If this had taken me longer than an hour to read, I probably would not have finished it. The title grabbed my attention, and the plot sounded interesting. I was happy to see the main character grew a bit in accepting life in a small town, although by the end she still didn't have a great attitude about her brother or the location. Unfortunately, the writing was filled with pedantic descriptions and redundancies ( "the two twins") that were grating to read. Glad I gave it a try, but I will not be picking up the rest of this series.2024-reading fiction-mystery2 s Michelle944 6

Good mystery, negative outlook

Barbara is extremely contemptuous it’s rather off putting. If you love the city so much and hate small towns and the lack off anything to do then why are you going? It’s also repetitive making the same complaints over and over. The city is so great it has shows and fancy restaurants etc, the small town is stifling I’ll have to give up everything. That’s just the beginning the criticism is seemingly never ending. Meh.
The prose is stilted and overly formal. It makes the story rather difficult to get through. I realize this is a historical story but even so it doesn’t feel natural, it feels the author is trying too hard to be historically accurate and just missing the mark.
The good is if you can get past that the mystery is rather interesting to try and figure out. The solution was one I didn’t expect. I would be willing to give a book two a try, but if the tenor is as negative as this one I’d say that’s it for this series. Overall I’d give the book 3.5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.2 s Shelley10

This book was very disappointing, and made me question if the author had ever even seen a map of America or was capable of looking up when coffeemakers were invented. A small town in Georgia that is apparently lily white? No thank you.1 JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book)1,302 23

Barbara Hollis left the big city to go to a small town in Georgia to keep house for her widowed brother and his two twelve-year-old twin boys. She's sure that she's not going to it much, but since she left behind her luxury apartment and lost her job, she hasn't got much of a choice. It's a good thing her brother Craig doesn't know the reason she left, as she doesn't want to discuss it.

But when she arrives, she's a bit downcast, since her room is smaller than she imagined, and she thinks she'll be bored here. So she decides to give herself a spa day and heads to the only hair salon in town, Sharon's. Since no one is out front, she spots a woman under a hair dryer, and wishes she didn't. The young woman is dead, and at that opportune moment, Sharon arrives and starts screaming. After Barbara calls Craig, she waits to be questioned by his deputy -- who wonders if she killed the young woman.

But Craig will have none of it, and the town over arrests Sharon for the murder. Neither Craig nor Barbara believe it (even though she's just met the stylist); and Barbara decides to surreptitiously help her brother by gathering clues. It might not be her greatest idea, but if she can avoid the killer in town that she knows is still loose, she might be able to find them. Unless they find her first...

This is the first in the series, and I thought it sounded interesting, so I wanted to read it. First off, I must say that the blurb is wrong. Craig is not inept; he's just never dealt with a murder before, and the town's police department consists of him and his deputy. He just believes the other town would be better equipped to handle it, and he comes to regret his decision quickly.

Secondly, I really had no idea that this took place in the 1950's while reading it. I did wonder about the lack of cell phones, but aside from descriptions of a few cars, there wasn't really anything that pointed to the year this takes place. So that was the reason I took off one star. In future books I would to read about some of the things occurring during that time; something to draw us into the story timeline.

Other than that, I found this interesting, even if it was a short book. I would to see more character development, but in stories this short, you aren't going to get much of that. However, I am not dinging the author for it, since I died enjoy reading this quite a bit. In fact, I read it in one sitting, and I hope that others will enjoy it as much as I did. In the climax, it all came together quickly, and everything was tied up nicely. I look forward to the next in the series. Recommended.cozy mysteries1 Kathy296 28

Barbara Hollis isn’t really running from her big city troubles. She just needs somewhere to regroup. At least that’s what she’s telling herself. No longer able to afford her rent, she accepts her widowed brother, Craig’s, offer to stay with him and take care of his house and twin boys. Cobsville seems dull and disappointing after the city, but Barbara can’t afford to complain. Things get interesting when Barbara finds an injured woman at the local salon. Even though her brother is the sheriff, his deputy seems to suspect Barbara. Feeling that their small town resources are inadequate, Craig turns the case over to a neighboring town. Barbara believes they arrested the wrong person and thinks Craig can solve the case, with her help. But will her involvement bring more danger than she can handle?

This 1950s era cozy mystery is a delightful read. Barbara is an interesting heroine, levelheaded and practical. I’m interested in seeing her character develop based on the hints we receive. What exactly is she hiding from? Her relationship with Craig feels natural. They seem to slip back into the closeness that they had as children despite their years apart. The twins, Tim & Toby, slowly warm up to Barbara and are depicted realistically. Overall a great beginning to a new series and a new author for me to follow.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Catherine Stratman327 1 follower

Good start to a new series!

I found this to be an interesting start to a new series. Our main character Barbara is very negative about her move to a small town from the big city and I hope the next book will add some of her backstory so perhaps we will understand her better. She definitely seems to have a past that her brother knows nothing about so that could get very interesting since he is the sheriff. The mystery kept me interested and we are meeting some of the townspeople. And maybe just a little bit of a budding romance?

I received an ARC. This is my honest review. Janice DickAuthor 14 books50

This Barbara Hollis Murder Mystery includes great references to the "old days" of the 40s or 50s, as Barbara leaves the big city for her own reasons, only to stumble upon an extremely rare murder in her old hometown. She must solve this before someone else is hurt, while she keeps house for her brother, the cop, and takes care of his two boys.

The humour is enough to add the right pacing and mood.digital fiction historical-fiction ...more MaggieDay35

Fun mystery

Set in the 1950s, Barbara Hollis moves to the small town where her brother works as the sheriff. His wife has died, and Barbara agrees to help take care of her twin nephews as she recovers from losing her job. After about a week,she goes to the local hair salon and finds a woman dead.

I enjoyed this short mystery, reading it over the course of 2 nights. Barbara is independent, smart, and determined. Patty Geisinger73

Great new start of a series!

I truly enjoyed this first in a new series by Blythe Baker. The small town transition for the sister of a sheriff, a murder and secrets galore! Looking forward to reading more from the Happy Housekeeper! Bebe46

I normally really Blythe Baker but this book has no heart. Maybe she wrote it in a day? It was over before it began! It feels rushed and forced, she had a publishing contract to fulfill. Jill100

Easy read

Cute little story. The main character comes to a small town and solves 2 murders. Easy read for cozy mystery lovers. Linda29

Quick, pleasant read.mystery Nic2416325 1 follower

Three years ago climbing instructor Mali Ingram was initially blamed for the death of Jonathan Sutherland, husband of prominent Senedd politician Bridget Payne at the Llanberis Pass in North Wales but was cleared by a medical diagnosis. Her friend Rhydian apparently killed himself the following day but Mali has doubts about the whole affair, believing the woman and another man, violent thug Tommy Hemlock, were responsible for murder. After losing her job and home, she has been forced to live on the streets and has now come down to Cardiff to expose the truth. However she has not picked the best of times as it seems someone is targeting homeless people with fire and DCI Bran Reece, together with his loyal team at Cardiff Bay Police Station of DS Elan Jenkins, DC Ffion Morgan and DC Owain “Ginge" Evans find themselves with three suspicious deaths to investigate. Could someone be clearing the way for a luxury housing development and is there a link to Mali’s mission which puts her and those around her in danger? Meanwhile Reece finds himself under scrutiny amidst fears they have a rat in the camp and Elan has some very big problems at home.
This has been one of my absolute favourites series since the very first book was originally published and I can certainly recommend every story where the reader will learn the full background on the wonderful array of characters they contain. The shadow of Marma Creed and all those people whose corruption was exposed by Reece hangs over him still and although Reece drives Chief Supt Cable to despair at times, she always shows her support for him when it is needed, particularly when ACC Harris is on the warpath. Two years on, Reece is still haunted by his wife’s death, but is coping a little better with his new and extremely loveable companion Redlar and his long-suffering best friend Yanto, and it was good to have an input from Maggie Kavanagh and Itchy again. Building on the history of the series, it’s another excellent story, full of great settings the Norwegian Church, very able characters and a clever suspenseful twisty plot with a shocking ending which I can highly recommend. 5*
Lynda1,540 83

Book 5 in the DCI Brân Reece series and I’d forgotten just how much I love this series and the kindhearted but rather curmudgeonly Reece. I have to say I laughed out loud when Cable chased Reece down the corridor! All the old team are back and whilst it reads well as a stand-alone I really recommend the whole series to you. Set in South Wales, in Cardiff and the Brecon Beacons this is a fast paced and exciting story about corruption and murder with another thread following DS Elan Jenkins personal story.

Briefly, Mali Ingram has come to Cardiff searching for Senedd politician Bridget Payne who she thinks is responsible, along with a man called Tommy Hemlock, for her own husbands death and that of one of Mali’s former colleagues. Reece and his team are investigating the brutal killing of a homeless man but Jenkins isn’t pulling her weight. She has been keeping the truth about her mother’s dementia to herself and isn’t getting support from her partner. Meanwhile Reece is concerned that they have a mole in the team.

I found the dementia storyline very emotional as I’ve been there, but Elan arguing with her mother and trying to correct her was distressing as you can’t reason with a person living with advanced dementia. Human nature to try to correct but always just agree with them. That aside it was a very heartbreaking storyline. The brutality of the killings was shocking and raising the plight of the homeless was a clear intention of the author. A very good read, good twists and the author fooled me with the twist in the internal police investigation storyline. Good one! author-gifted Sharon Rimmelzwaan1,263 32

The fifth Bran Reece book and the fifth fabulous book I have read by Liam Hanson. Devil's Bread has Bran and the team on a serious case, which Bran has his own ideas about.
As always, he is told to behave himself and watch where he is digging for the dirt on the case. As always, he takes no notice and uses his own style to get to the bottom of it all.
If that's not enough, there is some skullduggery going on. He suspects it's someone closer than he s, and it makes him wonder who to trust.
I was back with Bran and the team, and I felt I had come back home to my friends. Liam Hanson writes so well that his characters are so unique, and Bran Reece makes me laugh with his ways and words.
I found this book pretty emotional, and my heart went out to a number of the characters as things unfolded. I have to admit as to being taken in by a red herring.Liam Hanson threw out near the end. It did shock me and spent a few minutes muttering under my breath at the audacity of the character. Then I realised and breathed a sigh of relief because Bran Reece would have been gutted if it had been true!
Anyway, here i am, talking these characters are real and not fictional! This shows what a great job this author has done in personifying these characters.
Just read this book! Heck, read this series! It's worth every minute of your time. Thanks to Liam Hanson for the copy of Devils Bread in exchange for my honest review. Alex Jones739 15

Devil’s Bread is the 5th book in the DCI Reece series by Liam Hanson and it’s another extremely good thriller set In Cardiff.

A story that comes with a couple of interlinking strings follows the team as they investigate some deaths of in the homeless community in Cardiff as well as a storyline that involves Reece and police corruption.

This series of books is slightly different from the normal crime thriller as though it follows a detective with some issues, it has a backing cast of characters that are as important to the stories as Reece is, and it makes for excellent reading.

I read a lot of crime and every so often you find a series that’s very enjoyable yet not receiving the attention it warrants and this series firmly sits in that category.

With great plots and twists, lots of humour threaded throughout, superbly crafted characters you want to read about and interesting locations it’s all here and really very good.

On another note I would say to always begin a series at book 1, but this book in particular feels you could start here at 5, though you would miss 4 other great books, and also you might not appreciate the arcs of a couple of characters in the closing pages if you don’t read them all.

Fine writing and overall an excellent crime thriller Maureen950

Devil’s Bread by Liam Hanson is book 5 in the DCI Reece series. Two sides of society. We have Bridget Payne, a member of the Senedd in Cardiff who thinks she can get away with anything. We also have Mali Ingram, now homeless and others her, who have been on the receiving end of Bridget’s dealings. Mali sticks up for the little guys. To me, this book has been very much about the characters as each of them have their time in the limelight at some stage through the story. Reece is coming up to the 2nd anniversary of his wife’s death, Elan Jenkins is having her own issues and then during this time homeless people are being murdered in the most horrific way. A fabulous read and a great addition to the series. Rosie Bray299 4

Sometimes a book series comes along that just grabs you, to the point where the wait between books is almost unbearable ~ Liam Hanson has created such a series with the DCI Reece books.

Devil's Bread is brilliant, pure and simple. Gripping gritty storyline, great characters and enough twists to keep you guessing.

Love the fact they're set in Cardiff, and that the author includes dialect that takes me right back to the time I spent living there. The dementia storyline was heartbreaking but sensitively dealt with.

I received an advanced review copy from the author and am voluntarily submitting my review.

P.S. When's the next one out?? J Davies274 2

A twisting tense tale.

This book is the latest in a series, but there is enough detail of what's gone before for readers to be able to enjoy this as a stand alone book. That said, it's well worth reading the full series. This time DI Reece and his team have another difficult complicated case to deal with and Reece finds himself under suspicion of corruption, whilst still dealing with his personal demons and still mourning the loss of loved ones.
Liam Hanson has given us another tense, multifaceted story that is very well written. He keeps us hanging on right up to the last page.
Roll on the next Gran Reece book. Diane712 7

4.5* rounded up to 5*
This is a fantastic series and although this book isn't my favourite in the series it's still a well written gripping read. As well as investigating multiple murders, DCI Reece is being investigated himself. He has suspicions that he is being set up...but who by?
The story initially seemed a little disjointed but the short sharp chapters and an intriguing and delicate storyline had me flying through the book. Different threads came into play and were creatively pulled together giving a rewarding ending.
Eagerly awaiting book 6. Rebecca Charlesworth399

It was great to catch up with Reece and the gang, the dynamics of the team and the relationships between them have developed intricately over the books. As with the previous books the author sets the scene for a fast paced, and realistic read. A great police procedural with a well written storyline, a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming which I . Delyth Woods44 1 follower

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