Anne Cleeland

I was thinking this was a 3 star but the ending was just so exciting it warrants the 5 star rating.

Honestly, I can’t understand why I like these books so much. Why does this couple work? Kathleen is deeply religious and her husband is always plotting how to steal money or kill people who get in his way. She’s convinced herself that she’s reining him in but she’s really an enabler.

This time they’re after money launders (Acton wants some), art forgers, Russian bad guys and murderers who get in they way. Everyone is there . . . Munuz, Thomas, the Butler, Savoire, Mary, Callie, and the children.… (mere)

I have come to realize that I really like reading books with quirky characters – even when those quirks might not be ‘lovable’ quirks. Go figure. This series is filled with quirky characters – some lovable quirks – some not. If you like quirky adventures, this book and this series might be for you.

Doyle and the newly promoted Munoz have been called to the scene of what would appear to be a cut-and-dried suicide. Except, there is a strange item at the scene and the housekeeper insists the victim would never, ever take her own life. So, is there more to it than meets the eye? Hmmm. They decide to leave it open for the moment and will try to gather a bit more information before they close the case.

With further investigation, they discover another suicide with the same item left at the scene – and that victim had a tie-in with a highly publicized public-servant scandal. Could this new case also have a tie-in? Are there more public-servants left who were involved in the scandal, but didn’t get rooted out? Could it be revenge someone is after?

The tension steps up when there is yet another murder and then more when Doyle, her family, and several friends, including children, are all put in harm's way. How can they all escape – or can they? You’ll just have to read this fun, entertaining book to see what everyone is up to this time.… (mere)

I don’t know why I enjoy this series so much. Acton is really more like a mafia don than an aristocratic chief superintendent with Scotland Yard. Doyle, believes she’s good for him by tamping his murdering tendencies for justice in the name of the Acton history but really is an enabler.

Acton, Doyle, their two sons, butler, nanny, and security are in Dublin for a ceremonial groundbreaking for a science lab at Doyle’s old catholic girls’ school. A body is discovered to be centuries old and this sets of a very confusing chain of events. Doyle’s having bizarre dreams with a ancient Viking trying to tell her something. There’s a lawyer from a high-profile case in London, Melinda the mother of Acton’s half-sister all converge for a dinner party. There’s a murder, how did Acton know it would all work out to his advantage… (mere)