small town | Book Girl & Little Bear

Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi

Mike Boyd, having lost his job with the Department of Agriculture, returns home to small-town Richland, Ohio, where his father and stepmother give him a rather lukewarm welcome. Richland, a fictional town in Darke County, where the author lives, is struggling because a large corporation is taking over the town’s largest employer, Bradson Foods, and plans to close it down. He reconnects with Dave, the only police officer left in town, and meets Andi, who is organizing a Monster Mash festival.

If you haven’t read award-winning author Scalzi’s often humorous science fiction books, this might not sound like a fun read, but it is. There are a few kinds of monsters in this book, including the corporate kind, yet it’s safe to read after dark. Something very strange happens to some of the residents of Richland. There is a little gore and horror, but no real violence. Some pets go missing, but they are all found in the end. Why monsters are appearing in Richland makes for a very entertaining story, but to reveal more would spoil the fun.

This book will be published on November 3; I read a digital review copy. Starter Villain, When the Moon Hits Your Eye, and Kaiju Preservation Society are other fun books by Scalzi if you need something light and snarky sooner.

Brenda

The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry

Some cozy mysteries are either too cookie-cutter or too bland to keep my interest. The 4^th book in the Haunted Haven series is a pleasant but never boring read. I liked the haunted player piano and dog Finn on the cover. Many ghosts can be found in Haven, a small town on the Florida coast, but the locals never mention the ghosts to tourists. The ghosts are usually pretty friendly, and appear and talk with some of the residents. Ghost Billy, who plays the piano, sets the mood when he plays familiar tunes in the restaurant of Haven House Inn. Ghost Lorna gives Maureen, the Inn’s newer owner, fashion and other advice.

A group of mystery writers, a bookseller and a ghostwriter meet at the Inn, along with a visiting police officer and the local police chief. Two recent unsolved crimes have tourists cancelling hotel and dinner reservations, and a beach wedding is relocating to another town. Maureen and her sweetheart Ted, the restaurant’s chef, have to come up with promotions to attract customers and solve the crimes. A weekend trip to Key West made a nice change of pace. I quite enjoyed this mystery, although it wasn’t quite as cozy as the previous book, Haunting License, which has Maureen organizing a fishing tournament. The earlier books are Be My Ghost and High Spirits. Readalikes include Haunted Ever After by Jenn DeLuca and Interview with a Dead Editor by Shanna Swendson.

Brenda