Mexico Street Blog Tour

Today I'm thrilled to share my blog tour spot of another great Orenda Books publication!

TITLE: Mexico Street (Chaz Riley #8)

AUTHOR: Simone Buchholz

PUBLISHER: Orenda Books

PUBLISHING DATE: March 5, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Hamburg state prosecutor Chastity Riley investigates a series of arson attacks on cars across the city, which leads her to a startling and life-threatening discovery involving criminal gangs and a very illicit love story… 

Night after night, cars are set alight across the German city of Hamburg, with no obvious pattern, no explanation and no suspect. Until, one night, on Mexico Street, a ghetto of high-rise blocks in the north of the city, a Fiat is torched. Only this car isn’t empty. The body of Nouri Saroukhan – prodigal son of the Bremen clan – is soon discovered, and the case becomes a homicide. 

Public prosecutor Chastity Riley is handed the investigation, which takes her deep into a criminal underground that snakes beneath the whole of Germany. And as details of Nouri’s background, including an illicit relationship with the mysterious Aliza, emerge, it becomes clear that these are not random attacks, and there are more on the cards… 

MY THOUGHTS: I have really enjoyed the recent titles I've read from Orenda Books but the problem I seem to have is that they have me wanting to go back and start several series from the beginning.  Such is the case with the Chaz Riley series.

This novel finds Chaz Riley, a public prosecutor in Germany, investigating the suspicious death of an important son of the Bremen clan.  As she investigates, she finds herself falling deeper and deeper into a criminal underground and she soon discovers the violence will not end with Nouri's death. 

I loved Chaz as a character. She is kind of a take-no-prisoners person who shoots straight from the hip.  She is strong and resilient and isn't afraid of being too much like one of the guys.  She is diligent in her investigations and I was totally enthralled with the novel and what would happen next.  I also really liked Chaz's interaction with her partner, Detective Stepanovic.  They clearly have honed their skills together over the years and it shows.

There was a very suspenseful and intriguing mystery at the root of Mexico Street and I'm excited to go back and meet Chaz from the beginning.  This book has it all - darkness, sarcasm, wit and humor.  There is also a touch of love woven into the tale of Nouri's death.  It was interesting to read a mystery set in Germany because I can't recall the last time I read something set in that country.  Orenda Books is really getting me to branch out with some locales and I'm loving every minute of it!

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Simone Buchholz was born in Hanau in 1972. At university, she studied Philosophy and Literature, worked as a waitress and a columnist, and trained to be a journalist at the prestigious Henri-Nannen-School in Hamburg. In 2016, Simone Buchholz was awarded the Crime Cologne Award as well as runner-up in the German Crime Fiction Prize for Blue Night, which was number one on the KrimiZEIT Best of Crime List for months. She
lives in Sankt Pauli, in the heart of Hamburg, with her husband and son.

Is There Such a Thing as a Perfect Murder?

TITLE: Eight Perfect Murders
AUTHOR: Peter Swanson
PUBLISHER: William Morrow
PUBLISHING DATE: March 3, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

A chilling tale of psychological suspense and an homage to the thriller genre tailor-made for fans: the story of a bookseller who finds himself at the center of an FBI investigation because a very clever killer has started using his list of fiction’s most ingenious murders. 

Years ago, bookseller and mystery aficionado Malcolm Kershaw compiled a list of the genre’s most unsolvable murders, those that are almost impossible to crack—which he titled “Eight Perfect Murders”—chosen from among the best of the best including Agatha Christie’s A. B. C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin’s Death Trap, A. A. Milne's Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox's Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain's Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald's The Drowner, and Donna Tartt's A Secret History. 

But no one is more surprised than Mal, now the owner of the Old Devils Bookshop in Boston, when an FBI agent comes knocking on his door one snowy day in February. She’s looking for information about a series of unsolved murders that look eerily similar to the killings on Mal’s old list. And the FBI agent isn’t the only one interested in this bookseller who spends almost every night at home reading. The killer is out there, watching his every move—a diabolical threat who knows way too much about Mal’s personal history, especially the secrets he’s never told anyone, even his recently deceased wife. 

To protect himself, Mal begins looking into possible suspects—and sees a killer in everyone around him. But Mal doesn’t count on the investigation leaving a trail of death in its wake. Suddenly, a series of shocking twists leaves more victims dead—and the noose around Mal’s neck grows so tight he might never escape. 

MY THOUGHTS: I've been seeing this book everywhere so when I saw it on Overdrive, I had to put it on hold.  I really have had great success with mystery/thrillers this year and I've always wanted to give this author a try.  I'm thrilled to say that Eight Perfect Murders was everything I was expecting and a little bit more.

Malcolm is part owner in a Boston bookshop.  Several years ago his wife Claire, died in a car wreck on her way home.  Since then he has led a quiet life with only his store, his cat Nero and a few friends who are really more like acquaintances.  One day and FBI agent shows up questioning Malcolm about a list he posted on the store's website a few years ago. In this list, he showcased the books which he felt had the top eight perfect murders.  But now, someone has paid too much attention to the list and it may just cause things to come back to haunt Malcolm which he really would have rather stayed forgotten.

First of all, I think any mystery book lover will find themselves totally immersed in this novel.  There's a lot of talk about books and authors.  The bookshop sounds like a wonderful place to get lost one afternoon and some of the quirky patrons are even mentioned.  Also, the bulk of the book occurs on a backdrop of a Boston snowstorm and I know many people love that snowy setting.  Malcolm is likable enough.  I'm sure there will be a lot of comparisons to Kepnes' Joe in You because this book is also told in first person.  Malcolm does remind me of Joe - without the obsessive qualities but with some of the mental health concerns.  It was fun seeing him work side-by-side the FBI agent and share his literary insight with law enforcement.

I don't want to say much about the plot. I really feel that this is a book best entered into blindly.  Let me just say there are a ton of twists and turns.  Just when I thought I had something figured out, Swanson threw in another surprise.  My main issue with the book is the ending.  It's not open-ended per se, but it does leave the reader to draw a few of their own conclusions.  I would have rather had everything spelled out for me.  However, overall it didn't quell my enjoyment much.   Honestly, I think there are tons of people who will enjoy Eight Perfect Murders and I feel like if it's even remotely on your radar, do yourself a favor and pick it up.

RATING: 4 PAWS

What's Happening (03-14-20)...

So I'm doing things a tad bit differently this year and will be combining all of my regular weekend posts.  This will enable me to add more content on Fridays and it is just starting to make more sense.  I'll still be linking up with Stacking the Shelves at Tynga's Reviews and Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer.  Both blogs are awesome so make sure you check them out. 

So let's get the elephant in the room out of the way.  Everyone at Booker T's Farm is feeling fine for now but are being very cautious in the wake of the coronavirus spread in the US.  I could rant about things and how it's being handled but I want this to be my happy place.  I do hope all my visitors are okay as well.

So we have managed to watch a few new movies this week.  And it seems like we will be watching a lot more since all major sports are practically canceled.  We watched "Gemini Man" with Will Smith one night on a whim and I found I actually really liked it. I don't know now why we put it off so long. We also watched "Jumanji: The Next Level" and it was as good as I thought it would be.  "Kingdom" starts back on Netflix this weekend so at least that will give us something to binge.

Reading has been pretty good as well.  I'm about 50% into Eight Perfect Murders and 10% into Blackwood.  Both are pretty good but Blackwood hasn't really picked up yet.  I also hope to pick up the next Longmire book soon.  

Finally I'll leave you with a few pictures of the pups.  Here's Apollo and his infamous skateboard 

View this post on Instagram

So Mr. Barb bought a skateboard. Does anyone in our house skate - nope! He think he can teach Apollo #bookertsfarm #giantchewtoy #boxersofinstagram #boxersmiles #dogsofinstagram #boxerpuppies #boxerpups

A post shared by Barb (boxermommyreads) Briggs (@boxermommyreads) on Mar 10, 2020 at 11:51am PDT

And here is Cassius looking on wondering what his brother is trying to do.

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I know I’m biased but I do think Cassius is one of the most beautiful dogs ever. Here he is trying to figure out where his brother Apollo went because he knows it’s a matter of time until he attacks. When my Dad was alive, he always asked when we were going to get a tiger striped boxer. After he passed, Mr. Barb bought me Cassius. We didn’t know until later that he was actually a reverse brindle. #bookertsfarm #boxersofinstagram #boxersarethebest #boxersmile #dogsofinstagram

A post shared by Barb (boxermommyreads) Briggs (@boxermommyreads) on Mar 4, 2020 at 12:04pm PST

So I hope everyone is having a great weekend and stay safe my friends!

Well Now That Was Different - When We Were Vikings Review

TITLE: When We Were Vikings
AUTHOR: Andrew David MacDonald
PUBLISHER: Scout Press
PUBLISHING DATE: January 28, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

A heart-swelling debut for fans of The Silver Linings Playbook and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. 

Sometimes life isn’t as simple as heroes and villains. 

For Zelda, a twenty-one-year-old Viking enthusiast who lives with her older brother, Gert, life is best lived with some basic rules: 

1. A smile means “thank you for doing something small that I liked.” 
2. Fist bumps and dabs = respect. 
3. Strange people are not appreciated in her home. 
4. Tomatoes must go in the middle of the sandwich and not get the bread wet. 
5. Sometimes the most important things don’t fit on lists. 

But when Zelda finds out that Gert has resorted to some questionable—and dangerous—methods to make enough money to keep them afloat, Zelda decides to launch her own quest. Her mission: to be legendary. It isn’t long before Zelda finds herself in a battle that tests the reach of her heroism, her love for her brother, and the depth of her Viking strength. 

When We Were Vikings is an uplifting debut about an unlikely heroine whose journey will leave you wanting to embark on a quest of your own, because after all... 

We are all legends of our own making. 

MY THOUGHTS: I'm pretty much going to come out and say it - for me this book was a contemporary disguised as a fantasy book.  And let me clarify - that's completely my fault because apparently I didn't read the synopsis very well.  I mean you see it.  It's pretty clear right?  Either way, I have to admit that I really enjoyed this book and I can understand why I've been seeing it around in a few places.

The book opens on Zelda's 21st birthday.  Her brother Gert has hired a viking warrior for her, who is actually a stripper, and the guests include Gert's ex-girfriend Annie, whom Zelda calls AK47, and Zelda's boyfriend Marxy.  Zelda's mother died of cancer when Zelda was young and even though she and Gert lived with Uncle Richard for a while, Gert has always looked after Zelda.  Zelda suffers from Fetal Alchohol Syndrome and throughout the course of the book, it becomes clear she is definitely the most level-headed adult in her family.

Zelda is obsessed with Vikings and has patterned much of her life around Viking rules and Viking lore.  You see,  rules are important to Zelda - they help he survive.  But Gert starts breaking the rules and the family is soon in trouble and it might just be up to Zelda to save everyone this time around.

So this is probably one of the more diverse books I've read in a while.  And I hate to use that word because I think some people get hung up on it.  Zelda does have a disability and while she realizes it may limit her is some fashion, throughout the book the reader sees just how limitless it really is.  In fact, I often found myself envious of Zelda and her simplistic way of looking at things.  Zelda also starts work in a library and manages to prove just how valuable she is there while inspiring some of her friends to branch out and try working as well.  Just one more example of how Zelda is an inspiration to many.

 AK47 is another great character.  It's clear she loves both Gert and Zelda, but Gert has made some decisions which have pushed her away and the two may never overcome their issues.  You'll just have to read the book to find out the outcome.  And I will warn you, the ending of this book may just grab you in a way you can't describe because it did just that to me.

So I will warn those who care that this book does contain trigger warnings for gang violence, physical assault and sexual assault.  There is also some sexual content as Zelda and her boyfriend Marxy are preparing to have sex for the first time and many people are actually involved in the preparation - Marxy's mom, Zelda's therapist, Gert and AK47.  I actually found those to be some of the best chapters and I applaud the author for taking a hard look at how something so many people jump into lightly is such a big deal for someone who has a disability.

When We Were Vikings was a read which was outside of my reading box - which says a lot because I am a pretty eclectic reader.  It most definitely was not a fantasy but does implore some fantastical elements.  If any of what I've written interests you in the slightest, then I highly recommend you check out this book.

RATING: 4 PAWS

Can't Wait Wednesday (252)

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

FROM GOODREADS: If you loved American Horror Story 1984, you'll die for this paperback original thriller mashup of Agatha Christie's The A.B.C. Murders and Riverdale in which a game turns deadly with a killer who picks his victims one by one, letter by letter.

Every year the senior class at Lincoln High plays assassin. Lia Prince has been planning her strategy for years and she's psyched that not only does she finally get to play, she's on a team with Devon Diaz. But this year, the game isn't any fun--it's real. Abby Ascher, Ben Barnard, and Cassidy Clarke have all turned up . . . dead. Can Lia stop the ABC killer before he reaches D? 

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  Magic word - Riverdale.  Since I'm trash for it, the comparison automatically caught my attention.  It also sounds like a quick, fun read.

CASSIUS'S PICK

FROM GOODREADS: Return to the unforgettable world of the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling novel The One and Only Ivan (soon to be a major motion picture!) in this incredible sequel, starring Ivan’s friend Bob!

Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

Bob, Ivan, and Ruby have touched the hearts of millions of readers, and their story isn’t over yet.

WHY CASSIUS CAN'T WAIT:  I've seen this adorable elephant and ape on the cover of one of Mom's books and I keep asking her to read it to me.  She always says she doesn't feel like crying. You'd think since Apollo came along I could convince her to pick it up.  Well, now she has no choice since I'm pretty sure this is a sequel.  Also, I heard they are making a film of the first.  I guess if she doesn't read it I can catch the movie!

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

TTT - Authors I Follow on Social Media

The top 10 weekly meme used to be hosted by The Broke and the Bookish they  handed over the reins to ThatArtsyReaderGirl who can be found HERE.  Each week she will focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading.

This week's topic is author's who have a fun social media presence.  Now I'll be honest, I don't keep up a ton on the whole social media/author thing but there are a few I follow on Goodreads and Twitter and through social media.  So I'm only going to try to come up with five!

HUNTER SHEA

Hunter interacts with his fans a lot through a lot of different social media platforms.  He even has a podcast and monthly newsletter.

GOODREADS/TWITTER/INSTAGRAM

STEPHEN KING

Mr. King is not afraid to voice his opinion on numerous issues which makes following him on Twitter so much fun.  He also has a wonderful dog - Evil Molly, whom I love to see and hear about.

TWITTER

ALAN BAXTER
I'm adding Alan to the list because I just read Roo and the while book came about due to an interact with others on Twitter.  Such a fun backstory.  Also, keep an eye out for my review.

GOODREADS/TWITTER

KIRA JANE BUXTON

I've had a couple of interactions with Kira on Twitter and she seems like such a great person.  Plus, she has a pet crow and is always showing pictures 

INSTAGRAM/TWITTER

JACKIE BOUCHARD

I adore Jackie and her dog Rita.  I've followed and interacted with her for years.  

INSTAGRAM/GOODREADS

So there you have it.  Can't wait to see who's on your list!

Why Am I Drawn To This Series??? - The Maple Murders Review

TITLE: The Maple Murders (Riverdale #3)
AUTHOR: Micol Ostow
PUBLISHER: Scholastic
PUBLISHING DATE: October 15, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: 

Riverdale is clamoring with excitement over news that an old town tradition is suddenly being revived: the Riverdale Revels.

The festival supposedly has a long history, dating back to the town's settlers' first successful maple tapping. But there's no record of the Revels anywhere. Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead think there must be more to the story. And when a skeleton is uncovered in a 75-year-old time capsule on the first night of the festival, they know they're right. 

But a dead body in a maple barrel isn't the only drama surrounding the Revels. The Royal Maple pageant (open to all Riverdale teens) is in full swing, but "accidents" keep befalling the contestants, including the gang's friends. 

Someone is clearly trying to put an end to the Revels once and for all -- but who? And more importantly, why? Can Archie and his friends put a stop to the sabotage before someone puts a stop to them? This original novel features a story not seen on the show! 

MY THOUGHTS: So I pretty much am addicted to Riverdale and while I will admit this series isn't really that deep and probably aren't for people who don't follow the show, I will continue to read them as long as I can grab them from the library - or really really cheap.  Like free cheap.

In this installment, the town of Riverdale is trying to bounce back from some of the tragic incidents that have recently happened.  They decide to revive the Riverdale Revels, a celebration which hasn't happened in years.  As part of the celebration, the mayor has decided to dig up an time capsule buried over 75 years ago.  However, no one was prepared for the dead body with comes out when they release the contents.

Once again we have all the favorite cast - including Jughead which EVERYONE knows is dear to my heart.  Kevin, Toni and Cheryl are a little more prominent in this novel than the first two but primary because there is a pageant taking place and they are all involved.  I also continue to love how the books are told in a mixture of narratives, diary entries, newspaper articles, memos and texts.  The mystery in the novel is interesting but not really mind-blowing.  However I will add that the fun thing with this series is that it happens between the seasons of the CW television series.  So the tales are redundant but it does help if you have an idea what has happened on the show.

If you love Riverdale and even if you have teens who are enjoying the show and you want to get them to read more, than I recommend this series.  For hardcore mystery lovers who are considering it strictly for the mystery aspect, then you might want to find something else.

RATING: 3 PAWS