Review of POMONA AFTON CAN TOTALLY CATCH A KILLER by Rose Bellamy

 Publication Date: April 14, 2026

 

Mother & Children Fiction,
Women Sleuths (Books),

Romantic Comedy (Kindle Store) 

 REVIEW

 

THERE’S AN ART TO FASHION … AND TO MURDER 

Don’t ever ask Pomona Afton about fashion. No, it’s not because she’s ignorant on the subject. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, in that, there is simply not enough time in the world for her to complete her analysis of what distinguishes “fashion” from “putting on clothes”. But two decades of cramming haute couture into suitcases destined for clubbing at exotic resorts has taught her something more, It's a secret that hypothesizes that if there is an art to fashion … then there is also one to murder. 
 

Above is a snapshot of Pom Afton. She’s the main character in this mystery entitled POMONA AFTON CAN TOTALLY CATCH A KILLER. Written by Bellamy Rose, I gotta say this mystery/comedy charmer caught me completely by surprise. The plotline unconventional and the writing comprehensively witty, someone has died and it “falls” to our sparkly, sequined heroine to find out who performed the well-appointed shove that sent the victim flying off a balcony and slamming into the ground. Lucky for the deceased that in the game of murder, it doesn’t matter that the target of the felony was a villain of the most immodest proportions—the case still needs solving. And that’s where Pom comes in.

Did I mention that this mystery is loaded with atmosphere? Well, I am now. And because of it, there’s a very appealing 50’s vibe going on throughout. It’s the tip off that the uniqueness of Pom’s temperature always equates to “chill.” Likable, laughable and a great believer in one-liners, Bellamy has infused her leading lady with a combination of Dorothy Parker, Audrey Hepburn, Truman Capote (WHAT?), and Agatha Christie when she went rogue for those eleven days. And right now Pom is playing bloodhound and trying to solve her second homicide as easily as she solved the first, but was it beginner’s luck?

Pom hopes not, but she still owes it to everyone who attended the event to try. What event? A fundraiser. Why? Because the victim was murdered at that fundraiser—her fundraiser. It makes her responsible for the murder. And the sooner she gets started, the faster she’ll find out if she can deliver in solving this puzzle. She begins by wading through the sea of possibilities. There are friends, acquaintances, and a pool of rich benefactors who were called upon strictly because of their reputation for philanthropy. And as for the victim being hated, there are more than a few possible suspects that would fit that description as well. Thank you very much, please, but her mother came to mind. In fact, Pom’s mother was more than capable of carrying out a murder, but the question is whether she did off the victim and not could she. There was also her brother Nicholas, and his steady girlfriend Jessica. And the victim's wife, and Pom's friend Vienna … but, no … it couldn't be. They were like two peas in a pod, but Pom had been fooled before. Then there was the sister of a murderess. Did murderers run in families?

All-in-all this book is a sparkler … as is Pom. She’s the thread that holds all together and weaves an intricate web that our intrepid private detective/influencer is determined to figure out. Bellamy Rose does a great job fleshing Pom and the rest of the characters out, and an outstanding one on the coming up with this brain twizzler. It’s why I’m giving this book four stars and look forward to more in this series. Thank you both Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for giving me an ARC copy.

 

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BOOK TOUR!!! ONE FOOT IN EITHER by KAYLEIGH KAVANAGH (WHISPERS OF THE PENDLE WITCHES)

  

Powerful bloodlines tied by Fate, who can’t be free even in death...

 

Title: One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches

Author: Kayleigh Kavanagh

Publisher: Independent

Pages: 400

Genre: Historical/Paranormal/Fantasy

Format: Kindle

Demdike and Chattox, famed witches of Pendle Forest, might be dead, but they’re not gone. Bound to their bloodline, they’ve spent the past two and a half centuries watching over their descendants, waiting for when they’ll be needed. 

When 14 year old Yana comes into her psychic abilities and inherits the ‘eyes of the Chattox family’, she can see the long-dead witches, as well as an encroaching evil. But even with this foreknowledge, she’s trapped by marriage interviews and being unable to see her own future, and more importantly, whoever her future husband will be. 

Demdike’s healing gifts are alive and working in Claire, a mid-30s midwife well renowned for her skills and holding her tongue. The Secrets of Pendle are safe with her and her midwives. However, when surgeons looking to make standardisation the norm encroach on her territory, she soon realises how, even a respected woman is vulnerable in a patriarchal system. 

The two descendants must come together to protect the ones they love from an ancient evil, all whilst balancing their lives and the cruelties of being a woman in a man’s world. Set in late 1800s NW England, this book has all the elements of the area: strong, hardy people, atmospheric horror and days as unpredictable as the weather.  

One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches is available at Amazon.

Book Excerpt

She hadn’t known what to expect from death. No one did. Still, none of her previous thoughts could have come close. This, and she was definitely having an atypical experience. For most souls, death was a release from the mortal coil. Complete separation from the life they’d once lived. She hadn't been so lucky. 

Some parts of the system had been the same. Her soul had been scooped up. Taken somewhere. She vaguely recalled going over her life and having events explained. Gaining an understanding of the why; to the point she was no longer angry about things which had once made her furious. However, the entire encounter was now a blur. 

The powers that be had done this on purpose, but the awareness lingered instinctively. Either way, she knew she'd died, gone to the other place, and then thrown back. Before they could send her along to wherever she should have gone next. There'd been an issue. A snag. One which stopped her from moving along to the happy, bliss-filled world of the nether realm. Said snag bore one name: Chattox. Even in death, her frenemy was still causing her bloody issues.

“Hey, Demdike, how’s non-life treating you?”

Demdike didn’t answer, suddenly filled with the desire to bludgeon the other woman. However, she knew from experience it would be pointless. They weren’t physical beings any longer—even if they were still tied to the physical world. Unless she was willing to destroy the other's soul, the spirit could reform. A tempting idea some days; this non-life was enough to make even the most patient saint a little homicidal. However, even in her worse moments, she wasn't willing to land the final blow.

“The same way it’s been treating me for the past two and a half hundred years,” she eventually returned. Still not looking at the other, less she finally indulged her violent impulses.

“They’re having a bake sale soon, at the local church. Gods, I miss cake.”

Demdike sighed. The sad part was she couldn’t even get rid of the other. Without Chattox, she would be entirely alone in this exhausting existence.

“Their cake isn’t anything like the one we used to have. They have more access to sugar, for starters.”

Demdike wasn’t even going to comment on the reasons why. King James I's and his ilk had done more than destroy her life. Stretching his greedy grip across the world. From the supposed lands of gold to the continent of darkness, James I's influence had impacted many. She couldn't help but feel for the poor souls stolen from these other countries. Their plights differed from the witch trials, but suffering was a universal language.

She would've liked to aid them, but she couldn't even help herself. There was no one to hear her, anyway. Well, other than Chattox, but as she was in the exact same situation. It was no different than voicing her words to the void. Except the void didn’t reply. 

“Aye, I know, but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss the little pleasures. Few and far between, though they were.”

Demdike hummed. This was a conversation they’d had many times. When their new existence was mostly just the two of them, they often spoke of their past. Their past life, to be specific. A lot of it seemed funny now. Maybe it was their time in the decompression zone post life—or maybe it was simply the effect of being so removed from what they’d once been—but matters of life and death were suddenly much less dramatic and far funnier when you were already dead. Fighting over coin, linens, and food were memories they could now look back on and find humour in. 

Though she also missed cake, death was a lot simpler. Mostly. There was no fighting for survival when you simply just were. No hunger to push you forward or pain to keep you still. As much as she’d once lived with one foot in the ether, having both on death's side was much simpler. If you ignored the limited company. Or how she feared her own mind and sense of self were slowly eroding over time. As though, without a physical body, she was slowly dispersing into nothingness; it was just taking a little longer.

– Excerpted from One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh, Kayleigh Kavanagh, 2025. Reprinted with permission.

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About the Author

 

Kayleigh Kavanagh is a disabled writer from the North-West of England. Growing up in the area, she learnt a lot about the Pendle Witches and launched her debut novel around their life story. Her main writing genres are fantasy and romance, but she loves stories in all formats and genres. Kayleigh hopes to one day be able to share the many ideas dancing around in her head with the world.

Her latest book is the historical fantasy, One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches. 

You can visit her on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and Tiktok. 

 

Sponsored By:

REVIEW of HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG ABOUT MURDER by Emily Soderberg

 

 Publishing Date: October 21, 2025

Science Fiction Crime & Mystery
Amateur Sleuths
Women Sleuths (Books) 

 

 

AN INHERITANCE PUTS NIKKI IN THE DOG HOUSE -- AND THE BIG HOUSE IF THE POLICE HAVE THEIR WAY 

 

The call seemed way too good to be true. Out of the blue, the very wealthy Mrs. Van de Meer called Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan and stated her interest in hiring Nikki as a pet therapist for her late husband’s dog, Reginald. In fact, the passing of Mr. Van de Meer had made front page news, and while Nikki was saddened by the tragedy, she was happy about the opportunity that presented itself. After all, the young woman’s goal was to switch careers and go from calligrapher to behaviorist. All she need do is meet in person with the recent widow and be subjected to the sniff test to make sure she was suitable for the job … so why was she still sitting in her kitchen?

 

The drive to the massive estate went quickly. Next? The cozying up to the family, but the very creepy vibe in the air prevented Nikki from becoming besties with the relatives who seemed way too anxious to prosper from Mr. Van de Meer’s death. Luckily Nikki was saved by Mrs. Van de Meer whisking her to a private office to divulge the dog’s peculiar behavior since the passing of his beloved master. It didn’t take much analyzing. Reginald was in mourning … the howling all night was a classic sign. With the introductory talk over, the matriarch made it crystal clear that she wanted Nikki to administer bereavement counseling. Nikki reciprocated by making it a thousand-times clearer that she accepted. And to prove how motivated she was, she prescribed a brand new exercise routine to rid the dog’s depression. The regime had just kicked in when a second tragedy struck. Mrs. Van de Meer was found murdered in bed. Nikki was shocked … just as shocked as discovering Mrs. Van de Meer had written Nikki into her will. It meant Nikki becoming filthy rich overnight, and being in the enviable position of buying a dream house or anything else she desired. But nothing is for nothing—and when looked at in the harsh light of day—it also meant that Nikki had been given an excellent motive to exterminate Mrs. Van de Meers. Yes, it could be that it was just a matter of time before the police tagged Nikki as chief suspect and dragged her off to jail unless … unless she beat the police at their own game and found the real killer first.

 

Thus begins HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG ABOUT MURDER: A MYSTERY by author Emily Soderberg. A stimulating concoction of murder, mystery, and delving into psyches, we find that the dog’s inner workings are much simpler than ours. The storyline interesting enough to pique our curiosity, the gluttony of mischief of the players stirs our own inner hound into working on solving this case. And with a cavalcade of suspects that are nicely fleshed out, and an investigation delving into a past “accident” that may or may not have anything to do with the present one, we have plenty to process.

 

It’s all good fun as the clues come fast and furious, but then it’s what author Emily Soderberg has fashioned this story to be. This is my first-time reading Ms. Soderberg’s work, and I found this entry enjoyable. The mystery is well-written and edited. The pacing is also good, but I would say it’s the tidy pile of plot and clues that is the star of this particular show.

 

Final take: I would definitely recommend HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG ABOUT MURDER: A MYSTERY by Emily Soderberg. It was very entertaining, and with an interesting and unique plotline. I also found Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan to be a great lead character. Think her background and profession will allow stories to take a myriad of different directions. So a big thank you to Ms. Soderberg, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy that let me play detective. It’s always fun as is finding a new author to love and I’m giving this one 4 stars! 

 

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REVIEW of THE BLUE HORSE by BRUCE BORGOS

 

PUBLISHED: July 8, 2025

Small Town & Rural Fiction; 
Historical Thrillers; and 
Police Procedurals

 

A Savagely Entertaining Mystery, Everything Leads Somewhere in This Suspense Thriller

Sheriff Porter Beck was in a state of shock. He’d only wanted to keep the peace between two warring factions. It didn’t sound like a lot to ask. The first was the Bureau of Land Management, who carries out roundups of wild horses by means of helicopters. They then sell the captive mustangs to the highest bidder. As for the second: they are a tenacious group of animal activists proactively working towards a mustang’s right to be free. Even in retrospect, keeping the two opposing groups calm seemed doable. Easy-peasy like being a chaperone at a school lunch party, but that was before everything blew up in his face. First there was the helicopter crash … yes, one of BLM’s. Malfunction of equipment? Fuel shortage? Nope, the answer was: “Murder.” Then there was the woman that managed the roundups for BLM. Poisoned mushrooms? Suicide? Nope: Murder. The woman was buried up to her neck before a stampede was triggered and the mustangs set loose to do what they do best—run and trample things like heads. In fact, Beck might have tried “running” as far as he could from this town as a solution to his own woes, but couldn’t now that his girlfriend Detective Charlie Blue Horse had arrived in town to help count the bodies. The bad timing left Beck one option, and that was to investigate—luckily it was something he was good at.  

Looking for trouble? Or rather, looking’ to read’ about trouble? Then THE BLUE HORSE by Bruce Borgos is for you. The third in the Sheriff Porter Beck series, this book has a little something for everyone: realistic dialogue, the fleshing out of characters, the setting up of the delightfully deranged homicides, and don’t forget the personal problems that Beck is facing. But don’t worry, in this savagely entertaining mystery, everything leads somewhere. 

The landscape created through and by the traits of the collective characters—and that includes Beck —comes into play. Much like the desert itself, author Bruce Borgos paints a picture of a vast lonesomeness that Beck carries within. It’s emphasized by using the clash between those who think nothing of tearing a mustang from their home, and those who believe in the sanctity of a home. This forms the backdrop for this tale … and it’s under the cover of these opposing extremes that allows more suspects to emerge, tiptoeing through the darkness one-by-one. A group of troubled teens led through a wilderness program is one. A Canadian lithium manufacturer another. The clever use of morality and ethics stirs the pot … tainting the hot desert sand and making motives offered seem all the more evil … all the more willing to induce injury … which brings me to the protagonist of this twist-of-the-wrist, slight of hand trick. 

While all the characters are interesting, nobody can beat Beck for consuming our attention. A very observant man, he would be the one to make sure to use rubber bands to keep his clean socks in pairs. Or buy cases of oatmeal in case he feared a shortage. He’s also kind, sympathetic, and reluctant to think badly about anyone.  A studious man, he tends to think deeply, questioning his questions. But his saving grace is that Sheriff Porter Beck has the one attribute that’s an absolute necessity for staying popular while solving crimes, and that is his ability to follow his intuition. 

Yes, buried deep within his gut, there it is. Not a Cat Distribution System, but a Psychic Spurt Center that gives him readings on details that seem so trivial but aren’t. And this attribute is not alone. It comes with the ability to not crumble under pressure. So like so many other of our favorite detectives, Beck is absolutely up to going it alone and examining why something no one is paying attention to so dang suspicious. And for all his imperfections, he makes good on following his intuition … and that’s all we need to completely fall in love with this man who is unwilling to give up. 

So it’s five stars for THE BLUE HORSE by Bruce Borgos. I liked the story, I liked the direction, and I liked getting to know a little bit about a guy named Porter Beck. If dogged determination is your thing, you’re gonna like him, too. 

Thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for supplying me with a free copy. 

 

 

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