The Curious Case of the Midnight Specter by Moriah Chavis

I received a free advance review copy (ARC) in exchange for my personal and honest opinion of this book—and I loved it.

Set in 1890, this is a YA sleuthing adventure set among London’s high society with Death close at hand.

Leighanna Pauley survives an episode of tuberculosis, and her struggle with Life and Death makes her view her surroundings, and the role of women in society, from a very different perspective.

Title: The Curious Case of the Midnight Specter

Publisher: Twenty Hills Publishing

Expected publication date: Sep 16th, 2025.

She becomes obsessed with justice and with the brutal death of one of her peers, after her ghost appears to her and demands that she find her killer before he strikes again. 

Society is forgetting the young victim, as they don’t like to be reminded of death and weakness, and therefore, the police are not doing enough to catch and punish the murderer. So Leighanna takes it upon herself to uncover the truth and ensure that the victim’s name is remembered.

There are some very interesting characters who interrupt the narrative and give it a whole new direction. I looked forward to their appearances on every page, as those scenes are hilarious and their interactions adorable. I think these passages set this novel apart from other mysteries, giving it that extra something that makes it special.

La madre del frío de Miguel Salas Díaz

Descubrí este autor gracias al festival del Celsius 232 que se celebra en Avilés.

En una de las presentaciones de libros, escuchando sobre un detective venido a menos con el lado derecho de su cuerpo paralizado tras un accidente, que le ha aportado a cambio un ojo capaz de ver "el otro lado". Como comprenderéis, me llamó muchísimo la atención.

Además, Miguel Salas explicaba su entusiasmo por las distintas creencias, mitología y folklore que invaden nuestras tierras, tan cercanas y tan distintas entre sí.

Así que, sí, según salí de la carpa de la presentación, fui al stand y me lo compré. Y debo decir, que aunque haya tardado en leerlo por motivos varios, no me arrepiento de esta posesión y lectura.

Os dejo aquí la entrevista, para que sea él mismo quien os anime, como a mí, a leerla:

"Un grupo de Vengadores pero mal".

En cuanto a la novela, mezcla mitología local y novela negra, ambientada en la maravillosa Galicia y con vistas al mar. Idónea para mí. 

La historia está bien hilada y estructurada, con personajes que se ganan su huequecito en tu corazón. 

No obstante, hay algún hilo suelto que no sé bien si se solucionará en siguientes novelas (el colgante celoso, por ejemplo).

Me ha encantado que sea autoconclusiva, pero incluya la promesa de una segunda entrega ¡en Bulgaria! ¿Qué parte de la mitología eslava desvelaremos en las fronteras con Rumanía? 

En cuanto al estilo literario... ❤️❤️❤️ Las descripciones, los estados de ánimo, las acciones... Su forma de plasmar estás imágenes en nuestro cerebro me han enamorado.

Quedamos a la espera de más Borrascas en 2025.

Puntuación: 5/5

Witch Slap (The Hollowbeck Paranormal Cozy Mysteries #1 ) by Amelia Ash and Kim M. Watt

This is a cozy mystery with a magic touch.

 

We start jumping into a car conversation. I love this kind of beginning—poking into the characters' lives in such a private moment as an argument is. As an outsider, feeling a bit lost at first, but getting to understand their dynamics.

In this particular case, the couple is a sister and her brother. Their relationship is not ideal, but one calls for help, the other one jumps—that's the thing about siblings, right?

Following their footsteps into a magic village (the brother knows it, although the sister doesn't), they get right into a murder scene!

From that moment on, the pace slows down. I think it tries to be intriguing about what kind of being each new character is, as the sister is oblivious to everything, but as a fantasy reader, it's easy to figure out, and it felt a little bit dull.

It was an easy and interesting read, though. I enjoyed the path to discovery, but most of all I enjoyed the development of the siblings' relationship.

So... 

Would you like to be turned into a cat?

Puntuación: 3/5