Pam

A bit darker than your usual cozy mystery, but still quite enjoyable.

I want to thank ECW Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Three Bengal Kittens. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

I was excited to learn that a fourth book in the Dr. Bannerman series was being released, as I have enjoyed the first three. My introduction to the series was quite by accident, as I was scrolling through my library looking for a quick mystery to read. And of course, I want to support as many Canadian authors as I can. The first book, Fifty-Four Pigs, was quickly read, followed by the second, Six Ostriches. Upon learning of Three Bengal Kittens, I made sure to read the third book in the series, Eleven Huskies.

In the case of most mystery series, I would say you could read them in any order, with little to no issues. In many ways, this holds for this series, but I would still recommend reading them in order. This is to better understand the quirks and relationships among the assorted characters.

Peter is an interesting character, especially the more time you spend with him. He has certain mannerisms that may bother readers if they jump into the series midway through. Why do I say that? Well, because Peter is autistic. This is something that Schott does not shy away from discussing. Peter knows his mannerisms may bother others, but after a while, he doesn’t care. Nor should he; why should he have to adapt to fit other people’s ideals?

There are also discussions of mental health issues, as Sam has psychotic episodes. While these may not always be handled in the best ways, they are openly discussed. Unfortunately, they were also used as a way to look at Sam as a main suspect in the murder. Sadly, it’s also used to make him act in ways he might not normally.

Overall, my favorite character in the series has been Pippen. He is a champion scent dog. Who knew there were competitions for such things? Pippen is essentially Peter’s best friend and an almost constant companion throughout everything that happens.

One thing I will say about this book, and the series in general, is that it’s not a typical cozy mystery. There’s not much to make you laugh or smile while trying to solve the crime. These are more slice-of-life books in which the local vet finds himself in unfortunate situations.

That said, I feel that everyone who enjoys reading mysteries should give this series a read. The books are all under 300 pages, and are not as heavy as many other mysteries and thrillers.

I want to thank Del Ray and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Widow’s Charm. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

I added A Widow’s Charm to my TBR on a bit of a whim. Honestly, the main reason was that Caitlyn Paxson is a Canadian author, and I love supporting Canadian authors. While I don’t tend to read a lot of fantasy, I’m glad I read this one.

A Widow’s Charm could easily be classified as a cozy fantasy. And I’m okay with that! There’s plenty of fun, cozy moments, and some not-so-cozy elements added in. The reason this is labeled a fantasy is that some can use charms or work a specific type of magic.

While I didn’t mind the language, some readers may be offended by the use of more modern language in a book set in a more historical time period. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there is swearing throughout, by a variety of characters. Some scenes are full of innuendo.

Overall, A Widow’s Charm is a fun read. And I am looking forward to reading more by Paxson.

DNF at page 67. Found the diary entries kind of boring, and pretty repetitive.

I want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Wild People Quiet. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

I added Wild People Quiet to my TBR because I want to learn more about the experience of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. For those who don’t know, the Métis are an Indigenous group that resulted when the fur trappers and traders, mostly the French, had relationships with Indigenous women. They are one of the three main groups of Indigenous people in Canada. As a result of these relationships, many of the children could pass as white. In a time of rampant racism, that could be a good thing.

Florence was one of those people. She wasn’t ashamed of who she was; she was ashamed of how she was forced to live. And took the opportunity she was given to rectify that. Would I be able to do what she did and hide who she was for so long? Probably not.

Gereaux wrote a compelling story with compelling characters. Wild People Quiet could have been a preachy book, telling the world where everything went wrong. Instead, the author took the time to show us the story of her people and how history books don’t always tell the true story.