
      Okay, I’m done ranting, lol

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I can see both sides of most of these issues. I believe in preserving as much of the beauty of nature as we can. If I worked in the timber industry, I’d probably feel different. There has to be some middle ground. We all need a good rant, and environmentalists need to be more flexible in their positions.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. HI Jacquie, I am sorry to hear about your run of bad luck. I didn’t know about the lumber situation in Canada. I do know that saving forests has become a prominent issue with all the climate change anxiety. I hope things improve soon. Two excellent sounding stories, quite different too. Thanks for sharing your reviews.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know we’re in a transition period with regard to climate action, but for many like my husband who is almost sixty, it wouldn’t be Beneficial to train him in another occupation, which means he falls through the cracks- very frustrating

      Liked by 1 person

          2. For people under 65, there is EI (Employment Insurance) but it only pays 60% of your wage and lasts 47 weeks, I believe? Enough for most to find new jobs, unless you’re nearing retirement when most employers will think twice about investing in you short term.

            Liked by 1 person

  17. Sorry to hear about all the challenges this week, Jacquie. I hope that’s it and the rest of your spring proceeds without any major challenges. And thanks for the reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed Denise’s book and couldn’t agree more with your review. And thanks for the introduction to Dead Against Her. The premise sounds good and I like red herrings. 🙂 Congrats to the authors and Happy Reading!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. We got over a foot, Jacquie, and it’s still snowing. So strange! All my daffodils are squashed. But it won’t last long. And as long as the power stays one, I’m happy blogging. I hope the snow doesn’t add to your challenges this week!

        Liked by 1 person

  18. Excellent reviews, Jacquie. I loved the beautiful plum tree! Congratulations to Denise and Melinda! I’m currently in isolation because I tested positive for COVID this morning, but hey, it gives me ore time to read and write.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Wow, Jacqui! I hope this week is filled with nothing but good things to offset the challenges you dealt with last week.
    I loved Dolphin’s Cave. It’s a definite keeper. Dead Against Her sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing the reviews. Have a GREAT week.

    Liked by 1 person

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