MADreads

Summer is almost here and there are a bunch of new upcoming mysteries that I am looking forward to reading. There are some new characters that I want to meet and some old friends with whom I'll be catching up. 

Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly [6/26] [series launch]
character: hospitality specialist Kate Hamilton
setting: her Maryland hometown

Genre readers will have much to look forward in July, as many familiar names are adding on to series, releasing standalone titles or trying out something entirely different. On to the highlights:

Earlier today I cut my finger and put on a band aid. And then this book showed up on my hold shelf - coincidence? Back in 1917, a young couple is married and the wife seems to hurt herself with great frequency. I didn't really care for the descriptions of her injuries, both for the yuck factor, and rather condescending manner Josephine is talked about. But, if you can make it past that, this is a rather interesting story. The husband, Earle, has the idea to place small pieces of sterile gauze on a long piece of adhesive tape and then Josephine can put on a bandage easily by herself.

I'm a long-time fan of Charlaine Harris. I loved her books long before the making of True Blood based on the Sookie Stackhouse series. But I'll admit her last couple books that have once again picked up the Aurora Teagarden character did not generate much interest for me. Partly because, though I loved librarian Roe, I didn't like a choice Harris made about another main character. And partly because I've just moved pretty much beyond the cozier end of the spectrum in mysteries. All of this led me to be both excited and nervous about An Easy Death the first in a brand new trilogy.