Dropped Dead Stitch: Maggie Sefton

I wasn't super into this book, but it was a cutsey idea of creating a mystery novel for knitters. A woman is raped and then goes to a retreat and the rapist is the man hosting the event. The man is murdered and it is deemed an accident. The protagonist is a meddler and unbelievably a retired cop discusses the case with her. In predictable fashion, she saves the day and solves the case.

The Island of Seven Cities: Paul Chiasson

This was a fascinating read. A man is diagnosed with HIV and begins wondering about some ruins he used to hike with his grandfather as a kid. His mother claims they are French, since the French had a long history of occupation on the island, but his research proves something entirely different. Documents show the first Europeans to land on the island noted that the Natives had some knowledge of Christianity, an alphabet, and distinct clothing unlike others they encounter. There is a mythical island of seven cities they believe was located on Cape Brenton. Chiasson begins rooting around the ruins and doesn't understand the slabs of stone he keeps finding. They were obviously chiseled by man, but the fortifications are like nothing he has seen. Being an architect he starts to realize the set up and construction could be Chinese and once he makes that connection he sees the alphabet is similar (looked identical to me)and the clothing the natives wore were distinctly Chinese. The validation comes when he speaks at a gathering with Gavin Menzies. Other scholars visit the site and see more than Paul had hoped to piece together; gold mining, cemeteries, gate posts, etc under hundreds of years of growth.

The Dire King: William Ritter

This was book four of the series and reminded me how much I love some of the quotes " on a scale of 1-acorn", "Provided proper tinder and dry kindling, Marlowe's expression could have been used to start a fire". In this book the "underworld" executes it's plan to take over the world and drain every living, and I guess unliving beings as well, and take all the power in the world. Jackaby and Abigail hold their own until they are seemingly saved. Abigail loses Charlie...to be continued.

Psycho: Robert Bloch

The book is SOO much better than the movie, if you didn't know Norman Bate's mother was not alive and stuffed, the moment of realization would be amazing in the story. A woman steals money from her employer to try to help a boyfriend out of debt so they can get married, but gets lost on the way. She spends the night in the Bates hotel where she is senselessly murdered. Her sister goes on her own investigation to find her knowing something horrible must have happened. Norman kills a detective and tries to kill the sister who is finally saved by the sister's boyfriend and the small town cop.

Supernatural Sherlocks: Nick Rennison

This was a collection of out of print stories by some of the classic authors as well as some that aren't so well remembered today. It was a delightful read with a lot of hauntings in the supernatural showing how inventive modern authors have become in the supernatural genre.

Beastly Bones: William Ritter

This was book 2 in the Jackaby series. Abigail goes on an adventure to look at recently discovered dinosaur bones and Convinces Jackaby to come along after they find some species that mimics others. On this trip creature eats the dinosaur bones and becomes a dinosaur. Abigail saves them from being eaten and gains Mr Barker as a beau.

Jackaby: William Ritter

This was the first of the Jackaby series. We learn how Abigail Rook was hired on by Jackaby and how she got her first look and case into the supernatural. Someone in town was on a killing spree and Jackaby knew the murderer to be a "red cap" and to be in the police force. He found the monster and terminated him while also finding a canine shape shifter in the mix.