I enjoyed the two stories and liked the characters as well. There was a bit of 'off-ness' to the writing, but it didn't detract in the reading for me.

These could be really good books - but - I expect that English is not the author's first language. Also their English is mainly American. In the UK a purse is something you keep your money in and keep in your handbag, a yard is a space enclosed, usually, by a wall, paved with perhaps pots for plants and a washing line - usually on older properties. A lawn is part of a front or back garden. The Scots don't say aye all the time.

The stories are well thought out - but I find the writing so frustrating - the wrong word used, sentences that make no sense. This book needed editing.

This is a interesting sort of book, a book that I did not think I would enjoy, but I really did. There was a lot to like - the storyline was intriguing, the characters multi facet and believable, a romance and a mystery. The story takes you straight in, and has more meat in the character department then most mysteries..
There are two stories in this book, the firs one being full length and the second more like a short story which follows the romance.

Do not recommend this book. It is filled with grammar issues and needs an editor. I give this book one star.

I found these two books to be enjoyable to read and they moved along well. The crimes were a little extreme and parts of the plot, characters, and setting seemed a little two dimensional or still a bit draft-version. I think the interaction between the lead detective and his romantic interest is wonderful, the little hints given out throughout the two books about his personality/genetic makeup are delightful and work better than spelling it out right away. I will keep reading this series as I find new ones when they are published. #netgalley

3 stars

MAYHEM ON NIGHTENGALE STREET

Chief Inspector McNamara and DS James respond to the call of a dead young woman on the lawn of a home in Edinburgh. She has an ID on her. When entering the house, DS James learns that Mr. Dobbs died of a heart attack upon seeing the body on his lawn. Mrs. Dobbs is clearly too upset to speak to that evening. When CI McNamara and DS James return to the Dobbs’ home the next morning, they discover the body of Mrs. Dobbs.

When McNamara and James visit the neighboring homes to interview the inhabitants, they learn that there are some strange undercurrents in the neighborhood. McNamara makes some astute observations about the various people they interview and discusses them with James. They are in the middle of their interviews when they learn from the coroner that the dead girl was not who they thought it was.

As the killings in the neighborhood continue, then tension in the story mounts. It appears as though the killer is trying to eliminate anyone who might have seen him dump the girl on the Dobbs’ lawn or exiting after killing Mrs. Dobbs. McNamara and James make a startling and awful discovery in one of the homes. There is an awful lot going on under the façade of a quiet and uneventful street as is Nightingale Street.

SCENTS AND SHADOWS

This story is a very short novella.

An elderly lady and her dog are out for an evening walk when they come upon a woman’s decapitated head in a basket. CI McNamara, DS James and the rest of team are on the case. They begin the interviews immediately: neighbors and people in the neighborhood. They eventually figure out where the woman lived and there make some startling finds. Including among the things found out is the victim’s name. She was Joanna Livingston. She had a very unusual profession.

Another murder similar to the beheading is committed. The coroner doesn’t think that it’s related to the first one because of some inconsistencies.

The murderer is identified and the motive for the killing is as old as the hills.

There are many misuses of grammar in this novel. It is a victim of poor editing. Also I’m not sure how much research Ms. Nastase did into Asperger’s, but if McNamara has it, he must have an awfully mild case. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that he does not have it. He does not exhibit the personality traits common with Asperger’s. I noticed that there is no reference to his Asperger’s in either of the two novels I read and began to wonder just where the reviewer got that information.

The plotting in these two novels is fine, but the writing is somewhat amateurish. The stories could have been tighter and written with more impact. For example, McNamara’s relationship with Ms. McNeil is almost laughable. It reminded me somewhat of the play Taming of the Shrew. (Which I found funny, too.) And Mrs. Stevens – really? Puleese! So, while the ideas for the stories were good and the results of their telling was okay, I had hoped for better. Ms. Nastase has potential and should definitely keep working on her writing skills.

I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.