Dana Mentink: Murders in the Marquee

 By Kelly Bridgewater

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

My Thoughts:

Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink has a beautiful cover. This is what drew me into read the cozy mystery. However, the mystery was very lackluster, and I couldn't wait to finish the story. The characters were pretty flat with barely any personality. Yes, they wanted to focus on the mystery, but at times, they follow the clues, and only focused on that clue until they solved what it has to do with the mystery, then they moved onto trying to find another clue. The setting was nice. I have heard about the Duck Parade at the Marquee, so it was nice to see an inside look to the workings of a hotel with high-end clients. Overall, Murders in the Marquee did not live up to my feelings of what a murder mystery should be. I needed more action and solving of the mystery. 

I received a complimentary copy of Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink from Love Inspired Trade, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Mario Escobar: The Library of Forbidden Books

 By Kelly Bridgewater

In a world of burning books, one woman will risk everything to keep stories alive.

Berlin, 1933. The vibrant cultural heart of Germany is darkening under the shadow of the Nazi regime. For Helene Nathan, one of the first female librarians at a prestigious German library, the books she cherishes are no longer just sources of knowledge--they are targets. As the government begins its systematic purge of literature, compiling lists of "forbidden" works and orchestrating public book burnings, Helene realizes she cannot stand by as her world turns to ash.

Determined to resist the encroaching tyranny, Helene and her colleagues embark on a perilous mission of secretly collecting and hiding the very books slated for destruction. It's a dangerous act of defiance in a city where every neighbor could be an informant and the Gestapo are a constant, looming threat. Her quiet rebellion is especially complicated by the fact that Helene is half-Jewish, and Rudolf Kummer, a ruthless Nazi official, seemingly has a personal vendetta against her.

As the stakes escalate and friends and neighbors begin to disappear, Helene must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice. Her fight is not just for the pages she saves, but for the very soul of her country and the freedom to think.

Based on the heroic true stories of librarians who fought back, Library of Forbidden Books is a gripping tale of courage, the profound power of literature as resistance, and one woman's struggle to preserve humanity in the face of absolute evil.

My Thoughts:

Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar is a World War II novel about the Nazi’s burning of books. I remember a scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where they burned the books, and I wanted to know how others could burn some information without care in the world. I wanted this book to be that story. The character of Helene is difficult to read at times, but the story takes place over the span of 15 years, so it moves quickly. I think it could have narrowed down to a few years and still had an impactful story. Right now, it reads more like Helene’s journal that someone got their hands upon and tried to make into a novel. Yes, the climactic moment revolves around the Nazi’s soldiers and their mistreatment of Jews and others, but I wanted more of an overarching issue instead of what was already known. Overall, Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar was not one of my favorite novels by him. The story covered too much time and felt incomplete.

I received a complimentary copy of Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

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