The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances--and of her mother's suicide--she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing--leaving a dead body in his wake--Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother's disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume? 

 At least half a dozen different storylines are woven together to tell the tale of a global hunt, spanning close to five centuries, for an ancient Egyptian artifact.

A fanciful, fascinating and thought-provoking page-turner. 

bones to ashes by Kathy Reichs

Brennan, her relationship with Det. Andrew Ryan on the rocks, welcomes the distraction of an unidentified New Brunswick skeleton from Québec's cold case unit. But when the bones are determined to be that of an adolescent girl, Brennan is convinced they belong to her childhood friend, Évangéline Landry, who disappeared at age 15. Now Brennan must come to terms with Évangéline's possible death, while trying to ignore her feelings for Ryan as they investigate a series of teenage abduction murders that could be tied to the mysterious bones. 

An interesting and entertaining story with lots of twists and turns. 

Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie

Theresa is desperate for a change. Forced into early retirement, fed up with babysitting her bossy daughter's obnoxious children, she sells her Highgate house and moves to the picture-perfect town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice.

With its beautiful villas, its bustling cafes and shimmering cerulean sea, the village sparkles like a diamond on the French Mediterranean coast. Once the hideaway of artists and writers, it is now home to the odd rock icon and Hollywood movie star, and, as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of expats. There's Carol, the infinitely glamorous American and her doting husband David; the erstwhile British TV star Sally; the ferocious Sian and her wayward Australian poet husband; the sharply witty Zoe with her strangely youthful face and penchant for white wine - and the suave Brian who catches Theresa's eye.

As Theresa settles to the gentle rhythm of seaside life she embraces her new-found friendships and freedom. However, life is never quite as simple as it seems and as skeletons start to fall out of several closets, Theresa begins to wonder if life on the French Riviera is quite as nice as it first appeared.  

A light entertaining read. The characters were all rather stereotyped and there were no real surprises. I like the sound of some of the recipes.

The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan

A flooded world. A floating circus. Two women in search of a home. North lives on a circus boat with her beloved bear, keeping a secret that could capsize her life. Callanish lives alone in her house in the middle of the ocean, tending the graves of those who die at sea. As penance for a terrible mistake, she has become a gracekeeper. A chance meeting between the two draws them magnetically to one another - and to the promise of a new life. A magical and bewitching story that kept me enthralled.

The Edge of Sleep by David Wiltse

Karen shrugged. "They know you've caught people no one else could find. They know you've been in situations no one else could have survived. They know you're the best hunter in the FBI, with more skill, more courage, more intelligence, mor ... what should I call it? More 'understanding' of the mind of a serial killer than anyone in the Bureau."
"Call it fellow feeling," said Becker.

They'd called Becker back for this case. Had to. He was the only one who knew, really knew, what went on inside someone's head in the throes of a killing frenzy. But this case was different.

Five young boys had been kidnapped from shopping malls in the north-eastern United States. Their mutilated bodies are discovered weekd later, discarded by the roadside. But there is no sexual abuse, and the corpses have been lovingly washed and groomed.

For Becker it means reliving his own hell as he tracks a killer who fits no known profile - and whose victims disappear leaving no sign of their abduction.

I enjoyed this thriller told from the point of view of Becker, the FBI agent and Ash, one of the kidnappers. I did get a bit frustrated with the FBI that they had their theory/profile and didn't look at any other possibilities. 

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body—a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul—they’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace—one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant—otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.

Our hero PC Peter Grant leads us through an well written, amusing tale where what might be a typical 'Police Procedural' suddenly becomes a story of magic, vampires and ghosts. 

A wonderfully entertaining read.  

Fall From Pride by Karen Harper

Sarah Kauffman sought permission from her church elders to paint murals on a few of the Amish community's barns. Each was designed like an old-fashioned quilt square, representing a piece of the Amish traditions Sarah loved. The works of art were intended to draw more tourists to Home Valley in the struggling economy. But instead, they invited a menace. One by one, each barn is set ablaze and destroyed...

The arson fires spread fear through the community - amongst Amish and Englischers alike. Arson investigator Nate MacKenzie, an outsider, struggles to investigate the crime scenes while adhering to Amish ways. As the fires rage, beliefs are challenged, a way of life is questioned and family secrets are exposed. Now Sarah wonders if she's being punished for her pridefulness... or whether there's a more malevolent will at work.

Enjoyable romantic suspense. I did like the Amish setting of the story.