Tag: Murder Mystery

Jo and MacAdams Shine in Brandy Schillace’s Clever New Mystery

‘The Dead Come to Stay’ is the new murder mystery novel by Brandy Schillace. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: The Dead Come to Stay by Brandy Schillace

Part of Paste Creative Book Tours

An amateur autistic sleuth. A wry English detective. A murder case that thrusts them both into the wealthy world of the rare artifacts trade.

Book Synopsis

Following the death of her mother, Jo Jones leaves the big city for the quiet hills of North Yorkshire after inheriting her family’s estate, Ardemore. She’s hoping for a fresh start, but until her freelance editing career takes off, she needs another source of income.

The property includes the manor (in desperate need of work), a smaller attached cottage (slightly more livable), and expansive gardens. Jo decides to renovate the cottage’s attic and rent it out for extra money.

While exploring the estate, Jo uncovers traces of ancestors she never knew existed—including a mysterious woman in a half-destroyed painting—and suspects her late Uncle Aiden’s belongings may hold answers to her family’s cryptic history.

Her quiet plans change when local detective James MacAdams discovers a body in the nearby woods—one with unexpected ties to Jo. The investigation draws them into the wealthiest corners of Yorkshire: luxury hotels, elite country clubs, and opulent estates.

But beneath the surface lies a darker truth: local teens, many of them refugees, are disappearing, and the case seems linked to a shady architectural firm—one that also employed the murder victim. This path leads Jo and MacAdams deep into the dangerous world of rare artifacts and antique trading.

Review

Brandy Schillace’s The Dead Come to Stay is a clever, atmospheric mystery that pairs an unlikely duo—Jo, a brilliant amateur sleuth, and MacAdams, a dry-witted detective—in a gripping tale of murder, rare artifacts, and buried secrets.

The narrative unfolds through dual points of view (Jo and MacAdams) and they intersect during the murder investigation. Jo is a refreshing protagonist: insightful, observant, and neurodivergent in ways that give her a unique investigative edge. Her dynamic with MacAdams—built on subtle humor, mutual respect, and occasional exasperation—adds warmth to the suspense. Schillace skillfully balances character development with a tightly woven plot, making it easy to invest in both the mystery and the partnership.

Jo’s exploration of her family’s past adds emotional depth, while the artifact-trading subplot offers moral complexity and high stakes. The tension in the murder investigation escalates with every revelation, and just when you think you’ve reached the solution, another twist emerges. With language that is easy to understand and follow, the action flows seamlessly through the pages until the satisfactory ending.

The Dead Come to Stay is as intellectually sharp as it is entertaining. Rich with themes of identity, family, friendship, and justice, it’s a compelling choice for fans of unconventional detectives and smart, layered storytelling. It is recommended for fans of cozy mystery novels such as those by Agatha Christie, Richard Osman (The Thursday Murder Club), and Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen series).

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*Thank you to Stephanie Caruso from Paste Creative Book Tours for the gifted ARC. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Author Brandy Schillace. Photo: Brandy Schillace

A Murder Mystery with a Supernatural Twist: Reviewing Marty Roppelt’s ‘Last Words’

‘Last Words: A Supernatural Murder Mystery’ by Marty Roppelt. Photo: Amazon

“Last Words: A Supernatural Murder Mystery” is a murder mystery novel by Marty Roppelt. It follows Chicago police Detective Myles Hanson as he navigates a world of crime and unsettling revelations. After a nighttime raid on a drug lab ends in a deadly shootout that claims the life of an undercover detective, Myles transfers transfers out of the Organized Crime Unit.

On his first night in the Violet Crimes Unit, Maria Peski, a midwife with a normal quiet life is savagely murdered. Back at the station, while filling out the paperwork and listening to music on his headphones, he hears static and voice calling his name. From there, he begins to experience haunting visions and auditory hallucinations that include voices and static on the digital recorder that he uses to take notes.

When a second murder rocks the city with startling similarities, Myles is forced to accept what he fears most: some clues lie beyond the realm of the living. As the line between the supernatural and the real begins to blur, Myles realized that he is hearing the final words of the murder victims, fragments of their unfinished thoughts. Those voices give him clues to help him solve their murder. Together with his new partner Hank ‘The Tank’ Brewer, they race against time to catch the vicious killer before he strikes again.

Marty Roppelt’s new novella takes readers on an eerie journey into the world of the paranormal and crime-solving. As Hanson begins to have paranormal experiences, he must navigate the fine line between solving the crime and protecting his sanity.

Roppelt’s writing is atmospheric, creating a tense, thrilling narrative that keeps the reader hooked. The blending of the supernatural with a traditional murder mystery provides an intriguing twist, adding an extra layer of suspense to the already gripping storyline. Myles Hanson is a well-crafted protagonist, balancing the skepticism of a seasoned detective with the growing realization that the paranormal forces at play are very real. The suspenseful plot twists keep the reader guessing until the end.

The pacing of the novel is steady, allowing the mystery to unfold gradually, and Roppelt’s descriptive narrative of the killer’s viewpoint as he is getting rid of the evidence and then preparing to strike again is unsettling but gripping. The language while describing Myles’ hallucinations is vividly descriptive: “The woman – Maria Peski- stared back at him in the mirror. Dead eyes, frozen deep in their sockets, gazed through him.” The narrative is in the third person point of view that alternates between the characters and towards the end, it hints at an unreliable narrator when the police is interviewing a witness who crossed paths with the killer.

Overall, “Last Words: A Supernatural Murder Mystery” explores the themes of good vs evil, identity, and family. The unique premise of a haunted detective elevates this novel beyond the typical whodunit. Judging by the ending, this is only the beginning of Detective Myles Hanson’s paranormal experiences. It’s a captivating read for fans of both supernatural thrillers and crime mysteries by authors like James Patterson and John Sandford.

“Meandering through the growing crowd as carefully and slowly as he could, he positioned himself to within an arm’s length of his intended victim’s back. He stopped there. How easy it would be to simply stab her in the liver from here, and be done with her…”

Rating: 5 out of 5.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Book review: ‘Runway Dreams: A Fox in the Fold’ by T.K. Ambers

‘Runway Dreams: A Fox in the Fold’ is the new murder mystery novel by T.K. Ambers. Photo: Amazon

T.K. Ambers is the award-winning author of “Runway Dreams: A Pricey Affair.” Her novel has been recognized in four different award competitions and took second place in the Pencraft Awards, Women’s Fiction category. Her eighth-grade English teacher loved her work and pushed her to publish. Though writing has always been her passion, it took nearly eighteen years before she decided to follow her teacher’s guidance. T.K. has a love for nature, travel, photography, concerts, off-roading, and hiking and aside from her novels, she runs a website on travel and life.  She lives in New Richmond, Wisconsin with her husband and two cats: Bellatrix and Kit. In her new novel “Runway Dreams: A Fox in the Fold,” everywhere Bell Price goes, death is stalking and toying with her. (Amazon, 2023)

“Runway Dreams: A Fox in the Fold” – The story begins with a Prologue that takes place overseas as a young lady is taken away to a new life. This is book two in the Runway Dreams series, so the events take place a few days after. Bell Price wants nothing more than peace, quiet, and a drama-free life for her family. With Martin now in custody, she thinks the worst is behind her but life has a few surprises for her. The last thing she suspects when she goes to the local police precinct is that the prior week’s horrors are only the start of what is headed her way. Gunshots ring out in the early hours of the morning and a scream pierces the air. It is now clear that an unknown assailant is stalking her with revenge in mind. Family, friends, and even innocent bystanders get caught in the middle as she is in danger no matter where she goes. She grows increasingly suspicious of everyone around her and finds it hard to trust anyone. Will Bell and her siblings be able to catch the stalker before one of them becomes the next victim? With their parents now gone, they must work together in spite of the increasing danger to finally have the much needed peace they all deserve.

The drama continues in the next installment of the Runway Dreams saga as the family of models is still in danger. Even though Martin is already in jail, someone out there is bound and determined to get revenge in his name. Danger and violence seems to follow the siblings wherever they go and just goes to prove that being rich and privileged does not protect anyone from the dangers of the real world, even with bodyguards and safe houses. The author brilliantly combines the action and suspense of a murder mystery with the glamour of the fashion industry, including fashion shows, parties, and traveling. Her writing style is beautifully descriptive: “A blood-curdling scream ripped through the early morning stillness” and brings the action to life. Thanks in part to it being highly dialogue driven, the story flows easily through the pages and makes this an easy read. Even though the characters can be considered privileged, they are still relatable due to the extensive character development, showing that everyone has drama in their lives and toxic relationships affect everyone, regardless of socioeconomic levels. As far as the murder mystery part is concerned, everyone is a suspect and there are plenty of plot twists to keep readers guessing. The young lady in the Prologue becomes relevant towards the end and perfectly wraps up it all up. Overall, “Runway Dreams: A Fox in the Fold” is a must read mystery novel and is recommended for readers who appreciate mystery, comedy, and psychological suspense fiction.

“The storm may have been outside, but it was raining inside the limo as a waterfall of silent emotion washed away their pain.”

*The author was contacted for an honest review of this book. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.