A famous detective, a rookie assistant, a secret filled family, and a suicide (murder?) are the perfect ingredients for a good mystery. You will find all of them in '' The World's Greatest Detective and her Just OK Assissant''

I found this to be a good read and I …more definitely recommend it. Our detective, Aubrey Merritt, was largely closed mouthed about her conclusions but never fear her just OK assistant,Olivia Blunt, loves to make lists of questions, clues, and preliminary conclusions so you won't lose your way.

The story begins as an investigation of a death ruled a suicide. It quickly expands to include the previous accidental death (murder?) of the family head as well as a later murder (a real murder !) of another family member. Needless to say there is lots going on. As the story develops, we learn about the family, it's business and its history, Each member and the characters traveling in their orbit is revealed along the way.

I enjoyed trying to find facts and clues and exploring several potential explanations of the actual course of events. I particularly enjoyed the dénuement conducted by our ace detective during the reading of the will. It reminded me of the an episode of the TV series, Death in Paradise.

This is not a police procedural or a fast action thriller of a mystery. Instead you'll find a tale well told , a good many potential outcomes and a set of quirky yet methodical private investigators They really ought to have a series ! (less)

Reading 'One Death at a Time' was a pleasure. The characters with all their talents, flaws and foibles are revealed layer by layer creating little surprises through the story. I think it gives the mystery a few more twists and turns. When I reached the end I thought «  …more I hope there is another book . I want to know more about these people. » The mystery is solid and the characters a bit quirky but worth knowing.

As a person in recovery, I was impressed by the author's inclusion of the topic as a reoccurring theme. Attending meetings, having a sponsor, being someone's sponsor and the lasting fragility of sobriety are all included with out great fanfare and in no way painted as odd or abnormal. Using a riff on the sobriety slogan ´One day at a time ´ as the title is a nice touch. If you enjoy mysteries that lean a bit more toward cozy than dark, you will enjoy this book. (less)

Hidden history is fascinating to me. It's all those untold and under-told stories I've discovered in historical fiction. Happy Land is a perfect example. The author presents the facts of the existence of the Kingdom of Happy Land interwoven in a fictional family history …more thus animating what may otherwise have been a mere footnote in post civil war history.

Nikki doesn't have any idea of her family's past. Her mother is estranged from her grandmother so she never had the opportunity hear any details of her family's origins. Then she receives a call from her grandmother to come for a visit. What follows is a story of determination, pride and perseverance. Perkins-Valdez paints a vivid picture of those post war years on a mountain in North Carolina and the freed slaves who make it their home. It's a largely self contained and completely self governed microcosm of society.

The story in engaging and emotional. I could feel the awe as Nikki discovered her ancestors and their place in the Kingdom of Happy Land. Please read this book! The story is engaging and you may even learn a bit of history. Even if you're not a fan of historical fiction, I believe you will find this book an excellent read. (less)

I'm generally not a big fan of thrillers so I was surprised at how easily I was drawn into this story. While the mystery of how Magdu died simmered below the surface, the intricacies of the relationships held center stage. The unfolding of the friendship between Finn and …more Daphne intrigued me and proved to hold much more complexity than I thought initially. The drama in "Girl Falling" exists on several levels. It's so much more than a 'who done it'. Plus I was really blindsided by the ending (less)