Can you believe it's already May? The trees are blooming, I'm sneezing like crazy, and I still haven't finished writing my latest murder mystery.

But, I have been making a lot of progress and I hope to finish it this month. That means I will be asking for readers soon. I'm dying to know what you think of my latest series.

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A Glimpse at Ashleigh's Bookshelf

Although my writing has slowed down, my reading definitely has not. Here is a recent mystery review from my blog.

Clio at War

Peggy Gardner

During WWII, Clio's mother decides she needs to visit the front lines as a war correspondent. Since that is no life for an eleven-year-old girl, Clio is deposited in rural Oklahoma with her great-aunts, the two women who raised her mother. After learning about the mysterious disappearances of several young women over the past few decades, Clio is determined to figure out the mystery.

This book contained many era-appropriate cultural references that went over my head, making the story difficult to follow. As a result, it took me a while to really get into the story. I also had some trouble determining who was supposed to be the target audience for this book. While the main character is eleven and the writing style is appropriate for upper middle grade or lower young adult, there were more adult themes (inappropriate touching and hints of adult relationships) that would have me believe this was for older teens.

As I continued to read, I felt the story jumped around a lot and felt very rushed. There were many areas where I wanted to see more of the action instead of having it summed up for me. I found myself confused as to what was going on because scenes were hurried along and summarized.

I was very disappointed in the ending as well. I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I wanted to know a lot more information. While I was pleased to see I had correctly guessed the whodunit, I would have liked to have seen the aftermath. Did they find more bodies than the three people Clio knew about? Did more people eventually believe Clio?

Overall, I found myself confused for most of the book and not very engaged.

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Wondering what to read next?

Try these new reads

Now Available

Dr. Shine Cracks the Case

A Chiro Cozy Mystery

A corpse, a chiropractor, and a cop.

Life in small-town Georgia is the pits. When Dr. Susannah Shine finds the body of a local restaurateur on her doorstep, her cozy life in Peach Grove is flipped upside down. Going full gumshoe, the ex-NYC cop must unearth long-hidden secrets to track down the killer. Along with her peachy BFF, Bitsy, Susannah must hunt down a list of suspects while staying one-step ahead of the detective who’s accusing her of a murder she didn’t commit.

Cathy Tully’s Dr. Shine Cracks the Case is Book #1 in the Dr. Susannah Shine ChiroCozy Mystery Series. A light-hearted cozy mystery featuring quirky small-town characters, southern charm, and recipes. If you like Janet Evanovich and Jana DeLeon, then you’ll love this series that combines their best traits in a fast-paced, can’t-put-downable adventure.

Buy Book 1 in this fun-filled new series and get cracking on solving the case today.

This book does not contain cliffhangers, graphic violence, gore, or profanity

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Silver Beach Cottage

A Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance Series

Sometimes getting everything you ever wanted, comes at a deadly price…

Tessa had settled into the uncertain, yet simple life as a single, struggling artist, long disconnected from her rocky married life and estranged ex-husband. That is until his shocking death dragged her back into the aftermath of his mysterious double life.

David’s death shook the small community where he had taken up residence, and even more shocking was the beneficiary of his healthy inheritance and his small vacation home: his ex-wife. Now Tessa is back in a place she never thought she would see again - their old vacation home near the beach.

Tessa understands less than anybody why her ex-husband willed his estate to her after they hadn’t spoken in years. Still stranger are the circumstances of his death. All Tessa wants to do is take care of his last wishes, and get on with her life, but she’s confronted with David’s strange second life at every turn.

What kind of life had David been living out in the middle of nowhere? And why was she finding herself mixed into it everywhere? She knows his death had nothing to do with her, but then why did she have a feeling she was somehow connected to it?

If you’re ready to jump into a tangled mystery, full of secrets, lies, and hidden lives, then follow Tessa as she tries to understand a man she thought she knew, and the person she thought she was.

Silver Beach Cottage is a thrilling mystery that will have you wanting more. Start reading today!

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