The Hour of the Fox by Cassandra Clark

This is a historical novel set in 1399.  They've found a young novice with her throat cut in the local river.  Brother Rodric Chandler is determined to find her killer...

Severn House and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be publishe June 2nd.

As he tries to figure out how she left the priory and who killed her, there are bigger events going on.

Those who want power will kill anybody who stands in their way.  When the King goes away to take care of troubles further away, there's a scramble to see who can take his place and become the new King.  They capture the old King.  No one can say anything about the new one without losing their head.

This covers a very bloody period in history with allegiances moving back and forth. You learn a lot about the politics of the day and how the people got the promotions they did.

If nothing else, I'm real glad I didn't live then.  It was very dangerous!

The Indigo Ghosts by Alys Clare

Gabriel has been summoned to the ship he used to work on.  His captain tells him the crew is spooked.  They think they are seeing ghosts...

Severn House and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published Hune 2nd.

He can feel the odd sensations the sailors are talking about.  So he searches the ship and finds a small room way up at the end of the boat in the storage compartment.  They also find a body...

The body is very old and while they debate what to do with it, it disappears.

Then more bodies show up.  They all have blue hands, which is a mystery.

This historical novel is set at a bad time in history.  The Spanish makes slaves of anyone they find.  They treat the negro slaves better than the white slaves.  It's no wonder they tried to escape.

They are hiding in England now but the Spaniards are still looking for them. Will Gabriel and his friends find them before the Spaniards do? 

The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett

She's created a business for herself by cleaning up houses that hoarders live in.  When she goes out on a new job, she has no idea that she will find a dead body under some clutter.  It wasn't hurt by the clutter, it was an overdose.

Severn House and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 2nd.

If that wasn't bad enough she runs across another dead body.  Two bodies in a week make the police suspicious.  Why was she the one who found them?  Did she kill them?

This story gets into dysfunctional families and fractured friendships.  The only way she can clear herself is to find the killer(s).  So she begins asking questions and putting clues together.

I was surprised by the identity of the killers.  I was also surprised when her good friend turned out not to be.  Being betrayed by a friend hurts.  But the father of the dead girl is hurt by an even closer betrayal.

She finds the killers but the book doesn't end happily ever after.  However, justice was served.

Hilda and the Great Parade : Hilda Netflix Tie-In 2 by Luke Pearson, Stephen Davies, Seaerra Miller (Illustrated by)

Hilda is having a hard time adjusting to living in town.  She loved being in the hills with all kinds of monstrous friends.  Everything in town is too tame.  But when a giant steps on your house and flattens it, you have no choice.

Flying Eye Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 2nd.

She has one boy who likes to bully her.  When he throws a a rock and knocks a raven out of the sky, she takes it home to heal.  She's totally amazed when it begin speaking to her.

Hilda has a way of getting in trouble without trying.  She fears no animal but humans are something she has trouble figuring out.

When she comes home and the raven is gone, her mother tells her it was her friend David who took it.  She asks for a description and learns it was the bully who took it.  She's determined to get it back...

Hilda's adventures are always fun to read!

The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke

They lived in an orphanage run by a mean old lady.  No one wanted to adopt them, they were too old.  They are only twelve but the are their own persons by now...

Viking Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 2nd.

All of the babies were just dropped off.  They have no idea who their parents are.  They arrived in all kinds of receptacles. One was even in a bucket.

They have one final person coming to look them all over.  The director tells them whoever is left over will have to leave.  She doesn't want them anymore.

The man is a sea captain and he agrees to take all five.  The problem is that he's no nicer than the director.  He intends to work them hard and he's prepared to bury them at sea when they wear out.  He takes them with him.

They manage to escape from the ship and they head out to find Milou's parents. They find where they used to live.  It's a lighthouse.  But no one is there.  They decide to stay there on their own and figure out ways to earn money for food.

The orphans are a team and they do well until the ship's captain finds them again...

There's plenty of action, lots of bravery, and an "I won't quit" attitude that makes this an enjoyable read.

Safecracker by Ryan Wick

He's going in to steal a valuable coin.  No one is home.  Then he hears the locks turn and voices.  He hides in the closet.

Thomas Dunne Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on August 11th.

He sure didn't expect the man to come home with a woman he picked up.  As he watches, she kills him and grabs the coin.  Then she sees him in the closet.  They have a battle but she gets away with the coin.

When he's hanging out at his local bar, she shows up again and slits his throat!  He survives.

It doesn't take long before he finds himself in between two warring drug cartels.  One wants him to steal a ledger from the other.  He agrees because he has no choice but he knows they will kill him after he gets the leader what he wants.  How can he survive?

This whole story is full of atrocities and murder.  No one trusts anyone.  Look at the boss wrong and you're dead.

It looks like there is no way out but he's not going to give up...

The Oddmire, Book 2: The Unready Queen by William Ritter

Fable is half-human.  Her mother is working on teaching her magic, but she just can't quite get it.  She has a couple human friends and a goblin changeling friend.  She'd rather play with them...

Algonquin Young Readers and Edelweiss shared this book with me for review (thank you).  It will be published June 2nd.

There is a stranger in town who claims to be looking for oil.  When he chops down an old oak in the Deep Dark Forest.  Fable's mother is upset.  He has unbalanced the forest and the creatures within want revenge.  They never did like humans.  This is just a convenient excuse to get rid of some of them.

Fable finds out the real reason for the revolt.  He's digging up the graves of their ancestors.  He can see dollar signs in front of his eyes.  Using the powdery ash in an elixir can fix all kinds of ailments.  He's not going to walk away.  He's going to be rich!

He riles up the town folk until they are ready to help him kill the creatures of the Deep Forest.  Fable tries to stop them by telling them he was the one causing the mischief, not the creatures.  They ignore her.  Then her mother turns up.  He starts swallowing vials of the elixir and turns into a giant.

He begins choking Fable.  Her mother transforms into a bear and attacks him.  Someone in rhe crowd shoots her.  Fable is angry and sad and she starts using that magic she couldn't before...

This is a very active story line with lots of action.  There are all kinds of creatures, even rock trolls, and they all play a part in the story.  This is the second book I've read in this series and it's even better than the first.  If your child likes fantasy, they'll love this book!