The first book I read last week was The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves.

Vera Stanhope and her team are back. In this mystery, five friends bonded since high school, meet for their five year reunion. One of them is found dead, an apparent suicide although Vera quickly determines it was murder staged as a suicide,

Since Vera is convinced that the answer to this murder lies in the past, she questions the friends and all those who were connected, no matter how tangentially. As expected, Vera solves the mystery , resulting a shocking twist at the end.

Beginning writers are told to place the murder within the first chapter. Ann Cleeves, however, spends several chapters exploring the characters. And still, her mysteries are captivating.

The second book I read was the third Jane Yellowrock book, Mercy Blade.

Werewolves are coming to New Orleans and threatening to wrest control from Leo Pellisser. The seeds of this enmity lies in the past, 1916 to be exact. Jane’s boyfriend, Jake LaFleur is missing. When Jane searches for him, she quickly discovers he is in serious trouble.

And who or what is the Mercy Blade. Jane can see he is a magic creature but exactly what is he?

I really enjoy this series as I do the Marcia Talley Hannah Ives. The two series could not be more different but both are so fun.