Reviews (Mine) – The Writer's Grab-Bag

HA-HA-HA-HA . . . The First (Awesome) Review

Thank you, Jay . . . for this awesome review!

Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha is the fifth book in the Triple Threat Mysteries written by Tyler Colins. I’ve previously read the first four books, and this one is probably my favorite so far. Not quite a suspense thriller nor a cozy, it falls somewhere in the middle of the mystery genre, offering a truly quirky and eclectic cast of primary characters, and an even more diverse set of supporting ones. Between the nicknames and the murder scenes, it’s hard not to bust out laughing… but it’s also providing some pretty dark stuff about a serial killer who loves his/her black roses. The first name: Grim Reaper Peeper, or GRP for short. Run for your lives folks, this one’s out for blood.

It was quite funny, and seeing the games being played with the three lovable private eyes by this intensely weird killer made the words in the book leap off the pages. There were at least 10 unique attempts to lure the detective team into a trap, and they fell for some… yet there were so many murders happening, it became the kinda situation where I just said, “oh, another dead body.” But it works, because you’re not meant to choose between a list of suspects in this book. It’s all about the humor and the chase between the good and the bad. Who will win out?

Colins is a highly descriptive writer. Everything is meticulously covered in a way that keeps your memory sharp on who each character is, or what each location is, all about. Sometimes I get lost in the details and forget the plot point we’re trying to uncover, but in the end, it’s a relaxing and humorous approach to the traditional mystery novel. If only these amazing women, who work in Hawaii I might add, had real life counterparts. They’re even more special than Charlie’s Angels, and that’s going back a few decades in popular culture.

Hoping there will be more in the future. With the covers, we’re getting all the spectrums on the color wheel… and soon, we need to get something in all black or all white (covers, I am referring to), meaning it’s time for them to go retro. Wouldn’t that be fun?!? Either path, I’m looking forward to the potential for book six. Give this series a chance, please.

If you’re not familiar with Jay and his books (he’s written some great ones) and blog/website, please check him out here:

https://thisismytruthnow.com/author/jamesjcudney4/

Ta to the Talented Sandi Wallace

My heartfelt thanks to Australia-based crime writer Sandi Wallace for her four-star review of The Connecticut Corpse Caper. The first book in the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series details the crazy antics at a haunted antebellum mansion that “launched” the P.I. careers of JJ, Rey, and Linda.

The Connecticut Corpse Caper is the first in the Triple Threat Mysteries and my first read of this author. It’s a fun twist on the traditional isolated country house whodunnit trope – the writer’s style is energetic and brims with quirky humour and description. There’s a posh mansion, tonnes of hidden passageways, a singing-talking ghost, and a cast of both likeable and unlikeable characters all required to stay a week to inherit a packet of money. When the body count rises, corpses disappear and unexpected parties make an entrance, it’s time for our amateur sleuths to get to work to solve the case. A very enjoyable cosy mystery. (Reviewed on March 11, 2020)

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
https://www.amazon.com/…/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml…

Sandi’s love of crime stories and avid interest in policing enabled her to step into crime-writer shoes, with successful results! She has won numerous prizes for her short crime fiction, including several Scarlet Stiletto Awards. Her debut novel, Tell Me Why (the first in the Georgie Harvey and John Franklin series), won the Davitt Award Readers’ Choice. Congrats Sandi!

Equally exciting is the fact that her fourth rural thriller, Black Cloud, will be released on July 22^nd 2020 and her entire back-list will be republished (with more titles in the pipeline). As an FYI, Black Cloud, Tell Me Why, Dead Again and Into the Fog are currently available for at your favorite Amazon store.

At present, Sandi is working on a standalone psychological thriller—something for us readers to look forward to!

You can follow Sandi Wallace’s book news via her Facebook page (Sandi Wallace – Author), as well as Instagram, Pinterest, and her website.

Please connect with Sandi here:

https://www.instagram.com/sandiwallacecrime/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8431978.Sandi_Wallace

https://www.sandiwallace.com/.

Another Wonderful-Me Wednesday!

A bit big-headed, isn’t it? Well, it’s all about shameless self-promotion . . . that I don’t partake of too often.

But today, I feel a need to bolster this flagging, ill body and soul <sniffle, snort, snuffle>. This week, I received a five-star review on Goodreads for Can You Hula like Hilo Hattie?

And I’m feeling a need to share.

Hilo Hattie is the 2nd book in the series but the first case for the The Triple Threat Investigation Agency.

I listened to the audiobook of The Connecticut Corpse Caper, the first book in the series (my review is posted), and I really enjoyed getting acquainted with the three leading ladies. Each one has a different personality that becomes highlighted when they work together. I also appreciated the writing style of the author – witty banter along with vivid descriptions of settings and actions. All in all, an enjoyable “read”.

This second book is no exception. I love reading about strong, independent, smart women who also, importantly, possess a sense of humour. It is easy to get caught up with these three ladies and their investigations. The dialogue is fast paced and witty. I found myself laughing out loud several times and rereading certain passages just for the appreciation of the writing style.

I also love reading about Hawaii. I have always wanted to go, but the length and cost of the trip always deters me from booking a flight. However, the description of the various locales, the food and drink, and the way of life brings the islands to life for me.

I have ordered the third book in the series, Coco’s Nuts, and am looking forward to reading more about JJ, Rey, Linda, and, of course, Cash.

This truly made my day, week, month. <LOL>

Thank you “timc” for an awesome review!

Thank You to Jay

I want to extend my most appreciative thanks to Jay (James J. Cudney IV) for the wonderful review of Forever Poi.

https://thisismytruthnow.com/2019/09/21/book-review-forever-poi-by-tyler-colins/

Fellow blogger and writer Jay is a force to be reckoned with. He’s everything I’d like to be as a blogger and writer: proficient, focused, supportive … a consummate professional. If you’ve not yet checked out his fantastic blog (as I continually say, I’m totally envious) and fabulous books, like the Braxton Campus mystery series, please do!

https://jamesjcudney.com/

♦ ♦ ♦

Book Review: Forever Poi by Tyler Colins

by James J. Cudney IV

Forever Poi by Tyler Colins
Forever Poi, the 4th book in the Triple Threat Mysteries series by Tyler Colins, was published in July 2019. I’ve previously read the first three and was psyched to devour the latest one this month. Three smart and sassy female detectives run the Triple Threat Investigations agency in Hawaii, but the series started out in Connecticut and moved its way westward. What an exotic and thrilling location to set a murder mystery series… Ms. Colins has imbued the characters and setting with something exciting, vibrant, and unique. I’ve seen tremendous growth over the course of the four books, and the private detectives are learning on the job as quickly as they possibly can.

Today, I’m focusing on Forever Poi, where the ladies discover two bodies who’d been killed in an art gallery fire. The police bring Triple Threat in for assistance, quickly determining the inferno was intentionally set and the victims were definitely murdered. Unfortunately, JJ and her cousins had recently met at least one of the two lost souls, which makes the investigation all that much more difficult. The hunt for the killer or killers has the ladies traipsing all over the continental US, with a particularly memorable stop in Chicago.

Ms. Colins’ story contains a large number of complex characters, all with hilarious and interesting names. One if even called Crispy, and yes, that’s a connection with the fire. The three detectives are methodical in the search for all the clues and hidden secrets about the two men who owned the gallery and the seemingly disconnected woman Lolita who died in the blaze. We also learn about a death that occurred before the book started, but it might not be connected. Kudos to the author for layering in the details for readers to try to solve the crime themselves.

A few fun things to note, as these are the points that always make Ms. Colins’ books stand out: (a) the catch phrase ‘Hey-ho,’ (b) finding out the true meaning of ‘Forever Poi,’ which isn’t what you think, (c) someone else besides me says ‘Toodles,’ and (d) that totally unexpected scene when Cash (Richie J) returns to visit JJ. At first, I was freaked out, then I realized what was going on, but afterward, it started heating up again. I won’t spoil the surprise for those who’ve read previous books, but it’s an amusing one. The series is edgy but not over-the-top. Appropriate uses of ‘F Off’ and references to ‘Nudie Art’ make the characters and plot seem quite real.

When the key suspect in the crimes is presumed dead midway into the story, you’re left with a ‘now what’ll happen?’ moment. Then, the ladies find themselves trapped with the potential for a bomb to explode. It got pretty close in the end… but they always get their killer, don’t they? This was a great entry in the series, and I’m excited by the news at the end about the next book in 2020. It’ll be on my reading list. I hope it’s on yours too.

Me Me Me

That’s me-me-me singing . . . with joy . . . because my friend, fellow blogger/writer/reviewer Jay (James J. Cudney IV) featured me on his blog.

I won’t cut and paste the extensive “Author Alert”, but perhaps you might find a few moments to check it out. You’d make me a very happy gal, as Jay has.

https://thisismytruthnow.com/2019/07/22/author-alert-tyler-colins/

Incidentally, New-York based Jay’s written some great books (in addition to posts and reviews).

Watching Glass Shatter and Father Figure can be purchased on Amazon as electronic copies or physical copies.

His Braxton Campus Mysteries will appeal to those who love cozy mysteries and crime investigations … with a twist.

Please check him out at https://thisismytruthnow.com!

Thank You, Jay!

I had an editing-related post . . . and Jay (James J. Cudney IV) caught me off guard. I knew there was a review coming, but time got the better of me . . . and I forgot. <LOL>

I want to give a great big thank-you to Jay, not just for the awesome review, but for all that he’s done for me and other writers/bloggers. He’s supportive and helpful, and a wonderful person (the world could do with more Jays).

♦ ♦

Coco’s Nuts by Tyler Colins
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Coco’s Nuts is the third book in the ‘Triple Threat Mysteries’ series written by Tyler Colins. I previously read the first two books in the series and noticed the author has signed on with a new publisher, updated the covers, and launched two more books in the series. It’s time to catch up before I fall behind, as these are full of witty characters, memorable stories, and tons of wonderful descriptions. Let’s chat about Coco’s Nuts and the random body parts we find with tattoos on them…

First off, the title and the cover. Can you get any more eye-catching? Are they bombs? Is the author playing with the word coconut? Is it about eating fruits and nuts, being crazy nuts, or leaning toward that all-too-familiar and funny euphemism? Before reading the book, I didn’t know… after reading it, I can say with hilarity, it’s all three! I love when an author can be both serious and amusing in his/her books. Tyler Colins has a great balance of delivering snappy dialog and natural conversation. At times, there are breaks in conversation and questions being ignored (to be later responded to), matching how people really engage with one another. I like the reality of this world.

It takes place in Hawaii, and let me tell you… Colins knows how to visually create a scene. Between the descriptions in the narrative and the add-ons when someone is speaking or physically doing something in a scene, you kinda feel transported to this fictional place. I like that immersive feeling, and it’s not always included in these genres of books. Often a mystery is entirely about the mystery, but Colins ensures there is just as much ambiance and background to make you feel part of the story.

Of the three private eyes, we tend to follow JJ the most. In this caper, she’s much stronger and more pushy than the last two. The girl knows how to solve a crime, even if the client only hired the agency to prove she wasn’t guilty of murder. The ladies know that in order to do that, they need to find the guilty party. And it isn’t easy! There are a few victims and a couple of different killers / lawbreakers in this edition. Buddy, the beautiful female truck driver who’s accused of murder, isn’t all we think she is, which makes the plot even murkier and layered. I like those types of stories, as you never know what you’re getting yourself into. In this one, each chapter unfolds like a clue… we think we have a lead only to find out it opens up another murder or subplot. Then, they all come back together. You have to really keep yourself focused to know who stole Coco’s Nuts!

Kudos to Colins for another splendid entry in the Triple Threat investigations. I look forward to getting to know our main characters even more, as Colins continues to drop details left and right, but we always wonder what they’re doing when they’re not present in the chapter. I suspect there is something big coming in the next book, which I’ll be reading next month. Thanks for the opportunity to get lost in another good book, Ms. Colins… 4.5 stars for this caper.

♦ ♦

Please check out Jay’s awesome site (he’s got some pretty amazing books himself): https://thisismytruthnow.com.

Grace & Gratitude

This past Sunday, James J Cudney IV (Jay) reviewed Can You Hula Like Hilo Hattie, the second in the Triple Threat Investigation Agency mystery series.

As writers/bloggers, there are times when we wonder whether we should continue writing; it can prove a thankless (sale-less) profession, one gratifying only to ourselves. So when someone writes a wonderful review of your book, the feeling is amaz-zing. Yes, indeedy-do, it is all worth it.

I’ve been a follower of Jay’s for over a year now. He’s a prolific and gifted blogger, author, and reviewer, and . . . I’ll state this again (and again) . . . a kind and encouraging person.

Please visit his awesome site to see what he’s up to. You may also be interested in reading his entertaining Braxton Campus mystery series or other fiction works.

https://thisismytruthnow.com/

Thanks again Jay!

Book Review: Can You Hula Like Hilo Hattie by Tyler Colins

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 23, 2019

Can you Hula Like Hilo Hattie? by Tyler Colins

Last year, I read the first book, The Connecticut Corpse Caper, in the Triple Threat Mystery series by Tyler Colins. Her second book, Can You Hula Luke Hilo Hattie?, is even better. Colins is one talented author who can weave a complex plot and help readers fully visualize a setting.

In this caper, our three heroines have formed a private eye agency in Hawaii. They’d solved the murders in the first book as regular citizens, so why not make it a full-time job? It was too much work in California or Connecticut to get their licenses, so Hawaii became the new home. Great idea! Fun backdrop. Hilarious characters. First, they need to bring home a runaway, hooked-on-ice teen. Second, they need to prove a man’s wife is cheating. Unfortunately, it isn’t your typical case, and when the wife turns up dead, the mystery is gonna be way more complex than our heroines thought.

Colins has created a bevy of intense and charming characters. I love ‘Cash’ who seems like a very cool dreamboat. Each time I got to know a new character, they end up getting killed off! Maybe it won’t happen this time…. but like in her first book, the body count keeps rising. It’s a fun way to keep readers on our toes. My favorite aspect of the author’s writing style is her descriptions, whether of people or settings. It’s way more than you’d normally see in a book, but it fits very well. I have a beautifully clear picture of who’s talking or moving about the book. I find myself drawn to the action, too, but it’s a very complex plot to keep focused on.

I also see strength in transitions between scenes. It’s rarely over-simplified or brash. It ends in the right place, and I roll into the next scene without worrying what happened in between. I also find the dialog to be rather strong… quick puns, not wordy, direct but full of imagery and thought. I can’t wait to see what third adventure the ladies find themselves embroiled in… no matter what the plot is, I’m sure it will create loads of fun and memories. Great job, Ms. Colins!

Thank You, Jay!

I’d like to once again thank author (Watching Glass Shatter, Father Figure) and blogger James J. Cudney—Jay—for the review of The Connecticut Corpse Caper. The first in the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series, it was originally written as a stand-alone cozy. But the gals—JJ, Rey, and Linda—decided they wanted P.I. careers (in Hawaii, no less) and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Please check out This is My Truth Now, his awesome blog. You’ll find insightful posts, book reviews, personal adventures and bucket lists, among other things. And if you’re looking for some good reads, I wholeheartedly suggest Watching Glass Shatter and Father Figure. You won’t be disappointed.

As stated in my FB post, he’s personable and sweet, and incredibly approachable. I’m very thankful our paths crossed.

https://thisismytruthnow.com/2018/06/16/book-review-the-connecticut-corpse-caper-by-tyler-colins/#like-29614

Julie Elizabeth Powell – Review of “The Connecticut Corpse Caper”

Julie’s blog is “a place where I’ll post reviews for other independent authors . . . and a few things of interest”. An attractive, clean and crisp blog, it’s easy to follow (I do so like that).

http://julieelizabethpowell.blogspot.co.uk

Her blog serves as a companion for the website “Alchemy – The Magic of Words”, a venue for writers and readers alike. Here, Julie invites you to discuss words in any form. Look for guidance on writing and reviews, among other things.

http://www.freewebs.com/julizpow/publishing.htm

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Julie for a review of my e-book The Connecticut Corpse Caper (the first in the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series). Here’s the link to her review on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Connecticut-Corpse-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook

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