Monday Mini-Review: A Pair of Mysteries

 2024 reading is starting out with some great reads.  I've already enjoyed two excellent mysteries and a few other titles I'll share later. 

First Lie Wins is Ashley Elston's first adult novel (she has six young adult novel to her name), and she has knocked it out of the ball park.  I've seen this one everywhere on Instagram and sometimes shy away from all the buzzy books, but I'm so glad I decided to pick it up.

This is a fast read, and you may want to make sure you have a few hours free because once you pick it up, it will be impossible to put down.

Evie Porter receives her identity and assignment from a mysterious boss, Mr. Smith.  Her last job was a failure and Mr Smith gives her another assignment - one she cannot fail.  But there are so many twists and turns and lies that it is impossible to guess how this one may end.

I often feel like the thrillers I read are entertaining in the moment, but the details are lost quickly.  This may very well be the case with this one, but in a market saturated with this type of novel, I feel like the story is unique enough that in a few months I will still be able to recall the storyline.

The second mystery novel I've enjoyed this year is no less notable than First Lie Wins, although the two are very different.  The Mystery Guest reads like a oozy mystery and is Nita Prose's sequel to her first novel The Maid.

In this installment we are treated to another story involving Molly the maid.  Molly is still as quirky and interesting as she was in the first book, which is just as I was hoping.  And once again there has been a death in the hotel - a famous author has died.  

Molly notices things that most other people discount or don't even recognize may be important.  And it is her attention to detail that help the police find the killer.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and I hope that we keep getting to know Molly better and this is part of what will be a series.

How is your 2024 reading shaping up?