Happy Monday Sweet Friends :)
I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've taken the time to drop on by The Preppy Book Princess today for another book review.
If I'm being honest, I've been struggling a bit the past week. There's been some hard stuff going on in my life the past few months, and some weeks are easier to deal with everything than others.
One of my favorite things to do to get a bit of an escape from some of the stress is to dive into really great reads.
I recently had the chance to read an upcoming release from a series I've truly come to adore, and I can't wait to tell you guys all about it.
If you'd like to check out my reviews of the first two titles in the series, you can do so using the links below:
Otherwise, I hope you'll all keep on reading down below for today's full review.
An Ode to Poison by Lisa E. Betz:
Source: Complimentary Copy Provided by the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review
Publisher: Breakthrough Christian Publishing
Publication Date: October 15th, 2024
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction
Series: Livia Aemilia Mysteries
Synopsis:
What would compel a girl to set foot in the house of Rome’s most devious and vindictive senator?
How about murder?
When the wife of Senator Gracchus is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Livia Aemilia agrees to help solve the crime. Yes, it’s a teensy bit dangerous, questioning Gracchus’s servants right under his haughty patrician nose. But it’ll be worth it if she can prove Gracchus is a murderer who deserves to die.
Livia is sure this investigation is God’s plan to protect her and her husband Avitus from their vindictive enemy. And maybe it will finally convince Avitus that God is real.
Livia and Avitus eagerly get to work, confident this time they will finally bring Gracchus to justice. Everything is going to plan until another victim succumbs to poison, throwing all they thought they knew into question.
From the award-winning author of Death and a Crocodile comes the newest installment in the popular Livia Aemilia Mysteries, filled with witty dialog, clever plot twists, vengeance, mercy, and a teeny bit of poetry.
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
An Ode to Poison is the third installment in Lisa E. Betz's Livia Aemilia Mystery series, and transports readers right back to ancient Rome where Livia and her husband Avitus once again find themselves in the throes of a murder mystery. It's intriguing, it's sinister, it's heavily faith based, and it's the type of book that you'll have a hard time wanting to put down once you've picked it up.
Many things about this title carry on from the beloved first two installments in the series. Livia continues to employ a household full of eclectic staff, and Roxanna especially continues to be a hoot as she finds herself in the strangest of situations. The murders grow a little more dark with each installment, and this time it's hitting kind of close to home when the it happens in the household of Avitus' longtime enemy, Senator Gracchus. As the two race against the clock to help solve the mystery before the murderer strikes again, the plot twists and turns, and there's new suspicions around each and every corner.
Lisa E Betz continues to surprise me with how well put together her mysteries are, and the writing style is both engaging and atmospheric, and truly transports each and every reader to ancient times in Rome where being of the faith came with unimaginable consequences.
The mystery is perfectly paced and plotted, and kept me guessing right until the final reveal. We also see quite a bit of character development in this one compared to the first two titles, and I especially liked seeing Avitus try and grapple with his wife's faith, and what all of it could possibly truly mean.
All in all, this was another wonderful title that felt both original and creative, and this series continues to be like nothing I've ever read before. I'd definitely recommend this title (and the entire series) to anyone who is a fan of Christian fiction and looking for something a bit different than the typical Christian romance.
Final Rating: 4/5.
Thanks so much to Lisa E. Betz for allowing me to advance read and review this title!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.
Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)
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