Poison Pen: A Forensic Handwriting Mystery by Sheila Lowe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


3 1/2 stars -- Claudia Rose is a respected handwriting analyst. When a frenemy dies from an apparent suicide, Claudia is asked to analyze the suicide note. While hunting for good examples of the deceased handwriting for comparison, Claudia stumbles across more and more information that leads her to think this was no suicide. She also stumbles across a murder fiction and a hunky detective.



I liked this book. It took me a while to get to know Claudia. There were so many other characters who overshadowed her at first and so much going on. However, once she came out of the shadows, I really warmed up to her. The little bits about handwriting analysis were interesting but Lowe does not beat you over the head with it. This does not exactly feel like a cozy to me. It is set in LA and the illegal activities involved were a bit on the seedy side for a cozy. But as I said, I did enjoy it and will probably read the next in the series.



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Killing Me Softly by Maggie Shayne

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Well, I have to say that I am disappointed. The book is a fast read, maybe because not a whole lot happens. We follow two people on the run and trying to clear one of them from charges of murder. They discover a lot of new clues, but even without them, I knew who the killer was almost from the start. There really were not any other possibles. There were all sorts of odd things brought up, one of the victims had recently had a baby for example, that led no where in the story. The love story was sort of lame. Two healthy young people with a past live in the same motel rooms night after night and nothing happens because the GUY doesn't want to get hurt. Right. And the whole ghost/psychic aspect was so weak that it is almost an afterthought. As I said, disappointed.



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Classified as Murder by Miranda James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Librarian Charlie Harris and cat Diesel have snagged a prime cataloging a private collection of rare books owned by James Delacorte, a local elderly gentleman. Unfortunately the assignment comes with having to deal with Delacorte and his nutty, possible homicidal, family. And Charlie's son, Joel, has come to stay, having quit his job in a law firm bringing all his bagage, physical and psychological, with him. When James Delacorte turns up dead in his private library, father, son and cat are on the case.



I think I enjoyed this book more than the first. I love the characters and the town. These books feel like old style cozies, with a super observant amateur detective but Charlie is not annoying or interferring like some of the newer style cozy folks. I really enjoyed all the talk about the books in this one. Must be the librarian in me. I like the addition of Joel. I am looking forward to seeing father and son work together in the future.



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