Murder in Westminster by Vanessa Riley
Historical Mystery
Lady Worthington Mysteries #1
August 30, 2022
Kensington
ARC

This is one of those first books in a series that is super ambitious, there’s a whole lot going on and at times I had to wonder how it would all fit together as the series progresses.

Lady Abigail Worthing is the main character and detective in this mystery and I enjoyed her quite a bit. She’s married to the absent James Monroe, Lord Worthing, who she met while solving another crime he was involved in, which is all just alluded to in the past tense, but does set up their marriage and her current relationship with the local magistrate.

Lady Abigail is heavily involved in the Abolition movement and does in fact sneak out of a theater performance to attend a meeting the very same evening she finds the body of her neighbor, Juliet, which complicates her alibi. Her neighbor’s husband, Stapleton Henderson, is also one of the chief suspects, leading to the two teaming up to solve Juliet’s murder, even though they dislike each other quite a bit.

Like I mentioned above, there is A LOT going on in this first book… the abolition movement, murders, Abi’s relationship with her sister and husband, and the “visions’ she has that help her solve crimes, which seem to be hereditary. I did enjoy this murder mystery, but at times I just wanted the pacing to pick up and for the author to focus more on the murder victims rather than everything else. I will be reading the next installment in the series, I’m hoping now that the backstories and worldbuilding is established that it will be a faster-paced read.

Grade- B-

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Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Mystery/Suspense
September 6, 2022
Berkley
ARC

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon.

This book was a wild, fabulous ride. Featuring four friends who have been in the assassin business together for forty years realizing on their retirement cruise that the institution they’ve all worked for is suddenly trying to take THEM out. Now they have to do what they do best… avoid all the hitmen The Museum is sending their way, figure out why they are on the kill list, and then turn the tables on the powers at the top and stay alive.

This book is mainly about friendship and Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie have incredibly different personalities with varied talents, making them a great team. Told from Billie’s POV, both in past and present, readers get a feel for how these women met and ended up working together.

After reading the blurb I expected some light reading, but was pleasantly surprised to find deeper, darker themes. That’s not to say there aren’t lighter moments, because there are, but I think fans of suspense and thrillers will love this new offering by Deanna Raybourn.

Grade- B+

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