Bookish Mewsings: Death in Kew Gardens by Jennifer Ashley / Bookish Gift Ideas / August's Favorite/Least Favorite Read

Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

Death in Kew Gardens (Kat Holloway, #3) by Jennifer Ashley
Berkley, 2019
Crime Fiction (Historical); 320 pgs

Book Beginnings:

The Chinese gentleman ran from between the carriages packed the length of Mount Street and straight into my path. I had no chance--he emerged so suddenly and without my seeing him that I barreled directly into the poor man. 

Friday 56 (excerpt from 56%):

As I drew a breath to admonish her, Mr. Davis, in his shirtsleeves and waistcoat, strode in waving a newspaper. 

He's been murdered!" he declared. 

Tess jumped, potato slipping from her hands. My apron strings suddenly knotted and my fingers fumbled. 

Settling in for a visit with Kat Holloway and and Daniel McAdam’s is always a pleasure, and this third installment in Jennifer Ashley’s series was another good one. Is it any wonder this series is among my favorites? For those new to the series, Kat is a cook in Victorian London. She is very good at her job—and has a nose for murder. When a Chinese scholar is suspected of murdering her next door neighbor, Kat has strong doubts. Her instincts about people are usually right, and she does not believe Li is guilty. With the help of her friends, Kat attempts to unravel the mystery, while at the same time dealing with a not so nice new housekeeper who seems out to get her.

Kat does not look for trouble, but it seems to find her as has been seen in previous novels. This worries her friend Daniel, who himself seems to always be in the middle of some sort of investigation. With each book we get to know a little more about him, but he still remains a bit of a mystery. I love the slow burn romance between the two characters. Trouser wearing Lady Cynthia is one of my favorite characters in the series, and it was good to see more of her and her friend Bobby in this book. Tess, Kat’s assistant, was her usual outspoken self, and we get to see a side to Mr. Davis, the butler, we haven’t seen before. I do love my time visiting Ashley’s characters! This is such a fun series, with historical and cultural tidbits woven into the mystery, this one involving merchants and China—and tea. I enjoy reading the interactions between the characters, and seeing how everything unfolds. The mystery in Death in Kew Gardens is well crafted and clever. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

What would you give as a birthday gift to a fellow book lover?

This seems a perfect question with my birthday coming up early next week. I know what this book lover would like! No two book lovers are the same, however, and so it can be a challenge to buy actual books for someone who loves reading. Unless you have access to their wish list or have a good idea of what books they already have read--or own. Bookstore gift cards are always a big winner with me, and one of my favorite gifts to give to a fellow book lover. Extras like a cute bookmark, especially if it matches the interests of the individual reader, also make a great gift. Items with a bookish-themes or quotes make fun gifts as well.

Do you have any go to gifts for the book lovers in your life? Or perhaps there is something you wish someone would give you? 

Everyone has a favorite and then we also have something we dislike. Like a coin, there are two sides to every question. Each week, Carrie at The Butterfly Reads and Laura from Blue Eye Books ask participants to list what they like and don't like about that week's topic.

This week's topic is Favorite/ Least Favorite Read of August

My Favorite August Read:

Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles, #4) by Ilona Andrews

My Least Favorite Read (there were no bad books this month, and I actually enjoyed this one--just not as much as the others):

On His Watch (Search & Rescue, 0.5) by Katie Ruggle

What were your favorite and least favorite books read in August? 

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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