Audio: The poisoner´s ring by Kelley Armstrong

By: Kelley Armstrong

Narrated by: Kate Handford

Series: A Rip Through Time , Book 2

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Release date: 05-23-23

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense /own

Yay, book 2. Mallory is still stuck in the past and has no idea if she can ever go home. But at least now her employers know that is is not some shady teenager, but actually a 30 year old cop from the future. And that actually went down very well.

Now she gets to work as an assistant to Dr Grey, and with this new case there is a string of men being poisoned. And suddenly the case hits too close to home. Will the find whoever is doing this in time?

Ok I admit, I would like Dr Grey and Mallory to one day find love...with each other. BUT, she is stuck in the body of a 19 year old so that just makes it weird. Dang it, Mallory needs her own body back. But hat will probably never happen. We will just forget about this.

Anyway, I am really enjoying this series. I cant wait to listen to more!

Great narration too , I really feel I am there.

Edinburgh, 1869: Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is adjusting to her new life in Victorian Scotland. Her employers know she’s not housemaid Catriona Mitchell―even though Mallory is in Catriona’s body―and Mallory is now officially an undertaker’s assistant. Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows… the latest of which is Gray’s oldest sister.

Poison is said to be a woman’s weapon, though Mallory has to wonder if it’s as simple as that. But she must tread carefully. Every move the household makes is being watched, and who knows where the investigation will lead.

Audio: The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

327 pages, Paperback

Series: Molly the Maid (#2)

Published: November 29, 2023 by HarperCollins

Mystery/own

I liked this one too, a cozy mystery. Dunno where the cozy line is drawn but sort of cozy.

Molly is head maid and doing well. She has a boyfriend,the respect of others, and all is well. Until a famous author drops dead.

The maid is always the one to blame. And Molly actually has a secret which gets told in flashbacks. She actually knew the author when she was younger. But now she is on the case as a maid in training gets blamed. Who wanted to kill Mr Grimthorpe?

I liked it. No real danger or action. She takes everything with stride. I like a mystery like this.

Molly Gray wears her Head Maid badge proudly for every shift at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows, sweeping up the guests’ secrets, silently restoring rooms to a state of perfection.

But when a renowned guest – a famous mystery writer – drops very dead in the grand tea room, Molly has an unusual clean-up on her hands.

As rumours and suspicion swirl in the hotel corridors, it’s clear there’s grime lurking beneath the gilt. And Molly knows that she alone holds the key to the mystery. But unlocking it means thinking about the past, about Gran, and everything else she’s kept tidied away in her memory for so long.

Because Molly knew the dead guest once upon a time – and he knew her . . .

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating,

1/27/2026 What's your favorite decade and why? (You do not need to have lived through it!)

This is another hard one, the further back I go the more nope I get. My family was starving just 100 years ago so maybe not. Oh and war and shit. Then you go back more, even more starvation and hiding from Russians in caves. Damn, it does suck. And I really must go and check for those caves this spring. I am so curious. Anyway...

Let´s just do the 90s! The hair and clothes were a tad bit better. Cool new shows and movies emerged. The music changed. The rise of boy bands. It is very sentimental.

2/3/2026 If you could invent a holiday, what would you celebrate?

2/10/2026 Share some Romance Book recommendations

2/17/2026 Are there any books you've read that changed your perspective on a subject?

2/24/2026 Which books are you looking forward to reading this Spring? (March-May)

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

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Carole´s Monday: Three Dark Crowns

Author: Kendare Blake

Narrator: Amy Landon
Title: Three Dark Crowns

Series: Three Dark Crowns #1

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published: September 20, 2016
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

When kingdom come, there will be one.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown.

Review:

First book club book of 2026! Weeeeeee!

Here we follow three sisters. All three are queens and equal heirs to the crown, and all are magical. However, there can only be one queen to rule them all. Mirabella is an elemental. Katharine is a poisoner who can ingest poisons. Arsinoe is a naturalist. This will be a fight to the death on the night of the sisters' 16th birthday. 

How cool is this concept? Def royals meets fantasy meets Hunger Games. Loved the idea and the concept. I wouldn't want to live here, but the powers would be lovely. I guess I would just want to be a civilian. I wouldn't make a good queen. 

The execution of the story was...okay. It was so slow and so dry in the beginning. Yes, we are learning about the sisters and the world and the rules, etc. However, it took forever for anything to really happen. Plus, we had a lot of POVs going on. Not just the queens, but a lot of their friends, etc. Sure, I didn't mind getting a glimpse of the world, but I think I would've liked this more if it were just the queens' POVs. 

Also, I did the audio of this. I wonder if I would've appreciated the multiple POVs if I did the ebook/physical book of it. It would've been easier to follow along. There were a couple of times I was confused about who was saying what. I had to rewind a couple of times. Don't get me wrong, the narrator is good! I have listened to her before, but so many POVs and soooo many characters, it is hard to have a different voice for each person. 

OMG, the end. I need to read book 2. Dayum. 

Oh! There was another scene a few pages back that had me audibly gasp! Holy cannoli batman!

Overall, I did enjoy myself while listening to this. I think I would've liked it more if I did a different format and/or if we have less POVs. I do want to read book 2 because things have HEATED up. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #2

- Library Love #3