February in the books

February was a month full of international mysteries. All my audiobooks, courtesy of Libro.fm and Libby were excellent mysteries. And almost by accident, all my paper books were mysteries as well, with the exception of Kindred by Octavia E. Butler a time travel sci-fi tale that was capturing and thought-provoking. 

I continued Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series with #2 The Likeness and #3 Faithful Place. Each book gives the reader an in-depth perspective on a detective introduced in the previous books. While you could read them out of order it helps to better understand the characters to go in sequence. Each book revolves around one main mystery/murder but there are so many underlying stories to shape the main character's experiences, personalities, motives, and behaviors.  

Nick Brooks's first novel Promise Boys is a mystery set in a private school run more like a military academy. Our main characters find themselves in detention with no alibi when the principal is murdered...sounds familiar One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus. Working together is the only way to find the truth. 

Better Than Blood by Michael Bennett is set in New Zealand. When random murders are linked together to a photograph depicting the killing of an aboriginal chief, detective Hana Westerman realizes she might be hunting their first serial killer. 

What She Knew (Jim Clemo #1) by Gilly MacGilly is another detective mystery that I'm sure to follow. Set in Ireland, this is the story no mother (or father) ever wants to imagine. When Rachel's son, Ben, is kidnapped, she quickly goes from victim to perpetrator in the eyes of the media. Intriguing with the possibility of multiple suspects.

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware always a favorite didn't disappoint with a page-turning mystery set in Ireland. Four girls at a boarding school united by a game. One tragic death. A cover-up. A reunion that will test their bond. 

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler was my non-mystery book. a time travel tale that brings modern-day Dana back to the plantation of her ancestors to protect the master's son who one day would become her distant relative. Confronting slavery, historical facts, survival, the notion of interfering with the past, and the repercussion to the future. 

Looking forward to different reads next month with the new Lincoln Nominees.