Ms. Renfield and the Deadly Puzzle
Author: Annika Martin
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B+
What I’m Talking About:
Ms. Renfield and the Deadly Puzzle opens shortly after the conclusion of the first book. The clock is ticking quickly towards the moment when Alexandru will need to feed again. The pair is investigating a murder in a neighboring jurisdiction when someone is struck down with a crossbow in their own town. The web of suspects and victims doesn’t have a pattern that Harriet can discern, and time is running out.
Similar to the first book in the Immortal Boss series, it took me a little time to get into the story. However, once I was in, I was completely engrossed. I love the mystery aspect of the story, and even thought I pretty much knew who the bad guy was, I didn’t know why or how, which made the unraveling of the clues so much fun. Harriet and Alexandru make an excellent sleuthing team, and I love how he respects her intuition and talents. There is a lot of back and forth over the suspects, but ultimately, Alexandru trusts Harriet to provide a meal for him.
I love that the author shares both characters’ POVs. It’s clear that they both feel some sort of unfamiliar and unwanted connection. Alexandru fights his odd attraction because Renfields are not to be trusted. We still don’t know why, but I’m forming a loose theory based on the few hints Martin provides. Harriet alternates between an attraction based on his looks and respect for her and horror because of what Alexandru is and does. He’s hard to read and keeps everything close to the vest. Yet he can be kind, like sending Gregor over to her family store to help out. While I should be horrified right along side Harriet, I find myself oddly drawn into this slow burn (potential) romance.
There are a lot of side stories in addition to the primary focus of finding a victim for Alexandru to drain and kill. Plot lines revolving around why Alexandru is punishing the Renfields, what/who Gregor is, and what happened to Harriet’s younger brother have spanned two books, and Martin is slowly dragging each of these subplots along, leaving few breadcrumbs as the series progresses. Other stories like who assaulted Harriet (book 1) and the random murder the pair investigates at the start of Deadly Puzzle don’t seem to have follow through (yet). (Not to mention one suspect in this book may still be guilty of a crime.) I hope we get more answers in the next book.
Overall, Ms. Renfield and the Deadly Puzzle is an exciting adventure. There is violence and humor, calculating cold and simmering heat. I have so many unanswered questions and cannot wait to read the next book!
My Rating: B+
Jen
About the Book:
Thanks to an unfortunate quirk of my family tree, I’m stuck serving a dangerous vampire who looks like a luxury menswear ad and thinks humans are livestock.
Lately, though, he’s been looking at me like I might be something more than his latest Renfield.
When a new body turns up—death by crossbow bolt—I’m relieved.
Not that death is good. But at least now there’s a killer for Alexandru and me to hunt…which means he’ll have someone to drain who isn’t a friend.
The investigation should be straightforward.
It isn’t.
Every pattern falls apart. Every lead points somewhere new. It requires the mother of all spreadsheets—but the deeper we dig, the more it feels like I’m missing something obvious. Which I hate, because spreadsheets are my love language, and I do not miss obvious things.
Meanwhile, Alexandru is asking questions that are none of his business. Taking off his gloves in a way that should honestly be illegal. And worst of all, acting like I’M under HIS protection. How is that a thing?
I thought the most dangerous thing in my life was the killer we’re hunting.
Now I’m not so sure.
Release Date: April 16, 2026
Publisher: self-published
Series: Immortal Boss #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Format(s): paperback (324 pages), e-book, audiobook (coming soon)
Book Source: Author