Check out these two new mysteries whose author makes the jump from solving the mysteries of the heart to writing intriguing murder mysteries. Of course they couldn’t resist including a little romance in there too!
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder
by Bellamy Rose
In Pomona Afton Can Solve a Murder, Pomona, a New York hotel heiress, is frozen out of all her accounts when her grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances. In order to get back the lifestyle she has grown accustomed to she will have to figure out what really happened to her grandmother. The son of her former Nanny, Gabe, gives her a place to crash and a helping hand; his mom’s retirement is also on hold till the killer is found. Though Pomona wonders if the money might be worth less than having Gabe’s love in the long run. I enjoyed the many twists and turns the mystery took and the romance between Gabe and Pomona was sweet, but I thought the novel also had interesting things to say about friendships, familial relationships and the pressure that money can put on even the best people to make not so ethical decisions. This reminded me a bit of the funny sitcom Two Broke Girls if they had to solve a mystery. Rose writes romances under the name, Amanda Elliot, including Love You a Latke and Best Served Hot.
Murder by Memory
by Olivia Waite
Murder by Memory is a novella that packs a lot into its short length with a mystery set on a generational ship, the Fairweather, where death doesn’t have to be the end as long as a person’s memories are properly backed up. During an electric storm, Dorothy awakens from a long rest after her previous lifetime, but not in her own body. She is one of the ship’s detectives and this case is particularly important since someone is not only killing bodies which can be replaced, but also deleting minds from the storage library. I enjoyed the cozy mystery aspect of the story and also the interesting science fiction world building of the story which includes drinks which can bring to life memories like summer thunderstorms. I hope we see more of Dorothy and the Fairweather in the future. Fan’s of Waite’s Feminine Pursuits series of historical lesbian romances, The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics, The Hellion’s Waltz, and The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows will enjoy the bit of romance that Waite also infuses into her Murder by Memory plot.
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Public Library Blog 